The Pre-Trib Rapture is Solid Biblical Truth. Here's Why.

Unsealed ^ | 9/7/18 | Hillary

[amessenger4god]

As I've shared before, most of my life I believed in what is known as the “post-trib rapture.” 

“Why should we escape?” I would ask. (In today's vernacular, it might sound like, “Why are we such special snowflakes?”) While I turned this part of me off for several years, I still believed the Church would be tested during the seven-year tribulation, face the mark of the beast, have to endure to the end to be saved, and should prepare to hide in the woods with extra jugs of water, first-aid supplies, and well-preserved food.

(The movie The Road illustrates what I imagined this apocalyptic time to be like. Interestingly, it came out in 2009 and was set ten years in the future.)

Before I go on, it's important to say that when I talk about the “before” and “after” of my doctrinal transformation, I do so with humility. I'm not sitting here thinking I'm more enlightened or wise than those who believe differently, and I hope this is evident in my words. I pray that sharing what the Lord has shown me through Scripture will provide a fresh invitation, if needed, to re-visit this topic, re-evaluate beliefs and doctrine, and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I believe that most who take this seriously are, like me, more concerned with truth than with “being right” and have probably studied this intensely for years. I respect that and am sure there is much I can learn from you.

Truth and comfort

I also want to offer a simple and clear message of comfort. Many in the body of Christ are anxious about world events, confused about prophetic timelines, uncertain and afraid. My hope is to present a Scriptural study that the Lord will use to settle the hearts and minds of those who need it.

Many are excited right now about this upcoming Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets and Israel's New Year. It will occur around Sept. 10-11, 2018. The Apostle Paul tells us that the Lord’s appearing will be “at the last trump,” and traditionally, the Feast of Trumpets is the feast that “no man knows the day or hour” because it is based on the sighting of the New Moon by two witnesses in Israel. If the sky is cloudy and the New Moon is not seen, the feast is not declared yet. If God delays the New Moon, or somehow does not allow the witnesses to see it, the feast is not declared. I’m not an expert on the feasts and do not know if the Lord will appear to receive us to Himself during the Feast of Trumpets or another time, but I don’t know that He won’t, either. So as always, I watch.

I love studying prophecy. I am passionate about eschatology, but I’ve come to realize that the more I know, the less I know. So I come humbly, knowing for sure only Christ Jesus and Him crucified. (1 Cor. 2:2) When it comes to prophetic things, we see through a glass darkly. There is so much we simply won’t or can’t know until world events continue to unfold and the Holy Spirit confirms the prophetic fulfillments through Scripture. With that said, I do believe Scripture is clear on what will happen to the Church in these last days. We may not know exactly when, but we know it is very soon—mere moments or mere days away.

Not a salvation issue

As I move forward, I want to be clear about this. While I firmly believe that a “pre-tribulational rapture” is the clear teaching of Scripture, it is not a salvation issue and I love and respect my brothers & sisters who believe differently. I hope this article encourages you and gives you something to bring to the Lord in prayer, but we need to remember that the most important thing to get right is the gospel. We are saved because Christ died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:1-4) and gave us the free gift of eternal life. We believe Him and put our trust in His blood. This is THE most important message of all, more so than rapture timelines. We can lovingly disagree on the interpretation of prophecy, but the gospel is another matter. I am full of fierce love for it and will humbly contend for it as long as I live. Believing the true gospel is literally a matter of life and death, but not so with eschatology.

I love how Scripture is full of prophecy and that it pleased God to furnish us with wisdom and revelation about the last days. This is not an exhaustive study, and there are many more passages that support this, but the Scriptures I share below have been strongly on my heart. In the interest of space, I do not always include the full verses so please get your Bible and read them along with the context.

So with that, I want to define terms.

1. Tribulation 

When I talk of the tribulation, I am referring to the time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jer. 30:7) and Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 9:24-27), which I shorten to “D70.” This time period of 7 years concludes with the Second Coming Of Jesus (Rev. 19:11-15, Zech. 14:3-4).

This might be a minor point, but the “time of Jacob’s Trouble” and “Daniel’s 70th week” are more accurate terms than the word “tribulation.” The word “tribulation” means trial, trouble, and distress. Jesus promised that in the world we would have tribulation, but to be of good cheer, for He has overcome the world. (John 16:33). Tribulation, in and of itself, is not something we can avoid. We live in a fallen world and times are hard. No one is exempt from tribulation, but we have the victory of Christ and the help and comfort of the Holy Spirit to sustain and guide us through it.

Jesus described the last half of D70 as a time of Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:15-21). This phrase describes the harrowing nature of the suffering and distress that will come upon the earth during the last 3.5 years of Jacob’s Trouble.

2. Rapture

This happens when Jesus descends from heaven to receive the Church in the air, but does not actually return to the earth (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

The word “rapture” is not in our English Bibles. It comes from the Latin “rapiemur” and means “caught up,” just like the same word in 1 Thess. 4:17. The Greek word for rapture / caught-up is “harpazo,” which means “seizing, catching up, catching away.” It describes a forceful snatching out of danger. It is not the same word used for ascension, which implies a gentle floating up. Harpazo is what you do when your child is running into the street and a car is barreling down on her. As a watchful and loving parent, you harpazo her.

