Belief in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture Assumes these Unsupportable Positions

One of the most divisive doctrines currently cited by Christians is the teaching that believers, embodied as the Church, will be taken away prior to the end-time judgments God will bring on the world. The following is provided, not as an attempt to widen the gap. Rather, it is presented as a humble attempt to show the unsupportable aspects of the pre-tribulation position through the lens of the historic Reformed view of the Church triumphant persevering through the madness of Satan’s last-gasp assault against the throne of God, 

It is the hope of the writer that those who cannot agree with these points remember that this is not a matter of salvation. It is merely a difference in understanding of the events of end-times prophecy, and no matter how ardently either side believes in their understanding of the doctrine, no one knows theirs to be true. It should lead to open and respectful dialog between brothers and sisters in the Lord, acknowledging the God’s grace is the only thing that separates us from those who are bereft of Christ and on a path toward the Great White Throne judgement.

1. The Church will be absent through the tribulation. 

The Church has been constantly subjected to persecution and tribulations. We forget that America was first settled by those seeking asylum from religious persecution in Europe. Our Puritan heritage, now abandoned, brought Reformed theology to these shores. These Puritans did not teach a “secret” and separate rapture. They taught the biblically supported dual advent of Jesus Christ: as God’s suffering servant and perfect lamb and as the victorious King of the Ages.

Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation make it clear that Jesus speaks to the Churches directly about “overcoming” and “persevering” during this time. There is no suggestion that any of these Churches will avoid end-time persecution. Additionally, there is no mention of a “pre-trib” gathering of saints. In Rev 7:9, John sees a “great multitude from every nation.” However, in verse 14 of the same chapter, an elder told John, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation,” with the literal meaning that they endured some part of the tribulation.

          2. The Idea that Christians Are Saved From Persecution

Strange, this idea ignores both history and current conditions in other parts of the world. The Apostles were persecuted, stoned, beheaded and crucified. The Early Church was persecuted and driven into hiding to survive, The Spanish Inquisition persecuted, tortured and executed innumerable Christians who would not bow to Catholic doctrine. Christians throughout history have been persecuted by fascist, socialist and Islamic regimes. Today in Asia, Africa and the Mid-East, Christians are imprisoned, tortured and killed.

Our Lord was clear in regard to what would become those who followed Him. He stated, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you…. If they persecuted Me they will persecute you… for they do not know the One who sent Me.” John 15:19-21

Yet, many say Christians are free from persecution, and by extension, will not have to go through the Great Tribulation. Really? What makes the latter day Christian more blessed than those who proceeded them? Although not meant as such, this idea is arrogance unsupportable by Biblical evidence. Consider the following Scriptures:

“And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”
–Acts 5:40-42

           3. End-time Christian understanding gone wrong

We live in a time of easy-believism and prosperity Christianity where Christianity has been protected in America. It has lulled Christians to sleep and into a false sense of entitlement. The result: we follow the “feel-good” teachings of men rather than heeding the harsh warnings of Scripture. Far too many devout Christians hold to a pre-tribulation rapture, not because of evidence from Scripture, but from fear. Basically, this fear drives them to cling to the idea of "we're out of here" when those who are perishing need the light of Christianity the most. Such a time was foretold in Scripture:

“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;”
–2 Timothy 4:3

“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:”
–Isaiah 30:9-10

            4. What do the Scriptures teach?

Again and again the Bible teaches that believers will go through trials, afflictions, persecution and tribulation. Any argument that states Christians are saved from persecution ignore Scripture at their own peril. Read the following Scriptures and ask yourself, “On what basis should I be different from those believers who came before me?” 

“And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.”
–Mark 4:17

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
–Romans 8:35

“That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.”
–1 Timothy 3:3

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
–2 Timothy 3:12

“So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:”
–2 Timothy 1:4

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
–2 Corinthians 12:10

“Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.”
–2 Timothy 3:11

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”
–Matthew 5:11

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
–Matthew 5:44

“But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”
–Matthew 10:23

“Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:”
–Matthew 23:34

“But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.”
–Luke 21:12

“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”
–John 15:20

“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”
–Romans 12:14

“For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.”
–Mark 13:19

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;”
–2 Corinthians 4:17

“How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”
–2 Corinthians 8:4

“And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:”
–1 Timothy 1:6

“Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:”
–1 Timothy 3:7

“Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;”
–Hebrews 11:25

“Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.”
–James 5:10

“But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,”
–2 Corinthians 6:4

“Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:”
–Colossians 1:24

“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;”
–2 Timothy 1:8

“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
–2 Timothy 4:5

“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;”
–Hebrews 10:32

“Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
–1 Peter 5:9

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
–Matthew 24:21

“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:”
–Matthew 24:29

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,”
–Mark 13:24

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
–John 16:33

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
–Acts 14:22

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;”
–Romans 5:3

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
–Romans 12:12

“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
–2 Corinthians 1:4

“Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.”
–2 Corinthians 7:4

“Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”
–Ephesians 3:13

“For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.”
–1 Timothy 3:4

“I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
–Revelation 1:9

“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.”
–Revelation 2:10

“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.”
–Revelation 7:14

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”
–James 1:2

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
–1 Peter 1:7

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:”
–1 Peter 4:12

          5. Two, not Three or Two-and-a-half Advents of Christ

Am I suggesting there will be no rapture? Not at all! Scripture teaches there will be a one. The question is not an if, but rather a when. The real question is will it be a mid-trib or a pre-millennial event. Scripture does not indicate a specific time, but if we look to the sequence of trumpets, it suggests that the rapture will occur simultaneously with the second advent of our Lord, which occurs at the sounding of the 7th, or last, trumpet.

Why? THE RAPTURE WILL NOT BE A SECRET EVENT. Those who claim a pre-trib rapture often refer to the verse I will use here. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." This verse puts aside any idea of a secret rapture. Compare Paul’s statement to Revelation 11:15, which reads. “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” The similarities should be clear! The rapture will be a very apparent occasion, just as the sounding of the trumpet that sounds the establishment of the Kingdom. The raised and the glorified saints will meet Christ in the air, yes, and they will immediately descend with Him to establish His reign. They, along with those non-believers who remain, will populate the earth during this time.

There will, in fact, be two resurrections, The resurrection of believers and the resurrection of “the dead.” The two are separated by at least a millennium. Revelation 20 speaks to both. Verse 4 speaks to the resurrection of the saints, whereas verse 5 specifically states, “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.” This resurrection immediately proceeds the Great White Throne Judgement (Rev, 20: 11-15)

            6. When does the Rapture occur?

In all humility, we do not know. We can merely research the Scriptures and use the Bible to explain the Bible. In the case of the rapture, history and the preponderance of Biblical evidence suggests that it will occur somewhere between the middle of the tribulation or immediately upon Christ’s return to establish His eternal kingdom. It appears to this student of Scripture that the latter interpretation is supported by the most accurate exegesis. I could be incorrect, but I do not believe  this to be the case.

So, if we are to look to a time when the Church will undergo intense persecution, we Christians should be prepared for an onslaught that has never before been encountered. We simply cannot be found surprised and unprepared. Paul’s admonition to “put on the whole armor of God” (Eph 6) becomes even more instructive. May we heed it, and “...be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Eph 6:13(b)