The Pretribulation Rapture

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The Pretribulation Rapture Theory

This position holds that "the church, the body of Christ, in its entirety, will, by resurrection and translation, be removed from the earth before any part of the seventieth week of Daniel begins." (pg 193, Things to Come, Dwight Pentecost)

I. The Essential Basis of the Pretribulation Rapture Theory

This position rests in its entirety on the literal method of interpreting Scripture. If one holds to this theory and method of interpreting Scripture, then one must also hold that Israel and the Church are separate and distinct entities and are dealt with by God according to the dispensation in which we are living.

II. The Essential Arguments of the Pretribulation Rapturist

 

A. The literal method of interpretation

It is freely admitted by amillenialist that the major difference between their position and that of the premillenialist is that of the method of interpreting Scriptures. If one holds to a literal method of interpretation, one must be premillenial. It follows therefore, that if one interprets the millenium thusly, one must also interpret the tribulation in like manner. The only theory that does so is pretribulationism. The posttribulationist insist that the millenium is literal while the tribulation is not. The midtribulationist insist that only the last half of the tribulation is literal while the first half is spiritualized away. If one is to be logical and consistent, one must be pretribulational if one is premillenial.

B. The Nature of the Seventieth Week of Daniel

The seventieth week of Daniel, also known as the Tribulation (as opposed to tribulation, trials, and tests) is a seven year period of time that will immediately precede the 2nd coming of our Lord. This period of time is referred to in many different ways in Scripture:

1. wrath - Rev 6:16-17, 11:18, 14:19, 15:1,7; 16:1,19; 1 Thess 1:9-10, 5:9; Zeph 1:15, 18
2. judgment - Rev 14:7, 15:4, 16:5-7, 19:2
3. indignation - Isa 26:20-21, 34:1-3
4. punishment - Isa 24:20-21
5. hour of trial - Rev 3:10
6. hour of trouble - Jer 30:7
7. destruction - Joel 1:15
8. darkness - Joel 2:2, Zeph 1:14-18, Amos 5:18

These references describe the entirety of the period - that is, it is known in total as the wrath of God. One must keep in mind the nature of this time, that it is divine wrath and judgement. Concerning this Paul wrote


1 Thes. 5:9 (NKJV) For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

C. The Scope of the Seventieth Week

This period of time will see the wrath of God poured out upon the whole earth. The following verses make this abundantly clear:

 
Rev. 3:10 (NKJV)  Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Isaiah 34:2 (NKJV)  
    For the indignation of the Lord is against all nations,
    And His fury against all their armies;
    He has utterly destroyed them,
    He has given them over to the slaughter.

Isaiah 24:1 (NKJV)  
    Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty and makes it waste,
    Distorts its surface
    And scatters abroad its inhabitants.


This period of time is prophesied of Jacob as seen in the following two verses:

Jeremiah 30:7 (NKJV)  
    Alas! For that day is great,
    So that none is like it;
    And it is the time of Jacob's trouble,
    But he shall be saved out of it.

Daniel 9:24 (NKJV)  
    "Seventy weeks are determined
    For your people and for your holy city,


Since the church was a mystery (Eph 3:1-6, Col 1:25-27) and was not revealed until after Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:4, the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning this period of time cannot relate to the church. "Since it had no part in the first sixty-nine weeks, which are related only to God's program for Israel, it can have no part in the seventieth week, which is again related to God's program for Israel after the mystery program for the church has been concluded." (pg. 196, op cit)

D. The purpose of the seventieth week

Rev. 3:10 (NKJV)  Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.


"those who dwell on the earth" - the Greek word for dwell is katoikeo. It is used in Col 2:9 to describe how the Godhead dwelt in Christ and it is also used to describe how the Spirit dwells in the heart of the believer (Eph 3:17). The more common word for dwell is oikeo while the word paroikeo has the idea of temporary residence or 'passing through'. So we are to understand that "those who dwell on the earth" are those who have identified with the world's commerce and religion.

"to test, try" - the word here is peirasai - which means "to inflict evils upon one in order to prove his character and the steadfastness of his faith". Since the Father never sees the church except in Christ, perfected in Him, this period can have no reference to the church, for the true church does not need to be tested to see if her faith is genuine. (pg 197 op cit).

 
Malachi 4:5-6 (NKJV)  
    Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
    Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
  6 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
    And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
    Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."


