The Post-tribulation Rapture View


by Tim Warner

Of all the rapture positions, the post-trib view has been the majority view since the time of the Apostles. However, in many parts of the western world, the pre-trib view has supplanted it in modern times. There is a great deal of ancient Christian literature, from the first three centuries of the Christian Church, which outlines the post-trib view. There have also been several variations of this view throughout history. The view presented in this study, is essentially the same as what was held by the Early Church Fathers.

Historically, post-tribbers have relied on the Olivet Discourse as their main supporting evidence, and to a lesser degree, on Paul's Epistles and Revelation. For the purpose of this brief study, we will begin with Jesus' teaching to His disciples in the Olivet Discourse [Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 21]. Then, we will briefly look at some of Paul's comments. We will not get into Revelation, because of limited space, and because that book is not specific enough, concerning the timing of the rapture, to be of any significant value to the question before us.

One of the major differences between the way pre-tribbers and post-tribbers view the Scriptures concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ, is whether or not Jesus and Paul taught the same things concerning Jesus' coming. Pre-tribbers believe, for the most part, that Jesus did not reveal the "rapture" in His teaching. They believe this revelation was unique to the Apostle Paul. Consequently, they tend to highlight differences between Paul's teaching, and Jesus' teaching. Post-tribbers approach this issue from the opposite perspective. We believe Jesus did indeed speak of the rapture. And, Paul's teaching, in his Epistles, simply compliments Jesus' teaching. So, of major concern to our study, will be a comparison of the teaching of Jesus and Paul regarding the second coming.

The Teaching of Jesus - Matt. 24
In Matthew 24, the disciples asked Jesus about the signs of His coming, and the end of the age. Their interest was more than academic. They expected to live to see His coming. And, they wanted to know how they would recognize this event. Jesus answered their question in the most straightforward way, outlining a sequence of events up until the end of the age, and His coming in glory. He gave a series of SIGNS to watch for, including; wars, famines, earthquakes, the Gospel being preached among all nations, the abomination of desolation, and finally, the cosmic signs which will announce His coming after the tribulation. This graphic sequence ended with the following words;
Matt 24:29-31
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(KJV)

Here we see that at Jesus' coming after the tribulation, He will sound a trumpet, and dispatch His angels to gather together "His elect." In Mark's account of this statement, it is clear that the elect will be gathered from both earth and heaven [Mark 13:27]. Now, notice verse 33;
Matt 24:33
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
(KJV)

The clear intent of Jesus' words, were, that only after all of the signs He gave were fulfilled, could they expect Him to come.
There is a tremendous debate between pre-tribbers and post-tribbers about whether this "gathering" is for the Church. However, let me just suggest that you read this chapter, and take special note of all the places Jesus used the personal pronouns "you," "ye," "yourselves," etc. In doing so, it will become obvious, that Jesus' answer to His disciples assumed that they could survive to see His coming. How can this be? Simply because Jesus Himself did not know when He would return [Mark 13:32]. And, we know from several other passages, that the early Christians, including Paul, expected to survive until the second coming [John 21:20-23, 1 Thess. 4:15]. In fact, the entire New Testament is written with the assumption that the second coming of Jesus could come in the first century. This fact is important in recognizing the continuity of the Olivet Discourse, and how it flows throughout the present age until the second coming.
Of course, pre-tribbers doubt that the disciples could represent the Church in this manner. They think the disciples represent another group, perhaps certain elect Jews in the tribulation. To settle this issue, I think the Great Commission is of utmost importance. Jesus told His disciples;
Matt 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(KJV)

We must bear in mind, that these are the same disciples who asked Jesus about His second coming, and sat at His feet while He taught them about all the signs, and His gathering His elect "immediately after the tribulation." In the above passage, Jesus further commanded them to take His teaching into all the world and make converts. Of special note are the words; "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Jesus commanded these men to teach you and me everything He taught them. This must include His teaching in the Olivet Discourse about watching for the signs of His coming after the tribulation. So, we see two things from these passages;
1. Jesus never mentioned a rapture before His coming in glory after the tribulation. He spoke of His disciples going through the tribulation, and watching for the signs of His coming after the tribulation.
2. The Gospel He commanded the Apostles to preach, did not include a pre-trib rapture, but instead included teaching concerning watching for His post-trib coming. [which included a post-trib rapture].

