The Mid-Trib Rapture in Revelation 3:10?

[Chris]

The Mid-Trib Rapture in Revelation 3:10?

The Mid-Trib Rapture in Revelation 3:10?
By Caryl Matrisciana

Question: "I have been believing in a Pre-trib Rapture, but recently someone brought up to me that in Revelation 3:10 the word keep doesn't always mean remove. So, when it says He will keep us from the hour of temptation the word keep is tereo (5083) in Strongs and can mean 'to keep, watch; to reserve with unhappy results or with possibility of either deliverance or execution; to maintain as opposed to leaving; to observe as commands, traditions etc.' Is there some way to tell which definition applies to Revelation 3:10? If it is to reserve with possibility of deliverance that would indicate we may be here for some of Tribulation and He will get us through it. Thanks."

Answer: Thank you for writing in with your comments concerning the timing of the Rapture. Sometimes it's easy to let others draw our attention to one part of a verse, not realizing the answer can be found within the larger context. With your attention focused on the Greek word "keep" found in Revelation 3:10, "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", it sounds like you've begun to wonder whether the Rapture is Pre-tribulational or Mid-tribulational. There are many reasons why a Mid-trib view can be dismissed, but let's first look at the word in question.

Greek Words — Definitions for the Greek word "keep" (tereo - Strong's #5083) include: attend to carefully, take care of, to guard, to keep one in the state in which he is, to observe, to reserve or to undergo something, to detain in custody, hold fast, keep, watch, to detain, and prevent from escaping. When Jesus says He will perform these actions on behalf of His children, He is saying that He will carefully guard His children not allowing them to escape His protection. While some say His protection will take place on earth as the Tribulation is occurring, notice that Jesus promises to "keep" (guard) them from the "hour," not the presence, of temptation that is coming upon the whole world. Therefore, the emphasis should be placed on the words "from the hour" rather than on the word "keep".

In the Greek, the word "hour" (hora - Strong's #5610) means: day, hour, season, tide, fixed time, fitting time, and right time. In the Greek, the word "from" (ek - Strong's #1537) means: from out of, to express distinction or separation from, outside of, beyond, removal from, or away from. When these combined definitions are taken into consideration, Jesus is promising to protect and guard His children from the hour of temptation coming upon the whole earth by removing them beyond this worldwide trial. Therefore, Revelation 3:10 supports a Pre-tribulational Rapture. If Jesus were guarding through the trial, there would be no need to say that He will keep them from the trial.

Daniel's 70 Weeks — When addressing the problems of a Mid-Trib Rapture view, the Pre-Trib Rapture begins to emerge as the clear teaching of Scripture. Of course, the main proof for the Pre-Trib Rapture is Daniel's 70th Week prophecy found in Daniel 9:24-27. In Daniel 9:24, the angel Gabriel is clearly telling Daniel that 70 Weeks are determined for Daniel's people the Jews, "24Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people..."

The first 69 Weeks of years began with the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem given by Artaxerxes in 444 B.C. and ended with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem recorded in Luke 19:41-44 where He says; "41And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, '42Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! ...44...because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.'" The leaders of Israel were responsible to know the very day that Messiah would present Himself (visitation) to the nation of Israel, "25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks..." (Dan 9:25). After the 69th Week, Messiah was cut off (crucified), "26And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off..."

Two thousand years have elapsed between the end of the 69th Week and today, aligning perfectly with the Church Age that began with the New Covenant. The final 70th Week commences with the confirming of a covenant "27And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week" (Dan 9:27) between the Antichrist and Israel. The time phrases described for the 70th Week of Daniel and the book of Revelation match perfectly, telling us that the 7 year Tribulation is the final week of years (70th week) spoken of by Daniel.

Other Considerations Refuting a Mid-Trib Rapture

Israel Distinct From the Church — Since all 70 Weeks were determined for Daniel's people, the Jews, and since the Church is the mystery hidden between the 69th and 70th Weeks of Daniel, it is clear that the Church and Israel do not overlap. As further proof, the Church and Israel each have a different priesthood, law, temple, and sacrifices. When a Mid-tribulational view is considered, the distinction between Israel and the Church is blurred.

Imminency — Another problem presented by the Mid-tribulational view, besides the overlap of Israel and the Church, is the destroying of the imminency of Christ's return. The time phrases in the book of Revelation are so precise that if a Mid-tribulational Rapture view were true, the Church could count the days from the beginning of the Trib, when the prince "shall confirm the covenant with many for one week" (Dan 9:27) to know the very day when Christ would return in the air. This return will occur in an unknown hour, is sign-less and requires no prior fulfillment of prophecy before its occurrence. Therefore, the Church remains vigilant, sober, alert and waiting, rather than counting off days for her Bridegroom to return to take her to His Father's house (John 14:1-3). She will spend the seven year Tribulation there as the period of indignation passes (Isa. 26:20).

Last Trumpet — Confusion is also created when Mid-trib advocates equate the last trumpet of Revelation with the trumpet call for the Church in 1 Corinthians 15:52. The seventh trumpet blast of Revelation 11:15 contains the 7 Bowl Judgments. Notice the voice of this seventh trumpet sounds for many days, until the last bowl judgment is poured out; "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." (Revelation 10:7). Therefore the last trumpet for the Church, which happens in the twinkling of an eye, cannot be the last trumpet of Revelation which lasts for nearly 3 1/2 years!

