A popular teaching tells us that Christians will not have to go through the Great Tribulation because they will be raptured first. But is such a 'pre-tribulation rapture' view valid?
Is it true to say Christians will be airlifted to safety before the Great Tribulation begins?
In the Olivet discourse in Matthew chapter 24, Jesus tells us that one day there will come an era of unprecedented suffering called the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:15-28).
While the ‘abomination of desolation’ marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:15, 21), the sign that marks the end of the Great Tribulation is the great cosmic blackout (Matthew 24:29):
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24: 15- 22).
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24: 29). The latter is termed the great cosmic blackout.
And what happens after this cosmic blackout? Jesus will descend from heaven in power and glory, followed by the rapture:
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:29-31).
Some may ask how do we know that Matthew 24:31 refers to the rapture? Do the angels gathering up the elect as mentioned in Matthew 24:31 speak of the rapture?
For the answers to these questions, we have turn to the passage agreed by all as most descriptive of the rapture. It is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
The word ‘rapture’ is not found in the English Bible. In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, ‘caught up’ is translated from the Greek word harpazo, which means ‘to seize upon with force’ or ‘to snatch up’.
As mentioned earlier, Jesus has given us a glimpse of the coming rapture in the Olivet Discourse:
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24: 30-31).
Notice the close similarity between the above passages in Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians 4:
1. Jesus descends from heaven.
2. Trumpet sounds.
3. Angelic beings are God’s agents.
4. Gathering of the elect (God’s chosen ones).
Notice that God’s word may not give us the exact timing of events but it certainly shows us without any doubt the sequence of events as well as the signs which herald the beginning or end of such important events.
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near” (Matthew 24:32).
From all the above references shared so far, we can infer the following sequence of events:
- Abomination of Desolation – Matthew 24: 15
- Great Tribulation Matthew - 24:15-28
- Cosmic Blackout - Matthew 24: 29
- Jesus’ second coming in power and glory - Matthew 24: 30
- Rapture of believers - Matthew 24:31
Five other references tell us that believers will go through the Great Tribulation, one each from Revelation 7 and Revelation 13, another from Daniel 11 and two from Matthew 24.
- The apostle John was told that those who washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb are the ones who come out of the great tribulation (Revelation 7:14). In other words, they had to endure the Great Tribulation; they were not spared the Great Tribulation.
- The antichrist, also called the beast, makes war against the saints (Revelation 13:7).
- When the antichrist sets us the abomination of desolation, those who are spiritually strong are able to resist him: “For the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits” (Daniel 11:31-32). Note that these faithful believers have not been raptured yet.
- If Jesus tells us “pray that your flight will not be in winter”, it is implied that He is addressing believers who are going through the Great Tribulation as they are the ones who understand the significance of prayer (Matthew 24:20).
- If the Great Tribulation has to be shortened for the sake of the elect, then it means the elect (chosen ones) will have to go through it (Matthew 24:22). More on who are the elect: http://posttribprewrath.tripod.com/whoelect.htm
One of the arguments advanced by those who hold the pre-tribulation view of rapture is that God will not allow his chosen ones to suffer: “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
But they have failed to differentiate between the Great Tribulation and God’s wrath. Failure to distinguish the Great Tribulation from the wrath of God is the cause of much confusion.
Why is there is a world of difference between the Great Tribulation and the wrath of God? In order to answer that question, we need to turn to Revelation chapter 6.
Besides Matthew 24:29, the cosmic blackout is also recorded for us in Revelation 6:12. Both accounts in Matthew and Revelation tell us the sun became black and the moon became blood.
I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17).
Earlier we gathered that the cosmic blackout marks the end of the Great Tribulation. So when the cosmic blackout happens, it not only marks the end of the Great Tribulation but ushers in the day of God’s wrath. So how can the Great Tribulation and the day of God’s wrath be one and the same event?
When adherents of pre-tribulation rapture argue that God has not appointed us to wrath based on 1 Thessalonians 5:9, they fail to see that the Great Tribulation and wrath of God are completely different events, being divided by the great cosmic blackout.
When do the righteous suffer? During the Great Tribulation. They suffer under the wrath of the antichrist (Matthew 24: 15-28).
When do the wicked suffer? On the Day of the Lord when the wrath of God is unleashed (Revelation chapters 8, 9.11, Matthew 13:40-42).
