Eschatology and Eschatology and EcclesiologyEcclesiology

Rapture Systems – Part IRapture Systems – Part I

Key QuestionsKey Questions

Is there a distinction between the Is there a distinction between the Church and Israel?Church and Israel?

When does God’s wrath begin?When does God’s wrath begin? How is the Church protected from How is the Church protected from

God’s wrath?God’s wrath? Is the Church in Christ’s Olivet Is the Church in Christ’s Olivet

Discourse?Discourse?

Review of the TribulationReview of the Tribulation

3.5 Years 3.5 YearsBeginning of Birth Pangs

The Great Tribulation

Abomination of Desolation

Rapture of the Church

Return of ChristAntichrist as leader

of revived Roman EmpireAntichrist as dictatorof the world

Posttribulational RapturePosttribulational Rapture

The Tribulation Period

Rapture of the Church

Return of Christ

3.5 Years 3.5 Years

Varieties of Posttribulational Varieties of Posttribulational TheologyTheology Classic Posttribulational TheologyClassic Posttribulational Theology

J Barton Payne, J Barton Payne, Imminent Appearing of ChristImminent Appearing of Christ Tribulation period is spiritualized and applied to the Church, so that Tribulation period is spiritualized and applied to the Church, so that

it can be both past and an ongoing present reality.it can be both past and an ongoing present reality. Second coming is imminent.Second coming is imminent.

Semi-classic Posttribulational TheologySemi-classic Posttribulational Theology Alexander Reese, Alexander Reese, The Approaching Advent of ChristThe Approaching Advent of Christ Church is already in the Tribulation, but some aspects are still Church is already in the Tribulation, but some aspects are still

future.future. Because some prophetic events remain to be fulfilled, second Because some prophetic events remain to be fulfilled, second

coming is not imminent.coming is not imminent. Blurs distinction between Church and IsraelBlurs distinction between Church and Israel

Futurist Posttribulational Theology (Most Popular)Futurist Posttribulational Theology (Most Popular) George Eldon Ladd, George Eldon Ladd, The Blessed HopeThe Blessed Hope Tribulation is a literal, future 7 year period, with Christ returning at Tribulation is a literal, future 7 year period, with Christ returning at

the end.the end. Blurs distinction between Church and IsraelBlurs distinction between Church and Israel

Dispensational Posttribulational TheologyDispensational Posttribulational Theology Robert H. Gundry, Robert H. Gundry, The Church and the TribulationThe Church and the Tribulation Tries to maintain distinction between Church and Israel, but not Tries to maintain distinction between Church and Israel, but not

consistentconsistent Rapture takes place just before Battle of Armageddon.Rapture takes place just before Battle of Armageddon.

Common Arguments for Common Arguments for Posttribulationalism Posttribulationalism

Church is made up of saints of all ages; since there are saints Church is made up of saints of all ages; since there are saints in the Tribulation period, Church must be in there.in the Tribulation period, Church must be in there. Reply: Not all believers are in the Church; Church and Israel are Reply: Not all believers are in the Church; Church and Israel are

distinct.distinct. There is only one resurrection for believers of all ages, and it There is only one resurrection for believers of all ages, and it

takes place at the very end of the Tribulation (Rev 20:4ff).takes place at the very end of the Tribulation (Rev 20:4ff). Reply: First resurrection is made up of multiple phases (1 Cor Reply: First resurrection is made up of multiple phases (1 Cor

15:22-24).15:22-24). Day of the Lord begins with the return of Christ to the earth at Day of the Lord begins with the return of Christ to the earth at

the beginning of the millennium; rapture must occur here also.the beginning of the millennium; rapture must occur here also. Reply: Day of the Lord, and its associated tribulation, begins after Reply: Day of the Lord, and its associated tribulation, begins after

the rapture (1 Thess 5).the rapture (1 Thess 5). Church is in Christ’s Olivet Discourse; rapture takes place after Church is in Christ’s Olivet Discourse; rapture takes place after

the Tribulation (Matt 24:29-31; 40-42).the Tribulation (Matt 24:29-31; 40-42). Reply: Christ’s Olivet Discourse is in response to the disciples’ Reply: Christ’s Olivet Discourse is in response to the disciples’

questions about the future of Israel; though the Church has been questions about the future of Israel; though the Church has been mentioned in Matt 18 as something mentioned in Matt 18 as something futurefuture to be built by Christ, it to be built by Christ, it does not yet exist at the time of this discourse!does not yet exist at the time of this discourse!

