Pre-Tribulation or Pre-Wrath?

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1 THY WORD IS TRUE FROM THE BEGINNING: AND EVERY ONE OF THY RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS ENDURETH FOREVER. PSALM 119:160 Rapture Theory Difficulties Introduction Pre-Tribulation or Pre-Wrath? {An Argument for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture} THE KEY RAPTURE PASSAGES in the New Testament, John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, reveal the following details about what is called the Rapture of the church: 1. Christ alone with a shout will descend to meet His church saints, both dead and alive, in the air. 2. Dead church saints will be resurrected at that time. 3. Church saints, both dead and alive will receive immortal bodies at that moment. 4. The church saints, both dead and alive, will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. 5. The church saints will return with Christ to His Father s house to dwell with Him there. 1 John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. These verses speak of a Bridegroom preparing a room for His bride, then when it is time, He will return to get her. It is a clear reference by Jesus Christ that He will come to Rapture His church. The other two key passages are: 1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 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. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Thess 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 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. 16 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: 17 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. For most Christians who believe in the Rapture of the church, these passages are convincing that that event will occur. What is not so clear is the actual timing of that event in relation to what is known as Daniel s seventieth CREATION REVELATION is a bi-annual publication distributed free of charge via or mail to those who request it. Topics will have a primary focus on the Defense of Scripture, including Creation (Genesis), Humanism, and Prophecy (Revelation). Other topics of interest may be presented. Questions, comments, and suggestions are encouraged. Copyright 2014 Robert W. Tozier. All rights reserved. Permission is given to photocopy and freely distribute this material for the glory of God as long as it is not done for commercial purposes. Editors: Bryan Kinney and Kristin Oien. Web Designer: Aaron Tozier. Web Consultant: Bryan Kinney rtozier@creationrevelation.org. Tel: ALOHA! ΑΩ JUL-DEC VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 - PAGE 1 OF 16

2 week (seven years; Daniel 9:27), the time of Jacob s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) or commonly the Tribulation. Dan 9:27 And he [Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [one seven (seven years)]: and in the midst of the week [3-1/2 years] 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. 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. That Daniel s seventieth week represents a duration of seven years is not the issue. That this week actually refers to years which can be demonstrated by other Scriptures is also not at issue. 2 That there are 3-1/2 years from the abomination of desolation in the midst of the week, also seems clear to most. What may not be so clear to some, is that the purpose of the Tribulation is for the salvation of the Jewish nation, not the purification of the saints; and the answer as to when the Rapture is supposed to occur in relation to Daniel s seventieth week. Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:). 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. In nearly forty years of study of end-time events I have learned that there is no definitive answer that will end all debate regarding the timing of the Rapture. There are views that seem to provide the most satisfying answer to those individuals that try to sort it all out; in this debate that is all you can hope for. There are those that hold to one of various views such that the Rapture will occur either before, during, or after the seven-year Tribulation. Each position has its adherents, each adherent has developed arguments from Scripture to support his or her view, and each is satisfied with his view as he has worked it all out to his or her satisfaction. However, no view is ever completely satisfying because every argument in favor of one position is met by an argument against that position. None of these arguments are considered heretical by the church. You are free to believe whichever view you want in this regard as long as it does not violate the basic essential tenets of your faith such as the deity of Jesus Christ or His virgin birth. The next thing that I have learned is that usually no amount of argumentation will convince an adherent of an opposing view to change his mind. Any debate on the subject usually ends badly as the argument becomes circular. I therefore do not wish to debate the issues, but will simply state my conclusions regarding various Rapture positions. After many years of study, I am of the opinion that the Pre-tribulation (pre-trib) Rapture is the single Rapture position that presents the least number of Scripture difficulties using the literal interpretive method, while relying on the fewest number of assumptions or scriptural gymnastics of any of the Rapture views. I became pretrib after a single reading of the complete Bible early in my Christian walk before I even knew the name of this position, and before I knew that there were other