Post Tribulation Rapture

THE POST-TRIBULATION RAPTURE (PART 1)I. WHEN WILL THE RAPTURE OCCUR?

A. This is a big question that has been debated for the better part of the last 100 years is, and one I hope to answer in this teaching.

1. For many, the answer to this question is a foregone conclusion. Typically ones view differs based on what stream of the body of Christ they grew up in.

2. I grew up in Calvary Chapel so my view was shaped by the pre-tribulation perspective. In fact, so much so, that it even affected the way I interpreted my dream life. One night I had a dream that I was in the midst of the great tribulation leading someone to Christ as chaos was happening all around. When I awoke I was terrified because I thought, “Oh no, I must fall away from the Lord in the future, and therefore am left behind!”

II. WHAT IS THE RAPTURE?

A. What is the rapture? – The rapture describes what happens to the saints worldwide when Jesus appears in the sky at His Second Coming.

For the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air… (1 Thess. 4:16-17)

1. Greek – The Greek words for “caught up” are “arpazw harpazo” (Strong’s 726). This means, “to seize, catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force), gathered.”

2. Latin – In Latin the term “caught up” is translated “Rapio.” It is from “Rapio” that we get the word “Rapture.”

3. Meeting Jesus in the sky – Paul understood that being “caught up,” meant to meet Jesus “in the air.”

B. The “Parousia” of Christ – The Greek word “Parousia” is the most popular word used to describe Jesus’ Second Coming.

1. This idea of being caught up to meet Jesus in the air, from a post-tribulation perspective, has been questioned as illogical since Jesus is returning to the earth after the tribulation.

THE POST-TRIBULATION RAPTURE – BENJAMIN NOLOT

IHOP Mission Basewww.IHOP.org

2. Historical usage – Historically this word was commonly used to describe the visit of a king to a city in his domain. As the king would approach the city he would be met some distance outside of the town by a select group of dignitaries and close relatives, who would then accompany him in his procession through the city gates to be seen by the resident population.

3. NT usage – The historical usage of the word “parousia” clearly pictures what the New Testament describes as occurring at the Second Coming. Believers, both those who have died and those who are still living, will “meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:17) and accompany him on the last part of his journey back to earth.

III. THE RELEVANCE OF THE RAPTURE (WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT)

A. In many circles the subject of the End-Times has mostly been reduced to the doctrine of the rapture. And that seems appropriate in many settings since it is believed that the church will not be here during the most crucial events of the end times. The subject of the end-times is then reduced to a matter of speculative interest. This is unfortunate. There are three key reasons why understanding the timing of the rapture is critical:

1. Revelation – Ones view of the rapture dramatically affects their entire approach to the subject of the end-times. When I came to IHOP God opened my eyes to an entirely new realm of His character through studying the end-times. The subject of the end-times offers us a vast resource of treasure concerning the knowledge of God. But the primary doorway into this storehouse is through one’s view of the rapture. Most people are just typically not as interested in something they’re not a part of.

2. Preparation – Both Jesus and the apostle’s warned that a wave of deception would crash over the planet in the end-times. If the church is here during the final seven years of this age, understanding what the Bible says about the end-times is a critical part of our personal preparation so that we are not deceived or overwhelmed by the coming storm.

In the very same context in which Jesus describes the time of the great tribulation he says, “See, I have told you beforehand” (Matt. 24:25). Being forewarned is being forearmed. It is an act of God’s grace that He would instruct the church with detailed information concerning the Great Tribulation to come. The church has been given adequate information to prepare ourselves to stand as witnesses for Christ in the hour of the earth’s greatest trial. I believe the book of Revelation is a gift from God to prepare the Church for the most excruciating time of pressure the earth will ever experience.



3. God said it – If God said it, it is relevant. Oftentimes people draw back from this discussion in hopeless despair because they have seen it argued in ungodly ways. While I understand this point, this posture fails to acknowledge the emphasis Christ placed on the subject. We must know what we believe and why we believe it. There is plenty of grace and room for people to wrestle with this issue. The important thing is that we are ultimately seeking to discover the scriptural perspective. It requires great humility to let go of our sentimental convictions and allow the truth of God’s word to shape our beliefs.

B. But I thought we couldn’t know the time of the rapture (Matt. 24:36)? (The implication of this teaching BTW is meant to say that only the pre-trib/mid-trib/pre-wrath position could be true) Didn’t Jesus say no one knows the day or hour?

1. Firstly, the day and hour He is speaking of is the Second Coming event He just described, not a secret rapture.

2. Second, He didn’t say no one would ever know or He would have contradicted everything He just told His disciples. In the Olivet discourse Jesus is answering the question of His disciples, “what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” He gives them a series of signs to look for and then says, “when you see all these things, know that it is near – at the doors. (Matt. 24: 33)”

3. But I thought Jesus is coming like a thief in the night?

Actually He is only coming like a thief to those who fail to heed His exhortation to watch.

…Therefore if you (speaking to the church) will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. – Rev. 3:3

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are sons of light and sons of the day – 1 Thess. 5:2-5

IV. FRAMING THE DISCUSSION

A. There is almost a universal belief among pre-millennial scholars that the final week of Daniel is the timeframe that concludes this age. In other words human history in this age will end with a unique 7-year period of time. The discussion concerning the rapture involves discerning at what point before, during, or after this seven-years that the rapture occurs.

B. Views on the rapture – There are four different views on the timing of the rapture according to those who subscribe to pre-millennial eschatology.



1. Pre-tribulation – Views the rapture as occurring seven years before Jesus’ Second Coming.

2. Mid-tribulation – Views the rapture as occurring 3 ½ years before Jesus’ Second Coming.

3. Pre-wrath – Views the rapture as occurring at an undefined period of time after the 3½-year mark of the tribulation and before the end of the tribulation. This view sees the rapture as occurring at the sixth seal in the book of Revelation (Rev. 6:12-17).

4. Post-tribulation – Views the rapture as occurring after the tribulation at the Second Coming of Jesus.

C. How many “comings” of Jesus and “resurrections” of the saints? – Three of these views (pretrib, midtrib, and prewrath) stand or fall on the basis of two main premises: 1) Are there two Second Comings of Christ? 2) Are there two resurrections of the saints? If it can be accurately shown that there are, then distinguishing when the rapture occurs would be extremely difficult, and basically be an arbitrary judgment. If there is not then these views are inconclusive, and ultimately the product of mere speculation. In my observation and understanding of Scripture there is no explicit evidence to support the conclusion that there are two, separate 2nd Coming Events, nor two resurrections of the saints.

D. The best place for us to begin in answering the question, “when does the rapture occur?” is by identifying what we know to be true about the Second Coming and the rapture. The 5 truths I am going to present directly contrast 3 of the 4 rapture views. The rapture is very simple to understand. What can get confusing are all the arguments that attempt to explain away the plain sense meaning of scripture.

