50 Reasons For a Pretribulational Rapture By Dr. John F. Walvoord

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,165
1,795
113
#41
Btw, the page cited in the OP is largely 'propositions' about what he thinks on the subject, not arguments in favor of pre-trib.
 

Aidan1

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2021
1,680
705
113
#42
The scripture is very clear, Jesus Christ is speaking to the (Future) church present on earth, that will witness the Great Tribulation and Second Coming, Clear, Simple, Easy To Understand

Has Jesus Christ Returned In The Clouds Of Heaven (NO) :giggle:

The church will be present on earth to witness the great tribulation, and be eyewitnesses to the second coming

(They Shall See The Son Of Man Coming)

(Lift Up Your Heads For Your Redemption Draweth Nigh)

Luke 21:25-28KJV
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
If you would start in Vers 5 you would find that Jesus spoke to the jews and that what will come in Future for Israel and the world.
There was no Christian church in this time.
So how he should speak to the jews about the Christian Church?
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,801
8,619
113
#43
If I may, sir: I believe you misunderstood what he meant in point #1.

What he meant was that the first post-tribbers were the people in 2 Thess 2 who sent the false letter to them saying the day of the Lord is going on in their time.

I believe this is what he meant.
Yes I understand now thank you. This false letter originated from non-Christians evidently. Which of course lends even more support to the premise that the post-trib rapture is erroneous false and unscriptural. And that these passages are Paul's efforts to reaffirm what he had taught them earlier: the doctrine of the pre-trib rapture!

:)(y):giggle:
 

TheDivineWatermark

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2018
10,923
2,118
113
#44
That still doesn't prove pre-trib. Wrath is not a time period. Your theory still has the church in existence during a time period when God pours out His wrath.
You don't seem to be reading what I put, very carefully.

V.2 (of 2Th2) is Paul basically telling the Thessalonians not to be persuaded by anyone telling them "the day of the Lord IS PRESENT [PERFECT indicative]" (i.e. that they were PRESENTLY *IN* and EXPERIENCING "the DOTL" earthly time-period of JUDGMENTS UNFOLDING upon the earth over the course of SOME TIME, that is, that THE TRIB YRS were NOW PRESENT... that THAT "IS PRESENT [PERFECT indicative]").

It wasn't (it wasn't PRESENT and unfolding upon the earth in their experience, despite what the false conveyors were telling them, v.2), and Paul is telling WHY... ONE THING must take place *FIRST* ("THE DEPARTURE *FIRST*" [i.e. v.1's Subject], "our RAPTURE [IN THE AIR]," *FIRST*).

However, it was a perfectly REASONABLE thing for them to be persuaded was true ("the DOTL *IS PRESENT [PERFECT indicative]*"), though incorrect, based on their own PRESENT and ONGOING, VERY NEGATIVE experiences they were ENDURING, per 1:4. They were not being convinced of something irrational and having absolutely no evidence.

For example, they were under NO SUCH delusion that "JESUS HIMSELF *IS PRESENT*" or that "the RAPTURE *IS PRESENT*," as some folks want to think this passage is conveying (as a cpl of options ppl suggest), rather than how Scripture ITSELF defines the phrase v.2 ("the DOTL" time-period: always "earthly-located," not merely "a singular 24-hr day," not commencing upon His "RETURN" to the earth, but commencing PRIOR to that, with its being "a period of time of JUDGMENTs, [but then is followed by and INCLUDES] as well [as] a period of time of BLESSINGs" [IOW, "the DOTL" also INCLUDES the time-period FOLLOWING His "RETURN" to the earth, i.e. INCLUDES the entire earthly MK age])



"The Church WHICH IS HIS BODY" (ALL those saved "in this PRESENT age [singular]") is SOLELY to whom "our Rapture [/SNATCH / CAUGHT-UP/-AWAY]" pertains. It does NOT pertain to all other saints of all OTHER time periods (not to OT saints, not to Trib saints, not to MK saints); Eph1:20-23 WHEN [as to its existence] (IOW, "saints" of ALL OTHER time periods are never referred to as "the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY" - Eph1:20-23 WHEN [as to its existence])
 

TheDivineWatermark

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2018
10,923
2,118
113
#45
If I may, sir: I believe you misunderstood what he meant in point #1.
What he meant was that the first post-tribbers were the people in 2 Thess 2 who sent the false letter to them saying the day of the Lord is going on in their time.
I believe this is what he meant.
Pretty much agree! (y) (though I do believe it was worded in a somewhat confusing way, for most)



