Dear

At age 16, when I found myself embraced by the love of God, I abandoned my agnostic/atheistic world view and began to read and study the scriptures from a totally virgin point of reference never having been taught any Christian doctrines at all. As I read the gospels and then the epistles, my first strong impression was that the Church would have to endure the Great Tribulation. As I began to fellowship with other vibrant Christians, I discovered that they held a very different view. Not wishing to be contrary to sound thinking, or at variance with the accepted doctrines of my new friends or the Church, I listened intently to their pre-tribulation rapture doctrines and even bought a copy of Hal Lindseys Late Great Planet Earth when it first came out. But try as I might, none of the arguments I heard or read were very convincing. All I could be certain of was that we were living in the last days/years. I decided to put the debate on a shelf until I was at a place where I could study the matter more earnestly. During my years at O.R.U., I was very fortunate (blessed) to have wonderful mature scholars that helped me: learn Greek (4 years) and Hebrew (1.5 years), hone my critical thinking skills, and master the art of research. With a Bachelors and Masters degree in Biblical Literature under my belt, and a reputation for being an independent thinker, I had many of the basic skills needed to begin my own study of a variety of topics. In all of my studies since that time my two-part goal has been this: 1) To accurately understand the teachings of Christ and the Apostles in the New Testament being true to the Greek grammar, and to sound hermeneutical principles (without regard to modern day doctrinal stances seeking only the truth in as much as it can be known). 2) To make sure my ideas aligned with the predominant teachings and experience of the Early Church Fathers (i.e., have an orthodox theology). I have studied the fascinating topic of the end times for many years now and I continue to go back over my findings from time to time to make sure I have not missed anything, or gotten it wrong. I truly believe that the facts Ive uncovered along the way militate strongly for a post-tribulation rapture of the Church. This is based on 5 lines of defense: 5 Reasons Why I believe in a Post-Tribulation Rapture of the Church: 1) The doctrine of a post-tribulation rapture has been the sole teaching of the Church up until the early 1800's. On the other hand, the modern-day widespread notion of a pre-tribulation rapture can only be traced back as far as the early 1800's. The two very minor exceptions to this (Pseudo Ephraim c. 450 AD, and a seminary students novel

2)

3)

4)

5)

research paper from the late 1700s) can easily be dismissed as novel and spurious and without any support from the Church at large. Proponents of the pre-tribulation rapture believe in a secret second coming of Christ to rapture the Church before He publicly returns at the end of the tribulation., BUT the writers of the Greek New Testament never once used vocabulary that would suggest that Christ's coming to rapture the Church would be secret or hidden from the general public. Instead, ALL of the New Testament Greek words used to refer to the rapture and Christ's coming are words that signify a very open, public, and visible event. The grammatical constructs used in the Greek New Testament make it quite clear that the rapture of the Church is tightly linked to Christ's public and very visible second coming. These events are not separated by a seven-year tribulation period, nor by a three and one half-year period. So, when Christ returns upon the clouds of Glory, He sends the angels to gather the faithful (the dead and the living) to Himself (to meet him in the air and escort him back to earth), and then Christ journeys on to His destination (the earth) with the saints and His angelic host. The simple and clear teachings New Testament text and the history of the Apostolic Church make it quite clear that the Church must be prepared to recognize and resist the great end-time apostasy, avoid the deceptions of the many false teachers and prophets and messiahs that would arise (including the Antichrist himself), and endure the persecutions and hardships of Great Tribulation. These are not the kinds of warnings that Christ and the New Testament writers would make to a Church that would never have to face such opposition by virtue of a pre-trib rapture. A Church prepared to avoid the Great Tribulation will certainly not be prepared to endure it. Lastly, the doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture necessitates many an artificial distinction and forces the reader to reinterpret the scriptures in a rather convoluted manner (distinctly different from the way the Church has always understood them) so as to make their novel theory work. This does an injustice not only to the scriptures, but also does a grave disservice to those so trained in this tradition.

In the Near Future

While we are just about to enter into one of the darkest periods of human history, it is not all doom and gloom ahead. I firmly believe this severe time of testing will produce a Church without spot or wrinkle, and will purify us as gold is tested and purified in the fiery crucible of the furnace. From all of my studies I believe we will see a global economic collapse and/or inflationary period that will bring threats of global chaos (more civil unrest, wars, famines, plagues, etc). This, in turn, will embolden the globalists to initiate their New World Order something that the Antichrist will capitalize on when he arises.

Just as the early church experienced Pentecost at a time when every action was overseen by an ungodly foreign force in a police state, I believe that the Church of the last days too will begin to see a revival of the gifts that first launched us into being. Already, many are experiencing significant dreams and visions and God is preparing prophetic voices to help: guide, reveal, warn, encourage and correct us in the days ahead. I believe that we will be forced to lean upon each other in ways that would otherwise make us cringe, for we will need one another in ways we never have before. It will be a time when we enter the valley of decision, and difficult choices will have to be made. Gone will be the froth of the bless me hedonism of recent days. Instead, we will each need to seek how we might become a blessing to others and give up the self-centered materialistic pursuits of yesteryear. It will be a time when we see God do things in us and through us and in spite of us as never before all the while sheltering his faithful citizens from the outpouring of his wrath. As Noah was in the storms and the flood and yet protected, as the people Israel were warned and sheltered from the outpouring of Gods wrath against the Egyptians, as Daniel was in the lions den, as the three Hebrew children were kept in the midst of the fiery furnace, so we too will be watched over and protected in the midst of what is coming upon the whole earth to try and prove what is in mens hearts. Even now we are entering a time of great shaking: Heb 12:25-27 ESV See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. (26) At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." (27) This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken--that is, things that have been made--in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. As Jesus notes (in Matthew 24:8): All these are the beginning of sorrows. This is a faithful and true saying: What God has been unable to accomplish in his Church through good times, he will accomplish through hard times. And at the end, for those that continue and endure in the faith, there will come that glorious day when Christ returns upon the clouds of Glory for His elect, and puts an end to all the madness, inequity, and injustice. He will dry the tears from our eyes, clothe us with heavenly imperishable bodies, remake the earth, and will reign over us in perfect peace. Even so, Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Scholarly Evidence:

The Early Church on the Tribulation

I could provide you with a long list of quotes from the 1st century onwards to illustrate what the Church has always taught, but Ill resist and will only give you a few to consider: The Didache (The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles c. 70-80/100) 16:3 For in the last days the false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate. 4 For as lawlessness increases, they shall hate one another and shall persecute and betray. And then the world- deceiver shall appear as a son of God; and shall work signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he shall do unholy things, which have never been since the world began. 5 Then all created mankind shall come to the fire of testing, and many shall be offended and perish; but they that endure in their faith shall be saved by the Curse Himself. 6 And then shall the signs of the truth appear; first a sign of a rift in the heaven, then a sign of a voice of a trumpet, and thirdly a resurrection of the dead; The Epistle of Barnabas (40-100) We take earnest heed in these last days; for the whole [past] time of your faith will profit you nothing, unless now in this wicked time we also withstand coming sources of danger, as becometh the sons of God. That the Black One [Antichrist] may find no means of entrance, let us flee from every vanity, let us utterly hate the works of the way of wickedness. Take heed, lest resting at our ease, as those who are the called [of God], we should fall asleep in our sins, and the wicked prince [Antichrist], acquiring power over us, should thrust us away from the kingdom of the Lord. The Pastor/Shepherd of Hermes (40-140) 2[6]: 1 Now after fifteen days, when I had fasted and entreated the Lord earnestly, the knowledge of the writing was revealed to me. 2 "Thy seed, Hermas, have sinned against God 3 make these words known to all thy children, and to thy wife 4 and to all the saints that have sinned unto this day repent with their whole heart, and remove double-mindedness from their heart. 7 Ye therefore that work righteousness be steadfast, and be not double-minded, that ye may have admission with the holy angels. Blessed are YE, as many as endure patiently the great tribulation that cometh, and as many as shall not deny their life. Justin Martyr (100-168) - Dialogue of Justin - Philosopher and Martyr - with Trypho, a Jew Chapter 110: O unreasoning men! understanding not what has been proved by all these passages, that two advents of Christ have been announced: the one, in which He is set forth as suffering, inglorious, dishonored, and crucified; but the other, in which He shall come from

heaven with glory, WHEN the man of apostasy, who speaks strange things against the Most High, shall venture to do unlawful deeds on the earth AGAINST US the Christians, Irenaeus (130-202 A.D.) - Against Heresies Chapter 35, 1. For all these and other words were unquestionably spoken in reference to the resurrection of the just, which takes place after the coming of Antichrist, and the destruction of all nations under his rule; the righteous shall reign in the earth, waxing stronger by the sight of the Lord awaiting Him from heaven, and who have suffered tribulation, as well as escaped the hands of the Wicked one. Tertullian (150-220/240 A.D.)- On the Resurrection of the Flesh Chapter 25: The souls of the martyrs are taught to wait [in Rev. 6]... that the beast Antichrist with his false prophet may wage war on the Church of God; and that, after the casting of the devil into the bottomless pit ... Hippolytus of Rome, Bishop of Portus (160-240) - The interpretation by Hippolytus, (bishop) of Rome, of the visions of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, taken in conjunction. 7: When the times are fulfilled, and the ten horns spring from the beast in the last (times), then Antichrist will appear among them. When he makes war against the saints, and persecutes them, then may we expect the manifestation of the Lord from heaven. Dogmatical and Historical Treatise on Christ and Antichrist: Section 61: And the dragon," he [John the Revelator] says [Rev. 12:14], "saw and persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child. And to the woman were given two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." That refers to the one thousand two hundred and threescore days (the half of the week) during which the tyrant [Antichrist] is to reign and persecute the Church, which flees from city to city, and seeks concealment in the wilderness among the mountains, possessed of no other defense than the two wings of the great eagle, that is to say, the faith of Jesus Christ, who, in stretching forth His holy hands on the holy tree, unfolded two wings, the right and the left, and called to Him all who believed upon Him, and covered them as a hen her chickens. Cyprian (200 to 258) - Epistle 55 - To the People of Thibaris, Exhorting to Martyrdom Section 7: Nor let any one of you, beloved brethren, be so terrified by the fear of future persecution, or the coming of the threatening Antichrist, as not to be found armed for all things by the evangelical exhortations and precepts, and by the heavenly warnings. Antichrist is coming, but above him comes Christ also. The enemy goeth about and rageth, but immediately the Lord follows to avenge our sufferings and our wounds.

