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(The purpose of this page is to provide evidence for students of eschatology--the
study of the return of Christ and end-time events--that the church will go
through the great tribulation and be raptured at the <I>end</I> of the period
of time called the great tribulation.)
<P>
<B><FONT size=+4>Biblical Evidence that the Rapture of the Church Will Occur
After the Great Tribulation</FONT></B>
<P>
<FONT size=+1><A href="CDS.html">(This information is now available on audio
CD!)</A></FONT>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+4>Foreword</FONT></B>
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<P>
This study may be a bit lengthy for many. Believe it or not, knowing that
many will not take time to work through a really long study, I have tried
very hard to abbreviate it as much as possible! One way I have done this
is to include footnotes where I felt more explanation or definition might
be needed. It's ok if you click on a footnote, you will have an opportunity
there to click back to your place in the study.
<CENTER>
<B><FONT size=+3>Introduction</FONT></B>
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<P>
Years ago I was a
"pretribber."<SUP><A href="#ref1" NAME="fn1">1</A></SUP> My
"eschatology<SUP><A href="#ref2" NAME="fn2">2</A></SUP> heroes" were men
like Charles Ryrie, John Walvoord and W.A. Criswell. In fact, virtually all
the pastors and radio Bible teachers I had any knowledge of were also
pretribbers. I still have the utmost respect for these men, even though I
have concluded that they are in error regarding their pretribulational views.
<P>
When I began to become aware that there was such a thing as a
posttribulational<SUP><A href="#ref3" NAME="fn3">3</A></SUP> view of the
second coming of Christ, I was troubled. The idea that the church might have
to suffer serious persecution and martyrdom at the hand of the Antichrist
is not at all pleasant. However, when I took a fresh look at the Scriptures
that speak of our Lord’s second coming, I became convinced that my previous
beliefs were in error.
<P>
I re-read the Scriptures regarding His return (especially Matthew 24, Mark
13, Luke 21, Revelation, Daniel, 1 and 2 Thessalonians). As I read, I tried
to keep an attitude that assumed that I had no idea whether His coming was
before or after the Great Tribulation. I tried to draw a conclusion based
on a plain reading of the Biblical text. For me, the effect was astounding.
<P>
In order to be a pretribulationalist, I had to be "in on" certain (non-plain)
interpretations of certain words and verses. It was easy for me to assume
these interpretations were true, because I had heard them so often. However,
when I began to question them, for the most part their
eisegetical<SUP><A href="#ref4" NAME="fn4">4</A></SUP> nature became clear.
<P>
Having said all that, I have to admit that there are some passages which
cause some difficulty for the posttribulational position as well. I deal
with these in last part of this paper. As in any Biblical subject where honest
Bible-believing students come to different beliefs, there are verses that
can be used to "support" both sides. The difficult thing for the serious
student to do is to strive to <I>impartially </I>study the "difficulties"
for each side of the issue and then humbly conclude which is most likely
correct.
<P>
Some might wonder why God allowed His Word to be written in such a way that
conflicting beliefs could be arrived at. Certainly He could have written
His Word as a systematic theological textbook with no room for misunderstanding.
First, He undoubtedly is pleased when His children use the resources He has
provided us to dig and study in His Word. Secondly, He is giving us an
opportunity to love and be patient with other believers who may not see things
the same way we do. It is an opportunity for us to demonstrate humility and
to reject arrogance.
<P>
For those who wish to do further study, there are numerous posttribulational
books available. The best I have seen is <I>The Church and the Tribulation
</I>by Robert H. Gundry. (Be warned, however, that his book is very
detailed—to the point of being a little tedious in places.)<SMALL>
</SMALL><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="practical"></A><B><FONT size=+3>The Practical Issue</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
I was once discussing these things with my 17-year-old son Daniel when he
suggested that perhaps the best position to take regarding these things is
to <I>hope </I>that the pretribulational position is correct (after all,
who wants to enter in to a time of persecution and martyrdom?) but
to <I>be prepared </I>for the posttribulational position to be correct. That
seems wise to me.
<P>
If posttribbers are wrong, they will be happy to admit it when they are
unexpectedly caught up in the pretribulational rapture!
<P>
However, if pretribbers are wrong, they may be unprepared for the time of
persecution at the hands of the Antichrist. An <I>extreme </I>pretribber
(i.e., one who is absolutely totally convinced that there is no way he could
be wrong and the posttribbers right) might not even recognize the situation
he is in until it is very late. ("He cannot be the Antichrist! I’ll
be gone before the Antichrist comes to power!") He might not be "watching"
very effectively, since all he would be watching for would be the rapture
(believing that there are no other prophetical things to occur first).
<P>
Sometimes, in a way, the pretribulational position seems a little arrogant
to me. It’s almost like saying, "Yes, I realize that Christians have
endured much persecution and martyrdom in the past, and in some places are
doing so now. And I realize that those poor believers who come to Christ
during the tribulation will suffer horribly. But we soft, pampered Christians
will get to escape all the tough times." To me, it sounds a little
dangerous.<SMALL> </SMALL><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="early"></A><B><FONT size=+3>Early Church Writers Were
Posttribulationalists</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
It is significant that the Ante-Nicene
Fathers<SUP><A href="#ref4a" NAME="fn4a">4a</A></SUP> all wrote as
posttribulationalists. They looked ahead to a time of great tribulation which
would occur before the second
coming.<SUP><A href="#ref5" NAME="fn5">5</A></SUP> The pretribulational view
of the second coming was virtually unknown before 1830. (Some
pretribulationalists have attempted to demonstrate that some of the early
Christian writters were pretribulational. They have done this by taking comments
very much out of context. If you read the same quotations <I>in context</I>,
you will find that these early Christians expected the church to go through
the great tribulation before the "rapture" would
occur.<SUP><A href="#ref6" NAME="fn6">6</A></SUP>) Of course, this is not
conclusive in and of itself. All these writers were men, and their writings
were not Scripture. They could have all been wrong, but it seems strange
that all the early church fathers would have been confused about this.
<CENTER>
<P>
<P>
<A NAME="notable"></A><B><FONT size=+3>Notable Christian
Posttribbers</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
The pretribulational viewpoint has been so prevalent in evangelical circles
of late, that many have gotten the idea that the pretribulational view must
be the "orthodox" view. The argument that, "Surely all these preachers and
Bible students can’t be wrong, can they?" can be very powerful with
someone who feels that he doesn’t have the time or skill to study the
issue for himself.
<P>
Therefore, it may help some to realize that many notable Christian leaders
and scholars have been posttribulationalists. Here are a few (there are,
of course, many others):
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<I>John Calvin, Martin Luther, Isaac Newton, Charles Spurgeon, George Whitefield,
G. Campbell Morgan, Matthew Arnold, Carl F.H. Henry, Harold Lindsell, Bernard
Ramm, F.F. Bruce, J. Sidlow Baxter, Oswald J. Smith, Harold J. Ockenga, Walter
Martin, Hank Hanegraaff, Robert Gundry, Doug Moo, Marv Rosenthal, Randy Alcorn,
John Warwick Montgomery, Henry Alford, George Eldon Ladd.</I>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P>
Of course, to our knowledge, <I>none</I> of<I> </I>the pastors and Bible
students who lived before about 1830 were pretribulational. The first references
we have to the idea of a pretribulational coming are from the year 1830.
(However, due to the influence of Augustine in the fourth century, many of
the earlier Bible students were amillennial, identifying the Antichrist with
the papacy.<SMALL>)</SMALL>
<P>
The first man known to have advanced a pretribulational view of the return
of Christ was a man by the name of Edward Irving, who was later removed from
the Presbyterian church because of heretical beliefs about the nature of
Christ.
<P>
Ultimately we must be careful not to simply accept or reject views of the
Bible on the basis of what other men have said. Only Scripture (<I>Sola
Scriptura</I>) is the basis of our beliefs. I have included this section
for the benefit of those who think the posttribulational position is "weird"
and rejected by serious Bible students.
<P>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="matt24"></A><B><FONT size=+3>No Hint of a Pretribulational Rapture
in Matthew 24</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
In His most detailed discussion of the tribulation (the "Olivet Discourse"
in Matthew 24) Jesus does not even hint at a pre-tribulational rapture, but
only His posttribulational coming. Try reading Matthew 24, considering the
detail, and ask as you read, "Would I <I>ever suspect </I>a pretrib rapture
just by reading this detailed prophecy given by Christ Himself?"
