God will NOT allow the Church to go through the Tribulation
Period.
Revelation 3:10New Living Translation (NLT)
10 “Because
you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time
of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this
world.
Proof
of a pretribulation rapture: listed below are excerpts from two
different websites. As well as scriptures listed at the bottom, referencing the
Rapture.
"He" That is Taken Out of the Way
Before the Antichrist can be revealed, Paul said a certain "He" must be taken out of the way. According to 2 Thessalonians 2:7, the "He" that must be removed is widely thought to be the Holy Spirit. It has been promised that the Holy Spirit would never leave the Church, and without the working of the Holy Spirit remaining on earth, no one could be saved during the tribulation. The removal of the Church, which is indwelt by the Holy Ghost, would seem the best explanation for this dilemma. The working of the Holy Spirit could go on during the tribulation, but His influence would be diminished because of the missing Church.
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
In Luke 12:36, the Word states that when Christ returns, He will be returning from a wedding. In Revelation 19:7-8, we read about the marriage itself. The marriage supper takes place before the marriage. According to Jewish custom, the marriage contract, which often includes a dowry, is drawn up first. The contract parallels the act of faith we use when we trust Jesus to be our Savior. The dowry is His life, which was used to purchase us. When it's time for the wedding, the groom goes to the bride's house unannounced. She comes out to meet him, and then he takes her to his father's house. This precisely correlates with the events according to the pre-trib scenario. Jesus, the Groom, comes down from heaven and calls up the Church, His Bride. After meeting in the air, He and His Bride return to His Father's house, heaven. The marriage supper itself will take place there, while down here on earth the final events of the tribulation will be playing out. After the marriage supper of Jewish tradition, the bride and groom are presented to the world as man and wife. This corresponds to the time when Jesus returns to earth accompanied by an army "clothed in fine linen, white and clean" (Rev 19:14).
War or Rapture
(Rev 19:19-21) When Jesus returns at the end of the tribulation, He will be coming for battle. For those who believe in a post-trib rapture, it would be strange to meet your Lord and Savior just as He's rushing into battle. The idea that war and rapture could occur together is difficult to imagine, especially since they transpire at the same moment.
The Salt of the Earth
Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13). When the believers are suddenly removed, the earth will be plunged into spiritual darkness. When this happens, the Antichrist will then be free to control the world
Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13). When the believers are suddenly removed, the earth will be plunged into spiritual darkness. When this happens, the Antichrist will then be free to control the world
God Takes an Inventory
In Revelation 7:3, an angel descends to earth and seals the servants of God. Two bits of information about this sealing highly disclaim a post-trib viewpoint. The first item is the number of people sealed: 144,000. The second one is that all those who are sealed are from the 12 tribes of Israel. For the events in Revelation 7:3-8 to be true in a post-trib interpretation, either the Church has turned against God or God has turned against the Church. A post-tribber could write a thousand-word commentary about why the Church doesn't need to be sealed. Instead of trying to argue about why the Church is not mentioned or sealed, a pre-trib proponent could just say, "We're already in heaven."
In Revelation 7:3, an angel descends to earth and seals the servants of God. Two bits of information about this sealing highly disclaim a post-trib viewpoint. The first item is the number of people sealed: 144,000. The second one is that all those who are sealed are from the 12 tribes of Israel. For the events in Revelation 7:3-8 to be true in a post-trib interpretation, either the Church has turned against God or God has turned against the Church. A post-tribber could write a thousand-word commentary about why the Church doesn't need to be sealed. Instead of trying to argue about why the Church is not mentioned or sealed, a pre-trib proponent could just say, "We're already in heaven."
The Five Foolish Virgins
The wedding story that Jesus gave in Matthew 25:2-13, I believe, is a parable of the rapture of the Church. It explains how some will not be ready. Jesus clearly states that a group of people will miss out on an event, and will cry out to God to let them into the place where He resides, heaven. Although some try to put this parable in a post-trib context, it doesn't fit very well. The ones left behind in a post-trib rapture will not need to seek the Lord because they'll immediately be confronted by Him and His army of angels.
The wedding story that Jesus gave in Matthew 25:2-13, I believe, is a parable of the rapture of the Church. It explains how some will not be ready. Jesus clearly states that a group of people will miss out on an event, and will cry out to God to let them into the place where He resides, heaven. Although some try to put this parable in a post-trib context, it doesn't fit very well. The ones left behind in a post-trib rapture will not need to seek the Lord because they'll immediately be confronted by Him and His army of angels.