[yep, in v.2, Paul is saying basically, "don't believe THEM," and on the other end of that section, in v.15, says, "believe US instead! [what WE taught you!]"]
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,691
113
#46
Pre-trib rapture was already debunked on the first page of this thre
^ No, what #s 30 and 31 are saying is:

--the "man of sin" is REVEALED at the START of the trib

--and "THE Departure *FIRST*" (i.e. "our Rapture") comes PRIOR to THAT ^ (prior to "the man of sin be revealed")...


...therefore, PRE-trib Rapture is what is being conveyed in that text (2Th2:3-9a; this SEQUENCE repeated 3x in this context, and is the SAME SEQUENCE that 1Th4-5 also conveyed)



____________

3 "that day [the one from v.2] shall NOT be present, if not shall have come THE DEPARTURE [the event of v.1] *FIRST* and [distinctly] the man of sin be revealed..."
Arguing for a pre-trib rapture undermines what the Bible actually says about the return of Christ.

There's no anti-Christ and false prophet in the temple after Jesus returns because the wicked get destroyed by the brightness of His coming exactly like scriptures states.

You're basically saying Christ comes to save the church then returns again later to execute wrath on the wicked.

Pre-trib rapture has to invent multiple comings of Christ to make the theology work and that's only the beginning of the numerous fatal flaws of your theology.
 

TheDivineWatermark

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2018
10,923
2,118
113
#47
Pre-trib rapture was already debunked on the first page of this thre
Arguing for a pre-trib rapture undermines what the Bible actually says about the return of Christ.
There's no anti-Christ and false prophet in the temple after Jesus returns because the wicked get destroyed by the brightness of His coming exactly like scriptures states.
His "RETURN" (per the verses using this term) speaks of "His Second Coming TO THE EARTH [Rev19]" (no "pre-tribber" claims "the man of sin" ARRIVES *after* THAT ;) )

You're basically saying Christ comes to save the church then returns again later to execute wrath on the wicked.
You've not read what I've put in other posts regarding this:

--our Rapture *FIRST*

--"[rest / repose with us] IN THE REVELATION OF the Lord Jesus from heaven with His mighty angels INFLICTING VENGEANCE ON those who..." (this INCLUDES what 2Th2:10-12 says, "GOD SHALL SEND TO THEM great delusion, THAT they should believe the LIE / the FALSE / the pseudei..." over the course of SOME TIME, not merely "a split-second moment of time," nor merely "a singular 24-hr day"... but rather, in the "IN QUICKNESS [NOUN]" ['avenge IN QUICKNESS [NOUN]"] time-period that IS the 7-yr tribulation period unfolding upon the earth, and INVOLVING "the man of sin" IN HIS TIME)... where the rest of the passage goes on to speak of "future-to-THAT,-even" things...

Pre-trib rapture has to invent multiple comings of Christ to make the theology work and that's only the beginning of the numerous fatal flaws of your theology.
Consider a post I made in the past, regarding this ^ (I'm referring to the fact that SCRIPTURE ITSELF has NO SUCH "rule" as you are presenting, which is a man-made construct/idea):

[quoting old posts]

That reminds me of those who say that the "occasion" in Matt26:6-13/Mk14:3-9/Jn12:1-8 and the one in Lk7:36-50 are one and the same simply because they BOTH use the phrase "an alabaster box of ointment" (and the events sound fairly similar).

https://www.gotquestions.org/alabaster-box.html
[one occasion or two separate occasions?]

https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=an+alabaster+box+of+ointment&qs_version=KJV




Now, back to the "First Advent" issue I mentioned...

--Micah 5:2 speaks of the COMING FORTH at Bethlehem,

--and Zechariah 9:9 speaks of the COMING UNTO Jerusalem.

...which one of these two passages speak of it?

Or do both of them speak of His "First Advent" happenings?

--one being His "BIRTH" ['[out of you (Bethlehem/'House of Bread') unto Me] SHALL COME FORTH'];

--the other being what took place on the very day that the "69 Weeks" CONCLUDED [on Palm Sunday and what is commonly called 'the Triumphal Entry'],
when He SAID the Lk19:41-44 thing [parallel the wording in both Lk21:20,23 and Matt22:7 (re: the 70ad events)],
and when He DID the Zech9:9 thing ['thy King COMETH UNTO *thee* [speaking of Jerusalem / the city / 'city of Peace']'])



--Micah 5:2 -
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee SHALL HE COME FORTH unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."


