3 Biblical Proofs the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Is Real

What Scripture Actually Reveals About the Rapture...

The pre-Tribulation rapture of the church is under attack.

You’ve likely heard some of the same assertions I’ve heard…

“John Darby invented the rapture in the 1800’s.”

or

“The Bible doesn’t teach a secret rapture.”

As a believer in the pre-Tribulation rapture, I don’t hold to my view because John Nelson Darby “popularized” or “invented” it.

Nor do I believe the pre-Tribulation rapture is “secret.”

I believe in the pre-Tribulation rapture, because – to me – it’s what an objective reading of scripture reveals.

Furthermore, the pre-Tribulation rapture isn’t “secret.” It’s openly referred to in the Bible.

And long before John Nelson Darby was born, the early church referred to the pre-Tribulation rapture in the Bible itself.

While this isn’t an exhaustive defense of the pre-Tribulation rapture, here are three reasons I hold this view – all of them based entirely on what the Bible says.

1) God’s People Are Not Appointed to Wrath

On more than one occasion, the Bible refers to the seven-year Tribulation as a time of wrath, calling it “a day of wrath” (Zephaniah 1:15), “the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10), and “the wrath of God” (Revelation 15:1).

In the Book of Revelation, we read:

“They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?’” Revelation 6:16-17 (NIV)

The seven-year Tribulation is a time of judgment when God will pour out His wrath on a rebellious world.

However, God won’t pour out His wrath on the earth while the church is still here.

The Bible clearly states the church is not appointed to wrath 👇

“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 (NIV)

Based on what the Bible says, the rapture must take place before the Tribulation.

2) The Second Coming Won’t Surprise the World

Despite conventional wisdom, it’s the rapture – not the Second Coming – which will come upon the world like a thief in the night.

Jesus said the time before His arrival will be “as it was in the days of Noah.” He described a world where people lived life in a “business as usual” way right up until the moment of judgment when the flood arrived:

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:36-44 (NIV)

Furthermore, Jesus described this time as “an hour when you do not expect Him.” This only makes sense in the context of a pre-Tribulation rapture.

To believe this passage describes the world at the end of the seven-year Tribulation is borderline absurd.

After all, Jesus said the Tribulation will be a time of “great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again” (Matthew 24:21).

The Second Coming will occur at the end of a seven-year period marked by global war, famine, a series of terrifying judgments, warnings from two witnesses with supernatural power, the rollout of the mark of the beast, the warnings of angels not to take the mark, the reign of the Antichrist and false prophet, the fiery destruction of Babylon, and everything else outlined in the Book of Revelation.

After all that takes place during the Tribulation, it’s reasonable to expect the people of this world will figure out what’s going on. They can read, and they’ll connect the dots between what’s happened and what was written in the Book of Revelation.

We tend to believe otherwise. Certainly, we tell ourselves, if people knew what was happening, they would repent and turn to God. But that’s just not true.

In my book, “The End Times: A Guide to Bible Prophecy and the Last Days,” I wrote:

“The Book of Revelation says God will pour out His wrath on a rebellious world (Revelation 6:17). He’ll pass judgment on the people of earth the same way He passed judgment on the earth in Noah’s day. Some of the judgments He’ll bring include war (Revelation 6:4), famine (Revelation 6:6), death (Revelation 6:8; Revelation 9:15; Revelation 16:3), hail (Revelation 8:7; Revelation 16:21), plagues (Revelation 9:3-5; Revelation 16:2), drought (Revelation 11:6), and earthquakes (Revelation 11:13; Revelation 16:20).

The end times generation will know these judgments come from God (Revelation 6:15-17; 18:10), and they’ll despise Him for it. They’ll realize He has control over everything that’s happening. Nevertheless, they won’t repent. Instead of turning to God, they’ll curse Him (Revelation 16:9). They’ll curse Him because of their pains and sores (Revelation 16:11) and because of the terrible hailstorm (Revelation 16:21).”

The people of this world will know these judgments come from God.

They’ll curse Him anyway.

It won’t catch the world by surprise when Jesus returns at the end of the Tribulation. In fact, just the opposite.

The Bible says they gather at Armageddon with the express purpose of waging war against Him (Revelation 16:14; 19:19).

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3) The First Century Church Discussed It

While critics say John Nelson Darby “invented” the pre-Tribulation rapture, somehow the first century church still knew about it.

These verses from Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica give us insight into what they believed:

“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us – whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter – asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 (NIV)

Paul tells the Thessalonian church to not be “unsettled” or “alarmed” at the assertion the day of the Lord (the Tribulation) has already come. Why would they be alarmed at such a prospect?

Only one explanation makes sense.

They didn’t expect to be here.

They expected the rapture of the church to take place before the Tribulation.

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Do you know someone who questions the pre-Tribulation rapture?

Share this article with them. The Bible has always taught it – and the evidence is right here.

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If the Tribulation had already started (as they had been told), then the “alarm” they expressed would have made perfect sense. They were “unsettled” and “alarmed” at the idea they missed the rapture.

In short, they were concerned they had been left behind.

But Paul assured them they hadn’t missed the rapture, and the Tribulation had not begun.

Jesus Is Coming

Jesus and the prophets said to look for specific signs which will indicate the nearness of the seven-year Tribulation and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

We see those signs emerging and converging in our day and time. They include:

• The rebirth of the nation state of Israel

• The Jewish people back in control of Jerusalem

• The Gospel preached throughout the world

• Israel surrounded by enemies

• The rise of the Gog of Magog alliance

• The rise of a digital system of economic control

• The rise of global government

• And more…

These signs indicate the nearness of the Tribulation and the Second Coming. And since the Bible teaches a pre-Tribulation rapture of the church, these signs also indicate the nearness of the rapture.

That’s not my opinion. It’s a promise from Jesus:

“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.” Revelation 3:10 (NIV)

What is the “hour of trial” Jesus refers to? It’s the Tribulation.

Have no doubt – the world is on the cusp of the seven-year Tribulation.

And Jesus is coming at the end of the Tribulation.

But beforehand, Jesus will come for His church.

So encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

Our hope is in Jesus, and He’s coming soon!

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If this article strengthened your belief in the pre-Tribulation rapture (or gave you the biblical tools to defend it), don’t keep it to yourself.

Someone in your life is wrestling with this question right now. Share this article with them 👇