PART 1 of 2

The following is a rebuttal offered by Michel Rouse, to an article written by Chuck Missler of Koinonia House Ministries Inc. Mr. Missler's article, entitled The Great Snatch, represents his doctrinal position regarding the timing of the Rapture of the Christian Church as it ties into the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

This article was downloaded from the "KHouse Interactive" web sight, located at <http://www.khouse.org/newsite/>.

I would like to say that this rebuttal in no way is a reflection of my opinions regarding Chuck's writings or ministries. Personally, I believe he is one of the foremost minds in eschatology today. His research, presentations, and tapes are fascinating beyond compare. For this reason, I am somewhat dismayed and disappointed at his participation in the presently popular "pre-trib" fabrication following. By this writing, I am hopeful to shed light on the truth that there are indeed a vast number of Scriptures which do lend to the most literal views possible for the formation of doctrines of the endtimes. Earlier attempts to reach Mr. Missler have resulted in a form letter reply stating that this author's interest was appreciated and that Mr. Missler was too busy to reply.

I have chosen to place the "Great Snatch" article in it's entirety at the beginning of this rebuttal so it may be viewed as unobstructed as possible, in order to afford an order of fairness out of my respect for Mr. Missler and the fine work he does. Except for excerpts from other authors, certain Scripture selections or where noted, the separated text portions in italics are the sections of the transcript being rebutted at that point. The remaining texts represent the opinions and findings of this author. I am hopeful this does not prove to difficult or bothersome to follow, but felt it necessary to assist the reader in recall of the contents being debated.

May GOD reveal His Truths to His Servants and bless us in the study of this, His Word. AMEN

We continue to receive many questions concerning the "Rapture of the Church" and its apparent contrast with the "Second Coming" of Jesus Christ. Where does this view come from? Is the term "rapture" even in the Bible?

The mysterious event known as the Rapture is most clearly represented in 1Thessalonians 4:13-18, which encourages the grieving Christians that, at the "great snatch," they will be reunited with those who have died in Christ before them.

In verse 17, the English phrase "caught up" translates the Greek word harpazo, which means "to seize upon with force" or "to snatch up." The Latin translators of the Bible used the word "rapturo," the root of the English term "Rapture." At the Rapture, living believers will be "caught up" in the air, translated into the clouds, in a moment in time to join the Lord in the air.

There are many that still hold to the view that emerged in the Medieval church (Catholic and Protestant) that the "Second Coming" of Christ and the "Rapture" are somehow the same. Yet there seems to be a number of indications that these are distinct and separate.

There is also predicted an unparalleled "time of trouble" that Jesus called the "Great Tribulation."(1) Many hold to the view that the Rapture of the church will occur after that specific period of time, thus, closely associating it with the Second Coming. This is known as the "post-tribulation" view.

The Rapture is characterized in the New Testament as a "translation coming" (1Corinthians 15:51-52; 1Thessalonians 4:15-17) in which the Lord comes for His church, taking her to His Father's House (John 14:3). However, at Christ's Second Coming with His saints, He descends from heaven to set up His Messianic Kingdom on earth (Zechariah 14:4-5; Matthew 24:27-31). The differences between the two events are harmonized naturally by the "pre-trib" position, while other views are not able to account comfortably for such differences.

These differing views are based upon different approaches, presuppositions, and argumentation. In fact, they substantially contradict each other. As one insists on literalness, each of these views must embrace increasing difficulties. Those of us who cling to a very literal view of the Scriptures believe that the church will be removed prior to the tribulation period (the "pre-tribulation" view). Why? What is the basis for this view?

Paul speaks of the Rapture as a "mystery" (1 Corinthians 15:51-54), that is, a truth not revealed until its disclosure by the apostles (Colossians 1:26). The Second Coming, on the other hand, was predicted in the Old Testament (Daniel 12:1-3; Zechariah 12:10; 14:4). In fact, the oldest prophecy uttered by a prophet was given before the flood of Noah and was of the Second Coming! It was given by Enoch, quoted in Jude 14-15.

The movement of the believer at the Rapture is from earth to heaven; at the Second Coming it is from heaven to earth. At the Rapture, the Lord comes for His saints (1Thessalonians 4:16), while at the Second Coming the Lord comes with His saints (1Thessalonians 3:13).

One of the strengths of the pre-trib view is that it is better able to harmonize the many events of end-time prophecy because of the above distinctions. There are some awkward difficulties with the post-tribulational view:

1) The post-tribulation view requires that the church be present during the 70th week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27), even though it was absent from the first 69. This is in spite of the fact that Dan 9:24 indicates that all 70 weeks are for Israel. We believe the church must depart prior to the 70th week, before the final seven-year period (see our briefing package, Daniel's 70 Weeks, for further study).

2) The post-tribulation view denies the New Testament teaching of imminency--that Christ could come at any moment--since there are intervening events required in that view. We believe there are no signs that must precede the Rapture.

3) The post-tribulation view has difficulties with who will populate the Millennium(4) if the Rapture and the Second Coming occur at essentially the same time. Since all believers will be translated at the Rapture and all unbelievers are judged, because no unrighteous shall be allowed to enter Christ's Kingdom, then no one would be left in mortal bodies to start the population base for the Millennium.

4) Similarly, post-tribulationism is not able to explain the sheep and goats judgment after the Second Coming in Matthew 25:3- 46. Where would the believers in mortal bodies come from if they are raptured at the Second Coming? Who would be able to enter into Christ's Kingdom?

5) The Bride of Christ, the church, is made ready to accompany Christ to earth (Revelation 19:7-8, 14) before the Second Coming, but how could this reasonably happen if part of the church is still on the earth awaiting the Second Coming? If the Rapture of the church takes place at the Second Coming, then how does the Bride (the church) also come with Christ at His Return?

While many diligent scholars disagree, most of their views derive from their presuppositions about the Scripture. The more literal a view, the more there is an adoption of a pre-millennial pre-tribulation position. We encourage you to review the various passages yourself and develop your own conclusions. This is our "Blessed Hope," and you will not find a more exciting and rewarding discovery. This is just a brief overview of a complex subject, so apply 2 Timothy 2:15: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

This topic is perhaps the most demanding from the point of view of requiring the greatest amount of integration of many portions of Scripture. Remember Acts 17:11:

"Receive the Word with all readiness of mind, but search the Scriptures daily to prove whether those things be so."

