Pre Tribulation vs Post Tribulation Rapture

The Pre Tribulation vs Post Tribulation discussion is often a lively one. When it comes to the The Pre Trib vs Post Trib discussion each side can be very dogmatic. The Pre Tribulation Rapture is decried by many post tribulation advocates as tantamount to heresy. This is not an area of doctrine that should divide Christians. Rather, as “iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another,” (Proverbs 27:17) so we should listen to one another as we consider prophecies of the end of the age. In that spirit I present my case for a Pre Trib Rapture.

The Pre Tribulation Rapture

By Mark Swarbrick

If the article below interests you would like the author’s recent book, End of Days: What the Bible Says Happens Next. Only $5.46 on Amazon – Click Pre Tribulation vs Post Tribulation, Pre Trib vs Post Trib, Pre Tribulation Rapture, End of the AgeHERE.

  • The Beginning of Sorrows
  • The Rapture
  • The Tribulation
  • The Millennium
  • The Olivet Discourse
  • The Day of the Lord
  • Signs of the Times
  • America’s Need for God
  • Hermeneutic Principles for Prophecy
  •  Rapture Deniers Refuted

Does The First Resurrection of Rev 20 Prove a Post-Trib Rapture?

Post Tribulation advocates say that it does. Here is there point: Revelation Chapter 20 says that a resurrection occurs after the Tribulation and it calls it The First Resurrection. Since there is a resurrection at the Rapture, and the Post Trib resurrection of Revelation 20 is called “the first resurrection,” many people believe this proves a Post Trib Rapture.

Does Revelation 20 prove that a Pre Trib Rapture is impossible? The question must be answered: How could a Pre Trib Rapture/Resurrection occur before the Tribulation, when the resurrection that happens after the Tribulation is called “The First Resurrection.”  Post Trib advocates have raised an interesting question that deserves analysis. 

The First Resurrection statement is not a problem when one realizes that the phrase “First Resurrection” is intended as a title of preeminence more than it is a delineation of a chronological time frame of the Rapture. Let me explain.  When we consider the “First Resurrection” statement, we must ask ourselves this question:  “First” in relation to what? Does it mean, first before any other resurrection? We know that cannot be, for prior to the events of Revelation Chapter 20, we have the Two Witnesses killed and resurrected three days later.  And this happens in Chapter 11, before the First Resurrection. So, “first” in relation to what?

Perhaps this analogy will help: If I were to say to you, “Meet me at such-and-such restaurant; I bet I am there first,” do I mean to say that when I arrive at the restaurant that no other customers will be there? Of course not. “First,” in this case is in relation to you. It means I will be there first before you. The context of the First Resurrection in Chapter 20 stresses the importance of being in the resurrection of the righteous  (the First Resurrection) rather than experiencing the Second Resurrection of the wicked, for those in the Second Resurrection shall experience the Second Death. Thus the “first” of the First Resurrection is in relation to the resurrection of the wicked, which happens last, after the Millennium.

The Law of Prophetic Perspective

There is a principle of biblical hermeneutics that must be understood before we proceed with our analysis of this matter. It is important to understand that many biblical prophecies happen in phases. The coming of Christ is a perfect example of a prophecy being fulfilled in stages. Many of the Jews failed to recognize that the coming of the Messiah would take place in phases; two comings, the first as a suffering messiah, the second as conquering king. The reason they misunderstood was because they did not take into account this principle in prophecy. For example, consider this Old Testament scripture:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God.”(Isaiah 61:1-2)

If you are finding this article interesting you might like my book, Heavenly Miracles:  True Stories of Supernatural Intervention. Available on Amazon for just five dollars – Click HERE.

In Luke 4:16-20 we read that Jesus read this in the synagogue and then said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” But there is something very interesting here. Jesus stopped reading this passage in the middle of a sentence. He left off, “And the day of vengeance of our God.” He didn’t read that part. Why did He do that?  I’ll tell you why. It was because that part of the prophecy is not fulfilled until his Second Coming. He could not read the last part of the sentence and still proclaim the prophecy was fulfilled that day.

Notice how subtle is the hint, in this Old Testament prophecy, that Jesus’ coming would occur in phases. It is not blatantly stated in the Old Testament. When you read this passage in Isaiah, it looks like all these things will happen at once, when Jesus comes. Yet that is not so. You need wisdom and careful thought to discern it.

You have to read between the lines and compare other scriptures to see it. Indeed, that is why many Jews didn’t accept Jesus, because the prophecies said he would conquer and deliver and they didn’t understand about the two comings. It takes careful study to see it. In fact you often can’t take just one scripture to see the double fulfillment. In order to realize it, you must compare all the scriptures on the subject, and even then you may not see it clearly until the time is drawing nigh.