Great Tribulation — Some believe the first half of Daniel's 70th week isn't actually part of the Tribulation, in spite of the many catastrophic events that occur during those years. Mid-trib people refer only to the second half of Daniel's 70th week as the Tribulation because the Old Testament describes this as the "time of Jacob's trouble." However, Revelation 10:7 explains that only the second half was revealed to the OT prophets, "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." Even though God primarily revealed the second half of the Tribulation to the OT prophets, we shouldn't be reluctant to call the first half of the Tribulation the wrath of God. After all, it is the Lamb of God who is breaking the seals that bring much trouble and tribulation upon the earth.

Wrath vs. Persecution — Therefore, Mid-tribulationalists want to place the wrath of God only in the second half of the Tribulation so that the Church, who is not destined for wrath, can be present in the first half, "For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ..." (1 Thess. 5:9). If wrath occurs only in the second half, then the Church can be present in the first half. Some say the Church is promised persecution and tribulation, but persecution for the Church from the world is very different than wrath for the world from God. If the first half of the Tribulation is relegated to worldly persecution, then the Church can logically be present in the first half of the Tribulation until a Mid-trib Rapture takes place.

Church Not Mentioned in Tribulation — Another interesting dilemma for Mid-trib proponents is the absence of the Church throughout the actual Tribulation period (Rev. 4-19). However, Israel is referred to several times, pointing once again to the 70th week prophecy being determined for the Jews.

Day of the Lord — And finally, Paul addresses the relationship between the Rapture and the Day of the Lord in his letters to the Thessalonians. Apparently this Thessalonian church had received false information as if it were coming from Paul, leading them to believe the persecution they were experiencing for their faith was actually the wrath of the Day of the Lord. These Thessalonians were distressed because they knew the Church should not be in the Day of the Lord. The Thessalonians mistook the persecution from the world as the wrath of God. If they were in the Day of the Lord, they weren't part of the Church and thus not saved. The Day of the Lord will surprise the world, who is expecting "peace and safety," with entering into travail instead (1 Thess. 5:3). The Day of the Lord also includes Armageddon's "valley of decision" at the end of the Tribulation mentioned in Joel 3:14. Again, descriptions of the Day of the Lord more accurately fit a Pre-tribulational Rapture scenario.

Paul explains the apostasy and removal of the Restrainer (Holy Spirit in believers) must precede the Day of the Lord. These provide more evidence that the Rapture must take place before the man of lawlessness, the Antichrist, is revealed.

Conclusion

I hope this helps to sort out the issues of Pre-tribulational versus mid-tribulational Rapture, as well as how to interpret Revelation 3:10.

[ForgivenOne]

thanks for posting!

[LibertyBelle]

So it is unrealistic of any Christian to think they will escape anything.

Luke 21


LOOKING UP, [Jesus] saw the rich people putting their gifts into the treasury.

And He saw also a poor widow putting in two mites (copper coins).

And He said, Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them;

For they all gave out of their abundance (their surplus); but she has contributed out of her lack and her want, putting in all that she had on which to live.

And as some were saying of the temple that it was decorated with handsome (shapely and magnificent) stones and consecrated offerings [laid up to be kept], He said,

As for all this that you [thoughtfully] look at, the time will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.

And they asked Him, Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when this is about to occur?

And He said, Be on your guard and be careful that you are not led astray; for many will come in My name [appropriating to themselves the name Messiah which belongs to Me], saying, I am He! and, The time is at hand! Do not go out after them.

And when you hear of wars and insurrections (disturbances, disorder, and confusion), do not become alarmed and panic-stricken and terrified; for all this must take place first, but the end will not [come] immediately.

Then He told them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. [II Chron. 15:6; Isa. 19:2.]

There will be mighty and violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences (plagues: malignant and contagious or infectious epidemic diseases which are deadly and devastating); and there will be sights of terror and great signs from heaven.

But previous to all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be led away before kings and governors for My name's sake.

This will be a time (an opportunity) for you to bear testimony.

Resolve and settle it in your minds not to meditate and prepare beforehand how you are to make your defense and how you will answer.

For I [Myself] will give you a mouth and such utterance and wisdom that all of your foes combined will be unable to stand against or refute.

You will be delivered up and betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and [some] of you they will put to death.

And you will be hated (despised) by everyone because [you bear] My name and for its sake.

But not a hair of your head shall perish. [I Sam. 14:45.] By your steadfastness and patient endurance you shall win the true life of your souls.

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know and understand that its desolation has come near.

Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside [the city] get out of it, and let not those who are out in the country come into it;

For those are days of vengeance [of rendering full justice or satisfaction], that all things that are written may be fulfilled.

Alas for those who are pregnant and for those who have babies which they are nursing in those days! For great misery and anguish and distress shall be upon the land and indignation and punishment and retribution upon this people.

They will fall by the mouth and the edge of the sword and will be led away as captives to and among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (completed).

And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth [there will be] distress (trouble and anguish) of nations in bewilderment and perplexity [without resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn] at the roaring (the echo) of the tossing of the sea,

Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great (transcendent and overwhelming) power and [all His kingly] glory (majesty and splendor).

Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near.

And He told them a parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees;

When they put forth their buds and come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and perceive and know that summer is already near.

Even so, when you see these things taking place, understand and know that the kingdom of God is at hand.

Truly I tell you, this generation (those living at that definite period of time) will not perish and pass away until all has taken place.

The sky and the earth (the universe, the world) will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose;

For it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth.

Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.

Now in the daytime Jesus was teaching in [the porches and courts of] the temple, but at night He would go out and stay on the mount called Olivet.

And early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple [porches or courts] to listen to Him.