Armies in Fine Linen
When Jesus returns (Rev. 19:18), an army follows Him. The army's members are riding on white horses, and they are clothed in fine linen that is white and clean. In Revelation 19:8, we are told that the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. If the saints of God are returning with Christ to wage war on the Antichrist, then it is not possible to have a post-trib rapture without us running into ourselves as we are coming and going
When Jesus returns (Rev. 19:18), an army follows Him. The army's members are riding on white horses, and they are clothed in fine linen that is white and clean. In Revelation 19:8, we are told that the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. If the saints of God are returning with Christ to wage war on the Antichrist, then it is not possible to have a post-trib rapture without us running into ourselves as we are coming and going
The Saint U-Turn
In the pre-trib scenario, after we rise to meet the Lord in the air, we will go to heaven and abide there seven years. At the end of that period, Christ will come down to earth, defeat the Antichrist, and cleanse the temple. In a post-trib rapture, we would rise in the air to meet the Lord, then do a 180-degree U-turn and come back down to earth. Revelation 1:7 states that Christ will appear out of the clouds and come down to earth. Zechariah 14:4 says that His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. If He's already headed our way, why would we need to be caught up to meet Him?
"Come Up Hither"
Many pre-trib writers cite Revelation 4:1, which says, "come up hither," as a prophetic reference to the rapture of the Church, leaving Revelation chapters 1 through 3 as a description of the Church Age. After the shout to "come up hither," the Church is not mentioned in Scripture at all. The attention of Scripture switches from the Church to the Jews living in Israel.
The Unknown Hour
When we search the Scriptures and read the passages describing the Lord Jesus' return, we find verses that tell us we won't know the day and hour of that event. Matthew 25:13 says Jesus will return at an unknown time, while Revelation 12:6 indicates that the Jews will have to wait on the Lord 1,260 days, starting when the Antichrist stands in the Temple of God and declares himself to be God (2 Thes 2:4). This event will take place at the mid-point of the seven-year tribulation (Dan 9:27). There is a seven-year period called the tribulation. When the Jews flee into the wilderness, they know that all they have to do is wait out those 1,260 days (Mat 24:16). There is no way to apply the phrase "neither the day nor the hour" to this situation. The only way for these two viewpoints to be true is to separate the two distinct events transpiring here: 1) the rapture of the Church, which comes before the tribulation; and 2) the return of Jesus to the earth, which takes place roughly seven years later.
The following is an excerpt from: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/End%20of%20the%20World/pretrib_proof.htm
“The Church Must be Removed from the World before the Tribulation!
Thus, having laid the foundation, let me say that the Church (i.e., all believers) MUST be removed from the world before any of this can happen. 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-10 clearly tells us that the Antichrist (man of sin) cannot be revealed on earth until the Church is removed from the world. 2nd Thessalonians 2:7-9 state... "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 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: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." It's as obvious as can be to any genuine believer, who is familiar with the Word of God, who "He" in verse 7 is referring to... the Holy Spirit of God! Jesus said in John 16:8 concerning the Holy Spirit... "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."
Where does the Word of God say that the Holy Spirit lives? 1st Corinthians 3:16 says... "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" Are you starting to get the picture? The Antichrist doesn't stand a chance with Christians in the world, because we will EXPOSE him, just as we do other servants of Satan (such as the Clinton and Bush Families). Wake up oh Christian! The Devil is at your front door!
2nd Thessalonians 2:7 is incontrovertible PROOF that the Rapture must precede the Tribulation! There can be NO other Person for "He" than the Holy Spirit. Also, the events surrounding the Second Coming of Christ are irreconcilably different with the events concerning the Rapture--solid PROOF that the Bible teaches a Pretribulation Rapture! Some ignorant people today are claiming that the Rapture doctrine didn't exist until recent centuries. That is absurd! We are reading the exact same Words of God today which the Apostle Paul penned nearly 2,000 years ago! It's not a question of history, but of faith in the precious Words of God.
Jesus
taught in Mark 13:32-37 that NO MAN knows the time of His return, not even the
angels in Heaven. The entire purpose of a secret Rapture is the element of
surprise, to keep Christians on-their-toes so-to-speak, faithfully serving
their Master. Now when we combine all these prophetic truths, we can only
conclude a pretribulation Rapture. If you don't like the word, fine, don't use
it, but the Bible does teach that Christ is coming back to receive His saints,
the Church. This event is very different than the Second Coming, or Advent, of
Christ, when He visibly ascends down upon the earth and every eye beholds Him
(Revelation 1:7). In sharp contrast, at the Rapture (or time when Christ comes
for the saints), the saints will rise up into the air to meet the Lord. These
are two very different events, with which any skilled Bible student will see.
The
Days of Daniel establish the 7-year time frame. We know that Christ is coming
to “catch away ” the Church. Since the Lord plainly taught that no one knows
WHEN He will return, the only logical conclusion is a pretribulation Rapture.
