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Five Views Of Rapture (2)
by Samson Hutagalung

Mid-Tribulation Rapture

Definition

 Midtribulationists teach that the Rapture will occur after three and a half years of the seven year Tribulation have passed. This is to say that the rapture will take place in the middle of the Great Tribulation period.”[15] The midtribulationalists advocates that the church is in need of purging and therefore must participate in at least part of the Tribulation period. The latter half of the Tribulation is seen as much more severe than the first half.

Biblical Supports

The second group of dispensational premillennialists who differ from the pretribulation rapture view is the mid-tribulationists. Although the main divergence with pretribulationists is basically on the understanding of the immanency of Christ’s return, yet the midtribulationists seldom denies that the Rapture is not imminent. In reality those midtribulationists believe that the Rapture is surely not imminent at all because there will be signs that can be seen during the first three and a half of Great Tribulation.[17]

The Midtribulationists commonly state that the Great Tribulation is divided into two parts. The first three and a half years is called “peace” and the last three and a half years is called “tribulation.”[18] Based on this explanation, the Midtribulationists argue that only the second part of the seven years of Great Tribulation is considered as tribulation (Matthew 24:21; Revelation 11:2; 12:6). For this reason they believe that the church will be still on this earth during the first three and a half years of the Great Tribulation. Thus the rapture will only take place in the middle of the seven years Tribulation period. In other words, the church will not go through the tribulation.[19] A passage such as Revelation 3:10 is also one proof text used to support the view that the church will not face the wrath or the judgment of God. The reason is because the midtribulationists also believe that the following events after the rapture will be the wrath and judgment of God toward the unbelieving people on this earth.

However the midtribulationists’ understanding of the rapture is based on the great emphasis given in the Scriptures about the middle of the seven years period (Daniel 7:25; 9:27; 12:7, 11, Revelation 11:2), then they conclude that the Rapture will take place at this time. A careful study of these passages will conclude that the emphasis given here is not about the rapture of the church but rather the breaking of the covenant with Israel by the Antichrist. This covenant treaty is the mark of the beginning of the seven years of Great Tribulation.

Another great argument of the midtribulationalists is that they believe that the last trump of 1 Corinthians 15:52 is the same as the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15 which is sounded at the middle of the tribulation. Pentecost said that these two trumpet cannot be the same at least nine reasons.[20] However the most significant reason perhaps is that while the former is a trumpet issuing blessing, life and glory, the latter issues judgment upon the enemies of God.

Furthermore the midtribulationalists also believe that the resurrection of the two witnesses in the middle of the Tribulation pictures the Rapture of the Church (Revelation 11). To them, the witnesses are symbolic of a “larger company of witnesses” and represent two groups: the dead and the living at the Rapture. The cloud represents the parousia – the Lord’s presence, the great voice is the shout of 1 Thessalonians 4:16, and the trumpet is the trumpet of the same verse.[21] Thus the midtribulational view makes identifications in different passages which are difficult to show as referring to the same thing.

Midtribulationnalists give another support from the Bible to justify their belief. The 144,000 are on earth early in the Tribulation (Revelation 7:1-8) but in heaven later (Revelation 14:1-5), so they should be identified as raptured saints who were taken during the Tribulation. They fail to understand that the 144,000 are explicitly stated as from the twelve tribes of Israel and thus are Jews, not the church – especially since they are contrasted with the Gentile multitude (Revelation 7:9-12).

Lastly, the Midtribulationalists believe that The Day of Wrath is mentioned as at hand in Revelation 11:18, therefore, the preceding seals and trumpets were not events of wrath. Thus since wrath follows the seventh trumpet, the Rapture must take place immediately preceding this wrath (since believers escape it). A careful study shows that Revelation 6:16-17 refers to the seal as wrath (and the seals precede the trumpets). The trumpet judgments occur during the time of God’s wrath.

Therefore midtribulationists conclude that the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is not imminent because firstly, it is based on their understanding on the Scripture that Christ could not have returned in the lifetime of Peter (John 21:18, 19; I Peter 1:13). Secondly, it is because the great commission given by the Lord Jesus Christ in Mark 16:15 has not completed and by that time the missionary program has not completed yet as well. Thirdly, the apostasy as predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 has not yet overtaken the church. Fourthly, it seems the day we live in does not show as the last days.[22]

Post-Tribulation Rapture

Definition

Posttribulationists assert that the Rapture will occur at the close of the Tribulation so that the Church will be on earth during the entire Tribulation. “The church of Christ will not be removed from the earth until the advent of Christ at the very end of the present age: the Rapture and the Appearing take place at the same crisis; hence Christians of that generation will be exposed to the final affliction under Antichrist.”

