1. What is the Rapture? The word "rapture" does not appear in the Bible, but it is described in I Thessalonians, chapter Four. It is alluded to in John 14:1-3. Rapture means that Jesus will come down to the clouds and call the church unto Himself. It will be an opportunity for us to be with our Lord and also a way to get us out of the way so that the Tribulation can occur.
2. Explain the partial Rapture view and give its weaknesses. The partial rapture says that only the spiritual will go when Jesus returns. This is weak because all are sinners. This view denies the value of Christ's death by saying that His death was not good enough for everyone. It denies the concept of one body in Christ. It denies the completeness of the resurrection. It confuses the Bible's teachings on rewards by making the rapture a reward. It confuses the distinction between law and grace. It denies the distinction between Israel and the church, and it leaves a portion of the church in the Tribulation. Believers have been judged at Calvary. They will not be judged again.
3. Explain the multiple Rapture view and give its weaknesses. The multiple rapture view teaches that there will be more than one rapture. But this view is not widely accepted, and it creates a type of Protestant purgatory.
4. List the arguments for the posttribulational Rapture. A posttribulation rapture is supported because there is not evidence that the early church established a solid position on the subject. However, they were looking for Christ's imminent return. Posttribulationists argue that the early church was not concerned about the rapture, plus the premillennial rapture was developed late in church history. These people also argue that those things of the church which take time to develop suggest that an early rapture is not logical. Some of these are carrying out the Great Commission, the seed growth parable of Matthew chapter Thirteen, Peter's martyrdom, Paul expected to die, Matthew chapter Twenty-four must come first, apostasy of last days, bridegroom in parable tarried, the pastoral epistles teach a continuing ministry, Antichrist must come first, and the view of the seven churches over time (historical school of interpretation).
5. Answer the posttribulanonal arguments. The postribulation view is not logical because the gospel has been preached throughout the world, Peter's martyrdom was written about thirty years after it had actually happened, and Paul knew that his death was imminent. Posttribulationists tend to confuse the rapture and the Second Coming. This view also would mean that every generation must endure some kind of tribulation.
6. List the distinction between Israel and the Church. God has conducted separate programs through Israel and the church. Israel was in the Dispensation of the Law while the church is in the Dispensation of the New Covenant. Israel had a conditional covenant with God whereby they would be blessed if they obeyed the Law. God's covenant with the church is unconditional.
7. List the arguments for the midtribulational view. The midtribulationists say that only half of Daniel's seventh week is a day of wrath or time of Great Tribulation. The seventh trumpet will sound in the middle of the week. This will also be the final trumpet, and our translation will occur along with the resurrection of the dead in Christ. Revelation 10:7, the mystery of God, is assumed to refer to the church, and it will be complete. This view is not widely accepted.
8. Answer the midtribulational arguments. The question, why in the middle, would have to be answered. The idea that the first half of the week is not tribulation is not correct. It is just that the last half will be much worse. Also, the use of the word last in I Corinthians 15:51-52 does not necessarily refer to the last of a sequence, and it does not necessarily mean that that trumpet is the one in Revelation 11:15.
9. List the arguments for the pretribulation Rapture. The pretribulation rapture makes sense from a hermeneutics perspective. Hermeneutics is a literal interpretation approach which examines the context of prophesy, the grammar, the use of certain words, and the historical background. The pretribulation view draws the proper contrast between the rapture and the revelation. It explains the interval between Daniels last two weeks. It is consistent with the removal of the Holy Spirit, which is discussed in II Thessalonians 2:7. It considers the separate programs between the church and Israel. In Revelation 3:10, Jesus promised the church at Philadelphia that they would not go through tribulation. This view is consistent with the fact that Christ became sin for us and that we will be delivered from the wrath to come. If the church goes through the Tribulation, then Jesus will be persecuted again. We know this from his conversation with the Apostle Paul in Acts, chapter Nine. The final argument for this view is that the church is not mentioned in Revelation, chapters Four through Eighteen.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
Lesson 17 - The Nature and Events of the Tribulation
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