In Bible college they have a name for this principle. It is called, “The Law of Prophetic Perspective.” Often a scriptural prophecy will describe several future events as though they all happened at one time, when in fact there actually may be phases to their fulfillment. It is as though one were looking at a far-off mountain range. From a distance it looks as though all the mountains are one wall of peaks, but when you get closer you can see that there are mountains behind mountains with large valleys in between. You can’t see the intervening valleys until you get into the mountain range. It is the same way with Biblical prophecy, with valleys of time in between fulfillments of parts of one prophecy and until you get closer you can’t discern it. It is The Law of Prophetic Perspective.

Phases of the First Resurrection

This same principle applies to the First Resurrection, which we know from Scripture, takes place in phases. 1 Corinthians 15:20-24, speaks of the First Resurrection and states specifically that this takes place in several stages. The New American Standard Bible has this heading above the passage:

The Order of Resurrection

“But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.”

We must remember that when Jesus rose from the dead that others also rose with Him:

“The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:52-53)

Jesus and those who rose with him are part of the First Resurrection. They must be, for we read in Revelation 20:6 –

“Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power…”

If you are finding this article interesting you might like my book, Life After Death: What Happens When We Die? Available in paperback and Kindle version on Amazon for just $2.99 – Click HERE.

Thus if you are not part of the First Resurrection, then the second death (which is the lake of fire) has power over you. So the saints who rose at Jesus resurrection, if they are not part of the First Resurrection, then the second death has power over them. That, of course, is not possible. The Bible calls them “saints.” Therefore their resurrection is part of the First Resurrection. This is precedent and proof that the First Resurrection takes place in phases. And that is exactly what the Bible describes. The First Resurrection is in phases, just as Scripture says: “But each in his own order…”  Below is 1 Corinthians 15:20-24 categorized in phases:

Scripture Defines The Order of Resurrection…

  • Phase 1 –Christ the first fruits…” (and those who rose with him)
  • Phase 2 – “after that those who are Christ’s at His coming” (at the Pre Trib Rapture)
  • Phase 3 – “then comes the end” (at which time the tribulation martyrs are resurrected as per Rev 20:6, concluding the First Resurrection.)

Thus we see that Revelation 20 is not a problem at all for those who hold to the Pre Trib position. The resurrection described there is the final phase, or completion, of that which is entitled The First Resurrection. After that comes The Second Resurrection, which is a resurrection of the wicked who shall then experience The Second Death. 

This phased resurrection was foreshadowed in the Old Testament. In the New Testament the salvation of the righteous from the earth is spoken of as a “harvest.” In Old Testament times the Jewish harvest, was one harvest, but it came in three stages:

  1. The First Fruits – An offering was made to God from the initial fruits of a crop and this was to occur on the third day after Passover. (Exodus 23:16,19)
  2. The Main Harvest – (Exodus 23:16)
  3. The Gleanings – Leftovers to be left for the poor and needy to harvest. (Leviticus 19:9-10)

Since the Lord’s resurrection, and those who rose with Him is specifically called the “first fruits” in 1 Corinthians 15:20-24, then we can correlate the Main Harvest as the Pre Trib Rapture and the Gleanings as the resurrection of the Tribulation saints. One harvest of the righteous in three phases, exactly as foreshadowed in the Old Testament.

If you are finding this article interesting you might like my book, The Covid Conspiracy, Available in paperback and Kindle version on Amazon for just $4.99 – Click HERE or on the book image.

Also notice that the passage in Revelation about the final phase of the First Resurrection does not mention the Church, nor does it mention any saints being alive and being “Changed, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye…” But the passage does specifically identify all those who are in this resurrection. It says they are…

“…the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life…” (Rev 20:4)

Take careful note of this: Only those who refused the mark are in this resurrection. In other words, only Tribulation martyrs are in this resurrection. Where are all the other saints? Where are those Christians who died for the last 2,000 years before the Antichrist was on the scene? There is no mention here of a resurrection of all the Old Testament saints. No mention of any New Testament saints being raised. Why?  Because all the saints who died previously were resurrected at the Pre Trib Rapture. That is why. Furthermore, there is no mention of living saints being changed. Why? Because that happened seven years earlier at the Rapture.

Post Trib Rapture Problems

Now lets talk about the Post Trib Rapture Problem, or should I say “problems,” as there are a plethora of problems with a Post Trib Rapture.

Problem One – No Mortals for the Millennium:  Where are you going to get saints to inherit the earth and enter the Millennium as mortals? Scripture teaches that mortal Christians enter the Millennium and populate the earth and they are reigned over by resurrected Christians with glorified bodies. With a Pre Trib Rapture there is no problem because there are people that get saved during the Tribulation and survive to the end and enter the Millennium as mortals. But with a Post Trib Rapture all the living Christians are changed and raptured, and all the sinners are snatched up by angels for judgment, so there is no one left on earth. Who then enters the millennium?

