1st Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

The rapture of the church is the catching up of all the saved believers in Christ to meet the Lord in the air. This event is simply and clearly predicted in 1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor. 15:23, 51-58; Phil. 3:20, 21; John 14:1-3; Luke 21:34-36; Col. 3:4. These passages prove that there is to be such an event as the Lord descending from Heaven to take out of the world, in a moment of time, all the dead Christ and the living in Christ. The rapture of the church is called “the coming of the Lord”, but never the second coming of Christ.

The rapture is purely a New Testament doctrine and was first revealed to Paul as a special revelation (1 Cor. 15:51-58), while the Second Coming of Christ is not only a New Testament doctrine, but is one of the chief themes of the Old Testament. The Old Testament prophets never saw the New Testament Church, much less the Rapture of the Church. The rapture should never be called "The Second Coming" or "Second Advent of Christ".

The Bible describes two, separate and distinct, future events. The first event is what we call the "Rapture". In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, the apostle Paul writes that an event in which Jesus Christ will not physically, literally touch down on the earth but will first come "in the clouds" and snatch away His true followers from the earth in an instant of time. Those who have not chosen to accept Christ, those who have not been "born again," because that was just too simple they have to add to the gospel, will remain behind on the earth and will have to go through a terrible time of wars, famines, natural disasters, and divine judgments known as the Tribulation.

Christ coming for His church (Rapture) is not to be confused with His second coming (Judgment) these are two separate events:

Rapture and Second Coming Contrasted

In the Old Testament, there were two different pictures painted of the Messiah—one suffering (Isa. 53:2-10, Ps. 22:6-8, 11-18) and one reigning as King (Ps. 2:6-12, Zech. 14:9,16). As we look back on these scriptures, we see they predicted two separate comings of the Messiah—the 1st coming as a suffering Messiah and the 2nd coming (still future) as a reigning King.

In the New Testament, we have another picture added. Again, we have two pictures painted which don’t look the same. These two different descriptions of Jesus’ coming point to two separate events we call "The Rapture" and "The Second Coming."

The rapture takes place at the least, seven years before the literal advent of Christ return to the Earth. And the saints taken up at the Rapture, will come back with Him at Second Coming. The saints are in Heaven before God, and not in the air, from the time of the rapture to their coming again with Christ to reign as kings and priests (Jude 14; Rev. 19:14; Zech. 14:5). This seems clear from the facts that the saints efforts are judged , are given their rewards, and partake of the marriage supper in Heaven and not in the air (Rev.19:1-10; 2 Cor. 5:9-10). Christ departs from Heaven at His second advent to Earth and not from the air (Rev. 19:11-21; 2 Thess. 1:7-10). The rapture must first take place and Christ must first come for His saints (1 Thess. 4:16-17) before He can come back to Earth with them (Jude 14; Zech. 14:5).

In passages that describe the Lord Jesus' return for His Church, we find verses that tell us we won't know the day and hour of that event. Matthew 25:13 says Jesus will return at an unknown time, while Revelation 12:6 indicates that the Jews will have to wait on the Lord 1,260 days, starting when the Antichrist stands in the Temple of God and declares himself to be God (2 Thess. 2:4). This event will take place at the mid-point of the seven-year tribulation (Dan. 9:27). Note that some people only see a three-and-a-half-year tribulation. These folks miss the seven years of the Tribulation because the first half of the tribulation will be relatively peaceful compared to the second half. Peaceful or not, there still remains a seven-year period called the Tribulation. When the Jews flee into the wilderness, they know that all they have to do is wait out those 1,260 days (Matt 24:16). There is no way to apply the phrase "neither the day nor the hour" to this situation. The only way for these two viewpoints to be true is to separate the two distinct events transpiring here:

1) The rapture of the Church, which comes before the tribulation.
and at least seven years later
2) The return of Jesus to the earth to reign for 1000 years.

Despite all their monkeying with scripture, creating Neutered Impotent Versions of the Bible to obscure the truth, detractors of the pre-tribulation rapture just cannot escape Jesus' restriction against knowing the timing of the rapture. In fact, our Lord was so restrictive about the Rapture, He said its occurrence would come as a total surprise.

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" - Matthew 24:44

Now as far as the second coming goes, the Bible couldn't be plainer. It clearly states that Jesus will return 1260 days from the moment the Antichrist sits in the Temple of God and declares himself to be God.

42 Months

3.5 years, (a time, times, and half a time)

1260 Days

In 1 Thessalonians, we are told that Jesus only returns as far down as the clouds, and calls His people up to be with Him. Then everyone returns to Heaven. But in the Second Coming, a completely different set of circumstances unfold quite different from that of the Rapture. Revelation 19 tells us that when Jesus returns to the earth in His Second Coming, that it will be an event that everyone worldwide will see all at the same time. There will be no guessing as to what's happening in His Second Coming.

After Eternal Security of the believer, there is probably not a more controversial doctrine than the Rapture of the Saints in the Bible. First of all, the word "Rapture" is not found in the Bible. Many critics of the Rapture doctrine have stressed this fact over and over.

Their logic fails because there are a huge number of English words that don't appear in the Bible, including the word "Bible." Because God's Word was originally written in Hebrew and Greek, one could truthfully say that no English words are in the Bible. Let's take a look at 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 in the original Greek:

Stephens 1550 - Textus Receptus

4:16 
4:17 
4:18 

I don’t see ‘rapture’ anywhere in those verses. However the word "rapture" comes from Paul's "caught up" remark in verse 17,  . The words "caught up" are translated from the Greek word harpazo, which means "to carry off," "snatch up," or "grasp hastily." The translation from harpazo to "rapture" involved two steps:

First, harpazo became the Latin word raptus;
Second, raptus became the English word "rapture", from Lat. Rapio "seize, carry away"

The following are a few examples of Scripture verses in which the term harpazo is used. The basic meaning of the term harpazo is of being removed swiftly and purposefully from one place to another:

“And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” - Acts 8:39

“And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.” - Acts 23:10

“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.” - 2 Cor. 12:2

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” - 1 Thes. 4:17

“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne” (Rev. 12:5).

Does the Bible say that Jesus will return again for His People?

"Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." - Acts 1:11

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." - Hebrews 9:28

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." - John 14:1-3

"For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." - 1 Thessalonians 1:9,10

Jesus promises to return for His people

You will note that Paul says that Jesus, when He returns to take us away, does not come all the way down to the earth, but rather comes down only as far as the clouds. The world below will not see Jesus at this time, only those believers who are "caught up" in the clouds to be with Him.

The concept of the return of Christ being like a thief in the night comes from Matthew 24:43:

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.”

The sudden nature of this event is described in 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 as “a flash, in the twinkling of an eye.” There will be no warning of Christ’s coming, just as a thief in the night comes without warning. Therefore, Matthew 24:44 tells us, we must:

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Those left behind on earth will not see Jesus take us, only the aftermath of the event.

Paul wrote about the Rapture so we would not be ignorant of it.