[FaithInChrist]

Jesus was talking about the Jews, who will face tribulation, in these verses. Christians will be taken up before tribulation.

[JC1949]

Amazing amazing amazing how human nature finds so difficult to trust COMPLETELY in THE LORD.
But HE IS WISE.Knowing our fallen nature and knowing that even AFTER being Born Again we would revert to the ways of the flesh and RELY on the arm of the flesh,He took the initiative and the responsibility in SAVING ETERNALLY and KEEPING ETERNALLY SAVED those WHO SIMPLY BELIEVE in JESUS......oh Yes,IF THE LORD to have a BRIDE had to rely on us....well,I guess He would not have one...we are useless...or better unprofitable servants....
Now just like so many find hard if not impossible TO BELIEVE that we are saved BY GRACE alone though FAITH alone by JESUS alone,that is a GIFT,a free FREE GIFT FROM THE FATHER and JESUS and THE HOLY SPIRIT ( free for us but VERY COSTLY to GOD,JESUS HAD TO DIE,POUR HIS PRECIOUS MOST HOLY BLOOD on our behalf),so we now want to add WORKS to the WORK of GOD.
How OUTRAGEOUS....what a BLASPHEMY....thank GOD HE IS SO LOVING and PATIENT.....but still I guess it is high time we learn our lesson well,WE CANNOT IMPROVE HIS PLAN,we better believe it.......
The RAPTURE IS BEFORE THE TRIBULATION......we ain't going to see any of that TRIBULATION...none of it THANKS TO JESUS and HIS GRACE....and HE HAS TO SNATCH US AWAY in the twinkling of an eye (atomus - In medieval time, the Latin Atomus meant "a twinkling of the eye," the smallest amount of time imagineable. Nowadays, it's defined as 1/376 minute or about 160 milliseconds.) otherwise can you imagine the mess,I am not ready,I have to get my i-pad,I have to go toilet,I am afraid of flying,etc.....
Thank God WE ARE NOT APPOINTED TO WRATH.....thank YOU JESUS

[Any Minute]

Fatal Flaws in the Modern Pre-Wrath Rapture Position

Fatal Flaws in the Modern Pre-Wrath Rapture Position

by Cooper Abrams


Introduction: Within the last few years a new view of the timing of the Rapture has become popular. This modern view, called the Pre-Wrath View, was first taught by Robert Van Kampen in the 1970's. In the early 1990s Marvin J. Rosenthal published a book titled "The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church" which popularized the Pre-Wrath Rapture view. Today it is accepted by many evangelicals who were once Pre-Tribulationalists. The basic difference is that the Pre-Tribulational view places the Rapture before the coming seven year Tribulation or Daniel's 70th Week. (See Dan. 9:27) The Pre-Wrath view places the rapture of believers as occurring sometime during the middle of the Tribulation. It concludes that believers, of this present Church Age, will experience the beginning years of the Tribulation, but be raptured before God pours His wrath upon the earth. Thus this is the reason for the title, "Pre-Wrath Rapture."
This view has several major flaws. First it teaches that Church Age saints will go through part of the Tribulation. Second, it teaches God's wrath is not poured out during the first three and a half years of the Tribulation. The view further teaches a split rapture with only some believers being raptured and others left on earth. This paper will point out various errors of the Pre-Wrath view which shows that the Pre-Tribulational view is the scriptural position. Christians in this the current dispensation of the Church Age will not go through the Tribulation and will be "caught up" before the seven years of God's judgment on the earth, and will be forever be with the Lord.


The Seven Year Tribulation - Daniel's 70th Week
(Daniel 9:24-27)

Rapture Second Coming
7 years
Begin 3 ½ years 3 ½ years End
|_________________________________________________ ____________|
Seals Trumpets Bowls
Rev. 6:17-8:60 Rev. 8:7-9:21 Rev. 16:1-21
Rev. 11:15-19




The biblical view of the Pre-Tribulationalists is that the whole of the seven years, called the Tribulation, Daniel's 70th Week, or the Time of Jacob's trouble, is a period of God pouring out His wrath. God will do this in a series of three judgments upon the earth which will end with His Second Coming. The Pre-Wrath view is based on the assumption that the Bible does not teach that the pouring out of God's wrath occurs during the whole seven years of the Tribulation. Their view is that the out pouring of God's wrath only occurs sometime after or toward the middle of the first three and a half years.

However, the Book of Revelation teaches the judgments or wrath of God on earth begin at the start of the seven years of Tribulation with the Seal Judgments (Rev. 6:17, 8:1-60) , followed by the Trumpets Judgments (Rev. 8:7-9:21, 11:15-19) and subsequent and final Bowl (Vial) Judgments (Rev. 16:1-21). As each judgment is released upon the earth they grow in intensity and increasing more devastating. The last 3 1/2 years of the seven years of the Tribulation will be the worse period and is referred to as the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21).


FLAWS IN THE PRE-WRATH RAPTURE VIEW

There are many flaws within the Pre-wrath view. One of its glaring flaws is that it teaches that the Seal Judgments are the wrath of Satan and the Antichrist, or man, and not the judgment or wrath of God. It is their position that Matthew 24:22 is a reference to the "Church" being raptured thus removing believers from the earth and ending their persecution of the Antichrist and Satan.


