I want to revisit a site that I made you aware of in our last post.

There are three views surrounding the Raptures Timing.  The pre-Trib view has many interesting arguments, but Scripture frankly  must be the foundation for our doctrine. The following quote reveals one such pre Trib argument. 

“When we speak of the Church Age, we use the term “Intercalation.” Have you ever heard of “intercalation?” One of the benefits of this lesson is that you get a new word. An intercalation means “something inserted,” as the way that theological grammar describes it—something inserted between two existing things such as Wednesday and Thursday. If you put a new day between Wednesday and Thursday, “suddenly, unexpectedly, we have a brand-new day—what we call an “intercalation.” At the beginning of the week, you couldn’t see it coming. Suddenly, you’re told today is not Thursday after Wednesday, tomorrow is not Saturday, tomorrow is some new day. The Church Age is an intercalation in history—a new day inserted upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” End of quote. 

So the Church age itself, it is argued, is a “Sudden Surprise” on the existing pages of man’s history.”  

I want to take a pause now, to digest this thinking.  Obviously, the time and events were stated in Scripture, because Jesus condemned the Authorities for not knowing the time of their visitation. His time was prophesied but somehow ignored by the Priesthood.  But, Simeon and Anna are recorded in Luke chapter 2 as expecting His arrival. Scripture states of Anna:

Luke 2:38  And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (KJV)

Men who are filled with the Holy Spirit and who search Gods Word will know the times and seasons, of their visitation.  This Church will exist just as the Father had revealed it to Peter: “Thou art the Christ (Messiah of Israel) Son of the living God.”  

Returning to “Basic Training Bible Ministries” argument for a pre Trib Rapture:

“All First Coming (Advent) prophecy has been fulfilled. Second Coming prophecy is yet to come.”  End of quote. 

There is an argument that none of the views concerning the Raptures timing can deny.  Our understanding on Raptures timing is all about presentation of Scripture concerning The Rapture.  When does it occur?  The pre-Trib argument stated here continues:

“And it’s critical for you to know it. It’s what we call the “Rapture” of the Church. Now you will hear people say, nobody taught the Rapture until John Darby came along and John Darby came up with the idea of the Rapture. Well, I hate to inform you, but it was really Jesus Christ who came up with it first, and then the Apostle Paul expanded on it.” End of quote. 

What you have just heard is presentation. It is stated as though what Darby taught came directly from Jesus and Paul straight from scripture; but did it?  Jesus stated that His Church would be built upon this foundation established upon the rock of truth that Peter had uttered: Thou art Israel’s Messiah, Son of the Living God.  Jesus was He which was to come, who is the chief cornerstone in His Church. 

This above statement wants to move us away from scriptural fact.   It was John Darby’s “timing of the Rapture” that was new, not the Rapture.  The catching up of Jesus people at His coming is clearly taught by Jesus in Mark chapter 13’s Mt Olivet discourse to be after Tribulation.  It was clearly taught by Paul to be after the dead in Christ would arise or be resurrected. A question that you must know the answer to, is this: are there or will there be men, who will die and whose bodies will be in the grave during the Tribulation, and before Christ’s second coming, and will they be awaiting Christ’s coming to resurrect their body?   For Paul taught:

1 Thessalonians 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (KJV)

My question to you is this: is the presentation that you are hearing the same presentation that is made in Scripture?  Are Tribulation Saints who die for their faith, a part of “the dead in Christ”?

The pre-Trib Rapture argument is about the introduction of “an additional” appearance of the Christ.  To quote again these gentlemen:

“suddenly, unexpectedly, we have a brand-new day—what we call an “intercalation.” They do not reveal this pre-Trib Rapture as such a day, because, if Bible Prophecy has a purpose: it is to tell us what is to come.  They believe that their understanding of Scriptures truth will explain this intermediate coming of Christ (messiah) for His Church.  They believe that their understanding of Church excludes Israel. 

The Rapture of the Church, is an important concept.  “The Church”must be defined in Scripture’s doctrine.  Jesus’ statement to Peter and those disciples present was made to Jews who were accepting Him as the Christ or Jewish Messiah.  The Church of which Jesus was speaking had a Jewish fragrance.  Jesus, Himself tells us that His blood would be the blood of the New Covenant.  This Church identified with the new covenant was presented in Scripture to be a Jewish covenant.  His Jewish disciples understood His Messianic connection. 

I really do agree with this next quote:

“To me, this is one of the most important things that you and I can know during the time in which we live. So here we go. Let’s see how these five passages fit together, starting in John, chapter 14.”

I will continue speaking to their arguments from Scripture in the next few blog posts. At the end of this one I’m giving you the site location so that you can fully explore their position that I will be critiquing. 

Their arguments on the pre-Trib Rapture tend toward deception. I can’t help saying this: we have already seen some of it. At least this is the case,  in my mind, since they like to turn those not agreeing with them into Rapture deniers, and not treat this as a study needed of the timing as the issue.  Not all believers in a pre-Trib Rapture do what they do, but none of them seem to acknowledge these opposing arguments as needing answers, in order to attempt to explain: why they are not critical to the teaching of Scripture. My own opinion is that the Post-Trib not per-Trib Rapture not only does not deny the Rapture, but it sticks with Scriptural understanding of what is to come.  For example, this claim that the Wrath passages of the Old Testament speaks of the seven year Tribulation is just not factual.  (ie.) for the day of the Lord’s wrath destroys sinners. 

Isaiah 13:9  Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. (KJV). 

During Tribulation, even up unto the very end, sinners are given the opportunity to repent. These unbelievers during Tribulation actually seek death and cannot find it.

Revelation 16:9  And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. (KJV)

These viles of wrath from God which are causing their suffering are being poured out at the very end of the Tribulation at the time of Armageddon when Jesus states that He is coming as a thief.  Men are in the valley of decision and will not repent.  

Revelation 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.  16  And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (KJV)

Who are they that “watcheth, and keepeth… garments”, are they not “in Christ”?

1 Thessalonians 5:1 implies there will be no escape from this Day, yet men do escape Tribulation only to be destroyed by The wrath of the Lamb as He returns.  And some are not destroyed until Jesus is on earth to judge the nations.  Jesus in fact states that when He comes He will reward every man according to his works.  That process is not completed until the end of the Day of the Lord, at His great white throne judgment. 

The day of the Lord is also shown in Joel to be preceded by the same Sun, Moon and Stars darkening signs just as Jesus states them to occur in Mark 13. He states that they would occur accompanying His Second Coming after Tribulation. These facts are not explained as the Scriptures prove them to be, when teaching about the Pre-Trib timing. 

The Ministry bring critiqued here is shown below if you should want to explore it further.  The link is at the bottom to their arguments. 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGVSnWcOTSl/?igsh=MWloZ211amEzMGc5bg==

Sorry but you will need to search for this article as they do not provide or I can’t navigate the necessary link to it. but will continue providing their quotes.