Scripture also describes this event as the Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” Titus 2:13 

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:8 

Paul wrote to Timothy,

“...keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,” (1 Tim. 6:11-15) 

And then we have this magnificent verse: 

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:” (2 Tim. 4:1)

This is stunning. Paul mentions judgment:

a) for the living and the dead (two different groups)
b) at His appearing and His kingdom (two different times)

This may be the clearest distinction between the rapture and the second coming. The living are those who are born again, even if they are “asleep in Jesus,” or dead in Christ. The Living are judged at the Judgment seat of Christ, where Jesus will offer rewards based on our works. Writing to believers, Paul tells us:

“For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:7-10) 

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1 Cor. 3:11-15)

Now compare the following two judgments which happen after Daniel’s 70th week and bookend the millennial kingdom:

A. At the beginning of the millennial kingdom: the judgment of the remnant saints who died during the time of Jacob’s Trouble:

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, [faith] who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands [works]. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:4-6)

B. At the end of the millennial kingdom: the judgment of sinners, also known as “the dead:”

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:11-15)

3. Pre-trib rapture, pre-wrath rapture, post-trib rapture 

Pre-trib rapture is the term most people use and understand regarding the doctrine of the pre-Daniel’s-70th-week harpazo of the Church. I don’t consider it an accurate term for reasons cited above, but I use it when needed for clarification. Pre-wrath rapture, or mid-trib, refers to the theory that the Church will go through the first half of Daniel's 70th week but will be raptured prior to the second half, which contains the bowls of wrath that are poured out onto the earth. Post-trib is the idea that the rapture occurs at the very end of Daniel's 70th week.

4. Church 

Distinguished from the remnant saints who come to Christ during the time of Jacob’s Trouble, the Church is the body of Christ. It is made of all believers, Jews and Gentiles in the age of Israel's partial blindness, who are saved by grace through faith, not of works. Our faith is in the blood of Jesus who paid for our sins on the cross. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit and our salvation is secure. The Church has NOT replaced Israel. 

5. Israel 

God’s chosen people with whom He has an everlasting covenant. He will forgive them and save them. (Rom. 11:25-32)

6. 2nd Coming

The Second Coming is when Jesus returns to earth with His body, feet to the ground, after Daniel's 70th week. He will fight His enemies at Armageddon and set up His kingdom. (Rev. 1:7, Zech. 12:10-14, Rev. 19:11-21)

The rapture: a mystery revealed to Paul 

The rapture of believers and the resurrection of the dead in Christ comes from the teaching of Paul. Here is what the Lord revealed to him, and here is where we receive the doctrine of the catching away of the body of Christ, otherwise known as the rapture:

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor. 15:51-52)  

“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek: harpazo] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess. 4:15-18) 

People debate the timing of the rapture, not necessarily that there is one. I would say that most Christians, if not all, agree that there will be a rapture & resurrection of believers. This is super clear in Scripture. Where we disagree is primarily in the timing. Is the rapture of the Church before Daniel’s 70th week? Is it 3.5 years into it? Is it at the end, after the antichrist rules & the mark of the beast occurs? Does it really matter?

Yes. Scripture puts the harpazo of the Church before the time of Jacob’s Trouble. The rapture is how the Lord removes His body from the earth prior to Daniel’s 70th week, because the Church can't be part of the time of Jacob's Trouble. (More on that below.)

Furthermore, a lot of the misunderstanding around the timing of the rapture comes from an evil root: replacement theology. This satanic doctrine falsely teaches that the Church has replaced Israel—a lie from the father of lies which results in (or at least supports) deception around the rapture. I believe the confusion or disagreement can be decreased or eliminated when we understand the purpose of the Church and grasp the distinctions between the Church and Israel.

Recognizing these two distinct groups, Israel and the Church, is key to this discussion.

In the age of grace  (Eph. 3:1-11), the Church is made of everyone (Jew and Gentile) who trusts that Jesus paid for our sins with His own blood on the cross. We are saved by grace through faith alone in the finished work of the Lamb. The purpose of the Church is two-fold: to be the body of Christ, and to provoke Israel to jealousy.

We know from Scripture that Jesus, Yeshua the Messiah, was sent only to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matt. 15:24) Paul the Apostle was chosen and sent by God to the Gentiles after Israel rejected Jesus. As one of my favorite teachers, Robert Breaker, explains, Israel had three chances before this happened, but they rejected God all three times:

• They rejected God the Father when they did not believe His testimony about His Son (1 John 5:10);
• They rejected God the Son, Jesus the Messiah, when they crucified Him;
• They rejected God the Holy Spirit when Stephen testified of the truth (Acts 7:51-54).

Because Israel so wholly and wholeheartedly rejected God, God turned to the Gentiles:

“But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:45-48)

“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” (Acts 28:28) 

God did this to provide salvation to the ends of the earth (bless the Lord, oh my soul! And all that is within me, bless His holy name!) and by doing so, to provoke the Jews to jealousy. (Rom. 10:19-20, Rom. 11:11-15) 

We need to understand something. If Israel had received the Messiah when He came the first time, the Church as it is today would not exist!

