The Pre-Tribulation rapture doctrine teaches that the Church must already be in heaven (by way of the pre-trib rapture) prior to the Second Coming, so that the Church can return to the earth with Jesus. The Book of Jude is usually quoted because many English translations say that the Lord will come with His “saints.”
Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints (hagiais myriasin), to execute judgment on all, to convictall who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodlyway, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” Jude 14, 15
The Greek word translated above for “saints” is the Greek word, hagias, which can be translated either as “holy ones,” or “saints.” But “holy ones” can also refer to the holy angels. So how can we know whether the Church or an army of angels will come from heaven with Jesus?
Matthew 25:31 gives us clarification about the holy ones who are coming with Jesus. Christ Himself stated that these “holy ones” are holy angels.
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels (hagiais oi aggelloi) with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
Verse 32 of Matthew also places this Second Coming ahead of the same time of judgment described in Jude 15.
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. Matt. 25:32
So Matthew’s description of Christ’s return identifies these “holy ones” as the holy angels. But even if some people should be included with the army of angels that are coming with Jesus, these could be any of the millions of Christians who have died over the ages before Christ’s return because, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
The Church has had nearly 2000 years to add souls to the spiritual realm. Based on a 70 year generation, 97% of all the “saints” who have lived up until now are already residing in heaven with Jesus. Therefore, there is no requirement that any of the people who might be coming with Jesus and the angels should have ever experienced the rapture. The rapture is simply not necessary to get more Christians into heaven in advance of His second coming.
Paul’s Epistles to the Thessalonians contain the verses most often quoted as the basis for the theory of a Pre-Tribulation rapture. Amazingly though, the Thessalonian letters not only place the First Thessalonians Four rapture at Christ’s second coming; but Second Thessalonians prepares the Church for persecutions and tribulations, and goes on to state expressly that “mighty angels”, rather than saints, will be accompanying Christ back to earth.
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels (angelon18 dynameos19), in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 2 Thess. 1:3-10
From the verses above we can see plainly that the holy ones coming from heaven with Jesus will be angels. The verse most often used to support the notion that people are coming back with Jesus is Revelation 19:14; And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
Pre-Tribulation advocates would say that the mention of clean white clothing must be referring to the bride. But does this mention of fine linen override all of the other verses above? And what about the first part of Verse 14? The Lord of Hosts (Sabaoth) refers throughout the Old Testament to the armies of heaven – the angels; once again confirming that the ones coming from heaven are angels, not people. The resurrected dead and those left alive at Jesus’ return will meet the Lord in the air, they just won’t be coming from heaven. They will be coming from earth to meet Jesus in the air.
