Doubting Thomas:
A Key to the Rapture?
Copyright © 2008 The-Revelator.com
Part Four in a series of articles on the pre-tribulation Rapture of the Bride of Christ
While I have heard many teachers divulge multiple great truths regarding the rapture of the Bride of Christ, one aspect has been shown to me by our Lord that may give a little more insight into the day when He gathers us unto Himself.
While Thomas was one of the twelve disciples called by Christ to be His Apostle, he had one character flaw that I believe gives us a wonderful illustration of the mind of God with regard to His catching away the church and exactly who is destined to face tribulation - one that is considered a tare among the wheat.
It is not my assertion that Thomas was any less of an Apostle or unsaved, but since there is no such thing as irony we are faced with trying to understand why John was compelled under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to include the famous ‘doubting Thomas’ episode in his account of the gospels when it is not found in any of the other three. For this answer we should start by differentiating between the intended audiences of each gospel, as there are purposeful directional and doctrinal swings and encounters proving they are each written with a certain group of people in mind.
Matthew is attributed to Levi the tax collector in authorship with a decidedly Jewish lean to his account, concerning the first chapter with the complete genealogy of Messiah from Abraham through David, culminating with Christ. This book was written with the intent to show his Jewish audience that Jesus was the Child of Promise as seen in the character type of Isaac, the son of the ‘father of many nations’ whom God told to sacrifice - yet stayed his hand at the last moment. This was a foreshadowing of the Son of Man who would actually be sacrificed by His Father for the good of all mankind - at least those who would believe.
Mark was written by John Mark, the Jewish scribe who was the companion of Paul and the cousin - or possibly nephew - of Barnabas - but is not the same John who is called the ‘beloved disciple,’ the author of the books of the gospel of John, first, second and third John, and the Revelation. Mark, being a scribe, took it upon himself to write an historical account of the days of Jesus - called Christ - and the book is by all accounts the first gospel written, probably between the years 57 and 63 A.D. His account was as aforementioned, a rough gathering of raw data about the life and ministry of Jesus and is dedicated to the Servant-nature of the Son of God.
Luke, written not by an Apostle but by the ‘beloved physician’ who accompanied Paul frequently in ministry missions and may have been Saul/Paul’s personal doctor, is given as a perfectly researched testament to the exact details of the birth, life, ministry, healing, signs, death, resurrection and ascension. It was written as an account to Theophilus - a Jew of the dispersion who would not have been an eye-witness to the life of Jesus and of the intricate and intimate facts surrounding the Deity and Kingship of Christ.
John was written by the Apostle who was called the ‘beloved disciple.’ Many issues are found in John’s account that really give one pause to ponder. The fact that the author never uses his own name in the gospel speaks volumes, simply calling himself ‘the disciple whom He/Jesus loved.’ At the supper on the beach in the closing chapter of the book, I’m convinced Christ tells Peter - in a mysterious way - that He will show Himself again to John before he dies but after all of the other eleven have gone to be with Him. Speaking to Cephas/Peter and telling him of all that he would suffer in his remaining years, Peter looks back and selfishly ask Jesus about John, Christ says:
John 21:22-24 Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what {is that} to you? You follow Me!" Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but {only,} "If I want him to remain until I come, what {is that} to you?" This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
John 20:24-29 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace {be} with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed {are} they who did not see, and {yet} believed."