The ministry of Elijah (fulfilled in the type of John the Baptist) is to prepare the hearts of the people before the King returns. John's ministry was to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of their King. No such ministry is need for the church since she is without spot or wrinkle, having been washed in the blood of Jesus. The ministry of Elijah who is to come has the same focus, that of preparing the remnant of Israel for her returning King.

E. The nature of the seventieth week

The nature and character of the entire seventieth week is the same although divided into two periods of 42 months each. The first 42 months is just as much the day of the Lord as is the last 42 months. The purpose of that time also remains the same - to draw Israel back to God.

F. The nature of the church

 

1. The church is the body of which Christ is the head.

Ephes. 1:22 (NKJV)  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

Ephes. 5:23 (NKJV)  For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

Col. 1:18 (NKJV)  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.


the bride, of which He is the bridegroom

 
Rev. 21:9 (NKJV)  Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."


the object of His love

 
Ephes. 5:25 (NKJV)  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,


the branch of which He is the root and stem

 
John 15:5 (NKJV)  I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.


the building, of which He is the foundation and chief cornerstone


Ephes. 2:19-22 (NKJV)  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, [21] in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, [22] in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.


We are not a headless corpse, rather we are the body of Christ. If the body has to go through the Tribulation period, so must the head.

 
1 John 4:17 (NKJV)  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.


Yet we know according to Scripture, that all judgment has been fulfilled on the cross for the one who believes in Jesus Christ.


Romans 8:1 (ESV)  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  

John 5:24 (NKJV)  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.


To imply that the church must go through judgment again is to state that the cross had no effect and Jesus' death was worthless. This we cannot say.

2. All who enter the Tribulation will be subject to the Antichrist.

 
Rev. 13:7 (NKJV)  It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.


Yet the church has no such limitations

 
1 John 4:4 (NKJV)  You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.


Therefore, the church cannot go through the Tribulation.

G. The concept of the church as a mystery

 
Ephes. 3:3-6 (NKJV)  how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, [4] by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), [5] which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: [6] that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

Col. 1:26-27 (NKJV)  the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. [27] To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.


The Church is spoken of nowhere in the Old Testament - its very existence was unknown to the prophets of old. This mystery revelation was given to Paul - that Jews and Gentiles would become one new man in Christ. In order for God to resume His dealings with the nation of Israel, the Church age must be brought to a close in the pretribulational rapture.

H. The distinctions between Israel and the church

1. The extent of biblical revelation - Israel 4/5th of the Bible, the Church 1/5th.
2. The Divine Purpose - Israel: the earthly promises of the covenants, Church: the heavenly promises of the gospel.
3. The seed of Abraham - Israel: the physical seed of whom some became a spiritual seed, Church: a spiritual seed.
4. Birth - Israel: physical birth that produces a relationship, Church: spiritual birth that brings relationship.
5. Headship - Israel: Abraham, Church: Christ.
6. Covenants - Israel: Abrahamic and all following covenants, Church: indirectly linked to Abrahamic.
7. Nationality - Israel: one nation, Church: many nations
8. Divine dealings - Israel: national and individual, Church: individual only.
9. Dispensations - Israel: seen in all dispensations since Abraham, Church: in this dispensation only.
10. Ministry - Israel: no missionary activity and no gospel to preach, Church: a commission to fulfill.
11. The death of Christ - Israel: guilty nationally, to be saved, Church: perfectly saved now.
12. The Father - Israel: fathered by God as a nation, Church: related to God as a Father individually.
13. Christ - Israel: messiah, immanuel and king, Church: Saviour, Lord, Bridegroom and Head.
14. The Holy Spirit - Israel: came upon some men temporarily, Church: indwells all believers.
15. Governing prinicple - Israel: the Mosaic covenant, Church: grace.
16. Divine enablement - Israel: none, the Church: indwelling Holy Spirit.
17. Two farewell discourses - Israel: the Olivet Discourse, Church: the upper room discourse.
18. The promise of Christ's return - Israel: in power and glory for judgement, Church: to receive us to Himself.
19. Position - Israel: a servant, Church: part of the family.
20. Christ's earthly reign - Israel: subjects, Church: co-reigners.
21. Priesthood - Israel: had a priesthood, Church: is a priesthood.
22. Marriage - Israel: unfaithful wife, Church: bride
23. Judgements - Israel: must face judgement, Church: delivered from all judgements.
24. Positions in eternity - Israel: spirits of just men made perfect in the new earth, Church: church of the firstborn in the new heavens.
(Things to Come, Dwight Pentecost, pg 201-202)

I. The doctrine of imminence

Philip. 3:20 (NKJV)  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Col. 3:4 (NKJV)  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

1 Thes. 1:10 (NKJV)  and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

James 5:8 (NKJV)  You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.