1. Only the doctrine of the ATONEMENT is a more prominent Bible truth than the truth of the RETURN OF JESUS.
2. Whole chapters are given to this subject such as in Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13.
3. Not only that, but whole books of the Bible are given up to the discussion, such as I and II Thessalonians, II Peter, and the book of Revelation.

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; - 2 Thessalonians 2

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” - 1Thessalonians 4: 13-14

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” - 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." - 1Thessalonians 4:17

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” - 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.

Three Events That Happen at The Rapture

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” - 1 Corinthians 12:13

The one and only necessary requirement for the Rapture, whether they are dead or alive, is to be “in Christ” (1 Thess 4:16, 17; 2 Cor 5:17; 1 Cor 15:23; Gal 5:24).

The "cry of command" from the lips of Jesus is to awake the dead in Christ and to call their bodies forth from their graves as Jesus called his friend Lazarus forth (John 11:43). When Christ raises the dead and changes the living at the rapture, both will be instantly clothed with immortal bodies like His own, immediately prior to meeting Him in the air:

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” - Phil. 3:20-21

Not only will Jesus Himself descend with a shout, but there will be the voice of the archangel. There is only one other reference to the archangel. In Jude 9 he is identified as Michael. Jude tells us that Michael and the Devil had a wrestling match, and Michael won. When Michael won the wrestling match with the Devil, what were they fighting over? The body of Moses, an old man one hundred and twenty years of age. When Jesus comes, the voice of the archangel will be heard.

Since the Devil fought with the archangel over the body of one saint, don't you suppose he is going to put up a bigger fight when Jesus comes? Do you suppose the Devil will try to put a lid on every grave to try to stop every saint from coming up out of the grave? The archangel who defeated the Devil in the wrestling match over the body of Moses will defeat him again-with a shout!

The Devil will be defeated, the graves will open, and the dead shall rise! For the sound of the trumpet, for the shout of Jesus, for the voice of the archangel. When that sounds, there will be the marshaling of the troops of all the redeemed of God.

Michael who has a specific jurisdiction is over the people of Israel. At the time of the rapture the archangel will signal to Israel that God has returned the focus of his attention at last to the final redemption of his chosen nation. This event was spoken of by Daniel:

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Daniel 12:1-3

When Paul was writing to the Corinthians, he specifically said "the" last trump.

• One occurs at the rapture of the church and the Old Testament saints - 1 Thess 4:16
• The other is at the rapture of the man-child - Rev 11:15-12:5
• One is the trumpet of God. - 1 Thess. 4:16
• The other is the trumpet of the seventh trumpet angel - Rev 11:15
• One is to herald one single event which takes place “in the twinkling of an eye” - 1 Cor 15:51-58
• The other is to herald many events which are days in duration - Rev 10:7
• One is a trumpet of blessing - 1 Thess. 4:16-17
• The other is a trumpet of `woe” - Rev 8:13; Rev 11:15; Rev 12:12
• One is before the beginning of the Seventieth Week - 2 Thess. 2:7-8; Dan. 9:27; Rev 4:1
• The other is in the middle of the Week - Rev. 11:15-12:6
• One is before the saints, represented by the twenty-four elders who are caught up in Rev 4:1,
• The other is after the elders are already in Heaven - Rev 11:15-12:5
• One is before the seven seals and first six trumpets - Rev 6:1-9:21)
• The other is after the seven seals and first six trumpets - Rev 11:15

So what was the reference to the 'last trump' about then? You will notice that in Corinthians, Paul has been showing the connection between New Testament truth and the Feasts of Israel. For example, in 1 Cor. 5:6-8 he talks about the Feasts of Passover and Unleavened bread and shows how this is fulfilled in Jesus' death. In chapter 15:20-24 he speaks about the Feast of First fruits and how this was fulfilled with Jesus' resurrection. Now, in 1 Cor 15:51 he talks about the 'last trump' and connects that with the resurrection and rapture of the church. This is simply a fulfillment of another Jewish feast, the Feast of Trumpets.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, - 1 Cor 15:51

The word "mystery" (Greek musterion) meant a "secret," or something formerly hidden, but now revealed. Paul used it in various places to describe aspects of the Church and its mission. (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 1:9-10). The Rapture itself is called a mystery in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58. In Ephesians 3 the Apostle explained in greater detail that the mystery of the Church was part of God's purpose all along to make Gentiles heirs together with Israel.

It is evident from the fact that Paul used the definite article 'the last trump' that he expected the Corinthians to know what he was talking about. The only knowledge they would have of trumpets are those spoken of in the Old Testament, especially those of the Feast of Trumpets. The last trump refers to the Feast of Trumpets and the Jewish practice of blowing trumpets at this feast each year. During the ceremony there are a series of short trumpet sounds concluding with one long trumpet blast which is called the Tekiah Gedolah, the great trumpet blast. This is what Paul means by the last trump. As such, it says nothing concerning the timing of the rapture; only that the rapture, whenever it occurs, will fulfill the feast of trumpets.

There are five different names for the Feasts of Trumpets and it is mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures 5 times of which 2 are rabbinic names.

1. Zicharon Truah: Means “memorial of triumph” or the “shout for joy.”
   This phrase is found in Leviticus 23:24 and the literal meaning is “a remembrance of blowing.” The phrase shouting for you is found in Job 38:7 where all the sons of God shout for joy. Rabbinic Judaism teaches that God created the heavens and the earth on the Feast of Trumpets so it was on this occasion that the angels shouted for joy.
2. Yom Truah: literally means a day of blowing the trumpet.
   It is a biblical designation found in Numbers 29:1.
3. Rosh Hashanah: This term is a common Jewish term for this feast today.
   Very few Jewish people refer to it as the Feast of Trumpets, but rather it is known as Rosh Hashanah which literally means “the head of the year.” The Jewish people call this Feast of Trumpets Rosh Hashanah, or “the head of the year” because they believe that God created the heavens and the earth on this day. Therefore, this feast has become known as the beginning of the Jewish civil year. Judaism has two calendars, a religious and civil new year. However, God only gave Israel one calendar and that is expressly stated in Exodus 12:2. The first began in the Jewish month of Nisan in February/March and the other in Tishrei in the month of August/ September.
4. Yom Hazicharon: This is a rabbinic name which means “the day of remembrance.”
   It is called by that name because Jews are to remember their sins before the next holy day, the Day of Atonement. It is said that on this feast day of Rosh Hashanah that God remembers His creation and shows them mercy. It is important for Jews to remember their sins in preparation for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
5. Yom Hadin: This is another rabbinic name and tradition which means “the day of judgment.”
   In Jewish beliefs, all Jews on this day are to pass in judgment to see if their sins will be forgiven or not.

Some try to use a trumpet sounding in Joel 2:1 as evidence for a post-tribulation rapture on the Day of the Lord. There are three problems with this:

1. Joel clearly says that the purpose for blowing the trumpet is to "sound an alarm."
2. According to 1 Cor 15:52, the rapture is something that occurs in the twinkling of an eye. Joel 2:1 says the Day of the Lord is nigh at hand. In order for Joel's trumpet to be the same one in 1 Cor. there would have to be a time delay between the sounding of the trumpet and the rapture of the Church.
3. The fact that there is another trumpet being sounded in Joel 2:15 further clouds the possibility that these trumpets could have anything to do with the rapture.

