“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1Thess. 4:17)
When it comes to teachings on end-time events, there are some things we can easily discern from Scripture, and there are some things that will be revealed as events unfold. Unbelievers will be deceived into accepting a false security before the Second Coming, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.” (1Thess. 5:4). One of the events which is imperative for us to understand in these days is the relationship of the “rapture” of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ. Will Christians go through the Great Tribulation, or will we be taken up to heaven before then? Many of the people I am in fellowship with still believe that the rapture of the Church will occur before the Great Tribulation.
I understand that there are many reasons why a pre-tribulation rapture makes sense, but unless an interpretation is entirely supported by Scripture, it should not be accepted. To reconcile this view with Scripture, proponents of this doctrine separate the Second Coming into two parts. In the first part, the Lord is said to come in the clouds to take the Church away but He is not made visible to the world. Then the Lord again later with the Church at the end of the tribulation period. The concept of a two-part Second Coming is difficult to explain with Scripture. Firstly, when the Lord comes in the clouds, it is supposed to be a visible return. The disciples were told this at the ascension of our Lord (Acts 1:11). Even Jesus said, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Lu. 21:27).
There is a passage in the New Testament that makes this even more clear. In the second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul commends them for their faith and patience in persecutions and tribulations (2Thess. 1:4). He then tells them, “it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Thess. 1:6-8). They are promised rest when the Lord returns visibly, not after a secret taking away. It is clear from these verses that believers will be present on the earth when the Lord returns with vengeance on His enemies. Paul is including himself in this promise of rest (vs. 7), so he is not referring to people who get converted after the rapture.
Another end-time doctrine places the rapture after the first half of the tribulation. The main premise for this doctrine is the same as for the pre-tribulation doctrine, namely that Christians will be saved from the wrath of God (Rom. 5:9). We know that Christians are not appointed to wrath (1Thess. 5:9), but it is not necessary to be removed from the earth to escape God’s judgments. We see this in the promise Jesus made to the church in Philadelphia, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Rev. 3:10). The believers in Philadelphia did not get raptured before the persecutions that came upon believers in their time. Also, the people of Israel were present in the land of Egypt when God sent His judgments.
I think the underlying reason for the popularity of the pre-tribulation doctrine is our unwillingness to suffer for Christ. It is a weakness of the western church. Persecutions were common to believers in the early church. Paul encouraged them by “exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’” (Acts 14:22). No-one likes to suffer, but it is a necessary part of the Christian walk. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then ‘heirs’ – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Rom. 8:16,17). Paul rejoiced in his sufferings (Col. 1:24). James tells us to count it all joy when we fall into various trials (Jas. 1:2). Peter says, “But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps;” (1Pe. 2:20,21).
Very often, the fear of something is worse than the thing itself. When we suffer patiently for Christ, we obtain His help to go through it. “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1Pe. 4:14). We can rejoice in our suffering, not because of the suffering, but because of the reward it will bring. We are to look to Jesus as our example, “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2). It is not selfish to desire a reward from God, “for He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). Our reward is to be glorified with Him (Rom. 8:17). This means we will be with Him where He is. Our reward is closeness with God.
There is a season of storms coming and we must prepare for it. That season will pass and will give way to a new age, full of the glory of God. We must strive to maintain an eternal perspective. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2Cor. 4:17,18).
Let us not set our hope on escaping tribulations. Instead, let us hope for salvation and believe in the grace of God to help us in the difficult times.
Highway in the Wilderness 