"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:22)

The first problem with this view is the presumption that Matthew 24:22 is referring to Church Age saints. The Pre-Wrath position is that God will rapture Church Age saints in sometime in the middle of the Tribulation before He begins to pour out His wrath on earth. This view ignores the fact that many people, Jews and Gentiles, will be saved on the earth during the seven year Tribulation. God's purpose in bringing the seven year Tribulation on earth is to fulfill His promises to Israel and purge the earth prior to His setting up the Millennial Kingdom. God will be once again working with the Jews and the Nation of Israel. Matthew 24:20 specifically states that those who are fleeing the persecution of the Antichrist should pray it will not be on the Sabbath. Christians in this age are not under the Mosaic law and do not keep the Sabbath.


"But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day" (Matthew 24:20)
Exodus 31:17 states that the Sabbath was a special everlasting sign between God and Israel. The Bible does not instruct us to keep the Sabbath which was given to Israel as a remembrance of their deliverance from Egypt. Without question it was a Jewish feast who to this day continue to keep the Sabbath. The primary focus of events of the seven year Tribulation are directed towards Israel and the coming promised Kingdom of the Messiah Jesus Christ. Church Age saints are not in view here anywhere in the seven year Tribulation.

The seven year Tribulation is the last "week" of Daniel's Seventy Weeks. Daniel foretold that there would be a total of 490 yeas (7 x 70) until "to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." Daniel's prophecy says, Messiah the Prince should come, that is, seven weeks, or forty-nine years, should be allowed for the restoration of the Jewish state; from which time till the public entrance of the Messiah on the work of the ministry should be sixty-two weeks, or four hundred and thirty-four years, in all four hundred and eighty-three years. Thus there remains seven years left to finish God's dealing with Israel in the Old Testament dispensation.

When Jesus began His ministry, the Gospels record that He presented Himself to Israel as their Messiah, and that the promised kingdom was "at hand." (See Matt. 3:2, 4:17, 10:7; Mark 1:15, Luke 21:31). He was offering them the promised kingdom promised to the Jews in the Old Testament. However, the Nation of Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah. In 70 AD God allowed Titus, the Roman general to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple. Biblical Judaism ceased to exist and the Jews were dispersed throughout the Roman Empire. God's offer of the promised Kingdom was thus postponed. This does no mean that God set Israel aside, but began a new dispensation in which the Gentiles would be saved in this present age of the institution of the local church. This is a vital truth and must be understood in order to correctly understand God's plan for the Tribulation. Many Old Testament prophecies such as Ezekiel 36 predict Israel's regathering into the Promised Land. This will occur during Daniel's 70th week which is the Tribulation. This has not occurred so clearly it is future to us and God will fulfill His promises.

Clear evidence that the seven year Tribulation is God's plan to complete His promise to Israel is seen in the prophecies of Daniel. Daniel prophesied that the Messiah would be cut off in the 483rd year (1 year = 1 week), and that God's covenant with Israel would be confirmed in the seventh week. Jesus was "cut off" being crucified in the 483rd year as Daniel foretold which leaves seven years of his prophecy unfulfilled. The coming seven year Tribulation, or Daniel's 70th Week is the period when God will once again offer the promised Kingdom to Israel again and many Jews will be saved.

Therefore the seven year Tribulation is actually the last week (7 years) of the Old Testament dispensation which God postponed when Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah. The present Church Age believers will not be a part of the seven year Tribulation. Our place in God's plan is different than that of Israel. However, God will complete His plan as the Old Testament teaches. He will purge Israel and the earth of unbelievers which will usher in the thousand year reign of Christ on earth. Israel's promised Messiah will come in all His glory and establish His kingdom on earth and rule from Jerusalem. Christ will be the King of the Jews and rule the world.

Christians who have been saved since Pentecost are not in view in this final seven years of the Old Testament dispensation. The Lord Jesus will take His Bride, which are believers in this present age to be with him at the rapture. Jesus Christ will once again be presented to Israel as the Messiah as the 144,000 saved Jews preach the Gospel around the world. The Church Age will end before the seven year Tribulation and the last seven years of the Old Testament period will start. God will complete His purposes and promises for the nation of Israel, His chosen people. The current dispensation of the Church Age will end with the Rapture of all believers, both dead and alive, before God begins to renew His covenant with Israel.(1 Thess. 4:13-18) There is nothing in Matthew 24 that refers to Church Age saints. Those saved in the Tribulation are a different group of believers.




THE FLAW OF STATING THE FIRST PART
OF THE TRIBULATION IS NOT THE OUT POURING OF GOD'S WRATH.
Another error of the Pre-Wrath view is in purporting that the first part of the seven year Tribulation, the Seal Judgments, are not the wrath of God, but the wrath of "man" which means Satan and the Antichrist. Further the Pre-Wrath view concludes that the seal judgments are a time of peace on earth. However, this view ignores a vital truth clearly stated in Revelation 5:12 and 6:1f. These verse plainly state that at the beginning of the seven year Tribulation the wrath and judgment of God begins with the opening of the Seal Judgments by Jesus Christ (the Lamb of Rev. 5:12, 6:16).

Revelation 5:1-14 is the prelude to the Tribulation in which Jesus Christ is presented as the Lamb, who is the only worthy One, who has the authority and position to open the seven sealed books. The seven sealed books hold the coming judgments of God. Only Christ is worthy to open and beginning the our pouring of God's wrath on the earth.

The Pre-Wrath view says that the beginning of the Tribulation is not the wrath of God, but rather of man, or of the Antichrist and Satan. However, Revelation 5:3 states, "And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon." The book states that no man could open the seven sealed book of the wrath of God, which He will unfold in the seven year Tribulation. The opening of the book begins the seven year Tribulation. What is about to unfold is plainly not the work of any man, but of the Messiah, the work of "the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David." This event is Almighty God, the Lord Jesus Christ, fulfilling His plan for Israel and the world in this final stage before the Millennium.

