Have you ever noticed just how many teachings there are out there concerning the Rapture of the Church?
Sure, the Bible makes it crystal clear that one day Jesus will return and gather up all those who are saved and take them to Heaven to live with Him forever. But, the when and the where and how’s of it all… so many different and even conflicting views. Which are fact, and which are merely opinion?
During these times of confusion and indecision, sometimes you just have to get away, take a walk, and spend some time thinking it through.
For me, after long study, I’ve come to believe in what’s called the Pre-Tribulation Rapture view, meaning this “gathering up” of Christians will occur before God’s judgment falls upon the world in, according to the Prophet Daniel, a 7-year time period known as the Tribulation. But…
Why do I believe in a Pre-Trib Rapture?
I have my reasons, 10 to be exact. All are founded on the conviction that the Bible is the very Word of God, that it should always be interpreted literally, and firmly rooted in Jesus’ ironclad promise that He will indeed return. All preclude a spiritualized interpretation of the Scriptures. Doing so merely results in imaginative nonsense. Let’s talk through these reasons and see if they help provide clarity.
1) The Rapture and Second Coming are different events.
Some claim the Rapture and Second Coming are the exact same event occurring at the very end of the Tribulation, the Post-Tribulation Rapture view. And yet, read all the verses which cover Christ’s return and you’ll encounter two very different scenarios. The verses actually describe Christ’s return happening in two stages — the Rapture and later the Second Coming — separated by a period of time.
2) The Rapture can occur at any time without warning.
Jesus stated in Matthew 24 to “keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come,” indicating Jesus will arrive when nobody’s expecting. Not expecting? How can that be when the Second Coming is preceded by exactly seven years to the day worth of events such as the rise of the Antichrist, plagues, wars, and earthquakes which destroy most of the world? The Rapture happens imminently and without warning, while the Second Coming has to be preceded by many years’ worth of signs. The two then cannot possibly be the same event.
3) The Rapture removes the Restrainer.
Second Thessalonians teaches that God’s restraining influence will be taken away when the Antichrist rises to power. Christ restrains the evil of this world today through the Church. Therefore, the Church will need to be removed — raptured — before the Antichrist’s seven year reign can even begin.
4) The Tribulation is for Israel’s redemption.
Jeremiah 30 describes the Tribulation as the “time of Jacob’s trouble.” Revelation 12 portrays Israel fleeing from the Antichrist’s persecutions. And, the Battle of Armageddon pits all the nations of the world against Israel. Israel is repeatedly the focal point of the Tribulation and the center of God’s work of redemption, not the Church.
5) The Church is missing on earth during the Tribulation.
Like the Flood was, the Tribulation stands apart as God’s second great judgment upon a rebellious world. It’s the very wrath of God. True, believers have endured suffering all throughout history, but never actually from God’s wrath. Revelation 3 confirms that Christians are promised never to have to endure the Tribulation, proven in the fact that there’s no mention whatsoever of the Church throughout Revelation chapters 6-18 which describe the events of the Tribulation.
6) The Church is busy in Heaven during the Tribulation.
While the earth faces God’s judgments, the Bible reveals the Church will be quite busy up in Heaven engaged in three events: a judgment for rewards, a celebratory Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and preparing to return to earth with Jesus. None of these three have anything do with living on a world that’s being destroyed.
7) The Millennial Kingdom needs to be repopulated.
If all the Tribulation believers are raptured up to Heaven at the Second Coming and given glorified bodies, bodies which cannot reproduce, then who is left to repopulate the following Millennial Kingdom? The Rapture cannot possibly happen Post-Tribulation then, for no more children would be born.
8) God’s wrath lasts the entire seven years.
There are those who claim God’s wrath is poured out over just a few of the seven years of the Tribulation, so the Rapture must occur 3 and a half or even 5-plus years into the Tribulation. But, these Mid-Trib and Pre-Wrath Rapture views tend to forget that Jesus Himself breaks the seals which launch all 21 of Revelation’s judgments. The final Seven Bowl Judgments are said to finish the wrath of God, not begin His wrath. Because all these judgments are initiated by Jesus Himself, God’s wrath lasts the entire seven years, wrath the Church is promised not to have to endure.
9) Faithful examples removed from God’s wrath.
Enoch was raptured before the Flood. Noah and his family were removed from the Flood waters. Lot and his family were made to leave Sodom and Gomorrah before God incinerated these towns. Rahab and family were set apart when Joshua’s army invaded Jericho. Again and again, the biblical examples show God removes believers from His wrath, instead of making them suffer through His wrath.
10) The Pre-Tribulation Rapture view is not new.
Some will argue that the Pre-Tribulation Rapture view is just “too new” to be true, crediting it to John Darby some 200 years ago. But, is that assessment historically accurate? Not at all! The Pre-Tribulation Rapture view is a reawakening of the long ignored teachings of Jesus and the Apostles.
Invitation
Feeling better? More clear? Hopefully our walk has confirmed or challenged some of your beliefs in the Rapture. Bear in mind, though, that one’s end-time views have no bearing on the doctrine of salvation. What is to be celebrated is that our salvation will one day lead us upwards to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ forever and ever.
Have you grabbed hold of that salvation? Will you then be part of the Rapture? Or, have you rejected Jesus and so will be left behind to endure the Tribulation? Jesus leaves the choice to you.
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