V. TRUTH #1: THE SECOND COMING IS A SINGULAR EVENT OCCURING AFTER THE TRIBULATION

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” – Matt. 24:29-31

A. Jesus describes His Second Coming as a singular event occurring after the tribulation. At no point in His teaching ministry does he ever reference another timeframe for His return.



B. The second coming is a coming to earth - After His resurrection Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples. When He finally ascended into heaven two angels appeared to the disciples and informed them that, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) The angels described a singular event in which Jesus would come back from heaven to the earth.

The noun used for the word “come” (parousia) in the NT means arrival or presence. The verb tense of this word implies continuous and progressive action. When Jesus returns, He is coming to establish His presence on the earth and initiate an indefinite mission, again, here on earth.

C. Some point to 1 Thess. 4:15-18 to validate a view that Jesus Christ returns momentarily in the sky to rapture the church 7 years before His Second Coming. However, there is no doubt Paul’s views were formed by Christ’s teachings. If he was introducing a new view concerning a subject as important as an entirely separate Second Coming event I imagine he would have said so.

1. Paul’s teaching harmonizes perfectly with what Jesus taught in the Olivet Discourse.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain [perileipomenoi] until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain [perileipomenoi] shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. – 1 Thess. 4:15-18.

Nowhere in the text is precedence given for a timeframe other than the one already established by Jesus.

2. Consider the parallels in the two passages:

a. In Matthew 24 we see that Christ is descending from heaven with angels and a trumpet gathering together His followers.

b. In 1 Thess. 4 we see that Christ is descending from heaven with angels and a trumpet gathering together His followers.

D. Conclusion – Any position subscribing to a view that necessitates two Second Coming events is rooted in theory not scripture. This is an important distinction to make. Nowhere does the bible delineate between two separate Second Coming events. However the bible does emphatically describe one event, which occurs after the tribulation not at any point before it.

VI. TRUTH #2: THE RAPTURE OCCURS AFTER THE TRIBULATION



“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather (episynagō) together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” – Matt. 24:29-31

A. Jesus describes the rapture as an event that is synonymous with His Second Coming.

1. The Apostle Paul also describes the Second Coming and the rapture as one synonymous event.

“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering (episynagō) together to Him…” – 2 Thessalonians 2:1

a. Both Jesus and Paul use the same word for “gather,” episynagō.

B. The only explicit timeframe given to understand the return of Christ and rapture of the saints is “after the tribulation.”

VII. TRUTH #3: THE RESURRECTION OCCURS AFTER THE TRIBULATION

A. Both Daniel 12 and Revelation 20 reveal that the resurrection of the saints occurs after the tribulation.

“And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation…2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.” – Dan. 12:1-2

The Apostle John calls this, "the first resurrection." (Rev. 20:6) It is not tenable that this post-tribulation resurrection could be called the "first resurrection" if another one just occurred at some point earlier.

VIII. TRUTH #4: THE LAST TRUMPET OCCURS IN CONTEXT TO THE SECOND COMING

A. Again, the two parallel passages of Matt. 24:29-30 and 1 Thess. 4:15-18 indicate that a trumpet is sounded at the return of Christ signaling the simultaneous resurrection and rapture of the saints. 1 Cor. 15:51-52 refers to this as the “last” trumpet.

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed (given our resurrected bodies) – 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” – 1 Cor. 15:51-52



1. In a pre-tribulation rapture perspective, the last trumpet occurs 7 years before the post-tribulation return of Jesus. It couldn't really be said that this is a "last trumpet," if Christ is returning 7 years later to the sound of a trumpet now could it?

B. The last trumpet recorded in scripture is the 7th trumpet in the book of Revelation. At that time we know that the nations come under Jesus manifest leadership, the earth is judged, the saints are rewarded, and the mystery of God is completed (Rev. 10:7; 11:15-18).

"...in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished..." - Rev. 10:7

We know that at least part of the "mystery of God" is the resurrection and consequent translation of the saints according to 1 Cor. 15.

IX. TRUTH #5: JESUS, THE APOSTLES, AND ALL THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS HAD A POST-TRIBULATION VIEW OF THE RAPTURE

The Didache – Is one of the earliest pieces of Christian literature after the New Testament, dating from the first quarter of the Second Century. The author warns the Church against the perils of the Antichrist and the tribulation; “[There] shall appear the deceiver of the world as a Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders and the earth shall be given over into his hands and he shall commit iniquities which have never been done since the world began. Then shall the creation of mankind come to the fiery trial and many shall be offended and be lost, but they who endure in their faith… And then shall appear the sign of the truth. First the sign spread out in Heaven, then the sign of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead: but not all of the dead, but as it was said, The Lord shall come and all his saints with him. Then shall the world see the Lord coming on the clouds of Heaven.” The purpose of the Didachist in writing this exhortation was to prepare the Church for the Great Tribulation, and to urge steadfastness.

The Shepherd of Hermas (circa 150 A.D.) – Hermas sought to prepare the Church for the persecutions of the Great Tribulation; “Therefore do not cease to speak to the ears of the saints. You have also the type of the great persecution to come.”

Justin Martyr (circa 150 A.D.) – “He shall com from heaven with glory, when the man of apostasy, who speaks strange things against the Most High, shall venture to do unlawful deeds on the earth against us Christians, who, having learned the true worship of God from the law, and the word which went forth from Jerusalem by means of the Apostles of Jesus, have fled for safety to the God of Jacob and the God of Israel.”



Irenaeus (Disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John) – “In a still clearer light has John, in the Apocalypse, indicated to the Lord’s disciples what shall happen in the last times, and concerning the ten kings who shall then arise, among whom the empire which now rules shall be partitioned. He teaches us what the ten horns shall be which were seen by Daniel, telling us that thus it had been said to him. It is manifest, therefore, that of these [potentates], he who is to come shall slay three, and subject the remainder to his power, and that he shall be himself the eighth among them. And they shall lay Babylon waste, and burn her with fire, and shall give their kingdom to the beast, and put the church to flight. After that they shall be destroyed by the coming of our Lord.”

“But when this Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for three years and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem; and then the Lord will come from heaven in the clouds, in the glory of the Father, sending this man [Antichrist] and those who follow him into the lake of fire; but bringing in for the righteous [the Church] the times of the kingdom…For all those, and other words, were unquestionably spoken in reference to the resurrection of the just, which takes place after the coming of the Antichrist, and the destruction of all nations under his rule; in (the times of) which (resurrection) the righteous shall reign on the earth, waxing stronger by the sight of the Lord…and who have suffered tribulation.”

Hippolytus, a Bishop of Rome in the early third century interprets Revelation 12 as: “the tribulation of the persecution which is to fall upon the Church from the adversary.” The time and times and half a time refer “to the one thousand two hundred and three score days during which the tyrant is to reign and persecute the Church, which flees from city to city, and seeks concealment in the wilderness among the mountains.”

