Hey Family,
Part of our study on current events and biblical prophecy involves unpacking the pre-tribulational view that FBC embraces (and that I personally hold), regarding Christ’s rapture of the church. It’s important for you to understand as we continue in our journey of exploring how Biblical prophecy and world events converge. But can I also whisper something hopeful to you? It’s important for you to understand because I believe the Bible’s teaching about the rapture of the church is meant to deliver a fresh wind of comfort and courage to the core of your being.
In this post, I’m putting a resource in your hand that sets up a framework and a context for understanding the timing of the rapture of the church from a pre-tribulation perspective.
Below, I’ve included a basic timeline as well as the key scriptures that describe each end-time event. These are definitely not exhaustive; my greatest hope is that this will be a springboard for you to dive into God’s Word on your own and continue your personal study.
THE RAPTURE
KEY TEXTS: John 14:2-3, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
DESCRIPTION: A signless, imminent event when all believers will be transformed and taken instantly to meet Jesus in the air.
PRE-TRIBULATION VIEW
Those who hold to a pre-tribulation rapture believe that Christ will return to rescue His church before the 7-year tribulation period begins, sparing the church fully from its judgments and persecution.MID-TRIBULATION VIEW
The mid-tribulation view places the Rapture at the half-way point of the 7-year tribulation. In this view, Christians would be subject to the first half of the tribulation turmoil, but spared from the escalated suffering of the “Great Tribulation” in the second half.POST-TRIBULATION VIEW
Those who take a post-tribulation approach believe that Christ will rescue His church at the end of the 7-year tribulation period, and that the church would remain present during the full extent of persecution on earth. This view pairs the rapture of the church with Christ’s second coming.
THE GAP PERIOD & EZEKIEL 38 WAR
KEY TEXT: Ezekiel 38-39
DESCRIPTION: A period between the rapture of the church and the Antichrist’s signing of a peace treaty with Israel. Some theologians believe that the Ezekiel 38 War reasonably fits in this gap.
THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIBULATION
KEY TEXT: Daniel 9:27
DESCRIPTION: A world leader (The Antichrist) will rise to power and broker a deal between Israel and “many” which will officially begin the 7 years of Tribulation.
THE MIDPOINT OF THE TRIBULATION
KEY TEXTS: Daniel 9:27, Daniel 12:1-2, Revelation 13:11-18
DESCRIPTION: The Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel, defile the temple by putting up an image (many believe, an image of himself), and force everyone to worship the image. He will also initiate a world-wide globalism and require every man, woman, and child to take the mark of the Beast.
THE RETURN OF CHRIST
KEY TEXT: Revelation 19:11-21
DESCRIPTION: Christ will physically return to earth followed by the raptured church-age believers and the angels.
The Millennial Kingdom
KEY TEXT: Revelation 20:1-6
DESCRIPTION: Christ will reign from His throne in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. Satan will be bound for the 1,000 years and then be released for one final battle against Christ, where he will be quickly defeated and thrown permanently into the lake of fire…Then comes…
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT
KEY TEXT: Revelation 20:11-15
DESCRIPTION: An event when all nonbelievers throughout all of human history will stand before God to be judged and, sadly, thrown into the lake of fire. Believers will not stand before God at this judgement because we have been covered by the atonement of Jesus - that is, Christ has paid the entire penalty of our sin with His blood and clothed us in His spotless robes of righteousness. When God looks at us, He sees the perfection of His Son.
The New Heaven and New Earth
KEY TEXT: Revelation 21
DESCRIPTION: The place where we will spend eternity with the Lord. This is the realm where we will enjoy the fullness of Christ’s promise, “I make all things new!”
In Him,
Pastor Phil