views. A clear once through reading did it for me. The literal sense made the Pre-tribulation position clear in my thinking. It was only later that I put together the various Scriptures that refer to the Rapture, and found to my thinking that the combined meaning still was heavily weighted in favor of the Pre-tribulation Rapture. To be sure, there are questions, but then there are questions about every other Rapture position that anyone has been able to come up with. There are seemingly valid arguments in favor and against every Rapture position that we can imagine from the pages of Scripture. This therefore is my position statement. It is clear that Scripture does refer to a Rapture separate from the Second Coming, although those supporting a Post-tribulation Rapture insist that both occur at the same time as a single event. There are many books written in support of that view, and there are many scriptural pitfalls that the Post-tribulation supporters must bridge. I have found this to be also true of the Pre-wrath Rapture as each adherent struggles to answer the various objections to their theory. Because of space limitation I cannot address every issue of the various Rapture views, so I will offer a few observations and arguments only. I have, in my library, many books in support of and against all conceivable Rapture theories. I have considered them all and still remain convinced that the Pre-tribulation Rapture position is the most correct view. There is not a single verse in Scripture that, by itself, absolutely proves any single Rapture theory without consideration of all the related evidence in the Bible. It is my view that the recent Pre-Wrath view is fraught with linguistic errors, straw-man argumentation, forced interpretations, assuming facts not in evidence, and logical fallacies (e.g. asserting that a is true; asserting b to be true partly on the basis of a ; and then partly on the basis of a and b, asserting that c is true; therefore on the basis of a, b, and c, asserting then the conclusion is true. Partial truths do not logically return truth). 3 Also, just because it seems that we may already be in the Tribulation does not make it so. This was the error of the Thessalonians during Paul s time. Times are tough, but it will get a lot tougher for those left behind. A simple JUL-DEC VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 - PAGE 2 OF 16

3 argument I have noticed is that because the early church faced hardships and tribulation, then why will the end-time church be exempt? And, if we are all awaiting a Pretribulation Rapture, then we will be discouraged and become deceived when we find ourselves in the Tribulation. The simple answer is that Jesus told us to watch. Those that do not watch may be deceived, including those believing other Rapture theories. Escapism is another argument used against the Pretribulation Rapture. We are not promised that we will be able to avoid persecution or general tribulation in our lives, but I believe the evidence of Scripture is that the literal interpretive method leads to the belief that we are promised that we will not experience any of the seven-year tribulation of the end-times. Wrath 1 Thess 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Is the church subject to God s wrath at any time during the seven-year Tribulation? The question is when does God s wrath begin? The answer to this question is key to determining which Rapture view is correct. A number of Scriptures admonish us to keep expecting the Lord s return at any moment. Why should we do that if it is the Antichrist that will come first? Every Rapture theory other than the Pre-tribulation Rapture requires the arrival of the Antichrist first. That is why if you take the Mid-tribulation, Pre-wrath, or Post-tribulation positions you are looking instead for signs of the coming of the Antichrist. That then would be the first sign to look for, not Jesus Christ. Scripture does not say that you should expectantly anticipate the Antichrist, we are to instead watch and be expectantly ready for the return of Jesus Christ for His bride. You needn t watch expectantly for Jesus Christ if He is coming only at the very end of the Tribulation in His Second Coming. Is the church not the bride of Christ? What kind of bridegroom would treat his bride to unspeakable wrath before the wedding? Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Fruitless Argumentation and Variations The Rapture is not an issue that Christians should argue over, since the Rapture is not an essential doctrine of our faith. Many books have been written on all positions. No one will find the absolute proof for any Rapture position that has ever been presented. There is no absolute definitive answer to this age old puzzle. That is why many people adhere to the Pan-tribulation theory. They believe that it will all pan-out in the end. I believe that the Pretribulation Rapture is the correct view. It is the only view whereby we are admonished to expectantly wait for the imminent return of our Lord. All other views must look for signs, particularly the revealing of Antichrist. Should this be our position then, that we are forced to focus our attention on the appearing of the Antichrist instead of Jesus Christ? I don t think so. We are also faced with another dilemma. The Bibles that we read are in English, while the original manuscripts from whence the English was derived, were for the most part in Hebrew and Greek. Even then we still have a problem what did the original (the autograph), from the pen of the author, actually say? Happily, we