Victorinus (240-303) - Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John Chapter 7 of Revelation, and verse 2. "And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God" He speaks of Elias the prophet, who is the precursor of the times of Antichrist, for the restoration and establishment of the churches from the great and intolerable persecution. We read that these things are predicted in the opening of the Old and New Testament; I could easily continue this list right up unto the present time, but this sampling illustrates what others have also discovered: that the Church has unswervingly taught that the Christians will have to experience the persecutions of the Antichrist.

Key Words Used

The words we will look at are as follows: Parousia, Apantesis, Epiphania, Phaino, Phaneroo, Optanomai, Erchomai, Apokalupsis/Apokalupto These key words are used to describe Christ's coming back to the earth. They help us understand how and when Christ comes to: resurrect the dead, destroy the Antichrist, bring judgment upon the ungodly, issue rewards to his followers, and reign over his redeemed people in a redeemed world. When we couple an understanding of these key words with the constraints of Greek syntax and grammar then we will begin to see more clearly why the Church has historically believed in a post-tribulation rapture and return of Christ. Parousia: The word parousia "means arrival, someone's coming in order to be present. Technically the noun is used for the arrival of a ruler a king, emperor, ruler, or even troops from the Ptolemaic period to the 2nd century A.D." (G. Braumann, in The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 2, article: "Present", p. 898, editor: Colin Brown, Zondervan Publishing House, 1975) When the word parousia is used concerning Christ, it is also used as a specialized or "technical term," since it speaks "nearly always of his Messianic advent in glory to judge the world at the end of the age" (Greek-English Lexicon by Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich, p.635); Apantesis: "When a dignitary paid an official visit or parousia to a city in Hellenistic times, the action of the leading citizens in going out to meet him and escorting him on the final stage of his journey was called the apantesis ..." (F.F.Bruce, in New Bible Commentary, 1970, p.1159). "The use of apantesis in 1 Thess. 4:17 is noteworthy. The ancient expression for the civic welcome of an important visitor or the triumphal entry of a new ruler into the capital city and thus to his reign is applied to

Christ. 'Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord ( ) in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.' The same thoughts occur in the parable of the ten virgins. The virgins leave to meet the bridegroom ( ) i.e. the Lord, to whom they wish to give a festive reception (Matt. 25:1)." (W. Mundle, in The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 1, article: "Come", p. 325, editor: Colin Brown, Zondervan Publishing House, 1975) Epiphania: The root of this word is from the primary particle epi: upon; and from the verb phaino: to shine or to make manifest, to illuminate, to shine, to be seen, to appear. In Greek texts " at the time of Jesus, the word had almost become a technical term for the succouring appearance of an otherwise hidden deity" (B. Gartner, in The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 3, article: "Revelation", p. 317, editor: Colin Brown, Zondervan Publishing House, 1975). It is "used to describe the powerful intervention of the gods" (Ibid, p.318). In the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint, LXX), the word is always used of "Yahweh's marvelous rescuing and redemptive vindication of his people in the sense of the OT theophany " (Ibid). When used in an eschatological sense it refers to his end-time intervention into history that is at once terrible for Gods enemies who will be punished and glorious for his faithful followers who will be redeemed and rewarded (Ibid). This same concept is carried over into the New Testament, and always refers to "the visible appearance of Jesus Christ on earth" (Ibid). Apart from speaking of Christ's redemptive intervention into human history at his first coming (ex. 1 Tim 1:10), it is also used in the eschatological sense for his redemptive intervention at his second coming "the appearance of the Lord on earth at the end of history" (ex. 2 Thess. 2:8, Ibid, p.319). The word "epiphany" means "a visible manifestation of a hidden divinity," and in the literature of NT times, the word speaks "only of Christ's appearing on earth." (Greek- English Lexicon of the New Testament, by Bauer, Arndt & Gingrich, 1957, p.304) Phaino: The root of the word phaino is derived from a prolongation of the base word phos: to shine or make manifest, especially by rays of light as from a fire, torch, lamp, star, or God as as a source of light and illumination (spiritual or physical). Accordingly, phaino means shine, appear, become manifest, come into view (as in a visible outward appearance). "It is used of the 'appearance' of Christ to the disciples, Mark 16:9; of His future 'appearing' in glory as the Son of Man, spoken of as a sign to the