X. CONCLUSION

A. The clear teaching of Jesus concerning a singular, and yet future return is set in context to the period of time "immediately after the tribulation of those days (Great Tribulation)," thus inaugurating an indefinite mission on earth, entailing "continuous progressive action.” This understanding is reinforced by the entire body of NT teaching concerning this subject, including: a single "first resurrection" occurring after the Great Tribulation (not before), and a single "last trumpet" occurring at Christ's Second coming (not 3rd, 4th, or 5th). This Second Coming is taught to be a cataclysmic event including signs in the heavens, and drawing the attention of "every eye." These points were understood by the entire body of early Church Fathers, who were handed down an account of what was taught by the Apostles.

B. We Must Prepare – The clear purpose of the book of Revelation is to prepare the Church for what is to come. There is no other logical reason that details concerning the great tribulation would be given if the Church were not going to be here. The inclusion of chapters 6-18 would be a complete mystery.



1. Corrie Ten Boom, who suffered through the terrible atrocities of the German concentration camps in WWII, had these sobering words to say about the tribulation– “I have been in countries where the saints are already suffering terrible persecution. In China the Christians were told: ‘Don’t worry, before the tribulation comes, you will be translated, raptured.’ Then came a terrible persecution. Millions of Christians were tortured to death. Later I heard a bishop from China say, sadly: ‘We have failed. We should have made the people strong for persecution rather than telling them Jesus would come first.’ Turning to me, he said: ‘Tell the people how to be strong in times of persecution, how to stand when the tribulation comes – to stand and not faint.’ I feel I have a divine mandate to go and tell the people of this world that it is possible to be strong in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in training for the tribulation. Since I have gone already through prison for Jesus’ sake, and since I met that bishop from China, now every time I read a good Bible text I think: ‘Hey, I can use that in the time of tribulation’ Then I write it down and learn it by heart.”

THE POST-TRIBULATION RAPTURE (PART 2): THE PRESENCE OF THE CHURCH IN THE GREAT TRIBULATION

XI. INTRO

A. The post-tribulation view of the rapture prefigures the presence of the church in the tribulation, which has been the source of much debate.

B. The goal of this message will be to address the arguments involved in this debate.

XII. DEALING WITH PRE-TRIB ARGUMENTS

A. I am going to address the pre-trib position because it is the most popular view in opposition of the post-trib view of the rapture. But it is important to know that the arguments I address deal fundamentally with pre-trib, mid-trib, and pre-wrath views of the rapture.

B. The strength of the pre-tribulation rapture view is not any one particular argument, but rather the sheer number of arguments. There’s no one scripture that can be pointed to, to establish the pre-trib position exegetically, but rather a vast number of inferred passages.

"One of the problems that face… pretribulationism …is the fact that [our] point of view is an induction based on scriptural facts rather than an explicit statement of the bible.” (The Rapture Question; pg. 181)

C. The online debates I engage in usually begin with me providing an exegetical presentation of the post-trib view. Then my opponents begin a series of “what about’s” until all of their arguments have been exhausted (with me providing a biblical response to deconstruct each one). Then they typically just disappear. This reveals a couple things to me:



1. How a person’s view of the rapture is so deeply knit to sentiment based on upbringing, background, emotions, or preconceived suppositions and perceptions.

2. How unwilling people are to allow the plain sense meaning of scripture to form their views, especially when it doesn’t agree with their life vision of comfort and ease.

D. I have had one recent success in winning a debate, however. My dad has been a pre-trib guy for over 40 years, until this year!

XIII. METHODS OF INTERPRETATION

A. Addressing the issue of the rapture really becomes an issue of hermeneutics. What method of biblical interpretation do you apply to build your conclusions? There are three main categories of biblical interpretation:

1. Inductive vs. Deductive -

a. Inductive - Bases beliefs on the plain sense meaning of Scripture.

b. Deductive - The deductive method of interpretation is based on human logic and it bases doctrine and belief on deductions from scripture, inferences, and implications. What follows are conclusions based on human reason and applied to Scripture. It gives place to reason rather than revelation.

2. Exegetical vs. Eisegetical –

a. Exegetical - Means to bring out of Scripture what is in there.

b. Eisegetical – Reading into Scripture what is not there.

3. Contextual vs. Proof-texting –

a. Contextual - Interpreting a bible verse in context to its passage and the overall teaching of scripture.

b. Proof-texting – Citing a bible verse to prove a position that is not taught in scripture.

B. The pre-trib method of interpretation – The pre-trib view of the rapture is built, foundationally, on an eisegetical method of interpretation, using proof-texting and deductive reasoning. Each argument contains the following criteria:

1. Every single argument is an argument from silence. The gist of it is, “Here is what we believe, now prove us wrong.” The bible is no longer quoted to prove a doctrinal thesis, but the absence of a quote is used to prove a doctrinal antithesis.



Here is an example of Walvoord’s position on arguments from silence:

“The fact that Old Testament saints and tribulation saints are resurrected after the Tribulation according to explicit scriptures (Dan. 12:1-2; Rev. 20:4) raises the question why neither the translation nor the resurrection of the church is mentioned in this event. While silence is not explicit, it is nevertheless eloquent in this case. (The Rapture Question; pg. 171)”

Here are a couple examples:

Example #1: the “phantom rapture” of Rev. 4:1

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. – Rev. 4:1-2

This is taught to be symbolic of the church being raptured before the tribulation. Nothing in the text says this. We have to imply that is what is being said. That is called an argument from silence. What follows is a comment like, “there is nothing that says this isn’t the rapture.”

Example #2: Walvoord writes: “Never are tribulation saints referred to as a church, or as the body of Christ, or as indwelt by Christ, or as subject to translation, or as a bride… Pre-tribulationists concede and uniformly teach that there will be elect, that is, saved people, in the tribulation time. This fact does not in the slightest prove that these mentioned in this way belong to the church, the body of Christ.”

First of all notice how Walvoord creates a separate group of believers, “tribulation saints” and then forces the burden of proof on post-tribulationists to prove how they must fit into the Church. To force a text dealing with the Great Tribulation to prove a theory about a separate group of believers wrong is preposterous.

2. Not a single argument is linked to an explicit teaching of scripture.

3. Every argument is in violation of the clear, plain-sense meaning of scripture.

C. The accepted method of biblical interpretation is historical grammatical.

XIV. HISTORY OF THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE VIEW

A. Nobody ever came to a pre-trib rapture view from purely reading the bible.



B. Historically, the pre-trib position was derived from a system of theology known as dispensationalism, in approximately 1825 by Edward Irving, father of the Apostolic Catholic Church, circa 1825 (later accused as a heretic because of his low view of Christ). It was later promoted by John Nelson Darby, one of the founding fathers of the Plymouth Brethren Church in Great Britain, circa 1830.

