Why I Believe in the Post-Tribulation
Version of the Rapture
Up till last fall (2003), I did not know what I believed about the timing of the rapture. I had not ruled out Pre-trib, even though I felt it had some problems. But I had not really leaned toward Mid-Trib or Post-Trib either. This was because I couldn't really tell which one the scriptures pointed to. I saw some verses that seemed to go against one or the other, but others that seemed to support it. I borrowed a book that was supposed to prove Pre-Trib, but it only tried to disprove the other two, while giving no strong support for Pre-Trib. But last fall the Lord showed me some verses that clearly point to a Post-Tribulation rapture, and last week the Lord gave me some more. I do not ask you to agree with me, but only with the Scriptures that I will quote.
13 But I would not have you to
be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not,
even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even
so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that
we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent
them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the
dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall
we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Here is a commonly cited passage describing the rapture (by the way, the word ‘rapture’ is not in the Bible.) When the rapture hits, the dead in Christ rise (are resurrected) first, then those of us who remain are caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
4 And
I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I
saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the
word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither
had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived
and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the
thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests
of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4-6
This passage describes the “first resurrection.” This “first resurrection” is obviously the resurrection of the righteous (vs 6). To find the timing of the first resurrection, just check the context of these verses. Go back to chapter 19. In 19:20, the Antichrist and False Prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire. In verse 21, the followers of Antichrist are slain by the sword out of Christ's mouth. In the first three verses of Ch. 20, we see Satan locked up in the bottomless pit, not to be released until the end of the millennium. So we see that the events of verses 4-6 happen AFTER the Great Tribulation. The key is the fact that the dead in Christ will be resurrected BEFORE the rapture of those remaining. If this is indeed the first resurrection, then no resurrection could come before it, except for Christ the firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:23).
28 Marvel
not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall
hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation.
John 5:28-29
Here the Lord declares that there are two resurrections: one to life, and one to damnation. In describing the resurrection of life; he uses the definite article “the,” making clear that there is only ONE resurrection of the saved.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 15, while writing on the resurrection (of the just), Paul gives the following description for the resurrection. Note how it compares with the rapture passage in 1 Thessalonians:
51 Behold,
I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
1 Cor. 15:51,52
It can be seen from this passage that the “resurrection of the just” and the “rapture” are the same thing! The resurrection and the rapture are the same thing! So now we know that where the Bible talks about the resurrection (of the just), it is the same thing as the rapture. So where it says “This is the first resurrection” in Rev 20:5, it means the rapture. The rapture/resurrection includes both the resurrection of the dead, and the catching up of the living.
Now the resurrection happens at Christ's coming:
22 For
as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits;
afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1 Cor. 15:22,23
But Revelation 20:5 is not the only passage in the Bible that gives the (relative) timing of the rapture. Daniel also gives the timing of the rapture in no uncertain terms.
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.Taken by itself, this quote about the rapture doesn't seem to support any of the "rapture theories." But let's look at it's context. You might want to read Dan 11:21-12:3 Daniel Chapter 11 starting in verse 21 through the end of the chapter describes a wicked king that could only be the Antichrist. In verse 31, he places the abomination of desolation in the temple and stops the daily sacrifices, which is an act attributed to the Antichrist throughout scripture (see Dan 9:26,27; Matt 24:15; Mark 13:14). According to Daniel 9:27, the Antichrist will set up the abomination of desolation MIDWAY THROUGH THE TRIBULATION. So the events of Dan 12:1-3 must occur AFTER the MIDDLE of the tribulation. But how do we know that Chapter 12 comes chronologically after Chapter 11? Verse 12:1 starts "And at that time shall Michael stand up...", therefore linking it chronologically with the last verses of Chapter 11. And what do these verses tell us?:
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Daniel 12:1-3
44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.The end of Chapter 11 describes the end of the Antichrist!! And just when is the sorry end of the man of sin? Revelation 19:20!!! And this is just a few verses before Rev 20:5: "This is the first resurrection." Therefore the rapture of Daniel 12:1-3 must occur AFTER the death of the Antichrist, and therefore after the tribulation! The account in Daniel and the account in Revelation agree perfectly, for the Word of the Lord is perfect!!
45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
Daniel 11:44-45
Daniel and Revelation are trustworthy sources, written by holy men of God stirred by the Spirit to write God's words. But what about Jesus Christ? Did our Lord give us any indication of when His coming would take place? He didn't give us the day or the hour, for only God the Father knows the exact timing (Matt 24:36). But did He give us any hints to the timing of the rapture relative to the other events of the last days, especially the great tribulation. What does our final authority in all matters of faith and practice say?
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,After the tribulation, Christ comes in the clouds, and angels gather Christ's elect from earth to heaven. Christ appears in the clouds, we get caught up to meet Him in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thess 4:17). This description in Mark sounds like the rapture to me. There are many references to "tribulation" in the Bible; is the "tribulation" in this passage really the Great Tribulation with the Antichrist, plagues, mark of the beast, etc. Verse 14 of gives the answer: "But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:." So the events of verses 24-27 happen at after the abomination of desolation, which happens at mid-tribulation. If that is not convincing enough verse 19 plainly states that this is indeed the afflictions of the Great Tribulation of the last days.
