WHETHER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH WILL BE PRETRIBULATIONAL OR POSTTRIBULATIONAL

 

The first in the series of last-day events is the "Rapture" of the faithful (i.e. genuine) Christians in the church age. There is no way to know when it will occur. The Grand experience of being Raptured at the time of Christ's coming is obviously a major aspect of a faithful Christian's expectation of future events. The transformation that will take place as believers exchange our present bodies for bodies suited for heaven and leave our present abode on earth for the glories of being in the presence of Christ in heaven is completely beyond description. Unfortunately, many believers know little about the Rapture, or else are not living in anticipation of its fulfilment.

This passage is a detailed analysis of the doctrine of the Rapture of the church. It is divided into the following thirteen divisions:

  1. the definition of the word Rapture;

  2. the purpose of the Rapture;

  3. the precedent cases of Rapture in the Old Testament Era;

  4. the implication of the Rapture in John 11:25-26;

  5. the first revelation of the Rapture in John 14:1-3;

  6. the description of Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18;

  7. the reference to the Rapture in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58;

  8. the participants of the Rapture;

  9. the Rapture will be sudden and unannounced;

  10. the Rapture will be happened before the Tribulation period;

  11. the resurrection of saints; 

  12. the glorified bodies; and

  13. the application of the Rapture for Christians.

1. The Definition of the word Rapture

Professing Christians, false teachers and corrupted church leaders have asserted that the Rapture is not a Biblical doctrine because, they argue, the word "Rapture" is not mentioned in the Bible. However, the word "Rapture" comes from the Latin translation (rapio) of the Greek verb  ἁρπάζω for "caught up" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

It usually refers both to the resurrection of the corrupted bodies of dead church saints to heavenly incorruption and to the translation of living church saints from earthly mortality to heavenly immortality at the end of the church period and prior to the commencement of the Tribulation period. In other words, Christians will be caught up, "snatched" away from the earth scene, to meet their adorable Saviour - the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. The Purpose of the Rapture

The primary purpose of the Rapture is to remove the church from the earth to avoid the horrors of the judgments of the Tribulation period (Revelation 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10). By contrast, the purpose of the Tribulation is a time of judgment on the sinful world (Deuteronomy 4:26-31; Isaiah 13:6-13; 17:4-11; 24:20-21; Jeremiah 30:3-9; Ezekiel 20:33-38; Daniel 12:1-4; Joel 3; Zephaniah 1:15-18; Zechariah 14:1-20; Matthew 23:22-39; 24:6-30; Mark 13:4-32; Luke 21:9-27; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 6:16-17; 11:18; 14:19; 15:1, 7; 16:1, 19) and a preparation for the millennial kingdom (Revelation 19:11-16).

It is significant that there is neither a translation of saints nor a catching away of saints from the earth to the heaven at the time of the Second Coming, although there must be a resurrection of the martyred dead, apparently a few days after the Second Coming (Revelation 20:4-6), to fulfill the promise to the martyrs in Revelation 6:9-11.

3. The Precedent Cases of Rapture in the Old Testament Era

Professing Christians, false teachers and corrupted church leaders have asserted that the Rapture is not a Biblical doctrine as there is no precedent cases in the Bible, it is merely a recently invented false doctrine. However, the concept of Rapture is nothing new in the Bible, it is already mentioned in the Old Testament. Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) who are the faithful servants of God, are raptured in the Old testament era:

  1.  21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. 22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him (Genesis 5:21-24). By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God (Hebrews 11:5).

  2. Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven (2 Kings 2:11).

In the following sections, we will look at the following New Testament passages which refer to this event:

  1. John 11:25-26;

  2. John 14:1-3;

  3. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; and

  4. 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.

4. The Implication of the Rapture in John 11:25-26

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Jesus tells Martha that he is the resurrection and the life. Then there follows what I believe is the first reference ever made to the Rapture. The words, "Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live," refer of course to resurrection from the dead, but the words, "and whoever lives and believes in me will never die," pertain to the Rapture. More often the words "whoever lives and believes in me" are interpreted to mean whoever believes and lives the Christian life will never die. This would require the words "lives ... in me" to be evidence of the believing, and "shall never die" mean never die permanently, which, in my estimation make much less sense than seeing "never die" as a reference to Rapture. Jesus simply knew that a whole generation of future Christians would be alive at the time of the Rapture according to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

5. The First Revelation of the Rapture in John 14:1-3

On His last night with the disciples before His crucifixion, Christ revealed for the first time that His purpose in coming back would be to take the disciples, who were still alive, to be with Him in heaven (John 14:1-3).

