Why the Post-Tribulation View of the Rapture Doesn’t Make Sense

By Helena Lehman, Author and Publisher of the 
Language of God Book Series and the Minister 
Operating the Pillar of Enoch Ministry
at: http://pillar-of-enoch.com

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NOTE: This article was also published on my POEM Web Site here:
http://www.pillar-of-enoch.com/essays/Post-Trib_View_of_Rapture_Nonsense.html

The PDF of This Article is Also Available for Download There:
http://pillar-of-enoch.com/essays/Post-Trib_View_of_Rapture_Nonsense.pdf

Shalom and Greetings to All My Fellow Believers in Yahshua,

As a Watchman on the Wall that is anxiously awaiting our Messiah’s glorious return, I want to commend all who are attempting to discern when Yahshua will return to rescue all those who are born-again by His Spirit and living under His Grace from total destruction. Among those of you doing so, there are many that hold to varying views of when the Rapture or catching up of God's elect saints into everlasting life and resurrection will take place.

Based on my understanding of the Scriptures relating to the Rapture that were subjected to detailed study and prayer in my article “Come Up Here and Come Away”, I personally believe that the Rapture of the Church is meant to protect and preserve God’s people from having to experience the worst of God’s Wrath that will be poured out during the Great Tribulation. Ever since openly voicing my view that the Rapture must take place before the Great Tribulation that will begin when the Sixth Seal is opened, however, I have endured near constant attacks from people with a Pre-Tribulation and Post-Tribulation view of the Rapture and Second Coming. These attacks have mostly been relentless and cruel, going against all the gifts of the Ruach Ha Kodesh or Holy Spirit such as love, forgiveness, kindness and compassion. Nonetheless, I did my best to display the gifts of the Ruach when debating my differing views of the Rapture with them.

Unfortunately, my scriptural arguments for believing that the First Rapture (See My Article: “Come Up Here and Come Away”) will be a Mid-Tribulation, Pre-Trumpets or Pre-Wrath Rapture as outlined below were ignored for the most part by those favoring a Pre-Tribulation and Post-Tribulation view of the Rapture. Furthermore, since their arguments against my views did nothing to address the teachings of the Scriptures that I shared with them, I was not convinced that my views were wrong in any way. In addition, I was encouraged by their lack of knowledge of these Scriptures to attempt to explain here why I still hold fast to a Pre-Wrath or Mid-Tribulation Rapture view that pinpoints the Rapture to just before the Great Tribulation, which begins when Yahshua or Jesus opens the Sixth Seal.

Part of my reason is based on my Spirit-led understanding of the type and extant of the tribulation or persecution that Yahshua mentions in Matthew Chapter 24, verses 9, 21 and 29. From my study of these and many other Scriptures, it can be shown that Yahshua was in no way referring to the Great Tribulation spoken of in the Book of Revelation, Chapters 8 through 19. In fact, when all the Scriptures pertaining to the time of Jacob’s Trouble are studied carefully, two things become clear: First, that this tribulation spoken of in Matthew Chapter 24 has already begun and is ongoing, and second, that the Rapture can in no way be at the time of the Battle of Armageddon because no peace or calm will precede that great End Time battle, but only death, destruction and chaos.

All one has to do to refute the Post-Tribulation view is to know the history of the last two centuries. First, one needs to be aware of the hundreds of false prophets that arose in the 19th and 20th centuries and are arising even now that tout the joys of Atheism, Deism, and the Hinduistic, Atheistic, and Humanistic New Age Religions like Theosophy, Freemasonry, Universalism, and Rosicrucianism.

Then one needs to obtain a thorough knowledge of the horrendous events of World War II when all of Western Civilization was threatened with destruction. In view of these facts, there is every indication that the distress, persecution or tribulation of believers that Yahshua was referring to in Matthew Chapter 24 began with the imprisonment, torture and eventual slaughter of at least 8 million Jews and over 30 million Christians that perished in Europe, Russia, and Asia because of their religious beliefs and resistance to the dominant secular humanistic (and communistic) culture of their home countries.

The persecution of Christians did not end there, however. It has continued virtually unabated in places such as Africa and Asia, where Muslim terrorists have moved into many once Christianized nations or Pagan and Muslim nations with significant minorities of Christians and slaughtered, raped, impoverished, and brutalized many more millions of believers in Yahshua. But the sad truth is that most of the people in the West are oblivious or unconcerned about of the plight of millions upon millions of true believers in Christ that are suffering persecution and the thousands that are being martyred every single day for living by and preaching about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

With this in view, the “tribulation of those days” that Yahshua spoke of in Matthew 24:29 can only be referring to the 19th and 20th Century events that led to World War I and World War II, as well as to the early 21st Century. In any case, when the Book of Revelation is compared to Matthew Chapter 24, it can be shown that a far worse tribulation is discussed in the Book of Revelation than the one defined in Matthew Chapter 24. As proof that the Great Tribulation is not meant in Matthew Chapter 24, verses 9, 21 and 29, one must carefully read what Yahshua said in these passages and compare it to the Book of Revelation’s Tribulation plagues. The following passage indicates the scope of environmental destruction that will accompany the first tribulation mentioned in Matthew Chapter 24:

Matthew 24:7-8 - “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

In this passage, though Yahshua mentioned an increase in earthquakes, famines (ostensibly caused by droughts and floods that cause crops to fail), and pestilences as the birth pains of the Tribulation, He nowhere mentions the NEAR TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE EARTH that will take place in the Tribulation period that is graphically depicted in the Book of Revelation, Chapters 6 through 16.

In fact, by using the phrase “in various places” in Matthew 24:7, Yahshua was indicating that there would only be isolated pockets of destruction during the Tribulation discussed in the first half of Matthew Chapter 24, as was completely the case in the last century. However, in Revelation Chapter 16 (which I quote at the end of this article), a nearly global destruction of the Earth is indicated. In addition, by referring to the relative peace and calm that will be part of the human condition prior to His return, Yahshua makes it clear that the Rapture stage of His Second Coming is being spoken of in most of Matthew Chapter 24 and not the Armageddon stage of His return that will follow the Great Tribulation or Wrath of God detailed in the Book of Revelation. He does so by explaining that the rescue of His saints will come long before most of the plagues poured out on the wicked in the Book of Revelation. This is made clear in the following Scriptures:

Matthew 24:38-41 - “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, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.” 

Luke 17:26-30 - “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

There is no way around it: one has to read Matthew Chapter 24 in light of the Book of Revelation to avoid misinterpreting what Yahshua said. These Scriptures make it clear that, when Yahshua returns for His elect saints, the world will be in a state of relative quiet and calm such as those preceding violent storms or that can be found under the eye of a hurricane. Furthermore, THIS STATE OF PEACE AND CALM WILL BE ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE AFTER THE SEVENTH TRUMPET AND SEVEN BOWLS OF GOD’S WRATH ARE POURED OUT ON THE EARTH!

Another thing most people seem to miss is that the writer of Matthew 24 is clearly giving information about two DIFFERENT Tribulation periods that will come upon the world. As already stated, the First Tribulation period is being discussed throughout most of the chapter. But there is also a brief discussion of the second GREAT Tribulation period that is described in the Book of Revelation. It appears in the middle of Matthew Chapter 24, from verse 15 through 28, which is why the entire chapter is somewhat confusing to read.

The tip off that Yahshua is referring to the earlier Tribulation being spoken about in the chapter appears after this section about the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:29, which opens with the phrase “Immediately after the tribulation of those days”. I’ve written a separate article dealing with these two tribulation periods in relation to the Sign of the Son of Man and the Rapture of the Church that is linked to below:

The Rapture Connection To

The Sign of the Son of Man

https://www.pillar-of-enoch.com/essays/Sign-of-Son-of-Man.html

Now, returning to our study, it is clear that Matthew Chapter 24 is talking about two distinct Tribulation periods. Furthermore, no one except those who deny that the Book of Revelation speaks of yet future events can read of the cataclysmic events in Chapter 16 of the Book of Revelation (which I have reproduced below) and think that there will be peace and calm immediately before or after the Battle of Armageddon. Please read it for yourself before continuing with my article:

~*~ Revelation 16:1-21 - NKJV ~*~ THE BOWLS OF GOD'S WRATH ARE POURED OUT - “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth. So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.

Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due. And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.

Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. 

Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds. 

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.

And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.” 

