Eschatology - Pre-Tribulation Rapture

Are You Too Late For The Rapture?

Jack Van Impe begins his book, the Great Escape (Word Publishing, Nashville) with the statement that the next event on God's prophetic clock is the Rapture. (Rapture is from a Latin term meaning to seize or snatch away).

Van Impe believes in the pre-Tribulation Rapture. Translated, this means that the church is snatched away to be with the Lord before a 7-year horrendous tribulation period. There are at least two additional rapture views, one called Mid-Tribulation Rapture and a third called Post-Tribulation Rapture. Mid-trib Rapturists believe the rapture occurs after three and a half years of the great tribulation, hence in the middle. Post-trib Rapturists believe the rapture occurs after the seven years tribulation.

While the latter two views are not the focus of this writing, much we say here will apply to those views also.

Fundamental Flaws of Rapture Mania

The first problem with rapturists is a matter of time. They misplace the great tribulation. Believing it to be future, they misalign the rapture as a future event.

The second problem is that of ignoring the role ancient Israel plays in the unfolding of the last days events. All the biblical record speaks about the last days, applies primarily to ancient Israel. See Genesis 49:1-10; Numbers 24:14-17.

The third problem is that of reading ideas into texts which mention nothing about a future rapture.

The Great Tribulation in Prophecy

The great tribulation, prophesied in the Old Covenant, belongs to a period in the first century. In fact, as far as fulfillment goes, nothing in the prophetic time clock extends beyond the first century. The biblical record aligns all prophetic writings of the Old Covenant with the historical event known as the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. See Luke 21:20-22).

Prophetic occurrences of the great tribulation are found under the designation, "the time of Jacob's trouble," (Jeremiah 30:7) and the "time of trouble" such as never was since there was a nation," (Daniel 12:1) Daniel's writing makes clear this is an end-time event, aligning it with deliverance and resurrection in the last days.

The Prophet's Inquiry - When?

Daniel's curiosity gets the best of him so he asks the angel revealing the message of the tribulation, "How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?" (12:6) The answer is couched in somewhat figurative terms though it is not difficult to understand.

Three elements are suggested for when the great tribulation and end-time events happen. First, it is a time, times and a half time. Secondly, it is when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered. Third, it is the time of the end. (12:7 8)

The Word of Christ and the Great Tribulation

The Olivet discourse (Matthew 24) takes up the subject of the great tribulation and links it to the writings of Daniel. Keep in mind that this was a first century audience.

The great tribulation occurred with the command to flee from the city of Jerusalem just prior to its siege by the Romans, which siege led to its utter destruction. Knowing that ancient Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70, rapturists must reconstruct the temple to provide the proper context for the fulfillment of their prophetic scheme.

Jesus spoke the Olivet discourse in a time when people mostly traveled by foot or beasts of burden. The elements, winter especially would prove a serious impediment to travel.

The command to pray that flight would not take place on the Sabbath identifies the time as before the destruction of the Jewish temple when the gates to the city were locked. Escape would therefore be impossible.

In connection with flight from the ancient city, is the warning, "For then shall be great tribulation." This is the great tribulation spoken of by Daniel that exceeds a parallel in all Israel's history.

Immediately after the tribulation, Christ's coming occurs, complete with the sounding of the trumpet and gathering of the elect, (an event many cite as the rapture) all within that same generation living at that time. (Matthew 24:30-31, 34) With only one generation for the event to occur it is difficult to find rapture in our future. Likewise,there is no time for a literal 1000 years reign on earth after the tribulation if the return of the Lord happens immediately after this event.

The Tribulation in the Writings of the Apostles

Paul warned the early church that to enter the kingdom; they must do so by enduring great tribulation. (Acts 14:22) Later, he would write to the Thessalonians encouraging them to endure the persecutions and tribulations with a view to obtaining the kingdom of God. (2 Thessalonians 1:4, 5)

John, who lived and died in the first century, affirms his experience in the great tribulation. (Revelation 1:9). So, these first century disciples entered and experienced the great affliction prophesied in Daniel.

The Time Was Near

Van Impe sees a present day at hand message for the rapture. How can this be in the light of the at hand message preached by New Testament writers. For Paul, the day was already at hand. In direct allusion to Daniel's prophecy, he writes, "And do this, knowing the time [literally, the hour] that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand..." All new testament writers who spoke of the end time were emphatic that it would soon occur.

Van Impe and other rapturists cite John 14:1-3 as a rapture text. However, this text likewise has an at hand message that limits its fulfillment to the first century. It is spoken of in a context that shows a much abbreviated time for fulfillment. Jesus called it "a little while." (John 16:16-19). Compare Hebrews 10:37; 1 Peter 1:6. These statements were all spoken of from a first century expectation of nearness and fulfillment.

Wrapping Up The Rapture

The text held most strongly by rapturists is the strongest deterrent against it. We admit that 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 mentions that disciples would be caught up in the clouds. We however acknowledge that Paul and his readers lived in the first century generation. To them Paul wrote, "we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord." He repeated this twice, saying it was according to the words of Christ.

Christ taught that his return would come within the lifetime of those living in his day. (Matthew 10:23; 16:28; 24:34). John, the apostle, contrary to Peter, would be blessed to remain alive until Jesus' return. (John 21:21-23) Paul merely repeats Jesus words saying that some of them would yet be alive when Christ returns. Elsewhere he wrote, "We shall not all sleep." (1 Corinthians 15:51). These are emphatic declarations of the nearness of the end and its promise of fulfillment in the lifetime of first century disciples.

Is there rapture in our future? Not according to the language of the New Testament. We have shown that the great tribulation occurred in the past. A pre-tribulation view demands the fulfillment of the rapture before that tribulation. Van Impe's position would logically lead to a first century fulfillment. The same would be true of a mid and post tribulation view if the time statements of the biblical record were honored.

William Bell is a public speaker, author and writer on Covenant Eschatology. For more information visit http://www.allthingsfulfilled.com. Comments or questions welcomed at info@allthingsfulfilled.com.