As believers in Christ, we are to look for Him to return not the Tribulation or the Antichrist to appear - we are to look for Him only. The nation of Israel was given many signs relating to the second coming of our Lord and the time of trouble that would immediately precede it. The Church is given no such signs - we are only to wait for Jesus to appear.

This doctrine of imminence is not a recent invention as some would claim. The apostles themselves taught the believers to look for Jesus' return at any moment. It wasn't until the Alexandrian school gained prominence that the doctrine of imminence and other crucial doctrines of eschatology were replaced by the allegorical method of interpretation.

Martin Luther himself said "I believe that all the signs which are to precede the last days have already appeared. Let us not think that the Coming of Christ is far off: let us look up with heads lifted up..." (Things to Come, pg 204)

The doctrine of imminence forbids the participation of the Church in any part of the seventieth week of Daniel. The signs that were given to Israel to stir them to expectancy would then be the object of the Christian's longing, rather than the appearing of Christ. This is not the teaching of the New Testament.

J. The work of the Restrainer

 
2 Thes. 2:3-8 (NKJV)  Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.


Someone had convinced the believers in Thessalonica that they had already entered the Tribulation. Paul makes it very clear that they had not and states why. First - that day cannot come until the departure comes first, whether that departure is from the faith or of saints from the earth, it is clear that it had not happened yet.

Secondly, the son of perdition will be revealed at the very start of the Day of the Lord (Dan 9:27) for it is he who signs the covenant with Israel. Since that man had not been revealed, the Tribulation had not started.

Finally, the Restrainer must be removed before any of this can start. That restrainer is the Holy Spirit in His capacity as the indwelling presence of God - a situation unique to the church. Therefore, the church must be removed before any of the events of the Tribulation can begin.

K. The necessity of an interval

Three events are spoken of in Scripture that must take place in heaven before the Second Coming of Christ. These are:

1. The Bema Judgement

2 Cor 5:9, 1 Cor 3:11-16, Rev 4:4, 19:8-14 make it clear that the rewards have already been received by the church before Jesus returns to earth.

2. The presentation of the bride to Christ 

 
Ephes. 5:27 (NKJV)  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Jude 1:24 (NKJV)  
    Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
    And to present you faultless
    Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

3. The marriage of the Lamb and bride

 
Rev. 19:7-9 (NKJV)  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."


These three events must occur between the time the church is raptured and when she returns "arrayed in white linen" with Jesus at the Second Coming. Thus the rapture and the return of Christ cannot be simultaneous.

L. The distinction between the rapture and the second coming

1. The Rapture ® entails the removal of all believers while the Second Advent (SA) entails the appearing or manifestation of the Son.
2. In the ® the saints are caught up into the air - in the (SA) Jesus returns to earth.
3. In the ® Jesus comes to claim His bride - in the (SA) He returns with His bride.
4. The ® begins the Tribulation - the (SA) begins the millennium.
5. The ® is imminent while the (SA) is preceded by many signs.
6. The ® brings a message of comfort - the (SA) a message of judgment.
7. The ® is for the church - the (SA) is for Israel and the world.
8. The ® is a mystery reveiled only the the Epistles - the (SA) is prophesied in both Old and New Testaments.
9. At the ® believers are judged for their works - at the (SA) the Jews and Gentiles are judged.
10. At the ® creation is unchanged - at the (SA) creation is restored prior to the Millennium.
11. At the ® Gentiles are unaffected - at the (SA) Gentiles are judged.
12. At the ® there is no fulfillments of the covenants of Israel - at the (SA) all the covenants are fulfilled.
13. The ® unleashes evil without restraint while the (SA) evil is judged.
14. The ® takes place before the day of wrath - the (SA) takes place after.
15. The ® is for believers only - the (SA) is for all men.
16. The ® for the church is "the Lord is at hand" (Phil 4:5) while the (SA) is "the kingdom is at hand" (Matt 24:14)
17. At the ® the church is taken into the Lord's presence - at the (SA) Israel is taken into the kingdom.

M. The twenty four elders

The presence in heaven of the twenty four elders before the first seal is broken is proof of the pretribulational rapture of the church. The elders have crowns (rewards), thrones (reign) and are wearing white robes (righteousness) - something that can't be said of angelic beings.

1. Seated on thrones indicates co-reigning with Christ - something only said of the church.

Rev. 3:21 (NKJV)  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

2. The number of elders is 24, the same as the divisions of the priesthood (1 Chron 24). Only the church is referred to as the priesthood.

Rev. 1:6 (ESV)  and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  

3. Their testimony is one of having been redeemed. Only the church can claim this.

Rev. 5:9-10 (NKJV)  And they sang a new song, saying:
    "You are worthy to take the scroll,
    And to open its seals;
    For You were slain,
    And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
    Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
    And we shall reign on the earth."

4. The spiritual intelligence of the elders suggest friendship rather than servanthood.

John 15:15 (NKJV)  No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Rev. 5:5 (NKJV)  But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."

N. 1 Thess 4:13-18

 
1 Thes. 4:13-18 (NKJV)  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.


The Thessalonians were under the impression that those who had died before this great day would be missing out on the blessing that it was. If Paul had been teaching them that they would have to go through the Tribulation - they would have been glad their loved ones died before such horror came upon the earth - such teaching brings no comfort to anyone. Paul corrects this thinking and reminds them that those who have already died will be resurrected along with the alive ones at the coming of Jesus.

It is ironic that the favorite passage of funerals is John 14:1-3, I Cor 15:51-52 and 1 Thess 4:13-18. This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever if the Church must go through the Tribulation. Knowing that Jesus is coming for us brings hope and comfort to believers.

P. The relation of the church to governments

The church of Jesus Christ is encouraged to submit to governments as they are the representatives of God to carry out His purpose.

1 Tim 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties {and} prayers, petitions {and} thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
1 Tim 2:2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

1 Pet 2:13 ¶ Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
1 Pet 2:14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
1 Pet 2:15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed

Rom 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.


In contrast to this command to be subject to the governments of man, is the control of the government of the Tribulation by Satan himself.

 
Rev 13:4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?"


Clearly, the church cannot be submitted to Satan, therefore the church must first be removed before the Beast can appear.

Q. The silence of the Epistles

Many passages in the letters to the churches tell us how to survive persecution and the trials of this present day - such as:

1 Pet 2:19 For this {finds} favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
1 Pet 2:20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer {for it} you patiently endure it, this {finds} favor with God.
1 Pet 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,


Yet no where in the Epistles is the church taught how to survive the Tribulation. "Inasmuch as the persecutions of this age and the wrath of the seventieth week vary in kind and character, not just in intensity, it is not sufficient to say that if one is prepared for the lesser he will be also for the greater. The silence in the Epistles which would leave the church unprepared for the Tribulation argues for her absence from that period altogether." (Things to Come, pg 211)

R. The message of the two witnesses

 
Rev 11:3 "And I will grant {authority} to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
Rev 11:5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.
Rev 11:6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.


The character of these two witnesses is strikingly similiar to Elijah and John the Baptist - both prophets who were sent to Israel in a time of apostasy with the message of repentance and preparation for the coming of the kingdom. That they are dressed in sackcloth is a message of national repentance.

The church's message is one of grace - the message during the Tribulation is repent - for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Therefore, the Tribulation is a time for Israel to repent and the church is absent.

S. The destiny of the church

 
Matt 25:34 ¶ "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.


The rapture of the church is certain in 1 Thess 4:16-17. When it occurs is the subject of most debate. If the rapture happens at the end of the Tribulation - Jesus will have no one to say the above words to - as all those saved are raptured. The teaching of Scripture is clear that those alive at His Second Coming go on into the earthly kingdom. Thus, the church must be raptured sometime prior to this to allow this second group to form. This invalidates a posttribulational rapture.

T. The message to Laodicea

If we accept the premise that the seven churches in Rev 2-3 represent either various stages in the church's history or seven different types of churches - the following still holds true. The promise to the church of Philadelphia is this:

 
Rev 3:10 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that {hour} which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.


While the message to the church at Laodicea is this:

 
Rev 3:15 ¶ 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.


The question posed is this - can the real church of Jesus Christ - those truly saved - ever be spit out of His mouth in toto? We can make a case for the professing church - that hollow empty shell that claim to be Christian - being rejected by Christ - but can we say that of His bride? Or must we look at it that the church of Philadelphia represents the true church which is kept from the hour of testing leaving behind the professing church which is then rejected by Christ?

U. The times of the Gentiles

 
Luke 21:24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Zech 12:2 "Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.