It is the Lamb, Himself, who opens the first seal (Rev. 6:1) and thus initiates the beginning of the seven years of the Tribulation. Revelation 5:4 plainly says that no man could open the book. Further, Revelation 6:3, states that "he" referring to the Lamb of verse 6:1, and verses 5, 7, 9, and 12, continues in opening each of the subsequent Seal Judgments. Clearly, these are not judgments initiated by man or Antichrist, but by the Worthy Lamb of Chapter 5. It is Jesus Christ who opens each of the seals in the first half of the Tribulation and brings God's wrath on the earth. Yes, it is the Antichrist who persecutes God's people and all peoples on earth, but he does so at the discretion of Jesus Christ. God will be using the Antichrist as the instrument of His wrath. Many times in biblical history God used the enemies of Israel to chasten and judge them. The Antichrist could do nothing unless he was allowed by God to do so. The Pre-Wrath view is fatally flawed in its assumption that it is not God who is pouring His wrath on the earth at the beginning of the Tribulation and through out the seven years and until the three sets of God's judgments are completed. It is Almighty God who is using the Seal Judgments. This begins His plan to purge the earth of sin. It should be recognized that if the Seal Judgments are the wrath of God, the Pre-Wrath position is refuted.

There can be no mistake, the New Testament says in this dispensation of the Church Age, which began at Pentecost (Acts 2) and will continue until the Rapture, believers will not go through wrath the of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 deals with instruction concerning the end times and verse 19, gives Christians the promise of God, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9).



IT IS JESUS CHRIST, THE WORTHY LAMB WHO OPENS EACH OF THE SEAL JUDGMENTS
AND INITIATES THE BEGINNING OF POURING OUT OF THE WRATH OF GOD?
As show above, it is Jesus Christ who begins the seven year Tribulation and the outpouring of God's wrath as Revelation 6 reveals. The beginning of God's wrath is in His allowing the Riders of the Four Horsemen to rain their various destructions on the earth. In the beginning it is the Lamb who opens the first seal and unleashes the Antichrist, the first horseman riding a white horse upon the earth. The first rider riding a white horse and wearing a crown is allowed to go forth to conquer the world. This is a picture of the Antichrist who will rise to power on earth as a great political leader and present himself as a savior to the world. He will represent himself as a man of peace in his deceptive strategy. Represented as a "little horn," the Antichrist comes with a crown on his head and as Daniel 7:8, 8:8-12 prophecies and takes control of the world's governments. He comes offering peace but by military and political might, and his actions will bring havoc and death on the earth.

The Pre-Wrath advocates say this will be a time of peace on the earth. But Revelation 6:2 states, the Antichrist will be "going forth to conquer and conquering," and this is clearly not a picture of a period of peace. Daniel 9:27 says "And he (the Antichrist) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the over spreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." (Daniel 9:27) However, no scripture says that the peace the Antichrist offers actually occurs. The assumption is that because the temple shall be violated in the middle of the seven years, the first half of the Tribulation is a time of peace. That assumption has no basis in God's word.

The timing of the judgments of the Tribulation is clearly presented in the Book of Revelation as beginning with the initial heavenly events of Chapters 4 and 5. The scene then shifts to the earth beginning with Chapter 6 and the unfolding of the seven Seal Judgments. The peace the Antichrist proclaims is an illusion. There may be a short period of an unstable peace when the Antichrist signs the covenant with Israel, but this is a political peace. The signing of the covenant with Israel does not alter God's plans and He opens the seals and begins immediately to pour out His judgments. As the Seal Judgments are unleashed by the Lord Jesus Christ in the beginning of the Tribulation the earth enters a period of turmoil. The point of the Pre-Wrath position is that believers are raptured before the wrath of God is poured out. Pre-Wrath Rapture view addresses the outpouring of God's wrath, not the feigned offering of a peace treaty with Israel. This exposes another flaw in the Pre-Wrath view as it purports the supposed political peace means God is not pouring out His judgments until the middle or end of the seven years. Two things are going on at the beginning of the Tribulation. One, the Antichrist comes on the scene with great political power and signs a covenant with Israel. This brings only a semblance of peace as the Antichrist positions himself and gains greater power. Second, at the same time, God begins to pour out His wrath on the earth as the seven seal judgments are opened by the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore the appearance of peace in the beginning of the Tribulation does not mean God is not pouring out His wrath in the seal judgments.

Further it is God, who after the Rapture, stops the present retraining work of the Holy Spirit and allows Satan to go forth bringing destruction on humankind through his control of the Antichrist. In our present dispensation of the Church Age, the Holy Spirit is preventing or restraining Satan from unleashing his destructive wishes on the earth.

Paul reveals this in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-15,


"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12)
God's plan is that He will use Satan and the Antichrist to bring His judgment on the earth during the seven year Tribulation. The restraining work of the Holy Spirit, which keeps him in check presently, will end as the seven years begin. Satan will then be allowed to rein destruction on the earth through the Antichrist. It is God who initiates the destruction on earth by allowing Satan and the Antichrist to work unrestrained. It is God who is now restraining Satan and this clearly shows that it is the action of God that allows him to rise to power and thus bring destruction to this present age.