Biblical Supports

The third group of dispensational Premillennialists is those who believe on the post-tribulation rapture. The understanding of this belief is different from those who hold to pretribulation and midtribulation rapture. It is interesting to note that the posttriublation rapture also uses the same passage as pretribulation and midtribulation rapture to support their belief. Again they are different in their interpretation of the text. One of the most common used by the advocates of these three views is Revelation  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.” The main emphasis for the posttribulationists is the clause “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation.” The word “from” in the sentence is the work ejk in Greek which is usually understand “from” or “out of.” However the posttribulationists argue that this word can means “through.” Thus when this word used in the sentence of Revelation 3: 10 the meaning is totally different, “I also will keep thee through the hour of temptation.”[24] A careful study given to the entire book of Revelation shows that during the Great Tribulation there will be many believers killed and martyred because of their faith (Revelation 6:9-11; 20:4). This shows that the believers are not keep through the Great Tribulation.[25]

Based on the above presupposition, the posttribulationists develop the understanding that the church will go through the seven years of Great Tribulation but the Lord will keep them through. They believe that the Rapture and the Second Coming (Revelation) are referring to the same single event.[26] However the main problem with this view is that it does not differentiate between the Rapture and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ together with His saints to usher the beginning of the millennium kingdom.

They fail to understand that though the word the Lord’s coming “parousia” characterise both the rapture and the second coming. The word itself does not give any description whether the rapture and the second coming will be one event or separate events.[27] In other words the vocabulary which is being used does not prove either pretribulation or posttribulation.[28] However to the posttribulationists, the rapture and the second coming of Christ are considered as one event. The separation of believers and the unbelievers only occurs for a short while; it is only when the believers are caught up to the air to meet Jesus and immediately come back together to this earth. The next event is followed by a judgment to separate the sheep (believers) from the goats (unbelievers). Thus the posttribulationists would find it hard to harmonise their belief to what the Lord Jesus said in John 14:1-3 in which Jesus promised that when He comes He would bring us, believers to His Father’s house in heaven.

If the rapture would occur at the end of the Great Tribulation, then it is correct to conclude that the rapture and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ would not be imminent. The reason is because the chronological order of events during the Great Tribulation as written in the Bible would be identified by those who live at that time. The promise of Jesus Christ that He would come as a thief in the night would not be fit to the teaching of the posttribulationists (Matthew 24:36-39, 42-44, 50; 25:13; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:40).

When the Bible lists all the various kinds of events during the Great Tribulation, it is hard to understand that the church will survive during that time (Revelation 4-19). The posttribulationists argue that the wrath of God upon the earth will be cut short “for the sake of the elect” (Matthew 24:22). But this verse does not show any proof concerning the entire church of the Lord Jesus Christ. What this verse says is concerning those new believers who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ during the Great Tribulation but the Church has been already raptured to heaven.

Just like the midtribulationists, the posttribulationists also believe that the rapture will take place only if, firstly the apostasy of the church has taken place; secondly, the revelation of the man of lawlessness, the Antichrist comes; and thirdly the removal of the restraint against lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 3:8). This fact is often used to attack those who hold to pretribulation rapture view, but the pretribulatinists understand that the rapture does not begin at the Day of the Lord but rather rapture at the beginning of the Antichrist’s covenant with Israel. By that time the Antichrist will reveal himself and his true nature to those who are in this world, and they will follow him because at a sudden he can make peace in the region of Middle East. But the covenant treaty with Israel can only last for a short time for in the middle of the seven years of Great Tribulation he will break the treaty with Israel.

Pre-wrath Rapture

Definition

The Pre-Wrath Rapture View asserts that the Rapture will occur 18 months before the end of the Tribulation so that Church will be on earth during most of the Tribulation. This view is similar to the midtribulationism in that both views do not see the church being raptured before the Tribulation begins. However, it differs from this view in that it does not place the rapture exactly in the middle of the week but rather three quarter of the tribulation period.