Zech 14:2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.
Zech 14:3 Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle.

Rev 19:17 ¶ Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, "Come, assemble for the great supper of God,
Rev 19:18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great."
Rev 19:19 ¶ And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.


When does the times of the Gentiles end? At the second coming of Christ, when He destroys them with the sword that is coming out of His mouth. What is happening exactly 42 months prior to this event?

 
Rev 11:1 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it.
Rev 11:2 "Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.


Notice please that this parenthesis in the events happens between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments. From this point until the end is 42 months. According to the midtribulationists, all the trumpet judgments are well before the midpoint of the Tribulation. If this viewpoint is correct, then Jerusalem would be freed from the Gentiles well before Christ's return to earth - a point at variance with the teaching of Scripture.

V. The believing remnant at the Second Advent

 
Ezek 20:33 ¶ "As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be king over you.
Ezek 20:34 "I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out;
Ezek 20:35 and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
Ezek 20:36 "As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you," declares the Lord GOD.
Ezek 20:37 "I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;
Ezek 20:38 and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the LORD.

 
Ezek 37:11 ¶ Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.'
Ezek 37:12 "Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
Ezek 37:13 "Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people.
Ezek 37:14 "I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it," declares the LORD.'"
Ezek 37:15 ¶ The word of the LORD came again to me saying,
Ezek 37:16 "And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, 'For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions'; then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.'
Ezek 37:17 "Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.
Ezek 37:18 "When the sons of your people speak to you saying, 'Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?'
Ezek 37:19 say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand."'
Ezek 37:20 "The sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.
Ezek 37:21 "Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;
Ezek 37:22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms.
Ezek 37:23 "They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God.
Ezek 37:24 ¶ "My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in My ordinances and keep My statutes and observe them.
Ezek 37:25 "They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons' sons, forever; and David My servant will be their prince forever.
Ezek 37:26 "I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever.
Ezek 37:27 "My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.
Ezek 37:28 "And the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever."'"


Now, God will fulfill His covenant with Israel - there will be a kingdom on earth ruled by the Messiah - the son of David. If the true church goes through the Tribulation and then are raptured - there will be no one left on earth that is righteous to populate the kingdom. All those saved in the church age will be transformed into incorruptible beings and all the wicked are destroyed. Therefore, the rapture must be at the beginning of the Tribulation and those saved during it will populate the kingdom in their human bodies.

W. The sealed 144,000 from Israel.

As long as the church is on the earth - all who are saved are saved into the body of Christ. This is seen in the following verses:

Col 1:26 {that is,} the mystery which has been hidden from the {past} ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,
Col 1:27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Eph 2:12 {remember} that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both {groups into} one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
Eph 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, {which is} the Law of commandments {contained} in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, {thus} establishing peace,


According to Rev 7:14, God calls out 12,000 from each tribe of Israel to be His messengers to the nations. There is no mention of these witnesses being incorporated into the body of Christ - the church. God is using Israel as His messenger thus precluding the church from being present on earth during this time.

Y. The great object of satanic attack.

Rev 12:1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;
Rev 12:2 and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
Rev 12:3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads {were} seven diadems.
Rev 12:4 And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.
Rev 12:5 And she gave birth to a son, a male {child,} who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
Rev 12:6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.


The Child is none other than Christ - who alone has the right to rule the nations with a rod of iron (Psa 2:7). The woman is Israel (the crown of 12 stars represent the 12 tribes). Notice that the devil goes after Israel

 
Rev 12:13 ¶ And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male {child.}


If the church were present on earth during this time, would not the devil go after her?

 
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual {forces} of wickedness in the heavenly {places.}

AA. The promises to the true church.

1 Thess 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, {that is} Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.


We are to wait for Jesus not the wrath to come. This verse can only be true if Jesus is revealed first before the Day of the Lord. Notice also that Jesus rescues, saves, delivers us from the wrath to come - not through it.

 
1 Thess 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
1 Thess 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,


The entire context is here is of the end times of which Paul says specifically that we are not destined for wrath but our hope is salvation, rescue, deliverance through Jesus. No other perspective of the rapture gives the believer hope than the pretribulational position.

 
Rev 3:10 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that {hour} which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.


The true church of Jesus Christ (as opposed to the apostate church described as a harlot) is promised to be kept from the hour of testing. It is clear, according to Scripture, that the church will not be present during the Tribulation.

Maranatha, even so, come Lord Jesus!