<P>
In his book, <I>The Tribulation People</I>, Arthur Katterjohn quotes a great
preacher from the early part of this century, Dr. Oswald J. Smith, as he
relates the experience that caused him to renounce his previous pretribulational
view of the rapture in favor of posttribulationalism:
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<I>"No sooner had I started on Matthew 24 than I got into trouble... I was
in a maze, for I was perplexed... If the rapture was to be before the
Tribulation, the Lord Jesus Christ would certainly have given some hint of
it at least... It is unthinkable that He would have spoken so minutely of
the Tribulation without stating that the Church would escape. Instead, He
purposely led His hearers to the belief that His followers would be in it.
Hence, I was staggered, nor could I honestly defend my previous position...
When I began to search the Scriptures for myself I discovered that there
is not a single verse in the Bible that upholds the pretribulation theory,
but that the uniform teaching of the Word of God is of a posttribulation
rapture." (pp. 26-27)</I>
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<CENTER>
<P>
<P>
<A NAME="first"></A><B><FONT size=+3>First Resurrection - <I>After </I>the
Great Tribulation</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
The Resurrection immediately precedes the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
Yet Revelation 20:4-6 teaches that the <I>first </I>resurrection occurs
<I>after </I>the tribulation. (It is very difficult to imagine why God would
designate this resurrection as the "first" one if a great resurrection had
occurred just before the tribulation. The pretrib argument that this is "phase
2" of the first resurrection seems to be merely an ad hoc attempt at an
explanation that will allow for an earlier resurrection. There is nothing
in Scripture to suggest that we should think of it as "phase 2" of the first
resurrection!) Many other passages indicate a porttribulational resurrection
(e.g., those that refer to our resurrection as occurring at the "last day."
There would be many more days to follow--the days of the tribulation--if
our resurrection were to occur before the tribulation!) None indicate a
pretribulational resurrection. One of the most important principles of Biblical
interpretation is to accept the "plain" meaning of a passage before trying
to add "explanations." Pretribulationalists must speculate a very "unplain"
meaning for Revelation 20:4-6.
<P>
<I>[Note: In this study, I have placed relevant verses immediately after
each point for reference. Pay particular attention to words that are
underlined.]</I>
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the <U>dead in Christ
shall rise first: Then </U>we which are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so
shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these
words.<SMALL> (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)</SMALL>
<P>
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:
and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus,
and for the word of God, and <U>which had not worshipped the beast, neither
his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their
hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years</U>. But the
rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
<U>This is the first resurrection</U>. Blessed and holy is he that hath part
in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they
shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
years.<SMALL> </SMALL>(Revelation 20:4-6)
<P>
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth
for the children of thy people:<B> </B><U>and there shall be a time of trouble,
such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: </U>and
at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found
written in the book. <U>A</U>nd many of them that sleep in the dust of the
earth shall awake<B>, </B>some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness
of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for
ever and ever.<SMALL>..</SMALL> But go thou thy way till the end be: for
thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot<B> </B><U>at the end of the days.<SMALL>
</SMALL></U><SMALL>(Daniel 12:1-3, 13)</SMALL>
<P>
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath
given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again <U>at the last
day</U>.<SMALL>..</SMALL> And this is the will of him that sent me, that
every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting
life: <U>and I will raise him up at the last day</U>. No man can come to
me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and <U>I will raise him
up at the last day</U>. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath
eternal life; <U>and I will raise him up at the last day</U>.<SMALL> (John
6:39,40,44,54)</SMALL>
<P>
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection
<U>at the last day</U>.<SMALL>(John 11:24)</SMALL>
<P>
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying,
The kingdoms of this world are become <I>the kingdoms</I> of our Lord, and
of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty
elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and
worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art,
and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power,
and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and
<U>the time of the dead</U>, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest
give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that
fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy
the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen
in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices,
and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.<SMALL> (Revelation
11:15-19)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<P>
<P>
<A NAME="trumpet"></A><B><FONT size=+3>When Does the Last Trumpet
Sound?</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
The rapture of the church is explicitly said to occur at the <I>last
</I>trumpet. This trumpet sounds at the <I>end </I>of the tribulation! (It
seems strange that a trumpet sounding before the tribulation would be designated
as the "last" trumpet since other trumpets are to follow. If that is the
case, what is the "first" trumpet? or any of the other trumpets?)
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all
be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,<B> </B><U>at the last
trump</U><B>: </B>for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.<SMALL> (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)</SMALL>
<P>
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and <U>with the trump </U>of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first: Then we which are alive <I>and</I> remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so
shall we ever be with the Lord.<SMALL> (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)</SMALL>
<P>
Immediately <U>after the tribulation </U>of those days shall the sun be darkened,
and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven,
and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the
sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth
mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory. And he shall send his angels <U>with a great sound
of a trumpet</U>, and they shall gather together his elect from the four
winds, from one end of heaven to the other.<SMALL> (Matthew 24:29-31)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL><I> (Even pretribbers acknowledge that this passage from Matthew 24
refers to His posttribulational return, since Jesus clearly says, in verse
29, "immediately after the tribulation!")</I></SMALL>
<P>
And <U>the seventh angel sounded</U>; and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, The kingdoms of this world are become <I>the kingdoms</I> of our
Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four
and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces,
and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which
art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great
power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come,
and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest
give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that
fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy
the earth<SMALL> (Revelation 11:15-18)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="revelation"></A><B><FONT size=+3>Only One Return Portrayed in
Revelation</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
If you read the book of Revelation carefully, you notice only one return
described, and it is posttribulational. (Some pretribbers claim the Revelation
4:1 is a reference to the rapture, but this is obviously <I>not</I> the plain
meaning of the verse. Read the context! This is one of those passages that
one must give a "secret" unplain meaning to in order to make it a reference
to the rapture of the church! That is very bad eisegesis, not
exegesis!)<SUP><A href="#ref7" NAME="fn7"><SMALL>7</SMALL></A></SUP>
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
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<TD></TD>
<TD>After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the
first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which
said,<B> </B><U>Come up hither, </U>and I will shew thee things which must
be hereafter.<SMALL> (Revelation 4:1)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL><I> [The plain meaning of this verse is that the Lord is inviting
John to come up to Him in order to receive the visions that he was to record
in the book of Revelation. To use it to refer to a pretribulational rapture
is eisegesis.<SMALL>]</SMALL></I></SMALL>
<P>
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him
<I>was</I> called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and
make war. His eyes <I>were</I> as a flame of fire, and on his head
<I>were</I> many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but
he himself. And he <I>was</I> clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and
his name is called The Word of God. And the armies <I>which were</I> in heaven
followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And
out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations:
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress
of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on <I>his</I> vesture
and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I
saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying
to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves
together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings,
and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of
horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all <I>men, both</I>
free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of
the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that
sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with
him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived
them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his
image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse,
which <I>sword</I> proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled
with their flesh.<SMALL> (Revelation 19:11-21)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<P>
<P>
<A NAME="day"></A><B><FONT size=+3>First "The Great Tribulation" <I>Then
</I>"The Day of the Lord"</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<P>
The "<I>Day of the Lord</I>" is a Biblical phrase of very specific meaning.
Scripture indicates that the Day of the Lord begins with a distinct and
terrifyingly intense (but probably very short) period of time that occurs
<I>after</I> the tribulation, during which God's wrath is poured out on His
enemies. It is not to be confused with the period of time called the "Great
Tribulation."
<P>
The time referred to as the Great Tribulation is a time of intense persecution
of God’s chosen people (the church and Israel) at the hand of the man
of sin (Antichrist) as well as a time of great suffering brought on by the
natural consequences of the accumulated sin of mankind.
<P>
A careful study of end time chronology will demonstrate that the Day of the
Lord occurs <I>after </I>the Great Tribulation. The Scriptures even give
us an indicator that the time of the Great Tribulation is ending and the
time of the Day of the Lord is beginning. The indicator is the phenomenon
of the supernatural signs in the sun, moon, and stars.
<P>
<IMG SRC="timeline.gif" HEIGHT="187" WIDTH="577">
<P>
First, notice the "technical" meaning given to the phrase, "the Day of the
Lord."
