Incorrectly Teaching Revelation?

Q

After taking Bible study classes and study of Scripture, I have taught Revelation in Sunday school from time to time and have taught that there will be a rapture. I know many Bible authorities teach that the only rapture will occur at the second coming. As I understand it, God says that if we wrongly teach what is in Revelation we will lose our heavenly rewards. What is your opinion?

A

If you’re concerned about John’s warning in Rev. 22:18-19, let’s take a look at what it says.

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”

In my opinion this does not mean teaching wrongly, such as placing the rapture of the Church in one place vs. another. It was a warning against rewriting the book in such a way that things were either added to the text or edited out of it.

We can be excused for coming to an incorrect conclusion concerning things that are not made clear in the Book of Revelation. But re-writing the book is a different matter. Obviously, if you’re teaching a pre-trib rapture, I don’t think you have a problem anyway.