The Rapture Debate

Some believe Jesus could rapture the Church at any moment.  Others say He won’t do so until the middle of the tribulation.  Still others place the rapture at the very end of a seven year tribulation period.  Are any of them right, or could the Bible teach a different option altogether?

Pretribulation rapturism teaches that Christ will rapture true believers before a seven year tribulation period or what is called the seventieth week of Daniel [1] , thereby saving the church from end-time persecution and martyrdom.  This view has gained wide acceptance in recent years by Tim LaHaye’s book series, but what has been left behind is the real truth.

The “day-for-a-year” principle, transferred from the books of Ezekiel (4:6) and Numbers (14:34) and forced upon the literal language of Daniel, was first considered an option during the Dark Ages as an answer to the long delay.  The “time, times and half” (1,260 days) of Daniel 7:25 were turned into years (1,260 years) and so forth.  The “historicist” view of prophecy was born and became the popular view of Christendom for several centuries.

However, in more recent history, a novel concept was proposed­—the “seven year” tribulation.  I was taught this prophetic view from early childhood, but upon closer examination realized there was a great deal of contextual inconsistencies.  First, Gabriel’s straightforward and very explicit time frame is overturned, and the last “seven days” of the prophecy are declared to be “seven years.”  Second, an even greater theological liberty is taken: the last week is chopped off from the other 69 weeks and applied arbitrarily to the end of time. 

This innovative approach to Daniel 9:27 grew steadily in popularity through the widely published works of several individuals in modern times.  Now the “seven year” tribulation has become synonymous with evangelical prophecy.  Yet one discovers this popular view is not only contrary to the language of the vision itself, but to other clear-cut statements in Bible prophecy.

For instance, the Word of God states that Antichrist is to rule just three and one-half years, neither a shorter nor a longer period [2] .  Nonetheless, in the “seven year” hypothesis, Antichrist is granted an additional three and one-half years for a seven year reign.  Whether considering century-old traditions or modern-day presumptions, we must question the reliability of all teachings; we must get back to the foundational tenants of God’s Word and let the Scriptures speak for themselves.

Here are the facts.  When we study the “taking of the saints” in the Hebrew prophecies without preconceived ideas, we discover both good news and bad news.  The good news is the tribulation will last just three and one-half years [3] , not seven years.  However, the bad news is that God’s people will be here to face this time of trial until God’s wrath is about to be poured out; then deliverance will come.

For this reason, for those of us who live near the close of this world’s history, the prophecies relating to the last days especially demand our attention.  From pulpits and classrooms around the globe, pastors and teachers should be warning of great trials which loom just before us.  They should be preparing the church for the deceptions of Lucifer and modern-day false prophets, which will be unleashed with “all power and signs and lying wonders,” (2 Thessalonians 2:9).  However, God’s people slumber on in apathy and worldliness [4] , and the church will enter the appointed time of the end confused and unprepared for the overwhelming calamities. 

As one inspirational author once wrote, "How should we search the Scriptures in order to understand what they teach?  We should come to the investigation of God’s Word with a contrite heart, and a teachable and prayerful spirit.  We are not to think, as did the Jews, that our own ideas and opinions are infallible; nor align with the papists, that certain individuals are the sole guardians of truth and knowledge, and men have no right to search the Scriptures for themselves.  Moreover, we should not study the Bible for the purpose of sustaining our preconceived opinions, but with the simple object of learning what God has said.  The church needs to have the light placed before them in clearer lines."  We must allow God to speak to us individually through His Word.  Let us have enough faith to believe He will do just that when we take the time to study, speak and pray with Him each day.  The pretribulational view breeds complacency through the idea of the great escape.  It has fostered a great deal of spiritual apathy in our churches today and will lead to the downfall of many families when the trials of the last days come upon mankind as a crushing surprise.

History of the Pretribulational View

The pretribulational view had early advocates when it was first introduced in the 1800’s including: Arno Gabelein, Harry Ironside, James Gray, Ruben Tory, and Lewis Sperry Chafer. The Scofield Reference Bible of 1909 and the revised edition of 1917, which included pretribulation rapturism as a major part of its prophetic teaching, greatly popularized this modern view of the rapture more than any other force.  Most Bible conferences, Bible colleges and seminaries under the influence of these men adopted this view.  