world, Matt. 24:30; there the genitive is subjective, the sign being the 'appearing' of Christ Himself" (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, article: "Appear, Appearing", W. E. Vine, 1939/1984, Thomas Nelson Publishers, p. 31) Phaneroo: To "reveal, make known, show, manifest", the adverb of which means "'openly', 'publically', so that people can see", which is "the opposite of en krypto, 'in secret'" (C. Brown, in The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 3, article: "Revelation", p. 320, editor: Colin Brown, Zondervan Publishing House, 1975). Used in John and by Paul as a synonym for apokalypto, having the sense of 'make visible'" (Ibid, p.321). New Testament writers also use the word "phaneroo" (to make manifest and visible) to describe the public visibility of the rapture. It is connected to the day of judgment when the righteous are rewarded: (1 Jn. 3:2) Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed [phaneroo] what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed [phaneroo], we will be like him; for we will see [optanomai] him just as he is. (Col. 3:4) When Christ, our life, is revealed [phaneroo "make manifest or visible what had been hidden"], then you will also be revealed [phaneroo] with him in glory. (1 Pet. 5:4) When the chief Shepherd is revealed [phaneroo], you will receive the crown of glory that doesn't fade away. Optanomai: This is the middle voice of optomai: to be seen, to appear, to be looked at. It "signifies to allow oneself to be seen" (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, article: "Appear, Appearing", W. E. Vine, 1939/1984, Thomas Nelson Publishers, p. 32). An English derivative is the word "optometrist", an eye doctor. Erchomai: Is the most frequent (common) verb meaning "to come". It is sometimes used as a synonym for the Greek word heko which emphasizes the arrival aspect of having come. Erchomai is often in conjuction with prepositions indicating the direction of the coming. Of persons it means: "to come from one place to another, and used both of persons arriving to appear, make one's appearance, come before the public." (Englishman- Strong's Concordance, Greek number 2064, electronic version, copyright 1993 by Online Bible, Winterbourne, ONT) Apokalupsis/Apokalupto: "The verb apokalypto, unveil, formed from kalypto, cover up, conceal, and apo, from " denotes "the disclosure of previously hidden things; the noun apokalypsis, disclosure, revelation, is used from the 1st century

B.C. onwards, and then predominantly in a religious sense." Even though it is sometimes used as a synonym for phaneroo, apokalypto "refers to the removal of a covering" while phaneroo implies bringing something into the light (W. Mundle, in The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 3, article: "Revelation", pp. 310, 312, editor: Colin Brown, Zondervan Publishing House, 1975). Both describe a means of revealing something so that it can be known. All of the above words are used by the New Testament to describe Christ's second coming, which includes (as we shall shortly discover) the rapture of the Church. Far from being a secret event, the above words demonstrate that the second coming of Christ and the resurrection and rapture of the Church will be a very public and open event visible to all and by all. The connotation of these words argues heavily against the baseless opinion that the rapture will be a secret event whereby non-believers will suddenly and inexplicably be found alone in unmanned cars and planes and buses that suddenly careen out of control when their Christian operators mysteriously vanish at the rapture. This fairly recent and popular notion has absolutely no foundation in the scriptures themselves but is instead a theological construct that has been injuriously imposed upon God's holy word.

Key Words NOT Used:

If, on the other hand, the writers of the New Testament has wanted to describe any aspect of Christ's second coming (including the resurrection and the rapture of the Church) as something secret or hidden, then they would most certainly would have used one or more of the following words: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Aoratos - invisible Apokrupto - to hide, conceal, keep secret Kalupto - to hide, veil, to hinder the knowledge of a thing Kruptos (English derivative: cryptic) - hidden, concealed, secret Krypto - to hide, conceal, to be hid, escape notice, to conceal (that it may not become known) Lathra - secretly Musterion (English derivative: mystery) - hidden thing, secret, mystery, generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals; or a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding; or a hidden purpose or counsel of either men or God to keep something hidden from enemies while disclosing it to allies. Parakalupto - to cover over, cover up, hide, conceal Perikrupto - to conceal on all sides or entirely, to hide, seclude

8. 9.

but the fact is that the New Testament writers did NOT use ANY of these words to describe the coming of Christ to resurrect and rapture his church. Why? Because there is nothing secret or hidden about the coming of Christ to rapture the Church! Instead, Christ's coming to rapture the Church will be a very visible and public event.

Below are 2 Important Words that Need to be Understood

Parousia
The word parousia "means arrival, someone's coming in order to be present. Technically the noun is used for the arrival of a ruler a king, emperor, ruler, or even troops from the Ptolemaic period to the 2nd century A.D." (G. Braumann, in The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 2, article: "Present", p. 898, editor: Colin Brown, Zondervan Publishing House, 1975) When the word parousia is used concerning Christ, it is also used as a specialized or "technical term," since it speaks "nearly always of his Messianic advent in glory to judge the world at the end of the age" (Greek-English Lexicon by Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich, p.635); Greek (NA26) (Matthew 24:3) ' , , . English (HCSB) (Matthew 24:3) While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:27) For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37) As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. Events Jesus explains in the following verses that previous to his coming there will be: wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues, betrayals, false messiahs, false prophets, deceptions, persecutions, tribulation.

(Matthew 24:27) , .

Christs coming [parousia - so as to be present on the earth with his saints] will be as quick as lightning The days before his coming/parousia will be like Noah's day the ungodly ignoring all warnings to do as they please

(Matthew 24:37) , .

(Matthew 24:39) , . (1 Corinthians 15:23) , (1 Thessalonians 2:19) ;

(Matthew 24:39) They didn't know until the flood came and swept them all away. So this is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be: (1 Corinthians 15:23) But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, the people of Christ. (1 Thessalonians 2:19) For who is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you?

Christs 2nd coming will catch the ungodly unprepared. [See 1st Thess. 5:4-5]

The resurrection/rapture occurs at the parousia.

The parousia is the joyous hoped for time when Paul can boast of those saved by his ministry Paul prays that his readers hearts are made blameless (which implies it will be a time of judgment) in holiness by the time of Christs parousia, which includes Christ's coming with all his holy ones (cf. Mt 25:31; and 2nd Thess 1:7) which includes his angelic army and his faithful believers. Verses 16 and 17 say that the parousia includes the resurrection and rapture of the dead and then the rapture of the faithful who remain alive.

