Do you believe that the Rapture is near? When do you think the tribulation will begin?

I absolutely agree that we need to be "looking and preparing." Most Christians may say they believe this, but I am convinced that most of them do not understand that Christians will be on the earth for a great deal of the affliction and suffering of the so-called "tribulation" to take place. This is what they should be "looking and preparing" for, not anticipating the meeting of Jesus, face-to-face, imminently and at any moment.

The majority of Christendom has adopted the erroneous notion of the "Pre-tribulation" Rapture. They mistakenly believe that they will be whisked away, with no prior alert, and will be able to avoid the most distressing time of human history. I feel that this is a very precarious, if not dangerous, viewpoint to embrace.
I have read and listened to Hal Lindsey, Chuck Missler, Chuck Smith, Jack Van Empe, and others over the decades. Indeed, they have been, and continue to be, great Bible scholars and teachers. However, long ago, they embraced the idea of the "Pre-trib" Rapture (with its many inconsistencies and flaws) and, for some reason, never have re-examined and re-evaluated that position. Unfortunately, they use that particular Rapture view as a basic "building block" pertaining to other things that they believe about the end of the age. However, it is a block of sand, not of rock; so almost all of the prophetic issues built on top of it will crumble and collapse.

The prophetic end-time scenario, including the timing of the Rapture, is very logical and chronological. Here is a basic, foundational building block, from which we can deduce other details: Jesus referred to the "abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel" (Matthew 24:15). This is a direct reference to the following prophecy in the Book of Daniel:

He will confirm a covenant with many for one "seven." In the middle of the "seven" he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. (Daniel 9:27)

Some translations read "week" or "heptad" instead of "seven." The "he" in the prophecy is presumed, by the majority of Bible scholars, to be the Antichrist.

Daniel 9:27 is a prophecy about the final "week" of (seven) years of the age (also known as the 70th Week), which will begin with the confirmation of a covenant involving many nations, including Daniel's people, Israel (9:24). The prophecy indicates that in the middle of that seven-year period (that is, 3½ years after the covenant has been confirmed), an end will be put to sacrificing and offering in the temple (that is, the Third Temple in Jerusalem), and also the "abomination that causes desolation" will be set up. Thus, we know that Matthew 24:15-20 will take place in the middle of the final seven years, and then great distress or tribulation will begin (24:21).

Even before we have reached the middle of the 70th Week, world conditions should deteriorate to the point where most Christians, unless they are in a coma, will realize that something is terribly wrong. It should become clearly obvious to them not only that the 70th Week has begun but also that we just about will have reached the midpoint of that time period. Having been told that Jesus was supposed to "whisk" them away years before that point, I suspect that multitudes may fall away from the faith. This may be the apostasy or rebellion about which Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, just before the revealing of the "man of lawlessness" (Antichrist) at the midpoint.

"Pre-tribbers" also believe that the entire seven-year period (which they have misnamed the unscriptural term, "tribulation period") will be filled with God's wrath. I feel that this is completely unfounded. After the opening of the Sixth Seal (Revelation 6:12), clear signs in the sun, moon, and stars will signal the imminent appearance of Jesus in the clouds of the sky to catch away believers. The world will see "the face of Him who sits on the throne" and know that His wrath is near (6:16,17). John then saw a multitude in white robes (7:9), whom I believe are all the newly-raptured saints in heaven who have come out of the Great Tribulation (7:14). Then the Seventh Seal will be opened (8:1), and this will be followed by the first wave of God's wrath, by way of the Trumpet Judgments.

There is a clear parallel between Jesus' and John's descriptions of the cosmic disturbances to occur after the opening of the Sixth Seal: Matthew 24:29 and Revelation 6:12,13. (This will be well after the midpoint of the final seven years—I believe 2½ years later.) Chronologically, then, Matthew 24:30,31, which is a cogent picture of the Rapture event, will take place soon after the opening of the Sixth Seal (24:29).

If you ask "Pre-tribbers" what is happening in Matthew 24:30,31, they will say that it is the return of Jesus back to earth, at the end of the seven years (because they believe that the Rapture will have occurred seven years prior to that point). However, there are major problems with this view:

1. The Sixth Seal events (Matthew 24:29) will not take place at the very end of the seven years. There still will be the Seventh Seal to be opened (Revelation 8:1), and Jesus will not return to earth until the time of the Seventh Trumpet (11:15-17).
   