~*~ End of Revelation Chapter 16 ~*~

After reading Revelation 16, it should be clear that the writer is describing the near total destruction of the entire Earth. For example, Revelation Chapter 8, Verse 7 says that, at the time of the First Trumpet plague: “a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.” But Revelation Chapter 16 vamps up this destruction, telling us that “every living creature in the sea died”, the rivers and springs of water “became blood”, and “men were scorched with great heat”. This will be a scorching so great it will cause the Euphrates river to completely dry up and most of the remaining trees and shrubs on the Earth to die. In addition to this, “a great and terrible earthquake” that will be far worse than any in recorded history will shake the earth so “the cities of the nations” will fall and “every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.”

With no clean water to drink or to irrigate crops and a severe drought that will scorch the entire world, the Earth will be laid waste by the Bowls of God’s Wrath. Virtually no trees will be left standing, including those once standing in all of the ruined cities of mankind that will be reduced to rubble around the world. Furthermore, not one blade of grass will be left alive - but will be burnt to ashes - and not one fish will be left alive in the lakes, streams or oceans that will have all been turned to blood by this time!

Based on the total destruction of the Earth that is outlined as part of the GREAT Tribulation in Revelation Chapter 16, there is simply NO WAY that people will be calmly doing business, tending fields or getting married in expectation of raising a family at the end of this time period. Instead, chaos and destruction  will be found all over the Earth and no place will be untouched from this devastation - except perhaps for Israel and any cities of refuge that God may supply to protect the saints that will live through this terrible time after the Rapture.

Now, concerning the Rapture, the following Scriptures plainly state that it will be entirely possible for true believers in the Church of “Philadelphia” or “Brotherly Love” to escape all the plagues and pestilences of the Great Tribulation, which will begin when the wrath of God is being poured out on the wicked after the Sixth Seal is opened (as shown in the last Scripture in the list below):

Luke 21:36 - “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 - “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 

1 Thessalonians 5:9 - “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Revelation 3:10 - “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” 

Revelation 6:12-17 - The Wrath of God is Unleashed - “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

In light of these Scriptures, it is important to remember that 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 clearly states that we are not appointed to suffer God’s Wrath. However, the Apostle Paul also emphatically told us that we should patiently endure tribulation in 2 Thessalonians 1:3-5. In fact, Paul was simply reiterating what our beloved Messiah Yahshua or Jesus taught His disciples.

For example, within His vision given to the Apostle John in Revelation Chapter 3 directed to the Church of Philadelphia, Yahshua promised to spare those in that Church because they still love Him and one another. Even though they are poor, they are patiently enduring “the tribulation of those days” spoken of in Matthew 24:4-14 and Matthew 24:29-44, and they will be saved from the coming pouring out of God’s Wrath in the Great Tribulation spoken of in Matthew 24:20-22.

This can be seen by the fact that Yahshua refers to the Great Tribulation in Revelation 3:10-11, where it is called the “Hour of Trial”. This deliverance must be understood as occurring AFTER the tribulation before that - also known as “the tribulation of those days” that Yahshua told believers they would suffer in Revelation 2:10 for “ten days”. These ten days may be referring to a ten year period before the Great Tribulation occurs.

Based on my study of the Hallel Psalms, the Signs in the Heavens, and the dates I found in the Antechamber of the Great Pyramid at Giza in Egypt that corresponds to the Tribulation Period before Yahshua’s Second Coming, I believe this ten year period may be referring to the years 2010 through 2018. This is partly because the Hallel Psalms 110 through 118, which serve as a prophetic snapshot into the events of the Tribulation, are spiritually tied to the years 2010 through 2018. But this is only a theory, and many of my theories have not proven to be true. So it is best not to set any dates.

This time period figures into the end date tied to the Antechamber exit leading into the King’s Chamber, which signifies the coming of the Millennial Rule of Christ. That exit-way is directly tied to June 1st, 2016, which is exactly ten days before the Jewish version of Pentecost called the Feast of Shavuot. Incidentally, Yahshua ascended to heaven exactly 10 days before Pentecost (See Acts 1:3), and since we are told He would return “in like manner” in Acts 1:11, it may also mean Yahshua will appear in the skies surrounding our Earth ten days before Shavuot or Pentecost, when He will come to collect His beloved saints before the Wrath of God is poured out. Of course, Yahshua could come at any time before God's Wrath is unleashed, so it could be at any time of the year. We don't know when, and that is why Yahshua told us to watch for His return,

