Article by: Kenneth J. Ester
Why Pre-Trib Rapture: Reason for a rapture
The Pre-Tribulation Rapture has a whole lot of real evidence in the Bible. To the point that when you put it all together, it becomes the clear truth. I have put much of it in articles but they become long articles that many do not want to read. I felt it time to break it all down. This short article is one in a series that when put together, they prove the Pre-Trib rapture is true.
If there is anyone who would have understood whether Jesus would return for His bride early or if it wouldnt happen until the Second Coming, it would be the original disciples of Jesus. However, if they truly believed that it wouldnt happen until the Second Coming, they would not have believed in an imminent rapture.
Think about it. There are many things that have to happen before the Second Coming. The man of lawlessness must be revealed. The Two Witnesses will come. The antichrist will kill the two witnesses. The antichrist would take a seat in the Holy Temple and claim to be God. The antichrist would control the world. The One Word Religion would take place. The list goes on and on... Why would anyone who knew all these things must happen before the Second Coming, expect the Lord to return at any moment?
If there is anyone who would have understood whether Jesus would return for His bride early or if it wouldnt happen until the Second Coming, it would be the original disciples of Jesus. However, if they truly believed that it wouldnt happen until the Second Coming, they would not have believed in an imminent rapture.
Think about it. There are many things that have to happen before the Second Coming. The man of lawlessness must be revealed. The Two Witnesses will come. The antichrist will kill the two witnesses. The antichrist would take a seat in the Holy Temple and claim to be God. The antichrist would control the world. The One Word Religion would take place. The list goes on and on... Why would anyone who knew all these things must happen before the Second Coming, expect the Lord to return at any moment?
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (NASB)
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6 just as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord
"As you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ". Why would they eagerly be awaiting something that they know so many things have to happen before it happens itself?
Philippians 3:20 (NASB)
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (NASB)
9 For they themselves report about us as to the kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come.
Titus 2:11-13 (NASB)
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
James 5:7-8 (NASB)
7 Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
1 Peter 1:13 (NASB)
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 3:11
11 I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Revelation 22 has three different places where He clearly says "I am coming quickly".
How can anyone read these verses and not see that Paul, Peter, James and John all believed in an imminent return? How stupid would they need to be to write of all these different things that would have to happen before the Second Coming, and still believe the Lord's return was imminent?
A common argument that Post-Tribulationists make is that the Pre-Tribulation rapture was not invented until the 1800's. Some counts say that it was a 14 year old female prophetess that started it. It doesn't matter how many times this story is repeated, it does not make it true.
Clearly, if you look at what the disciples actually taught, they believed in an imminent return. Since they knew very well all the things that would have to happen before the Second Coming could happen, the only way they would expect an imminent return is if the Rapture and the Second Coming were two separate events.
The Pretrib rapture was taught by the disciples. However when the Romans took control of the church and Christianized Rome, they began teaching many false doctrines. Many which the Catholics still teach today. One of the things they did, was to cancel the Pre-Tribulation rapture. They taught that both events were the same and basically removed the rapture teachings from the church. When the Bible was finally translated into English, people began learning what was actually in it instead of only knowing what the Catholic church taught them. As the years have gone by since 1611, many of the false doctrines were corrected by the Protestants. It was only a matter of time before the Pre-Tribulation rapture was finally taught once again.
In the 1800's when they started teaching the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, it was not when the doctrine was invented. It was when it resurfaced after the Catholic church eradicated it.
The disciples taught an imminent return. The Catholic church stopped that teaching. Today the teachings of the disciples has resurfaced.
Return to Pre-Trib Rapture Articles
How can anyone read these verses and not see that Paul, Peter, James and John all believed in an imminent return? How stupid would they need to be to write of all these different things that would have to happen before the Second Coming, and still believe the Lord's return was imminent?
A common argument that Post-Tribulationists make is that the Pre-Tribulation rapture was not invented until the 1800's. Some counts say that it was a 14 year old female prophetess that started it. It doesn't matter how many times this story is repeated, it does not make it true.
Clearly, if you look at what the disciples actually taught, they believed in an imminent return. Since they knew very well all the things that would have to happen before the Second Coming could happen, the only way they would expect an imminent return is if the Rapture and the Second Coming were two separate events.
The Pretrib rapture was taught by the disciples. However when the Romans took control of the church and Christianized Rome, they began teaching many false doctrines. Many which the Catholics still teach today. One of the things they did, was to cancel the Pre-Tribulation rapture. They taught that both events were the same and basically removed the rapture teachings from the church. When the Bible was finally translated into English, people began learning what was actually in it instead of only knowing what the Catholic church taught them. As the years have gone by since 1611, many of the false doctrines were corrected by the Protestants. It was only a matter of time before the Pre-Tribulation rapture was finally taught once again.
In the 1800's when they started teaching the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, it was not when the doctrine was invented. It was when it resurfaced after the Catholic church eradicated it.
The disciples taught an imminent return. The Catholic church stopped that teaching. Today the teachings of the disciples has resurfaced.
Return to Pre-Trib Rapture Articles