have sufficient manuscript evidence to compare so that we can be reasonably certain that we have the correct wording. The point to be made is this. You need help! Therefore, do not forsake the many Greek and Hebrew scholars, as well as the many centuries of study by Bible scholars and students from times past and present. You cannot read your Bible in English and solve the riddles of interpretation without referring to Bible study aids such as concordances, interlinear Bibles, histories, and commentaries. For example, try reading with understanding the book of Zechariah without such help. Even then one must be careful, because commentators come in many shades of belief. A student needs to know what the commentator believes about the Bible he is commenting on, and what principles of interpretation he has used. This is especially true regarding eschatology. In this I am Pre-millennial regards the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and I am Pretribulational in regards to the Rapture. For reference, my eschatological views are mostly on the order of John Walvoord, J. Dwight Pentecost, and Renald Showers. I would also include Allen Beechick for his unique arguments for the Pre-tribulation Rapture. Each of these hold end-time and Rapture views similar to mine with slight variances. I am gratefully their student. One very important caveat is that you should never use the internet as your primary Bible study tool. JUL-DEC VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 - PAGE 3 OF 16

4 This is where many get confused and some led astray by seemingly convincing, yet faulty, argumentation and assumptions. There are good things on the internet, and there are many more bad things that can mislead. I do use the internet as a study tool, but I have the experience of many years of study to be able hopefully to discern the bad from the good. One hint when accessing Christian sources on the internet is to look for a statement of faith. If one is not found, then be very concerned. If one is found, then be concerned, but proceed with caution. New or inexperienced Christians should look to the writings of the many fine Bible scholars to help them as they develop discernment and experience. However, not every Bible scholar believes as you and not every book in the Christian bookstore should be believed. There will be plenty of time later to delve deeply into the Bible mysteries when armed with a mature faith and experience. Know what you believe and why. This comes with study and experience. Other Rapture theories include the Mid- Tribulation, Post-Tribulation, and Pre-Wrath Raptures; including variations on each theme. Essentially the meanings can be ascertained from the name. The Midtribulation position is that the church will endure the first half of the seven years and then be caught up. The Posttribulation position is that the Second Coming and Rapture are the same event so that we will meet the Lord in the air as He descends while we make a U-turn and continue back to earth with Him. The Pre-wrath position is of recent origin and subscribes to the view that the church will likely go through part of the seven-year Tribulation before being raptured after the cosmic disturbances of the sixth seal (Rev 6) and before the opening of the seventh seal (Rev 8). These descriptions are oversimplifications, but like I said, there are variations on the themes. Who are the Believers in the Tribulation? Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. If the Rapture is before the Tribulation, then we might rightly ask, What about the people that believe and are in the Tribulation? We know that there are believers in the Tribulation (Rev 7:9-14). Believers that have died will not be in the Tribulation they are with the Lord. 2 Cor 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Believers in heaven who were in the Tribulation are described, beginning in Revelation 7:9, as a great multitude of Gentiles ( all nations ) that nobody can count. We are told that they come out of the Great Tribulation. They become believers during the Tribulation. They are martyred for their faith during the Tribulation (see especially Rev 20). These people are separated from the Jews they are very clearly called Gentiles ( all nations ). Many of these will be killed for their faith. These slain Gentiles will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation along with all Old Testament saints. Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished [the second resurrection]. This is the first resurrection [before the Millennium]. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 1 Thessalonnians 4:13-18 teaches that all believers who are alive on earth at the time of the Rapture, along with Church Age believers who have died those who are in Christ will be resurrected at the Rapture and, according to the Pre-tribulation view, will not go through any part of the seven-year Tribulation. The Rise of the Antichrist The Pre-tribulation position is that the Rapture is to occur at any time prior to the beginning of the sevenyear Tribulation. The beginning of the seven-year Tribulation is the confirming of the covenant mentioned in Daniel 9:27 by the Antichrist. DAN 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off [killed], but not for himself: and the people [Romans] of the prince [Antichrist] that shall come shall JUL-DEC VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 - PAGE 4 OF 16

5 destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he [the Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [seven years]: and in the midst of the week [3-1/2 years] he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate [see Matt 24:15], even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. That the he of verse 27 is the Antichrist may be determined by the context and grammar of the preceding verse. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD after Messiah was cut off exactly as prophesied here. Also, keep in mind that Messiah never confirmed a seven-year covenant with anyone. Therefore the he must refer to the Roman prince. Also, the prince was the last person mentioned prior to the use of the pronoun he in verse How can we know which Rapture position is correct? I now will present a basic understanding of some of the Rapture verses of the Bible, giving my argument for the Pre-tribulation Rapture of the church. This then will be my position on this subject. Not everyone will necessarily agree, but this is how I see it. Rapture Theories The seven-year period known as the Tribulation, Revelation chapters 4 through 19, is divided into three sets of judgments seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls of wrath. The key verse for this seven-year end-time event is Daniel 9:27. Dan 9:27 And he [Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [a seven, i.e. seven years]: and in the midst of the week [3-1/2 years] he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease [requires a temple], and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate [see Matt 24:15]. The seven-year Tribulation is also divided into two parts, each part is 42 months long (3-1/2 years); that is 1,260 days, based on the biblical year of 360 days. 5 Pre-tribulationism is the belief that the Rapture will occur before the seven-year Tribulation, and that the church will not go through the Tribulation. This is an event that will be a meeting in the air, not on earth 1Th 4:13-18). 6 According to this view, the Second Coming of Christ after the Tribulation (clearly stated in Matt 24:29-31) happens only at the end of the Tribulation, and does not occur at any other time; and the saints return to earth with Christ at that time (Rev 19). 7 Post-tribulationism is the belief that the Rapture and the Second Coming (He comes and the whole world sees Him) are one and the same event. They therefore believe that the Rapture comes after the Tribulation. Historic Post-tribulationism believes that the church will be subject to God s wrath. Other Post-tribulationists believe that the Rapture will occur before the bowl judgments and Armageddon. 8 Post-tribulationists like to quote Matthew 24:29-31: MATT 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Mid-tribulationism sees the Rapture occurring in Revelation 11: REV 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. Those that adhere to this Mid-tribulation theory, in its traditional view, believe that when the two witnesses are killed, resurrected, and ascend up into heaven; it is symbolic of the whole church being Raptured at the middle of the Tribulation period. Mid-tribulationist like Pretribulationists believe that the church will be raptured before the wrath of God occurs. Mid-tribulationists also believe, like those of the Pre-wrath view, that God s wrath only takes place in the Great Tribulation (the last 3-1/2 years). 9 Pre-wrath Rapture Theory All Pretribulationalists are also pre-wrath. The difference is in the meaning of wrath. According to this view, all believers will be delivered from the wrath to come, but according to this theory, the wrath of God refers only to the Great Tribulation, after the cosmic disturbances of the sixth seal judgment, and before the opening of the seventh seal. This theory is one of the most popular views today. We will discuss this view more fully later. JUL-DEC VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 - PAGE 5 OF 16

6 The Pre-Tribulation Rapture 1 THESS 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 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. 16 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: 17 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. The word "Rapture" (Greek Harpazo) is from the Latin word "raptus" from rapio meaning "to seize by force." The Greek word used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 that is translated "caught up" literally means "seize as a robber seizes a prize." The meaning conveyed is a sudden snatching away of the believers Thessalonians chapter 4, verses 13 through 18 is the key passage regarding the Rapture of the church. Interestingly, the very next section, chapter 5, introduces a reference to the Tribulation, the day of the Lord, giving credence to a Pretribulation Rapture Thess 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. The Rapture is an event that is coming, of that I am sure. That the Rapture is a separate event from the Second Coming, of that I am also sure, since it can be demonstrated. The Rapture is a meeting in the air (1Th 4:17), while the Second Coming is a meeting on the earth (Rev 19). 12 There is no indication that the events of 1 Th 4:13-18 are seen by anyone on the earth. The Second Coming is an event where the Lord returns to earth with His saints, at which time the whole world will see His coming with power and glory. 13 There are various other differences as well. Thyatira Revelation 2:24-25 REV 2:24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron. Jesus is exhorting Thyatira to hold fast until He comes for them. He indicates that He will not give them any burden other than that which they are already experiencing. In other words, they will not experience the Tribulation. They are only to overcome until they are raptured. These verses then skip to a time after the Tribulation, during a time when Jesus Christ is ruling and reigning, when the saints will be given power over the nations in the Millennium. 