A more comprehensive treatment of some of these topics is included in our Expositional Commentaries on the book of Daniel and the Thessalonian epistles. And if you don't happen to hold our views, don't worry about it. We'll explain it to you on the way up! Incidentally, Enoch is a model. He was pre-flood, not mid-flood or post-flood!

For more information about these views, we encourage you to contact the Pre-Trib Research Center, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, Suite 801, Washington DC, 20024.

2. Ryrie, Charles C., What You Should Know About the Rapture, Moody Press, Chicago, IL, 1981.

3. Showers, Renald, Maranatha, Our Lord, Come! A Definitive Study of the Rapture of the Church, The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Bellmawr, NJ, 1995.

4. Stanton, Gerald B., Kept from the Hour: Biblical Evidence for the Pretribulational Return of Christ, Schoettle Publishing Co., Miami Springs, FL, 1991.

5. Walvoord, John F., The Rapture Question, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 1979.

2. John F. Walvoord, "The Blessed Hope and the Tribulation: A Biblical and Historical Study of Post-tribulationism," Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 1976, pp. 21-69. Post-tribulationism is not monolithic, but embraces many mutually contradictory views: amillennial post-tribulation, post-millennial post-tribulation, pre-millennial post-tribulational, and post-tribulation views that equate the Rapture and the Second Coming.

3. This article was excerpted from notes provided by Tommy Ice, Executive Director of the Pre-Trib Research Center, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, Suite 801, Washington DC, 20024.

4. The Millennium is the term used to refer to the reign of Jesus Christ upon the earth after His Second Coming (Revelation 20; Isaiah 65). There are many who do not take the Bible literally and allegorize these passages. (These are known as "Amillennialists." We take the Bible more literally and believe that there will be a literal 1000-year reign, and are known as "Pre-millennialists.")

This article was first published in the January 1995 edition of Personal Update.

This concludes the original contents of Mr. Missler's article, as retrieved from the "KHouse Interactive" web site, January 1997.

[We continue to receive many questions concerning the "Rapture of the Church" and its apparent contrast with the "Second Coming" of Jesus Christ. Where does this view come from? Is the term "rapture" even in the Bible?]

I do agree that there is some contrast in the scriptures regarding the return of the Lord. I also believe that due to this contrast, the fact that the Rapture and the Second Coming are different in appearance, the usual inference is that these events must be separated by a specific amount of time. That period of time does not have to be any longer than it takes for the Lord to accomplish the Rapture, the first six Bowls of Wrath poured out and the Thief to come.

I can see where there might be some confusion, yet there are considerably more verses which offer insight and support to the belief that the rapture and the second coming are indeed reconcilable to the same time frame and possibly even the same event. Apparently, few have been successful at pinpointing the literal return of the Lord, in conjunction with the Second Coming, within the scriptures.

[The mysterious event known as the Rapture is most clearly represented in 1Thessalonians 4:13-18, which encourages the grieving Christians that, at the "great snatch," they will be reunited with those who have died in Christ before them.]

Here's the passage cited from 1 Thessalonians: 1 Thes. 4:13-18 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] 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: [17] 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. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

This is indeed the clearest representation of the Rapture event itself. But regarding the scriptures you've cited, I wonder why the pre-trib Rapture theologs refuse to maintain their supposed "faithful" literal interpretation of these scriptures. Through what seems to be divine interpretation, the "last trump" falls to their allegoric interpretation. It now takes on the symbolism or historic event of your choosing, instead of utilizing the prophetic references GOD has provided throughout the New Testament. This is particularly distressing, knowing that as Christ Himself dictated the Book of Revelation to John, He included a number of trumpet announced events by which a "last trump" timing might be reasonably gauged. You would certainly think that since the Lord said He would "descend from heaven....with the trump of God", that the Lord's own trumpet announced event of Rev. 11:15-19 would be of sufficient weight to validate GOD's intended post-trib / pre-wrath (of GOD) rapture.

Tragically, the hyper-dispensation teachings of the pre-trib schools of theology have precluded looking any further into the scriptures for literal understandings regarding any thought, which goes against their preconceived ideologies. This "hype-disp" belief espouses the "need" or requirement for the Christian Church body of believers to be raptured prior to the beginning of the last seven years, which precede the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now lets take a look at another view of this accepted rapture model, the event of the seventh and last trumpet of Revelation 11:15-19, and see if we can discern that all of the criteria is present to qualify unequivocally as the incident of the rapture. Rev. 11:15-19 "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. [16] And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, [17] Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. [19] And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."

Looking at each segment of this scripture block, it is much easier to see that the two descriptions are of the same literal events, in the same referenced time frame. Please take time to review and compare the similarities.

In verse 15 we have the last trumpet sounding, as well as "great voices in heaven" satisfying the "shout". Continuing in vs. 15 we see the "great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ", also aligning perfectly with the remaining verses, as well as passages elsewhere that also describe the "end".

In verse 17, the praises and accolades of the twenty four elders declares "O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come;" which lends to the understanding that Christ has not yet returned. Verse 17 continues with, "because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned." This portrays the beginning of Christ's earthly or physical reign. He has reigned spiritually for two millenniums and now starts to reign over His physical Kingdom on earth, since His enemies have finally been put beneath His feet as His footstool. This also lines up scripturally with verses that give specific insight into GOD's plan, whereby all things are brought into the physical or spiritual subjection of Jesus Christ. Other verses signal that the Day of the Lord commences when His "enemies [are] under his feet" and "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" itself. This appears most clearly to be reference to the first resurrection, the resurrection of the just.

Continuing to Rev. 11:18, we receive even more support to the timing of the Rapture. "His wrath has come" coincides with the next major sequential events of the vials or bowls of GOD's Wrath being delivered in Rev. chapter 15. Also in verse 18 are ALL of the required descriptions for 1) the resurrection - "the time of the dead, that they should be judged," 2) the Rapture - "that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints," and a follow-up with 3) the wrath of GOD upon the wicked - "and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth".

Seeing that Rev. 11 and 1 Thess. 4 do indeed parallel, let's view another group of verses from 1 Corinthians 15 to look for more similarities. 1 Cor. 15:20-27 "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. [21] For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. [22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. [23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. [24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. [25] For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

[26] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. [27] For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him."

And still, the events in verse 11:19 continue to coincide with the post-trib rapture theology, when declaration is made that Christ is coming as He said He would when He comes as a thief, in accordance with the last vial in Rev. 16:15-18. Rev. 11:19 "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."

