Bible Headquarters

The Pre-Tribulation Rapture

By Adam Bartlett

The Rapture of the Body of Christ is one of the most debatable items in Christianity. I know people will have different views and interpretations of the scriptures, but this subject should never become a matter of division among the brethren. It is not a matter of one's salvation if they believe one way or the other on this topic, nor does it make one side more spiritual than the other.

We should all emphasize and teach that EVERYONE regardless of their Rapture/Tribulation view focuses on serving Christ the best they can every day. Our relationship should not be dependent upon our view of when the rapture takes place. It is amazing how easily the enemy can use our own beliefs against us and cause division. I do agree that it is a problem if a person teaches that we will not go through the tribulation so relax and don't worry. That to me is as bad as the eternal security doctrine and the dangers of it.

It is always a danger to get comfortable with our relationship with the Lord. We should always be striving to get closer and be what He wants us to be. To me, teaching a person that we will not go through the tribulation in the wrong sense creates a dangerous atmosphere for lukewarmness. The only proper teaching for the Pre-Tribulation doctrine is that a person MUST be ready ALL the time because we do NOT know when the rapture will occur. Just as the wise and foolish virgins did not know when the bridegroom would come calling. The proper teaching tells us to be prepared as the "wise" virgins were. The other side is that the "foolish" virgins were left behind and the door was shut. It does not say that they had another chance. There are no scriptures that I know of that speak of a person having a second chance to make it after the rapture. There are no scriptures that I see that indicate that there will be many saved during the tribulation. You need to be ready NOW, and have oil in your lamp.

With that said I would like to give what I believe to be supporting scripture and commentary on the reason I believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture.

2 Thessalonians 2: 1-12

1: Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2: That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 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; 4: Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5: Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6: And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, 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: 9: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11: And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

It was obvious that Paul had already explained the Second Coming of Christ to these people and apparently, someone had been trying to convince them that they had in fact missed this very event. Paul mentions by name two people that were spreading this very teaching and calls it an error.

2 Timothy 2: 16-18

16: But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17: And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18: Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

It is very possible that Hymenaeus and Philetus are the very ones that were guilty of trying to mislead the Thessalonians that Paul is addressing here. Even if they are not the ones, it is another scripture that tells us there were some around in that day trying to say that the rapture was already past. It is also clear that Paul calls this teaching an "error." It is an error if anyone tries to tell us that Christ has already returned as the Jehovah's Witnesses do.

In the scriptures above in 2 Thessalonians 2, I want to address the things I have highlighted and underlined in red.

In summary of this section of scripture:

Paul is clearly speaking of the rapture by his reference in vs. 1 of "our gathering together unto him." It is clear from vs. 2 that there was someone that had come to them and tried to convince them that this "gathering" had already occurred. Paul then in vs. 3 starts his explanation that they could not have missed it as they had thought because this event will be preceded by the revealing of the anti-christ. He also states that there would be a falling away first before the anti-christ is revealed. He reminds them in vs. 5 that he had already told them these things. In vs. 6-8 he then explains again that there is something withholding this event and that what is withholding it would have to be taken out of the way. Notice that he says "taken out of the way" not taken completely away. He states that once this withholding force is taken out of the way that (vs.8) then the anti-christ would be revealed. It is an obvious fact that the Church is that force that withholds the enemy from controlling the world now.

When the Church is "taken out of the way" then the enemy (anti-christ) can be revealed and control the earth for a short period of time. Revelation states that he knows his time is short. Once the church is raptured there is no need for the "accuser of the brethren" to be before the throne accusing them. He is cast down and bound to the earth and thus the following warning:

Revelation 12

^{9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth
^{12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.}In Vs. 3 Paul states that "that day" which I believe is the rapture cannot come except there come a falling away "FIRST" and the "Man of Sin be revealed." The falling away has already started and I believe it will continue to get worse until that day arrives. The important thing to note about this statement is that this "falling away" is of professing Christians and not the lost. The lost cannot fall away from a faith they never had. With this in mind, it is easy to see that this process has already started and is in full swing. With churches today we see so much entertainment, emotionalism, compromise, and tolerance that you would have to be blind to not acknowledge it. Unfortunately, all those in the middle of this falling away do not see it because they are blind, spiritually that is, to their condition. Timothy addresses the condition that exists today regarding what has led to this spiritual blindness.
1 Timothy 3:
1: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2: Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3: Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

