Over Comers And The Rapture

Q

Don’t know if this is an appropriate question for you. I already know your answer but I know there are a lot of people out there teaching erroneous things. I “surfed” by (a well known evangelist’s) teaching the other day and was troubled at what he said about the Rapture.

He stated that not all believers will go in the Rapture, only those who have “overcome”. He said we have to overcome “the world, the flesh and the devil before we are “true” believers. Doesn’t this negate all that Jesus did on the Cross?? Maybe you can clarify this for some of the others who may have heard the same teaching.

A

This is just another take on the old “partial rapture” theory and cannot be supported Biblically. It’s clear that we’re saved by grace through faith, not by our works, and being saved qualifies us for the rapture.

Each of the seven letters to seven Churches (Rev. 2&3) warns against some departure from the simplicity of the Gospel and its promise of eternal life, and promises blessings to “over comers” who heed the warnings. John, who wrote his 3 letters to the church around the same time that he wrote the Revelation, explained what it means to be an overcomer.

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:5)

Note that the emphasis is on belief, just as it’s always been. It amazes me how those who try to attach some standard of worthiness to the blessings we’re promised fail to realize that in doing so they’re disqualifying themselves along with everyone else. No one has ever completely overcome “the world, the flesh and the devil” and after that it’s just a matter of degree.