Bible Studies

THE RAPTURE Part Twenty Two THE PRE TRIB RAPTURE PROVED

by Jeff Van Hatten
10/13/22
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The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Proved
In numerous scriptures a period of seven years of tribulation, trial, and judgment is described. It is during this period that the Antichrist is revealed and the saints are overcome, as described by the Prophets, Daniel, and Revelation. It is also during this period that scripture tells us that large numbers of people will accept Yeshua as their Messiah. These tribulation period saints, however, are not the Saints that currently make up the Church / Bride of Yeshua.

This period is called by various terms and titles throughout both Older and Newer Covenants:
● The Tribulation
● Daniel's 70th Week
● Day Of Yahweh (The LORD)
● Day Of Mashiach (Christ)
● Day Of Wrath
● Day Of Indignation
● Days Of Vengeance
● The Hour of Trial
● Time Of Jacob's Trouble
● Time Of The End
● The Lamb's Wrath
● The Great And Terrible Day Of Yahweh (The LORD)

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 tells us that this seven year period will not come unless the departure, both spiritual and spatial, comes first, and then the Antichrist is revealed. Daniel, in chapters 7-11, tells us that the temple is rebuilt, the Antichrist will be the leader of ten nations, that he will enforce a seven year covenant with Israel, he will desecrate the rebuilt temple, and he will be the leader of a nation to the north of Israel. Paul also informs us that the true Church, the Bride of Yeshua, will not know who this Antichrist is since he will only be revealed at the start of the seven year period, after the Rapture.

Scripture tells us that no one will know the day and hour of Yeshua's next coming -- the coming in the clouds to resurrect the dead and translate the living to immortality (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:52). This coming in the clouds by Yeshua can only refer to the pre-tribulation Resurrection/Rapture, as once the Antichrist has been revealed to the world (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8) when the covenant is confirmed at the start of the seven year period, the timing of Yeshua's second coming can be mathematically determined. -- everyone will then know precisely the day of his return, if not the exact hour!

Proof that the timing of the Resurrection/Rapture is before the Tribulation period is stated in several scriptures, including Revelation 3:10 -- "the church will be kept from the hour of trial", and 1 Thessalonians 5:9 -- "the church is not appointed to wrath", even though "tribulation saints" will experience either part or all of the period. Isaiah also knew that he would be resurrected and would be hidden during the time of the indignation (Isaiah 26:19-20).

Matthew 16:18 -- "I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it."
Absolute proof, however, that the Church is removed prior to the Tribulation period, is contained in the Matthew 16:18 verse above. In this verse, Yeshua clearly states that neither Lucifer, Satan, The Devil, the Antichrist, the fallen angels, nor all the powers of hell can overcome, prevail against, or conquer his Church, his Bride, his Redeemed.

Twenty Reasons For A Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Older Covenant Scripture:
1. The tribulation is a time to bring forth a remnant from within Israel (Isaiah 1:9).
2. The tribulation is a time to destroy sinners and the unrighteous from the Earth (Isaiah 13:9).
3. The tribulation is a time of Jacob's trouble, not a time of judging the Church (Jeremiah 30:7).
These Older Covenant scriptures clearly state that the Tribulation is a time that affects Israel (or Jacob) and sinners. The Church, or Bride of Yeshua has already been declared without sin, so cannot be included in those who will be subject to the Tribulation and its judgments.

These statements are mirrored in the Newer Covenant as follows:
4. The tribulation is a time to judge the nations for their sins against Yahweh's chosen people. It is not a time to judge the saints, nor the Church, which is judged at the Bema Seat of Yeshua (Revelation 11:18)
5. The tribulation is a time to bring forth a remnant from within Israel not from within the Church/Bride of Yeshua (Revelation 12:17)
These Newer Covenant scriptures also clearly state that the Tribulation is a time that affects his chosen ones -- Israel -- not the Bride of Yeshua, commonly called the Church.

More Scripture:
6. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah are with Yeshua and not affected by the fire (Daniel 3:13-ff)
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, also known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 1:7) represent those who have placed their faith in Yahweh/Yeshua. In other words, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah represent the Church/Bride of Yeshua. They are unaffected by Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace, and so the Church/Bride of Yeshua will also be unaffected by the fiery judgments of the Tribulation.