2. After the opening of the Sixth Seal (Matthew 24:29), Jesus only will appear in the clouds (24:30); He will not come down to earth at that time. Then His angels will gather his elect believers (24:31), at the Rapture. "Post-tribbers" believe that this is a picture of the Rapture and Jesus' return to earth, both taking place simultaneously. But they are incorrect, due to #1 above.
   
3. One would think that when Jesus' disciples asked Him about the end of the age (Matthew 24:3), He would have told them about the most extraordinary event in human history—the Rapture of believers—especially since Jesus Himself will be at the center of it. Since "Pre-tribbers" believe that it is a "silent, secret" event, with no signs preceding it, they are forced to believe that Jesus said nothing about it. But, of course, He did describe it (24:30,31), and it would have been a striking oversight had He avoided the topic altogether.
   

I feel that the events following the opening of the Fifth Seal (Revelation 6:7,8) are a depiction of the persecution and killing of many believers during the Great Tribulation period. They will plead with God to avenge their blood—which He will do soon after opening the Sixth Seal and catching away the saints who are still alive at that time. Isaiah wrote of this "day of vengeance" three times, in each instance equating it to a "year" of time (Isaiah 34:8, 61:2, 63:4). This, I believe, will be the seventh year of the 70th Week.

Jesus described the period from the middle of the 70th onward as a time of "great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again" (Matthew 24:21). He also said, "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened" (Matthew 24:22).

I believe that "those days" (of the Great Tribulation, for 2½ years) will be "shortened" by the opening of the Sixth Seal (24:29), at which time, "for the sake of the elect," the Rapture will take place. Then, for 1 year, the wrath of God will be "blown out" via the Trumpet Judgments. Then Jesus will return to earth, as the Rider on a white horse, to rule and reign. Now, let's add each of these time periods together: 3½ years + 2½ years + 1 year = 7 years.

 

THE RAPTURE EXAMINED...

by Dr. Andrew Corbett, Pastor of Legana Christian Church, National President of ICI Theological College Australia, Lecturer in Hermeneutics, and author of The Most Embarrassing Book in The Bible eBook

For years I was taught that the coming of Christ was to be in two stages: He would come for the Church, then He would later come with the Church. The first stage of this coming was called the rapture. I grew up in a church where we saw evangelistic films reinforcing this teaching and lately, the Left Behind series of books and films has continued to popularise this view as well. But now many Christians are asking some big questions about the rapture. This led me to investigate it for myself...

 THE ORIGINS OF THE RAPTURE

The Reformers of the sixteenth century saw sharp parallels between the apparent evils of an apostate religious group, as described in the Book of Revelation, and the Church of Rome. This opinion was so strong among the Reformers that they went as far as declaring that the Pope was the Anti-Christ, and the Roman Church was the Harlot of Babylon. One only needs to read the Westminster Confession of Faith which plainly states this belief. 

Many believe that this attack on the Roman Catholic Church, known as Historicism, was strategically counted by a Jesuit, Francisco Ribera (1537 - 1591).  He deflected some of this attack by developing the Futurist eschatological system. He published a book in 1591, in which he claimed that the Anti-Christ, the Fall of Babylon, and the destruction of a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem would all take place in the final seven years before the commencement of the millennium. Out of the seeds of Futurism grew the teaching of Edward Irving. 

Edward Irving (1792-1834) was minister of the Church of Scotland. He was also influenced by the writings of another Jesuit Priest, Emmanuel Lacunza (who used the pseudonym Juan Josafat Ben-Ezra) who wrote a book, "The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty". Irving translated this Spanish book into English and added a 203 page Preface.

When the Lord shall have finished the taking of witness against the Gentiles... he will begin to prepare another ark of testimony... and to that end will turn his Holy Spirit unto his ancient people, the Jews, and bring them unto those days of refreshing... This outpouring of the Spirit is known in Scripture by ‘the latter rain’.
Published by L.B. Seeley & Sons, 1827, London, pp. 5-6.

Irving planted the seeds of Dispensationalism which greatly influenced two other men. The first was John Nelson Darby (1800-1882), an Anglican minister who left the Church of Ireland to commence the Plymouth Brethren. The other was Henry Drummond (1786-1860), a banker, who founded the Catholic Apostolic Church.

In 1831 both Edward Irving and John Nelson Darby began to postulate a two-staged return of Christ. Some believe that Irving was influenced by a young girl, Margaret McDonald, who apparently received this ‘revelation’ from the Lord of a “rapture” of the Church before a time of Great Tribulation at the end of the age.