<P>
Following are some verses that indicate that the "Day of the Lord" is a phrase
which is used to designate <I>the time of God’s outpoured wrath</I>:
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>Woe unto you that desire the <U>day of the LORD!</U><B> </B>to what end
<I>is</I> it for you?<B> </B><U>the day of the LORD <I>is</I> darkness, and
not light</U>. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went
into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall
not the day of the LORD <I>be</I> darkness, and not light? even very dark,
and no brightness in it? (Amos 5:18-20)
<P>
For this <I>is</I> the <U>day of the Lord GOD of hosts</U>, a day of
<U>vengeance</U>, that he may <U>avenge him of his adversaries</U>: and the
sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood:
for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river
Euphrates. (Jer 46:10 )
<P>
For yourselves know perfectly that <U>the day of the Lord </U>so cometh as
a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then <U>sudden
destruction </U>cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and
they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3)
<P>
For the <U>day of the LORD of hosts </U><I>shall be</I> <U>upon every <I>one
that is</I> proud and lofty, and upon every <I>one that is</I> lifted up;
and he shall be brought low</U>: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, <I>that
are</I> high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all
the high mountains, and upon all the hills <I>that are</I> lifted up, And
upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships
of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And <U>the loftiness of man
shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low</U>: and
the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly
abolish. And <U>they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves
of the earth</U>, <U>for fear of the LORD</U>, and for the glory of his majesty,
<U>when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth </U> In that day a man
shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made <I>each
one</I> for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into
the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear
of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, <U>when he ariseth to shake
terribly the earth </U>(Isaiah 2:12-21)
<P>
Howl ye; for <U>the day of the LORD </U><I>is</I> at hand; it shall come
as a <U>destruction from the Almighty.</U> Therefore shall all hands be faint,
and every man's heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows
shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth:
they shall be amazed one at another; their faces <I>shall be as</I>
flames.Behold, <U>the day of the LORD </U>cometh, <U>cruel both with wrath
and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners
thereof out of it.</U> For <U>the stars of heaven and the constellations
thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going
forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine</U>. And <U>I will
punish the world for <I>their</I> evil, and the wicked for their iniquity</U>;
and <U>I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low
the haughtiness of the terrible</U>. (Isaiah 13:6-11)
<P>
Alas for the day! for <U>the day of the LORD </U><I>is</I> at hand, and <U>as
a destruction from the Almighty shall it come</U>. (Joel 1:15)
<P>
The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and
the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the
LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp <I>is</I> very great:
for <I>he is</I> strong that executeth his word: for the <U>day of the LORD
</U><I>is</I> <U>great and very terrible; and who can abide it</U>? (Joel
2:10-11)
<P>
For <U>the day of the LORD </U><I>is</I> near upon all the heathen: as thou
hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine
own head. For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, <I>so</I> shall <U>all
the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow
down, and they shall be as though they had not been</U>. (Obadiah 1:15-16)
<P>
The great day of the LORD <I>is</I> near, <I>it is</I> near, and hasteth
greatly, <I>even</I> the voice of the day of the LORD: the <U>mighty man
shall cry there bitterly</U>. That day <I>is</I> a day of wrath, a day of
trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness
and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet
and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And <U>I
will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because
they have sinned against the LORD</U>: and their blood shall be poured out
as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold
shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole
land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for <U>he shall make
even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land</U>. (Zeph 1:14-18)</TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BR>
<P>
Note that the signs in the heavens mark the transition between the Great
Tribulation and The Day of the Lord. There are three successive events: (1)
The Great Tribulation; (2) The signs in the heavens; (3) The Day of the Lord.
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><B><FONT size=+1> </FONT></B>And I will shew <U>wonders in the
heavens</U> and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The
<U>sun</U> shall be turned into darkness, and the <U>moon</U> into blood,
<U>before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come</U>. (Joel 2:30-31)
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into
blood, <U>before</U> that great and notable <U>day of the Lord </U>come (Ac
2:20)
<P>
<I><SMALL>[</SMALL>The key word in the above verses is
"<U>before</U>!"]</I>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>Immediately <U>after the tribulation of those days </U>shall
the <U>sun </U>be darkened, and the <U>moon </U>shall not give her light,
and <U>the stars shall fall from heaven</U>, and the <U>powers of the heavens
shall be shaken</U>: (Mt 24:29)
<P>
<SMALL> <I>[</I></SMALL>The key word here is"<U>after</U>!"]
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal*, and, lo,
there was a great earthquake; and the <U>sun </U>became black as sackcloth
of hair, and the <U>moon </U>became as blood; And the <U>stars of heaven
fell unto the earth</U>, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when
she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when
it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their
places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men,
and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every
free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And
said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of
him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: <U>For the
great day of his wrath is come</U>; and who shall be able to stand? (Rev
6:12-17)
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>*<I>[Note that the first five seals indicate a time of warfare,
pestilence, famine, martyrdom, and economic ruin that are the working out
of the sinfulness of mankind. These represent the Great Tribulation and parallel
the description of the Great Tribulation in the first part of Matthew 24.]</I>
<P>
<SMALL> [Also note the similarity of Rev 6:16-17 with Is 2:12-21 (quoted
above) regarding men trying to hide in the rocks of the mountains.]</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BR>
<P>
The Great Apostasy and the "man of lawlessness" (Antichrist—this implies
the tribulation period) must come <I>before </I>the day of the Lord (i.e.,
the day of God’s wrath).
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and our gathering together to Him, that you may 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 <U>the day of the Lord</U> has come.
Let no one in any way deceive you, <U>for <I>it will not come</I></U> unless
<U>the apostasy</U> comes <U>first</U>, and <U>the man of lawlessness is
revealed</U>, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above
every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the
<U>temple</U> of God, displaying himself as being God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)
<P>
<I><SMALL> [</SMALL>Also, note that these verses from 2 Thessalonians 2 are
clearly given as a warning to those who expected that the rapture might occur
at any time. The Spirit is teaching, through Paul, that there are some things
that must occur first (viz. "the apostasy," "the man of lawlessness is revealed,"
and the temple rebuilt.)<SMALL>]</SMALL></I></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
Elijah comes <I><U>before</U> </I>the Day of the Lord, yet Revelation 11:2-3
indicates his coming during the latter half of Daniel's 70th week (i.e.,
<U>during the tribulation</U>).
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet <U>before the coming of the
great and dreadful day of the LORD</U>: (Mal 4:5)
<P>
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not;
for it is given unto the Gentiles: and <U>the holy city shall they tread
under foot forty <I>and</I> two months</U>.<SMALL> </SMALL>And I will give
<I>power</I> unto <U>my two witnesses</U>, and they shall prophesy a thousand
two hundred <I>and</I> threescore days, clothed in sackcloth (Re 11:2-3)
<P>
<I>[Note: Because of the nature of the miracles performed by these two witnesses,
many believe that they are Moses and <U>Elijah</U>]</I>
<P>
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish
the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation
for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the
vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.<SMALL> </SMALL>Know
therefore and understand, <I>that</I> from the going forth of the commandment
to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince <I>shall be</I>
seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again,
and the wall, even in troublous times.<SMALL> </SMALL>And after threescore
and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people
of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and
the end thereof <I>shall be</I> with a flood, and unto the end of the war
desolations are determined.<SMALL> </SMALL>And he shall confirm the covenant
with many for one week: and <U>in the midst of the week he shall cause the
sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations
he shall make <I>it</I> desolate</U>, even until the consummation, and that
determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:24-27)
<P>
Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain
<I>saint</I> which spake, How long <I>shall be</I> the vision
<I><U>concerning</U></I> the daily <I>sacrifice</I>, and the transgression
of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under
foot?<SMALL> </SMALL>And he said unto me, Unto <U>two thousand and
three hundred days</U>; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. (Daniel 8:13-14)
<P>
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do
wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall
understand.<SMALL> </SMALL>And <U>from the time <I>that</I> the daily
<I>sacrifice</I> shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate
set up, <I>there shall be</I> a thousand two hundred and ninety
days</U>.<SMALL> </SMALL>Blessed <I>is</I> he that waiteth, and cometh to
the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. (Daniel 12:10-12)</TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BR>
<P>
Therefore, if the pretrib position is correct, the Day of the Lord has no
relevance for the church today, and passages like 1 Thessalonians 5:4,6 become
meaningless.
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write
unto you.<SMALL> </SMALL>For yourselves know perfectly that <U>the day of
the Lord</U> so cometh as a thief in the night.<SMALL> </SMALL>For when they
shall say, Peace and safety; then <U>sudden destruction</U> cometh upon them,
as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.<SMALL>
</SMALL>But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake
you as a thief.<SMALL> </SMALL>Ye are all the children of light, and the
children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.<SMALL>
</SMALL>Therefore let us not sleep, as <I>do</I> others; but let us watch
and be sober. (1Thessalonians 5:1-6)
<P>
<I> [The point is, if the church is to be raptured several years before the
day of the Lord arrives, it seems that a more likely reading of vv. 4-6 would
have been something like, "But ye, brethren, should take no thought of that
day. You will have long before been gathered together with the Lord in the
clouds!"]</I></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<P>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+3>God's Pattern: Satan's Wrath vs. God's Wrath</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
God's pattern in scripture is to allow His saints to suffer under <I>Satan's
</I>wrath (e.g., the Great Tribulation), but to be supernaturally preserved
from <I>God's </I>wrath (e.g., the Day of the Lord). (Study Israel in Egypt;
Lot in Sodom; Noah; etc.)