Partial RapturePartial Rapture First propounded by Robert Govett in 1835.First propounded by Robert Govett in 1835. Only the faithful in the Church will be Only the faithful in the Church will be

raptured and resurrected at the time of raptured and resurrected at the time of Christ’s coming for the Church. Carnal Christ’s coming for the Church. Carnal Christians are raptured progressively during Christians are raptured progressively during the tribulation as they become righteous, so the tribulation as they become righteous, so that the tribulation period is a time for that the tribulation period is a time for disciplining believers toward holy living.disciplining believers toward holy living. Reply: This obscure and little-held theory is Reply: This obscure and little-held theory is

based on a false distinction between believers in based on a false distinction between believers in the Church. It confuses passages that refer to the Church. It confuses passages that refer to Israel as referring to the Church. It subjects Israel as referring to the Church. It subjects some believers to God’s wrath. Finally, 1 Cor some believers to God’s wrath. Finally, 1 Cor 15:51 says “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we 15:51 says “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not shall not allall sleep, but we shall sleep, but we shall allall be changed.” be changed.” (See also 1 Thess 5:10).(See also 1 Thess 5:10).

Mid-Tribulational RaptureMid-Tribulational Rapture

3.5 Years 3.5 YearsBeginning of Sorrows(not The Tribulationand not God’s Wrath)

The Great Tribulation

Abomination of Desolation

Rapture of the Church

Return of Christ

Seal and trumpetjudgments take place during first3.5 years.

Only bowl judgmentstake place here.

Arguments for Mid-Trib Arguments for Mid-Trib RaptureRapture

The last trump of 1 Cor 15:52 is the same as the The last trump of 1 Cor 15:52 is the same as the 77thth trumpet in Rev 11:17. trumpet in Rev 11:17.

The “midst of the week” in Dan 9:27 is tied to the The “midst of the week” in Dan 9:27 is tied to the removal of the restrainer in 2 Thess 2:7.removal of the restrainer in 2 Thess 2:7.

The rapture of the two witnesses in Rev 11:12 is The rapture of the two witnesses in Rev 11:12 is symbolic for the rapture of the whole Church, symbolic for the rapture of the whole Church, since both Church and witnesses are called “Olive since both Church and witnesses are called “Olive Trees” (Rom 11:13-25; Rev 11:4).Trees” (Rom 11:13-25; Rev 11:4). Reply: All of these are very tenuous and subjective Reply: All of these are very tenuous and subjective

connections that do not adequately deal with the connections that do not adequately deal with the respective passages in their own contexts.respective passages in their own contexts.

The seal and trumpet judgments are only the The seal and trumpet judgments are only the “beginning of birth pangs”; the Church escapes “beginning of birth pangs”; the Church escapes the Great Tribulation of the last 3.5 years.the Great Tribulation of the last 3.5 years. Reply: Seal and trumpet judgments are part of God’s Reply: Seal and trumpet judgments are part of God’s

wrath in the seven-sealed scroll...wrath from which wrath in the seven-sealed scroll...wrath from which believers are promised to be delivered (1 Thess 1:10; believers are promised to be delivered (1 Thess 1:10; 5:9).5:9).

Pre-Wrath RapturePre-Wrath Rapture

42 months 21 monthsBeginning of Birth Pangs

The Great Tribulation(Satan’s wrath)

Abomination of Desolation

Rapture of the Church occurs 21months before end of the week, beforebreaking of 7th seal.

Return of Christ

Day of the Lord(God’s wrath)

21 months

Arguments for Pre-wrath Arguments for Pre-wrath RaptureRapture

God will cut the Great Tribulation short God will cut the Great Tribulation short (Matt 24:21-22) and bring it to conclusion (Matt 24:21-22) and bring it to conclusion before the seventieth week is concluded.before the seventieth week is concluded. Reply: Scripture is clear that this period lasts Reply: Scripture is clear that this period lasts

42 months; “cut short” here means 42 months; “cut short” here means “limited”...perhaps less than what the world “limited”...perhaps less than what the world deserves. Further, this position replaces the deserves. Further, this position replaces the Great Tribulation with something worse!Great Tribulation with something worse!

The Olivet Discourse is addressed to the The Olivet Discourse is addressed to the Church and the rapture is in this discourse. Church and the rapture is in this discourse. (See Mid-trib position above).(See Mid-trib position above).

The rapture is not imminent, until the The rapture is not imminent, until the Church begins experiencing severe testing Church begins experiencing severe testing by the Antichrist.by the Antichrist.

Next Week: Rapture Next Week: Rapture Systems – Part IISystems – Part II

Syllabus pp. 235-250Syllabus pp. 235-250

Benware pp. 239-291Benware pp. 239-291