Prophecy
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The idea of millions of Christians suddenly disappearing sounds pretty farfetched.
It also used to scare me.
It probably had something to do with those early tribulation films including A Thief in the Night. I didn’t understand why the rapture proved so terrifying when the alternative showed no mercy.
Over the years as my faith grew, I learned to embrace the rapture. But a new problem emerged. When exactly was the rapture going to happen? Pre-trib, mid-trib or post-trib? Apparently, there’s pre-wrath now too. I’ve spoken with no less than three pastors about it but as time went by, I soured on the taking away. Was it even a thing? So many Christians argued against it even happening.
More than two years ago I decided enough was enough. My then-church had not once in the 10 years of attendance mentioned the rapture or even prophecy. Passages in Revelation were mysteriously absent from sermons and I have no recollection of any study in the book of Daniel, Jeremiah or Ezekiel. In fact, nothing on eschatology ever crossed the lips of the lead or associate pastors.
So, I did my own investigation. My search not only confirmed a pre-tribulation rapture view, but I wonder why the church does not consider the concept a basic tenant of the Christian faith. The evidence seems over overwhelming, and the argument given by the post-tribulation rapture believers makes no sense. I know Christ fearing Christians exist who do not believe in a pre-tribulation view of the rapture, but I wonder if Satan has deceived them.
After listening to numerous sermons from various pastors and reading articles by many more the 10 best reasons for the pre-tribulation rapture of the church began to unfold. Since the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible, these 10 reasons also double as the 10 best Bible verses proving the pre-tribulation rapture view. I present these Top 10 Best Bible Verses (or passages) on the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, in no particular order, however #1 pretty much offers all you need to know.
Top 10 Pre-Tribulation Rapture Bible Passages
Note: Some verses edited for length but gives you the picture. All passages taken from NASD except one. And multiple verse references added for overall context.
1. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
The Greek work for “caught up” is Harpazo. In Latin, this word is rapere where we get our word “rapture.” So let know one deceive you that the rapture is not in the Bible and it’s a 20th century American concept. Moreover, when Paul says “encourage one another with these words” how can his preceding words be an encouragement if we are not going to be taken pre-tribulation?
2. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Hmmm, what wrath is Jesus going to delivers us from? Oh, the tribulation.
3. Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
Directly from God’s lips, to John’s pen about the Church of Philadelphia. Hmmm, what hour of trial comes on the whole world Jesus wants to keep us from? Oh, the tribulation.
4. Isaiah 26:20-21
Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it and will no more cover its slain.
An Old Testament reference to the bride and bridegroom. What bridegroom (Jesus) would subject his bride (the church) to the wrath to come? This passage shows a clear indication of Jesus hiding the church in the wedding chambers for a little while until his punishment on a sinful world has passed.
5. Matthew 24: 40-42; Luke 17:34-36
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.
Verses I grew up with proving the rapture. In recent years, some have argued these passages do not reflect the rapture rather those who taken, are taken in judgement and those left are spared destruction. I argue these passages reflect the rapture and the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. If a believer and a non-believer still work together, then the events of the tribulation have not transpired.
6. Genesis 5:24
Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
Weird God just took Enoch. Was something about to unfold God wanted to spare the man he walked with? Yes! The flood.
7. Genesis 18: 22-32 and 19:14-16
So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Suppose ten are found there….” …He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”
So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city….” … But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.
God does not destroy the righteous with the wicked. He saved Lot and his family, despite their flaws, from the pending destruction he laid upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Just as He will save Christians from the tribulation.
8. Luke 12:39-46; Matthew 24:46-50
But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, hewould not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect…” …the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know,and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.
Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes… But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servantsand eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know …
If the rapture occurs at the end of the tribulation then we know He will not return today. So we have no need to look for Christ but instead, we should look-out for the anti-Christ, his covenant with Israel and the abomination of desolation. Then we will know exactly when Christ returns, something the Bible does not teach.
9. Zephaniah 2:2-3
Before the decree takes effect—The day passes like the chaff—Before the burning anger of the Lord comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you. Seek the Lord, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the Lord’s anger.
Pretty self-explanatory. This verse refers to “all you humble of the earth” not just Israel.
10. Luke 21:27:28; Luke 21:35-36 (KJV)
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory and when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh… For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Part of the apocalyptic discourse, in these verses Jesus tells us to “look up” as the Son of man comes in a cloud (rapture reference) than says pray to be counted worthy to escape all these things. What things? The events of the tribulation.
You probably notice several well-known verses did not make the list like 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 and John 14:1-3. These verses certainly prove the rapture (though I remain skeptical on John 14) but none indicate a pre-tribulation rapture.
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