Christ Is Coming

Pre-Trib Proofs?

The following is a reply to the article “Thirty–Six Pre-Trib Rapture Texts,” by Daymond Duck, at raptureready.com.

Items in italics are Mr. Duck’s points, followed by our brief responses. Please note: books can and have been written about these matters and we are not attempting academic proofs.

1) There are no passages in either the Old Testament or the New Testament that say the Church will go through the Tribulation Period.

RESPONSE:

a. This depends on your definition of “Tribulation Period.” There is no such term used in the New Testament. As pretribulation believers use it, the term refers to the entire 7-year period which is usually thought to begin with the signing of a 7-year treaty by Israel and ending with the physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Earth. Jesus taught explicitly in Matthew 24 that the “great tribulation” begins with the abomination of desolation, an event most would agree happens exactly midway through that 7-year period.

b. There are no passages which teach that the Church will escape that 7-year period.

2) The Tribulation Period is called the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” [The time of unbelieving Israel’s Trouble], but it is never called the time of the Church’s Trouble (Jer. 30:7).

RESPONSE:

a. A full understanding of the nature of the Church was not given to Old Testament believers, so it is natural that the passage would not mention the Church. In fact, Jeremiah 30:4, just several verses prior, tells us that these words were specifically intended for Israel: And these [are] the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

b. The fact that God may have a special purpose for Israel during this time period does not mean He has no purpose for the Church simply because the Church isn’t mentioned. If I tell someone I am going to the movies with Bob, it doesn’t mean I am not going with Jim, too. This is an argument from silence.

3) Gabriel told Daniel, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people [Daniel’s people are the Jews] and upon thy holy city” [The Holy City is Jerusalem] (Dan. 9:24). There is no mention of the Church.

 RESPONSE: Again, this is another argument from silence. It simply means that God has a definite calendar in mind in His dealings with Israel. Interestingly, although most premillenialists believe there is a gap between the 69th and 70th weeks (i.e., weeks of years) this is not an explicit teaching of Scripture either and the stopping of God’s “stopwatch” at the death of Messiah must be inferred from Daniel 9.

4) The Church had no part in the first sixty-nine weeks and it will have no part in the seventieth week [the Tribulation Period] (Dan. 9:24).

 RESPONSE: Since the Church as we think of it did not exist during the first 69 weeks how could the Church have participated? This is not even an argument but a conclusion. There is no reason the Church couldn’t be here for some of that 70th week.

5) In the Book of Revelation, the Rapture occurs at Rev. 4:1 which is before the Tribulation Period described in Rev. 6:1-19:21. In the sequence of events, the Rapture is before the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments.

 RESPONSE: In Rev. 4:1, John is told to come up and he will be shown what must happen. To say that this refers to the entire Church is an unwarranted stretch and a pure interpretation. You can see the Church as a great multitude no one can count located in Rev. 7, between the 6th and 7th seal.

6) The Church is mentioned more than twenty times in the first three chapters of Revelation, but the Church is never mentioned in the description of the Tribulation Period between Rev. 4:1 and Rev. 19:1.

 RESPONSE: The Church is mentioned there because Jesus is writing letters to churches. This is a fanciful interpretation which assumes something is not present unless explicitly mentioned. This would be like us saying God was not at work in the Book of Esther because it is the only book in which His Name is unmentioned. How much easier to take Scripture at face value and see that our gathering to Christ occurs when He said it would: after the signs of the 6th seal. (Matthew 24)

7) The Tribulation Period is called a Day of Wrath in the Bible (Zeph 1:15), but the Bible says, “God hath not appointed us [the Church] to wrath” (I Thess. 5:9).

 RESPONSE: Again, there is no “Tribulation Period.” Biblically we can identify a “beginning of sorrows,” a “great tribulation,” and a “Day of the Lord.” The Great Tribulation, which begins at 3.5 years into the 70th week of Daniel 9, is not the wrath of God but the wrath of man and Satan. The Day of the Lord comes after this, and is definitely the wrath of God from which the Church will be exempt. Prewrath believers hold that the Church is removed before that Day, posttribulationist believers hold the Church will be preserved through it.

8) The Tribulation Period is called a Day of Wrath in the Bible (Zeph. 1:15), but the Bible says, Jesus has “delivered us from the wrath to come” [delivered the Church from the Tribulation Period] (I Thess. 1:10).