(1 Thessalonians 3:13) . .

(1 Thessalonians 3:13) May He make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

(1 Thessalonians 4:15) ,

(1 Thessalonians 4:15) For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord's coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep.

(1 Thessalonians 5:23) , . (2 Thessalonians 2:1) , , ' , (2 Thessalonians 2:8) , , (James 5:7) , , . , ' .

(1 Thessalonians 5:23) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Again Paul prays may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming/parousia of our Lord. Compare with verse 3:13 above.

(2 Thessalonians 2:1) Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: we ask you, brothers, (2 Thessalonians 2:8) and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of His mouth and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of His coming. (James 5:7) Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.

The parousia includes our being gathered to Christ (i.e., the rapture).

The Lord Jesus will destroy the Lawless One with the breath of His mouth and will bring him to nothing with the brightness of his coming

patience will be needed to be able to successfully endure until Christ return

(2 Peter 1:16) , ' . (2 Peter 3:4) , ; ' , ' . (2 Peter 3:12) , ' . (1 John 2:28) , , , ' .

(2 Peter 1:16) For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. (2 Peter 3:4) saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation." (2 Peter 3:12) as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be on fire and be dissolved, and the elements will melt with the heat. (1 John 2:28) So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

His coming/return will be full of power

Many people will be mockers of Christ's 2nd coming prior to his return

the heavens will be on fire and be dissolved, and the elements will melt with the heat

If we remain in Him then we can be bold (rather than fearful) when he returns (for judgment)

Apantesis
"When a dignitary paid an official visit or parousia to a city in Hellenistic times, the action of the leading citizens in going out to meet him and escorting him on the final stage of his journey was called the apantesis ..." (F.F. Bruce, in New Bible Commentary, 1970, p.1159). "The use of apantesis in 1 Thess. 4:17 is noteworthy. The ancient expression for the civic welcome of an important visitor or the triumphal entry of a new ruler into the capital city and thus to his reign is applied to Christ. 'Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord ( ) in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.' The same thoughts occur in the parable of the ten virgins. The virgins leave to meet the bridegroom ( ) i.e. the Lord, to whom they wish to give a festive reception (Matt. 25:1)." (W. Mundle, in The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 1, article: "Come", p. 325, editor: Colin Brown, Zondervan Publishing House, 1975) Greek (NA26) English (HCSB) Events (Matthew 25:1) , . (Matthew 25:6) , , .

(Matthew 25:1) "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. (Matthew 25:6) "In the middle of the night there was a shout: 'Here's the groom! Come out to meet him.' (Acts 28:15) Now the believers from there [Rome] had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as Forum of Appius and Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

The virgins went out to meet and escort the groom to the bridal festivities.

(see the above) Paul had left Puteoli to go to Rome, The believers in Rome went out of Rome to meet Paul so as to accompany him to his destination. The next verse makes this clear: (Acts 28:16) And when we entered Rome

(Acts 28:15) , .

(1 Thessalonians 4:17) .

(1 Thessalonians 4:17) Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord.

Believers meet the Lord in the air. This is not the destination of the Lord, nor do believers stay with the Lord "in the air" for a prolonged time. No, they go out to meet him and accompany him as he prepares to come to the earth.

Factoids:
Fact: The idea of a pre-tribulation rapture was 1st mentioned around the year 500-600 AD in a sermon entitled "On the Last Times, the Anti-Christ, and the End of the World" written by a person claiming to be Ephraim the Syrian (a good preacher and poet who lived around 350 AD). The Church was not deceived by this new doctrine, and very few people (if any) accepted this strange teaching. Fact: The next mention of a pre-tribulation rapture came from a theology student (Morgan Edwards) somewhere between the years 1742 and 1744 while he was a student at Bristol Baptist Seminary in England. It was part of a theological paper he was writing. Letters exchanged between Morgan Edwards and his theology instructor show that Morgan never believed in a pre-tribulation rapture and Morgans preaching (after his graduation) shows no trace of a pre-tribulation rapture idea. Fact: The modern day widespread notion of a pre-tribulation rapture can only be traced back as far as the early 1800's. The idea began around 1820 AD, in both Scotland and Ireland. A group of very influential preachers from the Plymouth Brethren developed the doctrine and began to teach it. Not all of the Plymouth Brethren accepted this strange new teaching many of them denouncing it openly. Fact: John Darby and C.I. Schofield were two of the biggest promoters of this new doctrine. It was included in C.I. Scofields Study Bible and was quickly adopted by many preachers in the U.S.A. Fact: Proponents of the pre-tribulation rapture believe in a secret second coming of Christ to rapture the Church some seven years or so before He publicly returns at the end of the tribulation. Fact: The writers of the Greek New Testament never once used vocabulary that would suggest that Christ's coming to rapture the Church would be secret or hidden from the general public. Instead, all of the New Testament Greek words used to refer to Christ's coming are words that signify a very open, public, and visible event.