If the Lord isn't coming back for the saints until a later time, then we would
KNOW exactly when He is coming back. Pastor Steven Anderson teaches that Jesus
is coming for the saints 75-days after The Abomination of Desolation. This
totally contradicts Mark 13:32 where Christ says NO MAN KNOWS when He is coming
back. All the puzzle pieces must fit, or else we have the wrong interpretation.
If Christ isn't coming back until after the Great Tribulation, then we would
know exactly when Christ is returning. Again, this totally contradicts Mark
13:32 where the Lord said NO ONE KNOWS.
Even if you reject the terms Tribulation and Rapture, we still know from the Bible that there will be a 7-year time period when the Antichrist will rule over the world (aka, a New World Order). We know that Christ is going to return to catch away the saints and give us new bodies (1st Corinthians 15:51-57; Philippians 3:21). Since the Lord stressed the fact that no man knows the timing of when He is going to return, the only reasonable and logical conclusion if that the Lord is returning to take the Church out of the world at the beginning of those 7-years. Prophesy is like a puzzle, which you have to put together by comparing piece-with-piece, or Scripture-with-Scripture.
Even if you reject the terms Tribulation and Rapture, we still know from the Bible that there will be a 7-year time period when the Antichrist will rule over the world (aka, a New World Order). We know that Christ is going to return to catch away the saints and give us new bodies (1st Corinthians 15:51-57; Philippians 3:21). Since the Lord stressed the fact that no man knows the timing of when He is going to return, the only reasonable and logical conclusion if that the Lord is returning to take the Church out of the world at the beginning of those 7-years. Prophesy is like a puzzle, which you have to put together by comparing piece-with-piece, or Scripture-with-Scripture.
If
you consider the Days of Daniel (which establishes the 7-year
Tribulation time frame), then it becomes very clear that only a pretribulation
Rapture supports the imminent, sudden, unpredictable, return of Christ for the
Church. If the Rapture happens a later time, then we would KNOW exactly when
Christ will return. The Lord plainly taught in Mark 13:32 that NO MAN KNOWS the
time of His return. Mark 13:32-33, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no
man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”
The Rapture Verses the Removal of the Tares from the Wheat
If the Rapture happens AFTER the 7-year Tribulation period, then
the tares will be taken at the same time as the Rapture of the saints, which
makes absolutely no sense. If God Raptures the saints at the time of His Second
Coming (i.e., a Post-Tribulation Rapture), then what would be the purpose of
separating the tares from the wheat? The Bible plainly teaches that the
separating of the tares from the wheat is NOT the Rapture. The Rapture is when
the saints are “CAUGHT UP” (1st Thessalonians 4:17). In sharp contrast, at the
onset of Christ's Millennial reign, God is going to separate the wicked (tares)
from the wheat (righteous)...
furnace
of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
God is going to remove the wicked! Clearly this passage of
Scripture does NOT refer to the Rapture. So why would God Rapture the righteous
and then separate the wicked tares from the righteous wheat all at the same
time as the Second Coming of Christ? How could this even be possible? So if the
Rapture follows the Tribulation, then God would have to remove the righteous and
the wicked, so there'd be NO ONE LEFT! Remember the film series called, “LEFT
BEHIND?” Well what would be the purpose of Rapturing the saints and leaving the
wicked behind if Christ is simultaneously returning to set up His Kingdom? If
you think this through, it is so obvious that a Post-Tribulation Rapture is
impossible, ridiculous and totally unbiblical. Honestly, the Post-Tribulation
crowd are comical and woefully ignorant of the Bible.
Now a Pre-Tribulation Rapture makes perfect sense, because the unsaved
wicked are left behind at the Rapture to suffer through the 7-year Tribulation
which follows. That makes sense! That's what the Bible teaches
There's
no way that God is going to remove the saints and the tares at the same time!!!
It would totally defeat the purpose of separating the wicked from the righteous
to begin with. Common sense dictates that Christ's Second Coming will be VERY
different than from the Again, what would be the purpose of separating the
tares from the wheat, at the same time that the saints are being removed from
the sinful world? It would make absolutely no sense for the Rapture to occur at
the same time as the separating of the tares from the wheat. This is solid
proof that the Rapture must happen BEFORE the 7-year Tribulation period.
Rapture.
