For those of you who are in a hurry and want the answer first, you’re too busy to read all the way through, or maybe you just don’t care, here is the last sentence: “If the Bible is interpreted literally and consistently, the Pretribulational point of view is the most Biblically consistent interpretation.”
Now, as Paul Harvey would say, here’s the rest of the story (along with the last sentence).
The Rapture’s timing, in relation to the Tribulation, is one of the most controversial topics in the history of Christianity. The three most common beliefs are as follows:
1. Pretribulational: the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation
2. Midtribulational: the Rapture occurs at the mid-point of the Tribulation
3. Posttribulational: the Rapture occurs at the end of the Tribulation.
Let’s start with the Book of Daniel.
20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill— 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:
24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
–Daniel 9:20-27
Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks is speaking of the nation of Israel. It is a time in which God focuses His attention on Israel. The seventieth week, the Tribulation, must also be a time when God deals specifically with Israel. While this does not necessarily point out that the body of believers could not also be present, it does bring into question why true Christians would need to be on the earth during that time.
Let’s move on to the New Testament.
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. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For 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. 16For 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: 17Then 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. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
— 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
According to the passage above, all living true believers, along with all true believers who have died, will meet Jesus Christ in the air and will be with Him for eternity. Basically, the Rapture is the removal of God’s people from the earth.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
— 1 Thessalonians 5:9
The Book of Revelation deals mainly with the time of the Tribulation. This is prophetic scripture of how God will pour out His wrath upon the earth during the Tribulation. It’s inconsistent for God to promise believers that they will not suffer wrath and then leave them on the earth during the Tribulation. The fact, is that God promises to deliver Christians from wrath shortly after promising to remove His people from the earth.
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.
— Revelation 3:10
Jesus Christ promises to deliver believers from the “hour of trial” that is going to come upon the earth. Jesus Christ promised to keep believers from the very time that contains the trials: the Tribulation. The objective of the Tribulation, the intention of the Rapture, the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 5:9, and the interpretation of Revelation 3:10 all give clear support to the concept of a Pretribulational Rapture. If the Bible is interpreted literally and consistently, the Pretribulational point of view is the most Biblically consistent interpretation.
Originally posted by Pastor George on 5/23/07. Re-posted by request.
Pastor George: a view from the chair, collar optional 