Uncannily, in John’s vision warning of coming persecution in Revelation 2:10, Yahshua appears to have been mirroring His warning in Matthew 24:9-10, which I believe occurs before the Rapture - when the Fifth Seal is opened - and I have shown that there is substantial evidence  that the Fifth Seal has indeed already been opened (To see it, CLICK HERE). The Rapture is described as coming AFTER “the tribulation of those days” that will occur during the opening of the first Five Seal Judgments, but before the Great Tribulation or Hour of Trial that will begin when the Sixth Seal is opened. Yahshua also told us all to rejoice when we suffer persecution for His name’s sake in Matthew 5:10-12 - persecution that would come long before the Rapture, and would continue until the Rapture.

The First Rapture is described as the gathering of Christ’s elect in Matthew 24:31, where it says: “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Although traditional Prophecy Teachers identify this passage as an event at Yahshua’s Second Coming, I believe that Matthew 24:31 is directly connected to the events described in Revelation Chapter 7, which occur AFTER the first Six Seals are opened, but BEFORE the Seventh Seal is opened and the Trumpet Judgments occur in Revelation Chapter 8.

Based on this Scriptural study of Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation, the Post-Tribulation view of the Rapture is a scripturally unsound position at best, and an outright deception at its worst. In addition, based on my findings in this study, the Pre-Tribulation view of the Rapture is also scripturally unsound. In fact, I truly believe that it should be abandoned for the Pre-Wrath view of the Rapture instead, for it has led many believers in the West to become soft in erroneously thinking that they are promised divine favor and blessing at all times, deserve and should expect wealth and prosperity, and that they will never have to suffer true persecution - or even outright martyrdom - for upholding their faith in Christ before the Rapture.

Sadly, those who believe this false “Health and Wealth Gospel” are to be numbered among those in the Laodicean Church, which is described in Revelation 3:14-19. There, we are told that Yahshua will spit those who are neither hot nor cold in their faith out of His mouth in disgust for their lukewarm view of the Gospel that He taught, which promised true believers spiritual blessings, but also much persecution and tribulation for their faith in this fallen world.

NOTE: Important extensions to the study begun in this article 
can be found in the following articles at my POEM Web Site:

“The Rapture Connection to the Sign of the Son of Man”

Web: http://pillar-of-enoch.com/essays/Sign-of-Son-of-Man.html,

PDF: http://pillar-of-enoch.com/essays/Sign-of-Son-of-Man.pdf

And: “A Gathering of Eagles - A Hidden Parable”

Web: http://pillar-of-enoch.com/essays/A-Gathering-of-Eagles.html,

PDF: http://pillar-of-enoch.com/essays/A-Gathering-of-Eagles.pdf

“Come Up Here and Come Away”

http://www.pillar-of-enoch.com/essays/Come_Up_Here.html

This Fascinating Article Explores the Idea of Two Raptures,

One That’s Pre-Trumpets, and One That’s Pre-Bowls

Please READ these articles if you need further instruction in 
order to understand what I am teaching in this article better.

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IMPORTANT: This ministry teaching is COPYRIGHTED By Helena Lehman. However, permission has been given so that this article may be distributed free of charge - provided that it is NOT sold or altered, and author Helena Lehman and her Pillar of Enoch Ministry web site at http://pillar-of-enoch.com are cited. The Author and Web site from which it was taken MUST BE CITED when this article is quoted from or published - in whole or in part - in any free printed, electronic or digital publication. For those who wish to include this material in a paid publication, permission must be requested from the author. Click HERE for informationon how to contact Helena Lehman on the Pillar of Enoch Ministry web site

The Rapture and the Second Coming:
An Important Distinction

by Thomas Ice
http://www.raptureready.com/featured/ice/tt10.html


In previous issues we have given a biblical basis or foundation for pretribulationism. In this issues I will begin by laying out specific biblical evidence for the pre-trib rapture. The first place to start is with the biblical notion that the rapture of the church is distinct from Christ's second coming to the earth.

John Feinberg notes that distinguishing between the rapture and second coming is important in establishing pretribulationism against the non-pre-trib claim that the Bible does not teach such a view.