Walvoord concedes:

“It may be conceded that the advanced and detailed theology of pre-tribulationism of today is not found in the early church fathers, and there are some grounds for tracing this to Darby, who seemed to be the first to make this sharp distinction (The Rapture Question; pg. 50)”

C. Early controversy over this view - The Plymouth Brethren church was eventually divided, in part, over this issue. One of the churches founding fathers, Dr. Samuel P. Tregelles, a renowned conservative Greek scholar of the nineteenth century denounced the pre-tribulation rapture position as being sentimental and emotional without a thread of biblical support. He stated that the pre-tribulation “doctrine of the coming of Christ [is] not taught in the Word of God…This whole system stands in distinct contradiction of what the scripture reveals.” (The Hope of Christ’s Second Coming; pg. 32)

1. Another prominent leader in the Plymouth Brethren church, B.W. Newton, condemned this new view of the rapture as “the height of speculative nonsense” (H.A. Ironside).

D. Why did it become so popular? - Eventually the view was picked up by Dr. C.I. Scofield during one of his visits to England. It was later taught in his church in Dallas, was popularized by his Scofield Study Bible in the early twentieth century, and became the exclusive position of Dallas Theological Seminary and the primary view taught at Moody Bible Institute for the better part of this century.

XV. JESUS PREFIGURES THE PRESENCE OF THE CHURCH IN THE TRIBULATION

A. When Jesus describes the Great Tribulation in Matt. 24 he address his disciples in the second person plural: “I have told you…when you see…see that no one deceives you.”

XVI. “WHAT ABOUT” #1: THE ABSENCE OF THE WORD ECCLESSIA FROM REV. 4-19

A. Pre-trib argument – Revelation 4-19 describes what is happening on earth during the tribulation. The absence of the term ecclesia (translated church in English, or literally gathering of believers) from chapters 4 through 19 means the church must not be here. Therefore the church has been raptured before the tribulation.

B. Revelation 4-19 describes both events in heaven and on earth. If the church cannot be on the earth during the tribulation period because the term is never used in those chapters, then likewise, the Church cannot be in heaven, either! Where is the church?



C. Terms used synonymously with the Church, such as “elect”, “saints”, “the righteous”, “believers”, etc… are found in this tribulation passage. Saints throughout the NT are considered members of the Church.

Walvoord concedes:

“If these believers in the Tribulation are properly described as members of the church, it leads inevitably to the conclusion that the church will go through the Tribulation (The Rapture Question; pg. 19-20).”

“If the term church includes saints of all ages, then it is self-evident that the church will go through the Tribulation, as all agree that there will be saints in this time of trouble (The Rapture Question; pg. 21)”

XVII. “WHAT ABOUT” #2: THE REMOVAL OF THE RESTRAINER

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Second Coming) and our gathering together to Him (the rapture), we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first (apostasy), and the man of sin is revealed (the antichrist), the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders. – 2 Thess. 2:1-9

A. Pre-trib argument – This passage of scripture refers to a time when the Holy Spirit will be taken from the earth - to heaven - and therefore must be taking the church with Him.

B. Scriptural perspective - This, like every other pre-tribulation viewpoint, is an argument from silence. The problem is that you cannot assume what you are trying to prove. In this passage you have to assume many things to conclude what the pre-tribulation position is trying to prove.

1. First, you must assume that “he” is the Holy Spirit. There is nothing in the text that says this. The word used for “what” is in the neuter gender, while the word used for “he” is in the masculine (singular) gender. Therefore, the restrainer is both an “it” and a “he”. It is highly unlikely that the Apostle Paul would refer to the Holy Spirit as an “it”.



2. Secondly, one must assume that “it/he” is taken from the earth. Again, there is nothing in the text to suggest this. All that is said is that “it/he” is taken “out of the way”.

3. And third, it must be assumed that “it/he” is taking the Church with “it/him” to heaven. Pre-tribulationists see this as the rapture before the tribulation. Interestingly, this assumption is taken from a text that explicitly says the church will not be raptured until after the Antichrist is revealed, and the falling away occurs – This is an impossible scenario in a pre-tribulation rapture. Here is what John Walvoord had to say about this passage, “The matter is complicated.” (The Rapture Question; pg. 237)

C. Implications of the pre-trib view –

1. All pre-millennialists agree that there are “saints” present on earth during the tribulation. In a pre-tribulation rapture scenario I am meant to believe that a “multitude” of people, “without number” (Rev. 7:9) are saved in the most trying time on planet earth – without the Holy Spirit. The Church has not fostered these kinds of results with the Holy Spirit in the last two thousand years. This scenario is not only - not taught by the text - but is an improbable conclusion beyond reconciliation.

2. The presence of saints upon the earth presents another problem. As believers in Christ we are promised the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of our redemption.

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. – Rom. 8:9

In a pre-tribulation viewpoint there can be no indwelling of the Spirit after the rapture. So what happens to all of the promises concerning the indwelling of the spirit to believers in the tribulation? Is this promise now void? If so, where is this important doctrine taught in the NT? Where does it say that there is a separate group of believers who do not receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? On the contrary the Apostle Paul makes it clear that it is impossible to be a believer in Christ and not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9).

3. Describing the time of tribulation, Jesus gave clear indication of the presence of the spirit.

“But when they arrest [you] and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” – Mark 13:11

XVIII. “WHAT ABOUT” #3: CHRISTIANS AREN’T “APPOINTED UNTO TO WRATH”

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ… - 1 Thess. 5:9



Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. – Rom. 5:9

A. Pre-trib argument – This current age is an age of grace. The tribulation is an age of wrath. Christians are not appointed unto wrath; therefore we must be raptured before the tribulation begins.

John Walvoord clarified this position: “The only way one could be kept from that day of wrath would be to be delivered beforehand.”

B. Scriptural perspective on the age of grace vs. the age of wrath –

1. Romans chapter one indicates that this present age is not only characterized by “grace”, but that God’s “wrath” is already being manifested in the earth (Romans 1:18-32).

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. – Rom. 1:18

If the presence of God’s wrath on earth necessitates a rapture of the church then we would have already been raptured. The difference between the wrath of God that is manifest now vs. tribulation is a difference of degree not kind.

2. The tribulation is a time of abundant grace. Evidences of this grace can be seen in the fact that the gospel will continue to go forth during the tribulation. Jesus indicated that His followers would preach the gospel until the “end of the age” (Matt. 24:14; 28:17-20), Revelation speaks of two prophetic “witnesses” who operate in supernatural power (Rev. 11:1-14), and God actually sends forth an angel to preach the gospel to the nations (Rev. 14:6-7). We are told in Revelation 7:9 that “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” will be redeemed out of the great tribulation.

3. In conclusion, the bible teaches that the current age we are living in is characterized by wrath, and it is also characterized by grace. The bible teaches that the tribulation will be characterized by wrath, and it will also be characterized by grace.