1) The events of Rev. 11:15-18 have occurred, including the resurrection of the dead in Christ, the rapture of the saints, the gathering of the wicked for judgment.

Rev. 11:15-19 is an overview of these events before the scriptures lead into another "allegoric" interlude. This "pause" or interlude grouping of passages do not seem to be tied either by events or time to the events leading up to and including Rev. 11:15-19. They are an allegoric overview of Great Spiritual battle that has been waged since the beginning of time to its future end point.

2) When we get to Rev. 14, we see a continuation of the theme(s) found in the Seals and Trumpets, but with more detail as to the events back in 11:15-18.

3) Beginning at verse 14:6, we see that the "Gospel" angel is still flying about the earth. Since the Gospel is that Christ is our Salvation, and has saved us from our sins, the rapture has not taken place if the Gospel angel is wrapping up his business on earth as he proclaims the hour of GOD's judgment is at hand.

5) The third angel declares the punishment for everyone that takes the mark of the beast.

6) The next detailed event of significance begins in verse 14:12 when it is announced that "here is the patience of the saints", just in time for "the dead which die in the Lord" to be "Blessed" and that "their works do follow them." Why is this important now?

7) The next occurrence is a more detailed view of the rapture itself, in verses 14:14-16. It matches beautifully with the Lord's own description of the rapture from Matt. 13:36-52.

Now, cross-reference Rev. 11:19 to Rev. 16:15-18: Rev. 16:15-18 "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. [16] And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. [17] And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. [18] And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great."

The reference to "I come as a thief" may be intended for any and all remaining earthly inhabitants which were not raptured, or it may just be part of the more detailed description of the gathering of the "tares" for judgment at Armageddon. View the following observations and see if you agree: The rapture scenario is given as an "earthly view" description in conjunction with the associated events of the seventh trumpet, in Rev. 11:15-19. Following the allegoric interlude passages of Rev. 12 & 13, a more detailed "heavenly view" description of the resurrection / rapture alone is given in Rev. 14:13-16. In Rev. 14:17-20, a "heavenly view" of the command to "harvest the tares" or "grapes of GOD's wrath" is depicted, paralleling the same described event of Isaiah 63:1-6 and Joel 3:11-15. After the Church is shown and verified to be in heaven, Rev. 15:2-4, the elements of GOD's Wrath can then be pour upon the earth. In Rev. 16:12-16, a more detailed "earthly view" is shown of the actual event of gathering the "tares" / "grapes" for judgment.

Why would the Lord subject His Church to this time of great tribulation? He answers that throughout the Old and New Testaments with the same recurrent themes. He offers His reassurance that He is not "not slack concerning his promise", He is "long-suffering" to the point of "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." The trials to come are those that Paul tries desperately to prepare us for, in order that we may become tested, refined, and purified. That should be reason enough for a post-trib timing!

Daniel 11:35 "And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed."

Daniel 12:10 "Many shall be purified, made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand."

Zech. 13:9 "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God."

Malachi 3:3 "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness."

Looking at John 17:15-19, the Lord indicates the post-trib scenario as He prayed for the Church to be left in the world, not out of the world, and yet, to be kept "from the evil". In verse 17, the Lord tells us we can be sanctified by the truth, which is His Word. The message seems to be that His Word is to be our protection and strength through time of Great Tribulation. He also gives substance to the thought that perhaps we are expected to "mirror" the same type of tribulation He Himself encountered as indicated in vs. 18.

John 17:15-19 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. [16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. [17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. [18] As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. [19] And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

As you review these verses, watch the recurrent themes of patience, enduring, tribulation, the day of the Lord, and the Lord's sanctification unto His Glory.

2 Thes. 1:4-5 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: [5] Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

2 Tim. 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Hebrews 10:35-36 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. [36] For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

1 Peter 1:6-7, 13 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ... [13] Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1 Peter 4:12-19 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. [14] If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.[15] But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. [16] Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. [17] For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? [18] And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? [19] Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

2 Peter 3:9-12 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. [10] 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. [11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, [12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Rev. 2:10 "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

Rev. 3:10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

Reflecting on these passages is the most sobering reality of the Christian walk. It should be enough to cause all who believe to "be Holy as He is Holy". It is indeed a call to holiness, and not a warrant to ignore the knowledge of things to come. GOD's Word tells us that it is worse to have known the way and forsaken it than to not have known it at all.

In closing this section, I'd like to say yes, the Day of the Lord, is the Day of Christ, the coming of the Lord, the appearing of Jesus Christ, the coming, the appearing, the rapture, all in the same day. There does appear to be differences in some details between events, yet they all tie together as far as the timing is concerned.

Is all of this mere coincidence? Chuck has a saying from the ancient Rabbinics that I've heard him apply in his tapes that goes something like this, "There is no such thing as coincidence, when Messiah comes, He will not only explain the words, but also the spaces between the words." So many coincidences are certainly no coincidence!

I believe many prophecy scholars of this day have become misdirected away from using what parallel scriptures do exist to form and influence their doctrinal positions. It sometimes seems as if these scholars approach the Scriptures with a preconceived outcome, in search of Scriptures to fit.

[In verse 17, the English phrase "caught up" translates the Greek word harpazo, which means "to seize upon with force" or "to snatch up." The Latin translators of the Bible used the word "rapturo," the root of the English term "Rapture." At the Rapture, living believers will be "caught up" in the air, translated into the clouds, in a moment in time to join the Lord in the air.]

Simple and direct word studies, as above, present no problem. However, it does become an issue of concern when the words being studied wind up being twisted in the manner as John Walvoord did in his paper on "Premillennialism and the Tribulation - Part IX: Conclusion", published in the Biblio Theoteca Sacre Theological Journal of Dallas Theological Seminary, Vol. 113 #451 in 1956. In the process of his defining of the Greek word "apostasia" or falling away, Walvoord manages to "deduce" the following synopsis:

"apostasia" <Greek> or apostasy literally translates to mean "falling away" or "turning away from", which also can express a "leaving or departing from" something. If they are leaving or departing, this must be the Rapture!

