7 Reasons for Pre-Tribulation Rapture

7 Reasons for Pre-Tribulation Rapture

• Tribulation Period Concerns Israel Jeremiah 30:7
  • Old Testament foretells a time of tribulation for Israel
  • Daniel 9:24 – “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”
  • Daniel 12:7 – “And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.”
  • God uses Israel and the church on a mutually exclusive basis
    • God is Using Israel witness of God to the world (4-22)
      • Israel is a nation that needs to believe in Jesus as the Messiah
      • National distinction of Israel is brought forward
      • Revelation 7 – 144,000 Jews
      • Revelation 11 – Two Jewish witnesses
      • Revelation 12 – Israel flees
        • Describes Israel
          • clothed with sun, and moon, and stars
          • Crown of 12 (tribes?)
          • Gave birth to a child to rule all nations (Jesus?)
        • Genesis 37:9-10
          • Refers to sun, moon and stars(Israel) bowing to Joseph (Jesus)
    • The Church is the witness of God in the period of grace
      • Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
      • The church is many nations and ethnicities
      • The church is not a country it is a Kingdom already under God in Christ
      • Revelation 1:20 – says the seven lampstands are the seven church in the presence of God
      • Revelation 4:5 – Seven lamps of fire burning before the throne
• No Biblical reference to the church on earth during the Tribulation period (Rev 4-22)
  • Revelation 1:19 – “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;”
  • Seen (1) – Glorified Christ
  • Are (2-3) – Letters to the Churches of Asia Minor
  • Which Shall Be (4-22) – Future of events to come
  • The Greek word for church is used
    • 19 times in chapters 1-3
    • 0 times in chapters 4-19
    • Mentioned in closing of Revelation
  • Comparison of statements
    • Revelation 3:22 – “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
    • Revelation 13:9 – “If any man have an ear, let him hear.”
    • The addressing of the church is left out of Chapter 13.
• Church is promised an exemption from diving wrath (1 Thess 1:10; 5:9; Rom 5:9; Rev 3:10: 6:17)
  • The same word for Wrath is used…
  • The promise
    • 1 Thessalonians 1:10 – And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:9 – For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
    • Romans 5:9 – Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
    • Revelation 3:10 – 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.
  • Tribulation = Devine Wrath
    • Revelation 6:16-17 – And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
    • Revelation 11:18 – And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
    • Revelation 15:1,7 – And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God…… And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
    • Revelation 16:19 – And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
  • Where is Jesus- He is in control!
    • Seven Sealed Scroll (5:1)
    • John weeps (5:2-4)
    • Christ is qualified (5:5-6)
    • Christ takes the scroll (5:7)
    • Christ glorified (5:8-14)
• Rapture is imminent (1 Cor 15:51; 1 Thess 4:15)
  • Because the rapture is imminent is must take place before the tribulation begins
    • It can happen at any time (pending)
    • Sign-less Event – no prophetic sign needed to trigger the rapture
    • James 5:8 – The Lords Coming is near
    • 1 Cor 1:7 – eagerly waiting on the revelation of Jesus
    • We are not looking for an antichrist – we are looking for Christ!
  • What of the 4 Tribulation/ Rapture beliefs support imminence?
    • Pre-wrath = believe rapture happens after the Great Tribulation has begun – so no there are signs that have to be fulfilled still
    • Post-Tribulation = Believe the rapture occurs after the 7 years of tribulation = so no there are signs that have to be fulfilled still
    • Mid-Tribulation = Believe the rapture occurs after the 1^st 3 ½ years of tribulation = so no there are signs that have to be fulfilled still
    • Pre-Tribulation = Believe that rapture occurs before the tribulation period = yes, no signs needed for Jesus to return, his return is imminent.
• Rapture is a comfort to Christ’s followers
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:18 – “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (Paul revealed the doctrine of the rapture and said for us to ease one another with this information.  
  • Titus 3:13 – “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
  • Which view of the rapture truly brings comfort to your soul?
• Antichrist cannot come to power until the restrainer is removed (2 Thess 2:6-7)
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 – “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”
  • What starts the Tribulation?
    • Dan 9:27 – 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.
    • Covenant with Israel

• Restrainer Must be Removed before Antichrist Revealed
  • 2 Thess. 2:6-7 = Restrainer = Holy Spirit
    • John 14:16; Romans 8:9 = Holy Spirit indwells believers
    • Believes along with the Holy Spirit must be absent from the earth

• Symbolic parallels (2 Peter 2:5-9)
  • Luke 17:26-30 – as in the days of Noah (the day the Lot went out…)
  • Enoch taken before the flood (Gen 5:24)
  • Noah protected before the flood (Gen 7:6-7)
  • Lot taken before judgement on Sodom (2 Pet 2:7; Gen 19:22)
    • “Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.” (Gen 19:22)