Since there are no passages where Christ Himself teaches of an earlier return (Pre-Trib) and since Christ stated twice that He has told us "ALL THINGS" the Pre-Trib Rapture doctrine only exists because of 3 primary passages, one by Christ, one by Paul and one by John. If there are reasonable alternative interpretations for these three passages then the Pre-Trib Rapture should not be based on these passages because there is no dispute that the Pre-Trib view cannot stand on its own. Instead, it is based on conjecture and combining disconnected passages and incorrectly interpreting them.
1. John 14: [SUP]2 [/SUP]In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you[SUP].[/SUP] [SUP]3 [/SUP]And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Correct Interpretation: The Father's House is Heaven. The "mansions" or rooms are already built. Christ isn't going there to build them, he is merely stating the fact that they are there. When Christ states that he is going to prepare a place, He isn't talking about going to heaven to prepare that place as that place is already prepared. Again, the mansions are stated as already being there. Christ is talking about going to the Cross. This is where Christ must go to prepare the way to heaven as NOBODY who died before Christ was in heaven yet.
Christ then states that since He is going to the Cross, He will return again to receive us (those alive) unto Himself. When Christ returns He is no longer in heaven, He is here. So since He is here and gathers us to Him both Christ and those gathered remain here on earth. Nowhere does the above say that anyone living is being taken to heaven or that Christ returns to heaven once He gathers us. Those are assumptions and opinions - not fact.
[SUP]2. 1 Thes 4: 13 [/SUP]But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. [SUP]14 [/SUP]For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. [SUP]16 [/SUP]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. [SUP]17 [/SUP]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.
Correct Interpretation: Paul's use of personal and possessive pronouns is atrocious. It is often very difficult to know who Paul is referring to when He uses words such as: him, he, she, her, they, theirs, his, hers, we, us, ours, etc. The same is true when Paul uses the word "LORD." However, if you study Paul's use of the word, "Lord" you quickly see that most of the time when He uses it alone, He is speaking of God the Father. Usually when Paul is speaking of Jesus Christ he includes the word, "Jesus" or "Christ" with the word LORD or it is clear from the context which part of the Trinity Paul is discussing. There are three phrases highlighted and underlined in the above passage that make clear Paul is speaking of God the Father. Thus, everywhere He uses the word "LORD" in the above, it would be clearer if He used the word "GOD." In none of those cases should Jesus be used to replace "Lord." Once this is understood, then it is clear that this passage belongs historically at the end of time and not before the Great Tribulation. Without this passage being about Jesus' return, the Pre-Trib view totally collapses.
Rev 3: [SUP]10 [/SUP]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. [SUP]11 [/SUP]Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. [SUP]12 [/SUP]He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
Correct Interpretation: So many people stop at verse 10 and think that if one of the seven churches is kept from the "test" that this means they are taken to heaven. But if we read on we see that it is the new Jerusalem which is the new heaven which comes out of heaven from God. It is here that those who persevere will go and not to the current heaven that has been tainted by Satan's presence.
Many view the 7 churches as representing past churches or that each church represents a period of church history. Still others see the 7 churches as representing 7 denominations of today where only 1 gets raptured. All of these views are speculative. We do know that all 7 churches are located in Asia Minor which is modern day Turkey. There is significance to this location and thus significance to the warning letters as Turkey is the Seat of Satan and is where the Little Horn (Man of Sin, AKA Satan as a Man) which many call AntiChrist will come.
Many point to verse 10 as evidence of a Rapture. They equate "being kept" from something to being taken off the planet and flown alive to heaven. The verse does not say this but the leap is made by many again using other passages which they also misinterpret.
Conclusion: At the end of the day, there is no passage (alone or combined) that tells us of an earlier Pre-Trib Rapture return. There is no passage that tells us living people are flown to heaven to avoid the Tribulation. There is no passage that makes a distinction between a Saint and a Tribulation Era Saint - this is an invented term. There is no teaching of a great revival following a rapture which is the only way a Great Multitude of Believers could be killed during the Tribulation and seen in heaven. The "raptured" church cannot be found in heaven in any passage, only dead saints are found there. There is no passage that equates the Wrath of God with the Great Tribulation. There is no passage that reverses for the end times church the oft taught doctrine which states believers must endure persecution and death for the faith.
All passages which discuss the return of Christ and locate the timing tell of a Post Trib Return. Therefore the Pre-Trib Doctrine is false and is an invention of man and/or Satan. The Pre-Trib Doctrine conflicts with the Bible and calls Christ, Paul and John liars. This doctrine is dangerous, it is evil to its core and end time believers must reject it just as they must reject the Man of Sin (Satan) who comes first claiming to be Christ!!
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