God’s mysteries and plans not withstanding, if the nation of Israel had not rejected Him, there would be no need for this conversation. We the body exist because God wanted to provoke the Jews to jealousy. Think about that!

Despite Israel's rejection of Christ, we know that all Israel will be saved. (Rom. 11:26) Today, Jews and Gentiles are saved by grace through faith. We call this the age of grace. It is the age of the Church and it's also the age of the partial blindness of Israel. But this age will come to an end. Scripture tells us plainly that Israel will not always be partially blind. At the moment, the only thing that matters to Israel is that the followers of Yeshua do not try to proselytize. When does Israel actually become jealous? What happens? What monumental event opens their eyes? How will the transition happen?

And what about the gospel? Revelation clearly describes those who keep the commandments of God (works), have the faith of Jesus, and the everlasting gospel (Rev. 12:17, Rev. 14:6-7, Rev. 14:9-13). This is not how we are saved today (Eph. 2:8-9, Eph. 1:12-14, Acts 15:8-9, Acts 26:17-18, Rom. 3:20-30, Rom. 11:20), so in light of the gospel, how does one age end and the other begin?

[See also: Is it Faith Alone in Every Dispensation? // Are There Christians in the Tribulation? // The Tribulation Gospel // The Tribulation Gospel is NOT the Same as Paul's Gospel ]

Why the rapture of the Church must happen before Daniel's 70th week

Scripture is full of shadow-types and examples of how God punished Israel for their sin. They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. As of now, Israel has wandered a spiritual wilderness for about 40 Jubilees. One day God will pick up where He left off; He has an everlasting covenant with Israel and will forgive them and restore them. Take a look at these Scriptures. Read them slowly and compare them to each other. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you and speak to you as you read.

Thousands of years ago, the partial blindness of Israel and provoking them to anger and jealousy was prophesied by God through Moses:

“And He said: ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faith. They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; They have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols. But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation.” (Deut. 32:20-21)

Paul echoed these words when he wrote:

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” (Rom. 10:16-21)

Paul went on to say,

“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: 

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion, [see Rev. 19:11-15, Zech. 12:7-14]
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.” 

Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.” (Rom. 11:25-32)

“Therefore He shall give them up, until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; Then the remnant of His brethren shall return to the children of Israel.” Micah 5:3 

Notice a similar message in these two verses:

“...blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” (from Rom. 11:25) 

“Therefore He shall give them up, until the time that she who is in labor has given birth;” (from Micah 5:3)

Here we see a temporary setting-aside of Israel that comes to a clear and definite end. God has not hidden His face from Israel forever; in fact, He tells us plainly when He will return to them and restore them: when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in and when she who is in labor has given birth.

This is why Rev. 12 is such a crucial chapter during these times. Last year, on Sept. 23, 2017, we witnessed a celestial alignment that matched Rev. 12:1-2 and pointed us to the striking imagery of a woman in labor who gives birth. It was like a huge pin on a map: YOU ARE HERE. In the months since, the unfolding convergence shows beyond a doubt that we are nearing the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Look at Isaiah:

“Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.” Is. 66:7-8 

Zion is the heavenly Jerusalem. Paul spoke of her when he said, “for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” (Gal. 4:25-26) This is us! Saints, WE are the birth that comes before the labor; we are the children of the free woman, the children and heirs of grace, of those who have “an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32)

“Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman [symbolized by Hagar / the law] and her son [Ishmael / the flesh], for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.” (Gal. 4:30-31)

So while the rapture is for the Church, it's really about Israel and Jerusalem.

To recap what we've covered so far, Scripture teaches that God revealed the mystery of the Church and the salvation of the Gentiles to Paul. The reason? To provoke the Jews to jealousy. But God has an everlasting covenant with Israel and WILL return to them. The question is, how and when will all of this be achieved? I believe the Bible reveals that the birth-before-labor is the pre-Daniel’s-70th-week rapture, and the labor is none other than the time of Jacob’s Trouble. (Jer. 6:24, Isaiah 21:2-3)

Daniel’s 70th week is for Israel and has a specific purpose. Very clearly, the angel Gabriel revealed this to the prophet Daniel:

“Seventy weeks are determined for your people [Israel] and for your holy city [Jerusalem] To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.” Dan. 9:24

Reconciliation, Wrath & Destruction

The first sixty-nine weeks were fulfilled 2000 years ago. The last one, the seventieth, and where we get the phrase “Daniel's 70th week,” remains. The Church wasn't part of the first sixty-nine and according to Scripture, won't be part of the last one.

Let's go back to harpazo. It is a sudden and quick snatching out of danger. When does this need to happen? Paul explains clearly:

“For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath [the day of destruction], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” (1 Thess. 5:2-10) 

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Rom. 5:8-10)

Pardon the English lesson here, but sudden destruction comes upon “them.” “They” shall not escape. “You” is not the same as “them” or “they.” How do you escape from inescapable sudden destruction that will come as a snare on ALL those who dwell on the face of the whole earth? 