Problem Two – No One is Left Behind: The Bible speaks of those left behind: Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.” (M’t 24:40). Now consider this: The Bible says that the wicked are snatched up at Christ’s visible return at the end of the age. The are taken away to judgment (Luke 17:36-37). Now if the Rapture happens then also, then everyone is snatched up. So who is left behind? Consider these two passages:

The Snatching Away of the Wicked…

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:41-42)  “I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left. And they said to him, ‘Where, Lord?’ He said to them, ‘Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.’ (Luke 17:34-35)

The Rapture of the Saints…

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

If both of these events happen at the same time, at the end of the Tribulation, then there is no one left behind. And that cannot be, for it would contradict the text, which says: “One will be taken and the other left.”

Problem Three:  Do The Two Witnesses go to Hell? Revelation 20:5-6 says that if you are not part of the First Resurrection you go to the lake of fire. If there can be no resurrection before that, as Post Trib proponents maintain, then did the saints resurrected with Christ go to the lake of fire? Did the two witnesses resurrected in Revelation Chapter 11 go to the lake of fire?  Of course not. Clearly the First Resurrection takes place in phases.

Are Catholics saved, praying to Mary is blasphemy, when did the catholic church start praying to Mary

If you are enjoying this article you might like my book, The Hidden Truth About Catholicism. Available in paperback and Kindle version on Amazon for just $5.19 – Click HERE.

Problem Four:  Imminent Return and Post Trib are Incompatible. The doctrine of the imminent return of Christ is foundational to evangelical Christianity. The teaching that Christians should always expect and be prepared for Christ’s return at any time is New Testament theology. But how do you get an imminent return of Christ out of a Post Trib Rapture? No point looking for Jesus to return at any moment, at a time least expected, as Jesus taught, after the Tribulation.

According to a Post Trib scenario, the Great Apostasy comes first, (2 Thess 2:1-13) then after that the Antichrist is revealed and tries to force everyone to take the Mark of the Beast, then two angels fly through the sky and preach the Gospel and warn people not to take the mark, the Two Witnesses testify and fire comes out of their mouth to kill whoever tries to harm them.

Then the two witnesses are killed and everyone in the world sees their dead bodies on television, three days later they are resurrected and raptured up to heaven. The false prophet calls fire down from heaven, God pours out his wrath on mankind, the sea and rivers turn into blood and everything in the sea dies, the sun scorches men with fierce heat, scorpion-like locusts that look like horses with lion’s teeth sting and torment those who have the Mark of the Beast, and 100 pound hailstones fall on the earth and at least 3/4 of the earth’s population dies (Rev 6:8 & 9:15).

Jesus said, “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.“(Luke 12:40)  Jesus also said that, at the time of His return, people will be marrying, giving in marriage, buying, selling, that life will be normal (Matthew 24:38) and they won’t realize He is coming until its too late. But there is no way to have life as normal when the Tribulation events are happening and it is impossible for Jesus to come unexpectedly at the end of the horrific events described in Revelation. 

Problem Five: Christians are Not Appointed to Wrath. The Bible specifically says in Revelation that God’s wrath is poured out on the earth during the tribulation. In fact it says it over and over.

“Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” (Rev 16:1)

Jesus said,

“Be careful…that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth…pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen.” (Luke 21:34-36)

Swaggartism, Jimmy Swaggart Prostitute, Jimmy Swaggart House, Swaggart false prophet, false teacher, Jimmy Swaggart Net WorthIf you are enjoying this article you might like my book, Swaggartism: The Strange Doctrines of Jimmy Swaggart Ministriesavailable now on Amazon for only $6.99. For information click HEREAvailable in Paperback and Kindle eBook – 266 pages of documented facts! 

If it comes on “all those who live on the face of the whole earth,” the only way to escape is to not be on the earth. When all the seas and rivers turn to blood and the sun scorches everyone, you will not escape unless you were raptured first. Thus, a Post Trib Rapture forces you to believe that God will pour out his wrath on Christians. This is not possible for the Scripture tells us…

“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Thess 5:9)

Problem 5:  Going up and right back down? Jesus promised he would return and take us to the home he has prepared for us.

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3) 

Imagine a Post Trib Rapture – Jesus comes down to get us, we are lifted up and meet him in the clouds, then what? We come right back down to the earth to enter the Millennium? Why do we even go up then? And when is Jesus taking us to our home in heaven?

