(By Pastor Mark Fontecchio)
Question: Can we know with certainty that the Rapture of the Church is before the Tribulation?
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Answer: My wife and are truly blessed. We have two teenagers and a beautiful three year old little girl. The difference in age is remarkable. With our older children (both believers) we talk about the deeper things of Christ. With our three year old we keep it simple. She knows that Jesus loves her.
If we are looking for the Bible to specifically tell us in a few simple words (much like we talk with our three year old) that the Rapture is before the Tribulation, we will be disappointed. But if we are looking to have a more adult conversation about the timing of the rescue of the Church (much like we talk with our teenagers), then yes, we can prove this with certainty. In fact, I believe the blessed hope of the imminent return of Christ is a common theme found throughout the New Testament epistles (Titus 2:13). It was the position of the New Testament Church.
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It starts with knowing that the Church must be rescued before the Day of the Lord’s Wrath. 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9, and Revelation 3:10 all indicate that the Church will be rescued before the Day of the Lord’s Wrath. Therefore, identifying when the Day of the Lord’s Wrath begins identifies when the Rapture will take place sequentially.
The Day of the Lord’s Wrath encompasses the entire Seventieth Week of Daniel (Zeph. 1:14-18; Hos. 5:10; Ezek. 7:19; Luke 21:23). We come to this conclusion by carefully examining and comparing the related passages in Scripture.
A point by point comparison of Revelation 6 and Matthew 24 shows that both texts are undoubtedly referring to the same events. They help us to identify the timing of the Rapture by providing evidence that the seal judgments in Revelation begin at the start of the Tribulation. Revelation 6:16 demonstrates that the opening of the seals is the prophetic Day of the Lord’s Wrath. Therefore, this wrath must begin at the start of the Tribulation. Because the Church is to be rescued from this wrath, the Church will be raptured before the Tribulation begins.
A second proof of the pretribulation Rapture of the Church is related directly to the Jewish nature of the Tribulation. The critical distinction between the Church and the nation of Israel must not be forgotten. The Church did not participate in the first sixty-nine weeks of years for the nation of Israel (Dan. 9:24-25). Why would the Church then participate in the seventieth week? Remember, this period of time is referred to as, “Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7). Even in Daniel 9:24 we witness the distinct references to the Jewish people as Daniel was told, “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city.” The 144,000 witnesses will be of, “the tribes of the children of Israel” (Rev. 7:4). There will be 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes (Rev. 7:5-8). The Olivet Discourse itself is Jewish in nature. The Church is not present in any sense in Matthew chapters 24 and 25. The disciples’ questions in Matthew 24:3 related to Jerusalem, Israel, and the Lord’s second coming in glory to establish His kingdom. Even the Old Testament descriptions of this period are clearly Jewish in nature (Zech. 12:8-9).
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A third argument for pretribulationism is that the literary structure of the book of Revelation indicates that the Church is not present on earth once the seal judgments begin. Certainly the book of Revelation gives us supplemental information about additional activities that will take place during the Tribulation. It is generally understood that the ministry of the 144,000 witnesses will span the entire 7 years. The intense persecution of Israel will primarily take place in the second half of the Tribulation. The discussion of the Beast and the False Prophet relates to the second half. This additional information further describes the activities taking place during this seven-year period.
Yet, it must be recognized that the Church is never mentioned in Revelation 4-18. If the Church is to take part in some of the judgments of the Tribulation, why is it never mentioned? Therefore, the literary structure of Revelation is a strong argument for the Rapture of the Church taking place before the Tribulation.
A fourth argument relates directly to the mystery concept of the Church. This makes the pretribulation Rapture a necessity. The Church is a temporary interruption in God’s program with Israel, which was not brought into existence until after the sixty-ninth week of Daniel 9. Historically, the Church had no place in the first sixty-nine weeks, and so it follows that the Church has no place in the seventieth week either.
Taken together, these facts all point us to the understanding that the departure of the Church to meet the Lord in the air (the Rapture) must precede the arrival of the Day of the Lord’s Wrath.
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