14 Philadelphia Preserved Revelation 3:10 REV 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation [trial], which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Jesus Christ makes two promises to His true followers. Two Promises to Philadelphia Vindication Those false religionists, who persecute the true believers, will someday be subdued before them I will make them worship before thy feet. 1CO 6: 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? 2. Preservation The tribulation of Revelation 3:10 comes on all the world. The world has never known a time of universal tribulation. This then obviously refers to that future time of universal tribulation known as the Tribulation. God has promised that the true believers will be preserved from that. 1TH 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath. Revelation 3:10 is one of those verses where the student must refer to the Greek language underlying the English in order to get at the heart of the meaning. In Revelation 3 verse 10, the preposition from is the Greek JUL-DEC VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 - PAGE 6 OF 16

7 word ek. It means out of or out of the midst of. This is a clear indication that the church will not go through any portion of the Tribulation from the seal judgments of Revelation chapter 6 through the vial (bowl) judgments ending with the Second Coming of Christ. In the same verse, it is the hour of trial (Gr: peirasmos trial, temptation). It is a specific time of Tribulation that they will be preserved out of. Christ is promising to keep, or preserve, this church from the hour of the trial. The hour of the trial will come upon all the world. The words try them that dwell upon the earth refers, not to the church (our home is heaven), but to unbelievers (earth dwellers) who will be settled into the world s system during the Tribulation. 16 See the literal rendering of the Greek in the literal interlinear translation of Figure Notice particularly that ek is literally out of. Come Up Here Revelation 4:1 Rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; In the book of Revelation, the first division represents the things that John had seen described in chapter 1. Then, the second division represents the things which are as described in chapters 2 and 3, the letters to the seven churches. The third division represents the things which shall be hereafter described in chapters 4 through We see a curious statement made by John in Revelation chapter 4, immediately after the last mention of the word church (Rev 3:22) found anywhere in the book of Revelation. The church is not mentioned again until the Lord appears with His Bride at His Second Coming in Revelation chapter 19. REV 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. According to Dr. John Walvoord: Nowhere in the scenes of earth which describe the end time (chapters 6-19) is the church pictured as involved in the earthly struggle. Further, the hope of the rapture mentioned to the Figure 1 Revelation 3:10 JUL-DEC VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 - PAGE 7 OF 16 GOD IS IN THE DETAILS church of Thyatira [Rev 2:24-25] and the church at Philadelphia [Rev 3:10] does not appear in the detailed prophetic program which unfolds in the book of Revelation. This lends credence to the conclusion that the rapture of the church has occurred before the events pictured beginning with chapter "After this," that is after the letters to the churches. We have just seen the panorama of the Church Age played out in Christ's letters to the seven churches. From this point forward we find no mention of the church on earth until next we see her in heaven as the bride of Christ (Rev 19). In fact, there is no evidence that any of the events of the Tribulation have any literal fulfillment in the Church Age. Also, there is evidence in Revelation chapter 4 that the church is already in heaven. Any mention of saints hereafter is a reference to saved Israel or saved Gentiles collectively known as Tribulation Saints. From Revelation chapter 4, until we see her as the Bride of Christ in Revelation chapter 19, the church may be considered as being in heaven during the Tribulation events. 20 That this is so will be demonstrated shortly in this article. The purpose of the Tribulation is the salvation of the Jewish nation God will be dealing with Israel, not the church (Rom 11:25-28; Eze 20:33-44). An interesting parallel can be seen in the account of Abraham and Isaac. When Abraham comes down from the mountain of sacrifice he appears to do so without Isaac. We do not see Isaac again until a bride is found for him. In Genesis 22:1 to 19 we see the account in which Abraham was told by God to sacrifice his son Isaac on the top of one of the mountains in the land of Moriah. 21 An angel stays the hand of Abraham as he was about to sacrifice Isaac in obedience, and he finds a ram to offer instead. When Abraham returns down from the mountain Isaac is curiously missing in the narrative. GEN 22:19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. The next time we have a reference to Isaac is when Isaac's father sends a servant, a typology of the Holy Spirit, to arrange for a bride for his son (Genesis 24:1-67), and then Isaac reappears when he sees his bride, Rebekah, coming to him.