Due to the fact that I Corinthians was written about 55 A.D. and Revelation was written about 96 A.D. ( After I Corinthians and Paul's martyrdom ). Explicitly John states that the contents of the book of Revelation were given by God the Father to the Lord Jesus, who in turn used an angelic messenger to convey the message to John (Revelation 1:1-2). The very word "revelation" means an unveiling of that which was hitherto unknown or concealed.

Therefore, when Paul wrote of believers experiencing rapture (being "changed") at "the last trump," neither he nor the Corinthians knew anything concerning the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls of the Book of Revelation. Paul's "last trump" and the Book of Revelation's "seventh trumpet" are not synonymous.

The trumpet call, will be used to call the living saints at the time of the Rapture to be caught up and transformed together with the just-raised saints of the past awaiting their new bodies. This is described also in 1 Corinthians 15 50-58,

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The Bible says that Jesus’ return is near, and we are to wait eagerly for it (Romans 8:19-25; 1 Corinthians 1:7; Philippians 4:5; Jude 21). James encourages us to “be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near” (James 5:4). Revelation 1:3 and 22:10 also say that “the time is near.”

Jesus taught His disciples to watch for His return. “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Luke 12:40). The command to “be ready” implies imminence. Throughout the New Testament, the church is told to be ready (Philippians 3:20; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:6). If the disciples and the early church were to expect the coming of the Lord at any time, how much more should be waiting in keen expectation?

Imminency

Imminency, as it relates to Bible prophecy, simply means that the return of Jesus Christ for the Church can happen at any moment. No warning signs will indicate a short-term countdown. We as Christians remain on alert 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The only way for the rapture to be truly imminent is to have it transpire before the tribulation. If the Church were required to wait until after the manifestation of certain events, then there would be no doctrine of imminency.

In every age Christians have been expecting the return of Our Lord. Twice in the last chapter of the Revelation He tells us, "I am coming quickly." - Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:20)

Paul referred to this ever-present possibility of Christ's return as "the blessed hope." (Titus 2:13)

He also taught that His coming will be like a thief in the night.

1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Thessalonians 5:1-6

The pretribulation rapture is the only view that allows for the rapture to be imminent in its timing. All the other views require a number of prophetic occurrences to take place before the rapture can be declared imminent. To be looking for the imminent return of Christ, you have to believe in a pretribulation rapture.

Jesus repeatedly said that His return for the Church would be a surprise. The Lord even went beyond that by saying He would return "as a thief" when believers generally won't be expecting Him to come for them.

"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." - Matthew 24:36

"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing" - Matthew 24:42-46

"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." - Matthew 25:13

"And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power" - Acts 1:7

“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” – Revelation 3:3

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” - Revelation 16:15

This type of "any-moment" language doesn't fit a post-tribulation rapture. If Jesus were prevented from coming until after the battle of Magog, the rise of Antichrist, and the Mark of the Beast, we would have no need to watch for the return of our Lord before the tribulation.

If the Church were required to go through the seven-year tribulation, you would expect the New Testament writers to have warned us to be prepared for trying times. On the contrary, the New Testament writers repeatedly tell the Church to be comforted by the "coming of the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:18). The word "comfort" alone strongly implies the rapture will take place before the tribulation.

A host of Scriptures indicate the Church should expect an imminent return of their Lord. The opponents of imminency constantly try to pick apart each individual reference, but they should look at the big picture. An overwhelming number of verses in the Bible support imminency.

"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" - Matthew 24:36

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him" - Matthew 25:1-6)

"Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" - Mark 13:33-37

"Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light" - Romans 13:11-12

"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" - Rom 16:20

"So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" - 1 Cor 1:7

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" - Phil 3:20

"Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand" - Phil 4:5

"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come" - 1 Thess 1:10

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" - 1 Thess 5:6

"That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" - 1 Tim 6:14

"Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus" - Titus 2:13

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" - Hebrews 9:28

"Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the Day approaching" - Hebrews 10:24-25

"For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry" - Hebrews 10:37

"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door" - James 5:7-9

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" - 1 Peter 1:13

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer" - 1 Peter 4:7

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" - Jude 1:21

"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" - Revelation 3:11

"Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book" - Revelation 22:7

"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" - Revelation 22:20

Maranatha

Maranatha is actually an Aramaic expression. In fact, it is made up of three Aramaic words: Mar, which means "Lord"; ana, which means "our"; and tha, which means "come."

So when you put it together, maranatha means "Our Lord, come." It perfectly conveys the concept that the Lord could come at any moment. Maranatha is used once in the Bible by Paul as part of a curse. In 1 Corinthians 16:22, Paul said, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." The word "anathema" means "banned," so Paul was saying, "Let him be banned from our Lord's coming."

The interesting thing about maranatha is that it comes in the form of a petition. When a Christian in the early Church would make this statement, he was actually petitioning the Lord to come. This obviously implies the belief that it was possible for Jesus to answer the appeal.

If members of the first-century Church believed that certain events needed to take place before the Savior could return, they would have been silly to greet each other with "maranatha." They lived nearly 2,000 years ago, and yet they seem to have had a deeper awareness of imminency than many of today's Christians.

Born again Christians are not "appointed to wrath"

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” - Revelation 3:10

The three-pronged attack on the truth (2 Thess. 2:2)

• Paul is requesting that the Thessalonians not be quickly shaken or disturbed. This tells us the mental and emotional state of the Thessalonians.
• Mentally, they were being shaken from their mind. They were unable to keep their wits about them in order to discern truth from error.
• Emotionally, they were in a continual state of nervous excitement. The only other place the word for "disturbed" (throeo) is used is when Jesus Himself warns His followers not to be troubled by any disturbing events which precede the Tribulation period (see Matt 24:6; Mk 13:7).
• What was causing this disturbance? There was false teaching that was coming from three sources:
  
  1. A spirit = This refers to some form of false prophetic utterance; some claim of speaking with the authority of divine revelation (2 Pet 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1-2). But God does not contradict Himself!
  2. A message = This refers to someone claiming to have a conversation with Paul or hearing a private remark from Paul; a claim to assert the authority of the apostle based on an unverifiable remark.
  3. A letter = Someone claimed to have a letter written by Paul; this involved the crime of forgery.
• What was the false teaching? The Thessalonians were being told that the Day of the Lord had already come, that these believers were already experiencing the Tribulation. In theological terms, the false teachers were advocating anything but a "Pretribulational Rapture" -- the two most common alternatives are called the "Midtribulational Rapture" (Rapture in the middle) and the "Posttribulational Rapture" (Rapture afterward). But according to this passage of Scripture, all of the alternatives are wrong! The only view that aligns with Paul's teaching is the "Pretribulational Rapture."
• In order to defeat the false teaching that the Tribulation had already begun, Paul focused on the preconditions for the coming Tribulation and showed that they have not happened.