Marvin Rosenthal wrote in his book [5] concerning the historical starting point of pretribulation rapturism.  Most evangelical Christians are unaware that “this position, widely held by conservative premillenarians, is relatively new in origin. As an established view, it can be traced back to John Darby and the Plymouth Brethren in the year 1830.  Some scholars, seeking to prove error by association, have attempted (perhaps unfairly) to trace its origin back two years earlier to a charismatic, visionary woman named Margaret MacDonald.  In any case, neither its recent origin nor its source proves nor disproves its correctness.  But if pretribulationism is used as a badge for orthodoxy, one is faced with the perplexing question of what to do with the millions of godly believers who, for almost eighteen hundred years, did not hold to pretribulation rapturism.  Among them are men like John Wesley, Charles Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, John Knox, John Hus, William Carey, John Calvin, Isaac Newton, George Whitfield, A.B. Simpson, George Mueller, John Newton, Jonathan Edwards, John Wycliffe, John Bunyan, and many others.”

Weaknesses of the Pretribulational View

Of all the writings on the matter, no book comes closer to finding the truth on the subject than Marvin Rosenthal’s book.  Mr. Rosenthal is the executive director of Zion’s Hope (a faith mission), and for sixteen years he was the editor of one of evangelicalism’s leading magazines, Israel My Glory.  His book examines the weaknesses of pretribulation rapturism. 

Throughout the book, Rosenthal presents insights, although sparingly, into how Jewish Holy Days may fit into the final events, which closely parallel the Appointed Times & Seasons Calendar [6] .  Rosenthal documents how God’s wrath is not only to be poured out against the Gentile nations [7] , but also against Israel when she is brought into account for her sins [8] .

The Bible teaches the taking of the believers occurs on the very day the Day of the LORD begins [9] ; and therefore, many pretribulation rapturists believe (such as Scofield), out of necessity, the Day of the LORD must begin and continue for seven years through Daniel’s seventieth week.  Nevertheless, several problems emerge from the teaching that the Day of the LORD starts at the commencement of the seven years and at the secret rapture of the church.

First, the Bible teaches there will be “cosmic disturbances” before the Day of the LORD [10] , not after it has started.  This would necessitate the darkening of the sun, moon and stars before the secret rapture.

Second, the Hebrew Bible teaches the Day of the LORD’s wrath will commence immediately after the saints are taken.  In other words, there can be no delay between the beginning of the Day of the LORD and God’s judgment.  The Day of the LORD is always associated with the immediate and decisive wrath of God against the wicked [11] .  However, pretribulation rapturists teach that Antichrist is given control of Planet Earth during the Day of the LORD and that God’s wrath is delayed by several years.

Third, the Word teaches Elijah must come before the Day of the LORD begins [12] , not after it commences. So again, Elijah would need to arrive in ministry before the secret rapture, but this is never taught in pretribulation rapturism. 

Fourth, the Bible teaches the apostasy and revelation of the man of sin will precede the Day of the LORD [13] .  The church cannot and will not be taken before Antichrist is revealed in the Temple of God.  Antichrist would need to come into power before the secret rapture.

Fifth, the Scriptures teach the gospel is to go to the entire world, and then (and only then) will the Day of the LORD come [14] .  The great commission to go to the whole world was given to the church to fulfill.  Furthermore, Jesus promised He would be with the saints even to the end of the world [15] , not just until a secret escape.  Christ admonished the saints to endure to the end [16] , to then be saved.

Think about it.  The believers have never been exempt from trial and persecution throughout the centuries.  Even today, countless Christians are killed around the globe each and every year for their faith, and hundreds of thousands, even millions, have been martyred through the centuries.  The idea of a wholesale escape from trouble is an American-based theology in a country where religious freedom has been upheld and Christianity is the norm. However, circumstances will change during the last days.

Religious freedom will one day turn to religious frenzy, when the entire world “wonders after the beast.”  Persecution at the hand of the church-state religion will increase like that of the Dark Ages; it will exceed our wildest imagination, even in the United States, the land of the free.