Biblical Supports

The fourth group of dispensational premillennialists called themselves as those who believe in Pre-Wrath Rapture. They distinguish themselves from the pretribulationists, midtribulationists and  posttribulationists. They believe that the “hour of temptation” in Revelation 3:10 from which the church at Philadelphia is to be kept is not referring to the Great Tribulation but rather to the “Day of the Lord.”[30] Zeller said, "The Pre-Wrath view is a pre-wrath, pre-"day of the Lord" view because it teaches that the Rapture will take place immediately prior to the Day of the Lord which is the time when God pours out His wrath upon the earth."[31] The understanding of this view is almost the same with the posttribulationists. The difference lies on the time of rapture. To the posttribulationists, the rapture will take place at the end of the seven years of Great Tribulation whereas the pre-wrath rapture believes that the rapture will take place at the day of the Lord, about 18 months before the end of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 6:17).[32]

It is important to take note that the Great Tribulation and the judgment aspect of the Day of the Lord (Rev. 6:17) relate to Israel and the time of judgement. The church is promised to be delivered from the wrath (Rom. 8:1 cf. 1 Thess. 1:19; 5:9). With the absent of the restrainer from the world, it is hard to conceive how the church will go through the various temptation for three quarter period during the Great Tribulation.[33] Revelation 6:17 says, “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Truly the church also cannot stand for this wrath.

It is commonly used Matthew 24-25 (the Olivet Discourse) to support their teaching that the church will go through the Great Tribulation. The emphasis especially given to Matthew 24:21 that saying, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” However they fail to differentiate the church and the Israel here. The context of this passage is referring to a future of Israel’s trouble called the Great Tribulation. The church is not Israel and Israel is not the church. God must fulfil His promises to Israel during the Great Tribulation and the millennium kingdom. Thus the Pre-Wrath view confuses Israel and the church. Moreover this view also denies the teaching of the nearness of the second coming of the Lord. As Zeller rightly commented,

The Pre-Wrath view CONFUSES, yea, TOTALLY REJECTS the doctrine of the imminent return of Christ (the doctrine that Jesus Christ may come for His Church at any time). Instead of looking for the Saviour from heaven (Phil. 3:20), we should be looking for the signing of the treaty (Daniel 9:27). Instead of looking for that blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God (Titus 2:13), we should be looking for the coming of Antichrist. Instead of looking for the Bridegroom (John 14:3), we should be looking for the man of sin. Instead of rejoicing in the fact that "we shall not all sleep" (1 Cor. 15:51) we should be bracing ourselves to face the persecutions of Antichrist resulting in physical death for believers. Instead of the Lord being at hand (Phil. 4:5), He is at least four or five years away. Instead of rejoicing in the fact that His coming is drawing nigh (James 5:8), we should be sobered at the thought that the 70th week of Daniel is drawing nigh. Instead of looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 21), we should be looking for the greatest time of tribulation that this world has ever known (Matt. 24:21). Instead of waiting expectantly for His Son from heaven (1 Thess. 1:10) we should be waiting for the abomination of desolation.[34]

The Pre-Wrath view denies that the seal of judgments in Revelation 6 in the Great Tribulation are not God’s wrath. For them the wrath of God only begin with the following trumpet judgment which introduced by cataclysmic disturbances. But the context and the detail of Revelation 6 cannot be denied as the wrath of God. The reason is because the severance of the execution of 25% of the earth’s population (Rev. 6:8) and the levelling of the earth’s mountains (Rev. 6:14) prove as the wrath of God. Revelation 6:16-17 says that it is the wrath of God and the wrath of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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[15] J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1955), 179.

[17]One of the greatest sign for the beginning of the seven years Great Tribulation period is the making of the treaty with the Israel and the Antichrist. This implies that the church will witness this treaty making for the church still remain on this earth.

[18]Standberg said, “Note that some people only see a three-and-a-half-year tribulation. In a way, they are correct because the first half of the tribulation will be relatively peaceful compared to the second half. Nonetheless, peaceful or not, there still remains a seven-year period called the tribulation. When the Jews flee into the wilderness, they know that all they have to do is wait out those 1,260 days (Mat 24:16). There is no way to apply the phrase "neither the day nor the hour" to this situation. The only way for these two viewpoints to be true is to separate the two distinct events transpiring here: 1) the rapture of the Church, which comes before the tribulation; and 2) the return of Jesus to the earth, which takes place roughly seven years later. Todd Strandberg, “The Pretribulation Rapture” available from: http://www.raptureready.com/rr-pretribulation-rapture.html accessed on 12 April 2007 Internet.

[19]To Pretribulation rapture, though the seven years of Great Tribulation will be marked by the making of the covenant treaty with Israel by the Antichrist, yet when the rapture takes place there will be chaos on this earth because all in a sudden those believers will be caught up to heaven. Those Christians who are drivers, pilots, etc will suddenly disappear and the only thing that comes to our minds is chaos.

