I try not to be closed off to civilized debate about my interpretation of Scripture. It's foolish not to consider other people's opinions, and it's arrogant to imagine that one has perfect biblical insight. Thus I like to remain teachable and willing to entertain challenges.
I've had many people, including a close family member, disagree with me about the timing of the Rapture (a.k.a the Resurrection). Some have taken a soft approach when trying to convince me that the Rapture will happen before a supposed seven-year tribulation, and some have treated me like I must be some kind of moron. But none of them have ever rendered up a cogent argument from Scripture. I've stayed open-minded, and I've listened carefully, but I have not been swayed. For every one verse that might hint at a pre-Trib Rapture, there are three or four verses that unambiguously contradict it.
I've had many people, including a close family member, disagree with me about the timing of the Rapture (a.k.a the Resurrection). Some have taken a soft approach when trying to convince me that the Rapture will happen before a supposed seven-year tribulation, and some have treated me like I must be some kind of moron. But none of them have ever rendered up a cogent argument from Scripture. I've stayed open-minded, and I've listened carefully, but I have not been swayed. For every one verse that might hint at a pre-Trib Rapture, there are three or four verses that unambiguously contradict it.
If you've been pulled aboard the "Rapture Ready" bandwagon, you might want to consider these ten points of contention before you install that Rapture hatch in your crib.
There's No Such Thing as a 7-Year Tribulation
First and foremost, I feel compelled to point out that the Bible does not speak of a period of tribulation lasting seven years. That concept comes from an erroneous combination of verses in Daniel and Revelation that do not fully correlate with one another.
What Scripture does teach is that this age will conclude with a seven-year period known as Daniel's 70th week (Dan. 9:26-27). This shemitah (i.e., a "week" of years) is never called "The Tribulation," but the second half of it, the last three-and-a-half years, will be a time of great tribulation for followers of Y'shua (Matt. 24:20-21; Rev. 7:14).
Nothing in the Bible indicates a removal of God's people before Daniel's 70th week, or even before the Great Tribulation during the second half of that week. I defy you to find such a teaching in Scripture.
What Scripture does teach is that this age will conclude with a seven-year period known as Daniel's 70th week (Dan. 9:26-27). This shemitah (i.e., a "week" of years) is never called "The Tribulation," but the second half of it, the last three-and-a-half years, will be a time of great tribulation for followers of Y'shua (Matt. 24:20-21; Rev. 7:14).
Nothing in the Bible indicates a removal of God's people before Daniel's 70th week, or even before the Great Tribulation during the second half of that week. I defy you to find such a teaching in Scripture.
Rapture = Resurrection
The term rapture come from a Latin translation of the Greek verb harpazō, meaning "caught up," which Paul used in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 to describe the bodily translation of living saints. It's simply one way that the Bible describes what will happen to the living at the time of the resurrection of the dead, so don't be confused and imagine that the Rapture and the Resurrection are separate events. These terms are synonymous.
Now let's take a look at some of the top reasons why the Elect will have to wait until after Daniel's 70th week to be "caught up."
Now let's take a look at some of the top reasons why the Elect will have to wait until after Daniel's 70th week to be "caught up."
My Top 10 List
#10. The Curious Case of No Supporting Verses
Not a single, solitary verse explicitly teaches a seven-year gap between the Resurrection and the end of the age. Of the twenty-five instances of the word tribulation in the KJV Bible, not one mentions the harpazō as something that precedes that tribulation.
To make up for this conspicuous absence, the pre-Trib doctrine must rely on forced interpretations of prophetic foreshadows. For instance, pre-Tribbers will commonly claim that the seven-year honeymoon of the Son of God and his bride following the Rapture is the prophetic fulfillment of the seven days during which Noah's family was shut up in the ark, as well as the seven days during which a betrothed Hebrew couple, to consummate their marriage, was sequestered within a chamber or tent (called a huppah).
However, nothing in the Bible suggests that we should take prophetic events which speak of seven literal days and make them out to mean seven years. If anything, we should turn those days into millenniums because the Bible does say that one day is as a thousand years to God. But don't do that, because it doesn't fit the context in these cases. They're just days, and the honeymoon of the Lamb will last for a literal week.
