Is a Rapture of believers
before the Great Tribulation
the reason we are
to be comforted?
Or is the scripture saying
something different?
Could the fact that
there is a Resurrection of the Dead
and a promised transformation
at the return of Jesus Christ,
be what we can
take comfort in?
A closer look
at some key scripture passages
should give us an answer.
* Youtube Vide0 =
https://youtu.be/zpdYJ-6tXbM
*
Continuing in the
Reason # 6
in a list of 7 Reasons
for a Pre-Trib Rapture is:
6.
*Encouragement and Comfort
in the Rapture Teaching:*
- **1 Thessalonians 4:18**:
- **1 Thessalonians 4:18**:
Paul instructs believers
to comfort one another
with the words
about the Rapture.
- **1 Corinthians 15:51-52**:
- **1 Corinthians 15:51-52**:
The transformation
of believers
is described as a mystery
and a cause for hope.
- **1 Thessalonians 5:11**:
- **1 Thessalonians 5:11**:
Encouragement is linked
to the hope of salvation
and deliverance from wrath.
The expectation of deliverance
The expectation of deliverance
before the Tribulation
offers greater comfort
and encouragement
than the prospect
of enduring
it.
There are 3 related points
in this 6th Reason given
to defend the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory
as provided in a Post by David Floyd.
Let's look at the First Point given:
1 Thessalonians 4:18**:
Paul instructs believers
to comfort one another
with the words
about the Rapture.
Now let's take a closer look at the entire passage,
Which would include
1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 13 - 18
And I'd like to go
verse by verse,
Verse 13 we read
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning those who have fallen asleep,
lest you sorrow as others
who have no hope.
Paul is clearly talking
about those who have died.
Verse 14 we read
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so God will bring with Him
those who sleep in Jesus.
Again,
we see the emphasis being
the fate of those believers
who have already died.
Continuing in verse 15
we read
For this we say to you by word of the Lord,
that we who are alive and remain
until the coming of the Lord
will by no means precede those who are asleep.
Again,
refers to the dead in Christ,
and says
they precede the Rapture of the living.
Let's see what verse 16
has to say,
For the Lord Himself will descend
from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of an archangel,
and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Are you seeing the pattern here?
Again
the focus is the resurrection of the dead.
Verse 17 tells us what happens NEXT
Then we who are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
So, the encouragement here
is focused on
what becomes of the believers
who have died.
And the fact that they
will be with the Lord
when we meet the Lord
in the air
on His way back down to earth.
To rule and reign.
Verse 18 concludes with,
Therefore comfort one another with these words
This passage says
NOTHING about this resurrection
and our meeting the Lord
to occur before
the time of the Great Tribulation.
I hope you can see that.
Jesus is coming back,
but not twice.
Only once,
at the end of the Great Tribulation,
as He clearly states
in Matthew chapter 24 verses 29-31
Which says,
"Immediately
after the tribulation
of those days
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon
will not give its light;
the stars will fall
from heaven,
and the powers of the heavens
will be shaken.
Then the sign
of the Son of Man
will appear in heaven,
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.
after the tribulation
of those days
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon
will not give its light;
the stars will fall
from heaven,
and the powers of the heavens
will be shaken.
Then the sign
of the Son of Man
will appear in heaven,
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 His angels
with a great sound
of a trumpet,
and they will
gather together
His elect
from the four winds,
from one end of heaven
to the other.
send His angels
with a great sound
of a trumpet,
and they will
gather together
His elect
from the four winds,
from one end of heaven
to the other.
Some will say this passage refers
only to the Jews living at the time.
I have covered this subject
in more depth in other posts,
and videos included this one,
The Rapture of the Elect
And corresponding Blogpost
Let's move on to
Point # 2
of Reason # 6,
- **1 Corinthians 15:51-52**:
The transformation
of believers
is described as a mystery
and a cause for hope.
Let's start by reading these two verses
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
incorruptible,
and we shall
be changed.
This passage is talking about the same events
as we saw in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4.
And the mystery ( or secret ),
that Paul shares with the Corinthians
is that
we shall not ALL die.
Those who are alive
( not dead or asleep ),
get new incorruptible - spirit bodies
when the Lord returns.
At no point does he say anything
about the Return of the Lord
occurring before the Great Tribulation.
If you read all of chapter 15
in 1 Corinthians,
you'll see Paul spends most of the time
explaining
the Resurrection of the Dead.
Let's look at Verses 20 -23
But now Christ
is risen
from the dead,
and has become
the firstfruits
of those who
have fallen asleep.
For since by man
came death,
by Man also
came the resurrection
of the dead.
For as in Adam
all die,
even so in Christ
all shall be made alive.
But each one
in his own order:
Christ the firstfruits,
afterward those
who are Christ's
at His coming.
This would correspond to
the First Resurrection
we see mentioned in
Revelation Chapter 20 verses 4 - 6,
that occurs
after the Great Tribulation.
I have a whole other post and video
on this specific topic,
Post Tribulation Rapture - First Resurrection Timing
Video
Blogpost =
And finally point # 3
of reason # 6 is:
1 Thessalonians 5:11**:
Encouragement is linked
to the hope of salvation
and deliverance from wrath.
This verse says,
Therefore comfort each other
and edify one another,
just as you also are doing.
Verse 9 is where it states
we are not appointed to wrath.
But the Wrath of God is
not the same as times of tribulation.
Our salvation or eternal life
is what we have as believers.
And unbelievers
are still subject to the wrath of God.
John the Baptist
states this in John chapter 3 verse 36,
Which says,
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life;
and he who does not believe the Son
shall not see life,
but the wrath of God abides on him."
I have a post
that goes into this in more detail,
if you are interested;
Is a Pre-Trib Rapture of the Church
required to save believers from Wrath?
Blogpost
David Floyd sumerizes Reason # 6 as,
The expectation of deliverance
before the Tribulation
offers greater comfort
and encouragement
than the prospect
of enduring
it.
I would agree with this statement.
HOWEVER,
scripture nowhere promises us
a pre-tribulation Rapture of believers,
but instead
it repeatedly talks about the need to endure
until the return of Christ.
There are many scriptures I could reference,
but I'll share
just this one passage in closing today.
In Luke chapter 21 verses 34-36
we read
But
take heed
to yourselves,
lest your hearts
be weighed down
with carousing,
drunkenness,
and cares
of this life,
and that Day
come on you
unexpectedly.
For it will come
as a snare
on all those
who dwell
on the face
of the whole earth.
Watch therefore,
and pray always
that you may
be counted worthy
to escape
all these things
that will come
to pass,
and to stand
before
the Son of Man."
I will provide LINKS
to additional Blog Posts
and Videos on this subject in the description below.
And
I will combine this 6th Reason discussion
into a playlist covering all 7 parts
of this series on the
7 common Reasons
that are taught to support
a Pre-trib Rapture.
Thanks for making it to the end of this video,
please leave your comments below,
and click on the Like button,
to help others find this information.
Maranatha.
Saved by Grace,
Andrew Cross
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another,
and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25
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