Dear John and Doves,

I wanted to share with you some of what I consider to be the best support for a Pre-Trib Rapture - albeit in a concise format. We need to know why we believe the way we do, especially in view of the times we live in and our need to be good stewards of the Word. Hope this is of help to you all, especially newbies in eschatology.


1) Rev 3:10 Letter to the Church of Philadelphia

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

The word "from" meaning "out of" is derived from Greek "ek" . It does not connote the concept of "through". Scholars assign the final fulfillment of the Philadelphian Church as the period 1750 A.D. to the Rapture.

2) Promises of Deliverance 1 Thess 1:10 and 1 Thess 5:9

As when judgment fell on the world during the flood, the righteous remnant (Noah's family) was taken out aboard the raft. Removing them to the heavenlies would have not allowed for them to once again populate the Earth with righteous seed. Same is true for removing Lot and family from Sodom before destruction. They were removed altogether. It certainly would have been possible for God to divinely shield their home from the brimstone that fell. A pattern emerges in which God removes His children from wrath He imposes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever!

1 Thessalonians 1:10 
and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

3) Church notably absent from Rev 4-18

The word "church" or "churches" is mentioned 17 times in Rev 1-3 then omitted from 4-18 wherein is detailed the 7 tribulation years. In 4 John is called up to heaven to observe events.

Rev 4:1
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."

Also the expression "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." is repeated at the end of each letter to the churches of chapter 2 and 3, however is altered in chapter 13 to read "If anyone has an ear, let him hear."

4) As it was in the Days of Noah ...

As it was before Noah entered the Ark and the floodwaters came, the wicked will take no notice of the "season" that is upon them. That is they will be eating, drinking and feasting at marriage parties up until tribulation begins. This would not be the case if war, famine, death and other global apocalyptic conditions were occurring. In contrast we as believers are expectant for His return and are examining our hearts and exhibiting a repentant spirit.

Luke 17:26-29 
 26"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
 28"It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

Matthew 24:36-39 
 36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

5) Blessed Hope

Paul describes the Rapture as the Blessed Hope in Titus. It wouldn't be a "hope" that is something to look forward to if believers would have to experience the Tribulation in whole or even in part.

Titus 2:13 
while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Note that the Tribulation martyrs (those evangelized by the 144,000) are martyred not raptured. The 2 witnesses are literal individuals that are taken up mid-trib (around chapter 11), but there is no support for viewing these two beings as the Church. Their removal occurs before the seventh angel blows his trumpet. Further this eventh trumpet introduces the vial or bowl judgments of the second half of the tribulation (also referred to as the Great Tribulation). It is not the trumpet of blessing sounded in 1 Thess 4:16-18.


6) Early Church Doctrinal Support

Pre-Trib Rapture taught as early as 372 A.D. by Ephrem of Nisbis (Pseudo-Ephrem, by some, as there was a question as to the exact author). Author was an early Syrian church father who wrote in the "Sermon on the End of the World":

Why therefore do we not reject every case of earthly actions and prepare ourselves for the meeting of the Lord Christ, so that he may draw us from the confusion, which overwhelms all the world?... All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins.


7) Mid or Post Trib view destroys imminency

Paul exhorted the infant church of Thessalonica to consecrated living in view of the imminent return of Christ. (1 Thes 1:9-10)

Jesus Himself gave notice to believers that we should expect Him at any time. We are however instructed to discern the season - parable of fig tree (Matthew 24:3) If the Rapture were defined in reference to mid or post Trib sequences we could clearly count the days, no discernment needed. Imminency leads to Holy living in the saints.

Matthew 24:36 
 36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Matthew 24:42 
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Matthew 24:44 
So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Matthew 25:13 
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

8) Time for Heavenly End Time Events

Two events must take place before Christ's Second Coming to the Earth (recall that in the Rapture He remains in the sky): the Judgment Seat of Christ (think awards ceremony) and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. In Biblical times the groom would return for his bride in the middle of the night with a procession to include a trumpet blast and loud cries from the friends of the groom saying "Behold! The Bridegroom Comes!" This would usher in the customary bridal week. Only the 7 years allots for sufficient time to bring this to pass for such a multitude. The Parable of the 10 Virgins in Matthew 25 provides scriptural evidence for the analogy.


9) What Purpose is Served by the Church Remaining on Earth?

The Church has fulfilled its evangelistic mission to spread the Gospel to the Gentile world in advance of the Rapture or commencement of God's judgment on the Earth. The 144,000 will evangelize the Jews whose spiritual eyes are now opened. This is not to say that Gentiles can not continue to be saved through the tribulation.


If you need more details I recommend Tim LaHaye's books entitled "The Rapture" , as well as "Revelation Unveiled" where some of this is discussed at further length. There is also another very nice write up at: http://bibleprophesy.org/rapture.htm


In Christ,

Sandy

email: sandy.curtis@tx.rr.com