Rapture ~ L. rapio 1 Thess. 4:17 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Different views on the Rapture Post-tribulation ~ The Rapture will take place following the 7-year period of the Tribulation Partial rapture ~ The spiritual Christians will be raptured at the beginning of the 7-year period of the Tribulation; the carnal ones will go through the Tribulation

Different views on the Rapture Mid-Tribulation ~ The Rapture will take place in the middle of the 7-year period of the Tribulation (in recent years it’s been superceded by the Pre-wrath Rapture position) Pre-Tribulation ~ All born again believers will be raptured at the beginning of the 7-year period of the Tribulation        

Preterism A Christian belief system in which some or all of the end-time events specified in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) are believed to have already been fulfilled. They were accomplished in the past, particularly during the Roman- Jewish war of AD 66 to 73

Preterism Matt. 24 ~ 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

Matt. 24:34 (Leading proponents) R. C. Sproul ~ "I am convinced that the substance of the Olivet Discourse was fulfilled in A.D. 70…"

Matt. 24:34 (Leading proponents) Ken Gentry ~ "This statement of Christ is indisputably clear-and absolutely demanding of a first- century fulfillment of the events in the preceding verses, including the Great Tribulation."

Matt. 24:34 (Leading proponents) Gary DeMar ~ "(I believe) that all the events prior to Matthew 24:34 referred to events leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70."

"All these things" did not take place in AD 70 No "abomination of desolation" (24:15) Son of Man did not appear (24:27) Sun wasn't darkened (24:29) The Jews were not rescued (24:31)

Revelation 1:1 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place.

Revelation 22:12 12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."

tachus (tacu") The primary idea is that of speedily, swiftly Jesus wasn't saying when it would happen but that when it did it would happen quickly

Didache 16:6-17 (ca. early 1st century) For in the last days false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate; for when lawlessness increases, they shall hate and persecute and betray one another, and then shall appear the world-deceiver as Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands, and he shall do iniquitous things which have never yet come to pass since the beginning. Then shall

Didache 16:6-17 (ca. early 1st century) the creation of men come into the fire of trial, and many shall be made to stumble and shall perish; but those who endure in their faith shall be saved from under the curse itself. And then shall appear the signs of the truth: first, the sign of an outspreading in heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet. And third, the resurrection of the dead – yet not of all, but as it is said: "The Lord shall come and all His saints with Him." Then shall the world see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.

Comparison of Luke 21 and Zech Luke 21 Zechariah Day of the desolation of Jerusalem (vs. 20) Day of deliverance of Jerusalem (12:7–8) Day of vengeance against Jerusalem (vs. 22) Day of victory for Jerusalem (12:4–6) Jerusalem trampled by Gentiles (vs. 24) Jerusalem transformed by God (14:4–10)

Comparison of Luke 21 and Zech Luke 21 Zechariah Great distress upon the Land (vs. 23) Great deliverance for the Land (13:2) Jerusalem destroyed (a.d. 70) “in order that all things which are written (concerning the Jewish People) may be fulfilled” (in the future), (vs. 22) Jerusalem rescued and redeemed that all things written (concerning Jewish People) may be fulfilled (13:1–9); cf. Rom. 11:25– 27)

Partial Rapture Position Luke 21 ~ 36 "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." (to Israel)

Partial Rapture Position Phil. 3 ~ 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (cp w/ v. 8 ~ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.)

Partial Rapture Position 2 Tim. 4 ~ 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. Rewards

Theological problems 1. Accomplishment of Christ Propitiation Reconciliation Redemption 2. Unity of the Church 3. Promotes legalism

Post-tribulation Rapture Position 1. Argument against immanence Death of Peter Imprisonment of Paul Destruction of the Temple

Post-tribulation Rapture Position 2. Promise of Tribulation Olivet Discourse John 16:33 Early Church "Suffering" Church

Post-tribulation Rapture Position 3. Argument from Resurrection cp 1 Thess. 4 ~ 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Post-tribulation Rapture Position 3. Argument from Resurrection w/ Rev. 20 ~ 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

Post-tribulation Rapture Position 3. Argument from Resurrection 2 Cor. 15 ~ 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 1st Resurrection: From Easter morning to Tribulation saints Like stages of the wheat harvest

Mid-tribulation Rapture Position 1. Compromise between the pre- & post- 2. Overlapping of ages (AD 30 and AD 70)

Mid-tribulation Rapture Position 3. Seals and Trumpets Seals ~ man's evil unleashed Trumpets ~ Satan's evil unleashed

Mid-tribulation Rapture Position 3. Seals and Trumpets Rev. 6 (after 6th Seal) ~ 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" Has come ~ ēlthen – aorist tense

Mid-tribulation Rapture Position 3. Seals and Trumpets Rev. 11 (after 6th Trumpet ~ 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come Has come ~ ēlthen – aorist tense

Mid-tribulation Rapture Position 4. The Last Trumpet 1 Cor. 15 ~ 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 shall be changed.

Mid-tribulation Rapture Position 4. The Last Trumpet 1 Thess. 4 ~ 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first

Mid-tribulation Rapture Position 4. The Last Trumpet Rev. 11 ~ 15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"

Mid-tribulation Rapture Position 4. The Last Trumpet cp. Zech. 14 ~ 16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles

Mid-tribulation Rapture Position 4. The Last Trumpet w/ Num. 10 ~ 10 Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings

Pre-wrath Rapture Position 5. That Day of 2 Thess. 2 2 Thess. 2 ~ 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition

The Purpose for the Tribulation 1. Dan. 9 ~ 27 "Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy."

The Purpose for the Tribulation 2. Rev. 3 ~ 10 "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth"