Where does it say in the Bible that the rapture is befor the tribulation?

Question

All i can find is the Triumphant return at the end of the tribulation(Revelation 20).

See this site for more details: http://www.religioustolerance.org/rapture.htm

In my opinion the rapture is just a story to make Christians feel warm and fuzzy. They beleive that God wont make them live through the horrible tribulation.

I still have not seen or heard a good solid arguement for it, and there is no proof it will happen.

Answer 1

At the Council of Trent, the Jesuits were commissioned by the Pope to develop a new interpretation of Scripture that would counteract the Protestant application of the Bible’s Antichrist prophecies to the Roman Catholic Church. Francisco Ribera (1537-1591), a brilliant Jesuit priest and doctor of theology from Spain, basically said, “Here am I, send me.” Like Martin Luther, Francisco Ribera also read by candlelight the prophecies about the Antichrist, the little horn, that man of sin, and the Beast. But because of his dedication and allegiance to the Pope, he came to conclusions vastly different from those of the Protestants. “Why, these prophecies don’t apply to the Catholic Church at all!” Ribera said. Then to whom do they apply? Ribera proclaimed, “To only one sinister man who will rise up at the end of time!” “Fantastic!” was the reply from Rome, and this viewpoint was quickly adopted as the official Roman Catholic position on the Antichrist.

“In 1590, Ribera published a commentary on the Revelation as a counter-interpretation to the prevailing view among Protestants which identified the Papacy with the Antichrist. Ribera applied all of Revelation but the earliest chapters to the end time rather than to the history of the Church. Antichrist would be a single evil person who would be received by the Jews and would rebuild Jerusalem.”5 “Ribera denied the Protestant Scriptural Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2) as seated in the church of God—asserted by Augustine, Jerome, Luther and many reformers. He set on an infidel Antichrist, outside the church of God.”6 “The result of his work [Ribera’s] was a twisting and maligning of prophetic truth.”7

Following close behind Francisco Ribera was another brilliant Jesuit scholar, Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) of Rome. Between 1581 and 1593, Cardinal Bellarmine published his “Polemic Lectures Concerning the Disputed Points of the Christian Belief Against the Heretics of This Time.” In these lectures, he agreed with Ribera. “The futurist teachings of Ribera were further popularized by an Italian cardinal and the most renowned of all Jesuit controversialists. His writings claimed that Paul, Daniel, and John had nothing whatsoever to say about the Papal power. The futurists’ school won general acceptance among Catholics. They were taught that Antichrist was a single individual who would not rule until the very end of time.”8 Through the work of these two tricky Jesuit scholars, we might say that a brand new baby was born into the world. Protestant historians have given this baby a name—Jesuit Futurism. In fact, Francisco Ribera has been called the Father of Futurism.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Hello "Dee" It is certain good to see that there is someone that knows the truth about the rapture. I agree with you there will not be a pretrib. rapture. The rapture theory did'nt exist until 1830 when a woman with a very high fever had a vision in which she said God would fly us away before the tribulation. A preacher named Darby was nearby and heard this and thus the false rapture was born.
p.s. when the elements are burned up at Christ's return we wont be harmed at all. Just like Shadrach,Meshach and Abed-nego walked through the firey furnace and not one hair was hurt so will it be at the end. The fire will be a cleansing fire in which the bad only will be destroyd. No more sickness or disease! wont that be great.

Answer 4

Jesus says in the book of Luke, 21:36, to pray to be "accounted worthy to escape" the coming tribulation on earth. Since Jesus said earlier "in this life, you will have tribulation", the meaning is not the same. I believe he is referring to the rapture, to pray to be accounted worthy to escape God's wrath that will come upon the earth.

Also, the bible speaks of a "hindering force" that holds back the rise of the antichrist; many bible scholars think this is the work of the holy spirit in each believer. Makes sense to me. The tribulation period begins with the rise to power of the antichrist. Once all Christians are off the planet, this clears the way for him to come onto the world scene.

Answer 5

I believe Christ and the apostles never taught anything about a rapture. There's evidence it was the brain product of a Catholic priest around 300 years ago and later taken up by fundamentalist. The whole idea didn't catch on until the 1800's.

Answer 6

The rapture that many Christians promote is a big fake.

“Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, ‘Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?’ He said unto them, ‘An enemy hath done this.’ The servants said unto him, ‘Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.’’” (Matthew 13:24 – 29 KJV)

Now that is an interesting story, and it can be a little confusing; fortunately, because the disciples found this story a little confusing they also and asked Jesus to explain if further. Because our God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), Jesus explained what this parable meant.

“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, ‘Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.’ He answered and said unto them, ‘He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.’” (Matthew 13:36 – 42 KJV)

A closer study of this parable would seem to completely disprove the theory of a secret rapture of the church. Let’s take a look at what Jesus had to say about the time of the end through this parable. There are two groups on the earth represented by the wheat (the good or the church) and the tares (the evil). The workers of the field (probably representing angels) are troubled by the tares that the evil one (the devil) has planted. They ask the farmer (Jesus) if they should gather the weeds now and purify the field (the world). The farmer (Jesus) said that it should not happen that way because some of the wheat may come up with the tares. He then declares, “Let both grow together until the harvest (the end of the world): and in the time of harvest (the end of the world) I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” I find it hard to be a proponent of a secret rapture for the church when Jesus said that both the good and the evil will grow together until the harvest (the end of the world). How can the church be raptured, leaving the evil on the earth, when Jesus said they will be together until the very end?