Problem 6: A Post Trib Rapture Would Be Predictable. Jesus said that no one knows the day or the hour of the Rapture. Scripture tells us that the seven year tribulation begins when the Antichrist makes “a covenant with many.” (Daniel 9:27). If the Rapture is at the end of the Tribulation, then you can count seven years from Antichrist’s covenant to the Rapture. Also, halfway through the Tribulation, at exactly three and half years after he makes the covenant, the Antichrist puts an end to Jewish sacrifice in their temple and he sits in the temple declaring that he himself is God. (2 Thess 2:4 & Daniel 9:27).

King James Only Controversy, King James Only, KJV Only

The author’s book, King James Onlyism, examines the cult of KJV  Onlyism. Available in both paperback and Kindle formats from Amazon for only $2.99. To purchase from Amazon, CLICK HERE or click the book image to the left.

From that  point  you can count exactly three and half years to a Post Trib Rapture. Thus people on earth will know the day of Christ’s return. That is not possible and is a big problem for the Post Trib Rapture theory. Also take note that Jesus not only said that no one would know the day or the hour, he said He is coming at an unexpected time. Luke 12:40 says, “The Son of Man is coming at a time when you don’t expect him.”  and 1 Thessalonians 5:3 says, “While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them…”

There are simply too many Scriptural indicators during the Tribulation for Christ to come unexpectedly at the end of it. He must come first unexpectedly at the Rapture, when there is peace and security, and then after that the sudden destruction of the Tribulation events occur. At the end of the Tribulation no one is going to be talking about wonderful peace and security. That would be impossible, for the Tribulation will be utter destruction of the earth.  

Problem 7: The Bible Promises us Deliverance From the Tribulation. Scripture tells us repeatedly that we will be saved from the Tribulation, from the great and terrible Day of the Lord.

Wail, for the day of the Lord is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.” (Isaiah 13:6)

Now we request you, brethren…that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you…” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3)

“There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people–everyone whose name is found written in the book–will be delivered.” (Daniel 12:1)

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, ‘so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.'” (Malachi 4:1-2)

“They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” (Malachi 3:17-18,4:1-2)

“And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake…” (Daniel 12:1-2)

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another…” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

The term “Day of the Lord” is an Old Testament phrase for the Tribulation. For a complete treatise on that see my article on Day of the Lord HERE.
Note how this passage describes The Day of the Lord:

Amos 5:18-20 – “Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?”

Now note how the New Testament promises deliverance from The Day of the Lord:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 TLB

“When is all this going to happen? I really don’t need to say anything about that, dear brothers, for you know perfectly well that no one knows. That day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “All is well; everything is quiet and peaceful”—then, all of a sudden, disaster will fall upon them as suddenly as a woman’s birth pains begin when her child is born. And these people will not be able to get away anywhere—there will be no place to hide. But, dear brothers…you won’t be surprised as by a thief when that day of the Lord comes…for God has not chosen to pour out his anger upon us but to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ; he died for us so that we can live with him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of his return. So encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

electric cars, global warming, climate change, democratic party

If you are enjoying this article you would like the author’s book, Hidden History: The Untold Story of the Democratic Party.  Over 200 pages of astonishing truth! Learn who was behind eugenics, who was pro-slavery, who really started the Civil War, who stole Indian land, who locked up the peaceful civilized tribes on reservations, and who was responsible for the infamous Trail of Tears.  Available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback versions.

 

Problem 8: A Post Trib Rapture Goes Against Scriptural Precedent. Whenever God brought judgment on the earth in the past he provided a means of salvation for the righteous. God saved Noah from the flood and God saved Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The destructions that occur in the Tribulation will be worse than the fire and brimstone that rained down on Sodom. Abraham asked God in regard to Lot:

“Far be it from you to do such a thing–to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”(Genesis 18:25)

If the rapture is Post Trib, then God will be killing the righteous with the wicked. The Rapture is called The Blessed Hope in Titus 2:13, but if it is Post Trib, then it becomes The Blasted Hope!

Problem 9: Jesus cannot return with the Saints and for the Saints at the same time. At the Rapture Jesus returns for the saints and takes them to the home in heaven he promised to take them to. But at the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation, He comes with his saints. Christ’s second coming occurs at the end of the Tribulation, during the War of Armageddon. Jesus does not just come down in the air, as is described for the Rapture, but at the Second Coming he descends all the way to the earth and the saints follow him on white horses:

“Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives…then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.” (Zechariah 14:3-5)

“For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints…Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war…and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations…” (Revelation 19:7-14)

Conclusion

There are three phases to the First Resurrection or the Harvest of the Saints, as it is foreshadowed in the Old Testament harvest feast days and practices.

  1. Jesus resurrection and those who rose with Him
  2. The Pre Trib Rapture
  3. The resurrection of the Tribulation saints.

Those who believe they will see the Antichrist and suffer doom, gloom and wrath before they see Jesus at the Rapture are in for a wonderful surprise. It will happen when they least expect it. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye!

Be ready!

Want to leave a comment? To join the lively discussion, scroll to the bottom of the page.

To read more of Pastor Mark’s articles on the pre-trib Rapture, see the links below…

The Rapture and the Tribulation
The Day of the Lord
The Apostasy or The Departing?
Pre-Tribulation Rapture and the KJV
Pre Trib vs Post Trib in History
The Last Trumpet

Pre Tribulation vs Post Tribulation, Pre Trib vs Post Trib, Pre Tribulation RaptureIf you found this article interesting you would probably like my book, End of Days: What the Bible Says Happens Next

Available on Amazon for just five dollars – Click HERE.

 

 

Other books by Pastor Mark Swarbrick, click the image below…

Pre Tribulation vs Post Tribulation, Pre Trib vs Post Trib, Pre Tribulation RapturePre Tribulation vs Post Tribulation, Pre Trib vs Post Trib, Pre Tribulation RapturePre Tribulation vs Post Tribulation, Pre Trib vs Post Trib, Pre Tribulation RapturePre Tribulation vs Post Tribulation, Pre Trib vs Post Trib, Pre Tribulation Rapture

 

40 Comments

  1. You need to spend some time reading the Gospel of Mark 13:20-26. These verses clearly point out that God will actually shorten the tribulation period for the benefit of the elect and after the days of the tribulation we will see Jesus and God will send his Angels to gather his elect. As much as I would like to think God would take us up before the tribulation I dont think that will be the case. We are called to be martyrs and resist the mark of the beast.

    Reply

    1. Hi Wally, Thanks for your comment. There will be many people saved after the Rapture. It is these elect that the days are shortened for during the Tribulation. Therefore that passage does not prove a post-Trib Rapture. If the Rapture is post-trib, then how will account for Jesus coming at an unexpected time?

      Reply

        1. Hi Jay, Thanks for your comment. I don’t quite follow what you are saying. Wally did not ask a question so I am not sure what you are getting at concerning the scripture passage you mention. If you could elaborate further we can discuss it. Thanks again for your response.

          …Pastor Mark

          Reply

          1. I refuse to join Amazon as they require a credit card which I do not have. If you have a pdf of your book please send it to me. I can promise you that the link I provided you will destroy your pretrib thesis with much scripture which is our foundation for truth:

            Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.

  2. may the peace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with you and your family and congregation. may his grace and mercy always surround you.

    i red your post and i will read it again. im a post trib believer because if you read the bible at face value its clearly post trib. But i just want to talk about a scripture you quoted earlier in your article.
    “In Luke 4:16-20 we read that Jesus read this in the synagogue and then said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” But there is something very interesting here. Jesus stopped reading this passage in the middle of a sentence. He left off, “And the day of vengeance of our God.” He didn’t read that part. Why did He do that? I’ll tell you why. It was because that part of the prophecy is not fulfilled until in his Second Coming.”
    i say this passage can also fully aggree with the post rapture as in his first coming he came to save and in the second he comes as a judge and to to avenge as he says “vegeance is mine. but ill do further reading. inspite of our differences i take much happiness in knowing that we are in aggreenmet that JESUS is the only way, the only truth and the only light to the LORD ALMIGHTY.

    Reply

    1. Hi Milton, I was using that scripture as an example of the law of prophetic perspective, not as a proof text of the rapture. As far as that scripture alone, yes you are right, that passage could agree with a post trib rapture. But There are numerous problems with a post trib rapture. Take a look at the 7 problems I list in the article. Can you solve all seven? God bless you and yes, praise God, Jesus is lord of us all. See you in heaven brother!

      Reply

    2. If you wanna be here for the Tribulation, then I guess that’s up to you. But while you’re down here facing God knows what, I’ll be with Him in Heaven 🙂

      Reply

  3. Could apostasy be also interpreted as departure referring the revealing of the man of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians?

    Reply

    1. Hi Christopher, The traditional interpretation is that “the apostasy” refers to a falling away of part of the church. While it is true that other scriptures point to this happening in the end days, (and in fact is happening now) another interpretation can be considered, that is, that “the apostasy” is best translated as “The departure,” and refers to the Rapture. Here is an excellent article supporting that position. https://www.raptureready.com/featured/ice/TheRapturein2Thessalonians2_3.html It is a good read and is quite convincing. Perhaps it is so. One thing is for certain, the Rapture does happen before the Tribulation. Thanks for commenting.

