This is in response to a post by Steven K with the video as linked to below...

 

There seems to be a growing opposition to the "pre-trib rapture" view among Christian groups the closer we get to our blessed hope. This makes sense in light of Jesus warning that we "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown..." He says this after just saying " Revelation 3:10. 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."

 

These who teach against the pre-trib rapture view are trying to take our crown that we have for looking for that blessed hope and love His appearing. There is a crown given to those who look for His appearing and we already have it but they who do not look for Him do not have it and are seeking to take ours from us by convincing us that they are right about this.

 

http://pub39.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3330765498&frmid=8549&msgid=905634&cmd=show

 

Their arguments are always the same: They misunderstand Matthew 24: 29 which says: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

 

They assume that this gathering that is mentioned is the rapture. But if it were, then why would the angels be gathering the elect from one end of heaven to the other but not from earth?

 

30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 

This does not describe our rapture at all for we are already in heaven at this gathering. Paul revealed our rapture as a mystery - something never before revealed but now he was revealing it for the first time. Yet Jesus had already spoken of this other gathering from one end of heaven to the other but not from earth. Our rapture is from earth to heaven for we must be changed when it occurs, yet no mention is made at this heavenly gathering of us being changed. Also we are warned to not be caught off guard with drunkenness and worldliness etc. lest that day come on us unawares etc. How could that happen if the rapture was not until after the tribulation when there is danger of no flesh even surviving if Jesus didn't intervene? Do they think there will still be parties after the tribulation?

 

The pre-trib rapture deniers also like to point out that there is tribulation happening in all times of the church's history and that others were not spared tribulation so why should we be, they ask. Yes, Jesus said that in the world we shall have tribulation but the “tribulation, the great tribulation” with a double emphasis in the Greek is a very distinct kind of tribulation that only happens at the very end of the age; one especially severe so that no other time in history could be compared to it. It comes on those who had a chance at salvation but would not repent. It is designed to give mankind one last chance before eternal damnation which will be final and many will in fact be saved during it. Furthermore the 70th week of Daniel has to be completed. The time of JACOB'S trouble is not our trouble (tribulation).

 

One thing I have noticed in the arguments of those who deny the pre-trib rapture is that they focus on the meanings of words or "hermeneutics” and think that by studying this they will arrive at truth. The Bible cannot be understood through mental study. It was never designed by God to be decipherable this way, yet watch them not only try but think they have succeeded. The Bible is spiritual and can only be approached successfully through humbly submitting oneself to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and "meditating" not studying. Big difference. Studying leaves the person in the driver's seat while meditating on God's word under the direction of the Holy Spirit leaves God in the driver's seat. Studying leads to pride born of "knowledge" while meditation leads to wisdom born of God's gift of revelation knowledge and genders to more humility. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

 

The bottom line then is that these who deny the pre-trib rapture will surely see that they are wrong when we go and they stay but be careful not to let them sway you to their side or you will stay with them to face the tribulation. The rapture is for them who look for Him and love His appearing.