Pre-Tribulation Rapture

Supporters of the PRE-tribulation rapture believe that Christ will return in the clouds to call home His Church or Body of people BEFORE the 7 years of tribulation, or to be more precise before the great Tribulation which happens during the final 3.5 years. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 we are given a good description of the actual event.

16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The 7 years of tribulation or troubles comes from a time in the future when the Anti-Christ will come to power and for a period side with the Jews, but half way through things change. Daniel 9:27.

27. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The view of the week actually refers to a day equalling one year, therefore half of the week (7 yrs) equals 3.5 years. This is confirmed in Revelation 12:6 where it tells us that the Jews will have to wait 1260 days for the return of Christ, at His Second Coming. We also have in Revelation 13:5 a period of 42 months (3.5 yrs) given to the Anti-Christ to reign and have control over the earth. Yet another scripture in Revelation 12:14 confirms this period of waiting but describes the period as a TIME, TIMES and HALF A TIME. Time singular (+1), added to times plural (+2=3), added to half a time (+.5=3.5 yrs).

The actual description of the rapture in some sense is irrelevant as the argument is not IF there will be a rapture but WHEN will it be. Also the fact that the rapture and Second Coming are two separate events should by now be obvious to even the most immature Christian. With this in mind we can concentrate on why it will happen before the 7 years or at some point in the first 3.5 years, before the Great tribulation.

We firstly have to understand that Revelations is in majority directed at the future and deals with the nation of Israel. Although we can glean from its chapters the order of events for the future of the world we cannot take from it any verses which pin point the time of the rapture. This is because it is not concerned with the Church, the Body of Christ. A good example of this can be found in the 12th chapter, where we are given a quick history lesson from just before the birth of Jesus to Satan's expulsion from heaven. Nowhere in this chapter do we have any mention of the church, time of the gentiles or day of grace. In fact from the death of Jesus in verse 5 we then jump in verse 6 to the mid-point of the 7 years of tribulation. Why?

Basically because John was describing what will befall the Jews and Israel, not the Church. This would indicate that the day of Grace or time of the gentiles must end at the mid-point of the 7 years. All further time must therefore be God dealing again with his Chosen race, Israel.

With this in mind we can safely say the rapture will happen BEFORE the mid-point, which is noted by the Abomination by the Anti-Christ. Mark 13:14 (also Math 24:15)

14. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains:

This will happen between the opening of the 4th and 5th seal (see OVER VIEW in End Times study), at the change from physical judgements to spiritual. We know it to be the mid-point from Daniel 9:27.

27. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Based on the scripture at what point can we put the Rapture, before the 7 years or at the mid-point? This is a very good question and one which, to some extent, can not be answered. Although I do not believe in a post-tribulation rapture, based on scripture, there is nothing really to stop a rapture during the first 3.5 years. The Great Tribulation, which is the only one really documented happens during the second half of the 7 years.

One scripture which is used to denote a pre-trib rapture is 1 Thessalonians 5:9 and deals with the subject of God's wrath.

9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

The statement was directed at the Thessalonian church, which gives us the go ahead to associate it with the church and us. It states then that God is not going to exact his wrath on us as by our acceptance of Christ we are to be spared this judgement and wrath. But what wrath?

There are only two places where God's wrath will be seen on mankind. The first is during the last 3.5 years of tribulation. (Revelation 15:1,7 -16:1), and the second is at the Judgement seat of God at the end of time (Revelation 20:11,12). This final wrath is the lake of fire where the wicked and unbelieving will be tormented for eternity. Which wrath is Thessalonians talking about then? Obviously, both. The wrath of God is the wrath of God, it is the divine judgement to which man will be subject in the end times, and we as the church have been spared due to our faith in Christ who was crucified for our sins. Therefore we know we will not pass through the tribulation period which contains or is associated with God's wrath.

The question is however, do we see God's wrath during the first 3.5 years?

There are two more scriptures which confuse and point to the timing of the rapture. They are Mathew 25:13 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

13. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
3. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

The first verse seems quite straight forward, unlike the Second Coming you will not be able to work out when the rapture will take place. The Second Coming can be calculated to within a few days (see Second Coming) because of numbers given in the scripture, but the rapture has no basis from which to work from, no land marks to start to count days.

However when you look at the next verse we are given such a landmark! How is this possible. Although you could say the rapture may not happen immediately after the events mentioned unfold you could with some certainty say 'any day now'.

If we are to believe that the Anti-Christ must be revealed first we run into a slight snag. Following on from verse 3 we are apparently told how he is revealed.

4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

This act of exaltation, to the point of sitting in the temple of God is said to be the Abomination spoken of in Daniel 9:27 which we saw earlier. BUT this happens at the mid-point and is what sparks off the time of Great tribulation for the Jews. How then can we have this happening first, when we have already shown the rapture can not be at or after the mid-point of the 7 years.