The
events of the Tribulation are shocking—the sun and moon will be darkened, the
earth will be scorched with the sun's heat, scorpion-like flying creatures will
sting and torment men for 5-months (and people won't be allowed to die), billions
of people will suffer inexplicable pain and torment, earth's oceans and lakes
will be poisoned, forests of trees will burn down, cities and skyscrapers will
crumble from earthquakes—these events are all prophesied in the book of
revelation, and much more. If the Rapture comes after (i.e., a Postribulation
Rapture) all these horrible things, then we will have plenty of advance warning
before Christ returns. This would go contrary to everything the Lord taught
about coming back suddenly at any time.
GOD SAID
THAT HE WILL SPARE HIS CHILDREN FROM THE DAY OF THE LORD (HIS GREAT WRATH).
CHIRSITANS ARE NOT GOING TO SUFFER ANY OF THE TRIBULATION!!! WE ARE REMOVED
BEFORE IT COMES!!!
The following is Dr. John R. Rice's explanation of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture...
“The
rapture will come, as most reputable premillennial Bible teachers agree, before
the Great Tribulation time. Then after the Great Tribulation (which will occur
in Daniel's seventieth week, as I believe), Christ will return with these
saints and with angels to fight the battle of Armageddon, to destroy the
kingdom of the Antichrist, and to set up His throne at Jerusalem and reign on
the earth for a thousand years of joy and peace. There are two separate phases
of Christ's coming. That for which we wait is His coming into the air to
receive His saints. Then after the tribulation time, those who will have been
converted on the earth will long for Christ's return, with us, to set up His
kingdom. It is this second phase of Christ's coming, when He shall come literally
to the earth to take charge and to reign, that is discussed in this passage.”
SOURCE: Evangelist
John R. Rice
(1895-1980), chapter 3 from the excellent book, We
Can Have Revival Now.
If the Rapture were to come after the
7-year Tribulation period, there are many illogical problems with that
teaching. When would the Judgment Seat Of Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:9-11) and
the Marriage Supper Of The Lamb (Revelation 19:9) take place? Why would Jesus
Rapture all the saints up into the air as 1st Thessalonians 4:17 teaches, just
to simultaneously return to the earth to set-up His millennial Kingdom?
(the stone in Daniel's dream that smashes the image; Daniel 2:31-34). A
Post-Tribulation Rapture makes no sense. It just doesn't fit Biblical prophecy
if you compare Scripture-with-Scripture. I'll get into this more in a moment,
but first here's some helpful articles to read...
In sharp contrast to the Rapture of the Saints FROM the earth, at
the Second Coming 7-years later the Bible says that the Lord will return WITH
TEN THOUSANDS OF HIS SAINTS...
Jude
1:14, “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,
the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.”
So here we see Biblically that at the Rapture the Lord will return
FOR HIS OWN, but 7-years later at the Second Coming He'll return WITH HIS OWN.
That's quite a difference!
Matthew
25:31,32 -
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels
with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall
be gathered all nations" Carefully notice that Jesus is going to
sit upon His throne in Jerusalem when He returns, and the nations of earth will
be gathered before Him to be judged. How can this fact be reconciled with
1st Thessalonians 4:17, which states that the saints will be caught up together
to meet with the Lord in the air?
God will NOT allow the Church to go through the Tribulation
Period. It will be a time of atrocities as the world has never
known! God wouldn't destroy the wicked in Noah's day until Noah and his
family were all safely aboard the ark. Not one drop of rain fell until
Noah and his family were on the ark, and God had shut the
door. Afterwards, the rains fell and the wicked were utterly
destroyed.
The same is true of Lot and his family. Although Lot was a
backslidden believer, he was nevertheless a "just man," a righteous
man (2nd Peter 2:7,8). We read in Genesis 19:22, "Haste thee,
escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither."
These words were spoken by the angel whom God had sent to reign down fire and
brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah. No judgment could fall upon Sodom,
until Lot and his family were removed. Likewise, the Church will be
Translated (Raptured) away from this sin-cursed world before the Tribulation.
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, 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." -Revelation 3:10”
Joel
2:31-32New Living Translation (NLT)
31 The
sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and terrible[a] day of the Lord arrives.
32 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved,
for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape,
just as the Lord has said.
These will be among the survivors
whom the Lord has called
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and terrible[a] day of the Lord arrives.
32 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved,
for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape,
just as the Lord has said.
These will be among the survivors
whom the Lord has called
1
Corinthians 15:51-53New Living Translation (NLT)
51 But
let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all
be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of
an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who
have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be
transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into
bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal
bodies.
Matthew
25:1-46 New Living Translation (NLT)
Parable of
the Ten Bridesmaids
1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be
like ten bridesmaids[a] who took
their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t
take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was
delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
13 “So
you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”
1 Thes. 4:15-17
For this we say unto you by the
word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the
Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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: 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.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Behold, I show you a mystery; We
shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall
be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
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