The following italicized text is the verbatim excerpt from that 1956 paper. In it, he uses a twisted interpretation to assert one of his fifty concluding arguments to support the Pre-trib rapture, and that this is related to the work of the Holy Spirit:

31. If the expression, "except the falling away come first," be translated literally, "except the departure come first," it would plainly show the necessity of the rapture taking place before the beginning of the tribulation.}

"The necessity of the rapture" at this point is only due to the doctrine he follows rather than the overall preponderance of scriptural evidences to the contrary. This practice of forming theology without clear scriptural support makes for a weak foundation upon which to place the crucial building blocks of doctrine. Sadly, there are numerous other "man-made" support pillars in the pre-trib doctrine for which no clear scriptural support exists. Again, the following verbatim excerpts are from the same paper by John Walvoord and illustrates two of these commonly used, unfounded beliefs on which the pre-trib doctrine rests. In context, these were items #29 & 30 of the same section of Walvoord's "The Work of the Holy Spirit":

{29. The Holy Spirit as the Restrainer of evil cannot be taken out of the world unless the church, which the Spirit indwells, is translated at the same time. The tribulation cannot begin until this restraint is lifted.

30. The Holy Spirit as the Restrainer must be taken out of the world before "the lawless one," who dominates the tribulation period, can be revealed (2Thess. 2:6-8).}

Again, no clear scriptural support exist for these claims of the Holy Spirit in the role as a restrainer.

Why all the focus on Mr. Walvoord and his writings in this rebuttal? It is noteworthy due to the fact that he is credited as one of, if not the, father of current-day Rapture theology and he has been a source for many of the needed, yet unfounded explanations that are the basis for the pre-trib doctrine. Once more, in an article written in 1977 entitled "Posttribulationism Today, Part X: Is The Tribulation Before the Rapture in 2 Thessalonians?" Mr. Walvoord again gave his understanding of the interpretation of the word "apostasia". In this particular writing, he appears to give credit for this understanding to E. Schuyler English. This article can also be found in the Biblio Theoteca Sacre Theological Journal, April-June 1977 issue. The excerpted text of that article follows:

{"The word translated "the falling away" or "the rebellion" is from the Greek apostasia from which the English word apostasy is derived. Some debate has arisen as to the exact meaning of this word, which could also be rendered "the departure." E. Schuyler English and others have suggested that the word means literally "departure" and refers to the rapture itself."}

It's interesting to observe, in the preceding excerpt, Mr. Walvoord makes mention of debate arising from this translation, which he credits to E. S. English and states that it "could also be rendered". Yet in his 1956 writing, he says if the expression were to "be translated literally", indicating that the translations of today are all incorrect. It's quite obvious he did not base his decision upon the context from which the "term" was used or he would have seen that he was advocating that the "falling away" rapture must precede the "gathering together unto him" rapture.

Now for a look at how the scriptures employ the word "apostasia" to see if the rapture and the "falling away" from the faith can be the same thing. Here's the context of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3: 2Thes. 2:1-3 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, [2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. [3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"

Notice that Paul is writing in this "follow-up" or second epistle to Thessalonica about "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him ". Although it appears that Paul is addressing the coming of the Lord and the gathering together for the rapture as occurring in the same time-frame, perhaps even as the same event, the pre-trib following teaches that these are two distinctively different events, separated by seven years of time. The problems with this teaching begin as you read further into the context of what Paul says in the next several verses. In vs. 2 he refers back to "the coming... and. our gathering together" in verse 1 as being a singular event, "the day of Christ". Elsewhere in the New Testament this day is also referred to as the day of the Lord Jesus, the day of the Lord, etc. Continuing in vs. 3, Paul states that "that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" How is it that the pre-trib teaching can be correct if "that day", "the day of Christ", "shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed"? This seems a clearly post-trib understanding. Yet to the pre-trib following, the falling away or apostasy (which Walvoord teaches IS the rapture), precedes "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" because they believe IT is the rapture. Well, that would work, except, "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" also includes the Parousia, "our gathering together unto him", which is widely accepted as the event of the rapture, even to the pre-trib school. It cannot go both ways. How literal is literal?

After reading his perceptions on pretribulationism and posttribulationism it is easy to conclude that Mr. Walvoord has more opinions about why non-pre-trib doctrines are wrong, than why the pre-trib position is correct. I have two web site addresses for the Dallas Theological Seminary Library: <http://www.bible.org/dts/ bsac/bsacinfo.htm> and <http://www.bible.org/journals/bibsac/bsacfr.htm>

In a nutshell, every word study presented in the course of doctrine formation is not as strong or as clear as the one Chuck used to clarify the source of our use of the word "rapture" to describe the Church's being gathered together as indicated in the scriptures. Since the focus of this rebuttal is against the pre-trib rapture doctrine and the fallible tenets employed in it's formulation, I felt it practical and effective to include some of the disputable word study practices as put to use by Mr. Walvoord.

There is nothing more deflating to the avid student of the Word than for some pseudo scholar to inform him or her that the scriptures which they are in question of, which appear to have the same clear, literal applications, are, in the scholars' opinion, actually a reference to an unknown, un-Biblical event or detail, for which there is no substantiation.

In Nov. 1993, I approached a popular, pre-trib author, speaker, and radio show host that was speaking at an area church. I made a most sincere request for insight into the early church fathers, their writings from the first three centuries, and in particular, their post-trib/pre-wrath comprehension. More specifically, my question was, "From where did they (the ante-Nicene fathers) all commonly arrive at the same conclusion(s) in their writings of the post-trib/pre-wrath concept of deliverance (of the church) and if much of their writings were not known of or translated until 1876 to 1900, then shouldn't these writings be considered when examining any other rapture doctrines?" His response was essentially: The earliest writings of a pre-trib doctrine date to the early ninetieth century. He agreed that none of the ante-Nicene or apostolic fathers viewed or wrote of a pre-trib doctrine. He said the early fathers were not prophecy scholars because they had not been trained to interpret the scriptures as such. They had not received schooling in word studies (Which I say they would NOT need since they were dealing with and spoke the languages of concern). They had not been schooled in phraseology or "slang" words as may be required to understand the hidden side of some passages (This I also say would NOT be necessary for the same reason above, they spoke the language, and it was in the context of their environment)

The bottom line on word studies is not to shape or influence the context of the passage of concern, but to choose a definition or understanding that compliments the theme and context of the passage, comparing its application in verse, chapter, book, and Bible.

[There are many that still hold to the view that emerged in the Medieval church (Catholic and Protestant) that the "Second Coming" of Christ and the "Rapture" are somehow the same. Yet there seems to be a number of indications that these are distinct and separate.]

