Genesis and the Pre-Tribulation Rapture

Rapture Ready ^ | 3/6/24 | Angel Torres

[Roman_War_Criminal]

If you read through the New Testament, you’ll quickly notice how its various authors point their readers back to the first Book of the Bible: Genesis. Peter, Paul, and the Lord Jesus Christ all interpreted Genesis 1-11 as real, literal history. In fact, the Lord Jesus draws a fascinating parallel between the calling up of the Church from this world (the pre-tribulation Rapture) and the dramatic events that occurred during Noah’s life.

Consider how Jesus used the historical backdrop of Genesis 6-9 to illustrate an important truth about the pre-tribulation Rapture: “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt. 24:37-39 KJV).

There are a number of details that we can unpack from Jesus’ statement(s) here, but I’d like to begin by pointing out the context of what was going on during Noah’s day. According to Genesis 6:5, “the wickedness of man was great in the earth.” This was a time of immense wickedness and moral depravity. Demonic activity was interfering with the created order (Gen. 6:1-2), and the hearts of men were dead set on doing evil continually in the sight of God, demonstrating a full-scale rejection of the Creator and His laws.

In the words of Martyn Iles, “We crave the status of Creator. We want to redefine what he has already defined. We have forgotten that we are dust.”

Certainly, the men and women of Noah’s day were content with living as they saw fit, choosing to forge their own way in this world and forgetting that it was God who set the standard for how human beings are to live.

Interestingly, Jesus shares some details of what people were occupying themselves with in the days that led up to the Deluge: they were eating, drinking, and partaking in marriage. We know that God’s perfect design for marriage had already been corrupted and compromised by man (refer to Gen. 4:23) by the time Noah had been born, so it’s likely that many people were participating in polygamy and other perversions of God’s pattern for the one-man and one-woman union that He instituted in the Garden of Eden.

I think Jesus’ point, however, is that people were doing their usual routine when the waters of judgment suddenly fell upon them. They were so caught up in their normal, day-to-day affairs that they were unaware of the times in which they were living. It’s likely that their hearts had been so hardened from years of unrepentant, rampant sin that they were completely ignorant of eternity and the things of God.

This kind of ignorance was not an excusable ignorance, either, because we know from Scripture that all people are aware of God’s existence (Rom. 1:20) and possess a conscience that is capable of differentiating right from wrong. This kind of ignorance was a willing, intentional one brought about by constant rebellion against God and His Word. As a result, Noah’s generation was blindsided by the onset of the Flood and the ensuing cataclysm.

Sadly, it seems as though many in our world today have also neglected the things of eternity in favor of what’s temporary and material. The Scriptures plainly teach that Christians should be on high alert for the coming of our Lord Jesus in the air (Lk. 21:34-36), especially since we do not know when this wonderful event might occur. It very well could be tonight, or it could be a few months from now. The reality is that we don’t know! Nevertheless, we can (and should) learn from Noah’s example so that we will be ready when our Lord comes back.

While the majority of people were busy in their routines, Noah was busy working on the Ark that God had commanded him to build. He was resolute in carrying out the task that God had given him to do, understanding the gravity of the situation (even though there hadn’t ever been a global Flood before). At the same time, Noah was also busy preaching the truth!

Peter referred to Noah as “a preacher of righteousness.” What an amazing testimony to have! There’s even an ancient Jewish tradition that purportedly reveals the contents of Noah’s preaching: “Be ye turned from your evil ways and works, lest the waters of the flood come upon you, and cut off all the seed of the children of men.” If there’s any truth to this statement, we can see that our forefather in the faith was preaching a message of repentance to his brothers and sisters in Adam. Noah was pleading with them to turn from their wickedness and kneel before God while there was still time.

I want us to ask ourselves this question now: are we encouraging people today to do just that? To turn from wickedness and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation while there is still time?

This should be the very heart of our evangelism efforts and outreach. Jesus is our ark of salvation, and He has invited all people to lean upon Him in true faith and repentance!