Fact: The grammatical constructs used in the Greek New Testament make it quite clear that Christ's visible second coming is linked to the rapture of the Church. These events are not separated by a seven-year tribulation period nor by a 3 and one half-year period, rather they are instances of a whole series of events that transpire in quick succession when Christ visibly returns at the end of the great tribulation. Fact: The simple and clear teaching New Testament text and the history of the Apostolic Church make it quite clear that the Church must be prepared and ready to recognize and endure the great end-time apostasy, the great tribulation, and the many false prophets and messiahs that would arise including the Antichrist himself. Lastly, the doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture necessitates many an artificial distinction and forces the reader to reinterpret the scriptures in a rather convoluted manner so as to make their novel theory work. This does an injustice not only to the scriptures, but also does a grave disservice to those so trained in this tradition. A Church prepared to avoid the great tribulation will certainly not be prepared to endure it.

Post-Tribulation Rapture - Supporting Scriptures:

Here are the scriptures which support a post-tribulation rapture of the Church when Christ openly and visibly comes at the END of the great tribulation upon the clouds of glory surrounded by his mighty heavenly angels to: resurrect the dead believers, rapture them unto himself along with believers who are still alive, and then returns to the earth with his people:

2nd Thessalonians 2:1-2

(Verse 1) Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: we ask you, brothers, "Now concerning the coming" coming = (parousia) this term refers to the public coming of a person (often used of a ruler, a king, or an emperor) who intends to arrive at his final destination. This is not a word used of someone who intends to come only halfway to his destination and then turns back which is what pre-tribulation rapture believers teach. Nor is it a secret or invisible coming, as they insist it must be when Christ comes to rapture His Church. No, it is a very public coming with a view towards arriving at the final destination - in this case, a coming from the heavenly realms to the earth. "the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him" The grammar that Paul used was quite clear to the readers of his own day. The words "the coming" ( [the parousia: the public coming of the Lord]) are joined by the word "and" () to the noun "gathering together" ( - that is, the rapture) which is

without an article of its own. Both nouns are genitive, singular, feminine. This construction links together the very public "coming of the Lord" with "our being gathered to Him" This construction made it clear that the two events were connected and most likely overlapping in time. The order of the words are important as well: Christ's visible 2nd coming (returning to the earth) and then the rapture of the saints as he descends (riding upon the clouds of glory, surrounded by the angelic host and accompanied by the saints). This is definitely NOT speaking of some secret pre-tribulation rapture that is hidden from public view. To say that these events are separated by a seven year gap is to read something into the text of 2nd Thessalonians 2:1 that is not there. Doing so is an injustice to the word of God and is something that Paul did not intend and would not condone. This is nearly the same grammatical contruction as he used in Titus 2:13 where Paul writes about "the blessed hope" ( [accusative, singular, feminine]) which he joins by the word "and" () to the word "shining appearance" ( [accusative, singular, feminine]) of Christ. This means that the "blessed hope" is linked to the very visible and illuminated appearing of Christ. They stand together, and they describe the same event. While modern readers, who rely on English translations, or beginning students of Greek might miss this point, Paul's readers would most definitely have recognized these connections without any difficulty. (Verse 2) not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord is at hand. Apparently, from what Paul states, someone had begun to spread the rumor that the "Day of the Lord" was just about to take place or had somehow already taken place - furthermore, it was being said that this message came from Paul (or some equally prestigious source). The "Day of the Lord" is a very Jewish concept from the Old Testament. It was a time when the Lord would come in judgment to punish the wicked and reward the righteous (see Joel, Obadiah, Zephaniah, etc). With the advent of Jesus, believers now knew who the Lord was and so began referring to "that Day" as the Day of Christ - the Day of the Messiah (see Acts 2:16-36). There is NO difference between the various phrases used to describe this "Day": the Day of the Lord, that Day, the Day of Christ, the Day of the Lord Jesus, and the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ. Any attempt by

modern readers to make a distinction between these phrases is wholly misguided - they are reading something into the text that was entirely foreign to Paul and his readers. For those who interpreted this false message/rumor to mean that the "Day of the Lord" was immediately about to take place, we can see how it would encourage people to quit their jobs and just wait on the coming of the Lord and the rapture, and the ensuing day of judgment where the wicked would be punished and the righteous rewarded. We see Paul address this subject in 2nd Thessalonians 3:6-11. For those who might have understood this message to mean that the "Day of the Lord" had already occurred, then they would be disturbed to think that somehow the Lord had already come and the rapture had taken place, but that they had somehow been "left behind" and remained in the midst of tribulation and persecution. Either way (or both together), the rumor had greatly upset and troubled the church. As we saw in verse 1, Paul had already begun to ease their mind and correct the false rumor by declaring that Christ's 2nd coming to the earth would include the rapture -our gathering together unto Him. Since Paul was still here to write them this letter, the rapture had not yet taken place - so the people in the church in Thessalonica had not been "left behind". In verse 2 Paul continues to calm their troubled hearts and minds by flatly telling them that the Day of Christ was NOT yet upon them ... something that he goes on to clarify in verses 3-5 and following. A basic timeline of coming events: Mt. 24:5-8 Wars, Famines, Earthquakes, and False Messiahs are but the beginning (4) Then Jesus replied to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. (5) For many will come [] in My name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many. (6) You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. (7) For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (8) All these events are the beginning of birth pains. Mt. 24:9 Then the persecution/betrayal of Christians and the rise of false prophets and lawlessness. (9) "Then they will hand you over for persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name. (10) Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another. (11) Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. (12) Because

lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. (13) But the one who endures to the end [] will be delivered. Mt 24:14 The gospel has to be proclaimed the throughout the world 1st and then the end comes (14) This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end [] will come [ = be present/arrive]. Mt. 24:15-20 The Abomination of Desolation takes place (15) "So when you see the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place" (let the reader understand), (16) "then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! (17) A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house. (18) And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes. (19) Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! (20) Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. Mt. 24:21-22 The great tribulation begins at that time (22) For at that time there will be great tribulation [], the kind that hasn't taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again! (22) Unless those days were limited, no one would survive. But those days will be limited because of the elect. Mt 24:27 The 2nd Coming of Christ (27) For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming [] of the Son of Man. Mt. 24:29 AFTER the Tribulation Jesus comes with the angels and resurrects/raptures us (31) "Immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken. (30) "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear [] in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see [ ] the Son of Man coming [] on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. 2nd Thess. 2:1, 3 The second coming of Christ and the rapture come after Antichrist is revealed (1) Now concerning the coming [] of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: we ask you, brothers, (3) Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.

Jn 6:39, 40, 44, 54 Jesus will raise us at the last [ = last, final, uttermost] day (39) This is the will of Him who sent Me: that I should lose none of those He has given Me but should raise them up on the last [] day. (40) For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last [] day." (44) No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last [] day. (54) Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last [] day, 1st Thess. 3:13 - Christians still alive will be made holy when Christ comes back with his saints/holy ones (13) May He make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming [] of our Lord Jesus with all His saints [lit: holy ones]. Amen. 1st Thess. 4:14-17 This happens at the sounding of the trumpet (14) Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. (15) For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord's coming [] will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord. Rapture, Resurrection, Last Trumpet - See: Mt. 24:31 (31) He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. 1st Cor. 15:51-52 (51) Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, (52) 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 will be changed. 1st Thess. 4:16-17

(16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord. Rev. 8:2, 11:15 8:2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God; seven trumpets were given to them. 11:15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying: The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever! Revelation 16:12-17 When? Between the 6th & 7th bowl of judgment, Jesus announces he is coming. (12) The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east. (13) Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming from the dragon's mouth, from the beast's mouth, and from the mouth of the false prophet. (14) For they are spirits of demons performing signs, who travel to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle of the great day of God, the Almighty. (15) "Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is alert and remains clothed so that he may not go naked, and they see his shame." (16) So they assembled them at the place called in Hebrew Armagedon. (17) Then the seventh poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the sanctuary, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 1st Thess. 5:4 (4) But you, brothers, are not in the dark, so that this day would overtake you like a thief. [Compare with Matthew 24:43 and 1st Thessalonians 5:2] Mt. 25:31-34, 41, 46 Then there is the judgment (31) "When the Son of Man comes [] in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. (32) All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (33) He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. (34) Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (41) Then He will also say to those on the left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!

(46) "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." 2nd Thess. 1:6-10 (6) it is righteous for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, (7) and to reward with rest you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation [ ] of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful angels, (8) taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who don't know God and on those who don't obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (9) These will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction, away from the Lord's presence and from His glorious strength, (10) in that day when He comes [] to be glorified by His saints and to be admired by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed. 1st Thess. 5:4 (4) But you, brothers, are not in the dark, so that this day would overtake you like a thief.

NOTE: Faithful followers of God/Christ are always shielded from Gods wrath Noah was preserved while he and his family were in the midst of the rains and flood The Children of Israel were protected from the plagues of Egypt just before the Exodus Daniel was protected while in the lions den Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego we shielded from the flames while in the fiery furnace. Jesus told the early Church to flee Jerusalem when it is surrounded by hostile troops Believers (in Revelation) will be warned to leave Rome before its destruction

Overcoming Pre-Trib Arguments:

The following is from a Baptist Newsletter published in January of the year 2000. It is interesting because Baptists are known for believing in a pretribulation rapture. The author of this article does not appear to believe in the pre-trib rapture and gives us some good arguments against it. The 3 basic pre-trib arguments that the author refutes are in bold print below: The Rapture of the Saints by Herbert W. Butt http://www.pbministries.org/Newsletter/2000/Jan/butt01_01.htm Revelation 3:10 is often appealed to as undoubted support for the pre-tribulation rapture theory. But the language, I will keep thee