8 GEN 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. 65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. The possibility that Revelation 4:1 might contain a reference to the Rapture can be seen by comparing the language of these verses with the language of another clearly stated Rapture of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:12. REV 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. REV 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. In addition, the language of these verses is similar to the Rapture indicated in 1 Thessalonians 4: Also, if Revelation 4:1 was the only evidence for the Pretribulation Rapture then it would be rather flimsy evidence at best. Practically speaking, there is no evidence that the church is found on earth anywhere in the book of Revelation from chapter 4 until chapter There is more evidence in these chapters that the church is in heaven. We are first directly introduced to the Rapture in First Thessalonians. 1TH 4:16 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: 17 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. These verses are all similar to that found in Revelation 4:1 and 11:12 in that we see the same formula of loud voice, trumpet, and "come up hither," or "caught up." The placement of Revelation 4:1 after the letters to the churches and before the Tribulation lends support for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. There is a gap of uncertain length between Revelation 4:1 and Revelation 6:17 that allows the rise of the Antichrist to world leadership. 23 Let us now consider what is fast becoming the most popular view today The Pre-wrath Rapture view. The Pre-Wrath Rapture. Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens 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 that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?... Rev 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. Another, more recent Rapture position is that the Rapture of the church occurs before what is seen as the wrath of God. This position believes that the tribulation of the seal judgments of Revelation chapter 6 is the wrath of man, rather than the wrath of God. Adherents assume that the wrath of God, or the Great Tribulation, begins with Revelation 6:17, and that the Rapture will occur after the cosmic disturbances of the sixth seal and before the opening of the seventh seal. But notice that verse 16 refers to the wrath of the Lamb and Him who sitteth on the throne. Also, in verse 17 the verb is (or has) come (Heb, elthan ) in the Hebrew grammar refers to a previous arrival of the wrath. These words then, in context, are pointing back to the beginning of the seal judgments of which men are hiding from, and that they are seen by them as the wrath of the Lamb and Him who sitteth on the throne as already occurring. Therefore, the seal judgments are indeed the wrath of God. The treatment of elthan (forcing a futuristic interpretation) by Pre-wrath adherents is seriously flawed, even though Rosenthal states it s compelling (according to his forty unreferenced JUL-DEC VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 - PAGE 8 OF 16

9 commentaries), since every other use of elthan in Revelation (5:7; 7:13; 8:3; 17:1, 10; 21:9) refers to a looking back to a prior beginning. 24 Verse 17 indicates that even more horrors await mankind. In addition, the Lamb opens the seals releasing the judgments. This indicates that God is still very much in charge, and the judgments are not just the wrath of man. In fact, while man s inhumanity to man may be part of the seal judgments, the judgments include natural disasters that normally are attributed to acts of God. 25 Remember that God uses men to carry out His will and judgments (e.g.- Nebuchadnezzar Dan 1:1, 2; Cyrus Isa 44:28, 45:1, 13; Ezra 6:3). The Tribulation judgments begin with the opening of the first seal. It is Jesus Christ that opens the seals unleashing the horrors that take place during the sevenyear Tribulation. It is the wrath of the Lamb; God who came in the flesh; the Second Person of the Trinity (the Godhead). It is in effect, the beginning of God s wrath on earth. The argument of many Pre-wrath or Mid-tribs is that the wrath here mentioned is the wrath of man. This cannot be because it is God, in the person of the Lamb, who opens the seals. Also, the Greek grammar of verse 17 concerning the great day of His wrath is come, does not allow the meaning that the Great Tribulation has begun at that precise point only after the first six seals. It is instead referring to the events that preceded this verse, the opening of the seals that begins the wrath of God. J. Dwight Pentecost writes in support of the Seal judgments being an unfolding of God s wrath during the Tribulation: John announced (Rev. 6:16-17) that the program there being unfolded is related to the wrath of the Lamb. The aorist tense in verse 17 elthen (has come), signifies, not something that is about to happen, but that which has taken place. Thus, in unfolding the program of the seals, John announces that these represent the wrath that has already come. In the same connection, with the sounding of the seven trumpets, John again relates these trumpets to the program of the outpouring of the wrath of God, for in Revelation 11:18 it is set forth that these events are connected with the wrath that has come (aorist tense again). Thus, neither the seals nor the trumpets can be divorced from the divine program associated with the pouring out of wrath upon the earth. 