If perchance you are reading this article and the Rapture has already occurred, there is still hope for you yet. Flee to Christ for salvation as the very name of God is a strong tower and a place of refuge from danger (Prov. 18:10). Though the coming days will be difficult, you can rejoice and take comfort in knowing that your eternal destiny is secure with Christ, just as Noah and his family were secured by God aboard the ark.

As we wait for the coming of our Lord in the air, may we learn from His teaching and take His Word as He has written it. Genesis 1-11 is the historical foundation for the rest of the Bible, and it was Jesus who has given us a valuable lesson about our way out from the coming destruction by referring to the life of Noah and the events of the Flood. Jesus was not bringing up a fictional fable to articulate a real, eschatological event. He was pointing back to real history so as to warn those with ears to hear about the danger of missing the real Blessed Hope.

As soon as we start to spiritualize or allegorize elements of the Bible that are clearly literal events, this unlocks the door of compromise. Instead, a good understanding of God’s Word from beginning to end will allow us to better comprehend “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) and point others to the Creator.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

End Times Ping

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Maranatha!

[SubMareener]

The Revelation 12:1-2 Great Sign in the Heavens occurred on September 23-24, 2017. The X drawn on the United States began with the first stroke on August 21, 2017. The final stroke of the X will happen on April 8, 2024. There was an annular eclipse on October 14, 2023 that turned the X into an Alef. Time to start talking about a 7 year pretribulation Rapture, and buckle up for the persecution to come.

[Flaming Conservative]

Thank you for this article. I fear for those who mock the rapture.

[TribalPrincess2U]

PING!

[StrictConstructionist]

I don’t believe in the pre-tribulation rapture. That said, if there is one, I am all aboard. Many say Christians will not suffer God’s wrath, wrath and tribulations are different. Paul, John, Peter, and many, many Christians have suffered tribulations.

The saints that judge with Jesus during the 1000 year reign come out of the tribulation.

Revelation 20:4 NASBS
Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Jesus told us:
Matthew 24:21-22 NASBS
For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. [22] Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

Jesus also said:
Matthew 24:9-10 NASBS
“Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. [10] At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

I am also aware of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, but many stop and don’t include 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 are the verses that many base their belief in the rapture. Reading 5:1-6 sheds some light on 4:13-18.

Here’s my position. If I expect to go through trials and even though the tribulation and there is a rapture and I don’t have to go through the tribulation, no harm.

On the other hand, if someone believes they will not have to go through the tribulation because they expect the rapture and find themselves in the middle of the tribulation, they may fall away. They may become those Jesus spoke of:
Matthew 24:10 NASBS
At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

I pray that all come to faith in Jesus and stay true to that faith that their names are not erased.

Revelation 3:5 NASBS
He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

We must remember, there are those that will fall by the wayside. The Bible says so. It even says:

Proverbs 16:4 NASBS
The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.

[metmom]

As a result, Noah’s generation was blindsided by the onset of the Flood and the ensuing cataclysm.

I would beg to differ on this point.

IT took Noah 120 years to build the ark. He preached while doing it.

They were not unwarned. They CHOSE to ignore the warning.

[ducttape45]

I think Jesus’ point, however, is that people were doing their usual routine when the waters of judgment suddenly fell upon them. They were so caught up in their normal, day-to-day affairs that they were unaware of the times in which they were living. It’s likely that their hearts had been so hardened from years of unrepentant, rampant sin that they were completely ignorant of eternity and the things of God.

That's probably the most important statement to be taken from that article.

[metmom]

There is a difference between ordinary tribulation, the trials and troubles that come upon us in the course of everyday life, and the Great Tribulation, God's judgment on an unbelieving world.

Failure to distinguish the two or deliberately conflating the two, is what leads to erroneous teaching about God rescuing His people from the coming Judgment.

Christians have already had their sin dealt with. They do not come under judgment and God would not be just to pour out HIs wrath on them.

[metmom]

There is a difference between ordinary tribulation, the trials and troubles that come upon us in the course of everyday life, and the Great Tribulation, God's judgment on an unbelieving world.

Failure to distinguish the two or deliberately conflating the two, is what leads to erroneous teaching about God rescuing His people from the coming Judgment.

Christians have already had their sin dealt with. We do not come under judgment and God would not be just to pour out HIs wrath on us.

