Matthew 24:2-34; Mark 13:5-30; and Luke 21:8-28 record Jesus Christ’s description of the traumatic events that will take place during what most biblical scholars believe will be a seven-year period of severe tribulation which will occur sometime before Christ’s return to Earth (i.e., His Second Advent).  These events will include the following:

• False christs and false prophets will appear and will show “great signs and wonders”
• There will be wars and rumors of wars
• There will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes
• Christians, including family members, will betray one another
• There will be lawlessness
• The sun “will be darkened” and the moon ”will not give its light”
• The stars “will fall from heaven”

It would be comforting to Christians to be able to believe confidently that, if they are living on Earth just before the beginning of the period of severe tribulation (the Tribulation), they will be raptured (i.e., ascend, or “caught up,” to meet Jesus Christ in the sky) and go with Him to heaven, thus avoiding having to endure the distress and the suffering that will result from the persecution and the terrible disasters that will occur during that period.  However, there are reasons to question the grounds for this position.

In the paragraphs that follow, we will discuss the following three basic questions that relate to this matter:

·        Is there a relationship between the Rapture and the Second Advent?

·        What is the significance of the blessed hope for Christians?

·        Who are the elect who will have to endure the Tribulation?

Is There a Relationship Between the Rapture and the Second Advent?

One of the primary considerations with regard to whether or not the Rapture and the Second Advent are two closely related events is the biblical description of what will occur prior to, and in conjunction with, each of these events.  Those who believe that the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation and that the Second Advent will occur after the Tribulation usually argue that the Rapture will be inconspicuous, whereas the Second Advent will be quite conspicuous.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 indicates that the return of Christ to rapture the Christians who are living on Earth at that time will be a conspicuous event, not an inconspicuous event.  [Note:  When we quote Scripture in this article, we use the wording in the New King James Version of the Bible.]  In this passage, Paul declares,

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 [i.e., dead].  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.  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.

Also, consider Matthew 24:27, 29-30, which is generally believed to pertain to the Second Advent, rather than to the Rapture.  In this passage, Jesus Christ declares,

For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man [i.e., Christ] be. 

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

This passage and similar passages in Mark 13:26 and Luke 21:27 make it clear that, like the Rapture, the Second Advent will be a conspicuous event. 

However, 1 Thessalonians 5:2 states that “the day of the Lord . . . comes as a thief in the night.”  Second Peter 3:10 makes a similar statement, although it adds, “the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”  Thus, the latter scripture infers that “the day of the Lord” alludes to the Second Advent, not to the Rapture.

The Old Testament also indicates that “the day of the Lord” refers to the Second Advent.  In Joel 2:30-31, God declares, “I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.”  And, Zechariah 14:1 says, “the day of the Lord is coming,” and then the rest of the chapter describes events that will occur at that time, including the return of the Lord (Jesus Christ) to Earth. 

But, how is it possible to reconcile the conspicuousness of Christ’s coming in the clouds with the apparent obscurity of His coming like a thief in the night?  Consider Matthew 24:42-44, in which Jesus cautions,

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.”

This passage suggests surprise or unexpectedness, rather than obscurity or inconspicuousness.  In other words, the timing of Christ’s return will be a surprise, but His return will not be inconspicuous.  Therefore, Christ’s coming as a thief and His coming in the clouds for everyone on Earth to see do not necessarily pertain to two completely separate events.

Next, consider Revelation 20:6, which states, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.  Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”  In other words, the Christians who will participate in the first resurrection will be raptured, and then they will reign with Christ during His millennial reign.

Therefore, it is conceivable that the Rapture could occur as Christ is returning to Earth to establish His millennial reign.  The Rapture may serve as a celestial welcome for Christ by those who are being raptured, somewhat like the terrestrial welcome Christ received when He was entering Jerusalem a few days before His death on the cross, which resulted in His victory over sin.  If so, those who have been raptured may immediately return with Christ to Earth, where they will subsequently reign with Him during the following Millennium.  Thus, if the Rapture will be part of the Second Advent, all Christians, including both those who are believers before the Tribulation begins and those who become believers during the Tribulation will not be raptured until the end of the Tribulation.

What about Revelation 3:10, which says to the church in Philadelphia, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth”?

Wycliffe Bible Commentary says, "Note carefully that the word is trial here, not tribulation."  And Matthew Henry's Commentary states that this passage is "Another instance of favour that Christ promises to this church is persevering grace in the most trying times . . . , and this as the reward of their past fidelity."  In other words, Matthew Henry is saying the reference is specifically to the church at Philadelphia for a period of trials, but there is no indication that this period is the Tribulation.

Furthermore, of the seven churches named in chapters 3 and 4 of Revelation, the promise in Revelation 3:10 is made to only the church in Philadelphia.  The verse does not give any indication that all faithful Christians will be kept from the hour of trial.  This supports Matthew Henry’s position that the promise pertains to just the church in Philadelphia.

However, the KJV Bible Commentary says with regard to Revelation 3:10, "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, the promise is that they will be kept from (not through) the hour of temptation, which is the Tribulation Period . . . that is to come upon all the world of those who have completely settled upon the earth."  The point is that this Commentary asserts that the hour of temptation (or trial) does refer to the Tribulation.

In any case, if Revelation 3:10 indicates that the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation, it does not seem to be consistent with Matthew 24:21-22, Mark 13:18-20, and a similar passage in Luke 21, all of which indicate that Christians will have to endure a period of great trial.

What Is the Significance of the Blessed Hope for Christians?

Several scripture passages allude to what some people refer to as the “blessed hope” for Christians.   For example, Titus 2:13 mentions “the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” However, it is not clear if “the blessed hope” is “the glorious appearing . . . of Christ,” or if they are two distinct facets.

Two other biblical passages that also may pertain to the “blessed hope” are John 14:3 and 1 Thessalonians 4:17.  In John 14:3, Jesus Christ says to Thomas, His apostle, “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”  First Thessalonians 4:17, which we cited in reference to the relationship between the Rapture and the Second Advent, indicates that, after they are raptured, Christians “shall always be with the Lord.” 

Another scripture passage sometimes associated with the “blessed hope” for Christians is 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, in which Paul states,

Behold, I tell you a mystery:  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

When making this statement, it is possible that Paul had in mind the seventh (and last) trumpet that is alluded to in Revelation 11:15, although it was not until many years later that John the apostle wrote the manuscripts that now comprise the book of Revelation.  (This possibility should not be casually dismissed, if you believe that the same Holy Spirit Who guided John in writing the book of Revelation also guided Paul in his writings.)  And, if Paul did have the last trumpet in mind, there would be strong reason to believe the Rapture will follow the Tribulation, based upon the sequence of events mentioned in Revelation that will occur before the blowing of the last trumpet. However, If the Rapture will follow the Tribulation, it is not imminent (i.e., it will not occur without having to wait for anything else to happen).

With regard to whether the Rapture will occur before, during, or after the Tribulation, Luke 21:28 also needs to be considered.  Following His description earlier in Luke 21 of the persecution that His followers will have to endure, Jesus Christ tells them in verse 28 that “when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”  In other words, Christ’s followers won’t be redeemed until after they have suffered through a period of severe persecution.  While there is no indication in this passage that Christians will have to endure the manifestations of God’s wrath (i.e., the passage is silent about this matter), the previously mentioned passages in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 suggest that Christians will have to endure at least some of the traumatic events resulting from the wrath of God during the Tribulation. 

Those who believe the Rapture will occur before the beginning of the Tribulation cite scriptures such as 1 Thessalonians 5:9 to support their belief.  In this passage, Paul states,   “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”   However, as inferred by the second part of this verse, which mentions “salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” the first part of the verse probably refers to God’s ultimate wrath, which involves eternal death (or separation from God) for those who have not trusted in Christ as their Savior. 

Some people interpret Revelation 3:10 as a promise by Christ that all faithful Christians who are living on Earth just before the Tribulation begins will be raptured before the inception of the Tribulation.  In this scripture passage, Jesus Christ tells the church in the ancient city of Philadelphia, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” 

The key to understanding the meaning of Revelation 3:10 seems to be to correctly interpret the term “the hour of trial.”  According to Strong’s Concordance of the Bible, the Greek word hora that is translated as “hour” in this verse denotes any time or period.  Note also that the word “trial,” not “tribulation,” is used.  The Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible indicates that this verse refers to a time of temptation.  Thus, it is uncertain if “the hour of trial” pertains to the Tribulation.

Another reason that is given for believing that the Rapture will occur before the start of the Tribulation is based upon the precedent established by examples in the Old Testament of God not inflicting His wrath on those who were loyal to Him.  God spared Noah and his family from the Great Flood that He sent to cover the Earth.  Likewise, God spared Lot and his family from the fire and brimstone that He sent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.  Therefore, it may seem reasonable to conclude that He will spare Christians from His wrath during the Tribulation.

However, in Revelation 7:9, 13-14, John provides the following account, which indicates that many Christians will have to endure a period of “great tribulation”:

I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb [i.e., Christ], clothed with white robes. . . .

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?’  And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”  So, he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

It is unclear if this passage pertains to all Christians, including those who are living when the Tribulation begins, or just to Christians who become believers during the Tribulation.  Regardless, the Rapture does not seem to be the “blessed hope” for Christians. 

If the great multitude of Christians who will have to endure the Tribulation refers to all Christians, including those who are living when the Tribulation begins, how can the Rapture be the “blessed hope” for any of them, since (by inference) the Rapture would not occur until after they have endured at least some – and perhaps all – of the terrible events that will occur during the Tribulation? 

On the other hand, if the great multitude of Christians who will have to endure the Tribulation are only the Christians who become believers during the Tribulation, what comfort will the Rapture provide them, since (again, by inference) the Rapture would have occurred before they became Christians? 

[Note:  The next section of this article deals specifically with the question of which Christians will have to endure the Tribulation.]

Although the Rapture may not provide comfort for all Christians, all Christians can be comforted by the assurance of their eternal salvation, which results from having genuinely trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior.  Therefore, it can be argued that the “blessed hope” for Christians is to be with Christ (i.e., to have eternal salvation).

Who Are the Elect Who Will Have to Endure the Tribulation?

In Matthew 24:9, after describing some of the other events that will occur during the Tribulation, Jesus Christ tells His followers, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”  Later in the same chapter, in verses 21-22, Christ asserts, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”

Subsequent verses in Matthew 24 describe some of the events that will occur during the Tribulation.  Then, verse 31 states that Christ “will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”   (Mark 13:19-27 provides an account that is similar to Matthew 24:21-31.) 

Although it is clear from the preceding scripture passages that “the elect” will have to endure the Tribulation, there is some question as to who are the elect.  However, Strong’s Concordance of the Bible reveals that when the same Greek word eklektos that is translated as “the elect” in Matthew 24:22 and Mark 13:20 is used in other New Testament passages in reference to a group of people, it refers to Christians (see Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Peter 2:9).  What is not certain is whether the term “the elect” refers to all true believers who are still living when the Tribulation begins, as well as to people who become Christians during the Tribulation, or just to the latter. 

Some Christians believe that “the elect” does not pertain to the Church, which in this instance can be defined as all the Christians who are living on Earth immediately before the Tribulation begins.  Those who hold this belief argue that there are no biblical passages which specifically mention that the Church will be present during the Tribulation.  However, this is an argument from silence, which most scholars regard as not credible.  Just because the Church is not specifically mentioned in passages that deal with the Tribulation is not a valid reason to believe that Christians who are living immediately before the Tribulation begins will be raptured, so they will not have to endure the Tribulation. 

Another argument that the Church will not have to go through the Tribulation is based upon the belief that the Holy Spirit will not be present during the Tribulation.  The basis for this belief is 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7, a vague passage regarding the end times, which says, “[N]ow you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.”

Prior and subsequent verses in the second chapter of 2 Thessalonians reveal that the person who will be restrained is “the lawless one,” whom most scholars believe will be the antichrist.     The Holy Spirit is generally believed to be the restrainer to whom the passage alludes.   Most of those who believe that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit believe that He would not be removed from the Earth as long as the Church remains on Earth. 

Some biblical scholars, including Robert Van Kampen, believe the restrainer to which 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 alludes is the archangel Michael.  On page 199 of his book entitled The Sign, Van Kampen says that Michael is “the great restrainer who has been the heavenly protector of God’s people since ancient times (see Dan. 10:21).”  The one verse in Daniel that he references is the only support that Van Kampen provides for this belief.

If the restrainer is the Holy Spirit, it should be noted that the passage says only that the restrainer will be “taken out of the way.”  This does not necessarily mean that the Holy Spirit will leave Earth.  If the Holy Spirit did leave Earth, it is highly doubtful that anyone could become a Christian while He is gone, because the Bible infers that it is only through the influence of the Holy Spirit that a person can have the ability to genuinely trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior.  In other words, the Holy Spirit must be present for a person to be convicted of sin, so he (or she) can realize their need for eternal salvation.  Among the scriptures that support this perspective are John 3:5 and John 16:8.

There are also scripture passages which state clearly that when a person becomes a Christian, he (or she) will receive the Holy Spirit as a deposit, guarantee, or seal, so they can be assured that they have eternal salvation.  If the Holy Spirit were not present, Christians would not have this assurance.  Among the applicable passages are 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 2 Corinthians 5:5, Ephesians 1:13, and 1 John 3:24.

Furthermore, the Bible indicates that many people will become Christians (i.e., part of the Church) during the Tribulation.  The scripture passage that seems to provide the best support for this belief is Revelation 7:9, 13-15, which states,

After these things I [i.e., the writer of Revelation] looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands. . . . Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”  And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”  So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple.  And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.”

Conclusion

John F. Walvoord, Th.D.,  former President of Dallas Theological Seminary and a strong advocate of the pretribulation position, states on page 144 of his book entitled The Blessed Hope and the Tribulation,

In the study of the relative merits of arguments supporting pretribulationism and posttribulationism, it becomes evident that not all the arguments for either conclusion are necessarily decisive.  If either the pretribulational or posttribulational rapture was unequivocably [sic] taught in Scripture, it is doubtful whether worthy scholars would divide on the question.  The conclusions reached necessarily are based on the total weight of the supporting evidence and the extent to which each view solves its problems.

Apparently, scholars have disagreed about this matter for hundreds of years.  Adult Learner Guide for winter 2008-2009 says on page 62, “Christian Bible students with equal devotion and scholarship have differed for centuries over the interpretation of end-time events.  We do well to hold our points of view about end-time details with as much humility as devotion and scholarship.”

We conclude that it is not sufficiently clear if the Rapture will occur before, during, or after the Tribulation.  In any case, although Christians may continue to hope that they will be raptured prior to the Tribulation, everyone who proclaims that Jesus Christ is their Lord should be prepared for the possibility that they may have to endure a period of severe persecution before the Tribulation, even if they don’t have to suffer all of the traumatic events that will occur during the Tribulation.