Why is the Tribulation Delayed? (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7)

Paul had just discussed the problem the Thessalonians were experiencing: being told that the Tribulation had already begun. He dealt with this issue by showing that there are two preconditions for the start of the Tribulation, and that these had not yet happened. There was to be a divinely appointed delay in the start of the Tribulation, and in this section Paul tells what is causing this delay.

What is restraining the revelation of the man of lawlessness and the coming of the Tribulation? (2 Thess. 2:6)

• When Paul says "And..." he is continuing his thought from as far back as 2 Th 2:3. He began describing the man of lawlessness who would be revealed as the second prerequisite of the Tribulation. Here, the pronoun "him" refers to that man of lawlessness.
• The Thessalonians knew something about this whole topic because of Paul's personal teaching ministry when he was with them. They "know what restrains him now" -- since they already know this, Paul does not specifically identify the "restrainer" here.
• What restrains = "that which is right now continuously restraining" (present participle). Literally, "to hold down or hold back." The gender is neuter, which emphasizes the force exerted in restraining something.
• Now (nun) = indicates that this restraining power was active in Paul's day.
• The man of lawlessness is being restrained for the purpose that in his own season he will be revealed. God has set an appointed time when this man will be revealed (passive voice = he will not reveal himself; God will unveil him at the proper time).

Why does the man of lawlessness need to be restrained? (2 Thess. 2:7)

• Because the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. There were already forces of lawlessness that were struggling to move forward even in Paul's day. These could be identified as the doctrines and practices that the Antichrist would later embody.
• Mystery = typically means a truth that was previously unrevealed, but now is made known through special revelation. What is the mystery that is revealed here? Although lawlessness has always been known, what was not clear was that someday this "spirit of lawlessness" would become incarnate in the man of lawlessness (also see 1 John 2:18; 4:3).
• Just as the Lord Jesus Christ is the incarnation of the principle of godliness (1 Tim 3:16), the Antichrist will embody the principle of lawlessness.

What is the identity of the restrainer?

• Now (arti) = "at this very moment."
• He who restrains = The gender is masculine, emphasizing the person who exercises this restraining force. (Compare with 2 Th 2:6)
• Many speculative and imaginative ideas have appeared regarding the identity of the restrainer: a Roman Emperor or the Roman Empire, human government in general, the Church, the gospel, the Jews, and even the Antichrist or Satan.

the Evidence

The Solution: God the Holy Spirit

In what sense will the restrainer be taken out of the way?

• Taken out of the way (ek mesou genetai, aorist dep/mid subjunctive) = "should become out of the middle" -- to move out of one sphere of activity and into another.
• ginomai is a deponent verb (middle for active voice), so it may not mean removal by an outside force but removal through a determined act on the part of the subject. In other words, the Restrainer moves himself out of the way, stepping aside, getting out from in between.
• To be taken out of the way certainly does not mean to be entirely removed. It simply means to quit standing between; in other words, to stop the activity of restraining.
• • There will be a specific time in world history when the Holy Spirit will stop restraining lawlessness. Then (and only then) the man of lawlessness will be revealed and the Tribulation will begin.

Ministry in the Old Testament:

• The Holy Spirit has, however, carried on different functions during various time periods. During the Old Testament days of Noah, for example, the Holy Spirit "strove" with men until a certain point, after which He withdrew and left men to the catastrophic judgment of the worldwide flood (Gen 6:3).
• During Old Testament days the Holy Spirit came upon and filled individuals for various tasks (Num 24:2; Judg 3:10; 6:34; 1 Sam 10:6; 19:20; 2 Chr 15:1; 20:14; Luke 1:67).
• However, in Old Testament times the Holy Spirit's presence or ministry was not permanent (Judg 13:25 with 16:20; 1 Sam 10:10 with 16:14; Ps 51:11), and there was no guarantee that the Spirit would not depart.
• The ministry of regenerating believers is not specifically mentioned in the Old Testament, although many think the Spirit was regenerating OT believers based on the evidence of an internal struggle between the old and new natures in OT saints.
• There is no evidence in the Old Testament that the Holy Spirit carried on a ministry of convicting the world of sin (as He did after the Day of Pentecost -- see John 16:8). Nor is there any evidence of the Holy Spirit baptizing, sealing, or permanently indwelling OT saints.
• Prior to the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) the Holy Spirit "had not been given because Jesus was not yet glorified" (see John 7:39; 14:16). In some special sense He had not been "given" His special ministries which would start at the beginning of the Church Age (see John 15:26; 16:7-8, 13).

Ministry after the Day of Pentecost:

• The Holy Spirit began a new sphere of ministry on earth at the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4; 11:15). This is because the Church is a unique spiritual entity that has a unique relationship with the Holy Spirit and with Christ during the Church Age.
• This new ministry involves baptizing believers into the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13), as well as permanently indwelling and sealing believers (2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13; 4:30). Prior to this time believers were never baptized into the Body of Christ (the Church), nor were they permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit has been also been given a special teaching ministry during the Church Age (John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Cor 2:10-13; 1 John 2:27).
• In relation to the unbelieving world, the Holy Spirit was given the ministry of convicting the world of sin and restraining lawlessness (John 16:7-12; 1 John 4:3-4).

Ministry after the Rapture of the Church:

• After the resurrection of Church-age saints (Rapture), the unique ministries of the Holy Spirit for the Church will come to an end.
• There is no biblical evidence after the end of the Church Age that Tribulation saints will be united with the Body of Christ. The "baptism of the Spirit" is not mentioned during the Tribulation period (nor in the millennium).
• Since the Tribulation period corresponds to Daniel's "70th seven" (a special seven-year period ordained for Israel), it can be inferred that the ministry of the Holy Spirit will revert to what it was during Daniel's first "69 sevens" of Israel's history.
• After the Rapture of the Church, the unique ministry of restraining lawlessness will also come to an end (2 Th 2:6-8).

Summary of the ministry of the Holy Spirit:

• The Holy Spirit ministered to people on earth before His special "coming" during the Church Age, and He will continue to minister to people after the Rapture of the Church.
• Salvation has always been by God's grace through faith, and the Holy Spirit has always played a key role in accomplishing salvation during every period of human history (John 3:5-10; Gal 4:29).

It is a Direct Intervention by God

The first exodus, when God brought the children of Israel out from Egypt, is a defining event for both Israelites and Christians. Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, and even Pentecost all commemorate God's sovereignty, providence, and grace in liberating His people (see Deuteronomy 16:1-12). Yet, as remarkable as this movement of millions of people from a plundered Egypt to a bountiful Canaan was, the Second Exodus will be so momentous that the exodus from Egypt will pale by comparison:

14 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
15 But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. - Jeremiah 16:14-15; also Jeremiah 23:7-8

11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

"In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. " - Jeremiah 3:18

This restoration of Israel by the supernatural hand of God will put an end to the folks who think that their "church" has totally replaced Israel. Temporarly set aside, yes, totally replaced, NO!

God has not forgotten Israel and will one day restore Israel to His intended role as the nation He has chosen (Romans 11).

