The Case for
Pretribulation Rapture
By Edward Wood
There remains among good and faithful people disagreement
over exactly when the Rapture will occur. It is unfortunate
this has caused division amongst Christians at a time when
the fundamentals of our faith based on the authority of
Scripture are under attack on a daily basis by the rest of
the world. The thing is, I think we can all agree is that
one day all believers, living and dead, will be instantly
taken from this earth and gathered together to meet Jesus in
the air (1Thessalonians 4:13-18).This grand reunion with the
Lord which is to come is guaranteed. So, if we can all agree
with that and respect each other's points of view as to the
timing of this wondrous event relative to the last years of
this age, I think we'll have made some major progress in
standing together against the forces of this world which
would like nothing better than to drive us apart.
For my own part, I have found that the
concept of the Rapture occurring before the seven year
Tribulation period best reconciles what would otherwise
appear to be contradictory parts of Scripture. But, as
always, I strongly encourage each one of you who reads this
commentary to study God's Word for yourselves and reach your
own conclusions. So, without further delay, let's explore
the case for the Pretribulation Rapture of the church.
1) Jesus said his coming would be
unexpected (Matthew 24:36-44) and he advises us to "Watch"
(Mark 13:28-39). Now this certainly contrasts with his
return at the end of the age (which concludes with the seven
year Tribulation period) that will be unmistakable and seen
by the whole world (Matt. 24:27). Also we know that 3 1/2
years into the Tribulation the Antichrist sets up the
"abomination of desolation" in are built Jewish temple and
proclaims himself as "God" (Daniel 9:27;11:31-32). We do see
from Daniel 7:25-27 that the Antichrist will also prevail
against the saints for 3 1/2 years before being
destroyed. Similarly we see mentioned again a 42 month
period in Revelation 13:5-7 of the "beast" blaspheming God
and warring against the saints. This is likewise the same
amount of time given during which Israel flees into the
wilderness and finds refuge, most likely at Sela, better
known as Petra (Isaiah 16:1-4).
Note that this is not to be confused
with the events mentioned in Daniel, chapter 8 concerning a
similar "transgression that makes desolate." This appears
instead to refer to the actions of Antiochus IV (a
descendant of Seleucus, one of four generals who succeeded
Alexander the Great). He first had the high priest
assassinated around 171 B.C. and installed one of his own
choosing. In 168 B.C. he sacrificed swine on the altar. He
also had a statue of Zeus bearing his likeness
erected. The temple was finally restored and cleansed
by the Maccabees in 165 B.C. during which a one day supply
of consecrated oil miraculously lasted for eight to keep the
menorah lit. This event is commemorated to this day by Jews
as Hanukkah - the Festival of Lights. Please note that this
does not contradict Daniel 8:8:14 which gave the length of
time of the defilement as 2300 "days. The term translated as
"days" here actually means "evenings\mornings" (Zondervan
KJV Study Bible). This is the same idea as in Genesis
chapter 1 wherein an evening and morning are "one day."
Dividing 2300 by two, we get 1150 days - a little over 3
years which is correct!
The "desolating sacrilege" that Jesus
mentioned (Mark 13:14-20) is accompanied by the admonition
that it will occur during a time that will be so terrible
that if it wasn't shortened, even the "elect" would be lost.
Clearly this refers to an event of the future, and not that
of Antiochus' era in the past. Therefore the Scriptural
accounts which describe both an unexpected return of Jesus
and those in which the time of his return is clearly defined
are actually describing two different events. The former is
most likely that of the Rapture while the latter is that of
the Second Coming.
2) Jesus will call the dead and
living to meet him in the air (1Thess. 4:13-18). I believe
that he will take the church away to spare its members the
horror on the Tribulation for the following reasons:
1 Thess.
5:1-9 - God hasn't destined us for wrath but for salvation.
1 Thess. 1:9-10 - Jesus saves us "from the wrath to
come."
Rev. 3:7-13 - The church of Philadelphia will be
kept from the "hour of trial." Though this was an actual
church located in Asia
Minor when John wrote Revelation, this
particular one likely also represents the "missionary or
true church," consisting of all those persons through the
last 2000 years involved in believing and spreading the Word
without distortion regardless of their denominational
affiliation (or lack thereof). I think that Jesus is
telling us here that the people who are the "Philadelphians"
of all places and times will be saved from the "trial" of
the Tribulation.