You are harpazo'd. Snatched out quickly.

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day [the day of the Lord] come on you unexpectedly [Paul: overtake you as a thief]. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

Look what Jesus says to the faithful church:

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Rev. 3:10)

How will Jesus keep the faithful church from the hour of trial, the labor, which is to come upon the whole world? According to Scripture, He harpazo's them.

“Yes, but we are only promised to escape the wrath.”

This statement comes from those who believe the wrath of God begins halfway into Daniel's 70th week, presumably because the bowls of wrath are poured out near the end. Since we are not appointed to wrath, this theory concludes that the Church will be raptured halfway, taken out before the wrath begins.

A couple points about this. Scripture is clear that the wrath of God comes at the beginning of Jacob's Trouble (Eze. 38:18-19, Rev. 6:16-17). Before the trumpets begin, the 144k are sealed on their foreheads to save and protect them (Rev. 7:2-3) because they were not raptured and remain on earth during this time. This shows that a serious change has taken place. Saved people during the age of grace are sealed by the Holy Spirit in our hearts (Eph. 1:13-14, 2 Cor. 1:21-22), so this describes a different age than the one we're in now.

Furthermore, I say with humility that it is eisegesis (reading into the text) to say that 1 Thess. 5:9 is speaking only of God's wrath. God is not the only one with wrath during the last days. Rev. 12:12 clearly shows the devil's wrath: “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 12:17, kjv)

Wait. Remnant?

This sounds just like what we read in Micah 5:3.

“Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.”

Back to wrath: I believe that the entire seven years is about wrath. It gets progressively worse, but wrath is another way to say “the Day of the Lord.” Consider Paul's reminder that the Day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. He equates the Day of the Lord with sudden destruction. However, “God did not appoint us to wrath,” he says, “but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Salvation is the counterpoint to wrath here. We are not appointed to sudden destruction, and the passage equates salvation with escape. It is very clear. As a particular section in a Daniel's-70th-week timeline, “pre-wrath” is a man-constructed concept. The only true pre-wrath rapture is the pre-tribulation rapture.

Final thoughts on the post-tribulation rapture theory

Let me reiterate that I am not making light of the beliefs held by other brothers and sisters in the Lord. Speaking for myself, this theory was mostly held together by one question: why should I escape? It didn't make sense that the Church would be exempt from the seven years of trial that is coming upon the world. At the very least, it wasn't fair. Going deeper, I believed that suffering made me more holy, so I viewed it as an honor. I hoped I would become a martyr for Christ. (Oh, the self-righteousness! The pride!)

My beliefs were bolstered by a lack of understanding the differences between Israel & the Church. But worst of all, I didn't understand the gospel. And this was the root. Again, speaking for myself, there was no room for the gospel of faith alone in my post-tribulational-rapture theory. And there is no room for a gospel of faith plus works in the pre-tribulational rapture doctrine, because a pre-trib rapture is all about grace. And mercy. And the lovingkindness of our Savior. You mean, we get to rest? We get to be snatched out of danger by a watchful and loving heavenly parent? We are worthy to escape because we rest in what Jesus did for us? We get to be in the glorious presence of Yeshua while God restores Israel?

While this is not a salvation issue, what you believe about God and the gospel will influence your rapture doctrine. I gently and urgently plead with you, beloved. If your doctrine of the rapture does not agree with removing the Church before Daniel's 70th week, I'm not gonna ask you to change your mind. (I hope you do, but it needs to come from the Holy Spirit guiding you and confirming it through Scripture.) But I will ask you this: will you stop right now and pray and examine what you believe about grace? Will you re-visit the gospel you believe? Will you make sure, like extra extra sure, that the gospel you believe is the one that saves us today? During this age of grace? During this time of the partial blindness of Israel?

I say this as humbly as I can, but the post-tribulation-rapture theory falls apart not only when encountering a myriad of prophetic Scriptures, some of which I've shared above, but also many other points. Here are a few:

• In a post-trib view, when do we go to heaven? John 14:1-3 makes clear that Jesus is making rooms for us in His Father's house (using the precious symbology of traditional Hebrew wedding customs) and will come again to receive us to Himself. But after Daniel's 70th week, Christ is coming to rule and reign upon the earth for 1000 years. Believers will rule and reign with Him.

• The rapture is clearly described in Scripture, so if it happens at the end, as the post-trib view teaches, what are we rescued from? The worst is over, but the word harpazo, and Paul's teachings, confirm that the rapture is a sudden snatching out of destruction and danger. He actually talks about "sudden" destruction (1 Thess. 5:3), not a gradually worsening destruction, which would necessitate a sudden snatching away.

• The purpose of Daniel's 70th week is the restoration of Israel and judgment upon God's enemies. As the body of Christ, we are not God's enemies nor are we of national Israel, nor do we need restoration. We were formed for God's good pleasure (Eph. 1:3-14) and to provoke the Jews to jealousy. What purpose would the Church serve during the tribulation?

