Rapture Timing

I had a very good conversation the other day with a close friend of mine. Our topic was the timing of the rapture (pre-trib, post-trib, or mid-trib) and why. I am definitely a pre-tribulation rapturist. There are several reasons for this belief. I'm sure there are volumes that can be written on this subject by those much smarter than I am but I think it's worth it for me to toss my little "nugget" out there for those who may someday care enough to read this. At least you know where I stand!!!

I suppose I should briefly describe what each possibility is just so you know what I'm talking about. The pre-trib theory contends that Jesus Christ will come back for His church some time PRIOR to the Tribulation. Of course we don't know when that will be other than it's before the Tribulation. The mid-trib theory states that the rapture of the church will happen in the middle of the tribulation which is 3 1/2 years into the tribulation and since the tribulation is 2520 (7 years X 360 days) days the half way point is 1260 days. Oh, the 360 days in a year is for a Jewish year and since the point of the Tribulation is to reach the JEWS then it only makes sense to use their calendar. Well, as you can now imagine the post-trib viewpoint states that the rapture will happen at the end of the 7 year tribulation.

As I said before I am a pre-tribber for a couple of reasons. Let me first state that my fundamental belief is that the Bible makes absolute sense! It flows perfectly because it came from the mind of a perfect Creator. From the creation to the fall of man to the provision. All of it points to Jesus Christ. The parables, the literal interpretations, it all makes sense. You must start from that viewpoint to get what I'm talking about. Jesus sacrificed Himself for our sin. Those of us who have accepted that sacrifice are the true church or the bride of Christ. Jesus said Himself, "if I go to prepare a place for you then I will come again and receive you unto myself. That where I am there you will be also." See, this goes along perfectly with the Jewish custom of marriage. Once the proposal is accepted the groom goes off to prepare a place where the couple will live. Once the home is prepared he will return unannounced and will take the bride away. This is what Jesus has promised. He is preparing a place for His bride and He will one day come again to claim His bride. The pre-trib viewpoint is the only viewpoint who doesn't know when this event will take place. That's one reason.

Another reason for the pre-trib viewpoint has to do with the restrainer. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church that the restrainer would have to be taken out of the way before the man of lawlessness could be revealed. That's the antichrist for those who don't know. The Holy Spirit is now restraining a level of evil that has not been seen. The antichrist will start the tribulation by signing a peace agreement with Israel that will be for 7 years. But this cannot happen if the Holy Spirit is restraining the AC from doing his job. The Holy Spirit resides in every believer. A pre-trib viewpoint is the only one that makes sense here. Once the church is removed from the scene the Holy Spirit is removed also which would allow the AC to step forward and get the ball rolling. Another reason for the pre-trib view is because there are things that are supposed to go on in Heaven during the Tribulation here on earth. During the Tribulation the church will go through the Judgment Seat of Christ where rewards will be given and crowns will be laid down at the feet of Jesus. Also, the marriage supper of the Lamb will take place. These things are not possible (time wise) if the rapture were to take place at the end of the Tribulation.

There are several other reasons but these should suffice. Hopefully this will strengthen your faith and most importantly will cause you to realize that time is running out. The world continues to spiral out of control and lost people are dying every day. Hopefully this will place a burden in your heart for the lost. Witness to people, don't waste any more time. We have so little of it left.

God bless you!

kev