C. Scriptural perspective on God’s methodology of delivering Christians from God’s wrath –

1. The bible never teaches that the rapture is God’s method of delivering believers from His wrath.

2. The bible teaches that the wrath of God is directed towards the wicked, not believers (Rev. 14:9-11; Eph. 5:6).



…Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. – Eph. 5:6

3. The bible teaches that deliverance from God’s wrath is always through protection or redirection – never by being raptured.

a. Protection – There are many examples of God protecting His people in the midst of judgment. Examples: In Rev. 7:3-4 144,000 are sealed (and consequently protected from the wrath of God), the people of God in Goshen during the plagues of Egypt, Rahab in the midst of the downfall of Jericho, and Noah and his family in the ark during the midst of the flood.

Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. 21 For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood… – Isa 26:20-21

Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. – Rev. 7:2-3

And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. 23 I will make a difference between My people and your people… – Ex. 8:23

Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house.... – Josh. 6:17

b. Redirection – God directs His people away from coming judgment (Rev. 12; 18:4).

When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” 16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. – Gen 19:15-16

And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. – Rev. 18:4



Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days…14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. – Rev. 12:6, 14

4. There are several examples from the OT that pre-tribulationists use as illustrations to prove that the Church must be raptured before the tribulation begins. These examples include: Lot at Sodom, Rahab at Jericho, Moses from Egypt, Noah from the flood, and Daniel from the fiery furnace. The one thing that all of these examples have in common is that the saints were never raptured to heaven to protect them or deliver them from God’s wrath.

XIX. “WHAT ABOUT” #4: KEPT FROM THE HOUR OF TRIAL (REV. 3:10)

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. – Rev. 3:10

A. Pre-trib argument – If we are faithful to God He will rapture us before the tribulation begins.

B. Scriptural perspective – We must apply the historical-grammatical method of interpretation to understand what the intended meaning of this verse is.

C. Historical Context – The letters to the seven churches were written to real churches to address real issues in seven different geographic regions throughout the Roman Empire in the first century. What was Jesus’ intended meaning to the church of Philadelphia, to whom this letter was written 2000 years ago? First of all it is significant to understand that this verse has absolutely nothing to do with the great tribulation. The “hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world” was a clear reference to the impending danger to the church in Philadelphia of the imperial persecutions that spread through the Roman Empire in the second and third centuries, “testing” the known “world” at that time. Today the church of Philadelphia no longer exists, so there can be no fulfillment of this prophecy if it is related to the great tribulation, and would have been meaningless in its original communication to the Church of Philadelphia. Further more, there is nothing said of a “secret rapture”, but that God would protect his people in the midst of trial, which is exactly what He did with the Church of Philadelphia.

D. Grammatical – There are several key words in Rev. 3:10 that are important to understand in order to fully develop the meaning of this verse. Looking at the original language of Greek is the most insightful way to unlock these words.

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep (tereo) you from (ek) the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test (peirasmos) those who dwell on the earth. – Rev. 3:10



1. The Greek word for “keep” is “tereo,” which means “to guard, watch over, or keep.” “Tereo” carries the idea of protecting someone while he is within a sphere of danger, not that of keeping him away from the danger altogether. Only those who are within a specific sphere of danger need to be watched over or guarded.

2. “From” is translated from a Greek preposition, “ek,” which means to “come out of the midst of something.” The Greek preposition “apo,” means to be kept out of or away from. Had Jesus meant that those who fulfill His exhortation to persevere would be kept outside of the hour of testing, the Greek preposition “apo” would have been used.

3. Tereo ek, used in conjunction, can only refer to guarding or protecting those who persevere while they are within the sphere of danger, and then bringing them safely out from the midst of that danger. Thus, the meaning of the text is clear. Tereo ek should be translated, “a watchful protection within the sphere of danger, with a safe deliverance out from the midst of it.” This perfectly describes a post-tribulation rapture scenario.

a. Consider how “ek” is used in an end-times context. John is told that the great multitude standing before the throne of God “are the ones who come out of (ek) the great tribulation” (Rev. 7:14b). This great multitude of believers is not spared the tribulation, but is delivered “out from the midst of” it, once again picturing exactly what the Greek text intended in Rev. 3:10 (having the same context, the same Greek preposition, exactly the same meaning).

b. The same combination of tereo and ek is used in John 17:15. “I do not ask thee to take them out of the world, but “to keep them from (tereo and ek) the evil one.”

4. The Greek word translated “testing” is peirasmos, which comes from the root, peira. The Greek word for tempted in James 1:13 is peirazo, which also comes from the root peira.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted (peirazo) by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. – James 1:13

a. Also consider the use of peirazo in 1 Thes. 3:5; 1 Cor. 7:5; and Matt. 4:1. Each one of these verses have the same thing in common – peirazo is never used to describe the wrath of God. In each case peirazo describes the “testing” that comes from Satan.

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted (peirazo) you, and our labors might be in vain. – 1 Thess. 3:5



Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt (peirazo) you because of your lack of self-control. – 1 Cor. 7:5

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (peirazo) by the devil. – Matt. 4:1

b. Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked to sift him like wheat. Then Jesus said that He prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail. I believe Revelation 3:10 presents a similar context. The Church of Philadelphia was going to experience a time of “testing.” Jesus encouraged them that if they remained faithful he would “keep” them through the midst of the testing, and then deliver them out of it. This was a historically accurate scenario concerning the Church of Philadelphia’s preservation during the Imperial Roman persecutions.

XX. “WHAT ABOUT” #5: PRAYING TO ESCAPE

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” – Lk. 21:34-36

A. Pre-trib argument – Pretribulationists contend that Jesus’ exhortation for His followers to pray to “escape all these things” meant to pray that they would be raptured to heaven.

B. Scriptural perspective –

1. “That Day” refers to the cataclysmic events of the great tribulation in which, “men’s hearts [will be] failing them from fear (v.26)”

2. Jesus warned His disciples not to be “weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life (vs. 34)” so as to be caught off guard as in a “snare.” Therefore, He exhorts them to be watchful. His reinforces His exhortation by warning the disciples that “all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth (vs. 35)” will be caught in this snare, as they will be unprepared. The main point Jesus is communicating is, don’t be like the rest of the world that will be unprepared and caught of guard by the events to come because their hearts were weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life, but rather be watchful!

3. What does it mean to escape “all these things?”

a. Escaping the deception he warned them of in vs. 8



b. Escaping the dangers in Jerusalem vv. 20-24

c. Escaping the licentious living in v. 34

4. Where should those who Jesus was speaking to escape to?

a. He told them to “flee [from Judea] to the mountains (v. 21)” because Jerusalem “will fall by the edge of the sword (v. 24).”

b. This had a narrow fulfillment in AD 70 when Jerusalem was literally “trampled by Gentiles (v. 24)”

c. If Jesus had meant for escaping to mean being raptured to heaven, then no one must have prayed this prayer because no one was raptured to heaven when the Roman armies descended on Jerusalem. However, many escaped to the mountains like Jesus told them to.