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And
they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick,
and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they
made them serve, <I>was</I> with rigour.<SMALL> (Exodus 1:13-14)</SMALL>
<P>
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye
<I>are</I>: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague
shall not be upon you to destroy <I>you</I>, when I smite the land of
Egypt.<SMALL> (Exodus 12:13)</SMALL>
<P>
<I><SMALL> [</SMALL>Israel was not spared the wrath of the Pharaoh. But when
it came time for God to pour out His wrath on Pharaoh, His people were
supernaturally spared!<SMALL>]</SMALL></I>
<P>
And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the
Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given
in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood
came, and destroyed them all.<SMALL> (Luke 17:26-27)</SMALL>
<P>
<I><SMALL> [</SMALL>Noah had to endure the anger of the godless world he
lived in. But when it came time for God to pour out His wrath, Noah was
supernaturally spared.<SMALL>]</SMALL></I>
<P>
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they
bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot
went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed
<I>them</I> all.<SMALL> (Luke 17:28-29)</SMALL>
<P>
And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with
an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed
his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)<SMALL> (2
Peter 2:6-8)</SMALL>
<P>
<I><SMALL>[</SMALL><SMALL>Lot suffered at the hands of wicked people, but
was supernaturally spared from God’s
wrath.<SMALL>]</SMALL></SMALL></I></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="imminency"></A><B><FONT size=+3>Jesus Taught <I>against
</I>Imminency</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
One of the reasons that many have accepted pretribulationalism is the belief
that Scripture teaches that Christians of all ages are to believe that His
coming is imminent, in the sense that there are no events which must occur
before He returns. However, a closer study of the Scriptures shows that Jesus
taught in such a way as to contradict those who believed that His second
coming would be imminent.
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because
he was nigh to Jerusalem, and <U>because they thought that the kingdom of
God should immediately appear</U>. He said therefore, A certain nobleman
<U>went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return</U>.
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto
them, <U>Occupy till I come</U>. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message
after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came
to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he
commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the
money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.<SMALL>
(Luke 19:11-15)</SMALL>
<P>
<I>[The point here is that Jesus was preparing them for a lengthy time between
His first and second coming. Therefore, they were not to expect His return
to be imminent. Instead they were to expect a period of time during which
they were to "occupy" until He comes (v. 13).<SMALL>]</SMALL></I>
<P>
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.<SMALL>..
</SMALL><U>After a long time</U> the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth
with them.<SMALL> (Matthew 25:5, 19)</SMALL>
<P>
<I>[Again, the point is that a long time is to elapse between His first and
second comings.<SMALL>]</SMALL></I></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
The early church clearly knew that Jesus' coming was <I>not</I> imminent
(in the sense that it could occur at any moment). They understood that <U>there
were some things that had to happen</U> before He would return. Therefore,
they did not expect that His return could be "at any moment."
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and
in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth<SMALL> (Acts 1:8)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> <I>[</I></SMALL>They had to know that it would take some time for
the gospel to reach the uttermost part of the earth—which had to happen
before He would return. Thus the Scriptures which seem to teach "imminency"
certainly did not imply imminency to them.<SMALL>]</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And he said unto me, Depart: for <U>I will send thee far
hence</U> unto the Gentiles.<SMALL> (Acts 22:21)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said,
Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, <U>so
must thou bear witness also at Rome</U>.<SMALL> (Acts 23:11)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> <I>[</I></SMALL>Paul knew Jesus wouldn’t return until he had
been to Rome.]
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>Ac 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is
a chosen vessel unto me, <U>to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings,
and the children of Israel</U>:<SMALL> (Acts 9:15)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou
girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but <U>when thou shalt
be old</U>, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee,
and carry <I>thee</I> whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, <U>signifying
by what death </U>he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he
saith unto him, Follow me.<SMALL> (John 21:18-19)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>Knowing that shortly I must put off <I>this</I> my tabernacle,
<U>even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me</U>.<SMALL>(2 Peter
1:14)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL><SMALL> </SMALL></SMALL><I><SMALL>[</SMALL>Peter knew that Jesus would
not return during his lifetime.<SMALL>]</SMALL></I></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="meaningless"></A><B><FONT size=+3>2 Thessalonians 2:1-5: A Meaningless
Warning?</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
If the pretrib position is correct, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 becomes meaningless.
It should read something like: "Do not fear, you will be raptured before
this occurs!"
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and <I>by</I> our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken
in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as
from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by
any means: <U>for <I>that day shall not come</I></U>, except there come a
falling away <U>first</U>, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself
that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you
these things?<SMALL> (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BR>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="1and2thes"></A><B><FONT size=+3>1 & 2 Thessalonians: How Many
Returns?</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
Pretribulationalists must maintain that the references to the second coming
in 2 Thessalonians 1, 2 Thessalonians 2, and 1 Thessalonians 4 refer to different
"comings" (one before and one after the tribulation). But a careful reading
gives no clues for such an interpretation. The natural reading is best. These
all describe the same event.
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance
on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence
of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified
in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony
among you was believed) in that day.<SMALL> (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)</SMALL>
<P>
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
<I>by</I> our gathering together unto him,<SMALL> </SMALL>That ye be not
soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor
by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive
you by any means: for <I>that day shall not come</I>, except there come a
falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself
that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you
these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed
in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now
letteth <I>will let</I>, 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:<SMALL> (2
Thessalonians 2:1-8)</SMALL>
<P>
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first: Then we which are alive <I>and</I> remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall
we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these
words.<SMALL> (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BR>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="error"></A><B><FONT size=+3>The Error of 2 Thessalonians
2:2</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
The error of the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 2:2) was that they had assumed
that they had entered the time of the end and that Jesus' coming was imminent.
Hence they had quit work. Paul wrote to assure them that they should <I>not
</I>expect His return to be imminent.
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and <I>by</I> our gathering together unto him, That ye be <U>not </U>soon
shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter
as from us, as that the day of Christ <U>is at hand</U>. Let no man deceive
you by any means: for <I><U>that day shall not come</U></I>, except there
come a falling away <U>first</U>, and that man of sin be revealed, the son
of perdition;<SMALL> (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BR>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="unnecessary"></A><B><FONT size=+3>Unnecessary Commands and
Warnings?</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
In Jesus' discussion of the great tribulation in Matthew 24, He commands
His followers to endure and warns them of the dangers of deception. These
commands and warnings seem unnecessary if they are to be raptured out before
the tribulation begins!
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But
<U>he that shall endure unto the end</U>, the same shall be saved.<SMALL>
(Matthew 24:12-13)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>But pray ye that <U>your flight </U>be not in the winter,
neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as
was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall
be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved:
but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. <U>Then </U>if any
man shall say unto <U>you</U>, Lo, here <I>is</I> Christ, or there; believe
<I>it</I> not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and
shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if <I>it were</I> possible,
they shall deceive the very elect.<SMALL> (Matthew 24:20-24)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> <I>[</I></SMALL>The question is, why didn’t Jesus just tell
them that they would be taken out before these great troubles
begin?<SMALL>]</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="near"></A><B><FONT size=+3>Redemption <I>Near</I>, Not <I>Past</I>,
at Tribulation</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
When the tribulation begins, Jesus says our redemption is <I>near</I>, <I>not
already past</I>!
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><FONT size=-2><BIG><BIG>And when these things begin to come to pass,
then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption <U>draweth
nigh</U></BIG>.</BIG></FONT>(Luke 21:28)</TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="descend"></A><B><FONT size=+3>"Descend" Always Implies a Complete
Descent</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
The word translated "descend" in 1 Thes 4:16 always implies a <I>complete
</I>descent (e.g. the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism). Nothing in the text
implies a halt or a reversal. (Pretribbers suggest that He will pause in
the air, gather the saints, then go back into heaven.) In an interesting
analogy, it was common in Bible times for leaders of a city to go out to
meet a visiting dignitary and escort him into the city (not go back to his
home!). (To find all uses of the Greek word <FONT face="Symbol">katabainw
(</FONT>katabaino), do a word search on Strong's number: 2597).