[fidelis]

Just FYI for those who are unfamiliar with the above Dispensationalist (earthly millennium, rapture-at-any-moment) interpretation of Scripture regarding the End Times presented here: the majority of Christians today (and who have ever lived, for that matter) do not ascribe to it. It was not developed until the early 19th century. It originated in England but is mostly held by many (not all) American evangelicals.

I'm not saying there is no truth in it or that nobody should consider it, only that it is important to know that this is not the only interpretation or position. As the majority of Christians in the world are either Catholic, Orthodox and other Eastern Churches who do not ascribe to modern Dispensationalism vastly outnumber the American influenced Evangelical Protestants and Protestant Fundamentalists that are the ones who primarily embrace modern Dispensationalism, it is important to point out that it doesn't represent the views of most Christians.

[ducttape45]

Ok, first, I gotta ask, what translation are you quoting from? The only thing I can online that is NASBS is the North American Skull Base Society. Please clarify.

Second, the Bible, King James Version, is so replete with references to the Rapture. There is a lot of typology in the Bible referring to the Rapture that to simply not see it, well, I'm amazed anyone can claim otherwise. And no, I won't list them all here because there are many FR postings with that information.

[ducttape45]

For those who are unfamiliar with the above Dispensationalist (earthly millennium, rapture-at-any-moment) interpretation of Scripture regarding the End Times presented here: the majority of Christians today (and who have ever lived, for that matter) do not ascribe to it. It was not developed until the early 19th century. It originated in England but is mostly held by many (not all) American evangelicals.

Here we go again. I won't get into a long drawn out debate or try and list references to back what I'm about to say because it's an argued ad nauseam here on FR, but teachings about the Rapture have been in existence for many hundreds of years and is NOT a recent teaching only brought up in the 19th century. This kind of talk only discourages the saints.

[EliRoom8]

Besides those being evil days, they are testimony to the Lord’s deliverance of the faithful before destruction:
>> Noah’ family before the Deluge
>> Lot’s family before Sodom and Gomorrah
Several others

[fidelis]

Here we go again. I won't get into a long drawn out debate or try and list references to back what I'm about to say because it's an argued ad nauseam here on FR, but teachings about the Rapture have been in existence for many hundreds of years and is NOT a recent teaching only brought up in the 19th century. This kind of talk only discourages the saints.

I'm not interested in a debate either. Just pointing out that not all Christians do not hold this interpretation of the Bible. If you are sure in your position, this should be no threat to you. And I am only pointing out the fact that, before the 1820's no Christians held anything like the Rapturist view as is widely held by modern Dispensationalists. Some (primarily before AD 1000 or so had millenarian views before it became obvious that Christ was not coming on an earthly timetable devised by men) and all believed in a rapture of living believers at the Second Coming at the end of time, but NONE believed in the cobbled together, novel view of the End Times as is usually articulated today.

[GBA]

Thanks for your post. I think you’re right. That’s how I read it, also.

I think we’ll be tested, because God tests us, and I think there will be suffering, since that’s one of God’s ways to purify us.

No matter when the “Rapture” occurs, there’s a much better chance each of us will meet Jesus long before then, so be ready.

My philosophy is: Life is fragile and any day could be our last day, so make friends with Jesus now, talk with Him and have Him in your thoughts constantly, listen via your heart and conscience and try like crazy to do whatever God tells you to do.

Do those things, since love is action, and all will be well for you in this world and the next, also, no matter what is happening “now”.

[dartuser]

I am only pointing out the fact that, before the 1820's no Christians held anything like the Rapturist view

And that ... is blatantly wrong.

https://pre-trib.org/articles/all-articles/message/prophecy-in-deuteronomy

[Roman_War_Criminal]

Absolutely!
And yes I fear for them too.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

I think the point the author was trying to make is that while they may have heard the warnings - they didn’t believe them.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

The “facts” that you have laid out in this post above are not true - and quite frankly nonsense.

It’s BS to attribute this to the 19th century.

Why do you guys have to lie about the Pre-Tribulation Rapture that The Lord, Peter, and the Apostle Paul all talked about in Scripture?

Some of you have no shame!