Bible Study on the Rapture Views
Foundation
The rapture is the idea that all Christians will disappear from the face of the Earth to meet the lord in the air. The primary passage for the rapture (In which pre-tribbers, mid-tribbers and post-tribbers agree upon) is found in 1st Thessalonians and 1st Corinthians. Many would argue that the rapture does not really exist in scripture, and they usually tend to hold a different view on the millennium. That will be the discussion of another article, however; here we are talking about the views of the rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – 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 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.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 – 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, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Pre-Tribulation Rapture
The Pre-Tribulation rapture is the idea that the church and the kids will be out of here before the 7 year tribulation begins. It is based on the idea that Revelations is one continuous chronological book. First comes the Seals’ then comes the Trumpets and then comes the Vials. This is probably the most spoken rapture in today’s evangelical church. One of the reasons(biblical speaking) people believe in a pre-tribulation rapture is because of the following scripture. Because the scripture states (come up hither and displays the sound of a trumpet) people believe that this must mean that this is the rapture.
Revelation 4:1 – 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, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
All throughout Chapters 1-3 of Revelations it mentions “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;” An example is Revelation 2:7 listed below. The Asian churches spoken in these chapters represent the church universally. After Revelations 4:1; it fails to mention churches as well as the spirit. So the churches and spirit can be interpreted as being gone. When reading Revelation 13:9 it fails to mention the church as well as the spirit. A lot of Christians believe that the restrainer spoken in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 is the Holy Spirit. And that’s why its not mentioned during the tribulation period in Revelations.
Revelation 2:7 – He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Revelation 13:9 – Whoever has ears, let them hear.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 – For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
To further discuss the church not being here during the tribulation, we look at the following scriptures. These are also interpreted as the church not being here. People interpret temtation in Revelation 3:10 as tribulation. In Jeremiah 30:7 the word says we will be saved out of trouble or tribulation.
Revelation 3:10 – Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Jeremiah 30:7 – How awful that day will be! No other will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.
To have a deeper understanding of Pre-Tribulation rapture, it would be helpful to have knowledge of the dispensations. Right now it is believed we are in the dispensation of grace, and because of this dispensation of grace, we will not have to endure the tribulation because of Gods’ grace and Gods mercy. The dispensations are in the following order; Innocence, Conscience, Governments, Promise, Law, Grace (Ends at the Rapture), and Kingdom.
Ephesians 3:2-5
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
It’s interpreted that because Jesus comes back for a bride without wrinkle and spot, that he will get the church before tribulation. Since we are the bride of Christ, why would we go through trials and tribulations?
Epehesians 5:25-33 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Post-Tribulation/Pre-Wrath Rapture
The post tribulation/pre wrath rapture is based on the idea that the church will go through tribulation, and that we will be caught up before God pours out his wrath. The wrath here is explained as the Trumpets and Vials of Revelations. This idea is based on the idea that Revelations is split up into 2 books. Revelations Chapters 1-11, and Revelations Chapters 12-22. So these 2 books are chronological. The believers of this belief believe the seals(tribulation) come first, and that the trumpets(Gods wrath) and vials(Gods wrath) happen simultaneously with each other after the seals. This belief has an overwhelming amount of similarities with the Post Tribulation Rapture belief. So understanding this belief sheds light on the Post Tribulation Rapture; and vice versa.
One of the reasons(biblical speaking) people believe in a post-tribulation/pre-wrath rapture is because of Matthew 24:29-31. This scripture shares the same characteristics as those found in 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17, and 1st Corinthians 15:51-54. You have Jesus descending in the clouds, the sounds of the trumpet and gathering together. Matthew 24:29 also share Characteristics with Revelation 6:12-13. You see the moon and sun being darkened.
Matthew 24:29-31 – 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: 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 with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Revelation 6:12-13
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
In Chapter 12 of Revelation it seems like the order of events has shifted. Like the timeline has restarted. So it’s easy to interpret the books being split up in Revelations as 1-11 and 12-22. In Revelation 7:9 it expresses that a Great Multitude in heaven appears. Which can be interpreted as the Rapture. This happens shortly after Revelation 6:12-13 during the 6th seal. 7th Seal happens in Chapter 8 of Revelations.
