The Bible does not teach a Pre-Tribulation rapture

Exploring Prophetic Mysteries

With Daniel Speck 6.14.13

Why We Can Be Absolutely Sure the Bible Does Not Teach a

Pre-Tribulation Rapture

1. It is not in the Bible. There is not a single verse of Scripture that states this will happen.

2. At least five Scriptures passages clearly, straightforwardly state that the Lord will return to gather us, the elect, after the Tribulation, the Great Apostasy and the Abomination of Desolation: Matthew 24:14-21 & 29-31, Mark 13:24-27, Luke 21:25-28, II Thessalonians 2:1-4 and Daniel 7:21-22.

3. I Corinthians 15:51-52 clearly states that the Rapture will happen at the Last Trumpet. There are seven trumpets sounded at the end of the Tribulation, so a Pre-Tribulation Rapture is an obviously contradiction to a last trumpet Rapture.

4. The prophetic types of the Hebrew Scriptures prove a Seventh Trumpet Rapture. For instance, during the battle of Jericho, Rahab, a prophetic type of the Church, is not taken out until after the seventh trumpet on the seventh day, just as the Church will not be Raptured until the Seventh Trumpet in the seventh year of the Tribulation.

5. The Pre-Tribulation position is not based directly on Scripture, but on faulty Dispensational theology and eschatology invented by John Nelson Darby, a nineteenth century cult founder. This has led to the circular reasoning that only Darby’s theology is correct, therefore all prophetic Scripture must be filtered through this theology.

6. The invisible return of Christ and the instant disappearance of Christians are complete fabrications of John Darby and taught nowhere in Scripture. The return of the Lord Jesus is only described in the Scriptures as seen across the entire sky and every eye will see Him, never secret, invisible or instant.

7. Pre-Tribulationists mistakenly call the Tribulation the judgment and wrath of God, but it is described in Scripture only as a time of testing (Revelation 3:10). Only the Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath bear that name and will not be poured out until after the Church is raptured at the end of the Tribulation.

8. The Mystery of God, which is Christ and the Church (Ephesians 2:9, Colossians 1:26-27), is finished (no longer a mystery because every eye will see Him) at the Seventh Trumpet (Revelation 10:7). If a Pre-Tribulation Rapture happened, the Mystery of God would be finished then, not at the Seventh Trumpet.

9. Revelation 20 states that the First Resurrection will occur after the mark of the beast and worship of the beast is instituted during the Tribulation. The Apostle Paul described the resurrection of the dead in Christ as taking place just before the Rapture when the Lord returns (I Thessalonians 4:16, I Corinthians 15, 20,23). Since there can only be one First Resurrection, the Resurrection/Rapture at Christ’s coming has to be one and the same as the First Resurrection of Revelation 20.

10. Nowhere does the Bible say the Church will not be here during the Tribulation. On the contrary, Jesus said, “Behold, I have forewarned you.” He commanded us to be alert, prayerful and prepared: “…for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:35-36. The Church is not to fear the Tribulation but to be joyful because it is a sure sign that the Lord Jesus will soon appear. “But when you see these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift you heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28.

Summary

We can be absolutely sure the Bible does not teach a Pre-Tribulation Rapture because it is found nowhere in the Scriptures. It was fabricated from John Nelson Darby’s faulty Dispensational theology instead of actual statements of Scripture. It contradicts what the Bible clearly states about Christ returning to gather us after the Tribulation and Abomination. It contradicts the prophetic types in the Hebrew Scriptures, the description of the Tribulation being a test, the finish of the Mystery of God, as well as many other Scriptures that clearly evidence a Seventh Trumpet Rapture. Pre-Trib Rapture advocates have also fabricated events taught nowhere in the Bible such as an invisible return of Christ, an instant disappearance of Christians, as well as a separate body of “Tribulation Saints” whom they deny are the Church. .