The views that are mentioned above did not "emerge in the medieval church." There are many writings from the apostolic and early church fathers, which indicate a post-trib Rapture, with the Wrath of GOD being poured out "after the tribulation of those days." In fact, if you take the time to look at almost any New Testament prophetic verses outside of the four Gospels, you can see that they were being addressed from a viewpoint of "living in the tribulation". This was the reason behind their sense of Christ's imminent return.

Some of the earliest church writings appear to have been written even before the New Testament was completed. The Didache, or The Teaching of the Twelve [Apostles], is one such writing. It is believed to date back to between 60 and 80 AD. It is thought to have been the first "handbook for Christian followers". As such, the last section in the didache outlines the understanding that the believers should expect to see and be persecuted by the figure of antichrist, all of which is to occur prior to the Lord's return. As you read, notice some of the following observations:

DIDACHE - CHAPTER 16 [16:1] "Be watchful for your life; let your lamps not be quenched and your loins not ungirded, but be ye ready; for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh. [16:2] And ye shall gather yourselves together frequently, seeking what is fitting for your souls; for the whole time of your faith shall not profit you, if ye be not perfected at the last season. [16:3] For in the last days the false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate. [16:4] For as lawlessness increaseth, they shall hate one another and shall persecute and betray. And then the world-deceiver shall appear as a son of God; and shall work signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he shall do unholy things, which have never been since the world began. [16:5] Then all created mankind shall come to the fire of testing, and many shall be offended and perish; but they that endure in their faith shall be saved by the Curse Himself. [16:6] And then shall the signs of the truth appear; first a sign of a rift in the heaven, then a sign of a voice of a trumpet, and thirdly a resurrection of the dead; (Emphasis added) [16:7] yet not of all, but as it was said: The Lord shall come and all His saints with Him.

[16:8] Then shall the world see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven. BOOK 2 (from: Apostolic Fathers, Lightfoot & Harmer, 1891 translation)

Review these excerpts from the writings of the early church fathers to see their understanding of what the church should be expected to experience prior to Christ's return. From Vol. 1 of the Apostolic Fathers - Barnabas writes with the impression that this is the time of antichrist and "sleeping believers" should be aware:

THE EPISTLE OF BARNABAS-CHAP. IV. -- ANTICHRIST IS AT HAND: LET US THEREFORE AVOID JEWISH ERRORS.

"We take earnest heed in these last days; for the whole [past] time of your faith will profit you nothing, unless now in this wicked time we also withstand coming sources of danger, as becometh the sons of God. That the Black One may find no means of entrance, let us flee from every vanity, let us utterly hate the works of the way of wickedness... The Lord will judge the world without respect of persons. Each will receive as he has done: if he is righteous, his righteousness will precede him; if he is wicked, the reward of wickedness is before him. Take heed, lest resting at our ease, as those who are the called [of God], we should fall asleep in our sins, and the wicked prince, acquiring power over us, should thrust us away from the kingdom of the Lord. And all the more attend to this, my brethren, when ye reflect and behold, that after so great signs and wonders were wrought in Israel, they were thus [at length] abandoned. Let us beware lest we be found [fulfilling that saying], as it is written, "Many are called, but few are chosen."

Again, this is from the earliest Christian period, writing regarding the order of things believers should expect. Numerous other church writers of this period, who walked with the Apostles and/or their protégés, wrote on the subject of the church being present while antichrist reigns ruthlessly. And again, all of which is to occur prior to Christ's return, either to gather the elect or to judge the earth.

Look at what Hippolytus wrote in the second to third century AD regarding the time of great tribulation, the inevitable persecution that would follow, and the one who would bring it: "Now concerning the tribulation of the persecution which is to fall upon the Church from the adversary [this is Antichrist about whom he had written in previous verses].... That refers to the one thousand two hundred and threescore days [after the Abomination of Desolation] during which the tyrant is to reign and persecute the Church" (Hippolytus: Treatise on Christ and Antichrist 60, 61).

Yet another early Church understanding of important note is that the church fathers, in their many writings about the endtimes, would often substitute the phrase "the church" into scriptural references for "the saints" or "the elect", regardless of whether the prophetic reference origin was Old Testament or New Testament. This offers some insight into their belief that the "church" is indeed made up of both old and new testament saints, brethren, elect, followers, righteous, and so on. The "redeemed" and the "remnant" do have some exclusion from the rapture of the church in that they are also references to the 144,000 of Ezekiel 9 and Revelation 7. They are the 12,000 from every tribe of Israel which fulfill GOD's promise that all of Israel will be saved and will populate the millennial kingdom and sit under their grapevines and not have to work their own fields.

Here, Melito of Sardis writes with reference to the equivalent verses from 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 as he tells of what the church can expect after antichrist is unrestrained. This also puts a damper on the teaching that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit: "For with all his strength did the adversary assail us, even then giving a foretaste of his activity among us which is to be without restraint..."

Tertullian writes, in this passage, about having the favored privilege of being raptured, even referring to it as "an instantaneous death": "Now the privilege of this favor awaits those who shall at the coming of the Lord be found in the flesh, and who shall, owing to the oppressions of the time of Antichrist, deserve by an instantaneous death, which is accomplished by a sudden change, to become qualified to join the rising saints; as he writes to the Thessalonians" (from Tertullian: On the Resurrection of the Flesh xli).

And again Tertullian writes about antichrist's persecution: "...That the beast Antichrist with his false prophet may wage war on the Church of God...Since, then, the Scriptures both indicate the stages of the last times, and concentrate the harvest of the Christian hope in the very end of the world...." (from Tertullian: On the Resurrection of the Flesh xxxv; cf. Scorpiace xii).

Tertullian believed that the Rapture of the Church in 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 (from Tertullian: Against Marcion iii, 25) and the resurrection of the Church (Tertullian: On the Resurrection of the Flesh xxiv) was Christ's coming to destroy the Antichrist.

Cyprian wrote in reference to Matthew 24:21-29 on the subject of the great tribulation to come upon the church: "With the exhortation of His foreseeing word, instructing, and teaching, and preparing, and strengthening the people of His Church for all endurance of things to come..." (Cyprian: Treatise VII).

Cyprian again wrote on the subject of the church in tribulation and of their anticipated persecution of the Christians by the Antichrist (Cyprian: Treatise XI, 12).

Commodianus states a post-trib position for the resurrection of the Church when he indicates that it will be after the Antichrist comes on the scene, and after his persecution, yet he remains pre-millennial as to the timing of Christ's coming. (Commodianus: Instructions xliv, lxxx).

