Question: Why do we belive that the Rapture will be before the Tribulation
Answer: The Lord Jesus said in Revelation: "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. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." -Rev 3:10-11
There are many different views regarding matters of eschatology. None of us know exactly the place in time when the rapture will take place but there is a 99.9% chance that the Rapture will occur right before the Tribulation begins because we are to watch and look for the Lord's appearing.
Titus 2:13 says "looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;"
The Early New Testament church used the greeting "Maranatha!" to greet one another. Maranatha is comprised of three Aramaic words: "Mar" ("Lord"), "ana" ("our"), and "tha" ("come"), meaning "our Lord, come." Such a greeting supports the pre-trib view because "Maranatha" only makes sense if at any moment the Lord Jesus could return.
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.
-1Th 4:17
The Bible teaches us that the major purpose of the seven year Tribulation Period is to bring about the resoration of Israel. (Deut. 4:29-30; Jer. 30:4-11). The Church has experienced tribulations and persecutions over the centuries and is experiencing it even during this present age (John 16:33), but the Church is never mentioned in the Old or New Testaments as participating in Israel's time of trouble (the Great Tribulation, the Day of the Lord, Jacob's Trouble, Wrath of God, etc.) In Scripture, regarding the Great Tribulation, the Church is never mentioned. While Israel is throughout the passages regarding the Tribulation period.
"The Tribulation does not deal with the Church at all, but with the purification of Israel. It is not the "time of the Church's trouble," but the "time of Jacob's trouble." The emphasis of the Tribulation is primarily Jewish. This fact is borne out by Old Testament Scriptures (Deut. 4: 30; Jer. 30: 7; Ezek. 20: 37; Dan. 12:1; Zech. 13:8-9), by the Olivet Discourse of Christ (Matt. 24:9-26), and by the book of Revelation itself (Rev. 7:4-8; 12:1-2; 17, etc.). It concerns "Daniel's people," the coming of "false Messiah," the preaching of the "gospel of the kingdom," flight on the "sabbath," the temple and the "holy place," the land of Judea, the city of Jerusalem, the twelve "tribes of the children of Israel," the "son of Moses," "signs" in the heavens, the "covenant" with the Beast, the "sanctuary," the "sacrifice and the oblation" of the temple ritual. These all speak of Israel and clearly demonstrate that the Tribulation is largely a time when God deals with His ancient people prior to their entrance into the promised kingdom. The many Old Testament prophecies yet to be fulfilled for Israel further indicate a future time when God will deal with this nation (Deut. 30:1-6; Jer. 30:8-10, etc.)." ~Gerald B. Stanton, Kept From The Hour: Biblical Evidence for the Pretribulational Return of Christ, 4th edition (Miami Springs, FL: Schoettle Publishing Company, 1991), pp. 35-36.
Let's look at the Pretribulation position:
"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. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."-Rev 3:10-11
Hour of temptation which shall come upon ALL THE WORLD is definitely the Tribulation Period. And the Lord Jesus promises to keep us from the hour of temptation which shall come upon ALL THE WORLD. We are to be ready for at any moment the Lord can appear...The imminency of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If the Rapture is to take place mid-trib or post-trib, as some believe, then we would be looking for the antichrist's appearing first and not for the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If the antichrist is to be revealed first before the Rapture, then it would be obvious to the Christians that the Lord Jesus will soon return... but Jesus will come in hour when we think not. The Bible says to watch and look for Jesus' appearing.
Let's take a look at some more verses:
"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 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. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."
-Rev 3:8.10-11
"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," -1 Thessalonians 5:9
Christians are to watch and look for the Lord's appearing for Jesus can appear at any time. There is nothing that has to take place first in order for Him to return. This is Biblical. The saints, for over 2000 years, have been looking for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have been expectantly awaiting His return. They have not been looking for antichrist but instead have been looking for the Lord Jesus Christ and waiting for Him with anticipation.
The book of Revelation records a very unique event that takes place in Heaven in chapters 4 and 5. It is the opening of the book with seven seals:
"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." -Rev 5:1-5
No one is found worthy to open the seals and to reveal the contents of the book until Jesus steps forward for HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS WORTHY:
"And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
- Rev 5:7-10
This is a very special event that takes place in heaven. It precedes the judgment of the whole earth...The Great Tribulation. It would make perfect sense that the church, the Bride of Christ, is among the ten thousands of ten thousands in Heaven singin this song. For such a Special event ...The Opening of the Scrolls...to occur in Heaven without the present Church of faithful believers (that dwell upon the earth now) would make the total count in attendance incomplete. True Christians love the Lord and eagerly awaiting His appearing. I repeat, for us to be excluded from such a special event in Heaven would make the attendance of those present in Heaven incomplete. We too are the Bride of Christ. The Tribulation period is a time of judgment and wrath and we are not appointed to wrath. Jesus will keep us from the hour of temptation that will try the earth...this, He promised.
Imminency:
The Bible has numerous passages which refer to the fact that Jesus could come at any moment. Many Bible scholars refer to this as "Imminency" (which strongly argues the pre-trib position...consistant with the New Testament) which means that other things may happen before the imminent event, but nothing else must take place before it happens.
"The fact that the glorified, holy Son of God could step through the door of heaven at any-moment is intended by God to be the most pressing, incessant motivation for holy living and aggressive ministry (including missions, evangelism and Bible teaching) and the greatest cure for lethargy and apathy. It should make a major difference in every Christian's values, actions, priorities and goals." ~Dr. Renald Showers
Let's take a look at the Mid-Trib theory:
Let's take the Post-Trib theory:
"Conclusion:
The only answer, taken from the Bible, is that ALL of us will already be raptured before the tribulation period and taken to heaven, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will then take place and then the saints shall return with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords...the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Rapture must take place before the Tribulation and definitely before Armageddon. This is why the Post-Trib theory has even more holes than the Mid-Tribulational theory. It does not hold water in light of what Scripture says.
The Lord Jesus is coming back to earth with His Saints at the end of the Tribulation period to execute judgment upon all of Israel's enemies:
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." -Zech 12:9-10
Tommy Ice, Executive Director of the Pre-Trib Research Center in Washington, D.C. states: "The Rapture is characterized in the New Testament as a "translation coming" (1 Corinthians 15:51- 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) in which the Lord comes for His church, taking her to His Father's House (John 14:3). However, at Christ's Second Coming with His saints, He descends from heaven to set up His Messianic Kingdom on earth (Zechariah 14:4-5; Matthew 24:27-31). The differences between the two events are harmonized naturally by the "pre-trib" position, while other views are not able to account comfortably for such differences."
Many people confuse the rapture with the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
From the above chart, one can see that there are two distinct appearings of the Lord. One is the rapture of the church, in which the Lord Jesus will not touch the earth but will call His Bride to meet Him in the air. And then there is the Second Coming, in which the Lord Jesus will come down to earth and destroy all of Israel's enemies and will rule and reign from Jerusalem. These are two separate appearings of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are called to be ready at all times for we do not know when Jesus will return for us. What is known is that He promised to return. The Lord keeps His promises. May we be ever ready to meet the Lord Jesus in the air. May we expectantly await to meet the Lord in the air. May we pray fervently from our hearts, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus."
Titus 2:13 says "looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;"
"Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." Luke 12:40 |