--Zechariah 9:9 - [see also Lk19:41-44 and context]
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King COMETH UNTO thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."


Is only ONE of these ^ passage speaking of His "FIRST ADVENT," or are both of them about that (what we call His 'First Advent'), even though speaking of events some THIRTY YEARS APART!



(whereas other passages speak of events surrounding [what we commonly call] His "SECOND ADVENT," yet future--some of them also covering A SPANS OF TIME OF SOME DURATION, just as in His "First Advent" events did ;) ).


[end quoting old posts]
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,801
8,619
113
#48
His "RETURN" (per the verses using this term) speaks of "His Second Coming TO THE EARTH [Rev19]" (no "pre-tribber" claims "the man of sin" ARRIVES *after* THAT ;) )



You've not read what I've put in other posts regarding this:

--our Rapture *FIRST*

--"[rest / repose with us] IN THE REVELATION OF the Lord Jesus from heaven with His mighty angels INFLICTING VENGEANCE ON those who..." (this INCLUDES what 2Th2:10-12 says, "GOD SHALL SEND TO THEM great delusion, THAT they should believe the LIE / the FALSE / the pseudei..." over the course of SOME TIME, not merely "a split-second moment of time," nor merely "a singular 24-hr day"... but rather, in the "IN QUICKNESS [NOUN]" ['avenge IN QUICKNESS [NOUN]"] time-period that IS the 7-yr tribulation period unfolding upon the earth, and INVOLVING "the man of sin" IN HIS TIME)... where the rest of the passage goes on to speak of "future-to-THAT,-even" things...



Consider a post I made in the past, regarding this ^ (I'm referring to the fact that SCRIPTURE ITSELF has NO SUCH "rule" as you are presenting, which is a man-made construct/idea):

[quoting old posts]

That reminds me of those who say that the "occasion" in Matt26:6-13/Mk14:3-9/Jn12:1-8 and the one in Lk7:36-50 are one and the same simply because they BOTH use the phrase "an alabaster box of ointment" (and the events sound fairly similar).

https://www.gotquestions.org/alabaster-box.html
[one occasion or two separate occasions?]

https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=an+alabaster+box+of+ointment&qs_version=KJV




Now, back to the "First Advent" issue I mentioned...

--Micah 5:2 speaks of the COMING FORTH at Bethlehem,

--and Zechariah 9:9 speaks of the COMING UNTO Jerusalem.

...which one of these two passages speak of it?

Or do both of them speak of His "First Advent" happenings?

--one being His "BIRTH" ['[out of you (Bethlehem/'House of Bread') unto Me] SHALL COME FORTH'];

--the other being what took place on the very day that the "69 Weeks" CONCLUDED [on Palm Sunday and what is commonly called 'the Triumphal Entry'],
when He SAID the Lk19:41-44 thing [parallel the wording in both Lk21:20,23 and Matt22:7 (re: the 70ad events)],
and when He DID the Zech9:9 thing ['thy King COMETH UNTO *thee* [speaking of Jerusalem / the city / 'city of Peace']'])



--Micah 5:2 -
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee SHALL HE COME FORTH unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."


--Zechariah 9:9 - [see also Lk19:41-44 and context]
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King COMETH UNTO thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."


Is only ONE of these ^ passage speaking of His "FIRST ADVENT," or are both of them about that (what we call His 'First Advent'), even though speaking of events some THIRTY YEARS APART!



(whereas other passages speak of events surrounding [what we commonly call] His "SECOND ADVENT," yet future--some of them also covering A SPANS OF TIME OF SOME DURATION, just as in His "First Advent" events did ;) ).


[end quoting old posts]
I hate to say it but some people simply cannot grasp these (quite straightforward) Biblical concepts that you have set forth. I hope the cause of it is not Strong Delusion........for reasons that are obvious.
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,691
113
#49
His "RETURN" (per the verses using this term) speaks of "His Second Coming TO THE EARTH [Rev19]" (no "pre-tribber" claims "the man of sin" ARRIVES *after* THAT ;) )



You've not read what I've put in other posts regarding this:

--our Rapture *FIRST*

--"[rest / repose with us] IN THE REVELATION OF the Lord Jesus from heaven with His mighty angels INFLICTING VENGEANCE ON those who..." (this INCLUDES what 2Th2:10-12 says, "GOD SHALL SEND TO THEM great delusion, THAT they should believe the LIE / the FALSE / the pseudei..." over the course of SOME TIME, not merely "a split-second moment of time," nor merely "a singular 24-hr day"... but rather, in the "IN QUICKNESS [NOUN]" ['avenge IN QUICKNESS [NOUN]"] time-period that IS the 7-yr tribulation period unfolding upon the earth, and INVOLVING "the man of sin" IN HIS TIME)... where the rest of the passage goes on to speak of "future-to-THAT,-even" things...



Consider a post I made in the past, regarding this ^ (I'm referring to the fact that SCRIPTURE ITSELF has NO SUCH "rule" as you are presenting, which is a man-made construct/idea):

[quoting old posts]

That reminds me of those who say that the "occasion" in Matt26:6-13/Mk14:3-9/Jn12:1-8 and the one in Lk7:36-50 are one and the same simply because they BOTH use the phrase "an alabaster box of ointment" (and the events sound fairly similar).

https://www.gotquestions.org/alabaster-box.html
[one occasion or two separate occasions?]

https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=an+alabaster+box+of+ointment&qs_version=KJV




Now, back to the "First Advent" issue I mentioned...

--Micah 5:2 speaks of the COMING FORTH at Bethlehem,

--and Zechariah 9:9 speaks of the COMING UNTO Jerusalem.

...which one of these two passages speak of it?

Or do both of them speak of His "First Advent" happenings?

--one being His "BIRTH" ['[out of you (Bethlehem/'House of Bread') unto Me] SHALL COME FORTH'];

--the other being what took place on the very day that the "69 Weeks" CONCLUDED [on Palm Sunday and what is commonly called 'the Triumphal Entry'],
when He SAID the Lk19:41-44 thing [parallel the wording in both Lk21:20,23 and Matt22:7 (re: the 70ad events)],
and when He DID the Zech9:9 thing ['thy King COMETH UNTO *thee* [speaking of Jerusalem / the city / 'city of Peace']'])



--Micah 5:2 -
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee SHALL HE COME FORTH unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."


--Zechariah 9:9 - [see also Lk19:41-44 and context]
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King COMETH UNTO thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."


Is only ONE of these ^ passage speaking of His "FIRST ADVENT," or are both of them about that (what we call His 'First Advent'), even though speaking of events some THIRTY YEARS APART!



(whereas other passages speak of events surrounding [what we commonly call] His "SECOND ADVENT," yet future--some of them also covering A SPANS OF TIME OF SOME DURATION, just as in His "First Advent" events did ;) ).


[end quoting old posts]
A lot of whataboutism that just circumnavigates and distorts the truth I presented to you.

The strong delusion is refusing to love the truth and be saved. Your doctrine about the pre-trib rapture isn't the truth that saves, nor is any other rapture doctrine the truth that saves. Only Jesus saves.

Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,801
8,619
113
#51
A lot of whataboutism that just circumnavigates and distorts the truth I presented to you.

The strong delusion is refusing to love the truth and be saved. Your doctrine about the pre-trib rapture isn't the truth that saves, nor is any other rapture doctrine the truth that saves. Only Jesus saves.

Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Seems to me you're the one doing the circumnavigating in circumlocution now eh?
 

GaryA

Truth, Honesty, Love, Courage
Aug 10, 2019
9,883
4,345
113
mywebsite.us
#52
Those who do not desire to go probably will not go.
This is the very height of 'pre-trib' arrogance - as if merely believing in a 'pre-trib' rapture somehow grants a person a "higher standing" with God. And, moreover, that not believing in a 'pre-trib' rapture somehow equates to a desire to not want to go with the Lord when He comes...??? Good grief! Get real! :rolleyes:
 

GaryA

Truth, Honesty, Love, Courage
Aug 10, 2019
9,883
4,345
113
mywebsite.us
#53
1. Jesus returns immediately after the great tribulation:

Matthew 24:29-30
29Immediately 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:
30And 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.