 RESPONSE:

a. Again, there is no justification for equating the Great Tribulation with the Day of the Lord. Joel said the sun would be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the Day of the Lord. And Jesus said those signs would occur after the tribulation of those days. You can’t have it both ways.

b. In 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Paul says that the saints there are his joy and crown “in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming.” This would indicate the Lord’s return to the Earth. In any case, merely saying He delivers from wrath does not prove the timing of the deliverance.

9) The Tribulation Period is called the Day of the Lord in the Bible (Zeph. 1:14). The Bible says, “the day of the Lord [the Tribulation Period] so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they [the unbelievers] shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them [upon the unbelievers], as travail upon a woman with child; and they [the unbelievers] shall not escape” (I Thess. 5:2-3). It clearly teaches that the Tribulation Period will come upon unbelievers, but it does not include believers.

RESPONSE: See our simple answer above as to why we cannot mix or equate the Great Tribulation (not the Tribulation Period) and the Day of the Lord. In fact, 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5 actually prove that the Rapture is not pre-trib. The writer needs to read chapters 4 and 5 together without any chapter breaks – which do not exist in the original Greek anyway. Paul describes the Rapture and then says the Day of the Lord so comes. This means the Rapture triggers the Day of the Lord. Reading this in conjunction with 2 Thessalonians 2 demonstrates that the Day cannot come until Antichrist is revealed. This means (a) that the Rapture is after the midpoint of the 70th week and (b) the Rapture cannot be imminent until after that point.

10) Concerning the Rapture, the Bible says, “Comfort one another with these words” (I Thess. 4:18). There’s no comfort in the teaching that the Church will go through part or all of the Tribulation Period.

RESPONSE: This depends upon one’s definition of comfort. Where are we ever exempted from persecution? On the contrary, we are promised it!

11) Jesus told the Church at Philadelphia, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation [the Tribulation Period], which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10). God promised to keep the obedient Church members out of the Tribulation Period.

RESPONSE: This assumes that the “hour” being spoken of is in fact the entire 7-year period, which is an interpretation. It is also a pure interpretation without any support whatsoever to say that the Philadelphian Church is symbolic of all worthy Christians who have ever lived.

12) According to the Bible, the marriage of the Lamb will take place in heaven before Jesus comes back to fight the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation Period (Rev. 19:7-21). This means the Church will go to heaven [be Raptured] for the marriage of the Lamb before the Second Coming.

 RESPONSE: Where does it say this? This is a pure conjecture.

13) The end of the age will be like the days of Noah (Matt. 24:37). Noah and his family were removed from the earth [got on the ark] before the flood. Some believe this means that the Church will be removed from the earth before the judgment of God [Raptured before the Tribulation Period] (Gen. 7:23).

RESPONSE: We are sure some believe this but, importantly, Jesus did not! The point of the story is that the same day they got on the ark, judgment fell. This hardly proves pre-trib… quite the opposite!

14) The end of the age will be like the days of Lot (Luke 17:28). Lot and his family were removed from Sodom before the judgment of God [before the fire and brimstone fell] (Gen. 19:16). Some believe this means that the Church will be removed from the earth before the judgment of God [Raptured before the Tribulation Period].

 RESPONSE: Same as #13, above.

15) Jesus was talking about the Tribulation Period when He said, “Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass.” (Luke 21:36). It seems unreasonable to believe Jesus would tell the Church to pray for something He is unwilling to grant.

RESPONSE: Again, this is a pure interpretation. Does this mean that those who are not persecuted to death are more worthy than those who are raptured? God forbid.

16) The Bible says, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” (II Thess. 2:7-8). The most common interpretation of this is that the Antichrist can’t be revealed until the Restrainer [who most commentators say is both the Holy Spirit and the Church] is removed. If the Restrainer is the Church only, this means the Church will be removed before the Antichrist is revealed [that’s the Pre-Trib. Rapture]. If the Restrainer is the Holy Spirit only so that the Holy Spirit is removed without the Church, this means believers will cease to be indwelt with the Holy Spirit. It also means the Church will be left behind to go through the worst time the earth has ever seen [the Tribulation Period] without the help of the Holy Spirit. This would contradict the teaching of Jesus when He said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16). And, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5).