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

      1. the link does not work. How do you support the apostasy as meaning ” the departure” I am not a pre trib or a post tribber. I honestly do not know which to believe in because both sides present solid arguments. your article has provided me some food for thought for sure!

        Reply

  4. You are an amazing man and a sharer of good news– the type of person we all need today. However, and not to be rude, may I point out something. Well. . . you see– um– when Noah built the ark, he and his family were saved from the wrath of God; yet while he was building the ark, he may have been persecuted by those who did not believe: it may have been physical, too. Following, there may, even, have been “a” antichrist during that time. However, aside from this, everything else seems wonderfully convincing.

    Reply

    1. Hi John, Thanks for the encouraging words. Yes, I agree with you – there could have been an antichrist figure during Noah’s time, or any age for that matter. God bless!

      ….Pastor Mark

      Reply

  5. There is one scripture portion I have difficulty reconciling with a pre trib rapture and that is 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9 so if you can clarify your position on this I’d appreciate it.
    Paul introduces two preconditions that must take place before the day of the Lord and our gathering together to Him ( the rapture) take place.
    We are told not to let anyone deceive us, that it will not come Unless the apostasy comes First AND the man of lawlessness is revealed.

    If we are raptured Before the 7 year tribulation begins and the man of sin is not revealed until the middle of the tribulation, then we would not know who this man is. Yet we are told in the previous verses, that the day of the Lord AND our gathering to Him will not take place until these two conditions are met.

    Reply

      1. Pastor Mark
        Thank you for replying to my question regarding the timing of the rapture. I appreciate your article in response to my question. It does make 2 Thess.2 1-8 clearer using the term Tribulation where Day of the Lord is used.

        To drill down a bit on the usage of the same term in 1 Thess.5:1-6, we are told that The Day of the Lord will come upon them as a thief in the night because they are in the dark but that day would not come as a thief to us because we are in the light. It seems to me then, that the day and moment the rapture happens would occur simultaneously the same day and moment the Day of the Lord begins. Since no one knows the day or hour the rapture occurs, that is what comes as a thief. Once the rapture happens, it seems people would have a clue something unprecedented just happened. It has been fairly well established that most saved as well as unsaved, have heard of the anti-christ the mark of the beast and the tribulation. So The Day of the Lord or tribulation, will not overtake us as a thief, but it will overtake them. Therefore, there is one Day and moment in time that the rapture occurs and the Day of the Lord begins. So can it be said that on that particular day, the Day of the Lord is the same day as the rapture?

        Reply

        1. Hi Carol, You analysis is right on. I agree. Once the stabilizing peaceful effect of the presence of praying Christians leaves the earth at the Rapture, all Hell will break loose on earth, bringing about the time Jesus spoke of when he said, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” (M’t 24:21) When the AntiChrist makes his “covenant with many” (Daniel 9:27) then the seven year countdown will begin.

          Concerning your question, “Can it be said that on that particular day, the Day of the Lord is the same day as the rapture?

          The short answer is no, for the Day of the Lord is more than just one (1) day. The scripture in 1 Thess Chapter 5 is using “day” figuratively to represent a period of time of God’s judgment upon the inhabitants of the earth that occurs after the Rapture, probably immediately after or nearly so. Up until the Rapture, Christians are walking in the light with Christ and they are a light unto the world, just as Jesus was when He was here living on earth. After the Rapture, darkness falls. Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.“(John 9:4) It is “day” now, but when the Rapture happens and the presence of Jesus through the Church is taken out of the way, the restrainer is gone and then night has come, when no one can work, at least not without being hunted down and killed for their testimony.