The pretribulationist must show that there is enough dissimilarity between clear rapture and clear second advent passages as to warrant the claim that the two kinds of passages could be speaking about two events which could occur at different times. The pretribulationist does not have to prove at this point . . . that the two events must occur at different times, but only that the exegetical data from rapture and second advent passages do not make it impossible for the events to occur at different times. If he can do that, the pretribulationist has shown that his view is not impossible. And, he has answered the posttribulationist's strongest line of evidence.1

A key factor in understanding the New Testament's teaching of the pretribulational rapture revolves around the fact that two future comings of Christ are presented. The first coming is the catching up into the clouds of the church before the seven-year tribulation and the second coming occurs at the end of the tribulation when Christ returns to the earth to begin His 1,000 year kingdom. Anyone desirous of insight into the biblical teaching of the rapture and second advent must study and decide whether Scripture speaks of one or two future events.


FRAMING THE ISSUE

Posttribulationists usually contend that if the rapture and the second coming are two distinct events, separated by about seven years, then there ought to be at least one passage in Scripture which clearly teaches this. However, the Bible does not always teach God's truth in accordance with our preconceived notions or in such a way that answers directly all of our questions. For example, a Unitarian could design a similar kind of question regarding the Trinity. "Where is at least one passage in Scripture which clearly says that the Persons of the Godhead are distinct?" We who believe the Trinity reply that the Bible teaches the Trinity but in a different way.

Many important biblical doctrines are not given to us directly from a single verse, we often need to harmonize passages into systematic conclusions. Some truths are directly stated in the Bible, such as the deity of Christ (John 1:1, Titus 2:13). But doctrines like the Trinity and the incarnate nature of Christ are the product of biblical harmonization. Taking into account all biblical texts, orthodox theologians, over time, recognized that God is a Trinity and that Christ is the God-Man. Similarly, a systematic consideration of all biblical passages reveals that Scripture teaches two future comings.

Posttribulationists often contend that the pre-trib position is built merely built upon an assumption that certain verses 'make sense' if and only if the pre-trib model of the rapture is assumed to be correct. However, they often fail to make it clear to their readers that they are just as dependent upon assumptions as they say pre-tribers are. Their error stems from failure to observe actual biblical distinctions.

For example, Christ's ministry has two phases which revolve around His two comings. Phase one took place at Christ's first coming when He came in humiliation to suffer. Phase two will begin at Christ's second coming when He will reign on earth in power and glory. Failure to distinguish these two phases was a key factor in Israel's rejection of Jesus as Messiah at His first coming. In the same way, failure to see clear distinctions between the rapture and second advent lead many to a misinterpretation of God's future plan.


THE NATURE OF THE RAPTURE

The rapture is most clearly presented in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. In verse 17 the English phrase "caught up" translates the Greek word "harpázô," which means "to seize upon with force" or "to snatch up." Latin translators of the Bible used the word "rapere," the root of the English term "rapture." At the rapture living believers will be "caught up" in the air, translated into the clouds, in a moment of time.

The rapture is characterized in the Bible as a "translation coming" (1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thes. 4:15-17) in which Christ comes for His church. The second advent is Christ returning with His saints, descending from heaven to establish His earthly kingdom (Zech. 14:4-5; Mat. 24:27-31). Ed Hindson observes:

The rapture (or "translation") of the church is often paralleled to the "raptures" of Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2: 12). In each case, the individual disappeared or was caught up into-heaven. At His ascension, our Lord Himself was "taken up" into heaven (Acts 1:9). The biblical description of the rapture involves both the resurrection of deceased believers and the translation of living believers into the air to meet the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:51 52).2

Differences between the two events are harmonized naturally by the pre-trib position, while other views are not able to account comfortably for such distinctions. (Notice the graphic on page four that lists passages that speak of the rapture and those referring to the second coming.)


RAPTURE AND SECOND COMING CONTRASTS

Rapture/Translation ------- 2nd Coming/ Estab. Kingdom

__________________________________________

1 Translation of all believers - 1 No translation at all

2 Translated saints go to ----- 2 Translated saints return to
- heaven ----------------------------- earth

3 Earth not judged ------------- 3 Earth judged & righteous-
------------------------------------- ness established

4 Imminent, any-moment ----- 4 Follows definite predicted
- signless -------------------------- signs including tribulation

