http://www.calvaryoxnard.org/2010/reasons-to-believe-in-a-pre-tribulation-rapture
But even beyond that, there are people who flat out refuse to read the Book of Revelation. They cannot even fathom that it lays out events, and timelines, very clearly. Those who think Christ comes back (the BAM! theory) are clueless. They either cannot read Scripture or they are completely misguided.
He does come to snatch His church - those who have given their hearts to Him now. But, then the plan is set in motion.
Revelation contains incredible world events. Plagues, wars, the sun increasing in heat, 1/3 of all fresh water destroyed, 1/3 of all plant life destroyed, meteors hitting the earth, water poisoned, locust-like flying insect creatures that have the poison of scorpions, a world wide one religion, the Anti-Christ, worldwide earthquakes, and on and on and on.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 will happen. The question is when. Some believe in a pre-Tribulation rapture, some a mid, and some an end Tribulation rapture. I believe that according to Bible hermeneutics, a pre-Tribulation rapture makes the most sense.
I will agree that Paul was referring to the first resurrection; but I believe it occurred near the end of the tribulation. All the disciples spake as if they were to be participates in the tribulation, and Jesus warned them it would occur, both directly and in parables. For example, this was from a parable:
"Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." (Mt 13:21 KJV)
This was direct:
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (Jn 16:33 KJV)
The book of Acts made this declaratory statement that severely discredits the "prophecies" of the pre-tribulation raptururists:
"[Paul] Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22 KJV)
But of the 22 references to tribulation I have in my notes, this one seems to be the most discrediting to the pre-tribulation rapturists:
" After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands . . . And one of the elders answered, saying unto [me, John:] What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev 7:9, 13-14 KJV)
So, what happened to all those righteous people?
>>>But even beyond that, there are people who flat out refuse to read the Book of Revelation. They cannot even fathom that it lays out events, and timelines, very clearly.<<<
I agree there are timelines; but the first verse (Rev 1:1) sets the initial time context. Ignore that, and all the rest becomes subject to a wide range of interpretations: from mere speculations to the wildest of imaginations.
>>>Those who think Christ comes back (the BAM! theory) are clueless. They either cannot read Scripture or they are completely misguided. He does come to snatch His church - those who have given their hearts to Him now. But, then the plan is set in motion.<<<
If Christ comes to "snatch" the Church away from the earth, then how do you interpret this verse?
"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Eph 3:21 KJV)
>>>Revelation contains incredible world events. Plagues, wars, the sun increasing in heat, 1/3 of all fresh water destroyed, 1/3 of all plant life destroyed, meteors hitting the earth, water poisoned, locust-like flying insect creatures that have the poison of scorpions, a world wide one religion, the Anti-Christ, worldwide earthquakes, and on and on and on.<<<
All of that might simply be Christ's warning to the early Church about the pending persecution of the Church by the Jews, and the destruction of Jerusalem, along with Nero's upcoming 42 month war against the saints. After all, what does "shortly come to pass" really mean, as in:
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass… " (Rev 1:1 KJV)
There are about thirty references in the book of the Revelation alone that point to immediate fulfillment of many of the prophecies in that book. Only the "thousand year" reign and the binding of Satan indicate long periods of time. And doesn't immediate fulfillment more appropriately fit Christ's other prophecies of immediacy: that he would be coming, in his kingdom, during the generation of his disciples: during their lifetimes?
"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here [the disciples,] which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." (Mt 16:27-28 KJV)
"But when they persecute you [the disciples] in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come." (Mt 10:23 KJV)
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Mt 24:34 KJV)
Besides that, the fulfilment of other prophecies questions futurism. For example, Jesus said this to his disciples during the Olivet discourse:
"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." (Mt 24:14 KJV)
And he said this to them shortly after his resurrection:
"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mk 16:15 KJV)
A casual reading implies fulfillment could only happen in the distant future. But digging deeper we find the meaning of the phrase, "all the world," in that context:
"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed." (Lk 2:1 KJV)
The phrase "all the world" simply meant the Roman Empire; and Paul declared the fulfillment of both those prophecies while he was still alive:
"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:" (Col 1:5-6 KJV)
"If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;" (Col 1:23 KJV)
Anyway, I hope you can see why I have problems with the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture, and with futurism, generally.
Philip