To make up for this conspicuous absence, the pre-Trib doctrine must rely on forced interpretations of prophetic foreshadows. For instance, pre-Tribbers will commonly claim that the seven-year honeymoon of the Son of God and his bride following the Rapture is the prophetic fulfillment of the seven days during which Noah's family was shut up in the ark, as well as the seven days during which a betrothed Hebrew couple, to consummate their marriage, was sequestered within a chamber or tent (called a huppah).
However, nothing in the Bible suggests that we should take prophetic events which speak of seven literal days and make them out to mean seven years. If anything, we should turn those days into millenniums because the Bible does say that one day is as a thousand years to God. But don't do that, because it doesn't fit the context in these cases. They're just days, and the honeymoon of the Lamb will last for a literal week.
#9. The Doctrine of Imminency Applies to the Wicked, Not the Righteous
One of the main arguments to come out of the pre-Trib camp is that the Rapture is imminent, or impending. We won't have any warning, they say, which is why the Bible tells us to always be ready. Therefore the Rapture can't happen at the end of Daniel's 70th week, because once that shemitah begins we will know roughly when it's going to end.
But will the Rapture indeed come as a surprise? Will we be overtaken "like a thief in the night," as pre-Tribbers like to claim? Not at all. Read what Paul has to say about it:
But will the Rapture indeed come as a surprise? Will we be overtaken "like a thief in the night," as pre-Tribbers like to claim? Not at all. Read what Paul has to say about it:
"You yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they are saying, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape. But you, brothers, aren't in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief." (1 Thess. 5:2-4)
A thief in the night shows up unexpectedly, it's true. But look at the last sentence in the quote above: it states that the Thessalonicans are not in darkness, therefore they will not be surprised by one who comes like a thief. In other words, as long as we're walking in the light of scriptural truth and wisdom, Adonai will not arrive without warning. There is a prophetic timeline which we can learn, that will inform us about the general season of Y'shua's coming (but not the exact day or hour).
The fact that this passage from Paul has ever been used to teach imminency is a travesty.
In Y'shua's letter to the church at Sardis, he warned them that if they would not watch, then he would come upon them as a thief (Rev. 3:3). This implies that they could decide to be watchful and thus not be overtaken.
We can apply the same logic to verses such as Luke 12:40, wherein the disciples are told to remain ready "because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Y'shua's disciples are to be like the watchful porter (Mark 13:32-37) who sees the master returning when he was yet a speck on the horizon.
Did the porter expect to see the master in the distance on that particular day? No, but he knew that it was a possibility, which is why he kept watch. After spotting the man approaching, the porter could then give the household advanced notice, and final preparations could be made. That beats just having the master suddenly walk through the door, even if you aren't doing anything wrong.
The fact that this passage from Paul has ever been used to teach imminency is a travesty.
In Y'shua's letter to the church at Sardis, he warned them that if they would not watch, then he would come upon them as a thief (Rev. 3:3). This implies that they could decide to be watchful and thus not be overtaken.
We can apply the same logic to verses such as Luke 12:40, wherein the disciples are told to remain ready "because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Y'shua's disciples are to be like the watchful porter (Mark 13:32-37) who sees the master returning when he was yet a speck on the horizon.
Did the porter expect to see the master in the distance on that particular day? No, but he knew that it was a possibility, which is why he kept watch. After spotting the man approaching, the porter could then give the household advanced notice, and final preparations could be made. That beats just having the master suddenly walk through the door, even if you aren't doing anything wrong.
#8. Y'shua Prayed Against Early Withdrawal
Going through tribulation is not contrary to biblical teaching. In fact, God sometimes takes us through tribulations for good reasons, and he comforts and strengthens us during those times. Y'shua promised his disciples that "in this world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33). Moreover, he specifically asked the Father not to remove us from the world, but to instead protect us from the Adversary while we live here (John 17:15).
Y'shua and Martha both spoke about the Resurrection being on the Last Day (John 6:39-40, 11:24). We're in it for the long haul, but God is with us.
Y'shua and Martha both spoke about the Resurrection being on the Last Day (John 6:39-40, 11:24). We're in it for the long haul, but God is with us.
