Rapture Mania: Part II

Islamists destroy a church in Islamabad

If the Rapture indeed occurs prior to the seven-year Tribulation period, then obviously the true Church of Jesus Christ will vanish from the world.

And that means that there won't be any true Christians left on earth. For those who promote the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, that presents a serious problem: Biblical prophecy clearly tells us that Christians are going to be severely persecuted during this seven-year period before Christ returns.

Here's what the apostle John recorded in the Revelation concerning the Antichrist's persecution of Christians: "He was given power to wage war against the saints and to conquer them." (Revelation 13:6) 

Here's what Christ revealed is going to take place during that dreaded period: "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me." (Matthew 24:9) 

And here's what the prophet Daniel recorded 2,600 years ago concerning the Antichrist: "He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time." (Daniel 7:25)

Who are the holy people? They are true Christians. And like Christ and John, Daniel revealed that they're going to be persecuted by this wicked ruler when he assumes control over a world government.

And so, how can Christians be persecuted if they have been taken away via the Rapture? The Pre-Trib proponents attempt to answer that question by claiming that after the Rapture, "tribulation saints" are going to arise. They claim that these folks will recognize that the Bible is true after the Rapture takes place and they will become Christians.

Can we find any biblical references to tribulation saints? Absolutely not. Then why do Pre-Trib proponents believe this? Because they have to come up with an explanation for the persecution of Christians that's going to take place during the Tribulation period.

And they claim that the 144,000 Jews mentioned in Revelation 7 that are going to come to Christ during that period are going to evangelize the world and convert many people to Christ. Again, that's based purely upon conjecture and not upon any scriptural evidence.

Here's another problem: If the Holy Spirit is removed from the world via the Rapture, then no one will be saved unless the Spirit returns. The apostle Paul wrote: "And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ." (Romans 8:9) 

Therefore, if the Pre-Trib Rapture indeed occurs, there will be no true Christians on the earth during the Tribulation period.

However, the Bible tells us that true Christians will indeed be around because they're going to be persecuted. Who's right? The Bible's right and the Pre-Trib proponents are wrong. There isn't going to be a Pre-Trib Rapture.

In Part III: Why Pre-Tribulation Rapture teaching has become so popular in the end times.