Pre-Tribulation Rapture?

Introduction

Opening Scripture:

2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 KJV 1900

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.

I. Understanding the Seven Years of Tribulation

A. Daniel’s Prophecy: Daniel 9:24-27 (KJV)

Scripture:

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall 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. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week 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.”

B. Breakdown of the 70 Weeks Prophecy

1. The 70 Weeks (Sevens)

• Explanation: The term “weeks” in Hebrew is “shabuim,” meaning “sevens” or a group of seven years. Thus, 70 weeks represent 490 years.

• Key Point: These 490 years are divided into three distinct periods: 7 weeks (49 years), 62 weeks (434 years), and 1 week (7 years).

2. The First Period: 7 Weeks (49 Years)

• From the command to rebuild Jerusalem: This period begins with the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This decree was given by King Artaxerxes in 445 B.C. (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

• Key Point: The rebuilding of Jerusalem, including its streets and walls, was completed during these 49 years.

3. The Second Period: 62 Weeks (434 Years)

• Until the Messiah the Prince: This period extends from the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah.

• Key Point: This period ends with the arrival of Jesus Christ, culminating in His crucifixion (“Messiah shall be cut off”).

4. The Final Period: 1 Week (7 Years)

• The Covenant with Many: This last week is a seven-year period during which a covenant is confirmed with many. In the middle of this week, sacrifices and offerings cease.

• Key Point: This period is commonly associated with the end times, particularly the tribulation period.

C. The Final “Week” and the Tribulation

1. The Beginning of the Seven Years

• Key Event: The signing of a covenant by a powerful leader (often identified as the Antichrist) marks the beginning of this period.

• Key Point: This covenant initiates the seven-year tribulation.

2. Midpoint of the Seven Years

• Event: In the middle of the week (after 3.5 years), the Antichrist breaks the covenant, causing sacrifices to cease and setting up the “abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15).

• Key Point: This marks the start of the Great Tribulation, a time of unprecedented suffering.

3. End of the Seven Years

• Event: The end of the seven years culminates with the return of Christ, the defeat of the Antichrist, and the establishment of Christ’s millennial reign.

• Key Point: This period concludes with the first resurrection, involving those who remained faithful during the tribulation.

II. Pre-Tribulation Rapture?

Matthew 24:38-42 is a passage often cited in discussions about the rapture. Let’s examine the text closely and analyze whether it supports the idea of the rapture of the church, particularly a pre-tribulation rapture.

The Passage: Matthew 24:38-42 (KJV)

“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, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

Analysis of the Passage

1. Context of Matthew 24:

• Matthew 24 is part of the Olivet Discourse, where Jesus discusses the signs of His coming and the end of the age. The discourse addresses both the destruction of Jerusalem (which occurred in A.D. 70) and future events leading up to His second coming.

• The context of Matthew 24 includes warnings about false Christs, persecutions, and great tribulation.

2. Comparison with the Days of Noah:

• Verses 38-39 compare the coming of the Son of Man to the days of Noah, emphasizing suddenness and unexpectedness.

• In the days of Noah, people were unprepared for the flood despite Noah’s warnings. The flood “took them all away,” referring to judgment upon the wicked.

3. “Taken” and “Left”:

• Verses 40-41 describe a scenario where “one shall be taken, and the other left.” This has been interpreted by some as a reference to the rapture, where believers are taken to be with Christ while unbelievers are left behind.

• However, the context suggests a sudden event impacting people unexpectedly, similar to the flood. The key question is whether “taken” refers to being taken in judgment (as in the flood) or taken to safety (as in the rapture).

Paul’s Warning

1. The Sequence of Events in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

• Paul’s warning about deception and the revelation of the man of sin before the gathering.

• Key Point: The day of Christ and our gathering (rapture) occurs after the revealing of the Antichrist.

2. The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Revelation 13:7-10 (KJV)

• “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. 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. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”

• Key Point: Saints (believers) are present during the tribulation, facing persecution.

3. Jesus’ Own Words in Matthew 24:29-31

• The gathering of the elect occurs “immediately after the tribulation.”

• Key Point: This directly contradicts the pre-tribulation rapture theory.

III. The First Resurrection

1. The First Resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6 (KJV)

• “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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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.”

• Key Point: The first resurrection occurs after the tribulation period, involving those who have endured the tribulation and remained faithful. If this is the first resurrection then there could not have been a resurrection seven year prior.

2. Correlation with the Gathering of the Elect

• The gathering of the elect mentioned in Matthew 24:29-31 aligns with the first resurrection, suggesting a post-tribulation event.

• Key Point: Both the gathering of the elect and the first resurrection occur after the tribulation, supporting a post-tribulation rapture.

IV. Historical and Theological Context

1. Early Church Understanding

• Early church fathers like Irenaeus and Hippolytus viewed the rapture as occurring after the tribulation.

• Key Point: The pre-tribulation rapture theory is a relatively modern interpretation, popularized in the 19th century.

Early Roots

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)

• Often considered the father of modern Dispensationalism, John Nelson Darby was an Anglo-Irish Bible teacher and a founder of the Plymouth Brethren movement.

Key Contributions:

• Darby developed the idea of a distinct “dispensation” for the church, separate from Israel.

• He introduced the concept of a pre-tribulation rapture, where the church would be taken up to heaven before the seven-year tribulation period described in the Book of Revelation.

• His teachings emphasized a literal interpretation of prophetic scriptures, which was a departure from the more allegorical interpretations common at the time.

2. The Influence of Dispensationalism

Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (1843-1921)

• An American theologian and pastor, Scofield is best known for his work on the Scofield Reference Bible, first published in 1909.

Key Contributions:

• The Scofield Reference Bible included extensive notes and commentary that supported Darby’s dispensationalist views and the pre-tribulation rapture.

• Scofield’s notes popularized these ideas among a broader audience, particularly in the United States.

• The Bible became widely used in evangelical circles, cementing the pre-tribulation rapture in American Christian thought.

3. Theological Implications

• The pre-tribulation rapture implies an escape from persecution, which contradicts the biblical theme of enduring tribulation for the sake of Christ.

• Key Point: Believers are called to endure suffering and persecution (John 16:33, 2 Timothy 3:12).

Conclusion

Final Scripture: Revelation 7:13-14 (KJV)

• “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 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.”

• Emphasize that believers come out of the great tribulation.

Closing Thought:

• The call to be vigilant, steadfast, and prepared to endure tribulation, trusting in God’s ultimate deliverance and the victory through Jesus Christ.

Quote:

“The idea of a pre-tribulation rapture is a comforting doctrine, but it is not a biblical one. We must be prepared to stand firm in our faith even in the face of great trials.” - Charles Spurgeon