Another reason why Christians will have to go through tribulation, in general, and the Great Tribulation—the mother of all tribulations—is the fact many references in the Word tell us that believers will experience tribulation.
The fact that believers will have to experience tribulation is totally consistent with the teachings of the New Testament:
- Paul exhorts the disciples to continue in the faith, saying that “we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
- Paul writes that we “glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance” (Romans 5:3).
- “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
- “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake” (Luke 21: 12, 17).
The pre-tribulation view of rapture is relatively new; it has only been taught since 1830. Could it be that as the church becomes more modern, it has to soften its stance to become more popular and seeker-sensitive?
If we search for various references related to the word ‘tribulation’, we will be hard pressed to find a verse which explicitly tells us that rapture precedes the Great Tribulation.
If we search for various references related to the word ‘tribulation’, we will be hard pressed to find a verse which explicitly tells us that rapture precedes the Great Tribulation.
What makes a pre-tribulation view of rapture popular? It makes the Bible more agreeable and palatable as believers can rest easy that they will be raptured to safety and not have to face the wrath of the antichrist.
So to recap, the sequence of events is as follows:
- Abomination of Desolation – Matthew 24: 15
- Great Tribulation – Matthew - 24:15-28
- Cosmic Blackout - Matthew 24: 29
- Jesus’ second coming in power and glory - Matthew 24: 30
- Rapture of believers - Matthew 24:31
- Wrath of God (judgment) – Revelation chapters 8, 9, 11; Matthew 13:40-42
Just as God waited for Noah and his family to enter the ark before He sent the flood, God will bring His chosen ones to safety before He unleashes His wrath (judgment). The purpose of the rapture is to pull believers out to safety before God rains down judgment on earth.
Jesus will gather the elect during the rapture before He brings judgment on those who are evil. In other words, there will be a separation. Jesus’ return in the clouds of heaven ushers in a day of reckoning—salvation of His people and judgment of the wicked.
“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:41-43).
In short, Jesus’ second coming is good news for believers (rapture) and bad news for those who do not believe in Him (judgment).
While God preserves believers from His wrath (judgment), He does not spare believers from the Great Tribulation.
Throughout church history—more so during the Great Tribulation—the cry of the martyrs ring loud and clear, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” But they were told to “rest a little while longer” (Revelation 6:9-11).
Why then does God withhold His judgment on evil men? Why does He not speedily bring about justice for the martyrs? God is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). In addition, He has His own timetable for one day to Him is as a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8). But when He acts, His justice will be quick and decisive (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
Why is it important to have a right understanding that believers will have to go through the Great Tribulation? Is it merely an academic exercise?
Certainly not. A right understanding that believers will go through the Great Tribulation before we are raptured will motivate us to pull up our socks, spiritually speaking. We will then humble ourselves and yearn to know God more intimately. Hopefully, our lives will become more circumspect, intentional and purposeful as we aspire to live out His calling for our lives. We will build ourselves up in the faith so that we are able to endure when the Great Tribulation descends upon us. Because only overcomers receive the prize. http://bit.ly/1imb1GN
After having gone through the Great Tribulation, believers can finally breathe a sigh of relief when they get caught up in the air to meet Jesus during the rapture. It will be a double celebration as the dead in Christ will join believers who are still alive at that time. A simultaneous Resurrection-Rapture!
The above article is of the opinion that there will be a post-tribulation, pre-wrath rapture for believers.
REFERENCES
THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE LIE
- Post-tribulation rapture movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aB2mu1_DvI
- http://posttribprewrath.tripod.com/post-tri.htm
- http://posttribprewrath.tripod.com/imminenc.htm
- http://posttribprewrath.tripod.com/whoelect.htm
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A blog reader, Richard, who teaches the Bible, emailed me this comment:
ReplyDeleteThank you for your boldness to write the article: “Will Christians go through the Great Tribulation?”
I fully agree with your understanding and stand, as it is affirmed in Revelation 20:4, etc. Your article (Bible-based – Matthew 24) takes away the false security that the Christians will be raptured (agreed, rapture is not a biblical word) before the start of the Great Tribulation. It takes great courage on your part to put that understanding in the Internet, thus inviting opposing views. But you did the right thing and, I would say, challenge many to relook and reconsider the teaching of “rapture before the Great Tribulation” and in due time save some from error. The abomination of the desolation (Matthew 24:15) spoken of in the Book of Daniel will happen in 2 Thessalonians 2:4.