          I hope this helps. God Bless,

          …Pastor Mark

          Reply

  6. Hi Pastor Mark
    I just got done reading your article on the day of the Lord
    First the day of the Lord means wrath and destruction is coming, now let’s look at when Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians – it was during 51-52 AD. The destruction of the second temple hadn’t happen yet. Paul and the church in those days thought they would see Jesus coming back, they had no clue that life would go on for another 2000+ years. Every generation since Jesus died on the cross has gone through trails and tribulation and thought they were living in the last days.
    In Matthew Jesus warn them that the destruction of the Temple was not the end of days in the verses 4-14. Then he goes back to talking about destruction of the 2 Temple and Jerusalem in 15 – 23. Then Jesus talks about in 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
    Great Apostasy – is when the spiritual church started following the teachings of the Roman Catholic church (the great falling away) – that change the Sabbath to Sunday, that did away with 7 Feast of Festivals that Jesus celebrated that pointed to him, they prayed to Mary and other saints, they introduce all their pagan holidays, they teach salvation is through good works and not by the saving grace of our Lord, who change his birth month to December so it could be celebrated on the Sun god’s birthday – when he was really born during the Feast of Tabernacles, said he rose on Sunday when in fact it was on the Sabbath that he rose on, said Christ was crucified on Good Friday when in fact he was crucified on a Wednesday on the Passover during the week of the Unleavened Bread festival. You can’t get 3 days and 3 nights in the grave from Friday to Sunday morning, especially when Christ was still on the cross in the ninth hour. Matthew 27: 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
    The Catholic Church false teachings are in other churches and even in our schools that are teaching our ministers and pastors. She is the Harlot, the Whore, the adulteress claiming to be married to Christ Jesus, but is in bed with Satan, in bed with politicians and world leaders. She is a liar and have no doubt that she has taken away and added things to the scriptures. Does it not look like things are missing in the scriptures.
    Remember the Lord’s warning in Revelation 22: 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
    So why would he say that , did he know it would happen?
    So the Lord said we would know the season of his return – so what are these signs – Matthew 24: 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. I believe that he will return during the Feast of Trumpets after the great harvest of souls. Read Leviticus 23
    Remember the Lord doesn’t exist in time and space like we do. This could go on a lot longer than what we think in our brains. We still have no clue what the 7 thunders are. In verse four John writes, “And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down'” (Revelation 10:4). I’m just happy that God is in control and Satan isn’t.
    God Bless
    CJ

    Reply

    1. hi CJ, You have lots of interesting thoughts. I would recommend to you the book, Seventh Day Adventism Renounced by DM Canright. It is a fascinating read and has some valuable teaching. I think it is out of print but I think you can still get used copies…Yes, I just checked. Apparently it is back in print. The hardcover version is almost a thousand dollars, but you can get the paperback for 30 bucks and the Kindle eBook version for 99 cents. God bless,

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

  7. Hi Pastor Mark
    I hope you don’t think I’m Seventh Day Advent, because I am not. I was raised in an Assemblies of God/Pentecostal church, which I left when I turned 18 because all they taught was condemnation, legalism, the wrath of God and fire and brimstone. This is also the same church I had my first encounter with Jimmy Swaggart back in the late 60’s when I was 13 who came to our church and told the youth and their parents that they need to gather up all our rock and roll records and bring them to the church so he could destroy them. At the age of 10, I was brow beaten by my parents and the church into excepting the Lord as my savior and baptized by water out of fear. Then the whole thing started if I didn’t speak in tongues I wasn’t really saved. I was never taught how much Jesus loved me and what salvation was all about. By time I was 18 I had enough of this church and their constant condemnation and self righteousness. I couldn’t even miss a Sunday without someone passing judgement on me . So when I turned 18 – I told my parents I was done with religion and left. I knew deep in my heart that the God that created this beautiful universe and everything in it was not a God of hate. The damage that this church did with their condemnation and the lack of teaching from the word of God cause me to live most of my life in sin. My heart became so harden that I didn’t want anything to do with any church, I watch my Christian born again parents and sister jump from church to church over the years and my only guest why they did that was because they were spiritually starving to death because the church wasn’t a Bible teaching church.
    When I finally came back to the Lord – I told him you know I hate reading so please give me the desire to want to read the Bible and reveal the truth and the lies that are in the church.
    If any one thinks that Revelation was written just to the end time church is being deceived by Satan and naive because they haven’t study the scriptures or the history what has already happen in the world in the past Revelation is literal and symbolic – The son of perdition is and has been sitting in the physical temple of God for centuries – The Vatican City is the Little horn of Daniel 7 she became a sovereign State in 1929 she also sits on 7 hills or mountains, all her Pope’s are considered Kings from this point on. Pope Francis a Jesuit he is the 8th King the one who will go into perdition.
    Revelation 17:9-11 “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
    Pope Francis is the 8th that replaced the 7th Pope who reign for a short time.
    Pope Francis has said the Catholic Church is too focused on preaching about abortion, gay people and contraception and needs to become more merciful.
    Well we all now how the Lord feels about these things they are abomination to him.
    The anti-christ is not a man it’s one world government in bed with the Catholic Church that gives power to Satan.
    12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

    Reply

    1. Hi CJ, Thanks for your comment. No, I didn’t think you were 7th day Adventist. If you were you would have been telling me I’m lost because I don’t go to church on Saturday! LOL. I just mentioned that book because you mentioned that the Catholic Church changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. That book has some great historical information about the Jewish Sabbath and Christians worshiping on Sunday.

      I’m sorry you had such a hard time with an Assemblies of God church when you were young. I was ordained Assembly of God. I know very well that there are lots of Assemblies that had pastors that did not teach accurately. I could tell you some stories! Especially back in the 60’s there were excesses. Even today, you have to take each one individually. Some are great and some are not so good. It all depends on who the pastor is.