2. Jesus sends out His angels to gather His elect after the great tribulation:

Mark 13:27
27And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

3. The elect of Jesus are the church, not unbelieving Jewish people:

Romans 11:7
7What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened
-----------------------------------------------------------
I would like to encourage you to "study a little deeper" concerning the Olivet Discourse.

You should find that the words 'And then' in [both] verse 30 and verse 31 are equally significant.

You should find that something noteworthy happens between the word 'days' in verse 29 and the end of the verse.

You should find that something to be the 3.5 year span that we call the 'Two Witnesses' - and, coinciding with the 'Trumpet' events, which the Two Witnesses themselves actually bring about.

It is not the appearance of Jesus at His Second Coming that coincides with the end of the GT; rather, it is the appearance of the two witnesses.

The Second Coming of Christ occurs very shortly after the Two Witnesss are raised up.
 

GaryA

Truth, Honesty, Love, Courage
Aug 10, 2019
9,883
4,345
113
mywebsite.us
#54
Wrath is not a time period.
Unless you are talking about the 'event' that is the 'Wrath of God'.

(Even then, it is a short period of time.)

Your theory still has the church in existence during a time period when God pours out His wrath.
The Church will still be in existence at the time of the 'Wrath' - just not on the earth during that time.

Remember, hell shall not prevail against it.

If one [more] soul passes through the gates of hell after the Church ceases to exist - the gates of hell will have prevailed against it.

The Church will not cease to exist at any time before hell is thrown into the lake of fire.
 
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
#58
The Bible clearly delineates the rapture meaning. A human input is not necessary.
 

TheDivineWatermark

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2018
10,923
2,118
113
#59
The strong delusion is refusing to love the truth and be saved.
No. The CONTEXT (2Th2:10-12) where it is saying that "God SHALL SEND TO THEM great delusion, in order that they should believe the LIE / the FALSE / the pseudei..." will take place during a very specific, future, LIMITED time-period... the future time-period in which "the man of sin" will also exist and do all he is slated to do (throughout the course of the 7-yr period leading UP TO Christ's "RETURN" to the earth, i.e. DURING the "IN QUICKNESS [NOUN]" time period that Rev1:1 [/ 1:19c / 4:1] speaks of [in contrast to "the things WHICH ARE" which are NOT said to be "things which must come to pass IN QUICKNESS [NOUN]"], as well as Lk18:8 and Rom16:20). Not taking place "NOW" (for that specific thing).

It is NOT speaking of your "every day" version of "Satan hath blinded the minds of" and all the other forms of deception going around "since day one" [/throughout history].

THIS CONTEXT is speaking of the FIRST ASPECT OF "the Day of the Lord" time-period (aka "DARK / DARKNESS / IN THE NIGHT" [i.e. 7-yr] aspect OF the entire long DOTL; Dan7:7, Gen46:2; Amos 5:18,20; 1Th5:2-3 [ARRIVING like the INITIAL "birth PANG [SINGULAR]" which Jesus had spoken of (equivalent the SEALS that take place WITHIN the "IN QUICKNESS [NOUN]" time-period ONLY; yet FUTURE)]; and many other related passages); In every passage in Scripture that uses the phrases "the Day of the Lord" and "IN THAT DAY" in close proximity (that is, within the same context), it is referring to the SAME time-period... and this 2Th 1 & 2 passage (also using both) is no different.

It is a very specific [future] time-period in which "the man of sin" will also exist (doing all he is slated to do, over the course of those "7 yrs").

It is a mistake to think that Paul was addressing merely a "singular point-in-time" in his CONTEXT of these two chpts (2Th 1 & 2), when he is actually covering the ENTIRE spans of time (of the trib yrs: its BEGINNING [2Th2:9a,8a], its MIDDLE [2Th2:4], AND its END [2Th2:8b]--JUST LIKE MANY OTHER related passages ALSO speak of that time-period in the SAME WAY--that is, covering the entire SPANS of the 7 trib yrs: BEGINNING, MIDDLE, and END), as well (is he) covering what must PRECEDE its ARRIVAL/PRESENCE existing and unfolding upon the earth (ONE THING must take place *FIRST* before it can be "PRESENT" to unfold upon the earth, with its "man of sin" IN HIS TIME<--the time-period when "God SHALL SEND TO THEM great delusion, in order that they should believe the LIE / the FALSE / the pseudei" [<--not speaking of "NOW"]).