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7. Yahweh reserves his wrath for his enemies (Nahum 1:2)
8. Yahweh has not appointed us to wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9)
9. Yahweh only shows his anger against those who suppress the truth (Romans 1:18)
10. Yahweh keeps the unrighteous for the day of judgment (2 Peter 2:9)
The Church/Bride of Yeshua is not an enemy of Yahweh, but are in fact called "friends" (John 15:15). It is only those who do not accept Yeshua as their Lord and Savior and who suppress the truth, that are judged unrighteous. The Church/Bride of Yeshua is judged righteous by the shed blood of the Lamb, Yeshua Ha'Mashiach.

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11. We are to pray to escape all these things (Luke 21:36)
Yeshua does not desire for the Church/Bride of Yeshua to endure the tribulation, but does expect his Bride to be in prayer and to petition him that they will be raptured prior to the tribulation.

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12. We are gathered together before the decree takes effect and Yahweh's wrath is unleashed (Zephaniah 2:1-2)
The Decree spoken of in this verse is the tribulation and the undesired nation is the Church/Bride of Yeshua. Zephaniah clearly states that the Church/Bride of Yeshua will be gathered together before the tribulation starts.

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13. Yeshua will build his Church, and nothing will conquer it. The Gates of Hades will not be able to assail it. (Matthew 16:18)
14. The Son Of Perdition (Antichrist) cannot be revealed until he who restrains evil is removed (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8)
See the "Absolute Proof Of A Pre-Tribulation Rapture" section below.
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15. Yeshua will save us from Yahweh's wrath by his blood (Romans 5:9)
16. Yahweh will keep the Church from the hour of testing that will come upon all the Earth (Revelation 3:10)
Yeshua and Yahweh clearly protect the Church/Bride of Yeshua from enduring the tribulation. Therefore, one must conclude that Yeshua's Bride will be raptured prior to the tribulation.
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17. Yeshua returns to take us to be where he is (John 5, 6, 14)
18. The Church is enrolled in Heaven (Hebrews 12:22-24)
The Church/Bride of Yeshua is clearly in Heaven with Yeshua, as Yeshua is also clearly in Heaven during the tribulation period.
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19. The Church will have a time of Sabbath rest in Heaven (Hebrews 4:9)
20. Only the Bride of Yeshua can sing "You have bought us with your blood . . ." (Revelation 5:9-10)
The Church/Bride of Yeshua has been given its Sabbath rest as a result of Yeshua's shed blood, and sings to confirm this fact while enjoying being in Heaven.

The Rapture is definitely Pre-Tribulation, and the above scriptures give us every reason to be, joyous, happy, cheerful, festive, and singing our hearts out!

Absolute Proof Of A Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Matthew 16:18 -- "I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will neither prevail against it, overcome it, nor conquer it."

Absolute proof that the Church is removed prior to the Tribulation period, is contained in the Matthew 16:18 verse above. In this verse, Yeshua clearly states that neither Lucifer, Satan, The Devil, the Antichrist, the fallen angels, nor all the powers of hell can overcome, prevail against, or conquer his Church, his Bride, his Redeemed.

Since we know through scripture that Satan is given power to overcome "the saints" during the seven year period, the Church/Bride of Yeshua, therefore cannot, I repeat, CANNOT, be present in the world -- it has to be some other group of saints whom Satan is able to overcome. If the Church, the Bride of Yeshua, were still in the world when Satan is allowed to overcome, Yeshua would be a liar, and he cannot lie! Numerous scriptures attest to this fact.

Therefore, absolute proof that the Resurrection/Rapture of the Church, the Bride of Yeshua, occurs before the Tribulation is guaranteed by Yeshua's statement in Matthew 16:18.

This does not in any way preclude others from accepting Yeshua during the Tribulation period, nor Satan's ability to overcome those newly born "saints" at that time.

Conclusions
The Older Covenant scriptures clearly state that the Tribulation is a time that affects Israel (or Jacob) and sinners. The Church, or Bride of Yeshua has already been declared without sin, so cannot be included in those who will be subject to the Tribulation and its judgments. We are gathered together before the decree takes effect and Yahweh's wrath is unleashed (Zephaniah 2:1-2). Yeshua will save us from Yahweh's wrath by his blood (Romans 5:9). Yahweh will keep the Church from the hour of testing that will come upon all the Earth (Revelation 3:10). Paul informs tells us that this seven year period will not come unless the departure comes first (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4), the temple is rebuilt, and the antichrist is revealed.

Absolute proof, however, that the Bride of Yeshua is removed prior to the Tribulation period, is contained in Matthew 16:18. In this verse, Yeshua clearly states that neither Lucifer, Satan, The Devil, the Antichrist, the fallen angels, nor all the powers of hell can overcome, prevail against, or conquer his Bride, his Church, his Redeemed.