      You may find my article here interesting: https://christiananswerman.com/hitler-will-rise-again/
      We don’t agree on some things about the 7th and 8th kings, but thats okay. We don’t have to agree on everything to be brothers in Christ. God bless you and thanks for your comments.

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

  8. Hi Pastor Mark
    I read https://christiananswerman.com/hitler-will-rise-again/

    Remember the devil is the great deceiver – he isn’t going to use a wolf like Hitler to bring the sheep to slaughter, he is going to use one like a lamb, like a shepherd – like the Pope. He has one goal to take as many souls as he can with him to hell and he is and has been using the Roman Catholic Church – the false church to do it. Below will show you just how much he used this church in the past.
    Also our Lord was crucified out side the city walls of Jerusalem, that was under Roman rule.
    Please read this below, it will explain a lot.
    http://christianitybeliefs.org/end-times-deceptions/bible-prophecy-made-easy-all-roads-lead-to-rome-summary/

    Reply

  9. Hello Pastor Mark,
    A very good study. I think you’ve hit it right. People ask me why I believe it and I tell them the Bible is a living book – a book of mystery as well as a book of history. For example, the book of truth given to Daniel was only recently opened. It’s been hidden until the end and revealed as promised by HIM. Another problem with convincing folks is that we get caught up in semantics like, pre-mid-post but HIS timing for taking HIS people is perfect. Thanks for posting – please post more as time is very short now here in 2020. Thanks for letting me post too.

    Reply

    1. Hi JC, I thank you for your comment. I read that web page. All those things are answered and explained in my upcoming book, End of Days. I will send you an email when it is published. Should be about 3 weeks or so. God bless,

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

  10. Pastor, as much as I would like to believe in a pre- trib rapture, I don’t think it is plausible. It is a deceptive move by Satan to catch Christians off guard and to eventually lose faith when they are not raptured. I guess we will see when the last trump sounds.

    Reply

  11. pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, how devisive all these can be among the brethren and sistern–
    but as for me I am pan-trib—
    meaning it is all going to pan out the way God wants it to!!!

    Reply

  12. I, 100 % believe in a Pretrib rapture based on the many scriptures, but the truth is, the Bible doesn’t tell us either way (do you really think everybody would be guessing at it if it did)

    Reply

    1. Hi Krista, Glad to hear you are Pretrib. You are right, the Bible doesn’t come right out and say, “the Rapture is pretrib,” but as you indicated, there are many scriptures on the subject which tend to indicate it is:

      “Wait for his Son from heaven…Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 thessalonians 1:10)

      “I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.” (Revelation 3:10)

      “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people–everyone whose name is found written in the book–will be delivered.” (Daniel 12:1)

      “The day that is coming will set them ablaze…But for you who fear My name…you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.” (Malachi 4:1-2)

      Thanks for commenting Krista – have a blessed day,

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

  13. Hi Pastor Mark,
    I have enjoyed your article and the comments by others. My post-trib brother has remarked that the church, from the beginning, was post-trib. He considers this to be a reason to question the pre-trib position. I have also seen web pages claiming the pre-trib position was developed by two Jesuit priests seeking to distract the church from being set free from the Papacy. Please comment.

    Reply

  14. Thank you, Mark for your informative information on pre-trib rapture. I was taught this all my life. Now a very reliable pastor I respect has challenged me that the rapture is post-trib. I found this information very good to support my belief. I have also listened to Perry Stone’s teaching on pre-trib rapture and gathered some excellent Biblical and historical Jewish information to support this. The biggest one I find that supports it is following the Jewish feasts. Puts the rapture at the beginning.
    Sandy G. recently posted…Libraries Above the Law?My Profile

    Reply

  15. Give me 1 (one) verse in Revelation that anyone gets saved! Revelation 13:8 says: “And ALL who dwell on the earth will worship him (Antichrist)…” No repentance in Revelation! That is why the Pretrib teaching is a heresy!
    For 1830 years the church has taught a Post Trib Rapture, until John Darby came along and invented the Pretrib Rapture. The famous Baptist preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon said: “Nothing is new in theology except what is false!”
    The Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches still teach the Post Trib Rapture. One third of Evangelical pastors teach the Pre Trib Rapture. the others know better.
    Pretribbers take all Bible verses that apply to the common Post Trib teaching and convert them to Pre Trib Theology.

    Reply

    1. Hi Rev. Trapp, Thanks for commenting. I refer you to my other article,

      particularly the sections labeled The MacDonald/Darby Myth and also the section entitled Pre Trib vs Post Trib in Church History. I believe you will find the information there enlightening. God bless you my brother and thank you again for commenting.

      God bless,
      Pastor Mark

      Reply

Leave a Reply to CHRISTOPHER Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge