"PRE-TRIB. OR PRE-WRATH?"
Study One
Matt. 24:1-51
INTRODUCTION
In the past few years, there have been many who have taken in hand to write on the
subject of "The Second Coming of Christ." So someone will say, "Why do we need
another book on the subject? I must say that I do not consider myself to be an authority
on the subject, but on the other hand, I believe that I can understand the Word of God as
well as any other. However, that still doesn’t answer the question as to why I am writing
this book? The answer is I have some questions I would like to raise and possibly cause
someone to think about this all important doctrine. Even if they draw a different
conclusion than I, it will still be worthwhile. This is a teaching that will effect the lives of
so many and could very well have a direct effect on you. I am not interested in changing
your mind about anything but it is my prayer that anyone reading these pages will examine them in the light of the Word of God.
The Bible has much to say about the last seven years before the return of Christ to
the earth. This time is called "The time of Jacobs trouble," "The seventieth week", in the
book of Daniel. Jesus told of this time of tribulation in Matthew 24; Mark 13; and Luke
21. The entire book of the Revelation is largely centered on this period of time. Much of
the books of Daniel and Ezekiel are dealing with this last seven years of earth’s history as
we know it. The second coming of Jesus Christ which is the blessed hope of every child
of God is most definitely tied to this seven years. All Bible believing people that I know
anything about believe that Jesus will come again during this time of the history of
mankind. The rapture, the resurrection, and the second coming of Jesus are all tied
together and cannot be separated. None of God’s people differ on the first 2,000 years
since Jesus went back to heaven with the promise, "I will come again and receive you to
myself, that where I am there you may be a/so." It is only this last seven years that we
cannot seem to agree. Baptist don’t argue "If’ Jesus is coming, for we all know He is
coming, we just can’t decide "When". I would add that all this confusion may indeed
have a message in and of itself. Our Lord did say, "No one knows that day or that hour"
and the great truth of the Second coming is not to learn "When" but "BE READY
WHENEVER HE COMES".
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT HERESY!
One of my preacher brother made a statement in a recent message which went
something like this, "We don’t all dot our ’I’ and cross our ’T’ the same way," When we come to our conclusions, or when we examine the Scriptures and discover this view or that one to be contrary to what we believe is proper interpretation, we much be careful
not to brand those with whom we disagree heretics, or their doctrine heresy.
Now, please don’t misunderstand me. When the person and work of Christ are
involved we need to take a ridged stand on truth. I cannot have fellowship with anyone
who denies the deity of the Lord Jesus or who does not believe in the inspiration of
Scripture, etc. What I am saying is there are doctrines that will separate us and that we
should brand those who teach them falsely as heretic but when the person and work of
Christ is not in question there needs to be tolerance and liberty.
All who are true believers, who are indeed, looking for His coming, are members of one
family. Whatever view they hold as to the time and manner of Christ’s coming for His
church in relation to the tribulation, they are earnest Christians, and there ought not to be
division among us. It is regrettable that this has not always been the case but that, on the
contrary, fellowship has been broken between brethren who differ on such matters, and
doors of utterance have been closed to gifted and godly saints because they understand
some of these Scriptures differently from each other. "My brethren, these things ought not so to be." There are far to many things that should join us together to let things like this divide us. Members of the same family should be able to disagree without being
disagreeable.
So, the only thing I could ask of the reader is that they read this prayerfully and with an open mind. If at the end of this study, you say, "I don’t agree with this" – we will still be fellow members of the Family of God.
CHAPTER 1
PRE- TRIBBER Or PRE- WRATHER?
VIEWPOINTS ABOUT THE RAPTURE:
There seem to be four viewpoints as to what the Scripture teach in relation to the
rapture of the church in respect to the Tribulation. They can be described in the following
terms:
(1) Pre- Tribulation - which teaches that our Lord will come for His own, the
dead in Christ and a living generation of believers, before the tribulation begins.
(2) Mid-Tribulation~ that teaches that the rapture will take place half way
through the tribulation or three and one half years into it.
(3) Post- Tribulation - that teaches that Jesus will come and the resurrection will
take place at the blowing of the seventh trumpet which is toward the end of the
Tribulation.
(4) Partial-tribulation or Split- Tribulation. which holds that only a portion of the
saved will be taken up before the Tribulation (the faithful) while the balance will be left
to suffer through this time of trouble. It should be noted that there are a variety of views
which combine portions of these four views. I heard one preacher talk about the
"Elevator Theory" which have them coming and going all through this period of time.
Now with these things in mind, let me say, "It is my understanding of Scriptures
that the church will go into this time of trouble. This is stated with all respect to those
who do not agree with this position (and there are many fine Bible scholars who do not).
However, one must always remember that we are bound to teach only that which is on the page of Scripture regardless of what others believe or say. The wise man said long ago, "Truth is not determined by how many people believe it."
The fact that Jesus will come again for His people at the end of the tribulation is so
obvious that, to my knowledge, no fundamental Bible believer differs with this teaching.
The Scriptures is abundantly clear that this is the case (e.g. Matt. 24:29-31; Mark13:24-27; Luke21:25-28; Matt. 13:36-43; IIThess.2:8; Rev.19:11.14).
There are those who believe that prior to this coming there will be another coming. It will take place at the beginning of the seven year period. Believers will be raptured out of this world and go to heaven and be with Jesus for seven years while this earth and its inhabitants suffer through the tribulation. I know that the Bible teaches a rapture, or resurrection of the saints, and a catching up to meet the Lord in the air (I Thess. 4:13-18). However, I am not sure I see any Scripture in the Word of God that supports this teaching. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Scripture teaches a coming of the Lord at the end of the Tribulation but where does it teach that He will come before the Tribulation. Let me list the passages that teaches the coming after the tribulation. (Matt. 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21: 25-28; Rev. 11:15-18; Rev. 20:4-6.
IS IT POSSIBLE?
There is only one proper way to study and meditate on the Word of God and that is
to come to its pages with an open mind and allow it to speak to us from its timeless truths.
This brings up one of the biggest problems we have as students of God’s Word. There is a great temptation to come to the Bible already believing a particular thing and then gather information to prove our position. The honest Bible student must admit that this has been the case far to often. I will openly admit that I have done this. We come with preconceived ideas of what we want the Bible to teach. We then search out those passages that seem to prove our position.
I suppose it would be impossible to ask a person to come to the Bible with a clear
mind from any and all teaching that they had previously heard about the second coming.
However, just for the sake of considering its possibility, let’s say we are going to do just
that. We are now coming to God’s Word with no preconceived notions of what it teaches
about the second coming.
Let’s say we begin studying the life of Christ from the first book of the New
Testament, Matthew. We read of the genealogy of Jesus in chapter one. We read of His
conception and virgin birth in chapter one and two. We read about the temptation of our
Lord in chapter four. We read of the beginning of His ministry and His first teachings in
chapter four through chapter seven. We see Him demonstrating His Messianic power and
authority by His miracles, healing and teachings in chapters eight and nine. We see Him
continuing to call out His church in chapter ten. We see Him denouncing the indifference
of Israel (11 :20-27) and turning from that nation to invite any individual who will come to find His rest and to personally yoke up with Him in chapter eleven (11 :28-30). Jesus tells of His death and resurrection in chapter twelve (12:38-40).
It is not until we come to chapter 13 that we see the first mention of an incident that
relates to the resurrection of believers and His second coming (now remember, we don’t
have any preconceived ideas about what the Bible is going to teach us). In Matthew
13:24-30, we are given the parable of the tares among the wheat; then, in Matthew
13:36-43 our Lord explains that parable for us. It is safe to say that no one believes this to
be a pre-tribulation rapture. The ones who are gathered out here are the wicked, not the
righteous. Someone will say, "What is the point?" The point is this, we don’t have a
pre-tribulation rapture taught here and since our minds are clear of any other thinking on
the subject, we still have not seen this teaching in Holy Writ.
So on we read! In chapter 17:22-23, again Jesus foretells of his death and resurrection.
In chapter 20:17-19, again Jesus tells of his death resurrection and give details concerning
it. We continue to read until we come to the 24th chapter (now, remember to this point
there is nothing that even hints of a pre-tribulation coming). Now we have come to one of
the most important chapter in all the Bible concerning the end times, the second coming, the tribulation, etc. A person should be able to form some opinions about the second
coming of Christ.
This is this writers desire in this study. It is not to try to push anyone else to adopt my view on the second coming of Christ. My desire in the following chapters is to prayerfully encourage others to consider the truths of a subject of which time is upon us.