2 Timothy 3:
1: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3: Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4: Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6: For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7: Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 4:
3: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

These three scriptures give the reasons why this "falling away" has taken place and will continue on a downward spiral until the rapture occurs. It is amazing how much of the world has taken over in the churches. What is more amazing is how many so-called ministers of God and how many so-called people of God do not see it. This falling away of God's people started long ago but is escalating quickly with each day that we sit back an allow it to happen. There is a vast difference in the purity of the church in the book of Acts and what we see today.
It is clear that the one that is to be revealed is the anti-christ that is being spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2, and it is also clear that there is something holding it back until the time is right for it to be revealed. It is quite interesting that this withholding force is spoken of in the male gender as "he." There is not doubt that it is the Holy Spirit that is being referred to in this scripture. Below is a quote from the Greek and Hebrew Study Bible referring to this particular section.
"Paul refers here to the Holy Spirit as the restraining force in this world, restricting the many little "antichrists' existing today (1 John 2:18) as well as the final Antichrist. In verse six, the Holy Spirit is called (to katechon 3588, 2722) or "that (which) withholdeth." This uses the neuter gender and corresponds to the phrase (to Pneuma 3588, 4151), "the Spirit," also in the neuter (John 14:26). In verse seven, it is (ho katechon), "he who letteth," denoting that the Antichrist will never be able to do anything without the specific permission of the Holy Spirit. Of course, verse seven does not refer to a departure of the Holy Spirit, but to the removal of His restraining power. This will allow satan and the Antichrist to have free reign on the earth, but whatever happens will help to further God's plan according to His own timetable."
It is clear that the Holy Spirit is the withholding force on the earth and what is keeping the antichrist from taking over before the allotted time. I have heard many explanations as to what this withholding force is and they just do not add up with what is said in scriptures.
It is also clear that the scripture does not indicate that this withholding force will be permanently removed but will be "taken out of the way." At this present time it is the power of the Holy Spirit working through the church that keeps evil from running rampant on the earth. Once the rapture occurs and the "wise" virgins if you will, are taken out of the way, then the way is cleared for the antichrist to be revealed and take his power. Another scripture seems to agree with this line of thinking in which I would like to look at next.
Revelation 3:10
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.

In chapters, two and three of Revelation, Jesus is speaking to the seven churches of Asia, which in chapter 1:20 He states that they are represented as candlesticks. There are many views of what these seven churches represent but I believe that they represent the "church" as a whole. Anyone can look at the descriptions given of these churches and see that there are those that fit into each of the categories listed in just about any church today. It is a sad commentary of the church's condition today but at the same time, I believe it to be very accurate.
It is interesting that the church of Philadelphia has no negative charges brought against them and it is to them that Jesus says that they will be "kept from" the hour of temptation or tribulation. This, in my opinion is the same example as Jesus gave in the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25. They were all virgins but obviously the five foolish were not ready or allowed in when the bridegroom came. I believe that the same will be the case with the church of today. There are many in the churches today that are going through the motions and the rituals but are not ready. They are doing "their Christian duty" but have no real relationship. They can talk the talk and put on a good show for those around them but in the end they will be looking for the oil just as the foolish virgins were.
This is one of the main reasons that Christians must understand that the Salvation we talk about is a daily Relationship and not something we wait to redeem in the end. Many think that they can get "saved" and then just wait until the end and join in the benefits of that salvation without any obedience during the walk. There are two parables in Matthew 25 speaking of the end of time that illustrates that not everyone that claims to be a Christian will make it in the rapture. The Ten Virgins and the parable of the Talents, along with other parables make this clear. These parables also stress the importance of "obedience" as related to salvation. It would be a horrible thing to be in the place as one of the "foolish" virgins and the door is shut and you did not make it.
Regardless of all this, it is clear in Revelation 3:10 that those that keep His word will be "kept from" that hour (tribulation) that is to come upon the whole world. Why would there be a specific time given of a specific "hour" that would come upon the whole world if all would be here and go through it? It is obvious that this time being referred to is the tribulation and it is just as obvious that Jesus is speaking of keeping a certain group "from" that "hour."
There is a very good study on the word "ek" taken from Revelation 3:10 which I would like to use. It comes from the "Our Hope Magazine" from Oct. 1949.
Preposition "Ek" Means Out Of

