In the Bible,is the pre-tribulation rapture for real?

Question

I'm confused,some say this........some say that....Is the rapture real,or is it going to come after tribulation?

Answer 1

“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 2

expensive question asker, i'm a Hank Hanegraaff bible answer guy supporter so no i do no longer have confidence in a Rapture yet somewhat a resurrection. John 5:28,29. The rapture coaching became into popularized with the aid of John Nelson Darby in the nineteenth century. i've got confidence it as properly as a results of fact the whole left in the back of sequence coaching is easily unbiblical. i've got confidence that many human beings UNDERESTIMATE what handed off purely earlier than and as much as 70 A.D. or so. i've got confidence that indisputably that became into the term of the super tribulation that the bible talks approximately.... Olivet Discourse and many of the letter of Revelation. Jesus had warned that as quickly as they observed the abomination of desolation happening... it became into time to flee to the mountains. human beings that did have been spared or left and survived, human beings that did no longer hear have been taken in judgment... slaughtered with the aid of the Roman armies or taken captive. So there would properly be little or little question that the super tribulation is a prior experience. Matthew 24:34. Being stated Jesus will come returned bodily on the final day! God bless, and thank you for the question. (-:

Answer 3

Christians will have to face tribulation. It is said to be the worst time in history, that which we will probably have to face. Also there is no secret rapture, Christ will return at the end, take all his followers with him to Heaven for 1000 years. After the 1000 years, the city of new Jerusalem will set down on the mount of olives (this city is huge and covers the entire promised lands promised to Abraham)

After which all the wicked will be raised from the dead, (satan was alive on earth with just his angels, with no people to deceive. Then God will reign down fire apon all the wicked, and they will burn in hellfire. Once they have been destroyed, God will recreate the hole earth in its former Glory, or even better !!! Sounds great doesn't it ?

Answer 4

Very interesting question! Are you like I was when taught this doctrine, looking for it in the scriptures and NOT finding it? Here is the best consensus of the scriptures on the subject from over 30 years study: The rapture is a fact! but NOT pretrib as most evangelicals teach today.

One has to look at the entire context of the Bible, both old and new testament, to get a picture of the relationship between the rapture and the tribulation period, but it IS there. First of all, the rapture is at the second coming of the Lord Jesus... that is when we rise in the air (if we are his children) to meet him as he comes back to earth. NO 2-stage second coming as taught by the pre-tribbers is anywhere taught in the scriptures and all examples of God pouring out his wrath in the past have it that way (one stage), such as Noah and the flood, Lot and his family leaving Sodom and Gomorrah, and the exodus of the Israeli people and the Red Sea event.

One of the big mistakes that pre-tribbers make is stating that since we are not appointed to God's wrath (which is entirely true) we do not go through the great tribulation, equating the tribulation period with the wrath of God... it is NOT! If you read the book of Revelation you will see that the wrath of God is reserved for the time of the 7th Trumpet, which is towards the end of the 7 year tribulation period. Consequently one must allow that Christians will be protected in the midst of the judgements of God leading up to the wrath, Just as the Israelis were in Egypt during the judgements but then were delivered as the ultimate judgement was meted out upon their enemies.

Pre-tribulation rapture is one of those doctrines which has no basis in the Word of God, so men have bent and twisted the meaning of scriptures to make it fit, but no honest seeking-the-truth person who is familiar with the word will find it.. It is one of those "cunningly devised fables" that the word warned us to beware; it simply isn't there.

In Matthew 24 verses 29, 30, and 31 you will find the word "after", and looking closely it is describing the relationship of the great tribulation to the second coming of Jesus and the rapture. It very simply lays it out for anyone to see. (Read those verses for yourself and tell me what YOU see).

Rightly dividing the Word of God, the tribulation period is NOT all wrath, but it is judgements leading up to the final and ultimate wrath of God at the 7th trumpet. The rapture is not pre-trib, it's not mid-trib, nor is it post-trib... it is "pre-wrath".