26 Additionally, the reference to the great day of His wrath is come may be an acknowledgement by those who are hiding (Rev 6:16) that the wrath of God has already come with the horrors they have already experienced. They now realize that there are more and greater horrors yet to come. 27 You need to ask yourselve this question: In light of God s promises found in I Thessalonians 5:9 and Revelation 3:10, that the church (the bride of Christ) would not be subject to the wrath coming on the whole world, why then would the church still be here during the seal judgments? Would Christ treat His bride that way? The Restrainer We also note that after the Rapture of the church, the restraining power of the Holy Spirit through born again believers is removed; thus man is released to spread wrath unrestrained, further allowing the horrors of the seal judgments to spread. 2 Thess 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. 7 For the mystery of iniquity [sin] doth already work: only he who now letteth [hinders] will let [hold back], until he be taken out of the way. 8 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: It is an essential element of the Pre-wrath position that the restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2:7 cannot be the Holy Spirit otherwise the church must be absent from the seven-year tribulation. Therefore this theory insists that the apostasy referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 has nothing to do with the church, but Israel, and that the restrainer is the angel Michael based on a reinterpretation of Daniel 12:1 wherein it is asserted that Michael does not stand up for Israel, but stands aside. 28 In Daniel 12:1 Michael stands up, not taken out of the way. 29 Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. The restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2:7 has as its grammatical object the mystery of iniquity, not the activities of the Antichrist against Israel, of which Michael is protector. There is no valid translation that can make Michael stand aside. The purpose of having Michael as the restrainer, rather than the Holy Spirit, is to remove the implication that the church filled with the Holy Spirit is the restraining influence, because for the Pre-wrath theory to work, the church cannot be taken out of the way, it must remain during part of the Tribulation. 30 This interpretation by the Pre-wrath adherents appears to be a desperate attempt to close all loop-holes against the Pre-wrath position by seeking whatever evidence that may agree with JUL-DEC VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 - PAGE 9 OF 16

10 their position; in this case a single interpretation source against many others that are contrary to their view. Admittedly, there are degrees of wrath that will unfold; but God s wrath is still God s wrath; and we are not appointed to wrath. 1 Thess 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath. 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. The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary acknowledges that the seal judgments are part of God s wrath: 'The day, the great (day).' After the Lord has exhausted all His ordinary judgments-the sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts, and still sinners are impenitent-the last great day of the Lord itself shall come. 31 The Twenty-Four Elders 32 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. Who are the twenty-four elders in heaven? If the twenty-four elders represent the church of Jesus Christ in any way, then we must accept the Pre-tribulationalist s position, because they are already there at this point in the Revelation narrative. If they represent the church, then they are not Tribulation Saints. REV 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. If the elder is a Tribulation Saint, then why is he asking who they are? He would know who they are. If he didn t know, then it means that he did not go through the Tribulation. Possibly the elders are angels? REV 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, So then, who are the elders? Revelation 7:11 distinguishes all the angels from the elders. The elders are, therefore, not angels. Are the elders the completed nation of Israel? No, because there are 144,000 of them in the Tribulation, supernaturally