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>For the Lord himself shall <U>descend </U>from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first:<SMALL> (1 Thessalonians 4:16)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> "descend" = 2597 katabaino {kat-ab-ah'-ee-no} <BR>
from 2596 and the base of 939; TDNT - 1:522,90; v</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> AV - come down 41, descend 18, go down 17, fall down 1, step down
1, <BR>
get down 1, fall 1, vr come down 1; 81</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> 1) to go down, come down, descend <BR>
1a) the place from which one has come down from <BR>
1b) to come down <BR>
1b1) as from the temple at Jerusalem, from the city of Jerusalem <BR>
1b2) of celestial beings coming down to earth <BR>
1c) to be cast down</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="judgment"></A><B><FONT size=+3>Pretribulationalism Requires a
Complicated Judgment Scheme</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
In order to accommodate the various comings, resurrections, and groups of
people involved, it is necessary for pretribulationalists to postulate several
different judgments (commonly 4, sometimes more). This involves manipulating
scriptures in a way that goes contrary to their plain meaning.
Posttribulationalism does not require such a complicated scheme.
<P>
The Four Judgments commonly postulated by pretribbers:
<P>
1) The Church in heaven during the tribulation (rewards)<SMALL> </SMALL>(2Co
5:10)
<P>
2) The nations on earth just before the millennium<SMALL> </SMALL>(Mt 25:31-46)
<P>
3) Living national Israel just before the millennium (concerning entrance
into the Davidic Kingdom)<SMALL> </SMALL>(Ezek 20:33-38)
<P>
4) The wicked dead after the millennium.<SMALL> </SMALL>(Rev 20:11-15)
<P>
This scheme leaves four groups of people unaccounted for and requires additional
judgments not mentioned in scripture.
<P>
1) O.T. saints raised after the tribulation
<P>
2) Tribulation martyrs
<P>
3) Those saved during the millennium<SMALL> </SMALL>(Is 2:2-3; 11:10;
55:1-7)
<P>
4) The wicked living at the end of the
millennium<SMALL> </SMALL> (Rev 20:7-9)
<CENTER>
<A NAME="answers"></A><B><FONT size=+4></FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+4></FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+4>ANSWERS TO COMMON PRETRIBULATIONAL ARGUMENTS</FONT></B>
<P>
<A NAME="thief"></A><B><FONT size=+2>"Thief in the Night" Implies
Imminency</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>Doesn't Jesus' coming as a "thief in the night" imply imminency?</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>He comes as a thief only to those not watching. Also, Revelation
16:15 is clearly posttribulational (see the note below). There is no reason
why other references to His coming "as a thief" could not also be
posttribulational.
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a
thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden
destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they
shall not escape. <U>But ye</U>, brethren, are <U>not </U>in darkness, that
that day should overtake <U>you </U>as a thief.<SMALL> (1 Thessalonians
5:2-4)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and
keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.<SMALL>
(Revelation 16:15)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> [This is an obvious reference to His posttribulational coming "as
a thief." Otherwise it seems a strangely misplaced warning! This admonition
occurs just before the seventh and last bowl of God’s wrath is poured
out (in verse 17). In other words, <U>after</U> the seven seals, <U>after</U>
the seven trumpets, and <U>near the end</U> of the bowls of wrath.]</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="knowing"></A><B><FONT size=+3>Posttribulationalism Implies Knowing
the Time of the Return</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>Doesn't scripture teach that we cannot know the time of His coming? Wouldn't
we know the time if it were posttribulational?</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>God gives us signs so we can know <I>generally</I>, but not
<I>specifically </I>(notice words such as "day," "hour," and "watch of the
night.")
<P>
Matthew 24:36, 42, 43 indicates this uncertainty with regard to an
<I>unquestionably posttribulational coming. (Read the context!)</I>
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>But of that <U>day </U>and <U>hour </U>knoweth no <I>man</I>, no, not
the angels of heaven, but my Father only.<SMALL>..</SMALL> Watch therefore:
for ye know not what <U>hour </U>your Lord doth come. But know this, that
if the goodman of the house had known in what <U>watch </U>the thief would
come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be
broken up.<SMALL> (Matthew 24:36, 42, 43)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="suffer"></A><B><FONT size=+3>God Wouldn't Allow Believers to Suffer
the Tribulation</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>God would not allow His people to go through the horror of the Great
Tribulation. 1Thessalonians 5:9 says, "For God hath not appointed us to
wrath..."</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>We must distinguish between God's wrath and Satan's wrath God will
certainly not pour out His wrath on us. But He has always allowed His people
to be purified through tribulation generated by Satan's wrath. (Cf. Israel
in Egypt; Modern believers today under godless rulers; Tribulational believers;
etc.)
<P>
Even Pretribbers believe that there will be many who will be saved during
the tribulation. Do they believe that God will pour out His wrath on them?
If He can pour out His wrath on the followers of the Antichrist and spare
the tribulational believers (as Israel in Egypt), He can certainly spare
us until the posttribulational rapture.
<CENTER>
<A NAME="church"></A><B><FONT size=+3></FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+3>The Word "Church" Doesn't Appear in Tribulational
Passages</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>The word "church" does not appear in tribulational passages with an earthly
setting.</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>Neither does it appear in passages with a heavenly setting! Neither
does it appear in Mark, Luke, John, 2 Timothy, Titus, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2
John, Jude, or Romans 1-15!
<P>
This is a very weak argument from silence.<SMALL> </SMALL><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="watch"></A><B><FONT size=+3>The Command to "Watch" Implies
Imminency</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>The command to "watch" implies a sudden, imminent, pretribulational
coming.</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>The strongest warning to watch is found in Matthew 24:32 - Matthew
25:30, which is <I>clearly </I>referring to a <I>posttribulational </I>coming,
with no hint of a pretribulational rapture.
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>For <U>then shall be great tribulation</U>, such as was not since the
beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those
days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's
sake those days shall be shortened.<SMALL>..</SMALL> Immediately <U>after
the tribulation </U>of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon
shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers
of the heavens shall be shaken:<SMALL>...</SMALL> Now learn a parable of
the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, <U>ye
know that summer <I>is</I> nigh</U>: So likewise ye, <U>when ye shall see
all these things</U>, know that it is near, <I>even</I> at the doors.<SMALL>
(Matthew 24:21-22, 29, 32-33)</SMALL>
<P>
<I> ["All these things" refers to the events of the Great Tribulation described
in the first part of Matthew 24. This "coming" He is talking about is
<U>post</U>tribulational!]</I>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till
all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words
shall not pass away. But of that <U>day </U>and <U>hour </U>knoweth no
<I>man</I>, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father
only.<SMALL>..</SMALL> <U>Watch </U>therefore: for ye know not what <U>hour
</U>your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house
had known in <U>what watch </U>the thief would come, he would have watched,
and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore <U>be ye
also ready</U>: for in such an <U>hour </U>as ye think not the Son of man
cometh.<SMALL> (Matthew 24:34-36, 42-44)</SMALL>
<P>
<I> [Again, the context of these verses makes it abundantly clear they are
referring to His coming after the tribulation. He has described the tribulation
in great detail in the first part of chapter 24. Then in verse 29 He says,
"Immediately <U>after </U>the tribulation..." and proceeds to describe the
events which will occur <U>after </U>the tribulation!]</I></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BR>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="escape"></A><B><FONT size=+4>"Escape" (Lk 21:36) Implies
Pretribulationalism</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>The word "escape" in Luke 21:36 implies a pretribulational rapture.</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>If so, it implies <I>partial </I>rapturism (i.e. only those watching
and praying will be raptured). This could actually be a reference to the
flight from Jerusalem from the Antichrist (see v. 21 and Revelation 12:14-16).
It might also imply that those who are prepared may be able to avoid capture
and persecution by the Antichrist. (In times of persecution and martyrdom,
not <I>all </I>believers are caught, persecuted, and killed.)
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><U>Watch </U>ye therefore, and <U>pray </U>always, <U>that ye may be
accounted worthy to escape </U>all these things that shall come to pass,
and to stand before the Son of man.<SMALL> (Luke 21:36)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains;
and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that
are in the countries enter thereinto.<SMALL> (Luke 21:21)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that
she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished
for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And
the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that
he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped
the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which
the dragon cast out of his mouth.<SMALL> (Revelation 12:14-16)</SMALL>
<P>
<I> [The woman "escapes," even though she is not raptured out of the
world.]</I>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass
of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men
which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.<SMALL> (Revelation
9:4)</SMALL>
<P>
<I> [Those with the seal of God in their foreheads "escape," even though
they are still in the world during the time of God’s wrath.]</I></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="rev310"></A><B><FONT size=+3>Revelation 3:10 Implies a Pretribulational
Rapture</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>The phrase "keep you from the hour of testing" in Rev 3:10 implies a pretrib
rapture.</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>The preposition "from" (Greek: <I>ek</I>) implies direction ("out
from within"). It is <I>not </I>a synonym for "away from in some other place."