• The gospel preached during Daniel's 70th week (Rev. 14:6-7) is not the gospel that is preached today (1 Cor. 15:1-4). Paul tells us that if anyone, even an angel from heaven, preaches a different gospel than what we have received, let him be accursed. (Gal. 1:6-12) Is the angel of Rev. 14:6-7 accursed? Why or why not?

• Why is the Church saved by grace through faith alone, not of works (Eph. 2:8-9), but during Daniel's 70th week, remnant saints are saved by faith plus works? (Rev. 12:17, Rev. 14:9-13) And how can these co-exist during this time? How would we share our gospel, which is clearly faith alone, and wouldn't it cause confusion? If we had to suddenly begin sharing a different gospel, how will we know the exact moment to stop preaching faith alone and to start preaching faith plus works? What if someone accidentally shared faith alone, but it was five minutes into the time of faith plus works? Is there a period of transition?

• I understand how pre-wrath proponents explain 1 Thess. 5:9, but for the post-trib theory, how does going through all the years of vengeance and wrath, which we were promised to be kept from (Rev. 3:10, Nahum 1:2, etc.), reconcile with the rest of Scripture?
  
• How does the post-trib view explain the promise to believers vs. unbelievers in Rom. 2:5-10? 
  
• What if God really does want the body of Christ to escape all these things? What if He is truly that kind, that gracious, that merciful?

Of course, I believe He is. Am I worthy to escape all these things? Not in a million years on my own. In my flesh I am chief of sinners, evil, wicked, worthless and depraved. Nothing I can do makes me worthy. But isn't that the point? If avoiding the tribulation is based on me being good enough, then why did Jesus have to die? And if going through the tribulation is because I need to atone for my sin, tell me: did I out-sin the blood of Jesus? Was His death not enough? These two options are the only logical conclusions for this theory.

Thanks be to God for His salvation! Yeshua my Saviour has saved my soul from hell and He saves me from the wrath to come. What He did for me makes me worthy, and I have put my faith in Him who is able to keep me from stumbling and to present me faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. (Jude 1:24)

For those of us in the body of Christ today, a pre-Daniel's-70th-week catching away is the only valid theory presented to us in Scripture. To understand it, we must study the mysteries revealed by Jesus to Paul, the purpose of the Church, the differences between the Church and Israel, the everlasting covenant that God made with Abraham (the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable), the purpose of Daniel's 70th week, and we must believe the good news of the gospel. 

The goodness and kindness of God is beyond human comprehension. I urge you to believe the truth of the nature of God who reserves His wrath for His enemies (Nah. 1:2) but shows mercy to thousands (Deut. 5:10). I humbly believe that many who hold to a post-trib (or pre-wrath) view might not have fully grasped the depth of God's sweet grace. Grace is what we do not deserve. When we truly comprehend it, our only honest response is thanksgiving, obedience, abundant love and joy.

In closing, I do not believe in a “pre-trib rapture” because I'm afraid of the antichrist or getting my head chopped off or living without hot running water, fresh coffee, or electricity.

I believe in a pre-trib rapture because it is Scriptural truth. Even if you believe otherwise, if you are saved, you are going in the rapture anyway. But during these final days leading up to the glorious appearing of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, the comfort and joy of having this hope to hold onto is such a sweet mercy the Lord has given us.

One last-last thought.

Jesus is coming quickly, beloved. And Paul tells us that He will give the crown of righteousness to all who love His appearing.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:8)

If you do not believe this appearing is when Jesus comes to receive His body to Himself, vis-à-vis the pre-trib rapture, there remains this:

“Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.” Amos 5:18

So do you love the day of the Lord's appearing, or is it woe unto you? Are we children of light, or of darkness? (1 Thess. 5:5)

It is simple to harmonize these passages. The day of the Lord's appearing is the rapture of the body of Christ. The day of darkness is the time of Jacob's Trouble.

---

For discussion:

• What is the most compelling biblical case you've found for a pre-trib rapture?
• If you hold a pre-wrath or post-trib view, what passage of Scripture anchors you in this belief and keeps you from embracing the pre-trib teaching?

I may not be able to respond to every question or comment below, but I'm hopeful that as the body of Christ we can encourage one another, exhort one another, and do so according to 2 Tim. 2:23-25 with humility, gentleness and respect.

[MayflowerMadam]

“And every generation since the protestant reformation has thought they were the chosen ones to be in on the rapture.”

I believe in pre-Trib rapture, but it has never been a case of being “CHOSEN ONES to be in on the rapture”. I’ve been immersed in this theology my entire life, and have never heard it presented that way. When it happens, it happens. Could be a minute from now. Could be a millennium from now. We do believe a literal live body going up in the air.

It’ll happen just after Christians who have died earlier have been taken up. (Verse 16)

[chuckles]

Scripture tells us we are NOT the children of Wrath. So when does the wrath start? Rev 6:1 states Jesus cuts the first seal and the Antichrist starts conquering. Tribulation starts with the cutting of the first seal. There will be 7 years of Tribulation, not 3/12. The first 3 1/2 years, the wrath could be looked at as "acts of God", like earthquakes, famines, asteroid strikes, ect. We will be gone before the Antichrist starts his conquests. As the earthquakes, famines, and plagues spread, we may not even know who the antichrist is. The chaos will need a strong hand and he will step up to control the rabble with force. Most will cheer him on. Rev 4:1 says John heard a voice like a Trumpet saying "Come up here". That's the Rapture before the first seal is broken.