5.1. Background

The disciples were deeply troubled because Christ, after more than three and a half years of kingdom teaching, was not bringing in the prophesied kingdom as they had expected. They were further confused when He announced that He was going to leave them (John 13:36-37). It did not fit their thinking at all that He would leave them before the kingdom was brought down to earth as prophesied in the Old Testament. Since the disciples did not understand the difference between the coming of Christ at the Rapture and the resurrection of the dead (including: Tribulation martyrs and Old Testament saints) at the Second Coming.

5.2. Christ's explanations

1“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also (John 14:1-3).

The disciples were greatly troubled when Jesus said He was about to leave them (John 14:1). Then Christ told the disciples not to worry for:

  1. He is going to prepare a place for them (John 14:2).

  2. He would come to get them that they might be with Him in that place so prepared (John 14:3).

The words, "will come again and will take you to be with me (John 14:3)," refer to the Rapture and coincide with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

5.3. Facts regarding the Rapture

The passage reveals several things regarding the Rapture:

  1. It is a planned event, at the time of His departure Christ anticipated returning for the disciples.

  2. It concerns Christ's own, His followers. Christ was speaking only to the disciples when He gave the promise.

  3. Christ's return for His own will be personal. He Himself will come for them, not sending some angel.

  4. The Rapture results in the end of the church age. Jesus said that He would come back and "take" the disciples, that there where He had made the preparations. The true church (i.e. consists of all the faithful Christians) will not remain here on earth, then, merely in some improved status, but will be taken away from the earth to heaven.

Although the promise was given by Christ in John's gospel, the full revelation of the Rapture of the church was given to the apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.

6. The Description of the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 provides the most complete description of the Rapture. This passage calls for special attention. God does not want Christians to be ignorant concerning the Rapture. The reason God gives us is that He does not want them to grieve when Christians die, because they have the certain hope that Christ might come at any time and take them all to heaven.

6.1. Background

According to Acts 17:1-9, Paul encountered opposition while preaching in the synagogue at Thessalonica and was forced to leave after only a few weeks of ministry. He left behind a small band of believers who had the wonderful joy of Salvation as well as the hope of Christ's return. They were under terrible persecution, however, and because Paul could not go back to Thessalonica, he sent Timothy to see how they were getting along (1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5). Timothy visited them, encouraged them, and then reported back to Paul. He told the apostle Paul that the Thessalonians were standing firm in spite of persecution (1 Thessalonians 3:6-9) and were looking for the Lord's return. But they had many theological questions; this was understandable in view of the short time they were under Paul's instruction. One of these questions was occasioned by the fact that some of their church members had died, due to the continuing persecution within the city, since Paul had left.

Their question concerned the status of these at the time of Christ's coming. They seem to have been at ease regarding their own prospect of being taken to heaven at the time but they wondered what would happen to the believers who had already died. They apparently had the idea that somehow they would have to wait for something after the Rapture before their resurrection. In other words, they worried that the dead believers may miss the Rapture.

Regarding their particular question, Paul gave them a chronological account of what will happen at the time of the Rapture. He assured them that they would not have to wait for their dead loved ones to be resurrected later because their loved ones will be resurrected before they themselves are caught up with the Lord Jesus.

6.2. Paul's explanations

13 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. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 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. 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 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Paul sets forth the answer in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. He begins by assuring them that they have no need to be anxious (v. 13). All those "who have fallen asleep in Jesus" will be caught up to meet the Lord at the Rapture. This will involve their resurrection from the dead, an event which will be similar to the resurrection of the Lord Himself (v. 14). Paul then gives the assurance, which is "by the word of the Lord," that those still living at the time will not even "precede" them which are asleep (v. 15). Rather, "the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first" (v. 16). Then those "who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (v. 17).

In other words, Christ returns with a shout, including the “voice of an archangel” and “sound of the trumpet" and all believers are gathered together to meet him in the air. Christ brings "with him" those who have died and they are the first to receive new bodies by way of resurrection. Believers who are alive at that moment in history are "caught up" next to meet him.

