@nonexistenttheologian

2 months ago

I think it’s interesting that people still talk about this history and a “secret” rapture despite the extensive teaching regarding the truth of the topic. There are 5 fundamental considerations (along with many additional factors), clearly indicating that the church must be removed from earth prior to the tribulation: 1. The church is the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7, John 3:29), and God promised the saints constituting the church that they would not face His wrath (Romans 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and 5:9), which is poured out on the earth during the tribulation (Revelation 6:16-17, 11:18, 14:19, 15:1, 15:7 & Revelation 16); rather, the promise to the saints constituting the church is for sequestration and protection (Isaiah 26:20-21, John 14:1-3–with parallels of Noah, Rahab, Lot & his family, and Enoch—all of which are not Jewish people). 2. The basis for salvation changes during the tribulation period. Now, before the tribulation, we obtain forgiveness of sin and eternal life by believing in and accepting the sacrifice of Jesus and His resurrection. (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10). During the tribulation, however, in addition to believing in Jesus, a person must also refuse to worship the Antichrist, and a person must also reject the Antichrist’s mark (Revelation 14:9-10). This is why Jesus said that the Gospel during the tribulation is one of endurance (Matthew 24:9-14). The change in the standard for salvation is best implemented by first removing the saints constituting the church; otherwise, many saved people risk losing their salvation. 3. God needs to complete His plan for the descendants of Jacob (i.e.,the final “seven”—year period—of Gabriel’s prophecy to Daniel as recorded in Daniel 9:24-27–which prophecy is expressly related to Jerusalem and Daniel’s people), which has been suspended during the time of the church (Romans 11:25-26). The fact that the plan of God is directed almost exclusively towards Israel & Jerusalem in the tribulation is evidenced by the attacks on Israel during the tribulation (Ezekiel 38-39), which are described like a locust invasion of Israel (Judges 7:12, Joel 1, Isaiah 33:4 & Amos 7:1-6), the battle of Armageddon occurring in Israel (Revelation 16:12-16, 19:11-20), the special seal being given only to 144,000 “sons of Israel” (Revelation 7:1-8), and Jesus returning to earth at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4). This is starkly different from the plan of God during the pre-tribulation period for the entire world (John 3:16 & Matthew 28:19-20). 4. During the tribulation, God uses special Gospel proclaimers, including the 2 witnesses (Revelation 11:1-13), an eagle (Revelation 8:13), and 3 angels (Revelation 14:6-11)—strongly suggesting that the church is no longer present to spread the Gospel. 5. There are indications in Scripture of a pre-tribulation harvest. See, for example, Amos 7:1-6, where the “king’s crop” has already been taken before the “spring crop” of tribulation saints are harvested, the latter of which occurs during or as a consequence of the assault on Israel and the descendants of Jacob. The king’s crop represents the church—taken before the start of the tribulation. The later crop represents people who become saints and die during the tribulation. There is extensive additional information in support of a pre-tribulation rapture. The overwhelming scope of information demonstrates the undeniability of the pre-tribulation rapture. Maranatha!

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