Through a series of Prophetic Conferences in England and the United States, this view gained popularity. But its most accelerated acceptance came when Cyrus Scofield (1843 - 1921) published his Reference Bible which incorporated the essential elements of Dispensationalism (including a secret rapture of the Church) into its study notes. This was published in 1909. Other such Dispensational Study Bibles began to appear throughout the twentieth century, including Dakes Annotated Reference Bible which almost became the standard text for the growing number of Pentecostals throughout the United States of America and Australia.

Throughout the twentieth century the Rapture theory has been prolifically promoted by Hal Lindsay’s now discredited book, Late Great Planet Earth, and more recently by Tim LaHaye’s and Jerry Jenkins’ fictional Left Behind series.

WHAT IS THE RAPTURE?

John F. Walvoord is perhaps considered the most vocal and prolific advocate for the rapture throughout the twentieth century. In his book, The Rapture Question, he defines the rapture as-

The Scriptures predict that the church will be raptured, or “caught up” to heaven, at the coming of the Lord for them. The word raptureis from rapere, found in the expression “caught up” in the Latin translation of 1Thessalonians 4:17.
John F. Walvoord, “The Rapture Question”, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1979

Rapture advocates build their case almost entirely on First Thessalonians 4:17.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1Thessalonians 4:17

We introduced this commentary by establishing three logical principles for interpreting God’s Word. I would also like to point out to those who may object to the association of “logic” with God’s Word that the word logic is derived from the Greek word, logos, which is a title and name of Christ.

These principles include: Examining the context; Avoiding Contradiction; and Appreciating the original intention. Generally, even Dispensationalists easily accept these three Hermeneutical principles. But in order for their system to work, they also require the addition of two other invented “laws”. These include “the Law of First Mention”, and “the Law of Double Reference.” I have already examined these principles of interpretation espoused by Dispensationalist proponents in the previous Appendix, and shown them to be grossly faulty.

By employing the sound principles of interpretation to the First Thessalonians 4:17 passage we should see that this refers not to a rapture, but to the resurrection. We draw this conclusion from the context of the passage.

In verse 13 the passage is referring to those Christians who have already died, and Paul is pre-empting their resurrection.

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
1Thessalonians 4:13

In verse 14 the passage is linked to the resurrection of Christ.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
1Thessalonians 4:14

In verse 16 the expression most commonly used for resurrection, “rise”, is used -

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Thessalonians 4:16

Prior to the invention of the rapture doctrine, all published commentators interpreted this First Thessalonians passage as referring to the resurrection. For example, Matthew Henry’s commentary on this passage says –

They shall be raised up from the dead, and awakened out of their sleep, for God will bring them with him, v 14. They then are with God, and are better where they are than when they were here; and when God comes he will bring them with him. The doctrine of the resurrection and the second coming of Christ is a great antidote against the fear of death and inordinate sorrow for the death of our Christian friends…v.17. At, or immediately before, this rapture into the clouds, those who are alive will undergo a mighty change, which will be equivalent to dying…
Matthew Henry, 1721

Matthew Henry, along with nearly all other commentators prior to the invention of Dispensationalism, saw the obvious intention of this passage as referring to the resurrection of the dead at the final coming of Christ, not a secret rapture prior to the resurrection.

Applying the principle of Non-contradiction this First Thessalonians 4 passage compliments statements in First Corinthians 15.

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Corinthians 15:52

The whole point to First Corinthians 15 is resurrection, not rapture.

DOES SCRIPTURE TEACH IT?

No. Let’s examine some of the key Scriptures used to justify a rapture:

Matthew 24:40-41 "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.”

• The context of this reference is clearly to the random killings perpetrated by the Romans and their siege of Jerusalem and Judea. Notice the entire passage of Matthew 24 pertains to the destruction of the Temple (vss 2-3). The Gospel of Matthew was written before the destruction of the Temple in 70AD which makes this particularly prophecy by Christ so amazing. If the Gospel of Matthew was written after 70AD there is no way the fulfilment of this prophecy would have been omitted by Matthew (it would be like writing the history of New York today and completely ignoring the events of 9-11). Some commentaries attempt to make this passage equate to the final eschaton or gathering God's people. But the passage pertains to the generation of Christ's audience (Matthew 24:34) and Christ has already warned His audience that when they see the events of Matthew 24 beginning to take place they (His followers) are to flee the city. Therefore, those left in the city when judgment on Jerusalem was to commence were not His people.

1Corinthians 15:52 “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

• The context of this reference is universally accepted as pertaining to the resurrection, not rapture.