One explanation is that we are not looking logically at the verses. We are told that two things must happen first before Christ comes, first there is the 'falling away', the loss of faith by thousands of believers, and then the Anti-Christ, the son of perdition is revealed. We must then take a breath before going on to verse 4, which is not a continuation in the sense, that this must happen, but it is a description OF the son of perdition. It clarifies who the person is that will be revealed.

As an illustration you could say of 'The wizard of Oz' that the film will not turn colour until Dorothy gets to the land of Oz via a tornado which lands on and kills the bad witch, from who Dorothy gets some red shoes which allow her to return home.

If we read this statement as many read the passages in scripture the film will not turn into a colour film until Dorothy first lands in the land of Oz, kills the bad witch and with the aid of the red shoes returns home. This we know is untrue because most of us have seen the film. What the statement does, is to introduce Dorothy and the event at which the film goes colour but then enlarges on the character and story line to give some sense to the whole statement and it shows us that Dorothy is the key player in the film.

In this way we can re-look at verse 3 and 4 and realise that in verse 3 we have the introduction of the events which must happen first (the falling away and the revealing of the Anti-Christ). Then in verse 4 the enlarging of the key character, so we can understand properly who he is and his place in events, which are to unfold. It does not mean that the abomination has to happen, merely it WILL happen by the person introduced. We are told he is REVEALED, made known to us, not by any particular work or act but just revealed.

To recap we are at a point where the rapture can occur at any time from now until some time before the mid-point of the 7 year period. But we are now told that it will happen AFTER there is a falling away from faith of believers and we realise the identity of the Anti-Christ.

Now we have another problem, this apparent clarification of what MUST happen first in particular the revelation of the Anti-Christ is seemingly contradicted, in the following verses of 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8.

5. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Here we are told that he will be revealed (verse 6) because something, which is restraining him, lets him go. The American Standard Version seems a little clearer.

7. For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming;

Who or what is the restraining force which is stopping him being revealed and coming to power. Many say it is the Holy Spirit but this we know can not be the case as people still get saved during the tribulation and require the comforter (John 15:26 & 16:7-11). The other view, is that the church, the Body of Christ who is removed. For how can the Anti-Christ do what he does with Christians still around praying against him. The problem we have with this is the catch-22 position one event must happen to bring the other but that other must happen in order that the first happen. If the church is taken out so the Anti-Christ can be revealed then how can the rapture happen if the man of Sin has to be revealed first? On top of this we have the word 'he' describing the restrainer, and we know the Church is a 'she', the 'bride of Christ', so it can not be the Chruch.

Who is the restraining power which when it comes out of the world allows the man of Sin to have a free reign? The interesting point about the rapture is that we do not COME out of the midst of the earth but we are SNATCHED. The rapture is a calling, the emphasis on Christ doing all the work. In this instance the emphasis is on the one restraining COMING out, and the fact that he is restraining assumes that 'he' is doing a particular job or role. It is said therefore that the 'he' or person who is retraining, is Michael the Arch angel, who battles for the Chosen people, Israel (Daniel 10:21 & 12:1).

This could then make sense although we still have the trouble of the revealing of the Anti-Christ. The rapture would have to be soon after the revelation as the Christians on mass would speak out and publicly denounce him, some may even be tempted to try to kill him and we are still within the 7 year period of troubles. If you remember it starts with the Anti-Christ making a covenant with Israel. . Daniel 9:27.

27. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:

How do we get to the rapture before the period of tribulation? Well we simply use logic and common sense. If the beginning of the 7 year period begins with a covenant, this implies that the HE in this verse is the Anti-Christ. If so, and we believe this to be the case, where does he get the authority from to make such a covenant and with what political or world power does he back it up.

The implication in this verse is that the Anti-Christ is already in a position of power having gained the position in which he can dictate to warring nations that Israel can start something (the sacrifices) which is totally alien and abhorrent to the other natives of that country. It implies that for 3.5 years in which Israel seems to enjoy peace there is some hold over the rest of the neighbouring countries stopping them from attacking. It also implies that at least for most of the 3.5 years the temple has been rebuilt, on the original site, where a mosque now sits, for them to carry out the re-instated sacrifices.

The Anti-Christ must therefore have been revealed a long time before the signing of the covenant and peace in Israel. His position 'could' have been a meteoric rise to power but at whatever speed Christians the world over would have seen the signs and the man, to be who he was. It would be in this rise to power that we would see the falling away reach its climax and the revelation of his identity. All this could happen before the 7 years of tribulation, and thus give us our true PRE-Tribulation rapture.

It may well be the rapture which, catapults the Anti-Christ into prominence, certainly Satan has something prepared to cover or mislead the population as to what has happened. It only remains now to prepare our selves and stick to the true Word of God. Do not get frightened by world events and stories of the end of the world. Have faith in Christ and comfort yourselves with the following verses from 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.

16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.