Why the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Cannot be True

          I realize that as I am writing this article that I am treading on ‘sacred’ ground. This doctrine has been taught and believed by the vast majority of people I know. There are some people who actually become angry to the point of violence when you dare even suggest that the Pre-Trib doctrine is wrong. I have never understood this but there are many things that I don’t understand. The intention of this article is not to enrage people but to try and show people with scripture that the Pre-Trib doctrine simply is incorrect.

 The first thing that many Pre-Trib believers state is that the ‘church’ is not mentioned after Revelation chapter 4. This statement is based on the erroneous belief that the book of Revelation is in chronological order. This simply is wrong. If this book is chronological, then you will have 2 Anti- Messiah’s. Let’s take a look at Rev 6:1-2…

 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

 This is for the most part agreed by all the appearance of the Anti-Messiah. I have met or read few people who believe otherwise. Now let’s look at Rev 13: 1- 5…

 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

 Here is another clear indication that the Anti – Messiah is rising up. So if the book is chronological you now have 2 Anti-Messiah’s. The chronological theory doesn’t hold up. 

 Another problem with the Pre-Trib theory is located in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52….

 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

This is another clear reference to the rapture and very few have questioned that. We are to be raptured at the LAST trump, so where is the first Trump? If something is last then something else has to be first.

The final and what I consider the most clear evidence that Pre-Trib is incorrect is located in Revelation 20:4-5….

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.

These 2 verses completely destroy the Pre-Trib doctrine. Let’s look at the timeline for the Pre –Trib rapture.

Trumpet is sounded – all dead in the Messiah are raised – we who are alive and remain are caught up – we go to heaven for 7 years. Those left on the earth are forced to decide whether or not to take the Mark of the Beast.

I realize this is quite simple but it’s the basis of the Pre-Trib doctrine. Lets take a look at the verses we just posted and see if the Pre-Trib timeline will match up.

 John states that he saw those who had been beheaded because they refused to take the mark of the beast resurrected and reign with the Messiah for 1,000 years. According to the Pre-Trib doctrine, the rapture and resurrection takes place BEFORE the Mark of the Beast. John also stated that those people who refused to take the mark and became martyrs were part of the first Resurrection. How can someone who refused the Mark of the Beast be part of a resurrection that has already passed????? Also, according to John we know that those who are martyred for refusing the Mark of The Beast are in the 1,000 year Reign of the Messiah, so when do they get resurrected? John said he saw their resurrection so when did it happen. There are only two resurrections. The first is at the time of the rapture and the second is after the 1,000 years, so when do these Tribulation martyrs get resurrected???

These are very valid questions that cannot be answered by the Pre-Trib doctrine. The Pre-Trib doctrine is a dangerous teaching that has lulled many believers into a false sense of security. They believe that they don’t have to be diligent and study, they will simply get an ‘elevator’ ride one day and live it up. That’s a nice dream but reality is far different from the dream. I encourage you to study the Pre –Trib doctrine deeper on your own as I have only barely scratched the surface. This teaching goes much deeper and is an indicator of the times we live in.