The word rendered "from" is from the Greek proposition ek. It has various connotations that denote exit out of or separation from something with which there has been connection; from a place, from the midst of a group, from a condition or state, etc. The preposition is used twice in John 17:15, once denoting out of, and once, from (while still, as it were, in the presence of): "I pray not," our Lord says to the Father in His intercessory prayer, "that Thou shouldest take them out of [ek] the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from [ek] evil." Thus it may be seen that the post-tribulationists have a point of argument for their view of Revelation 3;10.
Having said this much, however, suppose we examine more fully the preposition, the text, and the context.
Regarding the preposition ek, which is used over 800 times in the New Testament, only once can we find an instance where it is actually rendered "through"; that is in Galations 3:8, "through faith," where the obvious sense is "by."
Ek is rendered "out of" hundreds of times, as for example: "out of Egypt I have called My Son" (Matthew 2:15); "First cast out the beam out of thine own eye" (Matthew 7:5); "for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts" (Matthew 15:19); "And [many bodies of the saints] came out of the graves after His resurrection" (Matthew 27:53); "I will spew thee out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:16; etc.
Again, we have traced the preposition ek, when translated "from," 150 times in the New Testament, to find no more than five occasions when it could possibly denote "through" or "in," and only in one instance, its second use in John 17:15 to which we have already alluded, in the exact sense that the post-tribulationists suggest for Revelation 3:10. The usual Greek for "through" is dia, and for "in": en, eis, eip, and kata. It would seem that, if the Spirit of God intended to convey to the readers of this passage that the Lord would keep His own through or in the hour of trial, He would have used dia, or eis, or eip, or kata and not ek, which surely implies "out of" rather than "through" or "in."
It is well to observe the text itself. Those to whom the Lord is speaking are said to have kept "the word of My patience," an expression that suggests, at least, patient waiting for Him. "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ" (2 Thessalonians 3:5). "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body… But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it" (Romans 8: 22-25). The redemption of the body will be at His coming, and we who wait for Him are keeping the word of His patience.
It is important to note that it is not simply the temptation, or tribulation, that our Lord promises to keep His own from but it is "the hour of temptation, which is to come upon all the world." While it may be proposed that the Lord can keep His own from trial simply by keeping them safely through it, it does not seem to us that this can be stated with equal force in regard to the hour of temptation that the whole world will experience. The hour itself must be lived through by all who are in the world contemporaneous with it, when the only way that one can be kept from that hour is to be taken out of the world when it strikes.
Again, examine the last clause of our text: "to try them that dwell upon the earth," comprise a class of people that is referred to in such a way or by kindred expressions throughout the book (6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 12:12; 13:8,12,14; 14:6; 17:2,8), and that is entirely earthly in its thinking and in no way whatever a heavenly people. There is not the slightest suggestion that the Lord's book-purchased Church must remain here for that experience, even as a protected spectator.
Finally, the context suggests that Christ's keeping of those who have kept the word of His patience "from the hour of temptation," will be out of it, called upward by His rapture shout; for the following verse declares: Behold, I come quickly: hold fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Such a crown will be a form of reward, and when our Lord comes, He will reward His own. Almost His last message from heaven was this: "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Revelation 22:12).
Hugh Latimer (1555) believed in the Pre-tribulation view and was even killed for this belief. It is clear by 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 that this church in the days of the disciples did most certainly believe that the rapture could happen at any moment. In fact they thought they had missed it. How could that be possible if Paul had clearly taught that Christians would go through half or the entire tribulation? It was quite evident that they feared that it had happened and they missed it. Paul went on to explain to them once again that they had not missed it but that the anti-christ had to be revealed first. He also explained that the rapture would occur at the time just before this revelation. I am not sure how it could be any clearer than this section of scripture.

