Published on Friday, 11 November 2011 20:01 | Written by Vernon Gillispie | | | Hits: 7201
Rapture: Which view?
There are varying views on the event we have termed the Rapture. Many do not believe it will occur at all but among those who believe it will, the most commonly held views are pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post-tribulation and pre-wrath.
The pre-trib group generally believe that the rapture will occur at the beginning of Daniel's Seventieth Week which many view as the beginning of the period of Great Tribulation. The mid-trib group generally believe the rapture will occur midway through this seven year period while the post-trib group put it at the end of this seven year period.
The pre-wrath group hold a different view. They hold to the view that Christians will have to go through part of the trials of this seven year period being rescued just prior to the outpouring of the bowls of wrath mentioned in Revelation 15.
10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. Rev. 3:10 NIV (italics and bold mine).
This view generally holds that the trials prior to the outpouring of God's wrath symbolized by the bowls of wrath in Revelation are the natural results of man's foolish behavior in poluting the earth, greed, crime, war, etc. and the evil influence of Satan. Mankind has always had to endure these things and although these events escalate during the time frame mentioned in Revelation it isn't until God is ready to pour out His wrath on the earth that His elect are rescued in what has been termed the Rapture.
This is one of the most debated promises in the Bible. The position taken depends upon the view of the reader. Our view on escatology and hermanutics depends upon our view of God's word. Those who have a liberal viewpoint toward life generally take a liberal point of view toward theology dealing with; death, resurrection, judgment and immortality, either denying God's existence altogether or viewing him as loosely involved. Those with a conservative view tend to interpret God's word more literally.
Those with a more liberal view tend to interpret scripture allegorically and either do not believe there will be a period of great tribulation or take the view that the church will go on until mankind eventually learns to live and work together in solving our problems. They generally don't believe there will be a time of God's judgment.
The conservative school of thought interprets the scriptures more literally, sees God as intimately involved in the affairs of men, and anticipates a seven year tribulation period for the entire world. They take this verse as a promise that true Christians will be kept from the hour of trial because the Lord will take them from the earth in the rapture.
Rev. 3:10. This verse presents a promise that Christ will rapture genuine believers out of the world before the Tribulation period begins. The hour of temptation is the period of worldwide testing (Gr. peirasmos) which has not yet occurred (cf. Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21, 29). Christ promises to keep them from (Gr. ek, "out of") the period of the Tribulation. That is, they will not even enter into this period of history. The Tribulation is for the purpose of trying or judging them that dwell upon the earth, those who are connected to the earth and its system. Believers are not even included in this term (cf. Phil. 3:18–20; 1 Pet. 2:11; Rev. 6:10; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 17:8). Thomas Nelson, Inc., King James Version Study Bible [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1988 by Liberty University.
We have seen that God was able to keep the 144,000 during the Great Tribulation. So it is not a question of whether God can keep the church in the Great Tribulation period. Of course, He can keep the church if that is His will and plan. But, according to the Word of God, this is not His will and plan. The Lord Jesus said, "I am going to keep you from that hour that is coming on this earth," from that terrible time of testing that is coming. I would like to put it like this: The church is not going through the Great Tribulation period, but we are going through the little tribulation. All of us have troubles and trials, and I don’t know of a Christian who doesn’t have problems and difficulties. It seems like the more spiritually mature the saint of God is, the more he suffers. This is the method God uses to develop his children. We never become wonderful saints of God. We are just His little children, immature and undeveloped. When we come into His presence, we will be accepted because of what Christ has done for us, not because we have endured the Great Tribulation. J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1981 by J. Vernon McGee.
It is generally agreed among a number of conservative scholars that there is no logical reason for God to make the church go through the tribulation period. There are, on the other hand, a number of reasons why it would seem logical for God to leave the church on earth during this period of world wide destruction. Some ask,"Why should the church be spared what many believers have endured and some are enduring today?" Others say a more logical question would be, "Why would the Lord force His bride to endure incredible torment and almost certain annihilation? After all, he took Noah and his family out before the flood." We must not forget, however, that while Noah and his family were saved from the flood it wasn't until just before the flood and they had to endure the persecution and ridicule for at least one hundred years before they were taken out.
The more important question is, "What, if anything, did Jesus actually promise with regard to our redemption, resurrection and/or rapture?" Many are convinced that Jesus will take the church before any of the hardships of Daniel's Seventieth Week begin but Luke 21:5-38 does not indicate such a promise. I'm not saying that He will not. Only that we should not base our faith upon a promise that He did not clearly make.
The real issue, it seems, is not whether there will be a rapture but when it will occur. That hour of trial may not mean Daniel's Seventieth Week, as presumed by most premillenialists, but rather may be specifically referring to the brief time of God's outpouring of wrath. This would explain why the scripture says hour of trial rather than week of trial.
This would not be inconsistent with any of God's promises. God promised to redeem Israel and He will do that during Daniel's Seventieth Week as the Israelites under intense persecution see the prophecies of Jesus and the prophets fulfilled.
8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. Ps 130:8; NIV.
Jesus speaking of this future time said:
19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now — and never to be equaled again. Mark 13:19; NIV
The Lord's promise to the elect would be fulfilled for Jesus also said:
20 If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. Mark 13:20; NIV.
God's promises to the church will be fulfilled as He saves His church from the hour of trial when He pours out His wrath upon the whole earth.