Author’s note: This week’s blog post was first published on September 15, 2008. Today the problem of those who “revile” the Rapture hasn’t abated. As a matter of fact, according to the weekly comments I get, almost exclusively from those who are presumably born again, the invective against the Rapture is on the increase, not on the decline.
So addressing again, at this particular time, this denial of Christ’s promise to rescue His Church, as He did in giving John His guarantee as recorded in Revelation 3:10, is altogether appropriate.
An emailer this past week addressed an ongoing matter that is perplexing, in that Christians read the same Word from God—the Bible—yet the message the children of God take from the same passages they read can be so different as to be troubling. Nowhere in the Holy Scriptures is this divergence of inferred meanings more pronounced than those pertaining to prophecy yet future—narrowing the problem, thinking about the Rapture of the Church.
Here are the emailer’s words, with a few redactions for the sake of not wanting to violate privacy, or to cast aspersions on specific people.
Hello Terry, I just wanted to ask you a question, and possibly have you post this on your “Interesting Email” for other visitors who have possibly had a similar experience. I listen to [a well-known Bible teacher and radio program host] every morning on my way to work. I consider him to be a “true born-again Christian,” and really enjoy hearing his teachings. He seems very knowledgeable of God’s Word. I have never heard anything from him that contradicts the word of God. However, on a recent radio program, he was teaching on the millennium… [He] was expounding on “premillennium,” “amillennium,” and “post-millennium.”
I know that he has a theological education of these issues [that] exceeds most layman’s understanding, but there was something that he said upset me during this broadcast. He happened to bring up the pretribulation rapture, and to me, he sounded as if he had contempt for the theory of a pretrib rapture.
Now, here is where my question comes in. Why do most theologians today seem to have this contempt, if I may call it that, for any teaching on a pretrib rapture? To paraphrase [the radio host’s words] on this, he said that he has never been able to find even one shred of evidence of a pretribulation rapture in the bible, and from the sound of his voice when he said it, I guess I formed my own opinion that he had contempt for this theory. Anyway, the point I am try to make here is that I realize Christians do not have to agree on this idea to receive salvation and enter the kingdom of heaven as long as they are grounded in sound doctrine concerning the true meaning of salvation: that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and no man can come to the Father except through Him and His blood sacrifice on the cross. I just don’t understand why a pretribulation rapture theory seems to provoke people to the point of becoming hostile of this theory, and sometimes, even toward the Christians [who] believe it. Personally, I believe that the pretrib rapture can be found in Scripture if a person will just read God’s Word with an open heart and mind, along with prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide them.
This question by our Rapture Ready friend involves things that have always puzzled me, too, and I’ve written about matters attendant to the subject on a number of occasions. Why the vitriol, the seeming hatred for the pre-Trib view, even for those of us who teach the Bible from a pre-Trib Rapture view?
I believe it flows from satanic rage that affects even the born again.
To know who is right—these like the radio host to whom the emailer refers (who believe the pre-Trib Rapture is a lie from the pit of hell, as they sometimes put it) or we who teach the pre-Trib Rapture—it is best to just examine what’s going on all around us these days.
A large segment of the Rapture revilers say all prophecy was fulfilled with the AD 70 destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem by Titus and the Roman legions. Some believe the world has, since that date, been in the Tribulation. They spiritualize and allegorize all prophecy we see as yet future.
They believe modern Israel isn’t God’s chosen, that God is finished with the Jews, and that the Church now has been given the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Is God indeed finished with Israel?
God’s Word says Israel will be a nation just before His Son returns. His chosen people will be hated. It will be at the center of all the world’s national chaos and controversy. Is this happening, or not?
There will be a false peace made between Israel and its enemies that will affect the whole world, God’s Word says. Do we see any peace process in progress that involves Israel, its enemies, and, in effect, the entire world?
There will be a great power due north of Jerusalem and Israel whose leader will “think an evil thought.” Do we see any sign of such a power due north of Israel?
Take a string on a globe and put it on Jerusalem. Run that string straight up from Jerusalem. Does that string bisect any major city? Moscow!
Persia, the prophetic Word of God says, will be a key partner with that leader and his nation, Rosh, the ancient name for the area that now is covered by Russia. These and a coalition called “Magog” will invade toward Israel, according to Ezekiel 38 and 39. Do we see any collusion between Persia (Iran today) and Rosh (Russia today)?
There will be a coming back together, the Bible says, of the ancient Roman Empire (the last empire of Nebuchadnezzar’s metallic man-image as seen in the Babylonian king’s night-vision). Do we see that development taking place in our news today? Yes. The European Union.
Many like the radio host/teacher the emailer mentions believe this world will be made better and better until Christ comes back to assume the earthly throne. Do we see the world getting better and better? Or is the world getting worse, according to the daily and hourly news headlines, just like prophetic Scripture predicts?
There are another dozen or more signals I could mention to draw the comparison between the beliefs the preterists and other anti-Rapture teachers hold and the pre-Trib/dispensational view we hold. Space does not allow.
The preponderance of evidence, both biblical and literal (things in the news), comes down thunderously on the side of the pretribulational, premillennial view of eschatology.
Why do they hate the pre-Trib view and the Rapture teaching in considering things to come? I’m convinced it is because Satan hates Israel and the Lord’s plan to save remnants out of Israel and out of humankind in general.
These who hurl invectives are deluded, in denial. I don’t doubt their salvation. But I do doubt their faithful adherence to God’s prophetic Word. They prefer man-made eschatology, and that is given not by the Holy Spirit, but by Lucifer, the fallen one. One prophecy in particular speaks to the Rapture revilers’ attitude toward Christ’s coming in a sudden, unexpected intrusion upon a world that will be conducting its nefarious business as usual:
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:3–4).
Terry James Prophecy Line 
We are so thankful that my mother, who was saved first,and was into prophecy. We know and believe there are so many out there with a wrong view of Christians going through the Great Tribulation. We are so thankful we go first. I have no idea why they want to go through the wrath of God. Anyway, how can going through the wrath be a comfort to share with others? There is none. We know the Great Tribulation is the time God deals with Israel.It seems it is getting more difficult to stand for truth, even in Christian churches. The Rapture should be on everyone’s tongue as we see the days approaching. Evil is waxing worse and worse. Perilous times are here. We listen for that Trumpet and the voice of the Archangel. “Come up!”Thank you, Jan
Amazing how what Terry wrote here back in 2008 so fits in with the situation today. If anything, the controversy has only gotten more intense, as has resistance to the truth in just about every corner. We are living is the exact kind of society envisioned by Isaiah:
Isaiah {5:20} Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! {5:21} Woe unto [them that are] wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! {5:22} Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: {5:23} Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Likewise, we can also be sure of its fate as the prophet continued:
Isaiah {5:24} Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, [so] their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. {5:25} Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases [were] torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.
Based on the signs of these times, there will not be a long wait.
It is very difficult to convince someone that they are deceived. We have seen myriad examples over the past 5 years: Covid, the shots, the Ukraine/Russia War, the 2020 US elections, the obscene spending by our government, the WEF/Globalist Agenda, Oct 7, 2023-both the cause and the instigators of it, and so forth. Among the unsaved, it is almost impossible to open their eyes.
Jesus warned us to not be deceived 3 times because He knew that extreme deception would overtake the world in these times. So it shouldn’t be a surprise, even among the Church, that there are plenty of people who are intractable in their misunderstanding of scripture and the very Last Days. They don’t read their Bibles, and they don’t attend churches that correctly teach all of scripture. (It is getting worse by the day, IMHO…again, no surprise.)
Proverbs 12:1 is ideal to describe the mind truly enlightened by the Holy Spirit “Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.” A mind darkened by sin and pride cannot understand Truth and does not seek it. When confronted by it, rejection is the mildest form of rebellion, often we see hostility and even violence when truth is spoken.
There are many controversial teachings in the Bible. My experience has taught me that Satan loves to create controversy and stir up anger when the correct understanding gives ALL glory to God. There are core tenets of the faith that, when misunderstood, create ‘foaming at the mouth’ hostility. Therefore, unless I am speaking one-on-one with someone, and can see they genuinely misunderstand the teaching, I try to steer clear of those topics, if they are not salvific issues.
The Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church is one such topic; it is very controversial in our world today. Why?! Because when it occurs (and it will) all glory will be to the Lord. Sure, the secular world will try to explain it away as aliens/ancient ancestors “taking us up” so they can cleanse the earth of our influence, or some other contrived nonsense. This is all because Satan hates not just Israel, but all of humanity, and he hates truth…Jesus Christ is TRUTH.
