Let’s Have a Real Conversation About the RAPTURE

Good Morning to all! I am still not saying whether I am Pre, Mid or Post Tribulation. I have many statements and many questions and many hateful responses. If you come here and say things that are hateful to others, not me (as I will try to respond), but others that post comments I will delete your comment. 

One of the comments a dear Sister in Christ made has shown me that I want to add this line to this post. Attitude matters as much as sound teaching. 

Pre-Tribulation View

All the preachers that I listen to are Pre-tribulation. So let’s start with them. They say at the start of Revelation 4 you do not hear about the church again until like Revelation 19. They also use Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” If it were to be Mid-tribulation then they could count 1260 days and know exactly when the rapture would occur. Then they go to           Then they go to 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” Saying the whole tribulation time is God’s wrath. And some us 1 Thessalonians 5:4 “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” So this is the basic premise of Pre-tribulation.

I could have missed some points so forgive me, I am only trying to list the basics for each view that others could possible come and have a real discussion!

Mid-Tribulation View

Now this may actually cover Mid-tribulation and Pre-wrath Views as I am unable to distinguish the difference. Maybe you can help me. Some Mid-Tribulation people say that the Israelites went through the first three plagues therefore we will go through the first three and half years of the tribulation. These I believe are also the belief of 1 Corinthians 5:52 “in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” And 1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.” Which they say is the Seventh Trumpet in Revelation. Revelation 11:14-15 “14The second woe has passed. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. 15Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world is now the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” They also refer to the passage in Daniel 12:11-12     11 ” And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” 

How do we answer each of these things to come let us reason together. Isaiah 1:18-20. Come now, let us reason together — The word נוכחהis properly understood of two contending parties arguing a case; or, as Bishop Lowth translates it, pleading together; but here it seems to import also the effect, or issue of such a debate, namely, the accommodating their differences. Though your sins be as scarlet — Red and bloody as theirs were, mentioned Isaiah 1:15; great and heinous; they shall be white as snow — God, upon your repentance and reformation, will pardon all that is past, and look upon you with the same grace and favour as if you had never offended, your sins being expiated by the blood of the Messiah, typified by your legal sacrifices.

Post-Tribulation View

For the final view of my commentary. I have the least information about this view because I have only heard one Preacher that believes this. I will do my best. Again forgive me if I miss some points or do not quote properly. One strength of Post-tribulation is that Jesus, in His extended discourse on the end times, says He will return after a “great tribulation” Matthew 24:21, 29 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” 29 “Immediately after the tribulation 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:” Also, the book of Revelation, with all its various prophecies, mentions only one coming of the Lord—and that occurs after the Tribulation Revelation 19-20. Passages such as Revelation 13:7 “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”  and 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” also lend support to Post-tribulation in that there will obviously be saints in the Tribulation. Also, the resurrection of the dead in Revelation 20:5 “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” is called “the first resurrection.” Post-tribulation assert that, since this “first” resurrection takes place after the Tribulation, the resurrection associated with the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 “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:” cannot occur until then.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 which is also used in all three views only in different ways.

So are we able to come together without being hateful, show our view and look openly at the other views and let us reason together. Not so that you will change your mind but that we can openly answer any other person’s questions. I see a lot of people having questions, but no one giving answers. Just a my way or the highway kind of answer. This is my view but your scripture doesn’t matter type thing. This is causing a rift. Will you be the one to open a dialog with this is why that scripture doesn’t match my theology?   Nicely, Godly, and honestly! I look forward to any open conversation that this may bring forth. Remember to state your view nicely. Read the others comment and no one is allowed to be hateful. Hateful does not mean not defending your view. You are allowed to passionately defend you view. 

Shalom and God Bless.