Mature Christians. Which view is more accurate?

Question

Pretribulation rapture
Midtribulation rapture or
Posttribulation rapture?

Please don't just pick one but please explain briefly why you believe the view you chose. Thanks. God bless you all.

For you pre-tribbers - Jesus also said when the moon turns to blood red and the sun no longer gives off it's light, THEN will they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great glory. That doesn't sound pre-trib to me.

Sage - Is there something in the Jewish wedding traditions that you think sheds light on this? Please expound on your answer.

Steinbeck11 - l love you sister and appreciate you well thought out answer but I am a bit confused. You don't believe the rapture stemmed from biblical times but you do believe being "caught away" does. I thought they were the same thing??

There are so many outstanding answers I absolutely can't choose which is best. I agree with all you post tribbers but I loved the "pan trib" view (I never heard of that one before) and I also liked all who answered that we just don't know for sure and the ones who said we should be focused on making sure that we are ready for His return.

Great answers were given from all my contacts. I love you guys in the Lord.

Thanks everyone for your well thought out and documented answers. Place your votes because I'm putting the question into voting.

Answer 1

The point shouldn't be whether it's pre, mid, or post. Jesus told us we would know through the "birth pangs" and that no one will know. I think that by conjecturing one of the rapture beliefs, we will set our heart to that focal point. Our focus shouldn't be when he will return, but the knowledge that he will return.
It's not our responsibility to know when he will return, but to be ready when he does, and to guide as many people as possible to him.

Answer 2

I am a Pre trib Rapture believer. I also believe that there will be a Rapture in the Middle of the Tribulation. And then at the Second Coming, stated in Zechariah 14, there will be a meeting of the Lord in the air.

I believe that because the body of Christ has already suffered the wrath of God, it will not occur again. The 'church' is called the body of Christ. And therefore ( I could go into details ) we will not suffer on Earth while God pours His wrath out on it.

EDIT: On the point of your added text; The Book of Revelation has the sun turning dark and the moon becoming like blood after the sixth seal is broken. There is all the rest of the Book of Revelation to go through still! So I wouldn't say that Jesus couldn't have applied a Gap in his words. That is, a gap in time, because he did do that with Isaiah 61 in Luke 4 as well.

So if Pretribbers are wrong, then why is there such a period of events occurring throughout the rest of the Book of Revelation when the sun/ moon incident happens in Revelation 6!

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

See?

Answer 3

Only God knows for sure, however, I lean more towards mid-tribulation because I believe God will reveal His miraculous provision toward His children who do not choose the mark.
I also believe He has always used His Word to be an example of things to come, each time judgement was at the door, God spared His 'Own'.
When I read about His coming at the end of the tribulation period, that's when 'every eye' will see Him. There won't be any need for a rapture then. The rapture is supposed to be an 'invisible' catching up of the believers.in the twinkling of an eye. At the end of the tribulation when Jesus returns to stand on the mount of olives, He will be returning with His 'following saints' those who have been with Him during the seven year period.
Whenever it is or isn't, I believe the most important thing is to be spiritually prepared for anything, including enduring the whole tribulation. Walkin' by faith as the saints in the Bible did, that were empowered by the Spirit of God. Who's Word says, we can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us.

Answer 4

I can't be sure. I lean toward post tribulation because:

1. Jesus is talking to Christians here. Matthew 24:20-22 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: (21) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (22) And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

2. Christians have a purpose and a job to do - Be a witness and make disciples. Otherwise, we could go to heaven as soon as we accept Christ. My guess is that God is working to save as many as will choose Him and will use Christians as a tool.

I could just as easily be wrong though. I was taught to pray for pre, but prepare for post.

Answer 5

I believe it's Pre-Trib. There are way too many Scriptures to support this view.

Quote: "For you pre-tribbers - Jesus also said when the moon turns to blood red and the sun no longer gives off it's light, THEN will they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great glory. That doesn't sound pre-trib to me."--------------

I think this also supports pre-trib. I think this scene describes a time to come at the end of the tribulation period, and those left on earth will see this occur. This "Son of Man coming in the clouds" is speaking of Jesus 2nd coming which every eye will see. In the rapture, He will come in the "twinkling of an eye" and no one on earth will see Him.....only those caught up to Him will.
At Jesus 2nd coming, He will come to earth and stand on the Mount of Olives. (Zech. 14:4). In 1 Thess. 4:17 it says we will be "caught up together with them (righteous dead) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." That would have to refer to the rapture. What would be the point of being caught up to meet Him in the air, only to turn right around & come to earth with Him?