There is another issue raised by this parable. Many well intentioned Christians use the story in Matthew 24:40 & 41 and Luke 17:34 – 36 as key proof of a secret rapture for the church, but if we examine this story about the end times with the earlier story Jesus told about the end times in Matthew 13, we get a completely different picture from what most Christians interpret this story to mean. Let’s look at what Jesus said in these verses.

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:40 – 42 KJV)

“I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Luke 17:34 – 36 KJV)

Now I do not think that I am wrong in thinking that most Christians interpret these stories to mean that the man taken from the field, the woman that is taken while grinding, and the man taken in his sleep are the ones that belong to the group that is the church and are ruptured. This does not seem to be a plausible explanation however. Jesus gives an order for things to happen back in Matthew 13. “Gather ye together first the tares (the evil), and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat (the good or the church) into my barn.” Jesus clearly says that the evil will be gathered first. If we take this understanding and apply it to Matthew 24 and Luke 17, we get a very different understanding. The ones that are taken are not in the group we want to be in. The ones who are taken are the tares (the evil) that are being gathered to be burned, but the ones that are left are the wheat (the good) that are saved.

There is another metaphor that many well intentioned Christians use to support a secret rapture for the church; I feel that this too is an invalid interpretation of a story.

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:43 & 44 KJV)

“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” (Luke 12:39 & 40 KJV)

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2 KJV)

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10 KJV)

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” (Revelation 16:15 KJV)

Here again, most Christians would attempt to say that this metaphor of a thief in the night is depicting a secret rapture for the church. I believe that most Christians have misinterpreted this too. First, Jesus explains what this metaphor means. He says that the meaning is not that the second coming is a secret but we do not know when it will occur. If we knew what day the Lord was to come, we would get ready the day before it, but since we do not know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36), we must be ever ready! Just examine what Peter had to say of this metaphor in 2 Peter 3:10; he says that when the Lord comes as a thief,” the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therine shall be burned up.” Now I am not sure how all that could be kept a secret from anyone or how people would be able to live on the earth when it has passed away, burned up, and all the elements in it have melted.

Answer 7

Based on the Scriptures below, I believe that the church of God (1 Cor.10:32 below - the saints of the most High, Dan.7:25 below), will face the tribulation under the beasts of Revelation chapter 13.

The "tribulation" will occur between the Sixth SEAL (Re.6:12-17) and the Seventh TRUMPET (1 Thess.4:16-17)..

The Seventh Trumpet (which many refer to as "the Rapture") will occur at the CONCLUSION of the “tribulation”.


1 Cor.10:32Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Matt.24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

Dan. 7:21I beheld, and the same (little) horn (king) MADE WAR WITH THE SAINTS, and prevailed against them (Dan.7:25 below);

Dan.7:25And he (the little horn/king - Dan.7:8, Dan.7:24) shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High (Re.15:3), and think to change times and laws (Re.13:15, Dan.11:31): and they (the saints) shall be given into his hand until A TIME and TIMES and THE DIVIDING OF TIME (3 ½ years/1260 days) .

Dan.8:24And his (the king's - Dan.8:23, little horn's - Dan.8:9, Dan.7:24) power shall be mighty, but not by his own power (but Satan’s - Re.13:11-12): and he shall destroy wonderfully (Re.13:15), and shall prosper, and practice, and SHALL DESTROY THE MIGHTY AND THE HOLY PEOPLE (Dan.12:7 below, Col.1:22, Eph.1:4).

Re.12:17And the DRAGON (Re.12:9, Re.20:2) was wroth with the woman (the church of God - 1 Cor.10:32, Col.1:22, Col.1:24), and WENT TO MAKE WAR WITH THE REMNANT (the rest) OF HER SEED, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Re.13:7And it was given unto him (the beast of Re. 13:1) TO MAKE WAR WITH THE SAINTS, AND TO OVERCOME THEM: and (Satanic) power was given him (Re.13:2) over ALL kindreds, and tongues, and nations (Dan.7:23, Re.17:15).

Re.13:15 And he (another beast coming up out of the earth, Re.13:11) had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as WOULD NOT WORSHIP the IMAGE of the beast SHOULD BE KILLED .

Re.16:6For they (those who had the mark of the beast, and those who worshipped his image) have shed the blood of SAINTS and PROPHETS, and thou hast given them blood to drink (Re.16:4); for they are worthy. (of this punishment)

Re.17:6And I saw the woman (that great city Babylon - Re.17:5) drunken with the blood of the SAINTS (Dan.7:21, Re.13:7, Re.13:15, Re.11:7), and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus (Re.18:24): and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Dan.12:6-7And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the END of these wonders?

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for A TIME, TIMES, AND AN HALF (3 ½ years or 1260 days); and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people (Dan.8:24, Re.11:3, Re.11:7), all these things shall be FINISHED (Re.10:7).



Pat (ndbpsa ©)

Answer 8

Not all Christians believe in a physical removal of people from earth.

Answer 9

look at I Thessalonnian 4:15-17 and compare.

Answer 10

http://finalevents.tripod.com