protected by God (Rev 7:1-8). Also, in Revelation 12, there is a believing remnant of Israel that is protected and nourished for 3-1/2 years. At the end of the tribulation they will all look on Him whom they have pierced (Zech 12:10). This is when Israel as a nation first believes. Also, the elders are pictured with rewards. Angels do not receive rewards and Israel will not receive rewards until the end of the Tribulation since they are still on earth. Do the elders represent a larger group? Some believe that the twenty-four elders represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles, but that is not what the verses say. The only place where we find the number twenty-four is in 1 Chronicles chapters 24 and 25. The priests of Israel are in twenty-four divisions. The priests represent the entire nation of Israel. However, it s not Israel because it s not twenty-four priests. It is twenty-four elders. The twenty-four elders stand for the completed church as identified by Peter as a royal priesthood. 1 Peter 2:9 But ye [the church] are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people. According to Revelation 4:4, the elders are all sitting on thrones. The general message to the church says that him that overcometh will sit on a throne. REV 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To sit on a throne is the promise of God to the church. Who then are the overcomers? Overcomers are those that believe, therefore the church. 1 JOHN 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Revelation 4:4 says that the elders are clothed in white raiment. To the church at Sardis, Jesus says: REV 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. The white raiment is a promise to the church. JUL-DEC VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 - PAGE 10 OF 16

11 The elders have crowns of gold on their heads. To the Church at Smyrna, Jesus said: REV 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. To the Church at Philadelphia, Jesus said: REV 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Sitting on thrones, wearing white raiment, and wearing crowns of gold are all promises to the church of Jesus Christ. The elders are pictured in heaven at the same time that the Tribulation is occurring on earth. This then is the church in heaven. In the King James and the New King James versions we also find that the elders refer to themselves as the redeemed and the ones purchased by Jesus blood further confirming their identity as the church. If the elders are the church in heaven, then since the elders are there at the opening of the seals in Revelation chapter 6 by the Lamb, the only one worthy to do so, then the church is not on earth at any time during the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments. This is a strong argument for the Pre-tribulation Rapture. The church is not on earth at any time during the seal judgments on which their presence is required by the Pre-wrath Rapture view. Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. KJV Confusion occurs when we read Revelation 5:8 in modern versions such as the New American Standard and the New International version. Notice how the New American Standard version puts it: Rev 5:8 And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 "And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." NASB Now look at the same verse in the NIV: Rev 5:8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." NIV The modern Bibles eliminate the church in heaven. You need to be aware of the following three things: 1. Only the Greek text Alexandrinus does not read us in verse 9. The majority of manuscript readings contain has redeemed us in verse There are a total of 24 manuscripts in existence that contain chapter 5 of Revelation. Of these 24 manuscripts, 23 of them read the same as the King James Version Jerome s Latin vulgate and other early versions, where Revelation is present, all agree with the King James rendering. 35 The King James and New King James Versions, support the wording of the vast majority of manuscripts of Revelation (23 out of 24) that the elders of Revelation chapter 5 represent the church in heaven before the seal judgments. This is evidence of the Pre-tribulation Rapture. John Walvoord notes: Whatever evidence there is about the twentyfour elders is in favor of pretribulationism, not against it. 36 The Church (Ecclesia) The church (ecclesia) is not on earth during any time of the seven-year Tribulation period. Ecclesia is never found in a tribulation passage. Post-tribulation and Pre-wrath adherents identify the saints (hagios) of the Tribulation as the church, while elsewhere the church is described as ecclesia. The bride of Revelation 19:6 is prepared for the wedding of the Lamb, therefore the bride is the church. In Revelation 9:17 it is evident that the JUL-DEC VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2 - PAGE 11 OF 16