Extra-Biblical Evidence for the Pre-Trib Rapture

Unsealed.org ^ | 4/1/15 | Gary

[amessenger4god]

We have addressed the accusation before that the pre-trib rapture theory was invented by a Scottish girl named Margaret MacDonald in the early 19th century.  This is now widely known to be factually incorrect and in fact there are numerous references to a pre-trib rapture in late 18th century American writing, as well as contemporary (at that time) Catholic writings such as Manuel Lacunza's The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty.

Additionally, Chuck Missler has brought to light a writing from "Ephraem the Syrian" (b. 306; d. 373 AD) where this early Church deacon wrote in unequivocal language the following:

"For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins."

Now it has been charged that the above quote was not written by Ephraem himself, but a later writer possibly posing as Ephraem (called Pseudo-Ephraem).  This is possible, even likely, but is almost irrelevant as the writing was not made any later that 627 AD.  This means that the pre-tribulational rapture was positively taught no later than the early 7th century.

Other even more ancient writings have recently come to light as well.  Including from Cyprian:

"We who see that terrible things have begun, and know that still more terrible things are imminent, may regard it as the greatest advantage to depart from it as quickly as possible... And do you not give God thanks, do you not congratulate yourself, that by an earlier departure you are taken away, and delivered from the shipwrecks and disasters that are imminent... Let us greet the day which assigns each of us to his own home, which snatches us hence, and sets us free from the snares of the world, and restores us to paradise and the kingdom."

Cyprian died in 258 AD, so his above treatise had to have been written even before that year.  But far more amazing than Cyprian's quote, is Iranaeus' Against Heresies.  Iranaeus was only once removed from John himself (John likely being the very person who wrote down the Book of Revelation).  In Book 5, chapter 29, Iranaeus wrote:

"And therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said, There shall [then] be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be.  [Matthew 24:21] For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which, when they overcome they are crowned with incorruption. [1 Corinthians 15]"

Even in the context of the larger chapter, the very next thing that occurs in Iranaeus' timeline after the Church is "suddenly caught up" is the revelation of the antichrist.

All these references aside, the rapture itself is plainly taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.  This verse alone proves that there will be a rapture event (unless, without justification, you want to interpret this verse symbolically).

And the timing of the rapture as pre-tribulational may be unequivocally taught in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 if apostasia is translated "departure".

In any case, while only time will tell and God alone knows how things will pan out, there are numerous reasons to confidently hold to a belief in the pre-trib rapture, not least of which is that Biblical scholars pretty much unanimously agree that the early church, both before and for awhile after 70 AD, believed almost universally in the imminent coming of Christ... an event that would come suddenly.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

You are quoting 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Read it here:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Here’s another in 1 Corinthians 15:51-55:
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[h]

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[i]

Does this sound like the end of the tribulation?

If so, then you got to answer this:

Who repopulates the world after the tribulation if Christ comes to take away all of His people from the Earth and then slays every ungodly person?

Revelation 20:8 specifically mentions a world at the END of the Millennium that has a population vastly larger than anything we have today that is destroyed on the last uprising against Christ and Jerusalem. They have to come from somewhere.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

Some....may go screaming....holding onto the Earth I fear.

[RnMomof7]

I always say I am a Pan millennialist ...it will all pan out in the end

[CynicalBear]

>>If He doesn’t come down then where is He?<<

1 Thessalonians 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

[SkyDancer]

And where is the Lord going? He’s coming to Earth to vanquish the Beast .... He’s not going back to Heaven and then come back to Earth ... that would make three times ...

[CynicalBear]

>>Some....may go screaming....holding onto the Earth I fear.<<

I think Lot's wife was to serve as an example of those kind.

[CynicalBear]

>>I always say I am a Pan millennialist ...it will all pan out in the end<<

That works for some I suppose. I find that studying and understanding prophesies leads to peace.

[CynicalBear]

>>He’s not going back to Heaven and then come back to Earth ... that would make three times ...<<

Who says? He's coming to call His bride to Him. It's exactly what happens in the ancient Jewish wedding. When the father thinks all is ready he sends his son to get his bride ("only the father knows the day and the hour). The bride and the groom then spend 7 days secluded. At the end of that seven days the bride and groom then emerge and wedding feast is held.

[SkyDancer]

Greater minds than ours have argued this for centuries. It doesn’t matter when He comes but that He comes ... all else takes away from His returning.

[CynicalBear]

>>all else takes away from His returning.<<

Not sure what you mean by that. Understanding prophesy in no way takes away from His returning.

[Boogieman]

“Does this sound like the end of the tribulation?”

Yes, exactly like it, when you compare it to Revelation 19:11 through Revelation 20:6

“Who repopulates the world after the tribulation if Christ comes to take away all of His people from the Earth and then slays every ungodly person?”

Where does it say Christ “slays every ungodly person” at the end of the tribulation? Or that Christ takes away all of His people, never to return to Earth?

“Revelation 20:8 specifically mentions a world at the END of the Millennium...”

I’m glad you acknowledge that Rev. 20:8 is after the millenium, because that means the directly preceding events, in 19:11 through 20:6 come directly before the millenium, or at the end of the tribulation, and those events include the resurrection spoken of in all the verses that pre-trib rapturists love to quote.

[Boogieman]

“If you’re still here when the tribulation starts remember what we said here.”

If you are still here when the tribulation starts, I hope you won’t lose faith in Christ because he didn’t teleport you out of the way of the dangers that he warned us all to prepare for.

[CynicalBear]

God promised we would be kept from the wrath to come. I take Him at His word.

[Iscool]

Personally I can not find scripture to settle the issue.. I look at the suffering of saints in the scriptures and through the ages and wonder why we should think that a 'special" generation would be spared that

Why not??? All generations have been spared that...This will be God's wrath on the disbelieving world...Something so fierce and wild and disastrous that the world has never seen the likes of...It's a punishment for the world...Not Christianity...

[SkyDancer]

Because people are all caught up in prophesy and this and that and loose sight of the big picture. People put into prophesy what they think is correct ... there are so many interpretations of Daniel and Revelation that confuse people.It does not matter one wit to me what people interpret what those books mean or say .. they’re entitled to however they want to see it. There are so many different interpretations and people to go along with what these preachers say ... doesn’t matter ....

[Iscool]

I believe we Christians will be removed before that happens.”

It’s happening before our very eyes!

I believe it may get very bad for Christians (and everyone else in America)...I would not be surprised to see nuclear weapons being exploded in the U.S. from America's enemies...

And while that will be very disastrous for those involved, it will be nothing compared to the the destruction God has in store for the Earth's inhabitants...AFTER the Christians are removed in the Rapture...

[Boogieman]

Yes, but tribulation is not synonymous with wrath. On the contrary, Christ prophesied that those who followed him would suffer tribulations:

“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.” John 16:33

[CynicalBear]

Then I am really curious as to why you jumped into this thread? Something doesn’t add up.

[SkyDancer]

Dunno either. Just saw some stuff and thought I’d put my two cents worth in.

[CynicalBear]

LOL! I hear ya! Been there done that.