ArchivedThe Rapture<B>RAPTURE, THE.</B> The NT teaches that the believer will be removed from the earth by Christ prior to the outpouring of the wrath of God which precedes the second coming of Christ to reign over the earth (I Thess 4:14-17; 5:9; cf. I Cor 15:51-53). There are three main views as to the time of the rapture.
1. Pretribulation rapture theory. This teaches that Christ can come to take away His own at any time, maintaining that this event is preceded by no specific signs (Mt 24:36, 42ff., 50; 25:13; Rev 3:3). The rapture will be succeeded by a seven year period during which the Antichrist will make a treaty with Israel, only to break it after three and a half years. The last three and a half years of the Antichrist's reign will be the time of the Great Tribulation spoken of by Christ in Mt 24:21. This will be followed by the return of Christ with His saints to rule the world in righteousness (Zech 14:3-5; Jude 14).
2. Midtribulation rapture theory. According to this view (cf. J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., <I>Systematic Theology</I>, II, 456), believers will be taken away halfway through the seven year period of the covenant made by the Antichrist with Israel. Christ will come "as a thief in the night," that is, suddenly and unexpectedly as far as the unbeliever is concerned (Mt 24:43; I Thess 5:4; Rev 16:15), but not as far as the believer is concerned because there will be signs. The world will appear to be at peace (I Thess 5:3), the temple will have been rebuilt (Mt 24:15), a truce will have been made already for three and a half years by the Jews with a great dictator. Then the temple will suddenly be desecrated (Mt 24:15; cf. Dan 9:27). The Christian will escape the Great Tribulation.
3. Postribulation rapture theory. According to this view, near the end of the Great Tribulation, and just prior to the pouring out of the seven vials of God's wrath, the rapture occurs. The reasoning behind this view is: (<I>a</I>) Paul says that the Christian is not appointed to wrath even as others (1 Thess 5:9). (<I>b</I>) The mention of Christ's coming as a thief in the night is found very late in the book of Revelation, in fact, between the sixth and seventh vials of wrath (Rev 16:15; cf. Mt 24:43; I Thess 5:4). (<I>c</I>) The Christian has never escaped tribulation and persecution at any earlier time in history, and why should he do so at the end times? (<I>d</I>) Christ speaks in Mt 24:15 ff. in such a way as to imply the believer will enter the Tribulation when He says, "When ye...see the abomination of desolation...flee into the mountains."
Wise premillennialists agree to differ with those holding other views, since this concerns a matter of minor importance compared with the whole question as to whether there will be a millennial kingdom on the earth or not. The postrapturists stress that there would be no harm in hardening the Christian and preparing him to face the Great Tribulation even if he does not go through it, but there would be great damage in softening him if he is to have to go through it. The prerapturist, especially, would stress the distinction between Israel and the Church, maintaining that the Great Tribulation period concerns only Israel.
<I>See</I> Coming of Christ; Eschatology.
<U>Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia</U>, Volume 2 K-Z ©1975 by THE MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
I don't know about you guys, but I'm leaning toward mid-Tribulation and post-Tribulation. Like the article says, Christians have never escaped persecution. Therefore, it makes sense that Christians would have to endure at least some portion of the Tribulation. I think this would be God's way to test the Christians' strength of faith. (Though quite frankly, I've never understood why God would have to test anyone. I mean, He does know what is in our hearts. Right? Oh, well. Whatever. God will do what God will do.)
But then again, I'm also leaning toward this theory, which is shared by a few people: the Rapture will take place three times. I'm not saying that this theory is concrete. It's just a theory.
What do you think?
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