RESPONSE:

a. The definition of the Restrainer has varied throughout history. Many early Church Fathers were sure it was the Roman Empire’s power. The fact that an interpretation is popular means nothing.

b. If the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth, how can anyone be regenerated? There is no indication in Scripture of a “reverse Pentecost.”

c. A growing viewpoint which makes much sense to us is that the Restrainer is actually is Archangel Michael. This argument has some scholarly support among those who have studied the Thessalonian letters.  Note that the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint, which is also the same time Michael and the holy angels throw the Dragon down to the Earth. In Daniel we read that Michael shall stand up – but this verb, amad, also means “stand still.” Michael also fits the bill of being a “he.” This makes at least as much sense as suggesting that the Holy Spirit will be removed. Jesus said that He would be with us until the end of the age.

17) Isaiah wrote that God said, “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain” (Isa. 26:19-21). Notice, that the dead rise first [that’s the Rapture], next God’s people are summoned to enter into His chambers for a short while until the indignation [a name of the Tribulation Period is past]. God will raise the dead and summon His people because He intends to punish the inhabitants of the earth [send the Tribulation Period].

RESPONSE:

a. This fits pre-trib but doesn’t prove pre-trib… This scenario could apply equally to prewrath or post-trib.

b. It is a “little moment” rather than seven years that seems to be in mind here.

18) Malachi wrote that God said, “They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not” (Malachi 3:17-18). Pre-Tribulation teachers believe God is saying He will come for His Church [the Rapture] and then He will return with His Church [the Second Coming] to judge between the righteous and wicked.

RESPONSE:

The fact that God will spare some righteous tells us nothing about when this happens.

19) In the Rapture, Jesus comes for His Church (I Thess. 4:16-17; John 14:3). When He comes at the end of the Tribulation Period, He will come with His Church (I Thess. 3:13; Rev. 19:14).

  RESPONSE: A parousia can take place when one goes out to meet someone who is arriving and then accompanies him to his destination. To say He comes for and with His Church does not tell us how long the interval is. Is it seven years, five months, or one day?

20) Concerning the Second Coming, Jesus said, “But of the day and the hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matt. 24:36). But if the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, some will know the day because it will be seven years from the signing of the seven-year covenant. Some will know the day because it will be 1260 days from the day the Antichrist defiles the Temple (Rev. 12:6).

RESPONSE:

a. This is a good reason not to be a post-trib believer – but it doesn’t prove that pre-trib is true!

b. The conditions of this verse are also met by a prewrath Rapture. In fact, it makes more sense since these words were spoken inside Matthew 24, which pre-trib believers work hard to tell us is directed only to the Jews. The prewrath view says the Rapture will happen some time after the 1260th day (that is, after the midpoint of the 70th week).

21) Concerning the Antichrist, many scholars believe the Bible teaches he won’t be revealed until after the Church is gone (II Thess. 2:6-8), but if the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, some will know who he is because he will sign the seven-year covenant (Dan. 9:24-27), he will head up the world government (Rev. 13:1-10), he will try to force multitudes to worship him, and to receive his mark, receive his name or his number (Rev. 13:15-17). Many of those who are here and being forced to worship him and take his name or die will know who he is.

RESPONSE:

a. Yes, pre-trib believers do believe that, but 2 Thessalonians 2 says the Antichrist is revealed before the Day of the Lord, not before the Rapture. We have already seen that the Rapture is at the 6th seal. Joel, Jesus and John (Revelation 6) show that there are cosmic signs which tell us the Rapture/Day of the Lord is about to happen. And yet no one knows the day or hour.

b. Why is it a problem for people to know who the Antichrist is? Will there not even be an angel warning people not to take the mark?

22) The Antichrist is not suppose to be revealed until after the Church is gone (II Thess. 2:6-8), but if the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he will put a statue of himself in the rebuilt Temple (Dan. 11:31; Dan. 12:11; Matt. 24:15).

RESPONSE: See # 21 immediately above.

23) If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he will head up the world government and receive a deadly wound to his head that will be healed (Rev. 13:3). Some think he will be raised from the dead or at least fake the resurrection.

RESPONSE: See # 21 immediately above.

24) If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he will head up the world government and be supported by the head of the world religion called the False Prophet (Rev. 13:11-18).

RESPONSE: See # 21 immediately above.

25) If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period, the Church will know who the Antichrist is because he’s the one that will kill the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11:7).

