“Where’s the verse?” Having a doctrine with no supporting verses is like having a hamburger with no beef – it’sjust wrong. Strangely, however, one of the most popular doctrines does just that – it has an entire theology without an actual verse supporting it. The Pre-Tribulation rapture is a doctrine with no verse; and this is not just our opinion but readily admitted by the most salient Pre-Tribulation authors.
Hal Lindsey, author of the best-selling book The Late Great Planet Earth, and one of the world’s best known advocates of a Pre- Tribulation rapture, candidly admits in his book The Rapture, “Pre- Tribulationism is based largely on arguments from inference and silence.” He then follows up that admission by confessing that he cannot “point to any single verse that clearly says the rapture will occur before… the tribulation.”3 This naturally begs the question, if it is based largely on arguments from inference and silence, and there isn’t a verse pointing to the timing of a Pre-Tribulation rapture, then how does he know when it will occur?
Tim LaHaye, author of the phenomenally successful Left Behind series, which sold over 60 million copies, makes similar confessions as Hal Lindsey. LaHaye reveals in his book, No Fear of the Storm: Why Christians Will Escape All the Tribulation (this book was later republished as Rapture Under Attack):
“One objection to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is that not one passage of Scripture teaches the two aspects of His Second Coming separated by the Tribulation. This is true. But then, no one passage teaches a post-tribor mid-trib Rapture, either.” LaHaye reveals more saying:
“No single verse specifically states, ‘Christ will come before the Tribulation.’ On the other hand, no single passage teaches He will not come before the Tribulation, or that He will come in the middle or at the end ofthe Tribulation. Any such explicit declaration would end the debate immediately.”
Lindsey and LaHaye are by no means two lone wolves who are exposing the big secret ofPretibulationalism, namely that it is a doctrine with no substantiating verse. David Reagan with Lamb andLion Ministries likewise confesses that the timing of the rapture is inferred, not stated, in his articleentitled “The Mystery of the Rapture”:
“The Bible never specifically defines the timing of the Rapture by tying it to any other event like the re-establishment of Israel or the rebuilding of the Temple. Even its proximity to the Tribulation is inferredrather than definitely stated. That’s because the Rapture is an imminent event that could occur at any moment.”
This admission of not having a single verse seems to actually be something that Pre-Tribulation authors tout proudly rather than burying because of embarrassment. One Pre-Tribulation website, bible-truth.org, has outlined exactly where the Pre-Tribulation rapture is not in, what they call, “The Mystery of the Rapture.”
- “The Rapture of the Body of Christ is not found in the Old Testament for the obvious reasonthat the institution of the local church was not revealed until the New Testament. The Old Testament deals with God working with the nation of Israel.”
- “The Rapture is also not found in the Gospels, and again the reason being, the Gospels primarily deal with Israel and not the churches.”
- “The catching up of Christians is a different resurrection (the Rapture), than that of Restored Israel, which was a mystery not revealed to the Jews in the Old Testament.”
- “God used the Apostle Paul to explain how it is that believers in the church age have a different relationship with Christ and also a different resurrection.”7 [emphasis mine]
Let us examine all of their points in this study and demonstrate all of their points to be false; as God does clearly speak of the rapture, or better known as the gathering, throughout the entire Bible. Nevertheless, how can all of these teachers justify teaching a Pre-Tribulation rapture when they freely admit that it is nowhere to be found in the Bible? According to the author of Beginningandend.com, in an article, “Believers Escape God’s Wrath: Biblical Foreshadows of the Rapture,” they do so by claiming that the rapture is a type and shadow in the Bible.
Shadows
“By looking at Old Testament types and shadows, God’s method of saving His people beforejudgment becomes apparent and foreshadows timing of the rapture of the church in the prophetictimeline.”8 However, if you have ever stood in the shade of a tree, then you know that the shade is onlythere because there is a real tree. Take away the tree, and the shadow goes away. I have stood in the shadow of the Eifel Tower only by virtue of the tower being there to block the sun. If there were no Eifel Tower, there would be no shadow. This seems obvious, yet it appears to have been overlookedsomehow. The conclusion is simple; if there is no verse indicating that the rapture will happen before the tribulation then it is not a biblical doctrine – it is, unfortunately, make believe.
A Distraction!
Acknowledging this massive deficiency, the Pre-Tribulation teaching has had to look for an ally; which they find in the doctrine of the trinity. They point out that there is no single verse which teaches the trinity, and yet we believe that; therefore, we are not required to demand a verse in defense of the Pre-Tribulation rapture. Yet this is nothing more than a clever diversion to distract Bible students from wanting to see the proof of the Pre-Tribulation doctrine. In his book, The End, Dr. Mark Hitchcock, predictably (and probably unwittingly) employs this well used and effective defense:
“While no single verse says Jesus is coming to rapture His saints before the seven-year Tribulation, there are clear statements that He is coming to deliver His people from the coming wrath. Many biblical doctrines, such as the Trinity, the inerrancy of Scripture, and the dual nature of Christ, are NOT SPELLED CLEARLY IN ONE VERSE.”
This distraction is very effective because most Christians believe in the tri-unity of the Godhead. They believe in the inerrancy of Scripture. And also believe that Jesus was fully God and fully man. Such comparisons are used to imply that doubting the doctrine of the Pre-Tribulation rapture is tantamount to doubting these other foundational doctrines. The conversation effectively shifts from discussing the absence of evidence for the Pre-Tribulation rapture to whether or not the doubter is orthodox in his or her beliefs.
This is in fact a false dichotomy, since there are actual verses which do teach the triune nature of God. When Jesus commissioned his disciples to go out to make disciples, He said to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of theSon and of the Holy Spirit… Matt. 28:19
The triune nature of God is not even something uniquely Christian. The ancient Israelites long understood there to be something peculiar about the nature of God. They clearly knew about the Holy Spirit from Genesis 1:2, where the Spirit was hovering over the face of the deep. The Prophet Isaiah recorded God saying:
“Come near to Me, [God is the subject] hear this: I [God is the subject] have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, I [God is the subject] was there. And now the Lord GOD [God is the subject – so who is this?] and His Spirit [i.e. Holy Spirit] have sent Me.” Isa. 48:16
The above verse is a powerful example of the triunity of God before the writing of the New Testament.Thus in at least two places we have direct evidence of triune nature of God spelled out in a single verse.Pre-Tribbers make the case that the word “trinity” is not in the Bible; but that fact is simply not theissue.
Whether we find the word “Pre-Tribulation rapture” in the Bible or not is beside the point. The book of Zohar, an ancient Jewish writing, underscores the ancient concept of the triunity found in Scripture. They speak of “three in one”, and “hameshulleshet” (threefold), which is the very basis of the tri-unity or “Trinitarian” doctrine.
“The Ancient Holy One is revealed (found) with three Heads, which are united in One, and that Head is threefold exalted. The Ancient Holy One is described as being Three; it is because the other Lights (i.e., two Lights) emanating from Him are included in the Three. Yet the Ancient One is described as being two(Dan. 7:13). The Ancient One includes these two (i.e. the two are found in Him). He is the Crown of allthat is exalted; the Chief of the chief, so exalted, that He cannot be known to perfection. Thus, the otherLights (Shining Ones) are two complete ones, yet is the Ancient Holy One described and complete as One, and He is One, positively One; thus are the other Lights united and glorified in One; because they are One.”
Taking the time to explain the trinity is exactly what the Pre- Tribulation distraction is all about. Theeasier, and adequate, answer would be to simply stay on target. Nevertheless, we have taken the time to demonstrate that it is not reasonable to say we shouldn’t demand to see a Pre-Tribulation timing verse simply because there is no verse with the word “trinity”. We have clearly seen that there is sufficient (and powerful) evidence of the trinity in both the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, as well as ancient Jewish extra-biblical sources.
The so-called List
Getting back to the true issue of the timing of the Pre-Tribulation rapture, let’s now consider the verses that they do give in support of the doctrine. On the one hand, we are told that there isn’t a single verse which describes it, and then we are told that there are verses all over the place which describe it. We refer to this as “the intimidating list,” so called because when someone flashes the list at you, it looks impressive. It can be intimidating to doubt the rapture when there are just so many verses.
- John 14:1-3
- Romans 8:19
- 1 Corinthians 1:7-8
- 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
- 1 Corinthians 16:22
- Philippians 3:20-21
- Philippians 4:5
- Colossians 3:4
- 1 Thessalonians 1:10
- 1 Thessalonians 2:19
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 3
- 1 Timothy 6:14
- 2 Timothy 4:1, 8
- Titus 2:13
- Hebrews 9:28
- James 5:7-9
- 1 Peter 1:7,
- 1 Peter 1:13
- 1 Peter 5:4
- 1 John 2:28—3:2
- Jude 21
- Revelation 2:15
- Revelation 3:10
“Twenty-six places in the New Testament that speak of the Pre- Tribulation rapture!” That is intimidating; and it works. The average person is happy with the impressive list and it settles the matter. However, once we take a closer look at the verses, we begin to see a different picture. Despite the claim, not even one of the verses gives the timing of the Pre-Tribulation rapture. Not even one!
Let’s take a look at these verses and see for ourselves if their claim, that these verses teach the Pre-Tribulation rapture, holds water.
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place foryou, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:1-3
Just where is Jesus saying that He will come to catch believers up before the tribulation? Jesus said He was going away, and He would come back and collect His followers. It is true that this passage teaches Jesus will come back for His own. However, Jesus simply did not give any indication whether taking His followers to Himself would be a pre, mid, or post tribulation event.
The next passages on the intimidating list are Romans 8:1 and 8:19. Paul speaks of no condemnation, and the revealing of the sons of God, but he says nothing about rapture or the timing of rapture.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. Rom. 8:1, 19
Likewise, in the next passage, First Corinthians 1:7-8, Paul mentions the revealing of Jesus, but nothing about the timing of the rapture.
…so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 1:7-8
Next on the list is First Corinthians 15:51-53. Paul’s discusses the transformation of our bodies at the resurrection, which is undoubtedly linked to the rapture, yet Paul does not give any indication when this will occur in relation to the Great Tribulation. He gives no hint in this passage of a Pre-, Mid-, or Post-Tribulation rapture. His language of the resurrection of the dead is straightforward, but he is silent on the timing of the rapture.
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in thetwinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 1 Cor. 15:51-53
First Corinthians 16:22 is a plea for Jesus to return, but it is once again silent on the timing of the rapture.
If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!
We have now examined five passages on the list and yet we haven’t seen anything remotely indicating a gathering, catching up (rapture) happening before the tribulation. So far, their intimidating list is yielding no results. Where is the timing of the Pre-Tribulation rapture in any of the verses examined so far? It is conspicuously absent. Somehow this exercise is beginning to feel like the shell game where the onlooker is tricked by fast moving shells and a fast-talking dealer.
The two verses listed from the book of Philippians likewise contain no timing references to the rapture. In the first one, Philippians 3:20-21, Paul speaks of heaven and resurrection but nothing about the rapture:
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Phil. 3:20-21
Philippians 4:5 says nothing about either the rapture or the resurrection but is merely an exhortation that Jesus is “at hand.”
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Phil. 4:5
The passage on the list from Colossians is similar to Philippians 4:5 in that Paul is exhorting believers to live right since we will be like Jesus when he returns. No timing is even remotely given concerning the rapture.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at theright hand of God. Col. 3:4
When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Col. 3:1
Paul’s two letters to the Thessalonians contain Paul’s most definitive statements on the resurrection and the rapture or gathering, and these also appear on the list. Both First Thessalonians 1:10 and 5:9 speak of how we will be delivered from the “wrath to come.” The “wrath to come” is almost certainly related to either the tribulation or the second coming.
…and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thess. 1:10
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 5:9
Most Pre-Tribulation teachers maintain that the “wrath to come” is simply another name for the Great Tribulation period. However, when we compare Paul’s statements with John’s vision in the Book of Revelation, and passages in Isaiah, we see that the wrath to come is specifically identified as the day of Jesus’ return. We will deal with the day of the Lord exhaustively in another chapter. For now, notice how the two texts below both have the following elements:
- Mountains and hills are radically moving out of their places.
- People going into the caves and holes.
- Proud and powerful people are humbled.
- They are both about God’s “day”.
These conditions are present on the day when God alone is exalted. The Antichrist will be blaspheming those in heaven for the latter half of the seven years of the tribulation; which means that God alone is not being exalted during that time. Likewise in Revelation, John records that the kings of the earth will admit they cannot stand because of the great day of His wrath. The parallel parts of the verses below are in bold to show that they are speaking of the same event.
Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth…said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of himthat sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Rev. 6:14, 16, 17
Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from the terror of the LORD and the glory of His majesty.
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. Isa. 2:10-11
For the day of the LORD of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up– And it shall be brought low– Isa. 2:12
Upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, And upon all the oaks of Bashan; Isa. 2:13
Upon all the high mountains, And upon all the hills that are lifted up; Isa. 2:14
Upon every high tower, And upon every fortified wall; Isa. 2:15 They shall go into the holes of the rocks,And into the caves of the
earth, from the terror of the LORD and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily. Isa. 2:19
Therefore, once again the supposed evidence does not support the claim made by the Pre-Tribulation teachers that the Thessalonian letters point to a Pre-Tribulation rapture. The only way that First Thessalonians One and Five could be talking about a Pre-Tribulation rapture is if the wrath to come is synonymous with the tribulation itself. Even if our interpretation were wrong, the text does not imply a timing feature; it is, once again, inferred by Pre-Tribulation teachers.
The next passage on their list is, likewise, completely devoid of anything to do with the timing of the rapture. Paul is sharing a little bit of history, but is completely silent on the tribulation, resurrection, or the rapture.
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us…1 Thess. 2:13
For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 1Thess. 2:14
who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets…
1 Thess. 2:15
forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved…; but wrath has come upon them to theuttermost. 1 Thess. 2:16
Therefore we wanted to come to…but Satan hindered us. 1 Thess.
2:18 (truncated for space)
The classic passage for the Pre-Tribulation rapture is Paul’s statement to the Thessalonians about the resurrection. We agree that this is a very clear passage about the resurrection and rapture but a time marker for the pre-trib rapture is absent. In this passage, First Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul wants to encourage the Thessalonians that their loved ones who have already died have not missed the resurrection. There appears to have been some teaching going around that the resurrection had already happened in conjunction with the resurrection of Jesus when graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, Matt. 27:52. Therefore, Paul exhorts his readers:
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrowas others who have no hope. 1 Thess. 4:13
It must be noted that the comfort he is bringing them is about the resurrection, and not the rapture, per se. The rapture is simply an add- on to the resurrection – it isn’t the main event. This is logical because for all those who have been martyred throughout the centuries, the thought of coming back to life would have brought them peace – and not whether some future group would be caught up to heaven. Notice, however, how Paul speaks of Jesus coming throughout this passage – it is speaking of the second coming and not a secret coming – a secret coming revealed only to believers.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.(1 Thess. 4:14) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. (1 Thess. 4:15)
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thess. 4:16)
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:17)
For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (1 Thess.5:2)
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess. 5:23)
AGAIN…NO MENTION OF THE RAPTURE
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. 2 Thess. 2:1-3
THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL NOT COME UNTIL THE MAN OF SIN IS REVEALED.
Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers… Teach and urge these things. 1 Tim. 6:2
to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Tim. 6:14
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 Tim 4:1
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Tim. 4:8
Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13
Not one of these verses say the Lord’s appearing will happen before the tribulation???
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Jas. 5:1
So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested byfire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 1:7
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober- minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 1:13
When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 1 Pet. 5:4
THE REVELATION OF JESUS IS LITERALLY THE UNVEILING OF JESUS, A.K.A. THE SECOND COMING
Timing?
28 …abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shallbe like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1 John 2:28-3:2
Where is the Pre-Tribulation Rapture?
So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a SECOND TIME, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Heb. 9:28 (emphasis added)
THIS IS TALKING ABOUT THE SECOND COMING!
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord….8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts,for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble…the Judge is standing at the door. Jas. 5:7-9
Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. Jude 1:21
So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Rev. 2:15
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. Rev. 3:10
AN HOUR OF TEMPTATION – NOT A SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION
Did you see any Pre-Tribulation timing verses? Mystery solved: look for the resurrection and the “gathering”.
The Bible is very clear about the timing of the resurrection and gathering; and they are specifically given to Israel, not to the “church.”
