Pre-tribulation of the Church

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

1John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

·       We shall be what we will be at his appearing.

The term rapture is not in the Bible. This has been used by many to deny the rapture of the church, the body of Christ.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines “rapture” as a noun [1] A seizing by violence, [3] Rapidity with violence; a hurrying along with velocity; as rolling with torrent rapture.

·       The term “rapture” would be used for a forced, rapid or hurried seizing as described in 1Thessalonians 4:13-18  

·       .  .  . For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air .  .  . 

·       “Caught up”: The church [the body of Christ, all believers alive] will have no choice but to meet the LORD in the air.

·       1Corinthians 15:50-54 We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,

·       Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Why the Pre-tribulation rapture of the church

1Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. [The dead in Christ will rise first; then those alive will be gathered or caught up together with them]

2Corinthians 1:7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

2Thessalonians 2:16-17 ¶ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

The Everlasting Consolation

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit

·       1Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come

·       1Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

v   Rev 4:1 Believers are saved from the wrath of God.

v   **Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? [See below  Zech 1:5,1:18]

·       Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

·       2Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Rev 4:1 with 1Thes 4:16

Rev 6:1 is the actual start of the seven year tribulation. The church is seen in heaven before Rev 6:1

The rapture will bring about the dispensation of the fulness of times. Ephesians 1:10

The gathering together in one all things in Christ. The first thing that will be gathered or caught up together will be His body of believers.

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

• Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
• Daniel 12:1 ¶ And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
• 1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
• Zep 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
• Zep 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.