I would now like to move on to another scripture in which I see supporting evidence of a pre-trib rapture.
Matthew 24:
^{37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. ³⁸ For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, ³⁹ And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Genesis 7:
^{11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

¹² And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. ¹³ In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

We see Jesus relates His return to the days of Noah, and if we go back to the original story of Noah we see that it was on the very day that the rain started that they entered the ark. If this was to be a comparison then why didn't they enter the ark seven years after the rain started? Or even seven days after? The flood was the judgment but it started with the rain. Just as the tribulation is the judgment but it starts with the revealing of the anti-christ and the seven-year treaty made by him and the nations.
It was obvious that the judgment of God was the flood as will be the tribulation period upon the earth. It is also obvious that the righteous were spared when this judgment started. Although the comparison is made of this story, the difference is that in Noah's time it was necessary for them to repopulate the earth after the judgment. The scenario is the same of the tribulation, with Noah and those on the Ark they were above the judgment in the Ark, which represented their salvation. With the rapture we will be above the judgment with our salvation also, which is Jesus. With Noah, they came down from the flood after the judgment. With the rapture, we will return with Jesus to destroy the armies at Armageddon and to reign and rule with Him for one thousand years.
Just as in Noah's day they knew not until the flood took them away, so it will be with the tribulation time. Those that are left will not know until the rapture takes place, and then it will be too late, for the judgment is starting then. With the tribulation, the rain starts at the rapture and the flood comes three and a half years into the tribulation when the antichrist sets himself up as god and institutes the mark on all. Once the mark is instituted by the antichrist then it will be a literal hell on earth for those here.
To also be consistent with the comparison of Noah and the tribulation as Jesus used, the flood was not imposed upon the righteous but upon all those dwelling on the earth at the time. Just as Revelation 3:10 says of those that are taken because of them keeping the word of God they will be kept from this hour. It specifically says that this hour is for those that dwell on the earth.
Lot is another good example of this line of thinking in the sense that Sodom could not be destroyed until Lot was safely away from there. It would not make sense that Jesus would use Noah as an example of His coming without considering the order of events in that particular story.
Matthew 24:
^{40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. ⁴² Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. ⁴³ But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

⁴⁴ Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Revelation 13:
5: And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6: And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7: And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8: And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

15: And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16: And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

These scriptures pose a big problem for those that believe that we go through part or all of the tribulation. According to the Bible there will be a great persecution on all those that do not have the "mark of the beast" and they will be killed. There will be no buying or selling without this mark and they will be very noticeable without it. It is very strange then how that they could be working side by side with a person with the mark and not be noticed as the scripture indicates. It is not consistent with those that hold the "mid" and "post" tribulation views that those with the mark and those without it would be interacting like this during this time. It is also evident that the time period in reference is at the rapture because one is "taken" and the other left.

There are some in the "mid," and "post," trib ranks that believe because these individuals are referred to as "saints," that the rapture could not have happened yet. They contend that this must mean that Christians are still here and do not give consideration that anyone could be saved after the rapture. Partly because they contend that when the rapture does occur, it means that the Holy Spirit is completely gone from the earth. Another point of contention with them is that they contend that there is only "one" resurrection and therefore the rapture is that particular resurrection.
I would like to pose a question in light of that line of thinking. Lets suppose that even if the rapture is midway through or at the end of the tribulation. Even at that, what happens to those in the millennial period that dies? They have missed that "one" resurrection also, so how will they be translated when they die? There are also those that after Jesus arose from the grave, which it says many of them arose out of their graves and roamed the streets of Jerusalem. What about Lazarus, or those that were raised from the dead by Jesus and the disciples? Which was the "first" resurrection for them, or did they miss it? What about Abraham already being there according to the story of the rich man and Lazarus, will he not be resurrected at this "first" resurrection? I am not saying that I have the answer to these questions myself, but it is a valid point that creates a problem with the "one" resurrection situation. According to the one resurrection hypothesis, problems arise after the rapture regardless of the timing according to the Bible. There are those in the millennial reign that are called "elect," so how could they be called that if they are after the rapture? Look at the following scripture regarding this situation.
Isaiah 65:
17: For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18: But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19: And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20: There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 21: And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22: They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23: They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. 24: And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25: The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

It is obvious that this scripture is referring to the millennial time period and as you can see there will be deaths and there will be those that (as we would call it) believe and those that are considered sinners. It also refers to some as "elect" and shows that there will be those that believe and are considered "saved" during this period. If there is no hope of a resurrection because they missed the first one, then how are they going to be translated?
I bring this point up to show the shallowness of the view that says that we must go through the tribulation because of one resurrection. I also present this point for those that contend that because "saints" and "elect" are names reserved for Christians that the rapture must be after the tribulation. If that is the case and that is sound reasoning, then how do they account for those referred to as "elect" in the millennial period?
I would now like to look at how the rapture is compared to a marriage and the scriptures that support a pre-trib rapture.
Luke 12:

35: Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36: And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37: Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38: And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39: And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40: Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Matthew 25:
1: Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2: And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3: They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5: While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6: And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7: Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8: And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9: But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10: And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11: Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12: But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13: Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Revelation 19:
7: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8: 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. 9: And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 10: And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 11: 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. 12: His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13: And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14: And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15: And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16: And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17: And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18: That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19: And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20: And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21: And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

In Luke and Matthew, the return of Christ is likened to a marriage and the saved as the bride and Christ as the coming groom. In Luke, it states that when Christ does return it is like His returning from a wedding. In Matthew, it also likens the rapture to the virgins waiting for the groom to return to take them away. Five that were ready and five that were not, but they were still all called virgins. They that were ready went into the wedding banquet and the other five were left out and stayed behind. Then again, in Revelation it relates it to a wedding with the saints. According to the Jewish custom, which I verified with some Jewish friends that I have, this is an accurate parallel to the actual ancient Jewish ritual. According to the custom, first a contract was drawn up between the father of the bride and the groom and it usually included a dowry.
After this contract was in place the soon to be son-in-law would then go to his father and they would start the construction of the place where the new couple would live. Only when the father said it was ready, then the groom would send his best men to fetch the bride unannounced. Thus, the bride had to be ready each day not knowing when the time would come. Each night she would put on all the wedding garments and prepare herself and wait for the men to come to receive her. Once the bride was called for, they would return to the father's house where there would be a great feast known as the marriage supper.
It is amazing how all this parallels the accounts that Jesus chose to use as examples of the rapture of His saints. We can see how that Jesus purchased (the dowry) us with His blood on the cross and then as He promised in John 14:2-3, He would go and prepare a place for us, and then return to claim His bride. He sends His angels to gather His elect, which coincides with the best men fetching the bride. We go to the great wedding supper as described in Revelation 19 and then are presented to the world as bride and groom in 19:14.
When Jesus returns, it says in Rev 19:14 that there is an army that follows Him riding on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. In Rev 19:8, we are told the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. If the saints of God are returning with Christ, to wage war on the Antichrist it makes it difficult to agree with a rapture at or after this point. It is also clear that this army is the raptured saints because of the robes of righteousness which would exclude angels. It also states that this army is "IN" heaven and followed Him, which does not agree with the post-trib view. According to them, when Christ is on His way down to Armageddon we meet Him in the air, so we couldn't be following Him from "IN" heaven in this case.
It is also clear from the scripture in Revelation that all that followed the beast will be cast into the fire, which poses another problem for those of the mid or post views. If Christ was to come back after the tribulation, rapture all the saints, and all those following the beast are slain: who then would populate the Millennium?
Zechariah 14:
1: Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2: For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3: Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4: And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5: And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. 11: And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. 12: And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

In Zechariah it is clear that this passage is speaking of the appointed time when Christ will fight against the armies of the beast at Armageddon. It is also clear that in vs. 5 He is said to have "all the saints" with Him. Of course according to the post-trib view we would have just risen to meet Him and made a U-turn in this process on His way to Armageddon. It says in vs. 11 that Jerusalem will again be inhabited and in peace. How can that be if there is no one left to inhabit it? According to the post-trib view there would be no one left here. According to vs. 12 all those that followed the antichrist will be destroyed at this time.
There are literally thousands of books on this subject and this is not intended to be as in-depth as any of those books. I always try to keep my studies short and to the point with scripture to back up my views. Below is a chart listing some distinctions in scripture regarding the rapture and the Second Coming.}}}}

