The pre-tribulation rapture story has nothing to do with the Gospel. It’s a fantasy story. Yet an evangelical majority believes in it. The Old Testament, however, provides good examples of how and why the final end for God’s people will actually unfold.
Expectations are rising
Evangelical churches and their members, predominantly in the USA, are mentally preparing for the “pre-tribulation rapture” they anticipate. The prevailing opinion is that Christian communities will be taken from this world before the appearance of the Antichrist. The remaining Christians will then have to endure the associated period of tribulation or distress, lasting at least seven years, according to another tenet of neo-Protestant belief.
A story that, however, cannot be truly supported by anything in the Bible. This is hardly surprising, since the spiritual originators of this “pre-tribulation rapture variant” with a future Antichrist—Ribera, Bellarmine, and Lacunza—are all three members of the Jesuit order, beholden to the papacy and the good of the Church (Info).
Nothing fits together
This version, a combination of futurism and dispensationalism, is at best compatible with the ideas of Jewish communities. It is certainly desirable in relation to the desired ecumenism, but not with the pronouncements of the Bible, and certainly not with essential principles of the Gospel. Fundamentally, Jesus Christ, the “Bridegroom,” has only one bride, namely His people. A pre-tribulation rapture would effectively create two brides. A spiritual bigamy. This simply doesn’t add up. The first bride would already be raptured to the Kingdom of Heaven, and the second bride would still need to be purified, while Gentiles would still have the opportunity to also become brides of Jesus.
Nothing about this makes any sense. The very idea that people who were fortunate enough to live at the right time were given another chance to turn to Jesus Christ—not through pure faith, but through visible “evidence”—is absurd. That has nothing to do with God’s justice, since no other people in the past received such an opportunity. Interestingly, even Jehovah’s Witnesses have jumped on the bandwagon of a tribulation period followed by a 1,000-year reign of peace on earth. But the Bible is clear on the subject of a 1,000-year period of peace (Info).
Example: Noah’s Ark
As is typical in the Old Testament, there is an example of how those who were saved, because they held fast to God despite resistance, pressure, and reprisals, would experience this time of tribulation. Even though this time was anything but relaxing, given the perceived security of salvation. This is the story of Noah, his family, and the saving ark. Noah received the command from God to build a ship because a global, all-consuming flood would descend upon the earth and humanity.
God could have simply placed this ark in the landscape with a snap of his fingers. But He didn’t. Just as the people of Israel stood at the Jordan River at the end of their desert wanderings, the Lord expected appropriate preparation from His people, as well as their participation based on faith. Israel couldn’t simply cross the Jordan. In this case, the people had it very easy. Only when they themselves placed their feet in the river did God cause the water to recede, creating a dry riverbed. Without their cooperation, the people and their subsequent generations would probably still be living on the riverbank today.
Noah was challenged
For Noah, however, it was a far greater challenge. He and his sons were called upon to build the life-saving boat themselves. Everything by their own hands, every detail. So every plank, and even the nails and rivets, had to be forged by hand, including extracting them from the ore. Noah didn’t know how long it would take. A great flood was coming, according to God’s words. When? Unknown. An additional challenge was enduring the laughter and jeers of the people. Ultimately, as is often the case, it took 120 years until God finally told Noah and his family to board the ark. Even after the doors were closed, nothing happened at first. Seven days passed with no sign of a catastrophe. But then, suddenly, it began, and it did so with tremendous force.
Noah was thus in the midst of tribulation and not taken somewhere to safety. The subtle but crucial difference, however, lies in the fact that God’s protective hand still works. For the final time here on earth, this primarily concerns a person’s character. A final purification and refinement, because in the Kingdom of Heaven there is no room for character adjustments. This must happen here and now. “The Trouble of Jacob,” as the saying goes, describes this situation for humanity. What is the goal? Absolute sinlessness, because God will not allow any sin whatsoever. Therefore, whoever clings to their sin will not survive the Tribulation (including the final seven plagues). They will be lost.
Example of Prophet Daniel
Another example in the Old Testament is provided by the prophet Daniel. After the Babylonian Empire was destroyed by the Medo-Persians, there was also a rapid change of monarchy. Daniel remained at court. But the other ministers had cast jealous glances at Daniel and devised a diabolical plan. They tricked the king into passing a law that demanded worship of the king alone. Daniel, however, was not swayed and continued his daily prayers in his chamber, behind open windows. In doing so, he transgressed the law. The punishment for this was death by being thrown into a lions’ den (Daniel 6).
Even in this instance, God did not spare His faithful servant from being thrown into the pit, but protected Daniel within the lions’ den. The lions showed no interest in Daniel. The prophet remained unharmed until the next day. The king, already aware of this trap set by his ministers, worried about Daniel and hurried to the pit. To everyone’s astonishment, the prophet was still alive and well, and the lions were enjoying themselves as time passed. Thus, the punishment was fulfilled. “The throwing into the lions’ den” was finally carried out. In retaliation, the king ordered his cunning ministers to be thrown into the pit, and the lions did exactly what they had expected Daniel to do.
Daniel believed and remained true.
Daniel showed unwavering adherence to God’s Word and remained faithful to Him. His rescue from the pit, before the eyes of all witnesses, was a testament to His work, the work of the one true, living God. With his steadfast faith, Daniel glorified the Heavenly Father. This is of paramount importance, for God’s purpose is above all the ultimate proof of His righteousness (Info).
This will also be the case in the final tribulation, in which all those already redeemed (sealed, Revelation 7) will realize the glory of God by remaining faithful and no longer being able to turn away from their faith. They will be in the midst of the catastrophes, but nothing will happen to them.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Psalm 91:7
Bible verses from King James Version