Thief in the Night

Many think the Bible teaches a “secret rapture” because it says that Christ comes “as a thief in the night.”  However, consider the evidence of Scriptures.  In the Gospel accounts, Yeshua admonished His servants to be prepared and watching for the Son of Man’s coming [17] .  Christ associates His “thief in the night” return not to a secret rapture but to judgment, division and destruction.  In fact, His return is compared to the annihilation of sinners in the global flood.  The people were going about their day-to-day activities, but then the waters came and destroyed all but a few; so it will be at the coming of the Messiah.  

In 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, Paul again takes up the “thief in the night” theme.  The message is not to promote the secret rapture, but to forewarn once again of judgment, division and destruction.  Instead of sinners being confused by missing friends and relatives in a secret church-wide getaway, the wicked will know assuredly the Day of the LORD is upon them because of unprecedented death and ruin all around them. 

Paul wrote, “The Day of the LORD will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”  Paul adds that indeed “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our LORD Jesus Christ,” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).  However, this salvation will be simultaneous with the Day of the LORD and the overthrow of sinners.

Jesus Himself associates the “thief” activities with an ill-equipped church, just as the world will lack in watchfulness and preparedness.  Christ said in a direct warning to the church, I “know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of My God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief and you will not know at what time I will come to you,” (Revelation 3:2-3).  Jesus adds, “He who overcomes [the end-time trials without denying Christ] will... be dressed in white,” (Revelation 3:5).

Persecution: A Blessing in Disguise

Jesus considered persecution a blessing [18] .  Believers are to suffer just as Jesus suffered.  This is a basic truth, and persecution is an essential part of the Christian experience: “Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also,” (John 15:20).  Prophecy is very clear in its directive that obedient last-day saints will face great trials [19] .  The only escape for the faithful will come just before the Day of the LORD’s wrath is unleashed; it is from YHVH’s wrath we are to be saved, not from the anger and resentment of our neighbors, friends and even family members.

What does God’s Word say about escape for the faithful? There are two groups of believers.  The first group will be sealed for protection (twelve tribes of Revelation 7:1-3—those who are “alive and are left” behind; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17) to endure the final end.  The second are those believers who will be resurrected (faithful saints, whether dead for one minute, one day or for years) and taken up at Yom Kippur (“great multitude” of Revelation 7:9-14) to escape from the midst of great tribulation because of their patience during trial.  Yeshua promised the faithful last-day saints, “Since you have kept My command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial [Great Tribulation] that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.  I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the Temple of My God [a permanent Temple dweller—Revelation 7:15],” (Revelation 3:10-12). This escape of the saints comes just before the seven angels exit the Temple with God’s plagues of wrath [20] .  After being taken to Heaven for the short duration of the Great Tribulation, this “great multitude” of all nations will return with the King of Kings 40 days later at His visible climactic return for the gathering of His 144,000 sealed elect and the destruction of all remaining sinners [21] .

Finally, Yeshua taught the wheat and tares (weeds) would grow together.  At the end of the world in simultaneous fashion, the wheat would be gathered into His barn, while the tares would be burned [22] .  God’s people are in need of true holiness, that He may gather a mature grain, ripe unto harvest.  As Daniel predicted, “many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked.  None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand,” (Daniel 12:10).  John adds, “Everyone who has this hope [of Christ’s return] in him purifies himself, just as He is pure,” (1 John 3:2-3).

These words are worth repeating, "If the people of God were half awake, if they realized the nearness of the events portrayed in the books of Daniel and Revelation, a reformation would be seen in our churches, and many more would believe the gospel message.  We have no time to lose.  God calls upon us to watch, fast and pray with an earnest and sincere heart and to lay aside every sin.  Allow Daniel to speak to your heart, and along with Revelation may you discern what truth is.  But whatever phase of the subject is presented, Jesus is to be uplifted as the center of all hope.  The saints will be called upon to stand before leaders and rulers, and they must know the truth.  God can teach us more in one moment by His Holy Spirit than we could learn from the great men of the earth". At great cost, God has provided us the opportunity to know the true Savior, Christ Jesus the LORD.  Today is the day to follow Him all the way, no matter the cost.