It is Associated with the First Resurrection

It Marks the End of the Church Age

Within a week the Jews had Jesus crucified and then "God's Clock" stopped, and the remaining "one" week, the "Seventieth," has still to be fulfilled. In the meantime, in the break between the "sixty-ninth" and "seventieth" week, the Holy Spirit is gathering out the Church, and when it is complete it will be taken away, and then "God's Clock" will begin to tick again, because He will again be dealing with. His People the Jews.

It is during this last, or "Seventieth Week" of Daniel's "Seventy Weeks", that the Tribulation is to occur, and as the "weeks" of the already fulfilled "sixty-nine" weeks, were each "seven years" in length, so this last, or "Seventieth Week, " must be the same. The length then of the "Tribulation Period" should be "seven years, " but Jesus tells us in Matt. 24:22, that for the "ELECT'S SAKE" Those Days Shall Be Shortened. Not the "Elect" of the Church, for they are "caught out" before the Tribulation, but the "Elect" of Israel, the 144, 000 "Sealed Ones" of Rev. 7:1-3.

What was to happen during Daniel's "Seventieth Week" was not revealed to Daniel. He received a communication which he did not understand and was told to "seal the Book up until the Time of the End." Dan. 12:4, Dan. 12:8, Dan. 12:9. All Daniel knew was that the contents of the Book had reference to the "Time of Trouble" that should befall his People at the "Time of the End" (of their sorrows), not the "End of Time." What that "Sealed Book" contained is no longer a Mystery, for the Apostle John saw the "seals" of that Book broken, and was told to record what it contained. The "Seven-Sealed Book" of the Book of Revelation is the Book that Daniel was told to seal up.

It Makes Way for the Revelation of the Antichrist

Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13). When the believers are suddenly removed, the earth will be plunged into spiritual darkness. When this happens, the Antichrist will then be free to control the world.

The tribulation period, seven years total, will change radically in character after 3.5 years of apparent world peace. At that time a false Messiah in Israel will appear on the scene of history (he is the Second Beast of Revelation 13 fulfilling the warning of Jesus, John 5:43, "I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.") This "man of sin" will enter the Holy of Holies of that Third Temple and declare to the world that He is God. He erects an image of the "First Beast" who heads up the political, military and commercial power of Europe. This awful desecration of the temple was predicted by Jesus and is compared by Jesus (Mt. 24:15) to a similar, earlier desecration of the Second Temple by Antiochus Epiphanies (175-163 BC). The mid-trib point is the time for true believers in Jesus who are living in Judea at that time to flee for safety to nearby Jordan where they will be safely guarded by the Lord--while all hell breaks loose back in Israel.

It is an Escape from Divine Wrath

Here are some of the passages which indicate that believers of this Church Age will not be left to suffer the outpouring of God's wrath:

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” - Luke 21:36

“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” - 1 Thessalonians 1:10

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” - 1Thessalonians 5:9

2 Peter 2:6-9 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

In the message to the Church of Philadelphia (Missions Period), God said:

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. - Revelation 3:10

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

Belief in the pre-Tribulation Rapture has nothing to do with a cowardly desire to escape persecution. Scriptural examples and history itself teach us that, when called upon to suffer for the name of Christ, it is actually a privilege to die for Him. In fact, we are being reminded today that more Christians have been persecuted and even put to death in our own generation than in all other periods of church history. For two thousand years God has allowed his people to suffer trials and persecution and even martyrdom. Why, however, should He ask only the final generation of the church to endure an unprecedented time of terrible destruction which is not intended for the church, but as a judgment of unbelieving world?

The belief that the church will be delivered from the Tribulation is based in part on the Biblical pattern that when God pours out His wrath He always gives opportunity for the righteous to escape it. This was true of Noah and his family, of Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of Lot, and even of the pagan Ninevites to whom Jonah was sent.

The church is the Bride of Christ. God intends that she join her Bridegroom for a great wedding feast and after that share with Him in ruling the nations. Allowing His bride to suffer through the tribulation is inconsistent with the specific purposes for which He has called out the church from the world, why He has rescued her "from the coming wrath." (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

Some recent teaching about the Tribulation tries to make a distinction between Satan's wrath, which they say characterizes most of the book of Revelation, and God's wrath which is poured out at the Battle of Armageddon. From their point of view, the church could then be subjected to most of the Tribulation, but delivered from the last part. The problem with this position is that it ascribes to Satan the powers of nature: weather conditions, earthquakes, asteroid collisions, and other "terrors in the heavens." Satan, however, has no power to do anything that has not been appointed for him by God. This theory also fails to notice that the church is missing from the Tribulation.

It is a Motivation for Steadfastness

1. It encourages the believer in trials and persecutions. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
2. It keeps the church’s focus on the Great Commission (Mat. 28:18-20; Mk 16:15; Luke 24:44-48; Acts 1:8). It teaches us that preaching the gospel, winning people to Christ, and establishing churches as the pillar and ground of the truth is the most urgent matter.
3. It motivates us to be busy in the Lord’s work - 1 Cor. 15:58
4. It motivates us to live obedient lives - 1 John. 3:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-7
5. It motivates us to separate from evil - Tit. 2:13-14
6. It keeps believers on the outlook for heresy and apostasy - 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 1 John 2:24-28

It is a Summons to the Judgment Seat of Christ

Romans 14:10-12 says, “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat…so then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” In the context, it is clear that both scriptures are referring to Christians, not unbelievers. The judgment seat of Christ, therefore, involves believers giving an account of their lives to Christ. The judgment seat of Christ does not determine salvation; that was determined by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf (1 John 2:2) and our faith in Him (John 3:16). All of our sins are forgiven, and we will never be condemned for them (Romans 8:1). We should not look at the judgment seat of Christ as God judging our sins, but rather as God rewarding us for our lives. Yes, as the Bible says, we will have to give an account of ourselves.

Participants here are Rewarded, not Condemned

This event will occur immediately following the rapture or resurrection of the church after it is caught up to be with the Lord in the air as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

1. In Luke 14:12-14, reward is associated with the resurrection and the rapture is when the church is resurrected.
2. In Revelation 19:8, when the Lord returns with His bride at the end of the tribulation, she is seen already rewarded. Her reward is described as fine linen, the righteous acts of the saints—undoubtedly the result of rewards.
3. In 2 Timothy 4:8 and 1 Corinthians 4:5, rewards are associated with “that day” and with the Lord’s coming. Again, for the church this means the event of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

It is a Journey to the Marriage of the Lamb

In Luke 12:36, the Word states that when Christ returns, He will be returning from a wedding. In Revelation 19:7-8, we read about the marriage itself. The marriage supper takes place before the marriage. According to Jewish custom, the marriage contract, which often includes a dowry, is drawn up first. The contract parallels the act of faith we use when we trust Jesus to be our Savior. The dowry is His life, which was used to purchase us. When it's time for the wedding, the groom goes to the bride's house unannounced, at night. She comes out to meet him, and then he takes her to his father's house.