3) The
Tribulation begins only after the Antichrist comes to power
(Daniel 9:27). I don't believe this can happen while the
church is still here (2 Thess. 2:1-12). The Holy Spirit was
first given to the apostles on the day of the resurrection
(John 20:19-23). Fifty days afterward they received the
baptism of the Holy Spirit after which they spoke in tongues
to the devout Jews and proselytes (converts to Judaism)
gathered together for the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 1:5;
2:1-11). Now all those who accept Jesus become the temples
in which the Holy Spirit takes up residence (1 Corinthians
6:19-20). I believe it is the presence of this Spirit which
presently inhibits the Antichrist from coming to
power. Once the Spirit-filled believers in Jesus are
gone, Satan's power to deceive humanity will greatly
increase (2 Thess. 2:3-12). Also, consider this: Matt. 5:13
[Jesus said] Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt
has lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is
thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be
trodden under foot of men. [Bracketed section added.]
Remember that salt is not only a flavor enhancer but also a
preservative. If we consider the presence of believers as
the "salt" which keeps the world from completely from
falling into Satan's hands, it is easy to imagine what kind
of place it will be once they are gone. All that'll be left
are nonbelievers, including those who may have called
themselves Christians, but were never really saved at all.
Since the Holy Spirit is instrumental in giving many gifts,
including discernment (John 16:13; 1 Cor. 12:8-11) without
his presence, it seems reasonable that the Antichrist's
power to deceive humanity will greatly increase (2 Thess.
2:3-12). Still, since God is omnipresent, he will continue
working to save people throughout the Tribulation, perhaps
in the same manner in which he operated in the Old Testament
times. Scripture tells us that 144,000 Jews will come to
Christ in those last seven years (Rev. 7:1-8) along with a
great multitude from all other nations (Rev. 5:9-11).
4) Jesus spoke of his Father's house
of many mansions which he is preparing for his followers,
and that he will come again and take them to himself (John
14:1-3). The Bible's chronology suggests that first Jesus
brings his followers - both those who had died and those who
are living at the time of the Rapture - to be with him in
his Father's house. After this at some point the seven years
of the Tribulation will begin leading to the Antichrist's
rule on earth. Next, the Tribulation concludes with the
Battle of Armageddon which Jesus returns personally to end
(Rev. 19:11-21). Note that he is accompanied by the "armies
of heaven clothed in white linen." I think these armies
("hosts") are composed of members of the church which were
taken in the Rapture, the 144,000 converted Jews (Rev.
7:4-8), the saints killed during the Tribulation (Rev.
6:9-11; 7:9-17; 20:4-6), the twenty four elders (Rev. 4:4)
accompanied by angels as well. Now the Antichrist and his
mouthpiece, the false prophet (an Anti-Elijah), are cast
into the lake of fire and Satan is imprisoned in the
bottomless pit for the 1000 years of Jesus' Millennial Kingdom. At the end of
that period, Satan will be released and will try once more
with his allies to oppose Jesus. This is actually the second
Gog-Magog Campaign (Rev. 20:8-9) which should not to be
confused with the first one as described in Ezekiel, chapter
38. Satan's forces are immediately destroyed by God and he
is cast forever into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:7-10) where
the Antichrist and false prophet were placed 1000 years
earlier (Rev. 19:20). The Great White Throne Judgment will
then occur during which all the evil people of history will
be resurrected and likewise condemned to the fiery lake
along with Death and Hades (Rev. 20:11-15). After this, God
will create a new earth and new heaven completely free for
all time of any taint of sin or evil. Into this new universe
and onto this new world God will come in the New Jerusalem
to dwell forever (Rev. 21:1-27; 22:1-5).
5) A substantial point
favoring the church's absence during the Tribulation is that
it is not mentioned at all in Revelation, chapters 4-18
while the judgments are being unleashed upon the earth.
Where did it go? Interestingly in Rev. 4:4 we are told of
the twenty-four elders with crowns surrounding God's throne.
This is the first time they are ever mentioned in the Bible.
Who are they? Perhaps they are the twelve sons of
Israel and the
twelve apostles, but regardless of their identities, they
appear to be glorified human beings. If we take a look at
Rev. 5:4-3 we're told that "no man in heaven, nor in earth,
neither under the earth" was worthy to open the seals of the
book that would begin the judgments to be poured upon the
earth. Only Jesus could do that. According to this passage,
clearly there are people in heaven at the time the sealed
scroll is brought forth - and not just as souls such as
those of the Tribulation saints who are waiting under the
altar for God to avenge their deaths (Rev. 6:9-11). The
elders "sing a new song" to Jesus praising him because he
"hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred,
and tongue, and people, and nation and hast made us unto our
God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth"
(Rev. 5:91-10). Again this indicates that Jesus had already
redeemed vast multitudes from the earth making a place for
them in his Father's house, just as he promised in John
14:1-3. Furthermore, in Revelation, chapter 19, we see the
marriage of the Lamb (Jesus) to the Bride (the church
-Ephesians 5:24-32). This Bride is clothed in white linen,
which indicates righteousness derived by belief in Christ
and is obviously already present in heaven before Jesus'
Second Coming. This answers the question as to how the
saints can be part of the armies of heaven which will
accompany him (Zechariah 14:2-9) when he returns to defeat
The Antichrist and his forces at Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-21).
