The Pre-Tribulation Rapture & Why it Matters

Introduction

Today, I decided to offer you a Bible study today on the Rapture. Yes, I know my blog is all about recovery; however, this is truly a faith lifter. I believe this study will bring you peace and joy knowing how much our God cares. I hope you enjoy this. I love Bible studies that increase our faith and give us spectacular hope. We’re only here on earth for a short time… then it’s Heaven for all eternity for those who believe!

The pre-tribulation rapture is our solid belief that Jesus Christ will return to take us (believers) to heaven before a seven-year period of tribulation described in the Book of Revelation. Those of us who believe in the pre-trib rapture will be spared from the horrific wrath of the tribulation. We will be “caught up” to meet Jesus Christ in the air. Below, let’s identify the scriptures that support this doctrine, followed by discussion questions for reflection.

Key Scriptures Supporting the Pre-Tribulation Rapture

1. The Promise of Being Caught Up

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV):
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, 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.”

• Explanation: The term “caught up” (Greek: harpazo) implies a sudden removal or snatching away of believers to meet Christ. This passage describes a distinct event where believers, both living and dead, are taken to be with the Lord. This event occurs before the tribulation, as it focuses on the church’s reunion with Christ and His Bride (us) rather than judgment on the earth.

2. Exemption from God’s Wrath

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 (ESV):
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.”

• his passage emphasizes that believers are not appointed to experience God’s wrath. The tribulation is a period of divine wrath (Revelation 6-19), the church will be removed beforehand to avoid it. The focus on salvation and living with Christ supports the idea of divine protection for believers.

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.”
Jesus in Matthew 24:21

3. The Imminence of Christ’s Return

Titus 2:13 (ESV):
“Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

• The “blessed hope” refers to Christ’s return for His church, which could happen at any moment (an imminent return). No specific signs are required to precede the rapture, unlike the second coming described in Revelation 19, which follows clear tribulation events. This imminence encourages us to live in readiness.

4. The Church’s Absence in Tribulation Descriptions

Revelation 3:10 (ESV):
“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.”

• Addressed to the church in Philadelphia, this verse promises protection from a global “hour of trial,” interpreted as the tribulation. The phrase “keep you from” (Greek: tereo ek) suggests complete removal from the trial, not preservation through it, supporting the pre-tribulation rapture view.

5. The Restrainer Removed

2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 (ESV):
“And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed…”

• Explanation: The “restrainer” is often interpreted as the Holy Spirit working through the church. Pre-tribulationists argue that the church’s removal (via the rapture) allows the Antichrist (“the lawless one”) to be revealed, marking the start of the tribulation. This powerfully suggests the rapture precedes the tribulation’s events.

6. The Order of Events in Revelation

Revelation 4:1-2 (ESV):
“After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ At once I was in the Spirit…”

• Some scholars see John’s being called up to heaven as symbolic of the church’s rapture. After Revelation 3, the church is not mentioned in the tribulation narrative (Revelation 6-19), strongly suggesting believers are no longer on earth during this period.

Additional Considerations

• The Day of the Lord: The tribulation is often associated with the “Day of the Lord,” a time of judgment (Joel 2:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:2). Pre-tribulationists argue that believers are exempt from this judgment, as seen in promises like Luke 21:36: “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
• Distinction Between Rapture and Second Coming: The rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) involves meeting Christ in the air, while the second coming (Revelation 19:11-16) sees Christ return to earth with His saints to defeat evil and establish His kingdom. These as very separate events, with the rapture occurring first.

Discussion Questions

1. How does the promise of being “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 shape your understanding of Christ’s return?
2. What does it mean to you that believers are “not destined for wrath” (1 Thessalonians 5:9)? How does this influence your view of the tribulation?
3. Revelation 3:10 speaks of being kept from the “hour of trial.” How do you interpret this promise in light of the pre-tribulation rapture?
4. How does the concept of an imminent return (Titus 2:13) affect the way you live your daily life as a Christian?
5. What challenges or alternative interpretations have you encountered regarding the pre-tribulation rapture, and how do these scriptures address them?

As you can see, the pre-tribulation rapture is supported by scriptures emphasizing the church’s removal before God’s wrath, the imminence of Christ’s return, and the absence of the church in tribulation accounts. While other views (mid-tribulation, post-tribulation) exist, the passages above provide a foundation for the pre-tribulation perspective. Reflect on these scriptures prayerfully, seeking God’s guidance to understand His plan for the end times.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word, which guides us in truth. Help us to study these scriptures with open hearts, trusting in Your promise to deliver us from wrath through Jesus Christ. May we live in readiness for Your return, sharing Your love with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have a blessed rest of your day! Serving Jesus is the best thing in life! Hoping to see you “in the air” soon!