This article has been written by a reader as part of a series of studies that present varied interpretations of different aspects of eschatology. It is an area where there are many different viewpoints, and we want to encourage healthy and constructive discussion and thought. We encourage readers to reflect on the various studies put forward, and we very much welcome comments that are made in a respectful and thoughtful manner that reflects the brotherly love we should have for one another. If you wish to contribute an article to this particular series, then you can find our guidelines here. This is the third in a series looking at the timing of the rapture. The first two are available here and here.
The belief that Jesus will come and take his Church to heaven before the rise of the antichrist, where it will remain safely ensconced throughout the tribulation (or at least the worst part of it), was almost unknown before the 1830s. Its exact origin is disputed, but ‘the pre-tribulation rapture of the church’ was never an official doctrine of any denomination until John Nelson Darby, principal founder of the Brethren movement, developed it, based on his Dispensational interpretation of Scripture. Then the American, Cyrus Scofield, promoted it by incorporating it into the notes of his Reference Bible, and thus it became accepted as ‘biblical truth’ by millions of Christians.
Yet nowhere, in the Bible, is such a scenario explicitly described; it is merely surmised from particular interpretations of certain texts. A straightforward reading of Scripture reveals much evidence that the Church will remain here until the Lord Jesus returns to reign. Only then will surviving believers be caught up to meet him in the air and welcome him back to earth.
Saints on earth!
From Revelation 6 to 18, it is abundantly clear that there are faithful followers of Jesus, testifying, suffering and dying for him, on earth, throughout the tribulation, e.g. “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus” (Rev 14:12).1
The absence of the actual word ekklesia from these chapters is irrelevant. If believers are here, the Church is here! This evidence alone should be enough to settle the matter without further debate.
A straightforward reading of Scripture reveals much evidence that the Church will remain here until the Lord Jesus returns to reign.
However, pre-tribulationists try to circumvent this difficulty by proposing that these believers are converted after the ‘true’ or ‘completed’ church has disappeared – that the 144,000 Jews of Revelation 7 become Messianic believers who embark on a world-wide mission, winning multitudes to faith. But whether or not those Jews are Messianic believers, John says nothing whatsoever about them becoming an army of evangelists, and adding to “the words of this prophecy” has dire consequences! (Rev 22:18). Surely, whenever they are converted, courageous followers of Jesus must be part of his ‘true’ Church. Whatever else could they be? A false church?! Furthermore, John sees the souls of martyrs “under the altar” (Rev 6:9-11). Had the ‘rapture’ already occurred, he would see their resurrected bodies! Thus, from Revelation alone, it is indisputable that the Church will be here throughout the tribulation.
He will appear a second time
Christ’s return is mentioned in almost every New Testament book, often several times, but nowhere is there the slightest hint that it will take place in two stages. Hebrews 9:26-28 states he “appeared once” as a sacrifice for sin, and “will appear a second time … to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” No mention of a third time.
Several New Testament authors write, “at the coming of the Lord/the Son of Man”, or “at his coming” (e.g. 1Thes 5:23).2 Some translations have “when he comes”, but the Greek is literally “at the coming” definite article. Clearly, all the authors envisage Jesus’ return as a single event. Significantly, this includes the ‘rapture’ passage (1 Thes.4:13-18), where Paul writes “we who are … left until the coming of the Lord”. The only future coming, not the first of two.
He’s coming on the clouds
Scripture interprets Scripture. In connection with Jesus’ return, several passages mention one or more of the following: a cloud/clouds, a trumpet blast, a loud shout, an angel or host of angels and/or saints, and believers being gathered to him, e.g. “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him” and “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him” (Rev.1:7; Mt.25:31).3 In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:2, Paul mentions all those things. That passage is so similar to Matthew 24:30-31, which almost everyone agrees describes the second advent, that they must refer to the same event, not two separate ones.
The eager expectation of the early church was that Jesus would soon return to establish his earthly kingdom. As time passed, some believers died and he had still not reappeared. The Thessalonians were sad, thinking their loved-ones would miss out on his glorious reign, so Paul assures them “God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” so they should “comfort one another”. It is perfectly clear, to an unbiased reader, that he envisages the Lord on his way back to earth. When pre/mid-tribulationists say that, “Jesus comes first for the saints, then with the saints”, they ignore the fact that Paul says he comes with the (departed) saints and for the (still-living) saints, on the same occasion!
When Paul writes that we will “meet the Lord in the air”, he uses a specific term for an official delegation going out of a city to welcome a king or other VIP, to escort him the rest of the way, and that is how Paul’s readers would have understood his prophecy.
When Paul writes that we will “meet the Lord in the air”, he uses a specific term for an official delegation going out of a city to welcome a king or other VIP, to escort him the rest of the way, and that is how Paul’s readers would have understood his prophecy. He calls this event “the day of the Lord” (1Thes 5:2). From 2 Thessalonians 1:5-2:8, we learn that “the day of the Lord”, or “the coming of the Lord” when we are “gathered to him”, is when “Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels”. That is when “he will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel”, and destroy the man of lawlessness “by the splendour of his coming”. Undoubtedly the second coming. Only then will he “give relief to you who are troubled”, not at an earlier, supposedly secret ‘rapture’ of the Church!
The last day and the last trumpet
Four times Jesus promises that all who believe in him will be raised “at the last day” (Jn 6:39,40,44, 54), and Paul says we will all be changed into our immortal bodies “at the last trumpet” (1 Cor 15:51-53). This resurrection of “those who belong to him” will occur “when he (Jesus) comes”, which is immediately before the end, when he “hands over the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Cor 15:20-24). By definition, there can be only one last trumpet and one last day, which rules out some people receiving their resurrection bodies before, or part way through the tribulation, and others when Jesus returns. The last trumpet is almost certainly the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15. After it is sounded, voices in heaven cry, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,” clearly at his second coming.