What many don't seem to get is man's wrath can get pretty bad, but it's NOT God's wrath. If you were betrothed to a bride, would you allow her to be beaten and killed before the wedding? Would you allow your children to be tortured before you rescued them? Why wait even a moment watching your loved ones suffer? The Tribulation is for disobedient children, not your loved ones.

Next is Lev 23 Feast Days. If God fulfilled Passover on Passover, Unleavened Bread on Unleavened Bread, First Fruits on First Fruits, and Pentecost exactly on Pentecost, why would He randomly fulfill the Fall Feasts when we weren't expecting Him? If you proposed Marriage to a Bride, wouldn't you want her to know when to be ready for pickup? If we know Pentecost has already happened, why would the next Feast Day be Yom Kippur? Judgement day before the Feast of Trumpets? God doesn't work that way. The Rapture will be the next event in Gods calendar. Trumpets is when the crowning of the King will happen. The Marriage Feast of the Lamb will happen. There are many things that will happen on or near Trumpets. Why would we miss that? If you miss the Marriage of the Lamb, you ain't going.

I skimmed the article quickly, but it seemed well thought out and I have nothing else to add. I believe you could study it and be pretty much on track with sound reasoning.

Having said that, I have something else to add that many people don't speak of. In Mat 25, we read of wise and foolish virgins. Many seem to think the foolish virgins are "lost people". That's not want it says. It says they were "virgins" That means church members. Only virgins can marry the High Priest and they must be from Israel. That's why we must be adopted into God's Family to be eligible. They were obviously left behind because they weren't ready to go. The wise virgins had extra oil in extra vessels they carried with them. The foolish ones only had the oil in their lamps. Oil is the Holy Spirit. The foolish ones were left because they were NOT baptized in the Holy Spirit and were just Baptized in water. If you are Baptized in the Holy Spirit, you will see a definite difference in these people. They are NOT wishy washy, luke warm, pew sitters, and will hear from Jesus,"I never knew you". Going to church and paying your tithe doesn't get you a personal relationship with Jesus. Jesus is coming for a Bride, not an acquaintance that is not looking forward to His coming. I visualize a woman peeking out her window all dressed up and ready for her wedding night with her heart aflutter in anticipation of her lover coming to pick her up.

I've actually had conversations with people that said I hope Jesus doesn't come this summer cause I just put a pool in, or my cruise is in a week, or I want to watch my grand kids grow up.

They obviously don't have the right priorities. These are the people that we read about that are beheaded under the altar in Rev 6:9-11. These people were left behind and were forced to choose Jesus and a beheading or take the mark. God has made it plain all through Scripture we must die in the flesh to be His. You can kill your flesh in the Baptismal, or you can physically die by the executioners sword. Either way, in order to be the Bride of Christ we must give our lives to Him. If you drag the dead body out of the Baptism and carry him around with you, you are still trying to resuscitate the old man and are double minded.

Joh 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

We know Jesus is our friend, but are we a friend to Jesus? If you won't follow His commands, you aren't His friend. If you are a friend of Jesus, you will die to your flesh as he did for you. If that seems too much to ask, you don't understand what He did for you. All of the Apostles, save John, went to a violent death to serve Christ. If you won't follow His commands, you certainly won't get beheaded for Him. Many have told me Jesus doesn't speak to them. Jesus said His sheep hear His voice. That should be a wake up call to someone who says they never hear from God. They don't have that personal relationship we talked about earlier.

The point here is there will be "Christians" that say they're are going in the Rapture and won't make it. They confuse Rapture with Salvation. If you face the Beast and refuse the mark, your salvation is true and you will go to Heaven when you die. If you take the mark, you will buy yourself another year or two, but will die a horrible death and go to hell because whatever you did and said in the church baptismal was a lie and you just got wet. Sin is no longer the measure of your salvation, faith and belief is. If you believe, you will flee sin because the law is in your heart. We still sin, but if we repent, He is quick to forgive. Your sins have been forgiven. God measures your heart. Many have trouble comprehending they can be saved ultimately, but be left behind to face the Beast.

After the Mat 25 virgin parable, there are others about "servants". There is a difference between virgin brides and servants. The servants were given His money and one made 5 talents and another 2 and another buried his 1. The ones that made a return on His investment were told good job. The last that buried His Master's money was thrown where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. God has invested His Son's blood in you. Do you have any gain to show Him when you meet Him? I had a vision once of Isaiah 6:1 and I was before the King and people had been trowing their treasure at the feet Of Jesus and there was pile of gold and silver on the floor. It was my turn and I reached in my change pocket and threw a few pennies dimes and quarters down on the floor with Him and the angels looking on. I thought I would never stop weeping. The shame was overpowering. If you think you do enough for God, you aren't where I am now.