[20]Pentecost explained, that the “two witnesses are treated as two individuals in the passage . . . [and] the voice of authority is referred to a number of times in the Revelation and it can not be substantiated that it is the same ‘shout’ of which Paul spoke.” J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to come: A Study in Biblical Esc, 188-91.  

[21]J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology, 186.  

[22] Hodge quoted the writing of Norman B. Harrison and said, “To substantiate this view, midtribulation rapturists try to deny the belief in an imminent return of [Jesus]. Norman B. Harrison writes, We see from the Scriptures that [Jesus] could not have returned in the lifetime of Peter; nor yet in the days of the apostles; nor yet before the reformation; nor yet before the missionary program is completed; nor yet before the apostasy has overtaken us; nor yet before the last days in which we seem to be living.” Jim Hodge, “Three Views of the Raptures” available from: http://www.holysmoke.org/sdhok/rapt00.htm accessed on 12 April 2007 Internet.

[24]“A passage quoted often by pre-tribulationalists is Revelation 3:10 which speaks of the Philadelphian church being "kept from the hour of trial which is about to come upon the whole earth." The debate centers around the phrase "kept from" which many scholars say could be taken to mean "physical removal from" (Pre-trib) or "preservation from or in the midst of" (Post-trib). It is not conclusive. However it is interesting to note that later in Revelation, on at least 3 occasions, saints are "sealed" and kept out of harms way when God pours out judgment on the earth or specific judgments from God only affect His unbelieving enemies. See Revelation 6:4,8,15,17;9:4; and 12:6,14 for examples.” “Posttribulation Rapture” Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_Tribulation_Rapture, accessed on 12 April 2007 Internet.

[25]The Posttribulationists fail to understand that the word “tribulation” in the Bible does not always mean or refer to the Great Tribulation. The term is also used in a non-technical, non-eschatological sense (e.g., John 15:18-19; 16:1-2, 33; Matthew 13:21; 2 Corinthians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; Revelation 1:9) for the age-long opposition from Satan which has existed since the founding of the church.

[26]Hodge writes, “Mr. McKeever argues that the word "last" is significant in 1 Cor. 15:52. He points out that this last trumpet is synonymous with the last trumpet in Rev. 11:15. He states that because there are no other trumpets recorded in Scripture after this one, this must refer to the rapture at the end of the tribulation. Also, since 1 Thess. 4:16 makes mention of a shout accompanying the trumpet, he feels it is significant to find loud voices (or shouts) at the seventh trumpet in Rev. 11:15. While this may appear to be a valid argument, a closer look will indicate that this line of reasoning is faulty. First of all, the word "last" may signify that which concludes a program, but is not necessarily the last that will ever exist. Secondly, the trumpet that summons the church is called the trump of God, while the seventh trump is an angel's trumpet. Also we notice that the trumpet in 1 Thessalonians issues in blessing in life, in glory, while the trumpet in Revelation issues in judgement upon the enemies of God. Jim Hodge, “Three Views of Rapture” available from http://www.holysmoke.org/sdhok/rapt00.htm accessed on 12 April 2007 Internet.

[27]“The Post-tribulationalist usually sees the Rapture and The Second Coming of Christ as one event (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1 for the fact that there is only one article "the" for the two events ("the coming...gathering") described in that verse thus making it one event). I believe this is known as Granville Sharpe's rule in Greek and it is an unchangeable one.” “Post Tribulation Rapture” Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_Tribulation_Rapture, accessed on 12 April 2007 Internet.  

[28]Charles C. Ryrie, What You should Know about the Rapture (Chicago: Moody, 1981), 44-45.

[30]This view was first introduced by Marvin Rosenthal in 1990 through his book entitled “The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church.” His view was fallowed by Robert Van Kampen and perhaps others as well.

[31]George W. Zeller, “Pre-Wrath Confusion” available from: http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/proph/prewrath.htm accessed on 12 April 2007 Internet.

[32]This view does not believe that the rapture will take place in the middle of the seven years of Great Tribulation but rather about 24 months after the middle of the Great Tribulation or 18 months before the end of the Great Tribulation.

[33]The assumption here is that the beginning of the Great Tribulation is also considered as part of the tribulation the world must face though it is relatively “peace” in comparison to the second part of the Great Tribulation.

[34]George W. Zeller, “The Pre-Wrath Confusion” Available from: http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/proph/prewrath.htm accessed on 12 April 2007 Internet.