Revelation 6:3-4 states again that "he", Christ, continues God's judgment and opens the second seal and initiates the second horsemen of red. Once again this is the action of God as power is "given" to this horseman by God to take peace from the earth and allow men to kill one another. 2 Thessalonians 2:6 reveals that the One who is restraining evil today is the Holy Spirit, but when the Antichrist is revealed, the restraining work of the Holy Spirit will be withdrawn. The "son of perdition" referred to as the lawless one and beast will be allowed by God to bring havoc on the earth. Once again it is God who is in full control and carrying out His plan and unleashing His wrath on the earth.

This Second Seal Judgment clearly removes political peace from the earth by allowing the Antichrist to bring havoc on earth. The supposed peace offered by the Antichrist when he signs the covenant with Israel has no basis in reality. The covenant brings no real or lasting peace. The times of the ending of peace begins with the opening of the second seal judgment with the beginning of the seven years of Tribulation. The Pre-Wrath position is that the first three and a half years of the seven year Tribulation will be a time of peace and it will not be a time of God's wrath. Clearly, this conclusion is in error and Revelation 6:4 refutes that false assertion. The third horseman described in Revelation 6:5-6, rides a black horse. He is allowed to bring famine on the earth by Jesus Christ when He opens the third seal judgment.

The third horseman described in Revelation 6:5-6, rides a black horse. Verse 6 states that "he" Jesus Christ opens the seal and thus He allows the Antichrist to bring famine on the earth by Jesus Christ when He opens the third seal judgment. Once again, God's word says that it is Jesus Christ that is causing His wrath to be brought on earth.

The forth horseman rides a pale horse and death and hell follows him. Bible says that Jesus Christ gives the pale horse rider the power to bring a tragic judgment on earth in which a fourth part of the earth is killed. One must note that each of these Seal Judgments are being opened in the first half of the Tribulation and the killing a fourth of the earth with the sword, hunger and death which includes even the animals of the earth. This cannot be viewed as a time of peace on earth. God is pouring out His wrath on the sinful and unbelieving of the earth. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 is God's promise that believers in this dispensation will not go through His wrath, thus the timing of the Rapture must be before these events.

When Christ opens the fifth seal, John sees under the altar the souls of those killed for the word of God which they refused to reject. These believers whom the Antichrist will slay are in the first part of the Tribulation. Like the persecutions of the past and even those going on in the world today, God allows some believers to be killed for the testimony of Jesus Christ. True believers throughout history have died rather than deny the word of God. In every persecution, God always reaps a harvest of souls as the testimony of God's children allows men to see the truth of the life changing power of God in salvation. Because of the testimony of these slain saints of God many will be saved. Again, this is clearly the work of God and the Pre-Wrath view is grossly wrong in assuming that what is happening on the earth is the work of men and not the outpouring of God's wrath. Yes, the Antichrist and evil men are the ones who perpetrate this evil attack on those saved during the Tribulation, but it is only done as God allows it to happen.


THE PRE-WRATH VIEW MISTAKENLY CONCLUDES THAT
REVELATION 6:9-11 IS REFERRING TO CHURCH AGE SAINTS
The Pre-Wrath view purports that Revelation 6:9-11 is a reference to the Rapture. They preclude that these saints of God are Christians, of the present Church Age, who have been resurrected in the Rapture and are now seen in heaven. This is a serious misinterpretation of this passage. First, verse 9, specifically states that all these saints are ones slain for their testimony of the word of God. These saints are said to be under the altar of God and are crying to the Lord to avenge their deaths on them that are on the earth. Verse 11, says they given white robes and a time of rest as they wait for a short season until their fellow servants and brethren would also be murdered, as they were on the earth. What they are waiting for is the Second Coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ when God purges the world of the Antichrist and sinful men.

Clearly if these multitudes of saints are murdered in the first half of the Tribulation it is not a time of peace. Under the Antichrist there will be initially a period of peace as he consolidates his power under the guise of bringing peace, however, this is a political peace only and believers will be experiencing great precaution from the Antichrist and his government. We see this trend today in that the modern politically correct liberals have an agenda of seeking to remove any mention of Jesus Christ, God or Christianity from society. The news media and most of Christianity remain almost silent in the face of this clear persecution of Christians.

This intense persecution of believers follows the coming of the pale horse rider to earth. The deaths of these Tribulation saints are the result of the actions of the rider of the Pale horse who brings death and hell on the earth. This is a picture of events after the Tribulation, during the Seal Judgments, and begins when the Antichrist and his evil forces are persecuting and killing believers on the earth. It must be noted the passage states all these have been slain and are crying to the Lord for judgment to come on the Antichrist and those that serve him. Absolutely, nothing in this passage can even remotely be understood as referring to believers in the current Church Age who will be raptured before the Tribulation begins. Revelation 6:9-11 is referring to saints who have believed after the Tribulation has begun. These saints are not part of the current dispensation of the Church Age. These are Jews and Gentiles who believed on Jesus Christ after the Rapture and every one in this group were killed for their testimony for Christ. All believers in this present dispensation have not been killed for their testimony of Jesus Christ. Clearly, this is a different group of believers and not those of the present Church Age. First if these are all the raptured saints of God, of this age, it would require that all those who are raptured must be slain and martyred. Of course this is not the case. Second it does not explain what happens to believers who have died in Christ Jesus. Once again the Pre-Wrath heresy is refuted by the word of God.

A carefully and scholarly study of the Book of Revelation shows that between Revelation 3:22 and 19:1 there is no mention of Church Age saints. The events between these two references reveal the progression of the seven year Tribulation until it ends with the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Saints of God are mentioned within these Chapters, but each time it is referring to those who believed within the seven years of the Tribulation and were saved by God.

