A Case for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture
While we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious
appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ
Titus 2:13
In my last post, I talked about the Day of the Lord and how believers would not be around when it began. Believers will not be around because I think the Rapture will happen before the Tribulation. Not everyone agrees with my thinking, so I want to make a case for why I believe a Pre-Trib Rapture is Biblical.
The word Rapture is not mentioned in the Bible. The term comes from a Latin word meaning "to be caught up" or "to snatch away." The concept of being "raptured" or "caught up" is clearly taught in Scripture. Many Biblical scholars agree that there will be a Rapture, but are divided on when it will take place. Today, I will only focus on what view I believe to be accurate, but anyone is welcome to give their reasons for why they think differently.
So that you know, I was raised with the Pre-Tribulation view. I temporarily considered other views and listened to arguments, but in the end, decided Pre-Trib Rapture was the most compelling. I will briefly give ten reasons:
THE RAPTURE IS IMMINENT--can happen at any time so be ready
Keep watch for you don't know the day your Lord is coming (Matt 24:42)
No one knows the day or hour these things will happen...and since you don't know, be on your guard! Stay alert! (Mark 13:32-33)
You must be ready all the time for the Son of Man will come when least expected (Luke 12:40)
SCRIPTURE NEVER SAYS THE CHURCH WILL GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION
THE CHURCH IS ABSENT IN THE DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIBULATION--the Church is talked about more than twenty times in the first three chapters of Revelation and is not mentioned in chapters 4-19, where the Tribulation is described in great detail
THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IS CALLED THE DAY OF WRATH--and the Church is kept from the wrath to come
That day will be a day of wrath...(Zeph 1:15)
...Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath (1 Thess 1:10)
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath...(1 Thess 5:9)
THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IS PART OF THE DAY OF THE LORD--Paul stresses to the Thessalonian believers that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night and those who live in darkness will be surprised. But those who live in the light will not be surprised. Paul even said he didn't really need to write to them about it. He had just finished telling them that those who were alive when the Lord returns would be caught up in the clouds to be with the Lord forever. So believers will be with the Lord when the Tribulation begins
We who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess 4:17)
Now brothers and sisters, about the times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (1 Thess 5:2)
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness so that day should surprise you like a thief (1 Thess 5:4)
THE END OF THE AGE WILL BE LIKE THE DAYS OF NOAH--Noah and his family were removed from the flood because they got on the ark.
God wiped out every living thing from the earth. The only ones who survived were Noah and those with him in the boat (Gen 7:23)
When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah's day (Matt 24:37)
THE END OF THE AGE WILL BE LIKE THE DAYS OF LOT--Lot and his family were removed from Sodom before it was destroyed
When Lot hesitated, the angels grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and led them safely out of the city (Gen 19:16)
And the world will be like it was in the days of Lot (Luke 17:28)
THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB HAPPENS BEFORE CHRIST RETURNS--the Church is the bride of Christ and the wedding feast happens in heaven before He returns
For the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready (Rev 19:7)
Heaven opened and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True...the armies of heaven followed Him on white horses (Rev 19:11,14)
Then the Lord will go out to fight against the nations; His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:3-4)
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS REMOVED BEFORE THE TRIBULATION BEGINS--the Antichrist will reveal himself when the Restrainer is taken out of the way and not until then. I believe the Holy Spirit is the Restrainer. Jack Kelley says in his article, Who is the Restrainer?:
When speaking about the power holding the anti-Christ back in verse 6, the Greek word Paul used is in the neuter gender. But in verse 7 he used personal pronouns of the masculine gender to describe the one exercising the power. By this we conclude that whoever is restraining the appearance of the anti-Christ has to be a living entity, not a thing. And he has to be very powerful since according to verse 9 the anti-Christ’s appearance is a work of Satan.
The man of lawlessness will only be revealed when his time comes (2 Thess 2:6)
He will remain a secret until the Restrainer steps out of the way (2 Thess 2:7)
AT THE RAPTURE, JESUS COMES FOR HIS CHURCH; WHEN HE RETURNS TO EARTH TO REIGN, JESUS COMES WITH HIS CHURCH--the Church will return to earth when Jesus does because Scripture says after we are caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, we will be with Him forever
We who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thess 4:17)
The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean (Rev 19:14)
CONCLUSION
I have presented ten reasons why I am convinced the Rapture will take place before the Tribulation begins. Jesus says, "I am coming quickly." And believers respond, "Amen. Come Lord Jesus." (Rev 22:20)