This implies that the church is within the hour of testing and is to be kept,
guarded from danger. In heaven there would be no danger to be "kept" from.
The Greek for "keep" is "tehreo" which implies "to keep from a present danger."
<P>
The only other New Testament verse which uses both words is John 17:15, where
it is very clear that removal is not implied! Similar ideas are expressed
when Jesus used the words, "Father save me from this hour," or when we pray,
"Deliver me from this time of sickness." We do not mean, "Rapture me out
of the world!" (Cf. Jer 30:7)
<P>
Also, the "hour of testing" could be a reference to the outpouring of God’s
wrath at the end of the tribulation.
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><FONT size=-2><BIG><BIG>Because thou hast kept the word of my patience,
I also will <U>keep </U>thee <U>from </U>the hour of temptation, which shall
come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the
earth.</BIG></BIG></FONT><BIG><BIG> </BIG></BIG>(Revelation 3:10)
<P>
I pray <U>not </U>that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that
thou shouldest <U>keep </U>them <U>from </U>the evil.<SMALL> </SMALL>(John
17:15)
<P>
<I>[John 17:15 and Revelation 3:10 use the same Greek words for "keep" and
"from."]</I>
<P>
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me <U>from </U>this
hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.<SMALL> </SMALL>(John 12:27)
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>Alas! for that day <I>is</I> great, so that none <I>is</I>
like it: it <I>is</I> even the time of Jacob's trouble; <U>but he shall be
saved out of it</U>. (Jeremiah 30:7)
<P>
<I>[Meaning: God will preserve him in the midst of the trouble and bring
him through it.]</I>
<P>
"keep" = tereo {tay-reh'-o}(Strong's number 5083)
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>from teros (a watch, perhaps akin to 2334); TDNT - 8:140,1174;
v
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>AV - keep 57, reserve 8, observe 4, watch 2, preserve 2,
keeper 1,<SMALL> </SMALL> hold fast 1; 75
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>1) to attend to carefully, take care of<SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>1a) to guard<SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>1b) metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is<SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>1c) to observe<SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>1d) to reserve: to undergo something
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>"from" =<SMALL> </SMALL>ek {ek} or ex {ex}(Strong's number1537)
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action
or<SMALL> </SMALL>motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause;
literal or figurative;; prep
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>AV - of 366, from 181, out of 162, by 55, on 34, with 25,
misc 98; 921
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>1) out of, from, by, away from</TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="elders"></A><B><FONT size=+4>The Presence of the 24 Elders in Heaven
Implies Pretribulationalism</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>The presence of the 24 elders in heaven in Rev 4:4 implies a pretrib
rapture</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>There are two possible answers to this argument:
<P>
1) Even if they do represent the church, it does not necessarily follow that
<U>all </U>the church is in heaven.
<P>
2) The elders are not necessarily humans. The fact that, in the Greek, the
words "men," "them," and "they" are used in Rev 5:8-10 instead of "us" and
"we" lend credence to this interpretation. Also in 11:16-18 and 14:3 they
are set off from men.
<P>
To the argument that only men can sing the song of redemption, notice that
the 4 living creatures do so in 5:8-10.
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>And round about the throne <I>were</I> four and twenty seats: and upon
the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment;
and they had on their heads crowns of gold.<SMALL> (Revelation 4:4)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four
<I>and</I> twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them
harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to
open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed <U>men
</U><I>[Greek] </I>to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue,
and people, and nation; And hast made <U>them </U><I>[Greek] </I>unto our
God kings and priests: and <U>they </U><I>[Greek] </I>shall reign on the
earth.<SMALL> (Revelation 5:8-10)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their
seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks,
O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast
taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry,
and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to
the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy
them which destroy the earth<SMALL> (Revelation 11:16-18)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and
before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song
but the hundred <I>and</I> forty <I>and</I> four thousand, which were redeemed
from the earth.<SMALL> (Revelation 14:3)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BR>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="supper"></A><B><FONT size=+4>The Marriage Supper (Rev. 19) Precedes
Return</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>The marriage supper (see Rev 19:7-10) precedes the return (see Rev 19:11ff).
This implies the rapture has already occurred pretribulationally.</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>The words "is come" (v.7) (most translations say "has come") could
be understood to mean "is upon us" or "is immediately coming up" to take
place shortly after Christ's descent. We often use the words to indicate
an event that has not yet occurred, but whose time "has come."
<P>
In Revelation 6:17, for example, the men cry out that the great day of His
wrath "is come" (<I>same Greek word as in 19:7</I>) The implication is not
that the wrath has already occurred, but that it will happen very soon.
<P>
In John 17:1 Jesus uses the same Greek word ("is come"). The Greek is past
tense. Yet the clear meaning is that Jesus is referring to an event that
is soon to occur--not one that has already occurred.
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>For the great day of his wrath <U>is come</U>; and who shall be able
to stand?<SMALL> (Revelation 6:17)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven,
and said, Father, the hour <U>is come</U>; glorify thy Son, that thy Son
also may glorify thee: <SMALL>(John 17:1)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the
marriage of the Lamb <U>is come</U>, and his wife hath made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and
white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto
me, Write, Blessed <I>are</I> they which are called unto the marriage supper
of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And
I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See <I>thou do it</I>
not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony
of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him
<I>was</I> called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and
make war. His eyes <I>were</I> as a flame of fire, and on his head
<I>were</I> many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but
he himself. And he <I>was</I> clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and
his name is called The Word of God. And the armies <I>which were</I> in heaven
followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And
out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations:
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress
of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on <I>his</I> vesture
and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I
saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying
to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves
together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings,
and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of
horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all <I>men, both</I>
free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of
the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that
sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with
him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived
them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his
image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse,
which <I>sword</I> proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled
with their flesh.<SMALL> (Revelation 19:7-21)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="white"></A><B><FONT size=+4>The Armies in White (Rev 19) Imply
Pretribulationalism</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>The armies clothed in white linen who come with Christ (Rev 19:11ff.)
imply a previous rapture.</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>These may be the deceased Christians coming with Christ to receive
new bodies at the soon coming resurrection. We can read about obviously
not-yet-resurrected Christians with white robes in Rev 6:9-11 (the tribulational
martyrs), so why not also in Rev 19?
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon
him <I>was</I> called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge
and make war. His eyes <I>were</I> as a flame of fire, and on his head
<I>were</I> many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but
he himself. And he <I>was</I> clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and
his name is called The Word of God. And the armies <I>which were</I> in heaven
followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.<SMALL>
(Revelation 19:11-14)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar
the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony
which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord,
holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell
on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was
said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their
fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they
<I>were</I>, should be fulfilled.<SMALL> (Revelation 6:9-11)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<FONT size=+1> </FONT>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="apostasy"></A><B><FONT size=+4>The "Apostasy" is Really the
"Departure"?</FONT></B> <BR>
<B><FONT size=+4>(2 Thessalonians 2:3)</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>The word "apostasy" in 2 Thes 2:3 could be translated "departure" and
refer to the rapture.</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>The word <I>never </I>carries that sense in the New Testament. Also,
it is used 40 times in the Septuagint (The Greek translation of the Old
Testament), <I>always </I>referring to "apostasy." By New Testament times
the word was <I>always </I>used for political or religious revolt, even in
other (extra-Biblical) writings. To assume this different meaning for the
word is to do violence to the clear meaning and usage of this Greek word.
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>Let no man deceive you by any means: for <I>that day shall not come</I>,
except there come <U>a falling away </U>first, and that man of sin be revealed,
the son of perdition;<SMALL> (2 Thessalonians 2:3)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>"falling away" = apostasia {ap-os-tas-ee'-ah}(Strong's number
646)
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>feminine of the same as 647; TDNT - 1:513,88; n f
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>AV - to forsake + 575 1, falling away 1; 2
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>1) a falling away, defection, apostasy</TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="restrainer"></A><B><FONT size=+4>The Removal of the "Restrainer"
Implies Pretribulationalism</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>The "restrainer" in 2 Thes 2:6 must be the Holy Spirit. His removal must
signify the rapture of the church, since He dwells in Christians.</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>There are two possible answers to this argument:
<P>
1) It is by no means self-evident that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit.
The early church and the reformation leaders understood the restrainer to
be the civil power which God has ordained to restrain the forces of evil
in society by rule of law.
<P>
2) "Out of the midst" is better translated "out of the way." The Holy Spirit
<I>will </I>be working during the tribulation (Mk 13:11; Mt 24:14; Rev 7:9-14).
