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Mark 13

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

(Mark 13:24-27, ESV)

Mark 13

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

(Mark 13:28-31)

Mark 13

“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.

(Mark 13:32-33, ESV)

Mark 13

It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

(Mark 13:34-37, ESV)

Definition of “the Rapture”

“the experience, anticipated by some fundamentalist Christians, of meeting Christ midway in the air upon his return to earth.”

(From Dictionary.com)

Amongst Bible-believing Christians in America, there are two prevailing views on the Rapture.

1.) Pre-tribulation Rapture

The Christians will be taken up to be with Christ prior to the seven-year tribulation spoken of in Scripture. After the tribulation (trouble) has played out, Christ will return with the Raptured believers to reign on the earth.

2.) Post-tribulation Rapture

The Christians will suffer through the seven-year tribulation, and many will be killed. After this, as Christ is returning, the dead in Christ will be raised to meet him in the air, followed by the living believers. Christ then reigns with them on the earth.

Pre-trib in the Media

The Pre-tribulation view has been popularized by Christian media, especially by TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) and the Left Behind film series starring Kirk Cameron. Because of this, the Post-tribulation view hasn't had much public exposure amongst Evangelicals.

Proof Text for Pre-trib: Matthew 24:36-44

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40  Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:36-44, ESV)

Proof Text for Pre-trib: Luke 17:32-37

32  Remember Lot's wife. 33  Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34  I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35  There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” 37  And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” (Luke 17:32-37, ESV)

So, it's settled, then. The Pre-tribulation view has to be correct, because I showed you two verses.

Right?

If you don't agree with my view, you're unbiblical . . .

Right?

Here's a good rule of thumb for interpreting Scripture:

God is logical, and doesn't contradict himself.

When Biblical texts seem contradictory, you don't need to fear. God is inviting you to delve deeply into the riches of his Word. The seeming contradiction was placed there by him.

The Key Problem Between Pre and Post

The glaring problem in holding to a Pre-tribulation view of the end times is that such a position necessitates belief in two separate raptures. In this view, Christ must take all the living believers to meet him in the air. Then, later, he has to come back to pull the rest of the believers into the air. The problem is, only one rapture is mentioned in Scripture, and it is during the second (and final) coming of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

. . .

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)

1 Thessalonians 4

For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

. . .

(1 Thessalonians 4:15-16, ESV)

1 Thessalonians 4

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

(1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)

Those who hold to a Pre-tribulation view often cite 1 Thessalonians 4 as evidence for their position.

The only problem is the trumpet.

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

(1 Thessalonians 4:16)

The Trumpet

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

(1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

(Matthew 24:29)

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

(Matthew 24:29-31)

Good News?

Is Jesus' return “Good News” for creation?

Creation Groans for Christ's Return

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory . . . For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

(from Romans 8:20-22)

Jesus Seeks Vengeance for Creation

. . .you have taken your great power

and begun to reign.

The nations raged,

but your wrath came,

and the time for the dead to be judged,

. . .

[we give you thanks]

for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

(from Revelation 11:17-18, ESV)

Have you ever done anything to destroy the earth?

If so, how will you escape Jesus' promise to “destroy the destroyers of the earth?”

Revelation 21:1-2

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

. . .

Revelation 21:8

. . .

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

You're condemned to hell if...

Are you cowardly? Is your faith often weak?

Is your conduct, at times, detestable?

Do you keep yourself sexually pure? Have you ever dabbled in witchcraft, Tarot, etc.?

Do you worship Jesus as your only God?

Do you ever lie?

None is Good

“None is righteous, no, not one;

no one understands;

no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

no one does good,

not even one.”

(Romans 3:10-12)

No one is good except God alone.

- Jesus

(from Mark 10:18)

If no one is good, and no one truly seeks for God in and of themselves – doesn't everyone go to hell in the end?

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested . . .

. . .the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and [are falling] short of the glory of God

(from Romans 3:21-23)

[those who believe in Jesus for salvation] are justified by [God's] [undeserved mercy] as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a [substitute offering] by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine [patience] he had passed over former sins.

(from Romans 3:24-25)

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

(Romans 3:26-27)

Romans 10:9-11

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Revelation 21:3-4

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:5-7

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be [their] God and [they] will be my [child].