Revelation 7:9 – 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;
The following verses can be interpreted as us staying here during the tribulation. They mention we will not be taken from this world and that we shall endure tribulation.
John 17:15 – I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
1 Thessalonians 3:4 – For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
Deuteronomy 4:30
30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
Romans 5:3
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Romans 8:35
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Furthermore, itss interesting to note the similarities between the vials and trumpets. For instance the 1st Trumpet and 1st vial both effect Earth, the 2nd effects the sea, the 3rd effects the rivers, the 4th effects the sun, the 5th effects darkness, the 6th Euphrates, and the 7th is with hail.
Post-Tribulation Rapture
The Post Tribulation Rapture is based on the presumption that we will all go through Tribulation even be on Earth during the time of the Trumpet and Vials of Wrath. However, God will protect his people like he did with the Passover in Egypt. The idea behind the Post-Tribulation Rapture is that the Seals, Trumpets, and Vials all overlap one another. Seals happen the longest duration, then the Trumpets, and the vials happen during the very end and has the shortest duration. One of the main reasons behind this idea is the similarities between the 6th Seal, 7th Trumpet and 7th Vial. The 6th seal and the 7th vial there is land (islands and mountains) departing. The 7th trumpet and 7th vial we see earthquakes, lightning’s, voices, thundering’s, an earthquake, and great hail.
Revelation 6:14-16 – 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:
Revelation 11:19- 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.
Revelation 16:18-21 – And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
The parable of the wheat and tares are particularly interesting. You notice that everything is being gathered and burned at the same time. Some believe this parable is in regards to the Rapture. That God will decide to gather his saints at the same time he decides to burn the wicked.
Matthew 13:24-30 – Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
In 1st Corinthians 15:51-52 states that we shall be renewed at the sound of the last trumpet. Another particular word I want you to notice is the word Mystery. Is mentioned in both sets of scripture. So it’s easy to interpret it as the 7th Trumpet of Revelations, The 7th trumpet is found in Revelations 10:7.
1st Corinthians 15:51-52 – 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, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Revelation 10:7 – But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
Jesus coming like a thief in the night is mentioned throughout the bible. Some believe that is him coming for the Rapture. Lets look at the verses and see the similarities. This happens after the 6th vial and right before the 7th vial. It’s interesting that it mentions gathering together.
Matthew 24:42-43 – Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
2 Peter 3:10 – But the day of the LORD will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Revelations 16:15-16 – Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
In Revelation Chapter 6 we see the souls of those that were slain for the word of God. They have yet received their bodies. In Revelation Chapter 20, we see souls that were beheaded. So there’s an easy correlation between the 2. It’s interesting that Revelations 20 calls this the first resurrection.
Revelation 6:9 – 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:
Revelation 20:4-6 – 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 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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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.
Conclusion
Now what prophetic view you have of the rapture isn’t a salvation issue, but the purpose behind this article was to be informative to you and so you could draw your own conclusion. This article did not cover every aspect of every belief. Books will need to be read to gather a deeper understanding of each view, but don’t be so quick to write off other views. There’s other views out there as well, especially concerning the various millennial views. Ask God to guide you and he surely will. We thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have any questions or anything you would like for us to look into. Email us at [email protected].
I am a pre-wrath rapture proponent. I do not believe that Revelation is two books. I believe that it is one book. It runs in Chronological order the whole way through except for the few times it pauses and goes into greater detail about what was just covered or where it breaks to go into great detail about something that happens in that instance. I also do not believe that the trumpet and bowl judgements run simultaneously. The sixth seal in Revelation 6:12-17 and Matthew 24:29-31 are parallel passages that tell of Christ sending His angels to gather His elect (the rapture.) The seventh seal signals the beginning of the trumpet judgements. The seventh trumpet signals the end of Daniel’s Seventieth Week and the beginning of the 30 days of the bowl judgements. This 30 day period is mentioned in Daniel 12:11.
I really wish people who talk about the pre-wrath rapture view would learn enough about it to talk about intelligently.
For anyone wishing a more detailed explanation there are two books that I would recommend; “The Sign” by Robert VanKampen and “the Pre-Wrath Rapture View” by Marv Rosenthal. Facebook has a group called “Prewrath Rapture View” if anyone is interested.
Thank you for sharing and adding your input! God Bless!