"The Pretribulation Rapture"

  • Derek Staples
  • | Oct 28, 2008
  • | Series: Monday Morning Manna

"The Pretribulation Rapture"


"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we, who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (I Thess. 4:13-18)

We have been studying the churches of Revelation the last few Wednesday night's together (I confess, I never dreamed this study would pack the house). Nevertheless, last week we examined the church at Philadelphia, (Rev. 3: 7-13). In v. 10 Jesus states: "Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth." The church at Philadelphia has kept Christ's command to persevere, to endure, to stay with it, and maintain their devotion.

In response Christ promises a remarkable deliverance from an hour of trial which will test the whole world and those who dwell on the earth. This last phrase is significant and is repeated several times in Revelation. In every instance it refers to unbelievers exclusively as the objects of God's wrath (cf. 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 12:12; 13:8, 12, 14). Therefore, the hour of trial is focused on unbelievers, and Christ promises deliverance to his children not from trial or persecution in general, but from a specific and definite trial that is aimed at rebellious humanity.

In his book, Because The Time Is Near, by Dr. John MacArthur (an excellent summary of the unfolding apocalypse in Revelation), he says, "Because the believers in Philadelphia had successfully passed so many tests, Jesus promised to spare them from the ultimate test. The sweeping nature of that promise extends far beyond the Philadelphia congregation to encompass all faithful churches throughout history. This verse promises that the church will be delivered from the Tribulation, thus supporting a pretribulation Rapture." (Note, pp. 87-96)

MacArthur then outlines the following:

The Rapture is the subject of three passages in the NT (John 14:1-4; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thess. 4:13-17), none of which speak of judgment, but rather of the church being taken up to heaven. There are three views of the timing of the Rapture in relation to the Tribulation:

It comes at the end of the Tribulation (posttribulationism).
It comes in the middle of the Tribulation (midtribulationism).
It comes before the tribulation (pretribulationism).

Several aspects of this wonderful promise may be noted in v. 10.
1) The test is yet future.
2) The test is for a definite, limited time; Jesus called it the hour of testing. 3) It is a test or trial that will expose people for what they really are.
4) The test is worldwide in scope, since it will come upon the whole world. 5) Its purpose is to test those who dwell on the earth - a phrase used as a technical term in Revelation for unbelievers (cf. 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 14:6; 17:2, 8).

The hour of testing is Daniel's 70th Week (Dan. 9:25-27), the time of Jacob's trouble (Jer. 30:7), the 7-year tribulation. The Lord promises to keep His church out of the future time of testing that will come on unbelievers. (John MacArthur Commentary)

So, along with John MacArthur, Chuck Swindoll, David Jeremiah, Tim LaHaye, Paige Patterson, Adrian Rogers, Jerry Vines, and Danny Akin, I too am convinced the Lord will deliver the church and keep us from the Great Tribulation. In fact, note the following support for pretribulationism provided by one of my mentors, Dr. Danny Akin:

Additional Support for the Pretribulation Position
1. The church is not appointed to wrath (Rom. 8:9; 1 Thess. 1:9-10; 5:9). The context of this promise, especially in 1 Thess. 5:9, is the Great Tribulation. The church, therefore, should not expect to enter "The great day of His wrath" (Rev. 6:17) which is directed toward unbelievers.
2. The chronology of the discussion in 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11 argues for a pretribulation rapture. The rapture discussion in chapter 4 precedes the Day of the Lord discussion in chapter 5. This would indicate that the rapture takes place before the Day of the Lord.

3. In 2 Thessalonians 2, the believers were alarmed that the Day of the Lord was upon them, which does not appear to be consistent with the belief that they would not go through the Tribulation. By assuring them that they were not in the Day of the Lord, Paul encouraged them in their pretribulationism.

4. In Rev. 19:11-21, the saints are viewed as "coming with" Christ at His Second Coming, not "waiting for" Him. Furthermore, the Church is in heaven prior to the Second Coming for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:1-10). Thus, they must at some time have been gathered to Him prior to both of these events. This would be consistent with pretribulationism.

5. The NT emphasizes the imminent return of Christ. The exhortation to look for "the glorious appearing" of Christ to His own (Titus 2:13) loses its significance if the tribulation must come first. Believers in that case should look for signs. This is the strongest argument for pretribulationism.

These are the reasons why I rejoice in the great declaration that follows right on the heels of verse 10. Jesus proclaims "I am coming quickly." What could be more precious to a believer's heart than this? What could bring more comfort in a time of economic upheaval? What calms a troubled heart more than these four simple words, "I am coming quickly?"

Until He comes, "hold fast" (v. 11)! Because His coming is imminent, any day, any time, the believers of Philadelphia, in fact, all believers, should hold fast to His Word, His name, and His promise of deliverance. Stay with it Jesus says; there is a crown waiting at the finish line.


Until He Comes,

Dr. Derek