1Thessalonians 4:13-18¶ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

• As with First Corinthians 15, this passage is about the Resurrection of the Righteous, not a secret Rapture disconnected from the Resurrection. Paul is responding to a question from the Thessalonians about those who had died in Christ and not participated in the expected resurrection of the righteous. He refers to these believers as having fallen asleep. This event is yet to happen. It is the Resurrection at the Return of Christ, not a Secret Rapture 7 years before the Return of Christ.

Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."

• The context of this reference is essential to understanding the nature and perspective of the Book of Revelation. John received this Revelation from God and was able to see things from God’s perspective. This is not a reference to the rapture.

Revelation 12:5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

• The context of this reference is to the ascension of Christ, not the rapture of the Church.

Rapturists claim that there are Old Testament precedents for the rapture. They appeal to both Enoch and Elijah as examples of rapture.

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Hebrews 11:5

We should apply the Hermeneutical principle of Non-Contradiction to this statement by Rapturists.

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
Hebrews 9:27

How do we reconcile these two seemingly contradictory verses? Are the claims of the Rapturists correct when they imply that Enoch levitated to Heaven? When the Scriptures declare that Enoch did not see/experience/taste death, does this mean that he did not have to go through a “dying” experience? Or, does it mean that he is physically in Heaven now and does not need to partake in the resurrection since he has kept his own body? It appears that there is a case to be made for saying that Enoch did not experience dying like all others, yet he still “died” in the sense that he was separated from his body (note James 2:26).

In either case, this is more a case of translation rather than rapture. The same applies to Elijah. Some see Noah’s Ark as a type of rapture. It would be more accurate to see Noah’s Ark as a picture of Christ instead.

WHAT THEN IS OUR HOPE?

looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Titus 2:13

Some Christians have linked their entire hope to a future return of Christ. A cursory examination of the topic of “hope” in the New Testament will readily show that hope is not just confined to the statement made in Titus 2:13. For example, we have the hope of the resurrection (Acts 23:6) and, the hope of spending eternity with God (Col. 1:5; Titus 3:7). Indeed the believers who lived before 70AD certainly did have reason to look forward to Christ’s appearing when He would come to close the amnesty of the Old Covenant and establish His kingdom. At the judgment of Jerusalem in 70AD, Revelation prophetically described as -

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"
Revelation 11:15

This seventh trumpet corresponds to the trumpet of Matthew 24:31 -

And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matthew 24:31

The seventh trumpet announced the completion of God’s Old Covenant with Israel and the announcement that the Kingdom of Christ had begun (Rev. 11:15). Yet their remains a final trumpet, which we might call the “eighth”. Note the comparison between the seventh and the final (or perhaps the "eighth") trumpets-

7th TRUMPET	LAST TRUMPET
·  A parousia of Christ	·  The Final Parousia of Christ
·  Jerusalem	·  Earth
·  Judgment on Judaism	·  Final Judgment
·  Fulfils Matthew 24	·  Fulfils Matthew 25; 1Thess. 4;  1Corinthians 15, Rev. 20:9ff
·  Ends the Old Covenant Age (note Heb. 8:13)	·  End of the Age
·  Proceeds from preaching the Gospel to Jews first throughout the oichoumene (Empire)	·  Proceeds from the making of disciples of all the nations  (Matthew 28:18-20)
·  Suffering, misery and death	·  Suffering, misery and death done away with (Rev. 21:3-4)
·  Satan is bound	·  Satan is damned
·  The beginning of Christ’s Kingdom	·  The culmination of Christ’s Kingdom (Eph. 1:10; 1Cor. 15:24)

Our hope is grounded in what Christ has done for us by granting us salvation encompassing, forgiveness, justification, and glorification. We therefore do not die without hope. Much of the basis for this is grounded in Christ’s resurrection and its implication for our resurrection. 

The Gospel is not a message that warns people of a Secret Rapture! This kind of Rapture has nothing to do with the Gospel! By exposing the modern teaching of a Secret Rapture as a fairly recent invention in pop-theology, it is my hope that Christians disburse from the Rapture bus-stop and get back into the main game of life. Rather than waiting for Jesus to rescue them from this naughty world, believers should strive to be salt and light on Christ's behalf to a world that would just love to see someone passion and genuine about what they believe in: Jesus Christ, Saviour and Forgiver to all those who are reconciled to God. We know that life will always have its tribulations. The Church will never rule the world and bring in some kind of utopian bliss, but the those in the Church can be better prepared to handle life's difficulties if they are not waiting for some kind of false hope such as a Secret Rescue Rapture.