Although this is a controversial topic, I have to lift it off my chest. Most objections against the rapture doctrine are what the term "rapture" means, whether it exists in the bible, whether it was newly invented, whether it creates a "third" coming of Christ, but the real fallacy, as I've noticed, lies within its timing in the rapture narrative, which is predominantly taught as pre-trib. Rapture doctrine's one and only valid prooftext is 1 Thess. 4:17 where the term "caught up" is found, and in the previous verse is hope of resurrection.
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. 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. (1 Thess. 4:16-17)
Now here is the kicker. Upon close examination, 4:16 explicitly states that the dead in Christ will rise FIRST. Should we take it literally, as the resurrection must precede the rapture? If so, then the pre-trib timing is busted, because the resurrection takes place AFTER the return of Christ in Rev. 20:4-5.
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the FIRST resurrection. (Rev. 20:4-5)
And when does Christ return? "Immediately 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. 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)
Here the dispensationalists will argue that the rapture is a separate event, if that's the case, it would inevitably and necessarily lead to the conclusion that there will be a separate resurrection also, since the two events are a package deal. So, is it possible to have such a preliminary resurrection? Unfortunately, the answer's NO, because the resurrection in Rev. 20:4-5 is the FIRST one, if you take that literally, then there would be no other resurrection before that.
... This is the FIRST resurrection. (Rev. 20:5)
However, according to Dan. 12:2, there will be a second resurrection, but that's for the unsaved, who will face the white throne judgement.
... 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. 12:2)
... the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:13-15)
The fatal mistake of pre-trib rapture doctrine is its ignorance of the resurrection, making it an insignificant footnote of the rapture, while in the biblical context it is the opposite, Paul meant to comfort the Thessalonian church who were mourning their dead and worried about their fate, "rapture" in whatever definition is an insignificant footnote of the resurrection. I've made this argument many times, that as the power of the Holy Spirit raised Christ from the grave, so will it raise us from the grave, that's our real blessed hope. I believe that rapture is a cowardly cop-out, it is popular as its promise of skipping death, whereas resurrection is unpopular as it's predicated upon death. By no means do I wish for death or the great tribulation, even Lord Jesus himself asked if this cup of suffering could be passed from him (Matt. 26:42); but when you connect these dots and find that such fate is determined, Lord Jesus predicted the persecution of the church - "Then 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) Clinging to a false hope is not an escape.
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. 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. (1 Thess. 4:16-17)
Now here is the kicker. Upon close examination, 4:16 explicitly states that the dead in Christ will rise FIRST. Should we take it literally, as the resurrection must precede the rapture? If so, then the pre-trib timing is busted, because the resurrection takes place AFTER the return of Christ in Rev. 20:4-5.
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the FIRST resurrection. (Rev. 20:4-5)
And when does Christ return? "Immediately 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. 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)
Here the dispensationalists will argue that the rapture is a separate event, if that's the case, it would inevitably and necessarily lead to the conclusion that there will be a separate resurrection also, since the two events are a package deal. So, is it possible to have such a preliminary resurrection? Unfortunately, the answer's NO, because the resurrection in Rev. 20:4-5 is the FIRST one, if you take that literally, then there would be no other resurrection before that.
... This is the FIRST resurrection. (Rev. 20:5)
However, according to Dan. 12:2, there will be a second resurrection, but that's for the unsaved, who will face the white throne judgement.
... 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. 12:2)
... the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:13-15)
The fatal mistake of pre-trib rapture doctrine is its ignorance of the resurrection, making it an insignificant footnote of the rapture, while in the biblical context it is the opposite, Paul meant to comfort the Thessalonian church who were mourning their dead and worried about their fate, "rapture" in whatever definition is an insignificant footnote of the resurrection. I've made this argument many times, that as the power of the Holy Spirit raised Christ from the grave, so will it raise us from the grave, that's our real blessed hope. I believe that rapture is a cowardly cop-out, it is popular as its promise of skipping death, whereas resurrection is unpopular as it's predicated upon death. By no means do I wish for death or the great tribulation, even Lord Jesus himself asked if this cup of suffering could be passed from him (Matt. 26:42); but when you connect these dots and find that such fate is determined, Lord Jesus predicted the persecution of the church - "Then 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) Clinging to a false hope is not an escape.
