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Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Dive into the theology of pretribulational rapture, millennial positions, and the imminent return of Jesus Christ as explored through key Scriptures and theological contexts. Discover the biblical perspectives and understandings associated with the end times.

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Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

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  1. Grace Bible ChurchGlorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

  2. Why We are PretribulationalSelected Scriptures Recommended Book: The Rapture, Pre, -Mid, - or Post - Tribulational, Archer, Feinberg, Moo, Reiter (Zondervan) The blessed hope of Jesus physical return in orthodoxy, the timing of His return is secondary - be gracious

  3. Why We are PretribulationalSelected Scriptures We are charitable but firm in discussing our beliefs in proper forums, but we will not allow schism

  4. Review of Millennial Positions Amillennial: Jesus’ reign is spiritual, not physical, there is no millennium Postmillennial: The Christianization of the world brings a “millennium” of ??? length of peace & prosperity

  5. Review of Millennial Positions Premillennial: Jesus will return prior to establishing His 1,000 year reign on earth fulfilling Revelation 20 The timing of Jesus return prior to the millennium became debated at the 19th Century resulting in divisions

  6. The Rapture1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 The blessed hope of Jesus’ return for His church based on His multiple promises (John 14:1-4, etc.) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - Paul comforts by assuring that those who died in Jesus will be part of the Rapture The timing of the Rapture is connected to the Tribulation

  7. The Tribulation Dispensational eschatology believes there will be a time of tribulation before the millennium as prophesied The term “Tribulation” comes from Matthew 24:9 - a sub-phase of this is the Great Tribulation (Mt. 24:21)

  8. The Tribulation The Tribulation is also called the time of Jacob’s Troubles (Jer. 30:7) and Daniel’s 79th Week (Dan. 9:24-27) Daniel 9:24-27 - “week” = a group of seven. Here, groups of seven prophetic years. 70 weeks = 490 years

  9. The Tribulation 62 + 7 = 483 years. Arataxerxes decree Nisan 1, (March 5) 444 B.C. to Nisan 10, (March 30) AD 33 The Tribulation will be a period of 7 years that begins with a covenant between antichrist & Israel

  10. The Tribulation Many Hebrew prophets describe God’s wrath on Israel (and other nations) prior to Israel’s restoration

  11. Overview of Positions on Timing of the Rapture Pre-tribulational: The Rapture occurs just prior to or at the start of the Tribulation Mid-tribulational: the church experiences part of the Tribulation, the Rapture occurs sometime in the

  12. Overview of Positions on Timing of the Rapture Pre-wrath is a variation of Mid-tribulational with rapture corresponding to the 6th seal - Revelation 6:16 Post-tribulational: The Rapture occurs at or just before the end of the Tribulation

  13. Biblical Weight for a Pretribulational Rapture We believe the Scriptures confirm pre-tribulationalism, but we do not disparage those with other views They would like us to be correct, and we are already commanded to be ready for persecution in the present

  14. Imminent Expectation of Jesus’ Return for His Church Imminence: Jesus could return at any time - many things could happen, but nothing else must happen Matthew 24-25 - be ready, He will return unexpectedly: before some expect, and later than others expect

  15. Imminent Expectation of Jesus’ Return for His Church 1 Cor. 15:51-52, 1 Thess. 4:17, 1 John 2:28, Revelation 2:25 - Jesus could return in their life times 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 - Jesus return could be soon, not must be soon - work until He comes

  16. Imminent Expectation of Jesus’ Return for His Church James 5:7-9 - “the Lord is near” and “the Judge is standing at the door” - see also Phil. 4:5 Revelation 2:16; 3:11 & 22:7, 12, 20 - Jesus said, “I am coming quickly”

  17. Imminent Expectation of Jesus’ Return for His Church Titus 2:13 - looking = prosdecovmenoi / prosdechomenoi = “await” in expectation of a future event Romans 8:19, 23 & 25 - ajpekdevcomai / apekdechomai = longing of creation & believer for redemption

  18. Imminent Expectation of Jesus’ Return for His Church 1 Cor.1:7, Phil. 3:20, Heb. 9:28 - ajpekdevcomai / apekdechomai, awaiting eagerly the return of Jesus 1 Thess. 1:10 - ajnamevnw / anamenō = “wait up for” - Jesus’ return any moment at unspecified time

  19. Imminent Expectation of Jesus’ Return for His Church Pretribulationalism is the best answer to the issues of imminence - looking for Jesus, not something else We are to already be looking for Jesus to come - not waiting until the final Tribulation signs - Luke 21:25

  20. Church Promised Escape from Wrath of God 1 Thess. 1:10 - debate over the specific “wrath to come” does not diminish its general principle 1 Thess. 5:9 is in a context of the coming of the Day of the Lord and so certainly applies to the Tribulation

  21. Church Promised Escape from Wrath of God Revelation 3:10 - the context is being kept from the hour of testing during the Tribulation The grammar of this verse is debated, but the purpose of the Tribulation is Israel & the world, not the church

  22. Church Promised Escape from Wrath of God Those tested are “those who dwell on the earth” (Rev. 6:10; 8:13; 11:10, 13:8, 14; 17:2, 8), not the church What comfort in 1 Thess. 5 or Rev. 3 if the church is not exempt from God’s wrath and the hour of testing?

  23. Church Promised Escape from Wrath of God There is no mention of the church in Revelation 6-19 which describes the Tribulation - only in ch. 2,3 & 22

  24. Other Issues of Support Only the righteous in natural bodies populate the millennium. The wicked are gathered & judged (Rev. 20) Two distinct groups in Rev. 20:4 - those already seated on thrones and the martyrs from the Tribulation

  25. Other Issues of Support 2 Thess. 1 - Paul comforts them assuring them they would have rest while those afflicting them suffer 2 Thess. 2 - Paul assures them they are NOT in the Day of the Lord - no apostasia, man of sin not revealed

  26. Other Issues of Support ajpostasiva / apostasia = “departure” - in this context, it is the departure of 2:1 - cf. 2:5 = 1 Thess. 4:17 – The Rapture

  27. Conclusion The timing of the Rapture is built from many passages - the preponderance of evidence favors Pretrib view Jesus returns for His church (1 Thess. 4:17) prior to or at start of Daniel’s 70th week. Rev. 6-19 follow

  28. Conclusion We extend grace to those holding other views for they also “proclaim His death until He comes”

  29. Grace Bible ChurchGlorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

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