This precisely correlates with the events according to the pre-tribulation scenario. Jesus, the Groom, comes down from heaven and calls up the Church, His Bride. After meeting in the air, He and His Bride return to His Father's house, heaven. The marriage supper itself will take place there, while down here on earth the final events of the tribulation will be playing out. After the marriage supper of Jewish tradition, the bride and groom are presented to the world as man and wife. This corresponds to the time when Jesus returns to earth accompanied by an army "clothed in fine linen, white and clean" (Rev 19:14).

What John’s vision in Revelation pictures is the wedding feast of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and His bride (the Church) in its third phase. The implication is that the first two phases have already taken place. The first phase was completed on earth when each individual believer placed his or her faith in Christ as Savior. The dowry paid to the Bridegroom’s Parent (God the Father) would be the blood of Christ shed on the Bride’s behalf. The Church on earth today, then, is “betrothed” to Christ and, like the wise virgins in the parable, all believers should be watching and waiting for the appearance of the Bridegroom (the Second Coming). The second phase symbolizes the Rapture of the Church, when Christ comes to claim His bride and take her to the Father's house. The marriage supper then follows as the third and final step. Except for the post tribulation folks, who believe Christ has to beat the tar out of his bride to make sure she was faithful and to prove if she ‘really’ loves Him – Just don’t sound right, does it.

To truly appreciate what it must have meant to Jesus' disciples when He taught them about His Kingdom using marriage metaphors, or to Paul's readers when he described Christ as the husband of the Church, we need to discover what marriage and courtship were like in First Century Israel. When we compare what we discover to the calling out of the Church by the Lord Jesus, we find an amazing parallel, in which virtually every aspect of the ancient Jewish tradition is fulfilled.

Ancient Jewish Customs and Parallel to the Church

It is a Journey to Our Eternal Home

In the pre tribulation scenario, after we rise to meet the Lord in the air, we will go to heaven and abide there seven years. At the end of that period, Christ will come down to earth, defeat the Antichrist, and cleanse the temple. In a post tribulation rapture, we would rise in the air to meet the Lord, then do a 180-degree U-turn and come back down to earth so we can be subject to his wrath. Revelation 1:7 states that Christ will appear out of the clouds and come down to earth. Zechariah 14:4 says that His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. If He's already headed our way, why would we need to be caught up to meet Him?

It will Promote us to be Co – Rulers with Christ

Replacementism is the view that Israel, having failed God, has been replaced by the Church. The Church is now seen as spiritual Israel and spiritual Jerusalem. This teaching claims that all the promises and blessings, in fact Israel's entire inheritance, now belongs to the Church. However, all is not lost for Israel; it gets to keep all the curses.

Dispensational theology, taught by nearly all pre-tribulationists, teaches that God has separate strategies for dealing with the Church and the Jews. When you consider the change in focus, during the tribulation, from the Church to Israel, the pre tribulation rapture provides a good explanation for this transfer of attention.

To say that Israel is no longer God's chosen people is really playing with fire because the Antichrist will likely be saying the same thing when he tries to destroy the Jews during the tribulation. I look for people that hold to replacementism to be in the cheering section when the Beast goes on his Jew-killing campaign.

"For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance." - Psalm 94:14

"Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. - Jeremiah 31:35-36

The phrase "the time of Jacob's trouble" is a quote from Jeremiah 30:7 which says:

, "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it." - Jeremiah 30:7

Turning to the Old Testament we find in Jer. 30:4-6, that the time of "Jacob's Trouble," is compared in its sufferings to the "birth-pangs" of a woman. In Ezekiel 26:34 it is spoken of as the time when-Israel shall "Pass under the Rod;" and in Ezekiel 22:19-21, we read how that God is going to cast Israel into His "Melting Pot, " where they are to be refined as "gold is refined." See also Mal. 3:1-3, and Zech. 13:9. Daniel speaks of it as a "Time of Trouble" for his people, the Jews. Dan. 12:1.

From these references we see that "The Great Tribulation" is something that has to do with the Jewish people, and is a judgment through which they must pass as a "refining process" to fit them to again be God's chosen people. Indirectly the Gentiles will be affected by it, but the Church will be "caught out" before that "Great and Terrible Day of the Lord."

In Jeremiah 30, we find that the Lord is speaking to Jeremiah the prophet about Judah and Israel (30:3-4). In verse 3, the Lord promises that one day in the future, He will bring both Judah and Israel back to the land that He had promised their forefathers. Verse 5 describes a time of great fear and trembling. Verse 6 describes this time in a way that pictures men going through the pains of childbirth, again indicating a time of agony. But there is hope for Judah and Israel, for though this is called "the time of Jacob's trouble", the Lord promises He will save Jacob (referring to Judah and Israel) out of this time of great trouble (verse 7). In Jeremiah 30:10-11 the Lord says:

‘Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.”

Jeremiah 30:7 says, "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.” The only time period that fits this description is the period of the Tribulation. This time is unparalleled in history.

Jesus described the Tribulation using some of the same imagery as Jeremiah. In Matthew 24:6-8, He stated that the appearance of false christ, wars and rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes are "the beginning of birth pains."

Paul, too, described the Tribulation as birth pains. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 says, "While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." This event follows the Rapture and the removal of the Church, in 4:13-18. In 5:9-10, Paul reemphasizes the absence of the Church from this time period by saying, For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." The wrath spoken of here is God's judgment on the unbelieving world and His discipline of Israel during the Tribulation.

These “birth pains” are described in detail in Revelation 6-12 Part of the purpose of the Tribulation is to bring Israel back to the Lord.

For the nation of Israel this will be the worst time in it's entire history. The Antichrist (counterfeit Messiah) will be the Jews' worst persecutor as he attempts to thwart the fulfillment of God's pledge of salvation and a kingdom for Israel. After posing as their protector for the first half of the Tribulation Period, he will Break His Covenant with them (Dan. 9:27). He will then unleash a persecution unparalleled in history.

The Centrality of Israel and Jewish People during The Tribulation

That's also what Zechariah talked about when he wrote “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn (Zech. 12:10).

Both these prophets saw Israel's repentance and God's grace for Israel.

A great body of converted people, from all the nations, are mentioned several times in the book of the Revelation, after the Rapture of the church. Usually they are called the "Saints." They are saved, Jews and Gentiles alike, but they are not referred to as the church, nor are any of the usual descriptions of the church attached to them. The apostate church of the period will be corrupt, and will give its influence to Antichrist (Revelation 18), so these Tribulation Saints will not in any way be associated with this apostate church left behind at the Rapture, the great harlot of Revelation 17.

The theme of Israel's place during the tribulation period, illustrate the centrality of Israel and Jewish people during this period of time:

1. It is synonymous with Daniel's 70th Week - Daniel 9:27; Revelation 13
2. The 144,000 Sealed from the 12 Tribes of Israel - Revelation 7:1-8
3. The Two Witnesses - probably Old Testament leaders - Moses and Elijah - Revelation 11:1-12
4. Flight of Israel - Revelation 12
5. Treaty with Israel, Defilement of the Temple - Revelation 13

It has long been observed that about one-third of the Bible is prophecy, and the majority of those prophecies have not yet been fulfilled.