From the Constitutions of the Holy Apostles comes this understanding of enduring until the post-trib rapture: "And then shall appear the deceiver of the world, the enemy of the truth, the prince of lies, whom the Lord Jesus shall destroy with the spirit of His mouth, who takes away the wicked with His lips; and many shall be offended at Him. But they that endure to the end, the same shall be saved. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven;' and afterwards shall be the voice of a trumpet by the archangel; and in that interval shall be the revival of those that were asleep. and then shall the Lord come, and all His saints with Him" (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles VII, ii, xxxi, xxxii).

Lactanius expressed that the coming of the Lord for the church would occur following the Great Tribulation as expressed in Matt. 24:29. (Institutes VII, xv-xxvii; cf. Institutes IV; and Epitome lxxi, lxxii).

This represents only a fraction of the early church writings that reflect the impressions of the Church experiencing the Great Tribulation along with any and all appearances of Israel, antichrist, and false prophets. These early church post-trib views are also a part of the basis for believing that the Rapture and the Second Coming can occur within the same time frame, even if we don't understand how. And supportively, there are numerous references by Christ, in the New Testament, to the resurrection of the faithful "at the last day" or "on the last day", as well as the deliverance of judgment.

If you have further interest in the writings of the early church fathers, be sure to search the web and view the writings of these in particular: Clement of Rome, "The Epistle of Barnabas", "The Shepherd of Hermas", "The Didache", Ignatius, Polycarp, Papias, Pothinus, Justyn Martyr, Melito of Sardis, Tatian, Hegisippus, Irenaeus (Against Heresies), Tertullian, Hippolytus, Cyprian, Commodian, Nepos, Corracion, Victorinus, Methodius, or Lactantius. Several of these Godly men of the early church had much to write regarding their post-trib rapture impressions, as well as very non-dispensational views pertaining to Israel and the Church.

Next we address the difficulties in reconciling the rapture, the second coming, the Day of the Lord, the Day of Christ, the coming of the Lord, the appearing of Jesus Christ, the coming, the appearing, all as the same day and in the same time frame.

Pre-trib scholars seem to be able to "miraculously" differentiate any and all Scriptures which are not to be interpreted literally. They can also tell us which verses pertain to Israel exclusively, which apply to the Church exclusively, and why the Church CANNOT be present for GOD's dealing with Israel during the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy. They can tell you why the context Matthew 24 was addressed "to the Jews" and how the question asked by the disciples in verse 3 was actually a "Jewish question". They know when a verse is meant to be divided in order to convey two thoughts or questions as illustrated in their claim of Matt. 24:3: Matthew 24:3 "And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"

The pre-trib belief is that the disciples were actually asking two separate questions when they asked "...and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?", and that this separation indicates the disciples' understanding that the Lord's coming and the end of the world are two separately distinctive events and time frames. And this perception is in spite of the literal expression of the verse! They know why the sequence of events in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, and Revelation 6 through 14 are not for the church, in spite of the weight from Revelation 1:3 & 4 which states that this Revelation of Jesus Christ is addressed to the Churches and blessed is he that reads and keeps the words of this prophecy. These devoted interpreters of the literal Word have also determined that John's being called up to Heaven in Revelation 4:1-2 is actually an allegorizing of the rapture of the Church. Their point seems to be never mind what the Scriptures say literally, we can tell you what it means (or should be).

What they don't know or can't tell you is why Matt. 25 is considered as being addressed to the Church, when Matt. 24 is considered exclusive to Israel AND yet there IS NO VISIBLE CHANGE in theme or connectivity between to the two chapters. No interruption occurs in Jesus' response to the disciples' original question, in Matt. 24:3, as He speaks through to the end of chapter 25. The most probable reasoning is that chapter 24 most definitely is post-trib in appearance and MUST be "explained" as dispensational, whereas, chapter 25 is needed to "illustrate" the supposed pre-trib rapture, i.e., the parable of the ten virgins. Another item of contemplation is that of the following "logic", which they require to differentiate between Matt. 24 and 25, as well as the "historical" support rendered therein:

1) The employment of this suspect "historic Jewish tradition" of kidnapping the Bride-to-be for seven days (suggesting as years, i.e., pre-trib) for which NO Biblical reference exists,

2) the betrothal of Christ to a non-Jewish Bride, in direct conflict of the Jewish Law he came to fulfill (not destroy) which forbade marrying outside of the Jewish nation, all in light of His privileged conversation with them Mt. 24,

3) Utilizing the above remote, non-Biblical "Jewish tradition" of "kidnapping the betrothed",

4) That this pre-trib rapture parable contains so many exclusively Jewish elements,

5) That this pre-trib rapture parable follows the "Jewish only" discourse in Mt. 24,

6) All in light of Israel being spoken of as the "Wife of GOD" in the O.T.! cf. Psalm 45:10-17; Ezekiel 16:8-14;

Another place where their intuitiveness is applied is in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 where Paul presents the "mystery" of the rapture: 1Cor. 15:51-52 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [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."

Again, their belief is although this "last trump" event corresponds chronologically with the same mentioned event of Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27, Luke 21:27-28, and Revelation 11:15-18, it is not the "last trump" of 1 Corinthians 15:52, trumpet in question is supposedly an "allegory" based upon Israel's ancient historical use of the trumpet during war. It's not enough that the Word specifies "the last trump" and "the trump of God", together qualifying as "the last trump of God", all provided in "the last trump" of Rev. 11:15. The self-proclaimed literalists must allegorize this to make it fit their theology.

They even know things that apply to the Trinity that aren't recorded or suggested in the scriptures, i.e., the role of the Holy Spirit as the restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2:6. Again, they perform some fancy word study to interpret the word used to identify the restrainer as being a word of neutral gender, which could specify the Holy Spirit. With only that belief, the restrainer could be anyone with the power, authority, ability, or opportunity to restrain the antichrist prior to his being revealed! And since the antichrist isn't exposed until 31/2 years after the Church is supposedly raptured, why then is it necessary for the rapture to occur 31/2 years earlier? This is a mockery coming from the group that so often claims to literally interpret so many scriptures in their quest for doctrinal truth.

It seems as if the most influential rapture doctrine of these last days is strongly based upon a "mystery" of GOD that man has figured out. The number of man-made "bridges" and "supports" required to link the sections of the pre-trib teaching should cause us all to examine this doctrine and our theological method of forming doctrines.