6) There are historical precedents of
God removing righteous people from harm's way. Two which
come immediately to mind are the rescues of Noah and his
family from the Flood (Genesis, chapters 6-9) and Lot and
his family from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
(Genesis, chapters 18 - 19). It seems reasonable to believe
he will do the same for those who believe in Christ before
the Tribulation comes as well (1 Thess. 1:9-10).
7) There are two prominent Rapture-like events from the
Old Testament. Enoch was "translated" or taken directly
by God (Gen. 5:22-24, Hebrews 11:5) and Elijah
was carried away in a whirlwind by a chariot and
horses of fire (2 Kings 2:9-11).
From the New Testament we have
the most prominent of all. Jesus ascended from the
Mount of Olives into the
clouds after his resurrection (Acts 1:9).
8) In Luke 21:28 Jesus said, "And
when these things [referring to the signs he mentioned
previously] begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up
your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. " [Bracketed
section added.] It is interesting to note that Jesus
indicated that our redemption would be near when the signs
BEGIN, not midway through them or at their conclusion.
Additionally, he said, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always
that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things
that shall come to pass and stand before the Son of man"
(Luke 21:36). I believe that we are presently living in that
time and experiencing the beginning of "all these things"
that the Lord mentioned. This is further evidence that by
trusting in him we will escape the horrors of the seven year
Tribulation which is to come and that the time we will see
him face to face is indeed very near!
9) Jesus said that the gates
of hell would not prevail against the church (Matt. 16:18),
but in seeming paradox we see a point during the Tribulation
where the Antichrist does overcome the saints (Dan. 7:25-27;
Rev. 13:3-7). Let me offer a possible explanation that might
resolve this apparent contradiction. Despite the constant
presence of heresies, there have always been people who did
not waver from the truth in an unbroken line back to Jesus'
and the apostles' teachings. These "Philadelphians" (Rev.
3:7-13) will be taken when the Rapture
occurs.
When this
happens, the 2000 year link will have been broken for the
first time in history. Those who come to Christ during the
Tribulation will essentially be starting all over again
against tremendous adversity, even worse than the original
church faced at its beginnings. The Antichrist will truly
prevail against these saints right up until the Second
Coming of Jesus. It is the souls of these who are martyred
that appear under the altar in heaven (Rev. 6:9-11), as
mentioned previously.
Now what is the purpose for the
Tribulation? To me it seems not to be a time of punishment
only, but of God's last attempt to get through to humanity.
To be sure, God's offer of salvation will still be open to
the Gentile world, but the emphasis appears to be to bring
Israel to the point where they will at long last recognize
Jesus as the Messiah and to fulfill their original role
to spread God's Word throughout the world, a task that had
temporarily been assigned to the Christian Church after they
had rejected him. Though many people of Israel and the
other nations will be converted (Rev. 7:9-17), unfortunately
most still will not.
Those who
have already accepted Jesus during their lives before the
Tribulation, on the other hand, need no further convincing.
Yes, God is patient, wishing that all would find him (2
Peter 3:9) but the Bible teaches that he won't wait forever.
Stiff-necked, hard-hearted people will always continue to
refuse to be reached even in the face of overwhelming
evidence (Isaiah 6:9-10, Daniel 12:10).
Now might I be incorrect about the
timing of the Rapture? Of course, it's possible. Yet, as
I've already said, it does seem that its occurrence prior to
the onset of the Tribulation provides the best
reconciliation of Scriptures that at first glance appear
contradictory. It's true that the prophetic books of
the Bible can be pretty enigmatical times, but the more we
study them, the more we can understand with the Holy
Spirit's help.
No one should feel badly if he
or she can't understand everything because even Daniel
didn't understand all that he was seeing. In fact, he
said: And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O
my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said,
go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed
till the time of the end. Many shall be purified and made
white; and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none
of the wicked shall understand; But the wise shall
understand. (Daniel 12:8-10)
As the time of the events that Daniel
and the prophets described approaches, their words which
they received from God (or were spoken by Jesus who IS God!)
become increasingly understandable. In fact, the book of
Revelation specifically pronounces a blessing on those who
read it (Rev. 1:3), and I think it is accurate to say that
this applies to all who study God's Word with an open mind
and heart. Every day we read the Bible, the Holy Spirit
will speak to us and give us wisdom and discernment we need.
So when Jesus does come to call, we will certainly be able
to recognize his voice and follow!