Let's Discuss The Common Arguments For A Pre-Trib Rapture In The Bible

The Rapture is not only one of the most widely taught events in prophecy, but also one of the most disputed. It is extremely important that we understand exactly what the Bible teaches and not just what we want to hear concerning the coming of our Lord & our gathering together to Him.

Common Arguments For A Pre-Trib Rapture

• God Has Not Appointed Us To Wrath
• The Church Isn't Discussed After Revelation 3
• The Holy Spirit Is Removed When The Church Is Raptured
• The Rapture Could Happen At Any Moment (imminent)
• The Rapture & Second Coming Are Separate Events

One of the most popular arguments for a pre-trib rapture is we are not appointed to wrath so Christ will come and rapture us out of the world before the tribulation to escape the wrath of God. But is that really what the bible teaches?

2 Thess 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ read context...

The problem with this argument is it presumes when God pours out His wrath on the earth it effects Christians as well as the ungodly. Not to mention, this passage in context is specifically pertaining to the "Day of the Lord". Which of course is His second coming at the 7th trump at the end of the tribulation period.

Paul specifically states that the Day of the Lord shouldn't over take us as a thief since we know the times and seasons as has been taught in scripture. If Christians are raptured before the tribulation period, why would Paul tell them to "watch & be sober" & "that that day overtake you as a thief"?

Rev 14: 9 ...If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God... read context...

The wrath of God is poured upon those who worship the beast when Christ comes to reap the harvest of his saints just before His wrath is poured out at the 7th trump.

Rev 14: 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. read context...

Those that are reaped with the first sickle are the saints that did not worship the beast, the second sickle reaps those who did.

Rev 14: 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. read context...

You see Christians are on earth through then entire time of the tribulation of the anti-christ through the first 6 trumpets. When God's wrath is poured out at Christ's coming only those who worshipped the beast receive his wrath.

Another common argument for the pre-trib rapture is the Church isn't specifically mentioned after Rev 3. First of all Revelations is specifically written to the Church. Second, only two of the seven Churches did Christ find no fault with. (Philadelphia & Smyrna) The fact is, much of the Church will be decieved by anti-christ thinking he is actually Jesus Christ.

Satan's tribulation is a spiritual war against the church. It's deception, not physical persecution. Satan physically persecuting Christians wouldn't deceive anyone. He isn't going to focus on unbelievers, they are already deceived.

The whore of Babylon is in fact professing Christians who are deceived by Satan in his role as the anti-christ. Part of this deception is they have been taught the real Christ comes first to rapture them away.

Rev 17: 1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: read context...

The imminent return of Christ to rapture the Church is often claimed as proof it must occur before the tribulation of anti-christ. But is that what the Bible really teaches?

Speaking of the Coming of the Lord & our gathering together unto him, Paul clearly states:

2 Thess 2: 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 read context...

This falling away is apostacia in the Greek which always meant a revolt, rebellion, or defection in a religious or political sense. Plus tied together with the aposatacy is the revealing of anti-christ which Paul states will happen before Christ returns to gather us together unto him.

This is so clear and simple a child can understand it. But today the rapture theory is so popular and promoted by mainstream Christian leaders the clear teaching of scripture is twisted to convince Christians they don't have to worry about the tribulation period, we are going to be outta here.

The sad truth is this false doctrine is setting the vast majority of Christians up to be deceived by anti-christ when he does appear. Don't think you'll be deceived? Do you believe the rapture doctrine as taught today? Well, if you can be deceived by today's preachers, then your chances of not being deceived by anti-christ are slim to none.

Related: Why Is The Rapture So Popular?

Still have questions? Join our discussion below to learn more about the timing of the true gathering together of Christ's Church commonly referred to as the rapture.