At my church, my pastor is expositing the Book of Matthew right now. Yesterday, he gave us a great message on Matthew 7 including verse 6 where Jesus said “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn and tear you to pieces.” We are not commanded to convince anyone, inside the church, or out in the world, who is hostile to the truth. Discussion is one thing, but, as Jesus said, there are those who may actually commit violence against us when we tell them what they refuse to acknowledge. We should just walk away, and pray for them. (After all if the majority of the population who heard Jesus still rejected Him, why should we expect to exceed His effectiveness?)
All of these Issues are the signs of the times. The Pre-Trib Rapture is a source of great comfort to those who understand it, encourage one another with it, and believe in it. It is TRUTH, and that is what matters.
Well, Robin, we are smack in the midst of a Romans 1 mindset and it has taken over not only society but most of what passes the “church.” People who like avoiding the truth persistently will get their wish and their minds will become more and more addicted and impaired by lies. It is my experience that, eventually, there is no turning back.
Jesus never forced anyone to believe in him. He just provided the evidence and acted accordingly based on the response he received.
Likewise, I see my task as putting the evidence out there as best as I can as the opportunities present themselves. Whoever hears it will either accept it, want to know more while they decide one way or the another, or just refuse to consider it. (I just won’t expend any more time on the last case.)
It’s all about that “free will thing.”
The fact that the PreTrib Rapture gets so much heat, mostly from the “church,” speaks volumes and is totally consistent with its fallen Romans 1 condition.
I can say for myself that this truth goes a long way toward letting me face each day.
By the way, I just heard that only 4% of the Earth’s population has a biblical world view.
Running the numbers based on a total of eight billion people gives a result of 320 million. That is about the population of the United Sates – for the entire planet!
However, only 6% of Americans have this view. The population of the U.S. is 341,513,466. If we assume all will be Raptured that gives us 20.5 million people. Pretty depressing, I didn’t think it was this low, but it’s more than enough to really shake things up, especially when you account for all the kids who will suddenly vanish. I’ll just guess several million of them will leave, too.
Yes Ed, all of Romans 1, and 2 Timothy 3:1-7 pretty much cover it. 1-But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2-For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3-heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4-treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5-having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6-For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7-always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
I don’t pester (too much, haha) people who reject the gospel, but I still have tremendous empathy for them. I know what is coming, and until 7 years ago, I was no different…lost, and dead in my sin. I am indescribably grateful that the Lord and the Holy Spirit opened my eyes.
I’ve been following George Barna and his surveys for about 5 years. He has some of the most reputable and in-depth, long-term studies of Christian demographics. They match what you are saying. It is painful to know how many surprised ‘Christians’ will still be here 1 second after the Rapture; I include some of my own loved ones in this group. It is heartbreaking. And there is no harder group to reach than those who believe they are already saved. But I also have great hope that many will realize they were playing at Church, then repent and be saved when we are gone.
As for children, I am convinced all children under the age of accountability, which the Lord alone knows for each child, will go with us. At least I pray so; His ways are best.
My calculations are approximately 280,000,000 Christians around the world will go (about 8% of the 3.5 billion professing Christians globally) and then hundreds of millions of younger children. It’s going to create unprecedented chaos and fear, but even more so in our nation because we have more Christians in every line of work, and arguably more per capita, that any other nation in the world. Granted American Samoa is reportedly 98.3% Christian (and only 20% Catholic) but that means they have around 56,000 Christians. The impact of 56,000 raptured Samoans isn’t going to compare to approx 27 million missing American Christians.
I want the Rapture to come, with all my heart, and yet I deeply long for the lost to be saved. It is easy for me to fall into indifference, but I know what is coming. With the new heart of flesh that I have graciously been given, I don’t wish Daniel’s 70th Week upon anyone who has ever lived.
Our numbers do indeed agree. My 4% of the total world population comes out with about the same number as you did, Robin. Also around 20 million for the States. I got my numbers from Barna as well.
As far as sympathy for people who just refuse to even consider what I’ve passed on about the Bible and what it says, well, it has run pretty low at this point. I suppose being burned over the years by people that I thought I could trust has played a big part in me becoming pretty jaded at this point.
Maybe some of those doubters we’ve encounter will wise up after we are gone. I still hope that they will but I also know that it will be a very bad time for them, all the more tragic because it was self-induced. Well, maybe I haven’t completely frozen up entirely after all!
I really like the sentiment conveyed in this line you mentioned and it pretty much sums it up for me!
“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn and tear you to pieces.”
I’ve actually told people who were more interested in arguing than learning that at 72 years of age, I have better things to do with the time I have left – and I meant it! Amazing how my unexpected sojourn of ten minutes “off-world” over a year and a half ago really drove home the importance of not wasting time.