He <I>can </I>work independently of the church. Thus one can conceive of
the Spirit holding back the Antichrist until the time is right, then being
"taken out of the way" to allow Satan to possess the man of sin.<SMALL>
</SMALL>If that is the sense of the verse, it does not necessarily imply
the church has been removed from the earth!
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his
time.<SMALL>(2 Thessalonians 2:6)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>But when they shall lead <I>you</I>, and deliver you up,
take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate:
but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is
not ye that speak, but <U>the Holy Ghost</U>.<SMALL> (Mark 13:11)</SMALL>
<P>
<I> [A clear reference to the work of the Holy Spirit in a tribulational
setting!]</I>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>Mt 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.<SMALL> (Matthew 24:14)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no
man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,
stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our
God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels
stood round about the throne, and <I>about</I> the elders and the four beasts,
and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen:
Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power,
and might, <I>be</I> unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the
elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white
robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And
he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have
washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.<SMALL>
(Revelation 7:9-14)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<BR>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="parousia"></A><B><FONT size=+4>The Words "Parousia" and "Apocalupsis"
Imply Two "Comings"</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>Scripture uses two words for Christ's second coming: "Parousia," which
occurs before the tribulation, and "apocalupsis," ("revelation") which occurs
after the tribulation.</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL><I>Parousia</I> is used in several clearly posttribulational passages
(e.g. Mt.24:3, 27, 37, 39; 2 Thessalonians 2:8)
<P>
<I>Apocalupsis</I> is used in several passages to refer to our hope in this
age (i.e. not merely the hope of tribulation saints) (see 1 Cor 1:7; 1 Pet.
1:7, 13; 4:13)
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><FONT size=-2><BIG><BIG>And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples
came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and
what <I>shall be</I> the sign of thy <U>coming</U>
<I>(parousia)</I></BIG></BIG></FONT><FONT size=+1>, </FONT>and of the end
of the world?<SMALL> </SMALL>(Matthew 24:3)
<P>
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west;
so shall also the <U>coming</U> <I>(parousia) </I>of the Son of man
be.<SMALL>..</SMALL> But as the days of Noah <I>were</I>, so shall also the
<U>coming </U><I>(parousia) </I>of the Son of man be... And knew not until
the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the <U>coming
</U><I>(parousia) </I>of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:27, 37, 39)
<P>
<I>[Even pretribbers acknowledge that Jesus is referring to His "coming"
<U>after</U> the tribulation here. In Matthew 24:29 Jesus clearly says
"Immediately <U>after</U> the tribulation" and begins to describe the events
leading to His Posttribulational coming.]</I>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>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 <U>coming</U> <I>(parousia)</I>:<SMALL> </SMALL>(2 Thessalonians 2:8)
<P>
<I>[This coming is clearly posttribulational, since it is at this coming
that he destroys the Antichrist!]</I>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the <U>coming
</U><I>(apocalupsis) </I>of our Lord Jesus Christ:<FONT size=+0><SMALL>
</SMALL></FONT><SMALL>(1 Corinthians 1:7)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than
of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto
praise and honour and glory at the <U>appearing
</U><I>(apocalupsis)<FONT size=+2><SMALL> </SMALL></FONT></I>of Jesus Christ:...
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for
the grace that is to be brought unto you at the <U>revelation
</U><I>(apocalupsis) </I>of Jesus Christ; <SMALL> (1 Peter 1:7,
13)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;
that, when his glory shall be <U>revealed</U> <I>(apocalupsis), </I>ye may
be glad also with exceeding joy.<SMALL> (1 Peter 4:13)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="sheep"></A><B><FONT size=+4>The Separation of Sheep from Goats (Matthew
25)</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<B>The separation of sheep from goats in Mat 25:31-46 takes place immediately
after the tribulation. If posttribbers are correct, there would be no sheep
left (having just been raptured).</B>
<P>
<B><SMALL>ANSWER:</SMALL></B><SMALL> <BR>
</SMALL>This is most likely an instance of "prophetic gap" (see Isaiah 9:6;
Is 61:2; Zech 9:9-10; and compare Lk 4:16-21, where Jesus stops abruptly
in Is. 61:2 at the point of the prophetic gap). The Millennium is not "noticed"
in other passages (Dan 12:2; Jn 5:28,29). Thus it would be read as: "He will
sit on His glorious throne (<I>during the millennium</I>) and (<I>after the
millennium</I>) all the nations will be gathered..." (Matthew 25:31-32)
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels
with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him
shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another,
as a shepherd divideth <I>his</I> sheep from the goats: And he shall set
the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King
say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:<SMALL>...</SMALL>
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels:<SMALL>...</SMALL> And these shall go away into everlasting punishment:
but the righteous into life eternal.<SMALL>(Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and
<I>[prophetic gap here] </I>the government shall be upon his shoulder: and
his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace.<SMALL> (Isaiah 9:6)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and <I>[prophetic
gap here] </I>the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that
mourn;<SMALL> (Isaiah 61:2)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of
Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he <I>is</I> just, and having
salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an
ass <I>[prophetic gap here] </I>. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim,
and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he
shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion <I>shall be</I> from
sea <I>even</I> to sea, and from the river <I>even</I> to the ends of the
earth.<SMALL>(Zechariah 9:9-10)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and,
as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood
up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet
Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was
written, The Spirit of the Lord <I>is</I> upon me, because he hath anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty them that are bruised, <U>To preach the acceptable year
of the Lord</U>. <U>And he closed the book</U>, and he gave <I>it</I> again
to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the
synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, <U>This day
is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.</U><SMALL> (Luke 4:16-21)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> [Notice how Jesus stopped abruptly in the middle of the verse He
was quoting from Isaiah 61:2 (above). That point in Isaiah 61:2 is an instance
of "prophetic gap."]</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall
awake, some to everlasting life, and <I>[prophetic gap here] </I>some to
shame <I>and</I> everlasting contempt.<SMALL>(Daniel 12:2)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which
all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they
that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and <I>[prophetic gap
here] </I>they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.<SMALL>
(John 5:28-29)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations
with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his
throne.<I>[prophetic gap here] </I>And the woman fled into the wilderness,
where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a
thousand two hundred and threescore days.<SMALL> (Revelation 12:5-6)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
Also, consider that<I> some </I>of the wicked <I>will </I>survive the tribulation
<I>and </I>enter the millennium (cf., Zechariah 14:16-17), else <I>no
</I>wicked could enter the millennium. If the judgment occurred <I>before
</I>the millennium, there would be no wicked left to enter the millennium.
<P>
There are some scriptures that imply that <I>all </I>will be judged
"<I>at</I>" His second coming (e.g. Jude 14-15; Matt 16:27; Rev 22:12) even
though we know that the judgment of the wicked is <I>after </I>the millennium
(Rev 20:11-15). There is no compelling reason why the judgment of the righteous
could not be also.
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=10 CELLPADDING=10 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD>And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations
which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship
the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it
shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto
Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be
no rain.<SMALL> (Zechariah 14:16-17)</SMALL>
<P>
<BIG></BIG><SMALL><I> [In other words, there will be unrepentant people who
enter the millennium.]</I></SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these,
saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute
judgment upon <U>all</U>, and to convince all that are ungodly among them
of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all
their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.<SMALL>
(Jude 1:14-15)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father
with his angels; and then he shall reward <U>every man </U>according to his
works.<SMALL> (Matthew 16:27)</SMALL>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which
is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be
righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold,
I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give <U>every man </U>according
as his work shall be.<SMALL> (Revelation 22:11-12)</SMALL>
<P>
<I> [These passages would make it seem that the judgment of the wicked occurs
immediately at His coming, even though Rev 20:11-15 makes it clear that it
occurs after the millennium. (These are more illustrations of "prophetic
gap.")]</I>
<P>
<SMALL> </SMALL>And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from
whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place
for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the
books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life:
and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it;
and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were
judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into
the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written
in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.<SMALL> (Revelation
20:11-15)</SMALL></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<CENTER>
<B><FONT size=+3>Conclusion</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
If you have worked your way through this study to this point, you are to
be commended! You have demonstrated that you are not just a casual thinker
about these things. And I believe that you may now agree that the evidence
is quite substantial that the rapture will not occur until the end of the
great tribulation. You may not be totally convinced, but you will probably
at least admit that the evidence is strong.
<P>
That being the case, one might ask, what is the practical application of
this truth? Well, for one thing, we can be a little more sober about our
estimate of what may lie ahead for us. We might well conclude that we may
need to "temper" a bit the unbridled optimistic view that we will just continue
to prosper and enjoy the material abundance of this life until Jesus comes
and takes us into the even greater abundance of glory in the next.