In addition, nearly all of those unfulfilled prophecies pertain to the descendants of Abraham in general—and Jacob in particular—and to other nations and entities only as they encounter the descendants of these patriarchs.

Population of The Millennium by mortal believers

If the Rapture took place at, or near the end of the Tribulation, all believers would have glorified bodies, and there would be no righteous mortals left to enter the Millennium!

Differences between The Rapture and The 2nd Coming

   

Where is the Church found in each event?

Where does Jesus appear in each event?

Who is taken and who is left behind?

What will Jesus do at each event?

When does the Marriage of the Lamb take place?

How long will each event be?

Who will see Jesus at each event?

Will Jesus shout?

Will there be a resurrection at each?

What about the timing of each event?

What role will the angels of Heaven have?

What about the resurrected bodies?

White horse for Jesus or no white horse for Jesus?

What is the message each event will bring for mankind?

2 Peter. 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

1 Cor. 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

1 Thess. 3:13 "...so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

1 Thess. 4:15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.

1 Thess. 5:23 “May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Thess. 2:1-2 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

James 5: 7-8 Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

2 Peter 3:3-4 First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation."

2 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”

Matthew 24:3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?"

Matthew 24:27 “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man.”

Matthew 24:37 “As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man.”

With power and great glory

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." - Matthew 24:29-31

Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one." - Zechariah 14:1-9

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." - Revelation 19:11-16

The Church is missing from The Tribulation - Revelation 4-19

In the first three chapters of Revelation, there are constant references to the church and to the Seven Churches. However, starting at chapter 4, verse 1, where John is told to "come up here," the church is obviously absent throughout the Tribulation period. The expression "come up here" does mean leaving the earth in Revelation 11:12 where the translation of the Two Witnesses takes place. (We are not suggesting that the Rapture takes place in chapter 11, only that the same expression, used there, does mean virtually the same thing for the Two Witnesses that the Rapture does to the church.)

There are numerous references to believers in these chapters, but they are not called the church. What might be called the church on the earth during this time is the apostate shell of left behind unsaved church goers, who have joined with other religions of the world to become a "United Religion," which, in turn will give its power to Antichrist. This apostate church is pictured as a prostitute riding the beast in Revelation 18.

FUTURE EVENTS

The Rapture of "The Church". The dead in Christ are raised and the generation of living believers is translated. The judgment seat of Christ is set and rewards are given to believers for faithful service (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11).

The apostate Christian church flourishes during the first half of the tribulation period, in league with the political power of the revived Roman Empire. (Revelation l7:1-7).

Daniel's seventieth week begins as Israel enters the tribulation period (Daniel 9:27). This time period is seven years in duration. Israel's "time of Jacob's trouble" (Matthew 24:9-14). The first three and one-half years of the seven-year period comprising Daniel's seventieth week is a time of apparent peace under Antichrist's treaty, which Isaiah called Israel's "Covenant of Death." (Revelation 6:1-9:12). The temple is rebuilt and the Levitical system of priesthood and offerings begins again (Daniel 9:27).

World chaos occurs as a result of the rapture of the church which makes possible the rise of a new world leader, the Antichrist (2 Thess. 2, Revelation 6:1-16). The ancient Roman Empire revives as the political Antichrist arises out of the midst of the ten-nation confederation. This is the feet-part-of-iron-and-part-of clay period of the times of the Gentiles (Daniel 2:33, 41-42; 7:24).

Failure of the peace treaty occurs as the False Prophet announces in the Third Temple that he himself is God, and calls for worship of the world military/political ruler, the "First Beast." (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15-28; Revelation 11:1-18:24). Incarnate evil is now manifest as the First Beast of Revelation 13. His image is set up in the third temple in Jerusalem and he demands worship as god (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:1-10). Many come to Christ world-wide spiritual awakening during the last part of the tribulation period, the latter rain of the Spirit, (James 5:7-8; Joel 2:23; Zechariah 10:1; Hosea 6:3). During the tribulation period the 144,000 Jewish missionaries are saved and sealed (Revelation 7:1-8); they preach the gospel during the entire tribulation period (Matthew 24 14). Many Jews and Gentiles, are saved and make up a great body of saints of God who are martyred by the Antichrist (Daniel 7:21, 25; Revelation 7:9-17). The Jews must endure their greatest trials ever in this "Time of Jacob's trouble." The second half of the tribulation is known as "the Great Tribulation" period.

During the first 3 1/2 years of the 7 year period (a thousand two hundred and threescore days) 70th week of Daniels prophecy, God will send two witnesses to speak and prophesy on the earth. Moses and Elijah are seen as possibilities for the two witnesses due to the witnesses' power to turn water into blood (Revelation 11:6), which Moses is known for (Exodus 7:19), and their power to destroy people with fire (Revelation 11:5), which Elijah is known for (2 Kings 1:10, 2 Kings 1:12). And Elijah’s stopping the rain for 3 ½ years (Revelation 11:6, Luke 4:24, James 5:17).

Also giving strength to this view is the fact that Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:3-4). Moses represents the law. Elijah represents the prophets. Jesus represents the fulfillment of both. Jewish tradition expected Moses and Elijah to return in the future. Malachi 4:5 predicted the return of Elijah, and the Jews who believed that God’s promise to raise up a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18:18) necessitated the return of Moses.

Both Elijah [Drought - 1 Kings 17:1, Fire - 1 Kings 18:38] and Moses [Water into Blood-Exodus 7:20, Many Plagues. 1 Samuel 4:8] had their ministries interrupted. Both Elijah and Moses were shown to be in “hot stand by”, at the Transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17:3, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36. Together Moses and Elijah would represent “The Law” and “The Prophets” (Matt 7:12 ) also complying with the “Two Witness” requirement of Deuteronomy 17:6. ( Also Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:16, 2 Corinthians 13:1. )

Most often, the Old Testament is referred to as the law and the prophets (see Matt 5:17; Matt 7:12; Matt 22:40; John 1:45; Acts 13:15; Acts 24:14; Acts 28:13; John 1:45; Romans 3:21) A reference to the law and the prophets was a shortened reference to the entire Old Testament.

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” – Luke 24:27

Enoch and Elijah are seen as possibilities for the two witnesses because they are the two individuals whom God has taken to heaven apart from experiencing death. (Genesis 5:23; 2 Kings 2:11) The fact that neither Enoch or Elijah have experienced death seems to qualify them to experience death and resurrection, as the two witnesses experience (Revelation 11:7-12). Proponents of this view claim that:

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” - Hebrews 9:27

And this disqualifies Moses from being one of the two witnesses, as Moses has died once already (Deuteronomy 34:5). However, we just got through speaking of a whole generation of believers, that at the Rapture, who will not see death:

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 Corinthians 15:51

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

So there is really no reason why Moses should be eliminated on this basis. Besides that, Enoch who was before Abraham, was not “Jewish”, and these two Witnesses are “Jewish” prophets empowered for the purpose to call a secular Israel to return to the LORD. Moses to teach the true meaning of "the Law" to the religious but lost house of Israel, and Elijah to call the secular desendant of Jacob from the humanist religion of the state. Together they call out and train the 144,000 evangelest during the first of the tribulation time. Remember, after the Rapture, they will be no Messianic Jew left in Israel, and the Temple that is rebuilt at this point in time, would be run by those who know not the spirit of God. just saying.