5 Not in the Old Testament -- 5 Predicted often in Old
-------------------------------------- Testament

6 Believers only ----------- 6 Affects all men

7 Before the day of wrath --- 7 Concluding the day of
---------------------------------------- wrath

8 No reference to Satan ---- 8 Satan bound

9 Christ comes for His own --- 9 Christ comes with His own

10 He comes in the air --- 10 He comes to the earth

11 He claims His bride --- 11 He comes with His bride

12 Only His own see Him --- 12 Every eye shall see Him

13 Tribulation begins --- 13 Millennial Kingdom begins


John Walvoord concludes that these "contrasts should make it evident that the translation of the church is an event quite different in character and time from the return of the Lord to establish His kingdom, and confirms the conclusion that the translation takes place before the tribulation."3


ADDITIONAL DIFFERANCES

Paul speaks of the rapture as a "mystery" (1 Cor. 15:51-54), that is a truth not revealed until its disclosure by the apostles (Col. 1:26), making it a separate event, while the second coming was predicted in the Old Testament (Dan. 12:1-3; Zech. 12:10; 14:4).

The movement for the believer at the rapture is from earth to heaven, while it is from heaven to earth at the second advent. At the rapture, the Lord comes for his saints (1 Thess. 4:16), while at the second coming the Lord comes with His saints (1 Thess. 3:13). At the rapture, the Lord comes only for believers, but His return to the earth will impact all people. The rapture is a translation/resurrection event where the Lord takes believers "to the Father's house" in heaven (John 14:3), while at the second coming believers return from heaven to the earth (Matt. 24:30). Hindson says, "The different aspects of our Lord's return are clearly delineated in the scriptures themselves. The only real issue in the eschatological debate is the time interval between them."4


POST-TRIB PROBLEMS

One of the strengths of the pre-trib position is that it is better able to harmonize the many events of end-time prophecy because of its distinction between the rapture and the second coming. Normally, posttribulationists do not even attempt to answers such objections and the few that try struggle with the biblical text. Yet, pretribulationists do not encounter difficulties in providing answers. What are some post-trib problems?

First, posttribulationism requires that the church will be present during the 70th week of Daniel (Dan. 9:24-27) even though it was absent from the first 69. This is in spite of the fact that Daniel 9:24 says that all 70 weeks are for Israel. Pretribulationism is not in conflict with this passage, as is posttribulationism, since the church departs before the beginning of the seven-year period.

Second, posttribulationism must deny the New Testament teaching of imminency-that Christ could come at any-moment. Pretribulationism does not have a problem with these New Testament passages, since they believe that no signs must precede the rapture.

Third, premillennial posttribulationism has no answer to their problem of who will populate the millennium if the rapture and second coming occur at the same time. Since all believers will be translated at the rapture and all unbelievers judged, because no unrighteous shall be allowed to enter Christ's kingdom, then no one would be left in mortal bodies to start the population base for the millennium. The pre-trib viewpoint does not have a problem at this point.

Fourth, posttribulationism is not able to explain the sheep and goats judgment after the second coming in Matthew 25:31-46. As in the previous problem, how would there be any believers in mortal bodies, if they were raptured at the second coming, who would be available to enter into Christ's kingdom? Pretribulationism does not have such a problem.

Fifth, since Revelation 19:7-8 indicates that the church, Christ's Bride, is made ready to accompany Christ to earth (Rev. 19:14) before the second coming, how could this reasonably happen if part of the church is still on earth awaiting Christ's Advent? If the rapture of the church takes place at the second coming, then how does the Bride (i.e., the church) also come with Christ at His return? There would not be sufficient time for this to happen within a posttribulational sequence, but the pre-trib position has no such problem.


CONCLUSION

The distinctions between Christ's coming in the air to rapture His church are too great to be reduced into a single coming at the end of the tribulation. These biblical distinctions provide a strong basis for the pre-trib rapture teaching.


ENDNOTES

1 John S. Feinberg, "Arguing for the Rapture: Who Must Prove What and How" in Thomas Ice and Timothy Demy, editors When The Trumpet Sounds (Eugene, Org.: Harvest House Publishers, forthcoming July 1995).

2 Edward E. Hindson, "The Rapture and the Return: Two Aspects of Christ's Coming" in Thomas Ice and Timothy Demy, editors When The Trumpet Sounds (Eugene, Org.: Harvest House Publishers, forthcoming July 1995).

3 The quotation and the first six contrasts in the graphic above are taken from John F. Walvoord, The Return of the Lord (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1955), 87-88.

4 Hindson, Ibid.