middletownbiblechurch.org/proph/rapture.htm Will the Church Go Through the Tribulation? A Defense of the Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church Scriptural Support for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Shall We Have Tribulation? The Amazing 2000 Year Gap A Comforting Hope! Populating the Millennium? Gods Purpose for the Tribulation The Rapture is Imminent! Looking for the Kingdom? Salvation, Not Wrath The Removal of the Restrainer Gods Outline of the Book of Revelation The Key Pre-Tribulation Passage Some Questions about the Rapture rapman.gif (8064 bytes) quison.gif (11799 bytes) Scriptural Support for the pre-Tribulation Rapture TERMS TO UNDERSTAND Tribulation--affliction, trouble, pressure, distress (John 16:33). The Tribulation--the final seven years before Christ returns to the earth. Also referred to as Daniels 70th week. The Great Tribulation--the last 3½ years before Christ returns to the earth. This will be the most intense and difficult time of trouble the world has ever known (Matt. 24:21). The Day of the Lord--A time when God directly intervenes in the affairs of men especially by judgment but also by way of blessing. It is often used in the Bible to describe the judgment and wrath of God poured out upon the world during the Tribulation period. Daniels 70th Week--based on Daniel 9:24-27. This refers to the final seven years before Christ returns to the earth (the week being a period of seven years, not seven days). The Rapture--this term is derived from a Latin verb which was used to translate the Greek verb harpaz (caught up) found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. This Greek verb means to be snatched away, taken away suddenly, quickly removed by force from one place to another, as when Philip was caught away to another place (Acts 8:39) or when the Lord Jesus was suddenly taken up to heaven at the time of the ascension (Rev. 12:5). When Christ returns for His Church, believers will be caught up, and suddenly taken from earth to heaven (compare John 14:3). Pre-Tribulation Rapture--the Church will be raptured before the seven year Tribulation begins. Thus the Church will pass through none of the Tribulation. This is the correct, Biblical view as will be demonstrated in this paper. Mid-Tribulation Rapture--the Church will be raptured at the midway point of the Tribulation, 3½ years before the Lord returns to the earth. This view teaches that the Church will pass through half of the Tribulation. Pre-Wrath Rapture--the Church will be raptured approximately midway through the second half of the Tribulation, or about 1½ or 2 years before the Lord returns to the earth. This view teaches that the Church will pass through three-quarters of the Tribulation. Post-Tribulation Rapture--the Church will be raptured at the end of the Tribulation period at the time when the Lord returns to the earth. This view teaches that the Church will pass through all of the Tribulation. Please note: If you are not familiar with what the Bible teaches about the rapture, at the end of this document certain basic questions and answers are given which may help you. See Some Questions about the Rapture. Shall We Have Tribulation? In answer to the question, Will the Church go through Tribulation? we must answer YES! In answer to the question, Will the Church go through THE Tribulation? the answer is NO! The following verses demonstrate that believers living in the Church Age must go through tribulation: (John 16:33) In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (Acts 14:22) Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (Rom. 5:3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (1 Thess. 1:6) And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction [tribulation], with joy of the Holy Ghost. (1 Thess. 3:3-4) That no man should be moved by these afflictions [tribulations]: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. (2 Tim. 3:12) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Believers living in this Age are not exempt from times of trouble and distress and intense pressure and persecution. However, there is a specific time of trouble which Church Age believers are exempt from: 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 (Rev.3:10). More will be said about this passage later in this study. Believers are appointed unto tribulations (1 Thess. 3:3), but believers are not appointed unto wrath (1 Thess. 5:9, wrath referring to a specific time when God will pour out His wrath upon the earth). Believers must pass through the fires of affliction, but we will not pass through the specific fires of affliction that are reserved for Daniels 70th week. TRIBULATION? Yes! THE TRIBULATION? No! The Amazing 2000 Year Gap The clearest and most complete chronological prophecy that God has given to us is the 70 week prophecy in the book of Daniel (9:24-27). These 70 weeks involve 490 years of Jewish history (each week equals 7 years). The first 69 weeks (483) years have been fulfilled in history. The last week, known as Daniels 70th week, is a seven year period which has not yet taken place in history. This is also known as the seven year Tribulation period. After the first 69 weeks the Messiah was cut off and the Church Age began just 53 short days after the Messiah was cut off and crucified. Daniels 70th week will not begin until a covenant or treaty is made between the Antichrist and Israel (Daniel 9:27). The Church Age began on the Day of Pentecost, in Acts chapter 2. The Church Age is thus nearly 2000 years in duration. How then can we explain this amazing GAP between the 69th week and the 70th week? It is as if Gods clock for Israel has stopped, waiting to start ticking again at some future time. What has God been doing in the meantime? During this 2000 year gap God has been: 1. Building His Church (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 3:6-9; 12:18; Eph. 2:21-22; 1 Pet. 2:5). 2. Taking out of the nations a people for His Name (Acts 15:14). 3. Bringing in the fullness of the Gentiles (Rom. 11:25). 4. Placing believers into a living organism (1 Cor. 12:13). 5. Saving a showcase that will eternally display His matchless grace (Eph. 2:7). 6. Manifesting Himself through His Body which is upon the earth (1 Tim. 3:15-16). Just as the Church had an abrupt beginning shortly after the conclusion of the 69th week (the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost), so we should expect the Church to have an abrupt removal shortly before the beginning of the 70th week. The Pre-Tribulation model harmonizes perfectly with Daniels 70th week prophecy while at the same time recognizing the parenthetical and mysterious nature of the Church Age (mysterious in the sense that it was not revealed on the pages of the Old Testament). The Pre-Tribulation model best explains this 2000 year gap and also keeps us from mixing up the Church Age with prophetic Jewish history. Here is the Pre-Tribulational model of the 70 week prophecy (Daniel 9) as it relates to the Church Age. Notice that the Church Age is completely distinct from Daniels 70 weeks. The Church Age is found in the gap between the 69th week and the 70th week:
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 00:32:33 +0000
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