There are primarily three perspectives in regards to the time when the rapture of the church occurs. The first is called a Pre Tribulation Rapture (rapture before). The second is called a Mid Tribulation Rapture (rapture in the middle). And the third is a Post Tribulation Rapture (rapture after). These three perspectives are hotly contested, debated, and divisive. The discussion of “when” this event takes place has no bearing on one’s salvation. People who hold to any of these positions believe that Christ died for sins, resurrected…Heaven bound. All three positions are members of the body of Christ. A pastor I know has made a common sense statement. “Good men can respectfully disagree.”
I will be up front. I hold to a Pre Tribulation Rapture position. This is the conclusion I have come to after reading and re reading the text over a period of 20 plus years. I am not telling anybody what to think. I am not telling anybody they are wrong. Dogmatism in opinion solves nothing. Because somebody stomps their foot harder and yells louder does not result in a change of mind and thinking.
Be a Berean. Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Do not take my word or anybody else’s word. Search, read, study. There is too much at stake, your eternal future.
What is the church? The Greek word for “church” is ekklesia. Per Strong’s Concordance it is translated or defined as: a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly; an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting; those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body; the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth; the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven.
Colossians 1:18 He (Jesus) is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
Ephesians 5:22-33 Draws parallels between Christ (husband) and the church (bride/wife). He is the savior of the body. He gave Himself for us. We, as believers, are members of His body. He washes and cleanses us with His word. He takes care of us. We are to submit to Christ.
The Tribulation is a seven year period of Divine judgment on the people of planet earth because of our sin. It is a matter of simple justice. Approximately 13% of the Bible is written about this seven year period. If the data points of time in the Bible are taken literally in terms of ages of people and reigns of leaders, the earth is roughly 6,000 years old. This seven year period represents .0005 of history (3.5/6000). Approximately 13% of the Bible focuses on .05% of history! Two chapters in Genesis were dedicated to Noah’s flood. Humanity is being given disproportionate, ample, and considerable warning. Matthew 24:21-22 “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 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.
Would the ultimate expression of Husband allow His bride to be beaten and bruised by His Father’s judgment and wrath? Would that be “just” to allow the church to be effectively judged twice? Our sins as believers were paid on the cross. Do we need to pay again during the Tribulation?
Romans 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all…