((((Kayne))))

Answer 6

The only thing that will darken the sun is a light that is brighter than the sun itself.Light a candle in a dark room and it will give light, but turn the light on in that room and the candle no longer gives off any light.It will be the same when Jesus comes back.His Glory will out shine the sun, and it will be as the candle when the light is turned on.
Posttribulation rapture.

Answer 7

Neither.

I'm Pan Trib. Which ever way it pans out works for me. Only God knows. No man knows the day or hour. I tend to lean pre and mid trib and there are Scriptures to support those positions. I know it's important for some people but the bottom line is that no one knows for sure so it's pointless to argue over which teaching is correct. Till then we need to keep preaching and let God worry about the details.

Answer 8

Seventh trump, the last trump.

The rapture fallacy can be easily documented in Scripture.

Eze 13:20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.

Rev 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

That is just some of the Scriptural documentation proving the rapture as fallacy. There is much more.

What do people think the whole armour of God is for?

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

ABLE TO STAND
ABLE TO WITHSTAND
STAND THEREFORE

Answer 9

The rapture of the church is a teaching that has come about from the 1800's (*) and was not adhered to by the original believers in the Bible. It is a deception to believe God is going to remove us out of the earth when the Bible plainly states:

2 Timothy 3:12, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

And when Jesus himself prayed in John 17:15
for ALL believers:

"I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil."

This is a frequently used verse that is TWISTED!

1 Corinthians 15:52, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMP: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

((*Please note it states we will CHANGE in the twinkling of an eye---NOT that we will disappear!!! If we are alive at the LAST TRUMP we will immediately be changed to our perfected body and just as Jesus is our perfect example in EVERY way--we ascend to heaven even as He did!))

When does this take place??


1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the TRUMP of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

(this is a "catching away"--or the ascending of those believers who are changed from their fleshly bodies to their incorruptible bodies who are still alive at Jesus' second coming)

IF anyone here wants the TRUTH--continue to read:

God indicates that time will be NO MORE at the LAST TRUMP!

Revelation 10:6, "And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be TIME NO LONGER:"


Revelation 10:7, "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the MYSTERY OF GOD SHOULD BE FINISHED, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets."

((Cross reference that the Mystery of God is Jesus' work of redemption of all of mankind.))

Revelation 11:15, "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."

((Sounds like the KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD are now the KINGDOMS OF OUR LORD!!!))

Now some who interpret revelations believe that The seals, trumpets and vials will occur consecutively--that means--as they are written. That would mean that the LAST TRUMP would occur Mid-tribulation.

Some interpret all three events---the seals, trumpets and vials to occur concurrently---that means at the same time--if that is true then the LAST TRUMP would occur at the End of the tribulation.

There is NO WAY the Last Trump occurs prior to the first trump, the second trump, the third trump, the fourth trump, the fifth trump or the sixth trump. That's just common sense. It is an ABSOLUTE deception that the LAST TRUMP is going to sound BEFORE the others sound first. So, I know that my being caught away to the LORD (if I am alive) shall be at the LAST TRUMP.

Answer 10

Pretribulation rapture
What power on earth impedes the antichrist to act? Two options (or one if you like):
* The church,
* The Holy Spirit, which was sent by Jesus to stay with us and guide us. After the rapture this Holy Spirit's mission is over.

Other example: God alerted Noah about the flood and the judment did not come until Noah, his family, and the animals were safely aboard. Tribulation will start until the church is safely raptured and enjoying time with Jesus.

Answer 11

"He that lets will let untill he be taken out of the way , THEN the wicked one shall be revealed "

the anti-Christ cant be revealed until the Spirit of God is from the earth..
otherwise the anti-christ would have no power nor reign over a believer cause a True believer has ALL POWER over ALL the ENEMY.........

Thus the TRUE believer must be gone from the earth and also the spirit of God whcih abides in the believer...........

and another scripture says this..." the righteous are taken and NONE layeth to heart , they are taken CAUSE OF the evil to come "

And its happening every moment of everyday somewhere in this World !!!
Think about that.........
and it also says..
""It rains on the just and unjust alike "
AND AGAIN
"" its appointed unto man ONCE to die , after this the Judgement "

Look Around ???