End Times: When Will the Rapture Occur, Part 4

End Times: Post-Tribulational Rapture

In the first article, some techniques to help with interpreting the Bible were impugned. The second article assessed the Pre-Tribulational timing of the rapture. The third article reviewed the Mid-Tribulational view of the return of Christ to claim His bride. In every article it has been mentioned that each supporter of each view believes that he or she has zeroed in on the Biblical truth.

The supporters of the view that the rapture will occur after the Tribulation, or Post-Tribbers, also believe that they have arrived at the correct conclusion. As with each group, whether the Post-Tribbers have reached the right answer or not, their correctness or incorrectness does equate to saved or lost. The article may point out issues with a particular perspective, but that does not intend to criticize the person who holds that view. As one more point of interest, scholars favored this view prior to World War I, but the “… Post Tribulation position was disfavored after WWI” (http://bible-truth.org/mid-trib.html, 9/26/14).

The Scriptures Used to Support Post-Tribulational View

God’s wrath will come to the earth as shown in Revelation 6:17, 15:1, 16:1.

Saints will live on the earth during the Rapture, as shown in Revelation 7:14, 11:3 – 12, 12:6, 13 – 17, 13:7, 14:12, and 16:15, and in Matthew 24:3 – 31.

The saints in the Great Tribulation are not the targets of God’s wrath, but of the beast (Revelation 13:7).

The saints in the Tribulation will be comprised of Jews and Gentiles, as per Revelation 7:4 – 8, 9 – 14.

God will not pour His wrath out on the saints, the church (Revelation 3:10; John 17:15).

Other terms for church used in Revelation 11 (read Revelation 1to understand “lampstand”) and 21.

Coming like a thief, at an unknown hour, relates to unbelievers (1 Thessalonians 5:4).

Warnings about what one believes about the end times (Matthew 24:4; Revelation 22:18 – 19; 2 Thessalonians 2:3).

The common verses: John 14:1 – 3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – 17; Matthew 24:1 35; 2 Thessalonians 2 (the whole chapter).

Argument

The only arguments that I can make against the Post-Tribulational view are those made by Pre-Tribbers and Mid-Tribbers. I could use arguments similar to those to which I have provided contrary arguments, but that would make me a bit of a hypocrite in the interest of trying to play myself off as a pseudo-intellectual. Those contrary arguments that I made are based upon a straight forward read of the Bible, without claiming secret knowledge, being an anti-Semite, or having to change the meanings of words. I could argue for this view, but I already have, and I have nothing new to add. To be fair, in my view, Post-Tribbers have it more right than the other views. I recommend looking at an essay by Stephen Amy, which may be found at http://user.xmission.com/~rdo/pretrib.htm.

Conclusion

Ultimately, does it matter which side has it the most right? Some would vehemently argue that it does, others may disagree, stating that they belong to the fourth option – pan-ism, saying, “It’ll all pan out in the end.” From my perspective, both sides are right: yes, it does matter, and no, it doesn’t. It matters because Jesus says that we should have some awareness the signs of the coming of the end of the age (Matthew 24:33). It matters because one’s view of eschatology can let him down when things go poorly; when things go bad, if God does not deliver that person from the difficulty (as the Pre- and Mid-Tribulational views suggest that He will), and instead delivers him through the difficulty as the Bible shows that He can. The question is will this individual trust Him to do this, to walk with – even carry him – through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4)?

At the same time, no, it doesn’t. If someone trusts God, then it does not matter whether or not difficulty comes, does it? I write this as someone who has been carried through difficulty and disappointment, when I felt like all hope was lost, and it hurt beyond what I thought I could endure. I write this as someone who knows that difficulty will come. Even with that, I personally don’t care whether He calls His bride into His presence before, during, or after the Tribulation, all that I care about is that I am counted among the saints who will be there with Him (Luke 10:20) because I trust Him to never leave me (Hebrews 13:5). I hope that Christians will start to put away their disagreements that matter – and, yet, don’t matter, and start to rally around our Lord and Savior. He matters the most. Until next time, Lord willing, may God bless you.

Scriptures taken from Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.^TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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© Bema Sheep, 2014

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