Bible Question:
I am a pre-millenniumist, however I am finding it very hard to believe a pre-tribulation view. To me it seems to point that the world is, and will continue to become more wicked. at some point, which only the Father knows, Christ will rapture His church. So my question is, is not there tribulation now for Christians in the worls? If Things must get worse then would not a slightly, say 10 to 20 percent into the tribulation view be more accurate? I find it hard to fit in seven weeks here and grab some information somewhere else and fit it into a nice little package. Darby did not come up with the pre-trib theory ubtil 1820. From what I have read early church fathers did not think this way. I would really like some indepth references or factual answers. God Bless, farout@onemain.com |
Bible Answer: I am glad you asked this question. I was thinking about bringing it up myself today. I know that there have already been many posts on this topic here and I am sure there have been very good jobs at explaining this doctrine. However often the posts are to incomplete to convince anyone of anything. I am not dogmatic about my views and willing to change them when it comes to many things involving eschatology however there are certain basic truths that one should embrace and have as part of their hope as they wait for the coming of the Lord. To understand the doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church you have to get a handle on two other doctrines first. One that of a promise of a bodily resurrection. This topic alone is a foundational truth concerning salvation. If there were no bodily resurrection of the saints then you would still be in your sins. Now there are those that are saved before they even understand 'whether there be any bodily resurrection' in that they put their trust in Jesus Christ and leave the details to Him. However the fact remains that if there were no bodily resurrection they would not be saved. This is a legal issue in the heavenly courtroom and this whol subject of a bodily resurrection must be probed and examinded and embraced and rejoiced in before the idea of a raptured church will make any sense. One of the passages where we get or doctrine of a rapture (simple word for a long explanation of a prophetic event) is from 1 Cor 15. As you read it you see that there will be a people who will not die. There will be a generation of saints that will be changed and recieve glorified bodies and rise and meet the Lord in the air. Does this happen at the end of the Tribultion or the Middle or the Beginning? I cannot say for certain I can give scripture that sounds like one or the other. However if all the verses are examined the majority of verses weighs heavily on the pre-trib view. The other doctrine that must be examined before you examine that of the rapture is the doctrine of the Day of the Lord and the Wrath of God ready to be revealed upon the ungodly. This day of wrath is described in many Old Testament Prophets and in all cases more than a 24 hour day is described. When it was prophesied about the day of Jacobs trouble that would be the worse they had every seen it was a prophesy of Judgement. When the Great Tribulation begins in Revelation it is all about Judgement being poured out on unrepentant sinners. There is another use of the word tribulation, that which we all have as christians if we live holy in this world, we will have tribulation. But THE GREAT TRIBULATION is alogether another use of the word. As the wrath of man is a different use of the word WRATH when we refer to the WRATH Of GOD. We may recieve the wrath of man or so it may appear to us while we live holy in this life, but never will the saint recieve the WRATH of GOD. |