#7. The "Last Trump" Cannot Occur Before the Trumpet Plagues
I don't know of any pre-Tribbers who think that the Church will be around for the plagues that accompany the trumpets of Revelation 8:7-10:7. They believe that they'll be long gone by that point. Unfortunately for their theory, the apostle Paul clearly taught that the Resurrection doesn't happen until the last trumpet.
"Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 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 will be changed." (1 Cor. 15:52)
The last trumpet in the Bible, both chronologically and in terms of its placement within the text, is the 7th trumpet of Revelation.
"But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets." (Rev. 10:7)
What mystery is it that will be finished just before blowing of the 7th (out of seven) trumpet? Paul tells us:
"I was made a servant... to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints..." (Col. 1:25-26)
And also:
"Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory." (1 Tim. 3:16)
The Mystery is the story of Y'shua before his glorious revelation as king. That story concludes with the Resurrection and subsequent marriage of the saints to the Son of God. The mystery occupies the whole age during which Messiah has been hidden from the world and working unseen by the Holy Spirit.
The 7th trumpet of Revelation is the same as the one that announces the bridegroom along with the shout of the archangel:
The 7th trumpet of Revelation is the same as the one that announces the bridegroom along with the shout of the archangel:
"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first..." (1 Thess. 4:16)
"He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other." (Matt. 24:31)
#6. Y'shua Must Remain Hidden Until His Glorious Appearing
Pre-Trib doctrine relies upon the idea that Y'shua will come in secret to gather his bride (i.e., the Assembly). The world at large will supposedly not see him appear in glory until seven years later. However, Peter preached on the day of Pentecost that Y'shua will remain in heaven until it's time for him to restore all things (Acts 3:21), and the restoration of the world will take place during the millennial reign, during the Day of the Lord, not seven years before it.
When Titus wrote that the saints await "the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" (Tit. 2:13), he linked the Resurrection with the time of Messiah's reappearance. In other words, the Rapture will involve a glorious revelation of Y'shua to the whole world.
When Titus wrote that the saints await "the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" (Tit. 2:13), he linked the Resurrection with the time of Messiah's reappearance. In other words, the Rapture will involve a glorious revelation of Y'shua to the whole world.
"For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.... Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory." (Matt. 24:27-31)
#5. Y'shua Cannot Return Until the Man of Lawlessness is Revealed
The apostle Paul was concerned that his converts in Thessalonica were being duped into believing bad end-times doctrine, so he corrected them in one of his letters to the congregation. He very pointedly directed them to not be in any way deceived about the coming of the Lord. Then he gave the following explanation:
"For that day [of the Lord's return] will not come unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thess. 2:3-4)
The son of perdition is none other than Satan's Seed, the Antichrist. He must be revealed for the lawless and arrogant madman that he is before Y'shua can arrive to fight him. Note that lawlessness here refers to a disregard for YHVH's instructions, not the laws of governments (which are inconsequential to the apocalyptic battle between good and evil).
The Greek word translated as revealed is apokaluphthe (Strong's #G601), which means "to disclose what was veiled." The Antichrist will be on the scene for a while before he shows his real colors. We know this because many prophetic texts describe him as growing from a minor ruler into a global tyrant through a series of military and diplomatic conquests. So when will he finally show his hand and demonstrate his contempt for YHVH's law? It will be exactly three-and-a-half years before the end, when he kills the Two Witnesses, defiles the Holy Temple with the Abomination of Desolation, and sets himself up as God (Dan. 9:27, 11:31, 12:11; Matt. 24:15).
Logically, then, Adonai can't return until after the Abomination of Desolation event at the mid-point of Daniel's 70th week. And if the Lord can't return, then he can't gather his Church (1 Thess. 4:16).
The Greek word translated as revealed is apokaluphthe (Strong's #G601), which means "to disclose what was veiled." The Antichrist will be on the scene for a while before he shows his real colors. We know this because many prophetic texts describe him as growing from a minor ruler into a global tyrant through a series of military and diplomatic conquests. So when will he finally show his hand and demonstrate his contempt for YHVH's law? It will be exactly three-and-a-half years before the end, when he kills the Two Witnesses, defiles the Holy Temple with the Abomination of Desolation, and sets himself up as God (Dan. 9:27, 11:31, 12:11; Matt. 24:15).