Many today won't even witness to their own family so as not to start an argument. If you are ashamed of Him, he will be ashamed of you before the Father. This is not a game. It's not an activity. It's a relationship. If you put the Kingdom above all, then you are probably in the right place for Him to take you to the wedding and not be left to face the Beast.

[antidemoncrat]

How about Matthew 24:

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

[editor-surveyor]

.
>> “Scripture tells us we are NOT the children of Wrath. So when does the wrath start?” <<

The 10 days of the bowls of wrath immediately follow the Day of Trumpets (the gathering of the Bride) which immediately follows the 42 months of Satan’s Tribulation of the Bride.

That is well spelled out in Revelation , and many other places.

We are presently in the 6th seal period. Satan’s wrath has been pouring out for about a year, but it is not yet “great trribulation.”

Satan’s wrath obviously preceeds Yehova’s wrath.
.

[editor-surveyor]

.
Right on!

Pre-tribbers just erase that verse.
.

[Ezekiel]

See all these end-times doctrines? Not one stone will be left upon the other. It's the end-times generation that can't understand the meaning of "this generation". It's too busy buying and selling in its end times temple of merchandise, the foundation stone of which was laid in 1970:

Paperback, 192 pages
Published May 11th 1970 by Zondervan (first published January 1st 1970)

At the top of chapter 1:

We believe whatever we want to believe. Demosthenes, 348 B.C.

Matthew 24

1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

"A penetrating look at incredible prophecies involving this generation."

Haman built his own gallows.

I also want to offer a simple and clear message of comfort. Many in the body of Christ are anxious about world events, confused about prophetic timelines, uncertain and afraid. My hope is to present a Scriptural study that the Lord will use to settle the hearts and minds of those who need it.

The Lord will use... to make people aware of the grand irony of the statement.

Simple and clear: The Messiah's appearance has been become so marred that he doesn't even resemble a man. No wonder many are desperate to be raptured out of the whole mess and are vulnerable to believing anything.

Really no different than the government undermining and destroying good order by its own policies, then coming along with... solutions.

[editor-surveyor]

.
The gathering of the Bride on the day of Trumpets is exactly what ends Satan’s treibulation of the Bride.

Who else would Satan tribulate?

IT can’t happen until all of the things Paul listed to the Thessalonians have happened, so don’t hold your breath. Those things will begin to happen in the near future. (the “falling away into total apostasy, the revealing of “the man of sin,” etc)

[call meVeronica]

Bump 4 l8r

[Jmouse007]

Thank you for your excellent exegesis and biblical presentation of the truth concerning the pre-tribulation rapture of the church and the biblical distinction between Israel and the church. Simply put; God's Word is crystal clear, Israel is NOT the church, and the church is NOT Israel.

You can expect a virulent response from many on this forum who claim to be Christians against the biblical doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture.

It is nothing short of amazing and tragic how many who call themselves "Christians" literally hate the doctrine of the blessed hope, the rapture of the church (Titus 2:13).

[CGVet58]

bttt

[Boogieman]

“This happens when Jesus descends from heaven to receive the Church in the air, but does not actually return to the earth (1 Thess. 4:16-17).”

Sorry, but those verses say the “dead in Christ” will rise first, and if you compare that to Revelation, this can only refer to the event that is called in that book “the first resurrection”, when the righteous dead are raised, which is clearly placed at the very end of the tribulation, at the same time as Christ’s second coming.

[Jmouse007]

Your logic is flawed; you fail to make the distinction between the persecution and antagonistic wrath of man against Christ and his followers, and the righteous Wrath and indignation of Holy God which will be poured out upon the entire world, against all of making for their sin and willful rejection of The Lord Jesus Christ.

Unbelievers persecuting and killing Christians FOR THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST, has absolutely nothing to do with the Wrath of Almighty God, poured out upon rebellious, unbelieving humanity throughout the 7 years of tribulation because of their rebellious unbelief.

Almighty God doesn't need to "apologize" for anything.

[Boogieman]

God was clear enough about it in Scripture.

However, humans have an amazing capacity to try and interpret statements in completely opposite ways depending on their own personal biases.

[Jmouse007]

Wrong conclusion, read post 52.

[chuckles]

..."My dad has been a fundamentalist, conservative Baptist preacher for 65 years. He says he's a pan millennist, it will all pan out in the end."...

This is a problem with preachers that never grow. 65 years without understanding the Lord's Feast days is terrible. Jesus was a Jew. He lived and died as a Jew. The Jews were given the oracles of God. Israel and the Temple is a copy of what is in Heaven. A Jews know the day no one knows is Trumpets as an American knows "turkey day" is Thanksgiving. A Jew knows "The thief in the night" is the High Priest walking around the Temple checking the watchmen to see if they are asleep. If they are, he sets their garments on fire and they run away naked. The "Last Trump" only happens on Trumpets. The "Great Trump" is on Yom Kippur.

1Th 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 1Th 5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

1Th 5:3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

1Th 5:4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

1Th 5:5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

1Th 5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.