The Rapture	The Second Coming
Jesus coming FOR His saints. John 14:1-3, 1 Thess 4:14-17, 1 Cor. 15:51-52, Acts 1:11	Jesus coming WITH His saints Col 3:4, Zech 14:5, Jude 14, Rev 19:14, 1 Thess. 3:13
Caught up with Him in the air 1 Thess 4:13-18	Jesus' feet touch the earth Zech 14:4, Rev:19:11-21
Purpose: To present the Church to Himself and to the Father 2 Cor 11:2, Rev. 19:6-9	Purpose: To execute judgment on earth and set up His Kingdom Jude 14-15,Rev 19:11-21, Zech 14:3-4
MARRIAGE: Marriage of Lamb in heaven after the Rapture. Rev. 19:7-9	WAR: Marriage is followed by war on earth at the 2nd coming. Rev. 19:11-21
Happens in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (too fast for eyes to see) 1 Cor 15:52	Slow coming, people will see Him come back. Zech 12:10 Matt 24:30, Rev 1:7
Jesus descends with a shout(for resurrection) 1 Thess 4:16	No shout mentioned Rev. 19:11-21
A resurrection takes place 1 Thess 4:13-18, 1 Cor 15:51-54	No resurrection mentioned Rev 1:7, 19:11-21, Zech 12:10, 14:4-5
Can happen at any time Rev 3:3, 1 Thess 5:4-6	Occurs at end of 7 years of Tribulation Dan 9:24-27Matt 24:29-30, 2 Thess 2:3-8
No angels are sent to gather (resurrected people don't need angels to help them) 1 Thess. 4:16-17, 1 Cor. 15: 51-54	Angels sent forth to gather people together for judgment Matt 13:39, 41, 49, 25:31, 2 Thess 1:7-10
Spirits of those dead in Christ return with Jesus to receive their their resurrected bodies 1 Thess 4:14-16	Christians return with Jesus in already resurrected bodies riding on white horses. Rev 19:11-21
Jesus does not return on a white horse 1 Thess. 4:16-17, 1 Cor. 15: 51-54	Jesus returns on a white horse Rev 19:11
A message of hope and comfort 1 Thess 4:18, Titus 2:13, 1 John 3:3	A message of judgment Joel 3:12-16, Rev 19:11-21, Mal 4:5, Isaiah 2:10-21, 10:20-27, 13:6-16; Amos 5:18; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Joel 1:15, 2:1-11, 31

Conclusion

As I mentioned in the beginning, the main focus should be on our relationship every day and our readiness regardless of what view we hold to. I have listed in this study the main reasons I hold to the Pre-trib belief. As I also mentioned earlier it is vitally important that this doctrine is taught the way it was intended. It was NEVER intended to be any type of escape from persecution or tribulation. We will suffer persecution if we are truly serving God. There are millions upon millions that have lost life, wealth, family, and suffered much at the name of Christ. For these people it would be hard to convince them that we must go through the tribulation period because we must suffer as the post-trib view demands. Because we have not suffered in this country as many do in other countries, it is easier for these people to say we must suffer.

It is always important to remember that God looks on the "world" level and not just our country. There is persecution and tribulation for Christians in many places, just go to any Muslim country today and try to preach the Gospel and see what happens. Try to go to China and open up a tent meeting proclaiming the blood of Christ and see how long you last. Talk to the thousands of Chinese that currently have to hide in underground churches to keep from persecution and death. Talk to the many Christians in Muslim countries and ask them how easy they have it. This is where I have a sharp difference with those of the post-trib view that say we must suffer persecution for our faith so we have to go through the tribulation.

I have personally suffered persecution, not physically but have been kicked out of churches and treated the most harshly by so-called Christians, not the world. Remember it was the "Religious" that put Jesus to death not the lost. It just makes it hard to believe for me that every Christian would be here through the tribulation and yet they would not know the time of His return. Things happen now in this society and there are Christians that are publicly proclaiming its Biblical significance. It would seem odd that something as major as the tribulation period would arrive and there would be no opposition or awareness by those here.

I am sure that there are many that will disagree with me and claim that all the things listed above are not correct. There will always be differences in this view until the rapture actually happens. My teaching will always remain that we must all be ready at all times, because we know not when the hour will come. Jesus will return and if you are not ready you will be left as the foolish virgins were. My opinion is that Christians should focus on evangelism and discipleship and insist that Christians live it everyday and be prepared rather than debate the timing of the rapture.

God bless you and I pray this has been beneficial to you.

Adam Bartlett

Bible Headquarters