Logically, then, Adonai can't return until after the Abomination of Desolation event at the mid-point of Daniel's 70th week. And if the Lord can't return, then he can't gather his Church (1 Thess. 4:16).
#4. Tribulation Saints Will Take Part in the First Resurrection
In Revelation chapter 20, John sees the saints who took part in the First Resurrection. (This is the first corporate resurrection, of course, considering that the Messiah was the First Fruits of the Resurrection). If the pre-Trib theory is correct, then none of the members of this group should have lived during the Great Tribulation. But that's not what we find.
John perceives the souls of those were martyred during the Tribulation, who did not worship the Beast or take his mark, and they are reigning with Messiah during the Millennium. He proclaims that they are exceedingly blessed because they were included in the First Resurrection (Rev. 20:4-6).
The Rapture can't happen before the Tribulation if it includes saints who died during the Tribulation.
This places the timing of the Resurrection firmly at the end of the age, after the three-and-a-half year Great Tribulation.
John perceives the souls of those were martyred during the Tribulation, who did not worship the Beast or take his mark, and they are reigning with Messiah during the Millennium. He proclaims that they are exceedingly blessed because they were included in the First Resurrection (Rev. 20:4-6).
The Rapture can't happen before the Tribulation if it includes saints who died during the Tribulation.
This places the timing of the Resurrection firmly at the end of the age, after the three-and-a-half year Great Tribulation.
#3. The Doctrine Itself is Fraught with Logical Inconsistencies
According to the pre-Trib doctrine, the removal of the Church will give the kingdom of Darkness the breathing room that it needs in order to bring about the global empire and religious system of the Beast. They say that the Tribulation period will not be devoid of Christians, however, because many unbelievers will come to trust in Y'shua after the Rapture.
If many people are going to become believers during the Tribulation, then the new converts must really be on fire with the Holy Spirit. It would take a lot of super-evangelists to restore the Christian population in less than a decade. Will the presence of these super-evangelists not derail the Adversary's plans in the same way that the Christians before them were doing? And how much good are we currently doing, anyway? Enough to keep the New World Order from arising? Doubtful.
What will happen to these Tribulation saints once they die? Since they've missed the wedding of the Lamb, will they not be part of the Bride? Will they be in the Kingdom but rejected from the family of Elohiym from all eternity?
If the Rapture is to save us the Church from plagues and trials during the Tribulation, then why didn't God remove the Israelites from Egypt before he sent the plagues on that land? Instead, he supernaturally protected the Hebrew people right where they were. And why would God let millions of his children be persecuted and martyred over the last two thousand years, yet spare those of his children who happen to be living at the end of the age?
Why should an old man who has sinned liberally throughout his life accept mercy shortly before the Rapture and so be conveniently saved from tribulation on earth, while a young man with few sins who repents after the Rapture must endure said tribulation?
If God's desire is all people to come to repentance, as it clearly is (1 Tim. 2:4; Rev. 14:6, 16:9-11), then why would he hamstring efforts to that end by removing all of the ministers and mature saints from the world? Are the baby Christians who arise after the Rapture going to do a better job than the experienced believers who were taken away?
If many people are going to become believers during the Tribulation, then the new converts must really be on fire with the Holy Spirit. It would take a lot of super-evangelists to restore the Christian population in less than a decade. Will the presence of these super-evangelists not derail the Adversary's plans in the same way that the Christians before them were doing? And how much good are we currently doing, anyway? Enough to keep the New World Order from arising? Doubtful.
What will happen to these Tribulation saints once they die? Since they've missed the wedding of the Lamb, will they not be part of the Bride? Will they be in the Kingdom but rejected from the family of Elohiym from all eternity?
If the Rapture is to save us the Church from plagues and trials during the Tribulation, then why didn't God remove the Israelites from Egypt before he sent the plagues on that land? Instead, he supernaturally protected the Hebrew people right where they were. And why would God let millions of his children be persecuted and martyred over the last two thousand years, yet spare those of his children who happen to be living at the end of the age?
Why should an old man who has sinned liberally throughout his life accept mercy shortly before the Rapture and so be conveniently saved from tribulation on earth, while a young man with few sins who repents after the Rapture must endure said tribulation?