In Matthew 24:1-31, Jesus said the gospel “will be preached to all nations, and then the end will come”. The Church was commissioned to do this (Mt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8), so it must remain on earth until the task is completed.
In Matthew 24:1-31, Jesus said the gospel “will be preached to all nations, and then the end will come”. The Church was commissioned to do this (Mt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8), so it must remain on earth until the task is completed. Jesus also warns there will come a time of great tribulation, so severe it will threaten the very survival of the human race. However, he does not comfort the disciples by saying, ‘But don’t worry; before then, I’ll come and whisk you all off to heaven’, he simply promises that “those days will be shortened for the sake of the elect”, and “those who endure to the end will be saved.” Immediately after the great tribulation there will be signs in the heavenly bodies, and then, “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels, with a loud trumpet call, to gather in the elect.” There is simply no justification for saying that “the elect” in this passage means ethnic Israel, rather than Christians. In the New Testament, the elect are almost invariably followers of Jesus,4 who, unless martyred, will remain on earth until he returns.
This timing correlates perfectly with the parable of The Wheat and the Weeds (Mt 13:24-30,36-43). There, Jesus tells us “the harvest is at the end of the age, and the harvesters are the angels” who first collect the weeds (“the sons of the evil one”), and throw them into the fire, and then gather the wheat (“the sons of the kingdom”) into God’s barn. Not vice versa!
The term ‘church age’ is found nowhere in Scripture. Jesus speaks only of “this age” and “the age to come” (Mt.12:32; Lk.18:29-30). Paul calls the present age “evil”, and Satan its god. (Gal 1:4; 2 Cor 2:2). Right now, “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 Jn 5:19). Since Satan is permitted to retain that control throughout the tribulation, it must be part of “this present age”. The harvest is gathered at “the end of the age”, when Jesus returns to inaugurate “the age to come”, and Satan is seized, bound and thrown into the abyss (Rev.20:1-3). Thus, “the last day”, our resurrection day, must be the last day of this present evil age.
Rescued from wrath
In support of their views, many pre-/mid-tribulation and pre-wrath proponents appeal to Paul’s statement that “Jesus rescues us from the coming wrath”, (1 Thes 1:10, cf.5:9). Although Paul does not specify, this is assumed to be the wrath God pours out during the tribulation. It is argued that, since Jesus bore God’s wrath for our sins on the cross, he would be unjust to leave those who trust the Saviour for forgiveness to endure that wrath themselves. Therefore, he will rescue them beforehand.
This argument may seem impressive, but it totally ignores those courageous saints who are, supposedly, converted after the ‘rapture’. The greatest injustice would be to rescue those ‘lucky’ enough to be saved before the deadline, leaving those ‘unlucky’ enough to miss it to endure the tribulation. Didn’t Jesus die for their sins too? Given the overwhelming evidence that the Church remains on earth until the second coming, we must conclude that the wrath from which we are rescued is not the tribulation but the final judgment.
Given the overwhelming evidence that the Church remains on earth until the second coming, we must conclude that the wrath from which we are rescued is not the tribulation but the final judgment.
However, just as the Israelites were protected from the Egyptian plagues, so believers will be protected from at least some of the end-time plagues, e.g., “ugly and painful sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast”, so not on those who refuse the mark (Rev 16:2, cf. Rev 9:4; Rev 14:9). Their suffering will be at the hands of the beast and false prophet, not God.
Another argument is that Jesus’ promise, in John 14:1-3, reflects Jewish wedding customs whereby, following the betrothal, the groom-to-be (Jesus) returns to his Father’s house (heaven) to prepare a home for himself and his bride-to-be (the Church). When it is ready, he comes to take her there for the wedding (the ‘rapture’), followed by a week-long (seven-year) feast, during which time the antichrist rules the world. Then Jesus returns with his Bride at the second coming.
Whilst I don’t reject all aspects of this analogy, it does not prove a pre-tribulation ‘rapture’. How can the wedding supper of the Lamb take place in heaven whilst part of the Bride is still on earth, enduring great suffering? Besides, Revelation 19:6-9 clearly states that, as Jesus is about to return, the Bride is ready but she is not yet married!
Deliver us from the evil one
Shortly before he was arrested, Jesus warned his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble (tribulation); but take heart! I have overcome the world”. He then prayed: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.” (Jn 16:33; 17:15). Are we seriously to believe the Father will do something his Son specifically asked him not to do, and take the Church out of the world? Only moments before, Jesus had declared that he and the Father are one!
My prayer is that every one of my brothers and sisters in Christ who believe they will escape before the great tribulation may be delivered from the evil one’s deception, and not be caught out, disillusioned and fearful when horrific, world-wide persecution breaks out, for which they are hopelessly unprepared. Instead, may we all be ready to endure to the end for the name of Jesus the Messiah, our wonderful Saviour and coming King!
Notes
1 See also Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9,14; Rev 12:11,17; Rev 13:7,10; Rev 17:6,13-14; Rev 18:4; Rev 20:4
2 See also Mt 24:27,37,39; 1Cor 15:23; 1Thes 2:19; 1Thes 3:13; 1Thes 5:23; 2Thes.2:1,8; Jas 5:7-8; 1Jn 2:28
3 See also Dan 7:13-14; Zech 14:4-5; Mt 16:27; Mat 24:30-31; Mk 13:26-27; Lk 21:27; Acts 1:9-11; 1Cor 15:51-52; 1Thes 3:13; Jude 14; 19:14, etc.
4 Rom 8:33; Col 3:12, 1 Pet 1:1; Tit 1:1, 1Pet 1:2; 2Jn 1,13
For a fuller presentation of this view see: https://youtu.be/wGuxS-GDhMU