Learn what will happen during the tribulation period from beginning to end
Your comments and questions are always welcome. To send comments and questions please click here to go to our main page. November 13, 2002 Question
Hi there.
I am wondering about the (pre tribulation) rapture, as I have seen no biblical proof of such. I stand on the belief that the rapture is invented by man because he is afraid to suffer. For sure the word "rapture" does not show up in any bible I have ever owned. I do know that my belief ,or disbelief, in a pre tribulation rapture does not hamper my getting into heaven, but I would still like some insight.
Thanks,
Name
Answer
Name:
A lot of doctrinal issues are not specifically stated in the Bible. That doesn't mean they don't exist. There will be a rapture or catching up or snatching away. These are all translations of I Thessalonians 4:13-18.
[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
It's going to happen, it's only a matter of when. And by the way, here is your proof of the rapture being mentioned in the Bible.
I want you to do something for me. Get on your computer, go to your favorite King James Version Bible and do a word search on “Millennium”. I’ll save you the time, you’re not going to find it. Why? Because it’s not in the Bible, but I don’t know any fundamental, Bible believing Christian that doesn’t believe that Christ will reign on the earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4, 6). My point, just because the actual word doesn’t appear in the Bible doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
On your last point. The belief that the Christian community dreamed up the rapture because they didn't want to suffer is just incorrect. Number one, just because you make up something doesn’t change the outcome one second. If the Lord is going to send us through the tribulation period He will. No doctrine will change that. Number two, there is a multitude of scripture to back up the belief that there will be a pre-tribulation rapture (see my website for the proof) that I won’t go into at this time. Number three, the belief that today’s modern Christian does not want to suffer is the only reason the anti-rapture group exist. They sputter through a few scriptures to try to make their claim legit, but their real claim is that American society is too fat, lazy and spoiled and for this reason need to suffer. Well it’s too late, I can give you a list of fat, lazy and spoiled Christians who have lived and died for the Lord that will not go through the tribulation period. They had lots of money, plenty of toys, and most died of some disease related to just being plain too fat. And Christian’s all over America are dying daily and leaving huge amounts of wealth, land and possessions to their next of kin everyday, and then going to see Jesus. For anyone to base their belief that this generation of Christians should go through the tribulation period for no other reason then to say they are fat, lazy and spoiled is ridiculous. Of course, all worldly people who claim to be Christians will go through the tribulation period, but only for the reason that I don’t believe they were ever saved. You must realize that not everyone that claims to be saved is, and yes, they will be left behind (Matthew 7:21). But I’ll let God sort out that situation; He’s the only one that knows the true heart of man.
Lastly, you may need to inform the anti-rapture crowd to do a little homework. It’s pretty much common knowledge that more Christians have died for their faith worldwide in the last 100 years then since the day Jesus left this earth. From A.D. 1900 to 2000 more Christians have suffered and lost their lives then the previous 1900 years. That includes the early church and every other dark historical moment in church history. This information is a matter of public record so you can call any legitimate missions office and they will give you the same information.
Name, thanks for writing, but I can assure you, if it’s the Lord’s will that you and I go through the tribulation period, we will be just fine. But you can be certain that we will be no worthier to see Jesus then if we would have been raptured before the tribulation. You see, it is only through Jesus and His sacrifice that we are made worthy. We can’t do any more to obtain salvation or to help in achieving eternal life. When we truly accept the Lord and turn from sin, at that very moment, God begins to look at us through the finished work of Christ. From that day forward we are made pure and holy before God, and it is only through His finished work that we are made whole (Titus 3:5). Yes, the Lord is still working on us, but that has nothing to do with salvation and everything to do with making us more like Him.
I hope this has cleared a lot of questions up.
Pastor Malone