[There is also predicted an unparalleled "time of trouble" that Jesus called the "Great Tribulation."(1) Many hold to the view that the Rapture of the church will occur after that specific period of time, thus, closely associating it with the Second Coming. This is known as the "post-tribulation" view.]

The most likely reason for many holding to the post-tribulational view is, again, the literal interpretation of the context from which the passages are taken. Be aware though, many "scholars" will try to explain the why, when, and how of the literal interpretation of scripture. Here are some of the poorly based supports and incredulous theology of the pre-trib school of thought, which have their downfall from these "explanations":

They attempt to tell us that Jesus was merely answering a "Jewish question" of and for the Jews when He was speaking in Matthew 24. For purposes of these dispensationalists, the disciples are somehow not representatives of the Church in this discussion, but are asking on behalf of the non-believing Jews of that day. A most interesting and privileged insight, when viewed in the light of hundreds of New Testament verses which continue to assure believers that the Gospel is for ALL who believe in Christ. This private interpretation of the scriptures, which separates Jew and Gentile again, should be of grave concern to all believers. It is this same theology which also teaches that GOD's plan is for Israel to return back UNDER THE LAW, to participate in animal sacrifices for the blood atonement of their sins, essentially forsaking all that Christ came and died for.

There are literally dozens of verses that contradict this theology. Here is a sampling of some of the verses which support the understandings of the New Testament theologies of Christ fulfilling the law, of no separation between believing "Greeks" or "Jews", of the Church age abiding until "the last day" or until "the end of the earth" or at least until "the gospel be preached to all the world". See if you agree, or better yet see if you can find a few dozen of your own, particularly in Romans, where Paul did weave the fabric of Christ and His teachings.

Christ, in speaking of being rejected by His own, emphasized His sorrow and Israel's subsequent consequence: Matt. 23:37-38 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem thou that killest the prophets,... how often would I have gathered thy children together... Behold, your house is left unto you desolate".

By Israel's rejection of Jesus as Messiah, they forfeited their "exclusivity" to the plan of salvation by "causing" the plan to be opened to ALL who would seek Christ. They could not, however, affect the unconditional original Abrahamic covenant clause that promised that all of Israel would be saved and that there would always be a physical remnant of Israel on earth. This is fulfilled with the 12,000 from every tribe, sufficing as representative of Israel in total.

The following verses represent the Old Testament references that were made to Israel and the literal culmination in the New Testament "church". It should become clear that the "saints" of old are of the same body as the current church.

1OT. Exodus 19:6 'And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."

1NT. 1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;"

2OT. Leviticus 19:2 "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." -

2NT. 1 Peter 1:15-16 "but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

3OT. Deut. 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

3NT. Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

3NT Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

4OT. Jeremiah 31:31 "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah"

4NT. Luke 22:20 "Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.'"

5OT. Ezekiel 37:27 "My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

5NT. 2 Cor 6:16 "And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."

6OT. Hosea 1:10 "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There it shall be said to them, 'You are sons of the living God.'"

6NT. Romans 9:22-26 "What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As He says also in Hosea: `I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved." "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God.'"

7OT. Hosea 2:23 "Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; Then I will say to those who were not My people, 'You are My people!' And they shall say, 'You are my God!'"

7NT. 1 Peter 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."

8OT. Joel 2:28-32 "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My men-servants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls."

8NT. Acts 2:1,16-21 "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place..."But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.'"

9OT. Amos 9:11 "On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old;"

9NT. Acts 15:14-18 "Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. "And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 'After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.' "Known to God from eternity are all His works.

Those under the law were part of the package to be redeemed, and those outside of the law, that accepted, were adopted into the family of GOD. This means the Old & New Testament believers are the same body of believers!

Galatians 4:4-5 "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."

The "we", above in Galatians, are the "Jews" of Paul's day and the "adopted sons" are we, the Gentiles.

Ephes. 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

In the above passage, the New Covenant church becomes "fellowcitizens" with the Old Testament believers, into the house of GOD.

Now, what of this time of Great Tribulation to come? To what "end" do you suppose Christ is referring to in Matt. 28:19-20?

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Why do you think that Christ would refer to the last day as having so many varied descriptions, with so much importance obviously attached? Do you think He should have been able to give a clear depiction between the rapture and His second coming if they were indeed to occur at separate times or at least at different points of significance?

Matt. 13:39-43 "The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. [40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. [41] 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; [42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. [43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Matt. 24:13-15 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. [15] When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)"

John 6:39-40 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. [40] And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

1 Cor. 15:23-26 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. [24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. [25] For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. [26] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Now let's look at the context of Matthew chapter 24 from where this comprehension of a period of "Great Tribulation" is taken:

In the first 8 verses of Matthew 24, we see events which parallel in sequence and contents to the Seals which are removed from the scroll in Revelation 6:1-12. Jesus says these events "are the beginning of sorrows."

In verses 13-15, Christ continues in speaking about this unprecedented period of time when we must "endure unto the end," in order to "be saved." He elaborates that the "gospel... shall be preached in all the world...; and then shall the end come." He reiterates that at the "end":

He establishes that this will not occur until sometime after the 3 1/2 year point of Daniel's 70th week.

Matt. 24:13-15 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. [15] When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)"

Matt. 24:21-22 "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."

Again, the pre-trib theologs would have us believe their privileged interpretation that the aforementioned "elect" is referring only to the believers in Christ which are "converted after the pre-trib Rapture by the 144,000 Jewish male Christian converted evangelists." There's not a single Biblical reference to any such occurrence! This has been a necessary "fabrication" to explain the martyrs of the 5th Seal in Revelation 6 and to account for the "elect" which they claim could not be the Church.

In verses 27-31, further difficulties arise in the pre-trib doctrine as Christ states the apparent timing of the Rapture event as occurring sometime "after the tribulation of those days". It was established in verse 22 that those days of tribulation will be shortened for the sake of the elect. The signs in heaven, which occur after this tribulation, are identical to the signs of the 4th trumpet in Revelation 8:12. Then, in verse 31, Christ says "...His angels..., ...shall gather together his elect..".

Matt. 24:27-31 "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. [28] For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.[29] Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

The "coincidences" begin to accumulate which lend further support to the post-trib rapture but for which the pre-trib following offers convenient "reasons" against this literal conveyance. The signs given in verses 29 and 30, which will precede the Lord's coming, parallels the described events of the fourth trumpet in Revelation 8:12.