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
Revelation 11:1-13

Israel, faithful to her orthodox faith, is severely persecuted by the Antichrist during the great tribulation period (Jeremiah 30:57; Daniel 12:1; Zechariah 13:8; Matthew 24:21-22). Many in Israel flee and are protected by the nations, especially Jordan. The godly remnant takes refuge there, probably at the city of Petra. (Matthew 24:15-20; Revelation 12:6,13-17).

Great judgments from God rain from the heavens and demonic hordes are unloosed on mankind during "the great and terrible Day of the Lord," a time when God judges the unbelieving world. Most of the human race is destroyed. The fall of commercial Babylon occurs toward the close of the great tribulation (Revelation 18:1-24). The apostate church is destroyed (Revelation 17:1-6).

The nations of the world invade Israel and hostilities erupt between them and the forces of the Antichrist. The battle of Armageddon and the doom of the Antichrist occur. (Daniel 11:44-45; Revelation 16:12-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 19:19). One third of the Jewish people recognize Jesus as Messiah and are rescued, Zechariah 12-14, but two thirds will be cut off and perish in the wine-press of God's wrath.

The second coming of Christ, in power and glory, with his church and armies of heaven, ends the times of the Gentiles (Daniel 2:44; 7:9-13, 22-28; Revelation 19:11-16). Jesus returns to the Mount of Olives bringing also the faithful remnant of Jews from Edom, Isaiah 63, Revelation 19:11, Zechariah 14.

The warring armies of the world are slain by Jesus, the Commander of the Armies of God Antichrist and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 19:20-20:10).

The Gentile nations are judged on the basis of their treatment of God's covenant people Israel, during the times of the Gentiles (Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus rules the nations, "with a rod of iron" for 1000 years. Satan and his evil angels are bound and removed to the abyss, Revelation 20. The battered earth is rebuilt and repopulated with God's servants serving him as kings and priests among the nations. Satan bound. The 1000 years is a time of great prosperity and blessing. Israel is chief of the nations. The world capital is Jerusalem, and Jesus is on the throne of His father David.

All judgment of mankind is committed to the Lord Jesus Christ.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. ne good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
- John 5:21-30

Judged according to what they had done

The Great White Throne Judgment is a trial, set in the future, for all people who have rejected God's Call to salvation. Every person who has lived upon earth and has refused to accept God's way to redemption from sin, will kneel before their Creator at this time, and acknowledge that He is God--that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The great white throne judgment is described in Revelation 20:11-15 and is the final judgment prior to the lost being cast into the lake of fire. We know from Revelation 20:7-15 that this judgment will take place after the millennium and after Satan, the beast, and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10). The books that are opened (Revelation 20:12) contain records of everyone’s deeds, whether they are good or evil, because God knows everything that has ever been said, done, or even thought, and He will reward or punish each one accordingly (Psalm 28:4; 62:12; Romans 2:6; Revelation 2:23; 18:6; 22:12).

No person who has not been saved by acceptance of the Lord Jesus' sacrifice on the cross will escape this horrifying judgment against sin. The Lord Jesus foretold of this moment.

"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." - Matthew 7:23

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life.
Revelation 20:5-15

Or how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thougtht worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God -- HEBREWS 10:29

That is the central question in life: Is your name written in the Lamb's book of life? Beside this one issue, everything else pales in comparison. Your name is written in that book when you accept Jesus as your savoir

No one needs to face the lake of fire. No one has to go into the Abyss. It is a choice we all make in this life. If we refuse the Savior, reject his offer of forgiveness, God can only give us the fate we demand.

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" - Matthew 25:41



"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." - Matthew 25:46

The Concept of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture

There are several problems with this argument.

The first is that it ignores the fact that the Bible teaches that end time prophecies will not be understood until the time comes for the predicted events to take place.

When the prophet Daniel was given some specific prophecies about the end times, he complained to the Lord that he did not understand them. The Lord responded with these words:

“And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. - Daniel 12:9.

Thes second fault in this theory is not knowing Church History. After the adoption of “Christianity” by the secular leadership after Constantine, the notion that Jesus was to literally return to rule the earth and free it from Satan’s evil world system was not popular with the administration in power. It was not “politically correct.” Origen’s system of allegorical interpretation led to Augustine’s amillennial views of prophecy, which became a tradition that would dominate the church for over a thousand years.

The contention that the church was the inheritors of Israel’s promises—and therefore must take ultimate authority over the political powers of this world—became the preoccupation of the Medieval Church. Even the Reformation, despite its effective focus on salvation by faith alone, failed to reexamine and return to a literal, pre-millennial eschatology.

Waiting on Events

In like manner, before modern times, how could anyone understand the prophecy in Revelation 11 about the killing and resurrection of the two witnesses of God? That prophecy says that the whole world will look upon their bodies and witness their resurrection and rapture to Heaven (Revelation 11:9-12). No one could understand this prophecy before the development of satellite television communication in the 1960's. In summary, the Bible clearly teaches that the understanding of end time prophecy will be progressive in nature. We will understand more of the prophecies the closer we get to the time of their fulfillment.

Waiting on Proper Interpretation

This spiritualizing approach to the interpretation of Bible prophecy proceeded to dominate theology for the next thousand years. Protestants adopted it after the Reformation and expressed it in the Postmillennial view that emerged in the mid-17th Century. Both Amillennialism and Postmillennialism are based on the assumption that Bible prophecy does not mean what it says. The Second Coming prophecies were dismissed as allegorical or symbolic or apocalyptic. Which, to us, meant that they had to be spiritualized.

The Impact of Literal Interpretation

The discovery of the distinction which the Bible makes between the Rapture and the Second Coming had to await the revival of the application of literal interpretation to Bible prophecy. The writings of the Church Fathers during the first 300 years of church history (100 AD to 400 AD) reveal that they interpreted prophecy for its plain sense meaning. Accordingly, they were nearly all Premillennialists.

The revival of literal interpretation began in earnest among the Puritans in the 17th Century, and it quickly led to an understanding that the Rapture would be an event separate from and preceding the Second Coming. Puritan leader, Increase Mather (1639-1723), argued "that the saints would be caught up into the air" and thus escape the world's final conflagration.

Most people in the post tribulation camp, seem to believe that the concept of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture originated in the writings of C. I. Scofield, as expressed in his famous study Bible that was published in 1909. It is true that Scofield's writing helped to popularize the idea, but he was by no means the originator of it.

Historical Development

The Modern Pre-Tribulation View

The Dissemination of the View

Attacks on the View

Ancient Examples of the Concept

Whosoever

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The choice is yours