Your point that if they didn’t believe Jesus, unlikely they’d believe us is well-taken and I completely agree.
Well, my friend, I expect the finish line might be up around that next corner!
God bless!
Amen and God bless you too Ed. I hope we are going home soon, but it seems there is still so much to happen in prophecy before the Tribulation can begin.
How do you see the Gog/Magog War fitting into the timing of the Rapture? I follow Bill Salus and he believes it will happen quickly post-Rapture but before the AC confirms the covenant. I think he is right. Nevertheless, Isaiah 17, and Psalm 83, and the destruction of the bow of Elam, and other events may well happen before the Rapture. (We seem to be witnessing a lot of build up to those wars right now.)
If the Rapture happens in the next few months (come quickly Lord Jesus!), then some kind of very strong peace agreement would have to be confirmed to cause Israel to feel safe enough to tear down her barricades in order to dwell in unwalled villages. As you probably know this is the condition the Bible says Israel is living in before Gog/Magog occurs. (I’ve been to Israel, and they are not living in unwalled villages.)
I guess my point is that there are many things that haven’t yet been fulfilled, to fit in between now and right after the Rapture, leading to AC confirming the covenant with the many. Of course, once the Rapture occurs, before the start of the Tribulation, all Hell will break loose even if the covenant hasn’t been signed, and many things will likely happen very quickly, especially because we/the Restrainer, are out of the way.
I am having difficulty seeing how Israel might soon be living in unwalled communities and how that fits into the timing…it seems key.
Yes, I know that some speculate the start of the Tribulation could be years after the Rapture (the gap theory) but that doesn’t fit the typology of The Flood and Sodom and Gomorrah. That theory goes against God’s nature, and that He wants as many as possible to be saved before His righteous judgment falls. So I think the gap after the Rapture won’t last more than 3-4 months.
As you can see I’m trying to fit everything in a box made of dark glass. I don’t want anything to discourage me from believing it could happen at any moment. And the Bible says that it could, so I must be patient.
God’s thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are not my ways and I AM thankful for that!
Hi, Robin.
I’m not sure when the Ezekiel battle will start but I’m guessing that it may happen post-Rapture when America has been severely compromised by the subsequent upheaval.
As for Psalm 83, I mostly agree with Amir Tsarfati. He thinks it’s already played out in the various wars between Israel and its neighbors. If the Abraham Accords get fully implemented, that may bring it to an end. Still, I know better than to carve this idea in stone.
Taking out Elam where some of Iran’s nuke installations are could happen at any time. If this happens and the Accords get more traction it might create a feeling of security in Israel. As such, it would be a perfect setup for Ezekiel 39-39 to unfold especially if America was subsequently taken out of the picture. That could embolden the Ezekiel nations to make their move on Israel, figuring they could then invade with relative impunity.
It is possible that God’s supernatural rescue of Israel from these attackers might get hijacked by the Antichrist who would falsely take credit for it. I haven’t heard this suggested before, but why not? It would certainly make give him a huge amount of “street cred” in the eyes a a turbulent, post Rapture world, desperately looking for an “Answer Man,”wouldn’t it?
Of course, I realize I only see through the glass darkly and my thoughts might be totally off the wall.
What I know for sure is that God has it covered and what an amazing comfort that is!
Hi Ed, you are right. We see what the Lord wants us to see and the rest is speculation until it’s written in the history books!
That’s right. I imagine we’ll be “up yonder” by then!
Hi Ed, you are right. We see what the Lord wants us to see and the rest is speculation until it’s written in the history books!
My husband and I are shocked and saddened by the number of people in the church who feel the way you have described in this article. After much thought and study I have personally come to two conclusions about why it’s happening. Number one, I believe at its very heart is replacement theology, or anti-semitism at its finest, and number two, the belief in evolution. Why else would things get better and better? The Bible is clear that things will get worse and worse until judgment comes. Both of these beliefs are in my opinion “doctrines of demons”. Clearly, most of the church is deceived and does not want to know the truth. And that, sadly enough, is itself a fulfillment of prophecy, as you have pointed out. But perhaps I’m just paraphrasing what you said.
Too many voices proclaiming something, some good, some bad. MARANATHA, this is my voice, Come quickly Lord Jesus. As a star trekker fan would say “Bem me ups Jesus, no intelligent life here”.