An interesting point to consider, Paul said that we rise to meet the Lord at the "last trumpet" That fits very well with the rapture happening at the sound of the 7th trumpet (or the"last" of the seven), just prior to the vials of God's wrath being poured out. And another thing to consider, Jesus said those days would be shortened for the elect's sake... so even though we go through the times of the judgements of the Great Tribulation, the full tribulation period is not experienced by the Children of God, we are snatched up towards the end of the 7 year tribulation... at the last trumpet!

Oh yeah, and if anyone tries to confuse you with the elect being anything other than all true Christians, don't let them. Paul said in Ephesians that the "two shall be one" speaking of the jewish believers and the gentile believers being one in the body of Christ, and then later in Romans he states that the "unnatural branches" (the gentiles) would be grafted into the natural olive tree (Israel)... so it is our believeing in Jesus as the Christ, risen from the dead and alive forevermore that makes us the elect. I hope this helps, I tried to make it short as I could, but it needs at least this much explaining for clarification, for this false doctrine is deeply rooted in modern Christianity.

Answer 5

Some have allowed ideological authorities to dismiss the idea of a savior whose messages are of love, compassion and forgiveness and promote instead the idea of a savior whose return in a second coming will be as a warrior fighting in the end times to achieve final victory against an evil one cast down to and ruling over Earth in a great war to end all wars known as Armageddon. Many conservative ideological authorities have become war mongers. They self righteously believe they will be raptured to Heaven before the Armageddon they have helped orchestrate unfolds upon those "left behind". The reality that I believe will unfold is many will suffer a global catastrophic blow to their survival in a war orchestrated by a mercenary plutocratic predatory few for profit and gain. A mercenary plutocratic predatory few will retreat to an underworld of under ground cities and bunkers and survive to reemerge when conditions permit to take possession of new territory and repopulate the surface of the Earth.

Answer 6

some people believe before, some believe in the middle of the tribulation, and some believe at the end of the tribulation. It is difficult as Jesus said no]"No one knows of that day except the Father who is in Heaven.: Also told us to watch. It will come though, and the people who are left behind will suffer the wrath of God. As Christ will only come for his elect.

Answer 7

i believe there will be a pre-tribulation that God is comming for his chosen ones, then the beast will be on the earth trying to get the left overs. ten years later will be the post tribulation. God will come to slain the beast with all the other people that has accended with him. And they will rule the earth.
Hope this makes sense.
God Bless you

Answer 8

This 'rapture' idea is a modern, mainly american belief - not accepted by the majority of CHRISTIAN churches around the world (anglicans, catholics, etc).
The idea travelled to the UK, mainly when it was brought over with american preachers and culture (more UK people will have been exposed to the idea from 'the Simpsons' than from their own vicars and priests)
It is a hodge-podge of stretched translation and has become popular due to passive marketing.

If you want to live your life in fear of something which is pulled from a couple of very small verses in a very big, complicated, book - which itself has been translated through several languages
go ahead. there are a lot of people out there who will join you.
As for me and my house, we will live each day as it comes, morally and etically, and say to ALL those priests, evangelists, pastors and religionistas - "a pox on all your houses"

Answer 9

Jesus comes and takes all the REAL Christians and the christians who have died with him to heaven. The ones that are semi-christians will have to hang out on the earth for 7 years,(don't know if that's man years or heavenly years)...and prove their love and nobility to Christ. During that time it will be almost impossible to become a Christian because there will be no Bibles nor preachers...That's the time that satan will be able to roam the earth, literally...Then there will be the war between God and satan,(we know God wins that)...then Jesus will return to take what's left of his people to heaven to live reign with him...There will be a new heaven and a new earth and we will all have glorified bodies.

Answer 10

I used to think that Pre-trib was definitely going to happen but I've heard arguments for the Post that sound convincing. My thinking is now this; if it's Pre then it will be glory for us and we will avoid a huge amount of pain and suffering. If it's Post than we, as Christians, would be colossal fools if we didn't prepare ourselves to suffer for Christ.
The Bible isn't really clear on this issue so, if I were you, I would prepare myself for whatever happens.

Answer 11

The scripture is NOT very clear on if the Rapture is Pre-Trib, Post Trib or Mid Trib. I personally believe it will be Pre-Trib but I can understand the arguments for the other beliefs.