Then we are told, in verse 31, to expect an event that appears to be the rapture. Without clever explanation as to whether this is or is not the rapture event, let's examine and compare scriptures. Christ says "he shall send his angels... and they shall gather together his elect..."

The first place we see this particular presentation of the rapture and the events of the end is in Matthew 13 where the Lord delivers His parable of the tares of the field. Later in the same chapter, the disciples ask for Jesus to give further explanation of this parable, almost as if it was known that there would be some difficulty in the future for believers reconciling the timing of the rapture. Here's the context of that parable in which we clearly see:

3) The righteous will shine as a result of this harvest, not before the harvest, but after the gathering "out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; Then shall the righteous shine forth".

Matt. 13:39-43 "The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. [40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. [41] 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; [42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. [43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

After looking at the parable of the wheat and tares, I can't help but wonder how the pre-trib school can reconcile the "wheat" being gathered seven years before the Lord comes for the "tares". That is in direct, "literal" contradiction of what the Lord Himself said about the "wheat" being gathered out from the "tares". Read the parable as Christ told it to the people:

Matt. 13:27-30 "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? [28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? [29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. [30] 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."

But how do these is tie in with the "great sound of a trumpet" of Matthew 24:31? They tie in clearly and most perfectly! How does this look next to the "last trump" of Revelation 11:15-18? Here's the context of that passage: Rev. 11:15-18 "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. [16] And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, [17] Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth."

What does it say? The world's kingdoms have become our Lord's. This doesn't sound as if GOD's wrath has been in control does it? The 24 elders state that He is and still "is to come". Does not appear He has come yet, does it? His wrath is coming, as in still forthcoming. The dead will be judged. The first resurrection is by far the clearest picture of this in the scriptures. To reward "thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name," Sounds like Rev. 22:12; "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." And finally in Revelation 11:18, "and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." This sounds like the Wrath of GOD is ON THE WAY.

Does this, in turn, correlate with other presentations of this "last trumpet"? Lets look at 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, the accepted basis for the rapture itself: 1Cor. 15:51-55 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [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. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

The trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15:52 agrees in theme and timing to the trumpet of Matthew 24:31 which in turn agrees in it's post-trib timing to the last trumpet of Revelation 11:15-18. And there is another significant impression that we are left with in 1 Corinthians 15 verses 54-55. Since "death is swallowed up in victory" at the point of the rapture occurrence, how is it that we have souls under the alter in the events of the fifth seal of Revelation 6:9-11 asking for vengeance of their martyrdom and again in Revelation 8:3-4 following the seventh seal with the prayers of the earthbound saints still being offered upon the alter? If the pre-trib rapture has occurred more than 31/2 years before, then why do we have these believers in Revelation 6 and 8 that have not been participants in this event of 1 Corinthians 15? They have received no victory, their "death" has not been swallowed up, and the grave has not yielded their bodies. This same sense of finality expressed in verses 54 and 55 was originally conveyed earlier in the same chapter of 1 Corinthians. Looking at verses 20 and 23 through 27, pay particular attention to the order of events that Paul says must occur regarding the Second Coming. In summary he states that the rapture is timed in conjunction with the end, which includes:

3) With "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death", which is the resurrection. So, if the last enemy to be destroyed is death, then how does the resurrection occur almost seven years previously? It doesn't, except for the convenience of the pre-trib doctrine: 1Cor. 15:20, 23-27 [20] "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept... [23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. [24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. [25] For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. [26] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. [27] For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him."

Don't explain it to make it fit, just read it and see if it falls into place! An "incomplete" doctrine founded 100% on scripture will be stronger, wiser, and less likely to be "man-handled" and manipulated than one formed with building blocks of "speculation", "assumption", and "cleverly devised fables."

After reviewing this pre-trib belief for the umpteenth time, I continue to see more problems with this doctrine. Since they believe:

4) A post-trib rapture denotes an attempt to pinpoint the day of the occurrence,

5) The O.T. saints are "necessarily" separate and different from the N.T. "church",

6) The hyper-dispensational view that claims Israel's rejection of Christ's first coming, and their subsequent denial of the fulfillment on hundreds of related prophecies will be made alright in GOD's eyes, and at some other point in time they will be re-offered GOD's plan of salvation through the blood of Christ.

A) How is it that the <harpazo> or "catching up", of the "Gentile" rapture in 1Thes. 4:13-18, becomes the Jewish rapture of Mt. 24, when there is no use of that word or any sense of that word in any of the "Jewish only" dispensation verses?

B) If the post-trib view is supposedly fallible, due to the predictability of the rapture timing, why did Christ tell the Jews only, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Mt. 24:36), "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come" (Mt. 24:42), "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Mt. 24:44), and "The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour he is not aware of," (Mt. 24:50), all of which was in reference to THEIR "JEWISH ONLY" rapture rendering?

C) During the time of great tribulation, what is to prevent anyone from "waiting" to accept Christ until the last minute, supposedly knowing when the rapture will occur, as is alleged of the post-trib pitfalls?

D) Why has Christ "chosen" to give "Israel" a preferential insight as to the timing of the post-trib rapture and left His "bride" without a sign regarding the supposed pre-trib rapture? Would "He who loved us before we loved Him" set aside all understanding from the beloved Church, the finality of the previous 6,000 year plan?

E) Since there is a clear message of "neither Greek nor Jew" as the basis of the New Covenant, how is it that this message of exclusivity is to be conveyed and taught to the Jews only?

F) How is it that literally dozens of major prophecies, focused on Israel, have been fulfilled without GOD having to remove the church one step to the right or left? Of specific note are the prophecies of Matt. 24:2 and Luke 19:42-44, when Christ foretold of the Temple destruction to come in AD 70. Both prophecies were stated before exclusively Jewish audiences, foretelling the consequences to be endured as a result of not knowing the time of Christ's first coming: Luke 19:44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. Yet, how is it that this could be fulfilled some 38 years after the Lord ascended to the Father and the pre-trib "separate" church was formed? The Church was present for this fulfillment and judgment against Israel.

G) Regarding question #6, exactly where and when do you begin place the dividing lines in the scriptures as to "this verse is for all, these verses are for the church only, and these verse are for Israel only"? Granted, there are some promises exclusive to Israel, but they are few and clearly defined. The church or assembling of the faithful, is a FULFILLMENT of the Old Testament promise, not a separate program! The Gentile inclusion is GOD's way of making a way when Israel rejected the Lord.

Please continue to Part 2 for the remainder of this rebuttal against the