If God's desire is all people to come to repentance, as it clearly is (1 Tim. 2:4; Rev. 14:6, 16:9-11), then why would he hamstring efforts to that end by removing all of the ministers and mature saints from the world? Are the baby Christians who arise after the Rapture going to do a better job than the experienced believers who were taken away?
#2. One of Isaiah's Oracles Clearly Refutes the Pre-Trib Stance
Unbeknownst to many, a very concise account of the Last Days can be found in Isaiah 26:16-21. The events as Isaiah describes them unfold in this order:
So the Bride will only be in the Father's house for a brief period while God's wrath is being satisfied upon the earth.
The Antichrist is the reason that the Jews will be in travail before the Resurrection. Many oracles describe how he will betray a covenant made with them and invade the Promised Land. He will kill many and take others captive to Babylon. Isaiah 14, for instance, is a song that the Jews will sing to taunt the fallen Antichrist after they return from captivity under the protection of Y'shua.
We know that the Antichrist won't repress the Jews until the last three-and-a-half years of the age, so according to the Isaiah 26 oracle, the resurrection of the elect ones must be no sooner than 1,260 days before the end.
- The unbelieving Jews are in travail and recognize that they've misplaced their faith
- Isaiah and the other elect ones who have died arise to new life
- God invites his people into his chambers to hide for a short time, "until the fury has passed by"
- Messiah leaves heaven to punish the inhabitants of the earth
So the Bride will only be in the Father's house for a brief period while God's wrath is being satisfied upon the earth.
The Antichrist is the reason that the Jews will be in travail before the Resurrection. Many oracles describe how he will betray a covenant made with them and invade the Promised Land. He will kill many and take others captive to Babylon. Isaiah 14, for instance, is a song that the Jews will sing to taunt the fallen Antichrist after they return from captivity under the protection of Y'shua.
We know that the Antichrist won't repress the Jews until the last three-and-a-half years of the age, so according to the Isaiah 26 oracle, the resurrection of the elect ones must be no sooner than 1,260 days before the end.
#1. The Olivet Discourse Contains Post-Tribulation Language
I've saved the Big Kahuna for last: Y'shua's own testimony. During his Olivet Discourse, he said point-blank that the glorious appearing of the Son of Man and the gathering of the Elect both take place after the tribulation (Matt. 24:29-31). 'Nuff said.
(And no, "the Elect" is not a term for Israel. It refers to all people throughout the ages who have repented of sin and trusted in the salvation of YHVH, regardless of ethnicity.)
(And no, "the Elect" is not a term for Israel. It refers to all people throughout the ages who have repented of sin and trusted in the salvation of YHVH, regardless of ethnicity.)
BONUS: Wedding Attire is Usually Donned Before the Wedding
The Bride of Christ does not "make herself ready" and receive her white garments until Rev. 19:7-8, which is after the destruction of Babylon but immediately before the Second Coming of Christ to judge the world. If the Bride was raptured seven years beforehand, why is she just now getting ready for her wedding?
Conclusion: A Dangerous Doctrine
The pre-Tribulation Rapture theory creates a false sense of complacency that jeopardizes the mission of the Assembly and the faith of young believers.
When the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse hit the earth and Christians must pass through the valley like everyone else, how will they cope with it? Since they have not stored provisions, how will they survive through the years of chaos that will precede the New World Order? Many will decide that they must resort to doing evil in order to make it.
Beyond that, when the Abyss opens up to release demons, and the fallen angels are cast to the earth, and the Beast starts to conquer the world, and Christians are left to witness it, there will be a major falling away from the Faith (just as occurred during World War II).
Unless, that is, we prepare the flock for trouble.
When the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse hit the earth and Christians must pass through the valley like everyone else, how will they cope with it? Since they have not stored provisions, how will they survive through the years of chaos that will precede the New World Order? Many will decide that they must resort to doing evil in order to make it.
Beyond that, when the Abyss opens up to release demons, and the fallen angels are cast to the earth, and the Beast starts to conquer the world, and Christians are left to witness it, there will be a major falling away from the Faith (just as occurred during World War II).
Unless, that is, we prepare the flock for trouble.
"We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)
RSS Feed