from the hour of temptation does not demand such an interpretation. The same verb and preposition are used in John 17:15 where there is no idea of bodily removal of the disciples from the world but preservation from the power of evil in its very presence. The same preposition is found in Galatians 1:4 where no physical removal from this age is in view but deliverance from its influence. Moreover, the promise of Revelation 3:10 applies primarily to the church of Philadelphia of Johns day. It was fulfilled not in its physical removal from the world but by way of sustaining grace through the trial that came upon it. Some pre-tribulationists insist the 24 elders of the Revelation are the translated church in heaven. They may represent the church and yet without involving the idea of a previous rapture. There is no conclusive proof they do represent the church, however. In fact, they could be angels. In Revelation 7:14 John addresses one of the elders as his superior; and in 11:18 the elders distinguish themselves from the prophets, the saints and those who fear Gods name. In 14:3 the elders are differentiated from the purchased from the earth who sing a song the elders cannot learn. Whoever the elders are, the inference made that they are the pre-tribulation raptured church is without biblical warrant. It is argued that after Revelation 3:22 there is no mention of the church, on earth, therefore it must be raptured before the events described thereafter. But there is no mention of the church as the corporate body of the redeemed before 3:22, nor thereafter is church used even of the saints in heaven. Is there no church in heaven? After 3:22 believers are called saints, brethren and other such titles befitting members of Christs mystical body. If they are not members of the universal church of Christ who are they? Christ has only one flock (John 10: 16). All the saints of all the ages have the same inheritance in Christ (John 11:52; Eph. 2:11-22; Heb. 11:13-16, 32-40; Rev. 21:12 and 14) and ultimately are in union with the ascended Christ whether in their days on earth they were citizens of theocratic Israel, of a congregation of believers among Gentiles, or earthly participants in the millennial kingdom. Moreover, the word church does not occur in 1 Timothy, Titus, 1 and 2 Peter, and 1 and 2 John. Does this prove the absence of the church? The stock argument of pre-tribulationists is that the church cannot be on earth during the Great Tribulation because Gods wrath will then be poured out. But as we have seen, saints are on the earth then. Are only some saints exempted from Gods wrath? Surely not. All are. However, Scripture makes clear that whatever Divine wrath falls upon men in the Tribulation it will not strike the saints (Rev. 7:3; 9:4; 16:2, 6, 10) any more than the plagues in Egypt befell the Israelites. The Purpose of the Rapture and Application

The purpose of the rapture, then, is not to remove the saints from the world prior to the final infidel persecution under the antichrist, but to gather them to Christ at His coming to execute judgment in the earth that He might be glorified in them and marveled at by them (2 Thess. 1:10). He will be glorified in their being manifested in glory with Him and acting as co-adjudicators and co-regents with Him (Col. 3:4; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 3:21; 5:10; 20:4; 22:5). It behooves us who profess His Name to seek grace to prove ourselves worthy of such incomprehensible honor at His appearing and kingdom (2 Thess. 1:11, 12). At another website (http://poweredbychrist.com/files/articles/Questions.htm) there are these thoughts: For those that believe that Revelation 3:10 describes a promise of a pre-tribulation rapture, please compare it with 1Corinthians 10:13: Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. The argument is presented by dispensationalists that the church will be raptured because we are not appointed unto wrath (1Thess.5:9). I agree that God has not appointed us to wrath and a careful examination of the book of Revelation will divulge the fact that the wrath of God does not begin until the sixth seal (Rev.6:12-17), which happens concurrently with the seventh (last) trumpet (Rev.11:15-19) and the seventh vial (Rev.16:17-21). This is evidenced by the fact that several of the same events are described in the 6th seal, the 7th trumpet and the 7th vial, which happen at the end of the tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31). ----------

Authors you might wish to read for a more in depth analysis:

The Blessed Hope: A Biblical Study of the Second Advent and the Rapture by George Eldon Ladd (Mar 20, 1990) Paperback: 167 pages Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.; PF edition (March 20, 1990) ISBN-10: 0802811116 ISBN-13: 978-0802811110

George Eldon Ladd (19111982) was a Baptist minister and professor of New Testament exegesis and theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. THE RAPTURE PLOT: Third Edition by Dave MacPherson (1994, 2000) BOOK SPECIFICATIONS 300 pages, paper, appendices, bibliography, index. Publisher: Millennium III Publishers ISBN 0934666857 NOTE: Dave read my website posting Better Late than Never and very much agreed with it and enjoyed it he only asked me to make one small correction to it which I did. He has done more research than anyone else on the origins of the pre-tribulation rapture theory. Born 1932 of Scotch/English descent, Dave MacPherson is a natural for British historical research. His calling was journalism. Receiving a BA in English in 1955, he spent 26 years as a newsman reporting and filming many notable events, persons, presidents and dignitaries. His wife, the former Wanda Radar of Kansas City, has for years been his "research partner." Through these many years Dave has been honing a delightful writing style, a flair for journalistic sleuthing, and a meticulous research accuracy which, for over a quarter century, has been focused on the history of pretrib rapturism, which now culminates in The Rapture Plot. Also see Dave Macphersons article (a timeline) at: http://poweredbychrist.com/Pretrib_Rapture_Dishonesty.html Biblical Studies in Final Things by William E. Cox, September 1966, 1992 Publisher: P & R Publishing ISBN-10: 0875521525 ISBN-13: 978-0875521527 Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem, 1994 Hardcover: 1264 pages Publisher: Zondervan ISBN-10: 0310286700 ISBN-13: 978-0310286707 Wayne Grudem holds a BA from Harvard University, a Master of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. In 2001, Grudem became Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary. Prior to that, he had taught for 20 years at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, where he

was chairman of the department of Biblical and Systematic Theology[1]. Grudem served on the committee overseeing the English Standard Version translation of the Bible, and from 2005 to 2008 he served as General Editor for the 2.1 million-word ESV Study Bible (which was named "2009 Christian Book of the Year" by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Wayne Grudem holds to noncessationist Charismatic beliefs and was at one time a qualified supporter of the Vineyard Movement and one of the main apologists and spokesmen for reuniting Charismatic, Reformed, and Evangelical churches.