The Teaching of Paul - 1 Cor. 15
Post-tribbers believe Paul's teaching concerning the rapture is completely compatible with the teaching of Jesus in the Olivet Discourse. There were some new details added by Paul, but the general sequence of events are identical. In 1 Cor. 15, Paul wrote primarily of the resurrection of believers, and the fact that we will be raised "incorruptible." We do not have space here for an in depth exegesis of this passage. However, I would like to point out three things that I believe connect this event to Jesus' post-tribulation coming in Matt. 24. First, Paul said that the reason our bodies will be changed, is because; "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God" [1 Cor. 15:50]. The Kingdom of God he is speaking of is the Millennial Kingdom. Since the purpose for this putting on incorruption, is because our old bodies cannot enter the Millennial Kingdom to reign with Christ, this implies that the change would occur at the beginning of that Kingdom. Secondly, Paul said this will occur "at the last trumpet" [1 Cor. 15:52]. If we were to assume that this occurs before the tribulation, then this trumpet could not be last, because Jesus said He will sound the trumpet to gather His elect "immediately after the tribulation" [Matt. 24:31]. In order for it to be "last," it would seem to be identical with the trumpet of which Jesus spoke. Thirdly, when this transformation occurs, Paul said an Old Testament prophecy will be fulfilled.

1 Cor 15:54
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
(KJV)

This is a direct quote of Isaiah 25:8. And, this prophecy is clearly speaking of the coming of Christ's Millennial Kingdom, in Isaiah. So, in order for its fulfillment to occur at the rapture of the Church, the rapture must occur at the beginning of the Kingdom, which is post-tribulational.

The Teaching of Paul - 1 Thess. 4&5
The most well known passage dealing with the rapture, is found in 1 Thess. 4&5. A comparison of Matt. 24:29-31 and 1 Thess. 4:13-18 shows that they have much in common. For example, both mention Jesus coming in the clouds. Both mention angels. Both have the trumpet. Both speak of the righteous being gathered. Of special interest is the words "caught up," in 1 Thess. 4:17. This is the Greek word "harpazo," which means; "to be picked up by force." In other words, we will not simply float up to the clouds, or even fly up. We will be forcefully picked up, or snatched up. This fits quite well with the concept mentioned by Jesus, of the angels being dispatched to gather the elect. We saw from 1 Cor. 15, that when the trumpet sounds, we will immediately be "changed." And, according to Jesus, the angels will be dispatched at the same trumpet blast, to pick up all the believers who have just been changed. We will all be gathered to Christ, in the clouds. The next chapter continues speaking about when this rapture might come. He writes, "yourselves know perfectly, that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night" [vs. 2]. Notice specifically, that Paul connects the rapture with the "Day of the Lord." This little phrase is found many times in the Bible. And, it always refers to the day when Jesus will come and destroy the armies of the nations, and set up His Kingdom. [See: Isaiah. 13:2-11, Joel 2:30-32, Joel 3:9-16, Zech. 14:1-9]. One thing that stands out in some of these passages, is that the Day of the Lord will be announced by a specific sign. The sun will turn black, and the moon will turn very dark red. Then, Jesus will come. The placement of this cosmic sign, proves that the Day of the Lord is after the tribulation. Compare the following passages. Matt 24:29 says this sign will occur "immediately after the tribulation." And, Acts 2:20 says it will occur "before the Day of the Lord." Therefore, the cosmic sign comes between the end of the tribulation, and the beginning of the Day of the Lord. This means that the Day of the Lord is after the tribulation. Since, Paul placed the rapture on the Day of the Lord, in 1 Thess. 5:1,2, the rapture must also be after the tribulation.

