While it is true that "The absence of proof is not proof of absence", it must also be understood that the absence of proof is not proof.  In other words, we don not prove something is true by pointing out there is no proof to the contrary either.  Also, the only proof that can be offered that something did not happen IS a lack of proof that it did, because that is all the evidence that is going to be there.  So while the statement "The Absence of proof is not proof of absence" has some truth to it, there are times where the absence of proof where proof would be expected is the best evidence one can get.

The "absence of proof" argument has been applied recently to the concept of a Pre-Trib Rapture.  I would hope there would be a rapture pre-trib.  I don't want to stay behind for what is going to come.  But I am not going to try and "prove" it will just because I want it to happen.

The primary argument that there will be a pre-trib rapture is to escape tribulation.  But Israel escaped the wrath of God in Egypt while plagues were falling on Egyptians all around them.  God did not have to rapture them out to protect them, and does not HAVE to rapture us from the face of the earth to protect us in the future.  To argue that escaping tribulation proves a pre-trib rapture to me is making the same argument that the title is arguing against, because it is still absent of proof that there will be a pre trib rapture.  It merely means that somehow , someway, God will deliver us.  But it still has an absence of proof, not proving that a rapture will happen, just infering it from circumstances that God, in the past, has dealt with in different ways.  If you want to prove that a rapture will happen, you need to provide proof that a rapture will happen, not argue that there is no proof it won't.  And the "escape tribulation" argument doesn not prove it.

God did not rapture Noah or Lot, but He did rapture Enoch, though not to save Enoch from harm.  He rapture Elijah, but again, not to save Elijah from harm.  So if there is going to be a rapture, would not the consistency of God tell us that being part of it is not about escaping harm, but about something positive?

Or maybe He did address the issue.  We're told in 1 Thess 4:15 that "we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep" and Rev 20:4-6 says the "FIRST resurrection" will occur at His return, not at the start of the Tribulation.  So perhaps we should ask ourselves, "When and how many resurrections does the Bible tell us there will be in the future?"  Pastor Bob, can you answer that question?

If there is not going to be a pre-trib rapture, and it is a man-made doctrine, then what we expect to see in Scripture is an absence of it being mentioned. God did not write the Bible from a heresy hunter's persective, arguing against every false notion that could arise in the future. That would be impossible. If it is a man-made doctrine, we would expect to see.....exactly what we do see in church history, which is hundreds of writings about the second coming and no mention of a pre-trib rapture by anyone in the first few centuries.

None of the oldest denominations teach it.  The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox don't teach it.  They are officially neutral.  Rome says the rapture "Cannot be safely taught".  In other words, they do not say it will or won't happen - they are official neutral.  But they are simply saying there is not enough evidence to support it.  They don't see convincing proof in the Bible or their tradition.

I know many Protestants would argue "Hey - we can't listen to evil Rome", but this is not an issue that separates Protestants and Catholics either.  Unlike the doctrines of works, divulgences Mariolatry, and so forth, I see no motivation for Rome to have changed or covered up this issue.  And it is not JUST Rome, but the other Orthodox branches; Greek Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, the Church of the East - all are in united in silence on the issue.

I don't know if a pre-trib rapture will happen or not, but I will say this.  I would rather prepare for it NOT to happen and be disappointed than to prepare for it to happen and be disappointed.  Because the man who prepares for it not to happen will be prepared for the tribulation if he has to go through it.  The man who is convinced a pre-trib rapture will happen and is wrong will not be prepared for that period if he has to go through it.  It is safer for us to prepare for us having to go through the tribulation, and one reason the Catholic Church has a wise position in saying, it "cannot be safely taught."

Shalom,

Joe