Hey Terry: I printed this from Prophecy Watchers monthly magazine. It explains that allegorizing started early on in the history of the church by people from the Greek world who allegorized mythology using that same hermeneutic for the Bible which is inappropriate since the Bible is historical, or as Francis Schaefer used to say, from “Time, space, history.” I think Satan uses intellectual pride to rile believers who think they know better than using a Biblical hermeneutic regarding the last days. Cheers, Forrest Messenger
I was teaching Revelation in a high school homeschool co-op years ago. After the second class, I came out after the kids left. A mom came up to me and was so angry, she was spitting in my face!
she screamed that the rapture was made up by some Scottish woman I had never heard of… I just quietly told her that she had the aberrant view point that was not biblical. At that point, she screamed at me that her husband was going sit in my class to make sure I didn’t spoon feed the kids false teaching!
I was shaken by the amount of anger that was very hateful. The husband never shut up in my classroom though! I was shaken by the amount of anger that was very hateful. The husband never shut up in my classroom though!
nowadays when I hear stuff like that I just say you are fulfilling Bible prophecy! nowadays when I hear stuff like that I just say you are fulfilling Bible prophecy!
Thank you Terri for what you do!
Dawn, I am so sorry you had to endure that. How awful coming from someone who is supposed to be a Believer.
Years ago in my small group I had a women who verbally abused me over a Christian doctrine where she was wrong and I was correct. The women in the group privately agreed with me, but didn’t come to my defense. I found a different group shortly after. It is one thing to disagree, it is quite another to endure abuse.
It should be said that the above scripture passage (2 Peter 2:3) does not identify with the Rapture. The phrase “since the fathers fell asleep” adheres to the coming of Messiah as judge of the whole earth. The “fathers” in the context refer to the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The people mocking are unbelieving Jews regarding the coming of Messiah.
It seems that some scriptures today are being used to support a PreTrib Rapture viewpoint when the context clearly disputes such a characterization. Revelation 3:10 is another scriptural passage cherry picked out of all the 7 letters to the Churches to garner such support. It also just happens to be identified with the only Church not receiving any condemnation by our Lord. Such erroneous applications take away from the truth of the scriptures.
Well, it’s hard to dispute the full body of teaching that are indeed clear about the rapture. The overriding principle is the removal of the church before the wrath comes (1 Th 5:9). It makes no sense that the Lord subjects his own bride to his wrath. Both of the Thessalonian letters were written to these believers because of their own confusion about this topic.
I believe in the PreTrib Rapture. I remember a time as a child when I heard that the world was going to get better and better before Jesus came again. I thought then that was wrong and nothing that has happened in my 80 years has convinced me otherwise. I do not believe that believing in the PreTribulation Rapture makes me guilty of escapism. I am eager to go home to Heaven. I am concerned about the condition of some of my friends and family members but most of them received the same Bible teachings that I did. I cannot control what they choose to believe or disbelieve. I pray for them daily to have a relationship with Jesus, with God our Father and to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
I have been a Christian for over 70 years and I have seen so many prayers answered, so many miracles in my life and in my parents’ lives. I have learned to trust in Jesus. I have learned to trust in God. I thank Him for the mountains and I thank Him for the valleys which is where I learned to trust in Him. If I had never had difficulties I would not know what faith in God can do. So I will praise Him all the days of my life and know that will continue when I get to Heaven.
I remember when my Daddy was my age he asked me why God had left him here on earth. Mother had died and she had always enjoyed much better health than he had. I told him God was not finished with him yet and he still had work to do here on earth. He died in 2007 at age 83. I asked God why I was still here and He told me I am still here for my grandchildren, 2 of them are only a year old and 4 years old. I live next door to them and I read to them, sing to them and love them dearly. I am active in my church and God continues to teach me. I love Him so much and I owe Him so much. He walks with me and He talks with me. I will never cease to praise Him. It would take a lot of time and space for me to share the miracles He has wrought. In January God woke me from a sound sleep and told me “You have Second Sight just as your mother had before you.” That was it. I am still learning what that means. And this journey is another miracle and is not complete yet.
Beautiful testimony!
Amazing testimony! So encouraging to hear from saints of over 70 years who still approach the Lord with humility. God bless you for your wisdom and service!
From my understanding of the rapture passages, it’s sure, sudden, silent, selective, and satisfying. It’s the next event on God’s calendar and I hope to be alive when it takes place. When all whom the Father has given to the Son have come to Him and been saved, and have done some praiseworthy works, the Lord will return for His Bride, the true Church.
I also believe