 RESPONSE: See # 21 immediately above.

26) Many people don’t think the Church will go through the Tribulation Period because of verses of Scripture that say things like, “The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked he will destroy” (Psa. 145:18-20). Many believe God will preserve the Church from the Tribulation Period or keep the Church out of the Tribulation Period not destroy the Church in the Tribulation Period.

RESPONSE: What many people think does not establish a doctrine. God is able to preserve as He did in Goshen, or allow martyrdom, as He wills.

27) There are verses of Scripture that say things like, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it” (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19). Some believe people have to throw away verses of Scripture to believe the Church will go through the Tribulation Period.

RESPONSE: This is almost a slander on other believers. If we claim there is a secret coming of Christ in Scripture, are we not also adding to the Word? Where do we see this?

28) In the seven letters to the seven churches, Jesus said, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” seven times (Rev. 2:7,11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). When we get to the Tribulation Period, Jesus said, “If any man have an ear, let him hear” (Rev. 13:9). He left out, “what the Spirit saith unto the churches” because there are no churches on earth to go through the Tribulation Period. The Church will be in heaven.

RESPONSE: This is because the letters to the Churches were written to the Churches. In the rest of the book God in His mercy warns the whole world not to follow the Antichrist.

29) When the Rapture happens the Church goes up to meet Jesus in the air (I Thess. 4:13-18), but at the end of the Tribulation Period the Church will come down to the earth with Jesus to witness what He does at the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:14-21).

RESPONSE: Agreed. But this proves nothing about the time interval between these two events.

30) The Pre-Tribulation Rapture is more consistent with God’s grace, love, mercy, compassion, etc. The Mid and Post-Tribulation Rapture is more consistent God’s wrath.

RESPONSE: This is an opinion about God’s grace and mercy which may not match God’s own knowledge of what His character really is.

31) If the Rapture takes place at the end of the Tribulation Period, and all the wicked are removed from the earth at that time (Matt. 13:24-30, 47-50; 25:41), no one will be left to re-populate the earth during the Millennium. If all of the saved are Raptured and all the lost are removed from the earth at the end of the Tribulation Period, no one will be left to re-populate the earth.

RESPONSE: This argument is a good proof against post-trib but not prewrath. It does not prove pre-trib.

32) The Antichrist will prevail against the saints during the Tribulation Period, but the gates of hell won’t prevail against the Church (Rev. 13:7; Matt. 16:18). Therefore, the Church won’t go through the Tribulation Period.

RESPONSE:

a. This assumes we know Christ’s definition of prevailing. If a man is martyred today, does that mean that Christ did not prevail in his life?

b. The saints prevail through the word of their testimony and not loving their lives unto death. The two witnesses bear testimony until their testimony is complete, which is a matter which is up to God to decide.

33) The twenty-four elders [representatives of the Church] will be in heaven before the seven-sealed scroll is broken (Rev. 4:4; 6:1-17).

RESPONSE: We do not know for sure who these people are.

34) Jesus was talking about the Tribulation Period when He said, “Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass” (Luke 21:36). He didn’t say, “Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to endure some or all of these things that shall come to pass.”

RESPONSE: No, He was talking about the day, which is the Day of the Lord. The two are not the same.

35) There are no signs of the Rapture, but if the Rapture takes place during the Tribulation Period, it would have to be after the seven-year covenant is signed by the Antichrist, and perhaps after several other things depending upon what a person believes about Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, etc.

RESPONSE: To say there are no signs of the Rapture is a pure interpretation without Scriptural evidence. The Rapture begins the Day of the Lord and 2 Thess. 2 tells us this cannot happen until after the Abomination of Desolation.

36) Jesus said, “When these things [the signs] begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).He didn’t say, “After all these things have happened your redemption draweth nigh.” He said, “When these things begin to come to pass it’s close.”

RESPONSE:

a. When you see what things? The things He mentions! Ironically, this is an argument against an imminent "any moment" Rapture. We need to see these things happen, including the signs in the sun and moon, before the Rapture is truly imminent.

b. The writer says it doesn't mean "when these things begin to come to pass its close." Actually, that's exactly what it means! "Draws nigh" means "draw near!"

c. Pretribulation rapturism typically tries to ignore the fact that these signs are inside the 70th week! This is actually an argument in favor of prewrath or post-trib!