6.3. Facts regarding the Rapture

Facts regarding the Rapture should be noticed:

  1. A resurrection will be involved, those who have previously died in Christ will be raised.

  2. Those resurrected will be caught up to meet Christ prior to those still living.

  3. Both the raised dead and the living will meet Christ in the air and not somewhere on the earth's surface.

  4. This coming of Christ will be accompanied by audible signs, namely “a shout”, “the voice of the archangel” and “the trump of God.”

The Greek word κέλευσμα translated "shout," is used only here in the New Testament, and it means a "word of command," it refers to Christ's command for the Rapture of saints. Since only Michael is called by the term "archangel" in Scripture (Jude 9), he is probably the one who accompanies Christ. The "trump of God" is best identified with "the last trump" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:52, both expressions likely referring to a trumpet sound of deliverance.

Sometimes Bible scholars use the designation "secret Rapture." The term is somewhat misleading, however, for, though the time is unknown beforehand, these audible signs will occur. Certainly, all saints will hear them, and it is likely that the unsaved will, as well. The signs would let the unsaved know of the significant occurrence and that they have indeed been left out (Matthew 24:40-41).

7. The Reference to the Rapture in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

One of the two main passages on the doctrine of the Rapture in the New Testament is found in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58. In many respects, this passage complements the other major passage in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, the question was whether those who had died in Christ would have the same benefits and experience as those who were translated. In 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, the question is whether those who are translated will have the same experience and benefits as those who have died and who are resurrected. The two passages together give a complete answer to the basic questions concerning the Rapture as an important prophetic event.

7.1. Background

The Corinthians' denial of the resurrection for believers was behind Paul's discussion of Rapture and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12-16). They were influenced by the Greek concept of the immortality of the soul, and possibly a Gnostic idea of the evil of physical matter. They believed that Jesus rose from the dead, perhaps realizing that a triumph over death must be demonstrated by a bodily rising from the dead. In other words, they must have viewed Jesus' resurrection as a unique, one-time event merely to establish His deity and triumph. Paul's approach starts with Jesus' resurrection and works his way to the relationship which it has with the believer's Rapture and resurrection.

7.2. Paul's explanations

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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 imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

      “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55    “O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:51-58).

Paul explained, "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.". The fact that we will not all sleep shows that an entire generation of believers will never see death. In other words, believers alive when the Lord Jesus Christ returns will never die (1 Corinthians 15:51; John 11:26). Instead, the Lord Jesus will take them directly to Heaven.

The “dead in Christ” will be “imperishable,” and we shall be “changed.” Those “changed” are those caught up and translated. Paul uses the first personal plural, “we,” to refer to those changed, which implies that he expected to be included in that group (1 Corinthians 15:52). This is the idea of the imminency of the event. Here also a reference is made to a trumpet as in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

7.3. Facts regarding the Rapture

Facts regarding the Rapture should be noticed:

  1. One generation of believers will never die by translation (Rapture) of living believers.

  2. All believers will be given bodies that will last forever.

  3. The Rapture will be happened at any time.

  4. Death will be overcome by either translation of living believers or resurrection of dead believers.

  5. The Rapture will be signaled by "the last trumpet."

The Rapture will be signaled by "the last trumpet" (1 Corinthians 15:52). This reference to the last trumpet confuses some people because they try to link it with the seven trumpet judgments in the Book of Revelation.

In Bible times, trumpets were blown as a signaling device. In Israel, a trumpet sounded when the nation began its marches in the wilderness. Another trumpet sounded when they stopped marching. Each series would have a first trumpet and a last trumpet. But the last trumpet for one event would not be the last trumpet for another. So here, the last trumpet at the Rapture is not the last trumpet ever to be sounded in history, because seven trumpets blown by angels will signal great catastrophes God will pour out in judgment on the earth (Revelation 8:6-9:21; 11:15-19). Later the "loud trumpet call" in Matthew 24:31 will signal the gathering of all the saints to enter the millennial kingdom (Revelation 19:11-20:6).

The last trumpet at the Rapture may be analogous to the last trumpet used in the Roman army. Soldiers were awakened by a first trumpet blast early in the morning, which served as their alarm clock. A second trumpet assembled them for instructions for the day. At the third and last trumpet they marched off to their assignments. Similarly, receiving salvation is like hearing a trumpet call. Then God's call to service is like hearing a second trumpet. And the last trumpet believers will be raptured to heaven.

8. The Participants of the Rapture

Strictly speaking, only the "church age saints" will participate in the Rapture. The Rapture will consist of three phases:

  1. The resurrection of the dead saints at the end of the church age before the Tribulation period.

  2. The translation of the living saints at the end of the church age before the Tribulation period.

  3. The resurrection of the two witnesses during the Tribulation period.

Please note that some Bible scholars do not include the two witnesses as the participants of the Rapture due to the fact that they are not church age saints.

8.1. The resurrection of the dead saints in the church age

The "dead in Christ shall rise first" (1 Thessalonians 4:16) to meet their Saviour. When Jesus returns, the bodies of believers will be transformed, made like unto the body of His glory (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:49, 50, 52, 53), and caught up to be with Him. This is "the redemption of our body" (Romans 8:23).

At this time those raised will be the church saints, that is, all who have been saved during the period of the church, from its beginning on the day of Pentecost until the moment of Rapture. The number of people involved will be very large, much larger than the number of living saints at the time. The latter group will include only the one generation then alive, while the resurrected saints will include all the many generations since the Pentecost at early first century.

8.2. The translation of the living saints in the church age

Then "we which are alive and remain" (1 Thessalonians 4:17), that is the generation of Christians living on earth at Jesus' return, will be transformed (1 Corinthians 15:52) and will rise to meet our Lord.

8.3. The resurrection of the two witnesses during the mid-point of the Tribulation period

The other occasion of Rapture will yet occur, namely that of the "two witnesses" who will live and die during the Tribulation period (Revelation 11:3-12). These two people will witness for God in Israel for 1,260 days and then will be killed by "the beast" (the Anti-christ) at the close of that time. Their bodies will lie openly on the streets of Jerusalem for three-and-a-half days, since no one will dare to bury them. At the close of these days, they will suddenly be brought to life, after which they will ascend directly to heaven.

9. The Rapture Will be Sudden and Unannounced

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 (Matthew 24:36-44).

Christ's coming for His church will be sudden and no advance notice will be given (Matthew 24:36-44; 25:1-13; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:36-40; 17:26-36). Christians will not be able to make up for lost time in their service.

36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 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. 40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:36-40).

Jesus was saying pointedly that all men need to be ready for Christ's coming beforehand. Christians need to be busy for the Lord, truly living for Him at all times, so that they will not be ashamed when they see Him. All evidence in the Scriptures points to the conclusion that the Rapture is imminent, continues to be the hope of the church today.

(For further information about the rapture, please read the passage: The Rapture of the Church.)

10. Various Views of the Rapture

Some say that the church will pass through the whole Tribulation. Other say that the church will pass through the first half of the period and that the rapture will take place in the middle of it. The partial-rapturists teach that the unspiritual part of the church will pass through the Tribulation, but the mature and Spirit-filled will be caught up before the Tribulation. And some say that the Lord Jesus will come for the church before the Tribulation. In summary, there are five views of the rapture:

  1. partial rapture;

  2. midtribulationism;

  3. prewrath rapture;

  4. posttribulationism; and

  5. pretribulationism.

(For further information about the various views of the rapture, please read Chapter 4 of Eschatology.)

The various views of the rapture are illustrated in below charts:

PARTIAL RAPTURE

MIDTRIBULATIONISM

PREWRATH RAPTURE

POSTTRIBULATIONISM

PRETRIBULATIONISM

VARIOUS VIEWS OF THE RAPTURE

Nowadays, the two leading positions are:

  1. posttribulationism; and

  2. pretribulationism.

11. Posttribulationism

Posttribulationism teaches that the rapture will occur at the end of the seven-year Tribulation of Daniel's seventieth week. The church will go through the Tribulation, enduring it by the grace and strength of God. When Christ returns to the earth, the saints who have died in Christ will be resurrected. They, together with the saints who are alive, will be caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord who has come into the air on His way from heaven to earth, and then return to earth to reign with Him in the millennial kingdom. See below chart for illustration:

POSTTRIBULATIONISM

11.1. Biblical Support Cited for Posttribulationism

Posttribulationists often mis-interpret the following verses to mislead readers:

  1. The seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15 corresponds to the last trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15:52 for the church. However, they allege that these are the same event is an unreasonable assumption due to the following reasons:

    1. The seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15-18 is a trumpet of divine judgment on sin and unbelief, while the trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 and 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 is a call to the elect, an act of grace, and a command to the dead to rise.

    2. The most damaging fact in the whole argument is that the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15 is not the last trumpet of Scripture, for examples:

      1. According to Matthew 24:31, the elect will be gathered "with a loud trumpet call" at the coming of Christ to establish His earthly kingdom.

      2. The Tribulation still continues after the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15, there will be a series of bowl judgments to be poured upon the earth (Revelation 16:1-21).

  2. The church was promised to undergo tribulation at the time of the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:3-31; Mark 13:4-32; Luke 21:7-35). However, the church was not existed at the time of the Olivet Discourse due to the following reasons:

    1. The church was not established until the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.

    2. At the time of the Olivet Discourse, the disciples were not fully understood the concept of church because the Lord Jesus had not fully revealed the mystery of the church to them (Ephesians 3:5-6).

    3. The background of the Olivet Discourse is that the disciples came to the Lord Jesus, showing Him the buildings of the temple. The Lord Jesus then told them that the temple would be destroyed, and the disciples asked Him when these things would happen (Matthew 24:1-3; Mark 13:1-4; Luke 21:5-7). When the disciples showed the Lord Jesus the temple, their thoughts were focused on the temple related to the Jews, not the church. In other words, they were concerned about the future of the Jewish people, not the future of the church. In response to the disciples’ question about the temple’s destruction, the Lord Jesus provided an answer related to the "time of Tribulation" that the Jews would face, rather than an answer related to the church. Specifically, during the Olivet Discourse, the disciples were representatives of the Jewish "remnant," not the church composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers.

  3. The church will be preserved through the whole Tribulation (Revelation 3:10). This promise is fulfilled not by removing believers from the world but by protecting them from Satan while they live on the earth. However, the church cannot be preserved through the whole Tribulation while they live on the earth due to the following reasons:

    1. The events of the Tribulation are worldwide and directly and indirectly affect everybody, therefore the church cannot be on the earth and escape the experiences.

    2. The promise is, "I ... will keep you out of the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world." Not from just any persecution, but the coming time that will affect the whole earth. The only way to escape worldwide trouble is not to be on the earth.

    3. If John wanted to say that the church was kept through the Tribulation, he could have used the preposition διά (through) instead of ἐκ (out of).

  4. The rapture and second coming of Christ are a single event instead of two separate events (Revelation 19:11-20:4). If the rapture and second coming of Christ are a single event, then the order of events during His second coming should be like this:

  1. The dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

  2. Those who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

  3. As the procession proceeds to the earth, the church joins with the coming Christ in establishing His kingdom over the earth.

However, these events contradict the posttribulational order of events in the following ways:

  1. A most important fact all posttribulationists ignore is that the resurrection at the second coming of Christ is after the descent to the earth, not during the event, as Revelation 19:11-20:4 makes clear.

  2. There is no mention of the rapture of the saints meeting the Lord Jesus in the air in Revelation 19:11-20:4.

  1. Most posttribulationists call attention to the expression "first resurrection" in Revelation 20:4-6. They argue, how could a resurrection (to be occurred at the end of the Tribulation) be "first" if a rapture had actually taken place before the Tribulation? However, Posttribulationists overlook that:

  1. Christ was raised from the dead first, and then followed by the two witnesses at the midst of the Tribulation (Revelation 11:11-12).

  2. The actual meaning of the adjective "first" is to designate the resurrection which is before the resurrection of the Great White Throne, not in the sense of the first resurrection to take place in history.

  3. As pointed out earlier, the resurrection of Revelation 20:4-6 actually occurs after the descent to the earth instead of during the event, therefore it contradicts the posttribulational view.

11.2. Unresolved Problems

There are many unresolved problems of this view. Most posttribulationists do not attempt to give an answer to the following questions, including:

  1. To explain why the church must be raptured to leave the earth to meet the Lord in the air if the church has been preserved through the whole Tribulation successfully.

  2. Immediately preceding the second coming of Christ (Revelation 19:11-21) is the announcement of the marriage feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:1-10). If posttribulationism is correct, then the second coming of Christ should precede the announcement of the marriage feast of the Lamb. Why? If Christ has not come to rapture the church (i.e., the bride of Christ), then how can He announce the marriage feast? 

  3. The problem of how to propagate the millennial kingdom. When the millennial kingdom begins, some people must be alive in unresurrected bodies, who can beget children and populate that kingdom. If there were only resurrected saints in the kingdom, then there would be no death, no increase in population, and no differences in the ages of millennial citizens. However, there still exist old men, babies and even sinners in the millennial kingdom (Isaiah 65:20; Zechariah 8:5; Revelation 20:12). But a posttribulational rapture will remove all redeemed persons of every race that can play the role of parents in the Millennium. At the end of the Tribulation, all living believers will be raptured, given resurrection bodies, and return immediately to earth in the single event of the rapture and second coming. This would seem to eliminate all redeemed unresurrected people from the earth at that point in time so that there will be no one left to begin to propagate the kingdom. If the wicked survivors are either killed or consigned to Hades at the end of the Tribulation (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:11-21), then there will be no one left in an unresurrected body to enter the millennial kingdom.

11.3. Verdict

According to the above reasons, Posttribulationism is proved to be wrong.

12. Pretribulationism

The prevalent interpretation of the question of the time of the rapture in relation to the Tribulation is Pretribulationism, which holds that the entire church will be removed from the earth before the commencement of the seven-year Tribulation of Daniel's seventieth week (3:10). At the end of this Tribulation, Christ will return with the church to the earth in triumph (19:11-21). And then there will be a resurrection of believers who have died during the Tribulation (20:4-6). They share in the millennial reign with Christ. This theory is widely accepted by churches and seminaries. See below chart for illustration:

PRETRIBULATIONISM

The reasons for supporting the Pretribulationism are as follows:

12.1. The nature of the seventieth week

There are a number of words used in both the Old and New Testaments to describe the seventieth week period, which give us the essential nature of this period:

  1. wrath (Revelation 6:16-17; 11:18; 14:19; 15:1, 7; 16:1, 19; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 5:9; Zephaniah 1:15, 18);

  2. punishment (Isaiah 24:20-21);

  3. hour of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7);

  4. destruction (Joel 1:15); and

  5. darkness (Joel 2:2; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Amos 5:18).

The nature of the Tribulation is divine wrath. We know that the Lord Jesus Christ bore for us the wrath of God, therefore we who are in Him shall not unto wrath. "For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).

12.2. The scope of the seventieth week

This period not only relates to the unbelieving Gentile nations, but also particularly to Israel. Jeremiah 30:7 calls this period "the time of Jacob's trouble." God says to Daniel "seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city" (Daniel 9:24). This whole period has special reference to Daniel's people, Israel, and Daniel's holy city, Jerusalem.

Many passages in the New Testament such as Ephesians 3:1-6; Colossians 1:25-27 make it clear that the church is a mystery and was unrevealed in the Old Testament. Since the church did not have its existence until after the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2), the church could not have been in the first sixty-nine weeks of Daniel's prophecy. Since it had no part in the first sixty-nine weeks, which are related only to Israel, it can also have no part in the seventieth week.

12.3. The purpose of the seventieth week

There are two major purposes to be accomplished in the seventieth week.

The first purpose is stated in Revelation 3:10, "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." First of all, we see that this period has in view "them that dwell on the earth" and not the church. The true church does not need to be tested to see if her faith is genuine.

The second purpose is in relation to Israel. God will send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the day of the Lord in order to prepare a remnant in Israel for the advent of the Lord (Malachi 4:5-6).

12.4. The distinctions between Israel and the church

Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, IV, pp. 47-53, has set forth several contrasts between Israel and the church which show us conclusively that these two groups cannot be united into one, therefore they must be distinguished as two separate entities with whom God has different special program for dealing with them. These contrasts are listed in below table:

DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND CHURCH

No.

Contrasts

Israel

Church

1

The extent of Biblical revelation

nearly four-fifths of the Bible

about one-fifth

2

The Divine purpose

the earthly promises in the covenants

the heavenly promises in the gospel

3

The seed of Abraham

the physical seed, of whom some become a spiritual seed

a spiritual seed

4

Birth

physical birth that produces a relationship

spiritual birth that brings relationship

5

Headship

Abraham

Christ

6

Covenants

Abrahamic and all the following covenants

indirectly related to the Abrahamic and new covenants

7

Nationality

one nation

from all nations

8

Dispensations

seen in all ages from Abraham

seen only in this present age

9

Ministry

no missionary activity and no gospel to preach

a commission to fulfill

10

The Father

by a peculiar relationship God was Father to the nation

we related individually to God as Father

11

Christ

Messiah, Immanuel, King

Saviour, Lord, Bridegroom, Head

12

The Holy Spirit

came upon some temporarily

indwells all

13

Governing principle

Mosaic Law

grace

14

Place of worshipping the God

Jewish Temple at the Temple Mountain of Jerusalem

every place

15

Time of Assembly

Last day of a week, Sabbath

First day of a week, Sunday

16

Treatment of human enemies

all enemies must be resisted or killed

love your enemies, pray for them, forgive them

17

The promise of Christ's return

in power and glory for judgment

to receive us to Himself

18

Christ's earthly reign

subjects

co-reigners

19

Priesthood

had a priesthood which is restricted to a special class

all believers are priests

20

Marriage

unfaithful wife

bride

These clear contrasts, make it impossible for these two groups to be mixed within the same program, which it necessary to do if the church goes through the Tribulation.

12.5. Distinction between the rapture and the second advent

There are a number of contrasts to be drawn between the rapture and the second advent which will show that they are not viewed as synonymous in Scripture. These contrasts are listed in below table:

DISTINCTION BETWEEN RAPTURE AND SECOND ADVENT

No.

Rapture

Second Advent

1

removal of all believers

appearing of the Son of God

2

saints are caught up into the air

Christ returns to the earth

3

Christ comes to claim a bride

Christ returns with the bride

4

removal of the church and the inception of the tribulation period

establishment of the millennial kingdom

5

imminent

preceded by a multitude of signs

6

a message of comfort

a message of judgment

7

related to the program for the church

related to the program for Israel and the unbelieving world

8

a mystery

predicted in both Old and New Testaments

9

believers are judged and rewarded

Gentiles and Israel are judged and punished

10

leaves creation unchanged

the change in creation

11

Gentiles are unaffected

Gentiles are judged

12

Israel's covenants are unfulfilled

Israel's covenants are fulfilled

13

no relation to the judgment of evils

evil is judged

14

take place before the day of wrath

follows the day of wrath

15

for believers only

has its effect on all men

16

expectation is "to be taken into the Lord's presence"

expectation is "to be taken into the kingdom"

12.6. The sealed 144,000 from Israel

As long as the church is on the earth there are none saved to a special Jewish relationship. All who are saved are saved to a position in the body of Christ (i.e., church) as indicated in Colossians 1:26-29; 3:11; Ephesians 2:14-22; 3:2-6. During the seventieth week the church must be absent, for out of the saved remnant in Israel God seals 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each tribe (Revelation 7:3-8). The fact that God is again dealing with Israel on this national relationship and sending them as special representatives to the nations in place of the witness of the church, indicates that the church must no longer be on earth.

12.7. The promises to the true church

There are certain passages of Scripture which definitely promise the church a removal before the seventieth week.

  1. "I will keep you from the hour of trial" (Revelation 3:10). John is promising a complete removal from the sphere of testing, not a preservation through it.

  2. "God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him" (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10). Paul clearly teaches that the expectation of Christians is not God’s wrath, but we should live together with the Lord Jesus Christ.

12.8. The agreement of typology

If a teaching is contrary to all typology, then it cannot be a true interpretation. Scripture abounds in types which teach that those who walked by faith were delivered from the visitations of judgment which overtook the unbelieving. Such types are seen in the experience of Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24), Noah (Genesis 6:1-8:19) and Israel (Exodus 14:1-31), but perhaps the clearest illustration is that of Lot (Genesis 18:20-19:29). In 2 Peter 2:6-9, Lot is called a righteous man. This divine commentary will shed light on Genesis 19:22, where the angel sought to hasten the departure of Lot with the phrase "escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there." If the presence of one righteous man prevented the outpouring of deserved judgment on the city of Sodom, how much more will the presence of the church on earth prevent the outpouring of divine wrath until after her removal.

In summary, there are the following typology patterns:

  1. Was Enoch raptured before or after the flood? It was before (Genesis 5:21-24).

  2. Was Noah and his family entering the Ark of Noah before or after the Flood? It was before (Genesis 6:1-8:19).

  3. Was Lot delivered from Sodom before or after the doom of the city? It was before (Genesis 18:20-19:29).

  4. Was Israel delivered from Egypt before or after the destruction of their enemies at the Red Sea? It was before (Exodus 14:1-31).

12.9. Conclusion

A number of reasons for belief in the Pretribulationism have been presented. It should be borne in mind that it is not claimed that all the arguments have the same weight. Pretribulationism is not based on these arguments singly, but rather they are considered as cumulative evidence that the church will be delivered by rapture before the inception of Daniel's seventieth week.

 

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