1Th 5:8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

1Th 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

1Th 5:10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

The writer is saying they have no need to write to you about the times and season,....because they are Jews and know the Feast Days.

Not understanding the Scriptures means you will never understand what Jesus was saying to His people. Everything Jesus said, and therefore His Apostles, was quoting the Old Testament because the New Testament wasn't written yet. Jesus explained the meaning of the Old Testament to His followers. They are NOT separate books, but one Book written by one author, the Holy Spirit.Many Christians today are NEVER exposed to Jewish things and have no idea what Jesus was explaining to them in Scripture.

Anyone can explain the "milk" to a new believer, but eventually they will have questions a trained person will have to answer or their faith will weaken. When you feel you have it all figured out, that's a sign of a problem. Telling that he has 65 years as a conservative Baptist preacher is a sign he probably doesn't speak in tongues and gives short shrift to the Holy Spirit. Being a Baptist, or Catholic, or a Methodist, or a Lutheran, is just a label put on the Traditions of men. The Bible is our anchor and compass. Every answer can be found in Scripture. God has made sure His people have the information they need for every question. If you can't find an answer, either you aren't looking or you don't understand what is being said. Gaining knowledge of the Jewish culture, laws, and traditions explain a lot of what Jesus was telling His people. There is a spiritual language the Holy Spirit uses to explain many things that were hidden from others. Bread, stones, rocks, the Breath of God, Water of Life, and fountains of Living Water, all refer to Jesus. Water is words, so we can have words, Satan has words, and God has words. The war is a war of Words. Satan comes as a Flood. Trees are people. Olive trees are anointed people. Unnamed birds or unclean birds are demons. You have to read the OT to find out what animals are unclean. Beasts of the field are demons. Wolves are Satan or demons. Unnamed women denote churches, religions, or denominations. Virgins are the God's Bride. The widow woman or divorced woman is Israel. I'll leave the Whore of Babylon for another time. "The Assyrian" refers to the Antichrist. There are a hundred more examples of words the Holy Spirit used to give clues to anyone that cares enough to study and not just skim over Scripture.

Genesis 1:14 tells us that God set in the heavens lights to be used for signs( signals) and seasons( Moed or fixed times for the congregation to have a solemn assembly to have a rehearsal. Leviticus 23 explains all of these appointed days that God set up to observe what He is going to do. Christmas and Easter is not mentioned there. Christmas and Easter are mentioned in Ezekiel 8. Verse 14 says the women were weeping for Tammuz. Tammuz was the son of Nimrod,( a type of Antichrist) who was born on Dec 25. In Verse 16, God is showing Ezekiel, priests with their backs toward the Temple worshiping the rising sun for a sunrise service. Jesus was born on Tabernacles and died on Passover, was buried on Unleavened Bread, and rose on First Fruits. Passover and Easter are NOT the same days and Christmas and are months different from Tabernacles. All this came from Rome taking over the church Jesus started. Changing the calendar and changing the Holidays to pagan days keeps Christians confused as to what God is trying to tell His people. Who is the author of confusion?

Today is Rosh Hashanah, or Trumpets. If we knew the Jewish aspects of this day, we would have been praying for the last 30 days for forgiveness of our sins and repenting of them. The whole month of Elul is dedicated to repentance. We are to be watching for this day to come. If you don't know what day it is, how can you be watching? It is absolutely certain that Jesus will come for His bride at the Last Trump, which is on some Feast of Trumpets some day. He won't come on some random day in June or November.

[winodog]

Amen. We await The Blessed Hope. Brother Breaker has some great teachings. Love the one on Israel rejecting the Holy Spirit you mentioned

[RevelationDavid]

He will… If he decides to take this pampered shallow apathetic cowardly lukewarm “church“ out of the very fire that could strengthen.... and turn their apathy into a gold Crown, that can be laid at his feet..

Fellow believer, it’s not my logic is flawed. It may be your blind faith to think that God would have you go Directly to go without going through the fire That Refines.

The disciples left the court… Rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer persecution for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Today? The church runs from it.

Prepare yourself fellow believer… Because the wrath of God is coming and his wrath will fall on the just and on the unjust.

Better take another look.

[chuckles]

If Jesus has cut the first seal, then Tribulation starts. By the time you get to the 6th seal, we will have already been in Famine, war, and natural disasters, and economic ruin.( 4 horsemen)

What you are describing is not even close. Tell me when we get to the point worse than WWII and the Nazi's. It's going to be worse than that at a minimum.

Where did I leave my ration stamps? lol

[editor-surveyor]

.
The author of post 52 simply misreads, and then blows all logic by not recognizing that there will be 1000 years between the First resurrection which is coming in about 6 years, and the resurrection unto judgement at the end of Yeshua’s 1000 year demonstration of the total depravity of man.

There is no “pre-trib” anything. Nowhere to be found in the Word.
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[LadyDoc]

Millions of Christians had been killed or persecuted on the 20th century under communism and fascism, and thousands are being killed or persecuted now under communism and Islam.

My worry is that American Christians will not be prepared when their time of persecution comes because they will assume they will be raptured.