Latest Prophecy Question
Is the pre-tribulation rapture theory correct? Does the Bible support it?
Question
When I read the scriptures, it seems that the Bible supports a post-tribulation rapture rather than a pre-tribulation rapture. I believe
the rapture will take place at the seventh or last trumpet. What do you
believe the Bible supports? (Question shortened)
Answer
The Bible doesn't support a post-tribulation or seventh trumpet rapture...and
here's why with commonsense scripture to prove it.
I would also suggest you read these two articles:
Question# 1034:One more reason why I believe the pre-tribulation rapture is correct.
Question#
1239:Who will populate the millennium?: The Jewish remnant, those who take
the mark of the Antichrist.
I read your theory and it ended with all Christians being raptured at the
sounding of the seventh trumpet (or Second Coming of Christ). That means,
at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, there will be no Christians left on the
earth because they will all have been raptured. The Bible completely backs
up the claim that every single Christian will be taken when the rapture takes
place (I Thessalonians 4:13-18) I think we can both agree with that
Biblical fact.
So who does that leave left on the earth? Only those who have taken the
mark. Remember, the Bible is clear that at the time of the Second Coming
of Christ, in its own words there will only be two types of people on the earth,
those who are worshipping the Antichrist and those who are worshipping God.
Here's the verse that proves this word for word:
And all that
dwell upon the earth shall worship
him (Antichrist), whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb
slain ( saved) from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).
This scripture, straight out of the Bible, says word for word that all upon the
earth will worship the Antichrist,
except those who are saved. That
leaves no one else with every living soul accounted for. And remember,
according to you those who are saved
will be raptured at the seventh trumpet.
So when the seventh trumpet sounds every Christian alive will be raptured.
Who will be left? That's easy, those who worshipped
the Antichrist mentioned in the above verse. Well, what does the Bible
have to say about their fate? Again, the Bible is clear about their fate.
It's found in these verses:
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any
man worship the beast and his image, and
receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the
wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of
his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of
their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor
night, who worship the beast and his
image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name (Revelation 14:9-11).
I think the Word of God is very clear what the fate of those who
worship the Antichrist and take his mark will be. They will be cast
alive in the lake of fire that burns with fire and brimstone to suffer forever.
They will be killed by the Lord at His coming. And if you can't accept
that they will be captured and cast into the lake of fire. Either way,
their fate is sealed. The Word of God is final and it says they will be
cast into the lake of fire.
When Jesus comes, there will be a 75 day gap (Daniel 12:10-12) of time between
His coming and the start of His one-thousand year Millennial reign. That
will be the time of His judgment. It is at this time, He will judge those
who are still alive who worshipped the Antichrist, and also, to set up His
kingdom.
All Christians who have died up to this point and that were raptured will reign
with Him with new heavenly bodies. They won't be citizens of the Millennium who
will re-multiply the earth. Remember, those who are citizens will have bodies
that will be sexually active (Revelation 20:8). Jesus made it clear that those
who are in heaven (Christians) will have a body similar to angels and will not
be given in marriage. "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are
given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven" (Matthew 22:30).
We as Christians are told time and again that we will reign with Christ (II
Timothy 2:12; Revelation 5:10). Citizens of the Millennium are not given that
promise. Their job is to repopulate the earth, a capability a resurrected Christian's body
will no longer have. We will have a new body. "So also is the resurrection
of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: or this
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (I
Corinthians 15:42; 53)."
So here we are at the sounding of the seventh trumpet with all Christians on the
earth raptured with new bodies that can't reproduce. Left on the earth are
all who have worshiped the beast. As earlier proven, they will end up in
the lake of fire forever. They won't enter into the Millennium. That
leaves absolutely no one with reproductive organs left to repopulate the earth.
Christians certainly can't, they will have a new heavenly body upon the sounding
of the seventh trumpet according to you.
Do you see a problem here? I certainly do! This is why I believe
that the rapture of the church can only be a pre-tribulation rapture. It's
not a matter of salvation, but it is good Biblical sense. I realize that
Jesus said many times that if you choose to take up your cross and follow Him
there will be persecution. That's not something you have to ready yourself
for...it goes with the territory, and yes, you may die for defending the faith!
Post-tribulationalists have argued for years that today's Christians, who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture are going to be caught off guard and fall away when the pre-tribulation rapture doesn't occur. Let me put one thing to rest, if you are left behind, and you supposedly fall away, you are not and never were a Christian. You can't have the Holy Spirit residing in you and possibly fall away (John 10:27-30). You may fall but you will never fall away. John made it clear that those of the
early church that fell away were never of Christ. They didn't lose their salvation or fall away, they never were of Christ (I John 2:19). If you fall away, it will only be due to the fact that you were never saved. Just saying a prayer of repentance doesn't make you saved. It's the intent of the heart that validates such a prayer.
Terry Malone
Calvary Prophecy Report
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