Another point revealed in this passage and overlooked or ignored by the Pre-Wrath position is that all these saints, both in heaven and on the earth are seen as one group. A part of the group is shown as having been slain and are in heaven. The other part of the group is still on earth and waiting to join the slain saints in heaven, by experiencing their eventual deaths as well at the hands of the Antichrist. Thus is reveal another flaw in the Pre-Wrath view. It has part of believers raptured and part awaiting for the rapture? These cannot be Church Age saints. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 as all believers, both dead and alive raptured and taken to meet the Lord in the air at the same time. Nothing in the New Testament suggests a partial rapture of some believers and others are left behind. Throughout history many believers have been persecuted and killed for their testimony for Christ. But most believers in this dispensation have died naturally and were not martyred. This passage says that every one of this group of saints were martyred for their testimony for the word of God. This plainly is not a reference to the Rapture of believers of the Church Age, but rather to those who believed and were saved in the seven year Tribulation.

When Christ opens the sixth seal there comes a great earthquake on the earth, the sun turns black and the moon to red as blood. Accompanying this catastrophic event is the stars in heaven raining down on the earth. God says the heavens will be rolled up as a scroll and every mountain and island moved out of it presence location. This begs a simple question? How does this fit into the Pre-wrath idea that the Seal Judgments are the "wrath of men?!" The scope of this judgment precludes that any man, even the Antichrist from having the power over the earth, sun, moon and stars. This is plainly the work of God in bringing His judgment on the earth and sinful men. This is Almighty God unleashing His omnipotence power over nature and the elements. Revelation 6:17 completely dispels any validity to the Pre-wrath view stating: "For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" The "great day of his wrath is come," clearly is referring to the events that just were previously described. The word "to come" means "as appeared, accompanied, entered or be set." After experiencing these six seal judgments people on earth will be terrified, and thus the answer to the rhetorical question "who will be able to stand," is no man could stand against God's wrath which has just been revealed.


THE PRE-WRATH VIEW FALSELY LEAVES CHURCH
AGE BELIEVERS ON EARTH IN A SPLIT RAPTURE
Another problem of the Pre-Wrath view at noted above is that Revelation 6:9-10 shows that part of these saints are in heaven the rest on earth. If the Pre-Wrath view is correct this would mean believers who were alive at the Rapture and had not been martyred would still be on earth and would have to go through the sixth seal judgment and its devastating events. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 plainly refutes this idea as being false.


THE PRE-WRATH VIEW FALSELY TEACHES THAT THE "CHURCH" MUST GO THROUGH A PERIOD OF CLEANSING
The Pre-Wrath view states that the reason for believers going through part of the Tribulation is that "the church" needs to go through a period of cleansing before the rapture. First this premise is based on the false idea of a universal church. The New Testament teaches that the "ekklesia" translated "church" in our English Bibles refers to a local assembly of believers. The idea of a universal church is not taught in God's word. God's program for this dispensation is believers as members of local congregations in a specific geographical area. It never refers to a global or worldwide "church." The author as an article at The translation of the Greek Word "Ekklesia" in the English Bible and its Ramifications. which explains this in some detail.

The period of persecution, according to the Pre-Wrath view, is necessary to return "the church" to serving the Lord and purging it of sin. The problem with this idea is brought into the light by the question, "What about all the Christians saved in the past 2000 years who have died and are with the Lord?" Why should a handful, in comparison to all the believers who have lived since Pentecost, have endure this supposed cleansing? Where in the New Testament does God state that He will purge "the church" of sin before believers are raptured? How would this cleansing effect believers who have died and are with the Lord. It is believers that sin and God says all in Christ are forgiven all their sins. Where then is the supposed need of a cleansing before the rapture?

The Pre-Wrath people may counter by saying "the church" has gone into apostasy and in the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation it will be purged and cleansed through persecution. Problem with that conclusion is that false doctrine has always, through the past two thousand years plagued churches, and false religion will continue to flourish in the first half of the Tribulation with the Antichrist and the false prophet joining all the religions of the world in to a one world church. The false "Christian" churches will certainly go into the Tribulation as will the cults. Nothing in God's word says there will be a purifying of "the church" before the rapture can occur. The rapture itself is the purifying of believers as they are resurrected to immortality and incorruption. (1 Cor. 15:53)

Believers in the Tribulation will be persecuted and the majority who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior will be killed for their belief in the word of God and testimony.(Rev. 20:4) Only a remnant of Tribulation saints will endure to the end of the seven years.



THE FLAW OF THE PREWRATH VIEW THAT JOHN DARBY "INVENTED"
DISPENSATIONALISM AND THE PRETRIBULATIONAL RAPTURE.
Many have believed the myth that John Nelson Darby (November 18, 1800- April 29, 1882), a Anglo-Irish Plymouth Brethren, invented the PreTribulational rapture view in 1831 being influenced by a young girl, Margaret McDonald, who apparently received this ”revelation” from the Lord of a “rapture” of the Church before a time of Great Tribulation at the end of the age. However, Roy A. Huebner, documented that Darby first began to believe in the PreTribulational rapture and develop his dispensational thinking while convalescing from a riding accident during December 1826 and January 1827. This was three years before Miss McDonald supposedly received her “revelation.” Darby studying Isaiah 32 saw that the prophet was revealing that God had some specific plans for Israel that went beyond into the future for the nation of Israel. He saw God’s plans for Israel and the “church” were different. As he studied the scriptures Darby began to see that the Lord’s return was immanent and could be expected at any moment. He saw the scritures teach the seven year Tribulation would be the period in the future when God would once again dealing with the nation of Israel. Let me explain:

