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As you scroll through the 19 reasons below on why some people don’t embrace the commonly held pre-tribulation rapture theory, please also keep in mind that we’re not dealing with a salvation issue here. There are many different opinions on this issue out there and it’s okay for brothers and sisters in the Lord to disagree while enjoying lively debate. Besides, as world events continue to unfold, we will all probably find out who is right soon enough.

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Pink = Scripture

Yellow = Tyler’s emphasis in the verse

White = additional context

Blue = Tyler’s summary thoughts

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Reason #1.

Reason #2.

Argument against Pre-Trib

II Thessalonians 2:1-4 states the Antichrist will be revealed before the gathering of the church (the rapture). The pre-tribulation rapture theory has the rapture before the Antichrist is revealed. This scripture describes the opposite. Verse 6 explains that what is holding back the revelation of the Antichrist is that it’s not time for him to be revealed yet.

Reason #3. Revelation 20:4-6 shows that saints who are killed during the mark of the beast period – the Great Tribulation – will be part of the “first” resurrection. This passage conflicts with the pre-tribulation rapture theory which asserts that the “first” resurrection happens before the mark of the beast. John however took great pains to let us know that saints who are killed during the Great Tribulation (the mark of the beast period) would be in the first resurrection. This scripture poses a timing conflict with the pre-tribulation rapture theory. In an attempt to address the problem some say, “There have been many first resurrections.” With all due respect, this makes no sense. Another attempt to square Revelation 20:4-6 with a pre-tribulation rapture theory has some trying to explain that a rapture and a resurrection are not the same. But they are the same. The rapture is when the dead in Christ rise. This is the very definition of the word “resurrection.”

Reason #4. Matthew 13’s parable of the wheat and the tares (verses 24-30 and 36-43) describes the harvest of the good and wicked as one simultaneous event, not two events separated by seven years. Those who feel the passage does allow for a seven year gap cannot explain verse 30 which says, “Gather ye together first the tares (the

wicked).” In other words, if the words of Jesus allow for a sequence to the harvest, Jesus says the wicked would be harvested before God’s people, not after.

Reason #5. In Revelation 13:7, the Antichrist makes war against saints who are from all kindreds, tongues, and nations. For those who believe God raptures His church and then turns his attention to the Jews for the final seven years, Revelation 13:7 is in conflict with this theory since “all kindreds, tongues, and nations” refers to Gentiles as well as Jews.

Reason #6. I Corinthians 15:51-54 speaks of the last trump. Revelation 11:15-19 speaks of the last trump. The description of what happens in “the last trump” in each of these passages is the same. It would be a stretch to conclude I Corinthians 15’s last trump refers to a pre-tribulation rapture while Revelation 11’s last trump refers to a different event that occurs seven years later, the Second Coming, also called the Glorious Appearing. The scripture comparison shows it’s the same event. There aren’t two last trumps.

Reason #7. I Thessalonians 4:16 through 5:7 describes the event when Christ returns from heaven, with a shout, trumpet, accompanied by angels. It’s when believers are gathered in the clouds. He comes as a thief. Believers are told to keep watch and not to be deceived. Everyone agrees this passage describes the rapture. However, when this passage is laid side by side with Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 (verses 30-31, 40-44, and 4), it’s pretty clear Paul in I Thessalonians is describing the same event as Jesus in Matthew 24. Again, everyone agrees it’s the rapture. The problem for the pre-tribulation rapture theory is that in Matthew 24:29 Jesus places the timing of the rapture to be after the Great Tribulation, not seven years prior.

Reason #8. Every prophecy student would agree that the rapture is when the Lord comes as a thief. Many warnings of this are given in the New Testament. Among them are Matthew 24:42-43, I Thessalonians 5:2, and II Peter 3:10. One such warning is given in Revelation 16:15. It’s the final last minute warning: “Behold, I come as a thief.” But notice the context of this final warning. The following verse, Revelation 16:16, is the Battle of Armageddon – the 7th Vial. Why would God be issuing a warning that He will be coming as a thief right up until the day before Armageddon if He had already come as a thief seven years prior? The answer is, He wouldn’t.

Reason #9. It has been theorized that when the Lord comes as a thief in the night, this speaks of a Secret Coming. However, I Thessalonians 5:1-8 teaches the church will know when He is coming. The Church will not be taken by surprise. Only the people living in darkness, the unsaved, will be taken by surprise. Children of light will not be taken by surprise. It is hard to point to a scripture in the Bible which even alludes to a Secret Coming.

Reason #10. It has been commonly taught that the Great Tribulation is the Wrath of God. The Bible however teaches the opposite. When the Great Tribulation ends, this is when God’s Wrath begins. Proof: One of the events that takes place during the Wrath of

God is the sun, moon, and stars will go dark. It is described in the 6th Seal – Revelation 6:12-17. The passage specifically calls this event the Wrath of God. The sun, moon, and stars going dark is also spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24:29. It’s the same event, only Jesus gives us the timing of the event. He says it occurs after the Great Tribulation. So according to Jesus, the Wrath of God is not the Great Tribulation. Instead, He teaches the Wrath of God occurs after the Great Tribulation. To operate under the premise that God’s Wrath is the Tribulation results in confusion.

Reason #11. Revelation 12:7-17 describes the events of the Great Tribulation. This can be proven by comparing it with all other passages in the Bible that speak of a three and one-half year period of time (e.g. 1,260 days, 42 months, “time, times, and half a time”). Verse 12 calls this 3.5 year Great Tribulation period the time of “Satan’s Wrath.” This makes sense, because God does not persecute His own people. But Satan does.

Reason #12. I Thessalonians 5:9 teaches that God’s people are not appointed unto God’s Wrath. The post-tribulation rapture theory agrees with this. As stated above, the common misunderstanding and confusion is that the Great Tribulation is not God’s Wrath. It is Satan’s Wrath. History records that 11 of the 12 apostles were martyred. Saints today are not immune from the trials, temptations, and persecutions of Satan. It has been said that God wouldn’t beat up His bride before marrying her. It is true. He wouldn’t. But Satan would. No Christian on earth today in places like Sudan or China would embrace a pre-tribulation rapture based on how the theory interprets I Thess 5:9. Believers in nations like these are persecuted and die, not unlike how it will be during the Great Tribulation. By Satan, not God. Revelation 12:11 confirms that to die in the Lord at the hands of Satan is victory.

Reason #13. The pre-tribulation rapture theory states that there is one Second Coming, but that it happens in two phases. The first phase is for His church. It’s called the rapture or the Secret Coming. The second phase is Matthew 24:31’s gathering of the Jews, also called the Glorious Appearing. It occurs at the end of the final seven years. We find the premise of there being one coming but in two phases separated by seven years to be a stretch. And there are some scriptures which are in conflict with this theory. Here are two: Titus 2:11-13 instructs the church to live righteously in this present world right up until the Glorious Appearing, not right up until the Secret Coming. I Peter 1:5-7 teaches that trials and temptations will continue for the church all the way up until the Glorious Appearing, not all the way up until the Secret Coming.