5. “Standing before the Son of Man” (v. 36) is an important concept in relationship to the End-Times. “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Rev. 6:17). “Standing” in context of Luke 21 is a continuation of Jesus’ exhortation to be found worthy. Notice the continuity of thought between being “counted worthy” and “standing”, “and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (V. 36) The idea is that when Jesus returns they will have been preserved in righteousness to stand without condemnation and unashamed before Jesus. “And now…abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” (1 John 2:28). Those who are “worthy” to “stand” are those who have an authentic faith in Christ, as opposed to those whose “hearts [were] weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life” (v. 36).

6. We don’t have to ask God to be included in the rapture - it is part of our inheritance through Christ.

XXI. “WHAT ABOUT” #6: ISN’T GOD A GOD OF COMFORT?

A. Pre-trib argument – The bible defines God as a God of comfort, therefore we will be raptured to heaven before the tribulation.

B. Scriptural perspective –



1. The bible promises that Christians will face tribulation in this life. The difference between tribulation now, and the final seven years of tribulation is a difference of degree not kind. The idea that God’s comfort means that Christians will not face tribulation has never been true throughout history, and it will not be true during the final seven years of tribulation.

2. Comfort means to strengthen and encourage. When the apostle Paul exhorted the church to comfort each other concerning Christ’s return, he was not speaking of a secret rapture. The church was already under persecution at that time. Paul was encouraging them to be strengthened and encouraged by the fact that although they are were in the midst of suffering, one day Christ would return and their suffering would end.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. – 1 Thess. 4:15-18.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we might be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. …7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. – 2 Cor. 2-5, 7

3. Paul views our comfort in God during suffering as a means of comforting others in their suffering.

4. False Comfort vs. True Comfort – The pretribulational doctrine of comfort teaches a false form of comfort. We need reality when it comes to matters as serious as the Tribulation presents. The reality is that although the Church will experience a time of tribulation, God will give us the strength to endure through the midst of it. Although it will be the hour of our greatest trial, we can be comforted by knowing that Jesus is soon to return. As Christians our comfort should never come from our outward circumstances, but rather, it should be an inward reality that flows out of knowing God.

XXII. CHRISTIANS AND THE TRIBULATION

A. The Bible promises that Christians will experience tribulation in this life –



1. Jesus taught His disciples that their lives would be characterized by persecution and tribulation.

…In the world you will have tribulation… – John 16:33

…They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. – Matt. 24:9

2. Paul affirmed that Christians will suffer tribulation –

Yes and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. – 2 Tim. 3:12

…No one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. – 1 Thess. 3:3-4

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” – Acts 14:22

3. Peter’s epistles were written to encourage Churches facing persecution.

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. – 1 Peter 4:12

B. Purposes for Christians in tribulation –

1. Trials and Tribulation serve to Purify the Church –

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. – James 1:2-4

…You have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. – 1 Pet. 1:6-7

For I consider that the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. – Rom. 8:18

…May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. – 1 Pet. 5:10



Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing our inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. – 2 Cor. 4:16-18

2. The church will preach the gospel and disciple the nations during the tribulation –

…This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. – Matt. 24:14

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matt. 28:19-20

C. The Command to Persevere –

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep (guard over) you from (in the midst of) the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” – Rev. 3:10

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. – 1 John 4:2-4

“…He who endures to the end shall be saved.” – Matt. 24:13

“…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matt. 28:20

XXIII. CONCLUSION

A. Believing in a pretribulation rapture scenario requires one to hurdle over many biblical obstacles. This view forces me to compromise the plain sense meaning of scripture in order to embrace a system of theology, namely, dispensationalism. I find these arguments from silence and scriptural contradictions to difficult to overcome.



B. Conclusion – “The pretribulation argument is an argument from silence based on inferences in scripture that really do not exist. I must draw the conclusion that this is a false teaching, and like all false teachings, is dangerous. The danger is that Jesus already warned that many will fall away from the faith. How much more will that be a reality for those who have not been prepared.” – David Pawson (When He Returns)

THE POST-TRIBULATION RAPTURE (PART 3): THE DOCTRINE OF IMMINENCE

XXIV. DEFINING IMMINENCE

A. The doctrine of “imminence” is generally regarded as the cornerstone of the pretribulation rapture view.

1. Webster's defines "imminent" as, "ready to take place; especially: hanging threateningly over one's head."

2. Central to the pretribulation ‘imminence’ understanding is that nothing is hindering the rapture, and no prophesied event intervenes before the rapture. If any prophesied event must necessarily take place before the rapture, then it could not be said that the rapture was ‘imminent’ until after that prophesied event was fulfilled. Therefore, it means that no signs can precede the rapture of the church. If there were indications and signs we could know when His coming would be, and it would not be a surprise.

B. The primary text from which the doctrine of “imminence” is founded is Matt. 24:29-44



29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near – at the doors! 34 “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things have taken place. 35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 “and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 “Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 “Therefore you also be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” – Matt. 24:29-44

C. Jews or the followers of Christ? – Pretribulationists contend that verse 31 of this passage of scripture is directed toward the Jews therefore the posttribulation rapture described is irrelevant to the Church. They assert that the term “elect” is a reference to Jews, not members of the Church.

1. First of all the Olivet Discourse is a private discussion between Jesus and His followers. There is nothing in this text that indicates Jesus was giving information that applied exclusively to the Jews. He was sowing an understanding of the eschatological unfolding of history to those who would build His Church – in other words this teaching is essential to the Church. Jesus identified Peter as the “rock” upon which He would “build His church” (Matt. 16:18), so in essence He is speaking to those who are foundational to the building, growth and development of the Church.

2. Second, it is also important to consider that the term “the elect” is used to describe members of the Church every time it is used in the entire NT, except the one time Jesus uses it to refer to Himself.



3. Third, to apply verse 31 exclusively to Jews is a force on the text, which is obviously an attempt to fit it into the dispensational system of theology. What other teachings of Jesus should we then consider irrelevant to the Church, for nearly His entire ministry was directed towards Jews? Or do we just pick and choose? The fact is, while Jesus spoke to Jews, His teachings clearly apply to all His “brethren,” namely those who follow Him, whether Jew or Gentile. To make a distinction of one at the exclusion of the other is unwarranted.

4. Fourth, pretribulationists use this passage to build the argument for a pretribulation rapture in the silence. It seems like circular logic to, in one respect dismiss the relevance of this teaching to the Church because it only applies to Jews, and then use the same passage to build a doctrine that is exclusively relevant to the Church.

5. I must concur with B.W. Newton of the Plymouth Brethren that this argument is “the height of speculative nonsense.”

D. In order to gain a proper view of this passage of scripture we must gain an understanding of what Jesus was saying, and what He wasn’t saying.

E. Jesus said He is coming back after the tribulation.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days …30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. – Matt. 24:29-30

F. He said that the gathering of His “elect” occurs after the tribulation, at His Second Coming.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. – Matt. 24:29-31

1. Pretribulationists contend that this gathering of the elect is not an explicit statement of the rapture. The term gathering is the same one used in 2 Thess. 2:1.

2. Jesus introduced the concept here that in His return He would appear in the sky to gather His followers to Himself. The apostle Paul later develops this concept more fully (1 Thess. 4:16-17). It is not necessary for the term “rapture” to be used to imply what Jesus was teaching. His main point is clear – He will return after the tribulation and gather His followers while He is in the sky.



G. There is no mention of a “secret rapture” before the tribulation in this text.

H. Before Jesus returns He has given us signs to look for – The context of this passage is answering the question, “What will be the signs of Your coming?” (Matt. 24:3). In 24:4-31 Jesus gave His disciples clear signs to look for. These signs are said to be in context to the “great tribulation”. There would have been no reason for Jesus’ to give signs occurring during the “great tribulation” if the church was not going to be there to “watch” for those signs. Jesus was giving these instructions to the apostles who would build His Church. These were very important instructions in the formation of the apostles understanding of Christ’s return and how they would instruct the Church – namely concerning a sober responsibility to “watch” for the “signs” of Jesus’ return. Jesus gave four clear signs:

1. Signs relating to the world

2. Signs relating to believers

3. Signs relating to the Middle East

4. Signs relating to the sky

I. The Church will not be surprised by Jesus’ Second Coming – Jesus told His disciples to watch for signs in order that when they see these signs they would “know that it (Christ’s return) is near at the doors. (v. 33)” He exhorted His followers not to be surprised by His coming as those in Noah’s generation (vv. 36-44). In a pretribulation rapture it is impossible not to be surprised by Jesus’ coming – All the signs He just said to watch for are totally irrelevant.

1. The parable of the thief – the thief parable is meant to convey that those who do not watch for the signs Jesus set forth, and choose rather to live lives of careless licentiousness, will be surprised by His coming and suffer loss. Jesus will not come like a thief to those who know and follow Him (1 Thess. 5:1-6; Rev. 3:3).


2. The days of Noah – In verses 38-39 Jesus references Noah’s generation. The purpose of this example was to show how an unbelieving world was suddenly swept away by God’s judgment, even as it will occur at the end of the age. This day came like a thief to the wicked because they were totally unprepared. Noah, however, was not unprepared. He knew the time was coming soon, and he was ready.



a. In the days of Noah those who were “taken” were taken by judgment. In the same way many will be taken by judgment unto death. In Luke 17 Jesus’ disciples asked where the ones who were taken would be taken to. Jesus responded, “Wherever the body (corpse) is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” He clearly answered that they were be taken to death.

3. “Be ready!” – In v. 44 Jesus said, “Therefore you also be ready…” The disciples wanted to know when Jesus was going to establish His government on the earth. He was not given a date by His Father that He could give them. This was not the highest priority in God’s leadership of the apostles, but rather that they would be ready whenever that time came. Therefore He gave them signs to watch for and a mission to accomplish in order that they would maintain a life of sobriety and faithfulness. The following parables in Matt. 24:45-25:30 illustrate this point – To summarize: the true test of faith was to be realized if Jesus’ coming was a long way off, not if it could occur at any moment.

4. The hope of the Apostles – The reason the Second Coming would occur at “an hour they (the apostles) do not expect” (v. 44) was because of the apostle’s hope that it would happen immediately (Lk. 19:11). Just before Jesus’ ascension they asked with eager anticipation, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6) Jesus answered them by refocusing their attention on the primary task that was before them. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) This emphasis on being “witnesses” is consistent with what Jesus taught them in Matthew 24. “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (v. 14) Jesus wanted to emphasize that their primary mandate was not to be anxious about an “any second” return; rather, it was to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations, while watching for the “signs” of His return. This was further emphasized in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…20 teaching them all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Notice that in both contexts of Jesus exhortation for them to preach the Gospel a time frame was associated with it. In 24:14 He said that after this had been done “the end would come”, and in 28:19 Jesus said He would be with them in this assignment until, “the end of the age”.

J. The Church will know when Jesus’ coming is soon – When Jesus said that no one “knows” the “day or hour” of His return, he was talking to believers in the first century using present tense language. He certainly did not mean that nobody would ever know or He would not have said, “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near – at the doors!” (v. 33)



1. Jesus gave the metaphor of birth pangs (v. 8) – An expectant mother never knows for sure when her labor will begin. However, once it starts, it is obvious that the birth is soon to follow. Once the “birth pangs” of the “signs” which Jesus gave begin we will know that the “birth” of His “second coming” is soon to follow. In Luke 21:28 he said, “Now when these things begin to happen (the signs of Jesus’ return), look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

2. Jesus compared His coming to the “days of Noah” – While Noah did not know for many years when God was going to send judgment upon the earth, he prepared himself and his family. Then seven days before the judgment was poured out God told Noah the exact timing (Gen. 7:4). When the Antichrist makes a covenant with Israel seven years before Christ’s Second Coming (Dan. 9:27), we will know that His return is “near at the doors!”

K. A Secret Rapture? – Matthew 24:36-44 is the primary text from which pretribulationists build their argument for a “secret rapture” before the second coming. Verse 36 states “But of that day and hour no one knows…” If this verse is pertinent for building the case for a pretribulational rapture then we must ask the question, what “day and hour” is Jesus talking about? ...An alleged “secret rapture applying exclusively to the Church?” There is nothing in the text up to this point that indicates that there will be a “secret rapture” before the second coming. The “day and hour” that Jesus is referring to is the day and hour he just spoke of in verses 30-31 concerning His Second Coming at the end of the tribulation. If He tells us explicitly that His Second Coming is after the tribulation and that the rapture takes place at that time, is it even possible that He is speaking of another coming and another rapture, especially when there is nothing in the text that so much as hints at this conclusion? Scripture must be interpreted properly in its context. The context of this passage is a rapture that occurs at the Second Coming of Jesus, after the tribulation, not before.

L. The Apostle Paul interprets Matthew 24 – Paul’s exhortation in Thessalonians was clearly an application of Jesus’ teaching in the Olivet Discourse.

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. – 1 Thess. 5:1-6

1. The Apostle Paul was clear that when Jesus spoke of “coming like a thief” it would be to those who were not prepared.



For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. – 1 Thess. 5:2-5

2. Paul understood that believers walking in fellowship with Christ would not be surprised at the Second Coming.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are sons of light and sons of the day. – Thess. 5:4-5

a. Notice in this verse the reference to “you” and “brethren”. This is a clear distinction from those who would not be prepared.

3. Jesus included believers in the category of those who may not be prepared.


a. “Not watching” is the critical issue. Certainly Jesus did not mean staring into the sky, but rather looking for the clear signs he set forth in Matthew 24. He will come like a thief to those who will not watch and they will suffer loss.

4. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 24 that there would be a falling away from the faith and that the “False Christ’s” would be revealed before His Second Coming and the rapture (Matt. 24:9-15). The apostle Paul reinforces this view in 2 Thessalonians.

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Second Coming) and our gathering together to Him (the rapture), we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first (apostasy), and the man of sin is revealed (the antichrist), the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. – 2 Thess. 2:1-4

a. These verses plainly tell us that Jesus’ second coming is not imminent yet. At least two prophesied events must occur first: 1) the apostasy and 2) the revelation of the man of sin, the Antichrist.

b. The expression “the falling away” is the translation for the Greek word apostasia. Two uses of this term are found in the NT, in Second Thessalonians, which most literally means apostasy, and in Acts 21:21 where it describes people forsaking Moses. The standard Greek dictionary defines the term as “rebellion or abandonment in religion”.



M. Imminence according to the Apostle James

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. – James 5:7-8

1. This parable from James is another example of how we are to watch for Christ’s coming – by looking for signs. A farmer does not expect the harvest to come “at any moment” during the entire year after planting. A farmer knows that there is an appointed time for the harvest – it is after the crop has matured. James refers to his awaiting the rainy season before harvest. In Israel, there were two main rainy seasons, and the two harvests followed these rainy seasons. Farmers never harvested their fields until after the rains. Hence, the rains in this parable are signs that must come prior to Christ’s Second coming. So in James’ exhortation, while the coming of the Lord is “at hand” (fast approaching), it is not “imminent” in the sense that nothing needs to occur first. If there are signs (rains) prior to the harvest for the farmer in James’ parable, so too there are signs prior to Jesus’ Second coming before it can be considered imminent.

N. The authors of the New Testament did not believe in an “any moment” return of Jesus. Jesus told Peter that he would live to an “old” age.

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God…” – John 21:18-19

1. This text makes it obvious that the apostles could not have believed in an “imminent” return of Jesus until after Peter died. Therefore, when Paul, Peter, and James wrote their epistles, Jesus’ coming could not have been imminent. Consequently, none of the statements in these epistles meant that Jesus’ coming was imminent to those to whom they were addressed.

XXV. THE CONDITION OF THE EARTH AT THE TIME OF THE RAPTURE

A. Pretribulationist teachers such as John Walvoord attempt to establish proof that the rapture could not occur at the end of the tribulation due to the contradiction between what the book of Revelation describes as the condition of the earth at the end of the tribulation and the condition Jesus describes at the time of the rapture. They point to Matt. 24:37-41 as a proof text to support this view:



“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.” – Matt. 24:37-41

B. The days of Noah – The main emphasis of Jesus exhortation here was to show how the world in Noah’s time continued on with business as usual in total disregard to the warnings of Noah about coming judgment, and how in the same way many will be completely unprepared for Christ’s return at the end of the tribulation (which Jesus just spoke about in v.29 of Matt. 24). This was a point of great significance to Jesus because nearly the entire generation alive during His first coming missed the day of their visitation in terms of recognizing their Messiah.

“For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” – Lk. 19:43-44

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of me. – John 5:39

“For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.” – Matt. 13:15

1. Jesus was obviously not naïve enough to imagine that His disciples were immune from the deceptive influences of this world and the devil (later realized by the betrayal of Judas Iscariot). He goes on in Matthew 24 and 25 to exhort them to watchfulness with several other parables. This was brilliant pastoral leadership by Jesus over His flock of budding apostles.

2. What were the days of Noah really like? They were the most violent, sexually immoral days ever lived on planet earth, comparable only to the time of the Great Tribulation during the last three and a half years of human history. In fact, it was the only time in history in which the entire earth was fully ripe for judgment, with the exception of only one family of eight people!



Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God (fallen angels) saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose…4 …and also afterward, when the sons of God (fallen angels) came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them…5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. – Gen. 6:1-2, 4-5

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence (literally bloodshed). 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” – Gen. 6:11-13

And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. – Gen. 6:6

C. What will the earth be like at the time of the Second Coming? Revelation 9:21 gives a description of the last seven years that appropriately fits the scenario of the days of Noah, “They did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” A spirit of murder will be breaking forth in the nations, as well as full-blown sexual immorality, and an occultic worship movement (Rev. 13; 17:2).

1. In Revelation 11:9-10 we are given a description of the earth immediately before Christ returns:

“Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their bodies (the two witnesses) three-and-a-half days, and will not allow their bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 Now after three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.”

a. Just before Jesus returns at the end of the 1260 days of Great Tribulation the earth will not only be entrenched in gross immorality, but will be rejoicing, making merry, and sending gifts to one another. This correlates directly to what Jesus described in Matthew 24:36-44 in terms of the earth living on in complete disregard for coming judgment.



2. The whole picture then is of the inhabitants of the earth living in full-blown immorality and total disregard for any coming judgment – this is precisely the scenario described in Noah’s day.

D. The error of many is to see the bowls of wrath as being poured out before Jesus returns. It would be impossible to imagine the earth rejoicing, making merry, and sending gifts to one another after the bowls have been poured out. Further more, it would be impossible for the 6th and 7th bowls to occur apart from Christ’s physical presence on the earth as described in Joel 3, Zechariah 14, and Revelation 19 in context to the battle of Armageddon. Jesus undoubtedly returns at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which is at the end of the seven years of tribulation, and then pours out the bowls of wrath during His procession on the earth.

E. It is important to bear in mind that the context of the entire passage in Matt. 24:37-41is to answer the question, “What will be the sign of Your coming (Second Coming), and of the end of the age (end of the tribulation)?” Jesus was describing the judgment that would come on those who were not prepared for His Second coming as it was in the days of Noah when the flood came. Consider the language Jesus used in this passage, “so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (v. 39). The only “coming” (regarding the end of the age) described in the entire NT is the Second Coming after the tribulation not before.

F. In conclusion, nothing in this text contradicts the scenario pictured at the end of the Great Tribulation – rather, it all flows harmoniously well. However, to draw out of this passage a “secret coming of Jesus” and a “secret rapture” is mere speculation without any biblical evidence. Concerning an issue of such magnitude and importance to the Church certainly Jesus would have just told His disciples, “I am coming separately for you before the tribulation.” The fact is He did not. What He did do is warn them of the dangers of the Great Tribulation and their need to be made ready for it. To teach this passage in contradiction to that on the weight of arbitrary speculation is dangerous, especially concerning what Jesus was trying to establish throughout the entire chapter of Matthew 24, which was the preparation of His followers.



Post Tribulation Rapture

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