Daniel prophesied that there would be 490 years before the Messiah would come and set up God's promised kingdom to Israel and they would live in peace. (Dan. 9:24-27; Ezek. 36:24-26) Clearly from history it can be seen that 483 years of the 490 have occurred. There then remains one more week or a period of seven years before the Old Testament dispensation is fulfilled. The seven year Tribulation or Daniel's 70th Week is the end of the Old Testament period of God working with the nation of Israel. During the Tribulation God will begin once again to work with Israel as a nation. He begins with calling 144,000 Jews as Revelation 7 predicts. God has made specific and unconditional promises to Israel that will be fulfilled in the Millennium which follows the Tribulation. He begins at the beginning of the seven years to purify Israel and save the remnant who will constitution the nation of Israel in the Millennium. Thus Christians in this the Church Age are not in view in the Tribulation and are not a part of this period. This is why the Lord comes first for Christians and removed them from the earth before the seven years of judgment. Christians are the bride of Christ and one must understand that in seeking sound doctrine and a proper interpretation of God's word the nation of Israel and the Christians of this age must be kept separate as they do not have the same position or place in the future events and plans of God.

Darby understood this as he studied the scriptures and saw that Christians in this age would not be a part of the Tribulation and therefore be raptured out before the seven years began.

The myth further states that no one before Darby believed in dispensationalism or a PreTribulational rapture. History again shows this view to be false.

With the writing of Barnabas (ca. 100-105), Papias (60-130), Justin Martyr (110-165), Irenaeus (120-202), Tertullian (145-220), Hippolytus (185-236), Cyprian (200-250), and Lactantius (260-330) are clear example of belief in a PreTribulational rapture.

Ephraem of Nisibis (306-373# wrote: "Woe to those who desire to see the Day of the Lord!" Because all saints and the Elect of the Lord are gathered together before the tribulation which is to about to come and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins." Two things are clear: Ephraem taught the Lord’s return was immanent, and the rapture would occur before the tribulation fifteen hundred years before Darby which are dispensational views.

Early church leaders such as Clement of Rome (90-100), Ignatius of Antioch (98-117), The Didache (100-160), The Epistle of Barnabas (117-138), and The Shepherd of Hernias (96-150) all wrote of the immanent return of the Lord.

The truth is that Pre-Wrath View is the invented view which was first taught by Robert Van Kampen in the 1970's. After Van Kampen his new view point of the rapture he looked for several year to find some well know advocate to make his view popular. He was one of the most wealthy men in America and had the funds to postulate his views. He found that advocate in Marvin J. Rosenthal, who at that time was with the “Friends of Israel” and in early 1990s he published a book titled "The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church" which popularized the Pre-Wrath Rapture view. So historically, the PreWrath view is only a decade and a half old.

What has made the myth popular are writers as stated earlier who passed on the myth out of ignorance or did so deliberately. It should be considered that may writers have taken up the Pre-Wrath view and have made great sums of money through their books. Also it should be understood that the myth is postulated by those who oppose dispensationalism which teaches that God has a separate plan for Israel and for the Christians in this the Church Age. Among these are the Covenant Theologians who teach God has abandoned Israel and now “the Church” has inherited the promised God made to His chosen nation.


Conclusion
The Pre-Wrath Rapture view is clearly fatally flawed. The Pre-Wrath view is correct on the truth that Church Age saints will not experience the wrath of God (1 Thess. 5:9, Rev. 3:10). However, it falsely teaches that God will not be pouring out His wrath in the beginning of the seven years and Christians will experience the Seal Judgments. Revelation 6 plainly states that the Tribulation begins when Jesus Christ initiates and brings the wrath of God on the earth beginning with the seal judgments. The Pre-Wrath view fails to understand that the supposed peace of at the beginning of the Tribulation is not real peace but only a short lived political offering of peace. The political peace does not preclude that God will not be pouring out His wrath in this same period. The Pre-Wrath view has a split view of the rapture with only part of the saints of God raptured and the rest left behind to be raptured later. The Pre-Wrath view also fails to understand that the seven year Tribulation is the conclusion of the Old Testament dispensation that God postponed when Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah. It ignores that Daniel specifically prophesied that the Messiah would return at the end of the 490 year period which will end with the Lord setting up the Millennial Kingdom He promised the Jews. The Tribulation according to God's word is God purging Israel not "the church." Nowhere in Revelation 4:1 to 19:7 is Church Age saints mentioned. Every reference to believers are those saved during the Tribulation. The reason is clear because Christians in this present dispensation of the Church Age,who are the body and bride of Jesus Christ, are in heaven with Him having been raptured before the seven year Tribulation.

11-24-09 Click this line to read a related article titled "Is the Mid-Tribulation or Pre-Wrath Rapture the Biblical View?"

[Chris]

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GoldenEagle5,
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[15] No promotion of Mid, Post Tribulation, Prewrath, Partial Rapture, Preterism, or Replacement theology. This board is traditional Pre-Tribulation Rapture, Pre 6 Seals, Pre 70th week, and Pre-Millennial Dispensational of End Times Prophecy. No posting alternative theories from other websites. We believe in a literal 7 year Tribulation period, after the instantaneous Rapture of all regenerated believers in unison, during which God finishes His discipline of Israel, protects Israel, and finalizes His judgments on the unbelieving world. Salvation will remain open to people trusting in Jesus for salvation up to the Second Coming.
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