Eschatology and Eschatology and EcclesiologyEcclesiology

Rapture Systems – Part IIRapture Systems – Part II

Key QuestionsKey Questions

Is there a distinction between the Is there a distinction between the Church and Israel?Church and Israel?

When does God’s wrath begin?When does God’s wrath begin? How is the Church protected from How is the Church protected from

God’s wrath?God’s wrath? Is the Church in Christ’s Olivet Is the Church in Christ’s Olivet

Discourse?Discourse?

Review of the TribulationReview of the Tribulation

3.5 Years 3.5 YearsBeginning of Birth Pangs

The Great Tribulation

Abomination of Desolation

Rapture of the Church

Return of ChristAntichrist as leader

of revived Roman EmpireAntichrist as dictatorof the world

Different Rapture SystemsDifferent Rapture Systems Post-Tribulational RapturePost-Tribulational Rapture

The Church, made up of saints of all ages, is The Church, made up of saints of all ages, is raptured at the end of the tribulation when Christ raptured at the end of the tribulation when Christ returns to the earth, beginning the Day of the returns to the earth, beginning the Day of the Lord.Lord.

Partial RapturePartial Rapture Saints are raptured progressively, after receiving Saints are raptured progressively, after receiving

the necessary discipline through the Tribulation.the necessary discipline through the Tribulation. Mid-Tribulational RaptureMid-Tribulational Rapture

First part of Daniel’s 70First part of Daniel’s 70thth week is not God’s wrath; week is not God’s wrath; Church is raptured before the Great Tribulation, Church is raptured before the Great Tribulation, consisting of the bowl judgments.consisting of the bowl judgments.

Pre-wrath RapturePre-wrath Rapture Great tribulation is cut short; Church is raptured Great tribulation is cut short; Church is raptured

halfway through the last half of Daniel’s 70halfway through the last half of Daniel’s 70thth week, before God’s wrath in the Day of the Lord.week, before God’s wrath in the Day of the Lord.

Arguments for a Arguments for a Pretribulational RapturePretribulational Rapture

The Church and Israel are separate entities The Church and Israel are separate entities (1 Cor 10:32; Rom 11:25-27), with separate (1 Cor 10:32; Rom 11:25-27), with separate roles in God’s program.roles in God’s program.

The stated purposes of the Tribulation do not The stated purposes of the Tribulation do not include the Church (Dan 9:24-27; Jer 30:7).include the Church (Dan 9:24-27; Jer 30:7).

The Church will be delivered from the wrath The Church will be delivered from the wrath of God (1 Thess 1:9-10; 5:9-10; Rev 3:10). of God (1 Thess 1:9-10; 5:9-10; Rev 3:10). The entire period of tribulation will be a time The entire period of tribulation will be a time of God’s wrath.of God’s wrath.

“ “When Christ takes the scroll and When Christ takes the scroll and begins to break the seals (Revelation begins to break the seals (Revelation 6–8), the judgments begin to fall on 6–8), the judgments begin to fall on the earth. This is the beginning of the earth. This is the beginning of God’s judgments – the wrath of God. God’s judgments – the wrath of God.

God’s wrath is seen in all the God’s wrath is seen in all the judgments on the scroll, which judgments on the scroll, which includes the three series of includes the three series of judgments – the Seals, the Trumpets judgments – the Seals, the Trumpets and the Bowls—in the book of and the Bowls—in the book of Revelation” (Benware, p. 223).Revelation” (Benware, p. 223).

Arguments for a Arguments for a Pretribulational RapturePretribulational Rapture

There is no evidence for the Church’s There is no evidence for the Church’s presence in The Tribulation.presence in The Tribulation. In the Scriptures which deal with The In the Scriptures which deal with The

Tribulation, no specific reference to the Church Tribulation, no specific reference to the Church is ever found, and there are no warnings to the is ever found, and there are no warnings to the church to prepare for The Tribulation.church to prepare for The Tribulation.

There are passages of Scripture dealing with There are passages of Scripture dealing with saved Jews and saved Gentiles as national saved Jews and saved Gentiles as national groups in The Tribulation, but none that refers groups in The Tribulation, but none that refers to the Church in The Tribulation.to the Church in The Tribulation.

Differences between Rapture Differences between Rapture and Second Comingand Second Coming

Church saints meet Church saints meet Christ in the clouds.Christ in the clouds.

Occurs before the Occurs before the wrath of God is wrath of God is poured out.poured out.

Christ returns to Christ returns to heaven with church heaven with church saints.saints.

ImminentImminent After the rapture, After the rapture,

believers are believers are removed and only removed and only unbelievers remain.unbelievers remain.

Christ descends to Christ descends to the Mount of Olives.the Mount of Olives.

Occurs after the Occurs after the wrath of the Day of wrath of the Day of the Lord.the Lord.

Christ descends and Christ descends and stays on earth. stays on earth.

Preceded by signs.Preceded by signs. After the second After the second

coming, unbelievers coming, unbelievers are removed and are removed and only believers only believers remain. remain.

Are There Prophesied Events to Are There Prophesied Events to Precede the Rapture in Precede the Rapture in

2 Thess 2?2 Thess 2?

Paul is responding to those who had Paul is responding to those who had been mislead that the Day of the been mislead that the Day of the Lord had come.Lord had come.

He proceeds to assure his readers He proceeds to assure his readers that the Day of the Lord was not that the Day of the Lord was not present because two prominent parts present because two prominent parts of that period were not present.of that period were not present.

Return of ChristReturn of Christ

Beginning of Birth Pangs Great Tribulation

parousi,a

Return of ChristReturn of Christ

Beginning of Birth Pangs Great Tribulation

parousi,a

The

Apostasy

Man

of

Lawlessness

Return of ChristReturn of Christ

Beginning of Birth Pangs Great Tribulation

parousi,a

The ApostasyMan of Lawlessness

The Rapture is ImminentThe Rapture is Imminent

““Imminent” means nothing else must be Imminent” means nothing else must be fulfilled before the rapture takes place.fulfilled before the rapture takes place. Note the use of the first plural pronoun in such Note the use of the first plural pronoun in such

scriptures as 1 Thess 1:10; 4:17; 5:9.scriptures as 1 Thess 1:10; 4:17; 5:9. While no one knows the time of Christ’s While no one knows the time of Christ’s

return, He may come at any moment.return, He may come at any moment. The rapture will be unannounced, largely The rapture will be unannounced, largely

unexpected, and likely explained away by unexpected, and likely explained away by those “left behind.”those “left behind.”

An Overview of “Last” An Overview of “Last” EventsEvents

Resurrection and Rapture of Church Saints Resurrection and Rapture of Church Saints (1 Thess 4:13-18)(1 Thess 4:13-18)

The Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor 3:11 – The Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor 3:11 – 4:5; 2 Cor 5:10)4:5; 2 Cor 5:10)

The Marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:9)The Marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:9) Unites the Church with Christ foreverUnites the Church with Christ forever

The Tribulation (aka Day of the Lord)The Tribulation (aka Day of the Lord) The Second Coming of Christ to EarthThe Second Coming of Christ to Earth The Millennial Kingdom of Jesus ChristThe Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ The Great White Throne JudgmentThe Great White Throne Judgment The Eternal State – New Heavens and EarthThe Eternal State – New Heavens and Earth

Next Week: The Biblical View Next Week: The Biblical View ofof

DeathDeath&&

The Intermediate StateThe Intermediate StateSyllabus pp. 251-261Syllabus pp. 251-261

Benware pp. 345-352Benware pp. 345-352

Enns pp. 371-394Enns pp. 371-394