<P>
There are Christians in the world today who are already experiencing significant
persecutions and fiery trials. But Christians who live in pockets of material
abundance, like the United States, need to have the realization that things
could change radically and dramatically in a very short period of time.
<P>
Are you and your loved ones prepared for the possibility of an intense time
of tribulation? Even staunch pretribbers need to live with an awareness that,
at least for them personally (if not for the whole world), things could suddenly
become very difficult. The book of 1 Peter is well worth a close study in
this regard. He writes, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:"
(1 Peter 4:12) And Paul writes, "Yea, and all that will live godly
in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12) I am afraid that
many Christians are totally unprepared for these fiery trials.
<P>
How do you get prepared? Of paramount importance is spiritual and emotional
preparation. There are<A href="fiery-fs.html" TARGET="_top">studies on this
web site</A> that will be of great strength to you if you will take them
seriously. Please don't wait until the tribulation is upon us to start getting
prepared! It takes time to assimilate the truths of God's Word that will
undergird us during the tough times. God gives us all the resources we need
to face persecution and even death for Jesus' sake. Many believers have sealed
their testimony with their blood. But they were spiritually and emotionally
prepared.
<P>
You may also want to consider a certain amount of physical preparation. What
would you do if it suddenly became reality that the only way to buy and sell
would be to deny the supreme Lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ? Do you think
that could never happen? The Bible says that there is coming a time when
it <I>will</I> happen. A certain amount of physical preparation might enable
you and your loved ones to be a witness for Christ for a longer period of
time than would otherwise be possible.
<P>
If you are a true Christian, you will certainly eventually overcome! God
will enable you to win, through the Lord Jesus Christ. But there are certain
rewards for being prepared. Those who are prepared will be praising Him that
He enabled them to do so. God intends to make us into overcomers! And He
provides everything we need to stand firm until the end!
<P>
May God bless you richly and powerfully as you continue in His Word.
<P>
<I>"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the
accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day
and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word
of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation
12:10-11)</I>
<CENTER>
<A NAME="Notes"></A><B><FONT size=+3>Notes</FONT></B>
</CENTER>
<P>
<A NAME="ref1" HREF="#fn1"></A><A href="#fn1" NAME="ref1">1.</A> "Pretribber"
is a shortened term for "pretribulationalist." Pretribbers or
pretribulationalists believe that the return of Christ to rapture the church
could occur at any moment and will the be event that marks the beginning
of the Great Tribulation. They typically see the return of Christ as occurring
in two "phases"--one before the tribulation, one after. <A href="#fn1">(go
back)</A>
<P>
<A NAME="ref2" HREF="#fn2"></A><A href="#fn2" NAME="ref2">2.</A> The term
"eschatology" simply means a study of the events that will occur in the end
times. The word comes from the Greek words "eschatos" which means "furthest"
and the suffix "-ology" which usually means "the study of." (By the way,
this suffix itself comes from the Greek root, "logos" which means "word"
and is of special significance to Christians!) Eschatology usually involves
the study of such things as the return of Christ, the tribulation, the Millennial
reign, the resurrection, the last judgment, etc. <A href="#fn2">(go back)</A>
<P>
<A NAME="ref3" HREF="#fn3"></A><A href="#fn3" NAME="ref3">3.</A>
"Posttribulationalists" (or "posttribbers") believe that Christ will return
to rapture the church <I>after</I> the Great Tribulation. They typically
see the return of Christ as being one event--not the two "phases" required
by pretribulationalism. <A href="#fn3">(go back)</A>
<P>
<A NAME="ref4" HREF="#fn4"></A><A href="#fn4" NAME="ref4">4.</A> "Eisegesis"
is the opposite of "exegesis." Exegesis means to "bring out" ("ex-" = out
of) the meaning of a passage of Scripture by careful study. Eisegesis means
to "read into" ("eis-" = into) a passage of Scripture the student's own
preconceived ideas. <U>Ex</U>egesis is <I>good</I>. All proper Bible study
should be "exegetical." <U>Eis</U>egesis is to be avoided at all costs! We
are guilty of eisegesis when we "read into" the Scripture our own opinions
of what we want to passage to say. <A href="#fn4">(go back)</A>
<P>
<A NAME="ref4a" HREF="#fn4a"></A><A href="#fn4a" NAME="ref4a">4a.</A>
"Ante-Nicene Fathers" is a term used to refer to leaders of the church in
the period just after the early apostles, and before the Council of Nicaea
in 325 A.D. So most of them wrote between 100 and 300 A.D. <A href="#fn4a">(go
back)</A>
<P>
<A NAME="ref5" HREF="#fn5"></A><A href="#fn5" NAME="ref5">5.</A> For
example, Irenaeus, in his work <I>Against Heresies</I> wrote "And they [speaking
of the ten kings] shall... give their kingdom to the beast, and put <U>the
church </U>to flight." In the same work, he wrote, "But he [speaking of the
apostle John, in the book of Revelation] indicates the number of the name
[a reference to "666" in Revelation 13:18] now, that <U>when this man comes
we may avoid him,</U> being aware who is he." Clearly Irenaeus did not expect
to be raptured before the tribulation.
<P>
Justin Martyr (in <I>Trypho</I>) writes, "The man of apostasy [speaking of
the man we call the "beast" or the "Antichrist"]... shall venture to do unlawful
deeds on the earth <U>against us the Christians.</U>"
<P>
Tertullian, commenting on 1 Thessalonians 4 (often taken by pretribbers to
be a reference to the pretribulational rapture), identifies that rapture
as being of those who survived the afflictions of the Antichrist. "Now the
privilege of this favor [to be raptured] awaits those who shall at the coming
of the Lord be found in the flesh, and who shall <U>owing to the oppressions
of the time of Antichrist</U>, deserve by an instantaneous death [his way
of referring to the "rapture"], which is accomplished by a sudden change,
to become qualified to join the rising saints; as he writes to the
Thessalonians." (from <I>On the Resurrection of the Flesh</I>)
<P>
Hippolytus wrote, in his <I>Treatise on Christ and Antichrist</I>, "Now
concerning the tribulation of the persecution <U>which is to fall upon the
Church </U>from the adversary... That refers to the one thousand two hundred
and threescore days (the half of the week) during which the tyrant is to
reign and persecute <U>the Church</U>." <A href="#fn5">(go back)</A>
<P>
<A NAME="ref6" HREF="#fn6"></A><A href="#fn6" NAME="ref6">6.</A> For example,
the writer of <I>The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles</I> wrote, "Watch for
your life's sake. Let not your lamps be quenched, nor your loins unloosed;
but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh." Pretribbers
quote this (and stop the quote here!!) because it sounds like it might be
referring to a pretribulational rapture. But the quote continues, "for the
whole time of your faith will not profit you, <U>if ye be not made perfect
in the last time... then shall appear the world-deceiver as Son of God,</U>
and shall do signs and wonders... Then shall the creation of men come into
the fire of trial..." He obviously expects his readers (the church)
to have to endure the tribulation!!
<P>
Also, in <I>The Shepherd of Hermas</I>, we read, "If then ye prepare yourselves,
and repent with all your heart, and turn to the Lord, it will be possible
for you to escape it [the great tribulation]." Out of context, it sounds
pretribulational (although it does sound a bit like "partial rapturism"--the
idea that some, but not all, of the church will be raptured). But, if you
read a little farther, he writes, "Those, therefore, who continue steadfast,
and are put through the fire [i.e. the great tribulation], will be purified
by means of it... This then is the type of the great tribulation that is
yet to come. If ye wish it, it will be nothing [i.e., 'If you are prepared,
it will not ultimately hurt you.']" <A href="#fn6">(go back)</A>
<P>
<A NAME="ref7" HREF="#fn7"></A><A href="#fn7" NAME="ref7">7.</A>"Eisegesis"
is the opposite of "exegesis." Exegesis means to "bring out" ("ex-" = out
of) the meaning of a passage of Scripture by careful study. Eisegesis means
to "read into" ("eis-" = into) a passage of Scripture the student's own
preconceived ideas. Exegesis is <I>good</I>. All proper Bible study should
be "exegetical." Eisegesis is to be avoided at all costs! We are guilty of
eisegesis when we "read into" the Scripture our own opinions of what we want
to passage to say. <A href="#fn7">(go back)</A>
<P>
Steve Hall <BR>
July 1998 <BR>
(conclusion written July 2000) <BR>
<A href="mailto:steve@aboundingjoy.com">steve@aboundingjoy.com</A>
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