The Case for a Pre Tribulation rapture (1)
We have had people say that the term "rapture" is not Biblical and in this blog we defended the use, pointing out that the term "Harpazo" is Biblical and my comprehensive understanding of this term is the term "the redemption of our body".
However, one debate I have ignored up to this point is the "pre tribulation" rapture. I think the main argument against this doctrine is they equate going through the tribulation with going to the cross. So then they assume that a pre tribulation rapture is a way of teaching that you don't have to take up your cross and follow Jesus.
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9 NIV).
Revelation 6:12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”
If we reconcile 1Thessalonians 5:9 with the book of Revelation we see that the sixth seal being opened is when "the great day of their wrath" comes referring to "him that sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb". We also find the first use of the word "great" in Revelation also occurs in chapter 6 when it talks about "a great earthquake". As a result we can refer to this portion of the tribulation as "the great tribulation". The tribulation begins with the opening of the first seal with the antichrist being released and revealed, most notably by confirming the covenant with the many concerning Jerusalem, the start of the 70th week according to Daniel. The 70th week refers to a 7 year period, we often call "the tribulation" and the last half, the last 42 months or the last 3 1/2 years we call "the great tribulation". So then there is no conflict with 1Thessalonians if believers are in the tribulation prior to the opening of the sixth seal.
To be clear, even though I am persuaded that some Christians will be raptured prior to the 70th week beginning, I am not disputing with those who say some Christians will be in the tribulation. My sense is that the majority of Christians will go through the tribulation and either be martyred or raptured prior to the sixth seal being opened.
Rather, I see the Bible teaching that when the Lord comes some will be found with faith, they will be watching, they will be the faithful servants who are giving the food at the proper time. Others will be asleep and the rapture will wake them up.
The second thing we need to clear up 2Thessalonians 2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him The Lord's second coming and our being gathered to the Lord are two separate events. If you think the two are the same event then of course you would say that we are raptured after the tribulation because that is when the battle of Armageddon is and that is when the Lord steps down on the Mount of Olives. Now this second coming takes place after God's wrath has been poured out on the earth and on man. It is quite clear from the book of Revelation that great wrath is poured out prior to the Lord stepping down on the Mount of Olives.
So then although there is Biblical basis to say that Christians will go into the tribulation and be beheaded (5th seal) or raptured prior to the sixth seal, to say they are raptured after the sixth seal contradicts 1Thessalonians 5:9.
John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
In a Jewish wedding the groom is betrothed to his bride in a ceremony where they both drink wine. Then he goes and builds a room for them to live in as part of his father's house. When he is done he comes back to get the bride and then they have the wedding ceremony. The beginning of the age was the Lord's table where we were betrothed to the Lord. The church age began with Pentecost where the promise of our covenant was given to us. During the church age Jesus is preparing a place for us and at the end of the age He will come to gather us to Himself. This is a blessed event, not a time of pouring out judgement and wrath.
1Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
The rapture is an encouraging word. There is nothing in the Jewish marriage that would suggest the groom would put his bride through some kind of judgement and pour out his wrath on her prior to the wedding.
1Corinthians 15:
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This makes it very clear that the rapture is a victory for those who are faithful. So then if you are interpreting a "pre tribulation" rapture as meaning these believers will not be involved in the battle, in the struggle, then that is not true. No one will be raptured without it being a victory over sin and death. However, I would say that the church age was a 2,000 year battle and that is why those who are dead are also raptured in victory. We have two different covenants here. When the Jews rejected Jesus and crucified Him Daniel referred to that as "the Messiah being cut off". That was the end of the 69th week and there is a gap, a parenthesis of 2,000 years between the end of the 69th week and the start of the 70th week. This gap is the church age, a New covenant. This covenant is between Christ and the church and will result in Jesus getting His bride. However, this age should end prior to the 70th week starting. For some Christians they will be raised up in victory, but for some they will not be and they will still have 3 1/2 years to repent and rededicate themselves to the Lord.
All of these passages clearly refer to the rapture and do not refer to judgement or wrath.
This is the first point, there is much that happens during the Great tribulation that is not referring to Christians and happens after the rapture. Now it is definitely true that there will be believers on earth when the mark of the beast is enforced under pain of being beheaded. That is during the tribulation and many believers will be martyred then. This is the 5th seal. However, it is also clear that some believers are raptured in the twinkling of an eye. So let's be very clear, I am not saying that all Christians will be raptured or that all Christians will be raptured prior to the 70th week. Rather I am saying that there is a variety of outcomes for Christians. Some will be raptured, some will be martyred. Some will be kept from the hour of trial that falls on the earth, for some the Lord's coming will be like a thief in the night and they will be exposed as being blind and naked. Some will be watching when He comes, giving the saints the right food at the appointed time, others will be beating their fellow servants and eating and drinking with the drunkards. To be continued...