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Mark 13:24-27.
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luke 21:28
This verse is the Luke parallel for Mark 13:27 (see End Times Parallel for details/ further study.) The 'redemption' is the rapture. The Epistle to the Ephesians tells us that we are sealed by the Holy Ghost until the day of redemption. So what is this day of redemption?
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,When we were saved, we were sealed by the Holy Spirit, and He is our earnest, our guarantee, of our inheritance in Christ. He guarantees our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. WE are the purchased possession; Christ bought us with His own blood. Therefore, after our redemption, we will no longer need the seal of our inheritance because we will have the inheritance!!
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:13,14
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Eph 4:30
And when is the day of our redemption? Lets put Luke 21:28 back into it's context. Read this carefully; I've seen many pre-trib Christians take this passage out of context. They will say that when the wars and rumors of wars come, then look up for your redemption. But look at the context:
Luke 21Note the position of the events in Lk 21:28 with the rest of the account of the tribulation and see that it directly parallels with the passages from Mark. Also note that the sign at which to look up for our redemption draweth nigh is none other than Christ coming in the clouds!!! (It's not the wars and pestilences as many prophecy teachers will tell you.) Therefore, Luke 21 indicates a post tribulation rapture.
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
The book of Revelation declares that the rapture will come after the judgment of the Antichrist, the Prophet Daniel asserts that the rapture will happen after the Antichrist meets his end, and Our Lord Jesus tells us that the gathering of the elect from earth to heaven will occur "after that tribulation," and that when you see Him coming in the sky, THEN look up, for your redemption draweth nigh. Therefore, the rapture aka the first resurrection will happen after the tribulation. This is why I believe in the post-trib rapture.
I know that this issue of the rapture can be a very divisive one, but it should not be so. If you continue believing in pre-trib or mid-trib after you read this article, that doesn't make you any less a Christian. But the timing of the rapture is not the most important thing that Christians should be concerned about. I do not particularly care if you believe in the post-trib rapture; the more important issue is whether you believe in pre-rapture persecution. Read my articles "What comes next on God's timeline?" and Persecution is coming to American Christians. Beware of the "dangerous pre-trib" theory that teaches that we will be raptured before any trouble hits us (advocated by many "Word-Faith and Health, Wealth and Prosperity teachers).
The most important thing is that you are ready for Christ's coming when He comes? If you have never accepted Christ, click here to learn how to guarantee that you will be raptured into heaven and not flung into the Lake of Fire. If you are a Christian and you are not sure you are ready, what are you holding back? What area of your life will you not allow Christ to be first? What pet sins to you refuse to give up. If you regard iniquity in your heart, He will not hear your prayers. Remember that the world is to be judged for their sins and Christ comes for a pure, spotless Church. Don't be part of the problem, be part of the solution.
The Pre-Tribbers will tell me that there are two resurrections of the just, one before the Tribulation, and one after. They believe that there is a resurrection/rapture pre-trib for the people who are already saved, and one post-trib for the Tribulation martyrs and saints. The claim is that the first resurrection is split into two parts. This is what you can read in any Schofield Reference Bible. (But the footnote in the 1998 Schofield for ‘resurrection’ (1 Cor. 15:52) doesn't give any scriptural proof for this theory.)
Here are my questions:
1. 1 Cor 15:23 tells us that Christ was the first to be resurrected into His perfect body, and that those who are Christ's will be resurrected at His coming. Why doesn't it say anything about there being two resurrections of the just? WHERE in scripture does it say that there will be two resurrections/raptures of the just?
2. Rev. 20:4 Describes the judgment of the saints for rewards, then verse 5 declares that “This is the first resurrection.” Now if this is the first resurrection, the first resurrection could not have happened at any time before this (or any time after). How can you say that this only completes the first resurrection which started at a pre-trib rapture (ie Schofield Rev 20:4), when the Scriptures plainly say that this IS the first resurrection?
3. The 1998 Schofield footnote for 1 Cor. 15:52 states “others hold that it is more harmonious with the O.T. Scriptures to include the O.T. believers with those who rise after the tribulation (Rev 20:4-6), because both Isaiah and Daniel mention the resurrection of O.T. saints as taking place following a time of great trouble (Isa. 26:16-21; Dan. 12:1-3)” Now even (pre-trib dispensationalist) Schofield admits that O.T. rapture passages point to a Post-trib rapture. Why doesn't he mention any that point to a pre-trib rapture? Can you give me any O.T. (or N.T. for that matter) Scriptures that plainly point to a Pre-Trib rapture?
4. Can you show through the Scriptures that my interpretation of the Scriptures used in this article is incorrect? Can you give me ANY scriptures that plainly point to a Pre-Trib rapture? (Not the vague ones I'm usually given such as since the word ‘church’ doesn't occur after Rev 3:22, the church is no longer here. The word ‘church’ is not found in 2 Timothy, Titus, 2 Peter, 1 and 2 John, and Jude. Does that mean that the church was raptured before these epistles were written?).
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email me.
Alive in Christ
www.aliveinchrist.us