The Pre-tribulation Rapture is a False teaching...
Many (most) "leaders" in Christendom teach of a "rapture" before the tribulation. This is another false teaching not found anywhere in the Scriptures.
Below are some Scriptures that DO speak of Christ’s second coming, which will be immediately after the tribulation (please see Matthew 24:29):
Zeph 1:14-18
14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the
voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness
and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick
darkness,
16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the
high towers.
17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men,
because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out
as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day
of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his
jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the
land.
Matt 24:27-31
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately 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:
30 And 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.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet [as in the last trump 1 Cor 15:52], and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Please note where Jesus says AFTER
THE TRIBULATION. Also, compare v 31 with 1 Corinthians 15:52
and again with Revelation 8:6 (seven trumpets) and Rev 10:7 and 11:15. All of
these passages are in agreement.
Mark 13:21-27
21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is
there; believe him not:
22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and
wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and
the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall
be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power
and glory.
27 And 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.
Just as in Matthew 24, we see Christ say "after" the tribulation. He also mentions the gathering of His elect which is when Christ's followers will be changed and taken. It's not a "secret" event. It's anything but! All shall see The King coming with power and glory Christ said. Please read the passages.
Luke 21:25-28
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.
Again, All shall see The King coming with
power and glory Christ said. Please read the passages.
John 6:38-40
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him
that sent me.
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he
hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last
day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son,
and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at
the last day.
Raise him up when?
John 6:44
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and
I will raise him up at the last day.
Raise him up when?
John 12:48
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:
the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Judge him (the unbeliever) when?
John 17:15
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil.
Apparently Christ's prayer agrees with
His teachings and prophecies.
Acts 1:9-11
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
The disciples watched Christ get "taken up". They SAW Him go. These two men in white clothing said Christ would return "in like manner" (as in BE SEEN). Again, no talk of Christ in the "secret chambers" as described by heretic John Darby.
1Thes 5:1-4
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour, but He didn't say no one knew the year. Count 42 months from when the Beast/man of perdition is revealed and we know when Christ will return (possibly down to the month!) Do we believe verse 4 above?
2 Pet 3:10-14
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
1 Cor 15:51-54
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMP: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Thes 4:14-18
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God (again, as in the LAST trump): and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together.." If we believe Revelation, most of the saints will be
slain, but some will be alive when Christ comes. Those few who remain shall be
changed and caught up. Picture meeting the Lord in the air just as He rides
against the beast to destroy him with the brightness of His coming! Oh what a
GLORIOUS DAY! "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord
shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the
brightness of his coming..."
The above Scriptures all refer to Christ’s coming (not as secret), but as a spectacular event (forgive me for the terribly gross understatement). Christ Himself tells us that He comes "immediately after the tribulation of those days" (not before or midway through, but after).
Regarding the slaying of the saints, it is written:
Rev 6:9-11
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Rev 7:9-14
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 13:1-10
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.....
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Rev 14:12-13
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Rev 17:6
6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. (NKJ)
Rev 20:4-6
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:
and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for
the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,
neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they
lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were
finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on
such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of
Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years
There is a teaching that names these tribulation saints as "those who are saved after the "rapture", but that cannot be on account of this Scripture:
II Th 2:1-12
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
**11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
**12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
By the time the son of perdition is revealed, it will be too late for these unbelievers to receive the gospel.
Not that we need to add to Scripture, but I will anyway.
There's a huge lie that's been going around that says Christ won't allow His church to suffer through the tribulation. Many millions have already died from the earliest Roman persecutions to those of the past century and every century between. Christ said many would be killed. What makes this generation exempt in Scripture? Nothing!
For those who continue to believe this lie it will be akin to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Both end in disaster.
We have no doubt that Christ is coming again, and that we are in fact living in the end of days. Also, with current world events being what they are, this appears to be the last generation.
Jesus said, "...when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)
May He find us and ours faithful when He comes!