The Teaching of Paul - 2 Thess.1
Having given this instruction to the Thessalonian believers, Paul wrote a second Epistle to answer further questions regarding the rapture. He began by comforting them in the severe persecution they were experiencing. Then, he reminded them that those who were persecuting them, will be persecuted by God. To those Christians who were weary, from the relentless persecution, he said;

II Thess 1:7-8
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(KJV)

Notice that Paul told them when they could expect relief from suffering, "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with His mighty angels, in flaming fire..." This coming is clearly Jesus' post-tribulation coming, at the battle of Armageddon. Then, and only then, can we expect to have relief from persecution. [Of course, this assumes that persecution is a normal part of the Christian experience].

The Teaching of Paul - 2 Thess. 2
The final passage we will examine, from Paul's Epistles, is 2 Thess. 2:1-3. This passage has been the subject of great debate. But, I am going to ask you to just look at it for the simplest explanation.

II Thess 2:1-3
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
(KJV)

Apparently, the Thessalonian believers were so excited, by Paul's teaching in his first Epistle, they thought the coming of Christ was imminent. Paul corrected this misconception, by reminding them that two things must occur before they could expect to be gathered together to Christ. Notice the words "gathering together" in verse one. Here he is speaking of the rapture. These are the same words Jesus used in Matthew 24:31. He said He will dispatch His angels to "gather together" His elect. Also, the two things Paul said must come first, are two of the most prominent features of Jesus' Olivet Discourse. Compare the following;

Paul - "that day shall not come, except there come a falling away [apostasy] first..."
Jesus - "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, ... and because iniquity shall abound, the love [agape] of many shall wax cold..."

Paul - "that day shall not come, except ... the Man of Sin be revealed... who sitteth in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God."
Jesus - "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation ... stand in the Holy place..."

I think it is quite apparent that Paul was referring his readers to Jesus' teaching in the Olivet Discourse. And, it is perfectly clear, from Jesus' words, that he will "gather together" His elect "immediately after the tribulation." The simplest reading of the above verses from 2 Thess., supports the same conclusion.

I can say with confidence, that Paul's teaching on the rapture is in perfect harmony with Jesus' teaching in the Olivet Discourse. And, both Jesus and Paul spoke of the same event. The rapture will occur the same day as the battle of Armageddon, right after the cosmic sign.

In closing, let me say that pre-tribbers believe certain passages preclude the Church from going through the tribulation, even though they have no Scripture that explicitly places the rapture before the tribulation. I simply want to point out, that each of those passages have a perfectly obvious interpretation, that is compatible with the post-trib view. The two verses, used most frequently to oppose the post-trib view, are 1 Thess. 5:9, and Rev. 3:10. Let me just make a brief comment about these two.

1 Thess. 5:9 "God hath not appointed us to wrath..." This verse does not mention the rapture at all. It does not say how God is going to preserve us from His wrath. Yes, He could do this with a pre-trib rapture. But, that is not stated. He could just as easily protect His own from His wrath through the tribulation. I think the protection of the Israelites during the plagues of Egypt sets an important precedent regarding this.

Rev. 3:10 is a conditional promise.

Rev 3:10
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.
(KJV)

The entire meaning of this verse hangs on the phrase "keep thee from." The two key words are; "Keep" and "from." If you look up these two words in any good Greek dictionary, you will see that "keep" means "to preserve or protect." "From" means "out of the midst of," or "out from among." The thrust of this entire phrase, according to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, means; "by guarding, to cause one to escape in safety out of." In other words, "to be preserved, and emerge unscathed." Also, there is only one other place in the entire Bible, where this same Greek phrase is found.

John 17:15
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
(KJV)

Notice that this same Greek phrase clearly means, "preservation in the sphere of evil," in this verse. And, the same phrase is used to contrast and oppose another phrase which could perfectly describe a rapture, "take them out of the world." So, we see that "keep thee from," in Rev. 3:10, does not mean to remove before the tribulation, but to preserve us as we emerge from the tribulation.

Finally, let me say that one's view on the timing of the rapture should never divide Christians, although it often does. I think John's attitude, in allowing opposing viewpoints on this website, is commendable. Take a hint from his example, and be gracious to fellow believers who disagree with your rapture position.


Please email Tim Warner