taken from "Spirit of Discernment"
A Christian Blog With A Focus On Discernment

For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

April 18, 2010 by Henry
As I read the scriptures the more I find evidence which completely destroys the pre-tribulation rapture “theory”. Though I would not call myself a student of eschatology nor have I conducted much study on the subject, my excursions into this area has opened me up to certain truths that have been missed by students who have been studying this subject area for years. One of those simple truth is that if there were going to be a pre-tribulation rapture or even a mid-tribulation rapture then the disciples doesn’t seem to have been aware of it. The Apostle Peter for example, who was with Jesus from the time of His early ministry doesn’t seem to have any knowledge of a pre-tribulation rapture when he wrote the following passage:

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:10-16)

What do we learn from this passage then? From verse 10 we learn that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (Matt 24:43, 1 Thess 5:20). It should be noted here that pre-tribulation supporters are agreed that “the Lord coming as a thief in the night” is the same day of the rapture which the unsaved will not be aware of due to the fact that Jesus comes hidden in the clouds and only those that are caught up with Him will see Him. As a result everyone else that are “Left Behind” will be here to face the tribulation during the anti-christ’s reign. However we also learn from verse 10 of the above passage that at the day when the Lord comes as a thief in the night, “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.” John describes the same event though in slightly different language in Revelations 6:12-17. This picture therefore does not fit with the pre-tribulation rapture theory then because every one on earth will be able to see that the heavens have dissolved and departed. So then it is either this day which Peter speaks of is the day when Jesus visibly returns to earth or there is another separate day in which Jesus comes to perform the pre-tribulation rapture then comes visibly to earth. However, there is no such day that can be found in scripture anywhere. From the prophets of old through to the present the day of the Lord has been spoken of as a single day and not two days. Here is the clincher. Peter says in verse 12 that “we” should be “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God”.

Question: If the rapture takes place before the day of God, a day in which the heavens are dissolved or depart as a scroll why is Peter admonishing “us” to look for and haste unto the coming of this day? This of course would be irrelevant if the church would not be around (on earth) to witness this day. So what he should have said then is that “we” should be looking for and hasting unto the coming of the rapture – but he did not say that.

Question: If “we” (the church) are looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, will this day happen before the tribulation or after the tribulation spoken by Jesus in Matt 24:21? The answer can be found here in the following scripture:

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matt 24:29-31)

In conclusion, we have therefore learn that the day of the Lord, which comes as a thief in the night will occur “immediately after the tribulation of those days”. This is the same day spoken of by Paul in I Thess 5:2. So in spite of Peter being privy to all the epistles which Paul had written to the church (see verses 15-16); privy to the Olivet Discourse prophesies since he was there in person; privy to the scriptures of Daniel; he seems to demonstrate a distinct lack of knowledge concerning a pre-tribulation rapture. The implication then is that neither Paul’s epistles nor the scriptures in Luke or even Daniel can be used to support the pre-tribulation rapture position. Where then is the evidence for the pre-tribulation or even mid-tribulation position?

Posted in Eschatology & End Times | Tagged apostacy, Christianity, Church, Discernment, eschatology, mid-tribulation, post-tribulation, pre-tribulation, preterist, prophesy | 78 Comments


Personal note from Jennice: If you want to read further on this discussion, I suggest you click on the link, and read some of the many comments posted there...there are other interesting points that were presented.

Dear Jennice,

I could say that the 6th seal EVEnt marks the Heaven which appeared to be departing as a scroll when the EarTH spins(rotates) faster.

To visualise you could use a camera to video under a tree in a circular motion and replay your video...

the Heavens melted ,aybe caused by the inter-action between SUN&Star Wormwood...Sun explodes(dissolves) maybe with other stars...although there will still be 2third left.

If you notice in Russia Gog/Magog Judgement...Whole Earth shakes by God and there will be 7years left for the burning of weapons.

This Russian invasion ended with burning with Fire&Brimstone and Russia with Canada and the sea could be the 1 third of Earth destroyed in the trumpets judgements of Revelation.

Note that Peter had not yet been revealed about Revelation...7vials Judgement was not known to many Apostles too.

The Fire Judgement whereby Heavens and Earth melts could still allow many people to survive because Jesus has shortened the DAYs...speed up the earth instead of POLE SHIFT which is Extinction Level EVEnt (E.L.E.)

That's is why the 7years(shortened days) period is like hell...worst period of Man's history.

Christ will still reign 1000years...proving that Heaven and earth survived this melting in 2Peter quoted.

Hope you could see the BIG picture in Revelation and differentiate the difference in timing of the Trumpet & Vial Judgements.

People are still suffering for EXTENDED period and NOT ALL dying instantly.

You may like to visit my website www.simplesite.com/7churches to see the 7seals7trumpets7vials, 7year Tribulations, 7day feast, 7day creation etc.