7 Reasons Why the Church is Raptured Before the Tribulation

[Aussie Micha]

http://ricksarticles.blogspot.com/20...-raptured.html

1. Rev. 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."

That verse needs no explanation.



2. I Thess. 5:9, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,"

I Thess. 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."

The only wrath that is "to come" is the Tribulation. The entire Tribulation period is God's wrath, with the first half consisting of world wars, earthquakes, famines, and diseases.


3. Titus 2:13, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"

Our job is to look for the blessed hope, not for the antichrist's arrival on the world's stage.


4. Rev. 14:9-11, "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

Church Age Christians can't lose their salvation. No such promise is made to Tribulation saints, it is wishful thinking to assume that no Christian in the Tribulation will take the mark to feed himself or his family. These two dispensations can not overlap if you believe in eternal security.


5. "For all the saints and the Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins."

Ephrem the Syrian,On the Last Times, the Antichrist, and the End of the World, 373 A.D.

The pre-Tribulation rapture teaching did NOT begin in the 1800s, as is taught by those who oppose it.


6. Jer. 30:7, "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it."

It's Jacob's trouble, not the church's trouble. The church is saved from the Tribulation, and Israel is saved out of it. The major reason for the Tribulation is to draw Israel back to God, to accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah, so that all of the Messianic promises can be fulfilled.


7. Rev. 19:7-8, 11, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.... And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war."

The bride is already up in Heaven before Christ comes down at the end of the Tribulation, and she's already "made herself ready." She's already gone through the refining process of the Judgment Seat of Christ. The church is already up there well before the end comes.

[Lucid]

I also like the term "earth dwellers" in the NT of the KJV and how judgment is said to come upon THEM and not the saints.

Christians are "citizens of heaven", "strangers and pilgrims", etc.

See: Luke 21:35 , Revelation 3:10 , Revelation 6:10 , Revelation 11:10 , Revelation 13:8 , Revelation 13:12 , Revelation 13:14.

[TrustHIM]

[iSong6:3]

Good job, Micha!

The mockers like to say that either we're inventing things to try to escape God's wrath or that Darby/MacDonald invented the concept of the Rapture.

Not true. There's precedent in the Bible for God doing this for His own. And He will do it again.

[RaptureReady_7]

I tell people that Paul and John taught a Pre trib rapture, and even Luke. They said it first, that we would not be here for the wrath of God, when people try to tell me the made up MacDonald stuff.

[Not Perfect, But Forgiven]

I tell people that Paul and John taught a Pre trib rapture, and even Luke. They said it first, that we would not be here for the wrath of God, when people try to tell me the made up MacDonald stuff.

What's even more messed up is the more people I meet that are post-trib, the more I'm convinced that they want to go through the tribulation to atone for some type of guilt or sense of unworthiness they have. They completely ignore the fact that Jesus is like a person in many regards. When I'm driving with my wife, why would I tell her we are going on a vacation, but before we do, we need to light ourselves on fire and drive off the empire state building into a kerosene factory? Then I tell her the only way she MIGHT survive is if she has faith in me. How in the world is that a "Blessed Hope?" But that is the mental state of a serious post-tribber.

[Aussie Micha]

What's even more messed up is the more people I meet that are post-trib, the more I'm convinced that they want to go through the tribulation to atone for some type of guilt or sense of unworthiness they have. They completely ignore the fact that Jesus is like a person in many regards. When I'm driving with my wife, why would I tell her we are going on a vacation, but before we do, we need to light ourselves on fire and drive off the empire state building into a kerosene factory? Then I tell her the only way she MIGHT survive is if she has faith in me. How in the world is that a "Blessed Hope?" But that is the mental state of a serious post-tribber

I've also found that there are some, that can't wait to see us Pre-tribbers be shocked/scared/frighten to death (because we didn't prepare!) and for them to have the pleasure in saying- 'I told you so!'. And they believe that we will probably lose our faith because of it as well!!!

Not that, any of that is going to happen!!!!

[Aussie Micha]

The mockers like to say that either we're inventing things to try to escape God's wrath or that Darby/MacDonald invented the concept of the Rapture.

Yeah, I have to admit, that the 'Darby invention theory' got to me at first. As I wouldn't want to follow man's interpretation of the Bible etc..

So glad that I found more stuff to prove them wrong

[iSong6:3]

What's even more messed up is the more people I meet that are post-trib, the more I'm convinced that they want to go through the tribulation to atone for some type of guilt or sense of unworthiness they have. They completely ignore the fact that Jesus is like a person in many regards. When I'm driving with my wife, why would I tell her we are going on a vacation, but before we do, we need to light ourselves on fire and drive off the empire state building into a kerosene factory? Then I tell her the only way she MIGHT survive is if she has faith in me. How in the world is that a "Blessed Hope?" But that is the mental state of a serious post-tribber.

So true. It's as if they didn't really trust Jesus's finished work on the Cross but think they still need to be *purified*. **Danger, danger**

[LightOfMyLife]

Another thing about the post-tribbers who do they think the armies which were in heaven following him(Jesus) upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean are in Revelation 19:14? It is the raptured believers coming back with him, and we go into the millennial reign with Jesus for 1,000 yrs. We have already been in heaven for 7 years during the tribulation. Why would God beat up on his children by putting them here for the wrath? They need to read & study the Bible!

[iSong6:3]

Yeah, I have to admit, that the 'Darby invention theory' got to me at first. As I wouldn't want to follow man's interpretation of the Bible etc..

So glad that I found more stuff to prove them wrong

Poor Darby! I suspect there'll be a *rapturously* joyous line of posties to say they were sorry to him.

[Reason&Hope]

What's even more messed up is the more people I meet that are post-trib, the more I'm convinced that they want to go through the tribulation to atone for some type of guilt or sense of unworthiness they have.

I agree. It's the thinking, "Why should I be spared? I'm no one special."
And the answer is not because one person is more special than another, but because God chooses whom He wills. Why Jacob and not Esau? Or if we're comparing time periods, why does one person get to experience the building of the first Temple and another experience its destruction?

None of us is anyone "special" yet Jesus loves us and died for us.

[iSong6:3]

I agree. It's the thinking, "Why should I be spared? I'm no one special."
And the answer is not because one person is more special than another, but because God chooses whom He wills. Why Jacob and not Esau? Or if we're comparing time periods, why does one person get to experience the building of the first Temple and another experience its destruction?

I'll just tweak this a bit because the Jacob & Esau thing may sound like predestination to salvation to some (the TULIP folk use that) and we do not believe in that.

(This is for the lurkers, not for you, R&H.) While God chooses His people to different roles in His Kingdom, He does not choose some for salvation and some for damnation. If we look at the word "predestinate" in the Bible, it's in reference to what salvation is, not to whom is chosen for it. It's never referring to that. Salvation is like God's boat leading to God, the passengers get into the boat or they don't, all by faith in Jesus or lack of faith in Jesus.

None of us is anyone "special" yet Jesus loves us and died for us.

Amen and amen! He died for us all. He wants us all to come to Him.

[WanttoKnow]

I like Chuck Missler's quip. If the Rapture isn't util after the Tribulation that means the Marriage Supper is just a snack lunch.

[$teve]

I like Chuck Missler's quip. If the Rapture isn't util after the Tribulation that means the Marriage Supper is just a snack lunch.

Yeah there could be a drive through fast food McDonalds outlet!

[Not Perfect, But Forgiven]

So true. It's as if they didn't really trust Jesus's finished work on the Cross but think they still need to be *purified*. **Danger, danger**

That's just it. They believe their suffering will earn them the Rapture. Faith is a gift of God, not something you "earn." If that were the case, we'd all be doomed to Hell and Jesus' work on the cross would be nothing.

[Not Perfect, But Forgiven]

Another thing about the post-tribbers who do they think the armies which were in heaven following him(Jesus) upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean are in Revelation 19:14? It is the raptured believers coming back with him, and we go into the millennial reign with Jesus for 1,000 yrs. We have already been in heaven for 7 years during the tribulation. Why would God beat up on his children by putting them here for the wrath? They need to read & study the Bible!

So Sad, but they do read it, they just pick out passages that align with their sense of needing to suffer to earn the Rapture. They can't understand that Jesus' death purchased US the Rapture, not their suffering. They see our salvation as an ongoing work, not having been finished at the Cross. They underestimate the staggering consequences of Jesus' death and what He purchased for us. They REALLY need to look into Ephesians and Thesselonians, hardcore.

[EuroJoe]

There is more than one rapture.

to me there are more Raptures because the guys
in Rev 4 are standing ON the throne
while the guys in Rev 7 are standing BEFORE the throne.

Jesus says this:
Rev 3:21
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me ON my throne,
just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.


Rev 4:4
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats:
and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting,
clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.


Rev 7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night
in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.


also this:

how will there be "the hour of temptation"
when there is world wars, earthquakes, famines, and diseases going on ?


therefore that hour of temptation must be BEFORE the final 7 years.

not?

[Buzzardhut]

So Sad, but they do read it, they just pick out passages that align with their sense of needing to suffer to earn the Rapture. They can't understand that Jesus' death purchased US the Rapture, not their suffering. They see our salvation as an ongoing work, not having been finished at the Cross. They underestimate the staggering consequences of Jesus' death and what He purchased for us. They REALLY need to look into Ephesians and Thesselonians, hardcore.

[OtherSideOfTheBoat]

http://ricksarticles.blogspot.com/20...-raptured.html
...

4. Rev. 14:9-11, "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

Church Age Christians can't lose their salvation. No such promise is made to Tribulation saints, it is wishful thinking to assume that no Christian in the Tribulation will take the mark to feed himself or his family. These two dispensations can not overlap if you believe in eternal security.
...

Believers in the tribulation will have eternal salvation just like we do.

John 10:27-29
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.


Hebrews 13:20-21
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus brought in an everlasting covenant. That is not going to change.