THE PRE-WRATH RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

The Rapture: I Thessalonians 4:16-17 (p. 1269 Scofield).

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

(1) Imminent (any moment), Matthew 25:25, 5, 25:19; Matthew 24:14; 26:13.

“And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine” (Matthew 25:25; p. 1035).

“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept” (Matthew 25:5; p. 1035).

“After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them” (Matthew 25:19; p. 1035).

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14; p. 1033).

“Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her” (Matthew 26:13, 19; p. 1037).

(2) Mid-Tribulational

(3) Post-Tribulational

(4) Pre-Tribulational – traced to John Nelson Darby in 1830.

When I was in a liberal seminary, I was taught that none of these positions was true. The liberal professors made John Nelson Darby their “whipping boy.” Some of them blamed dispensationalism as well for the confusion. I bought a copy of the Scofield Bible to try to untangle the mess. But there was one thing that I could not figure out – when did the “Day of the Lord” occur? Rosenthal’s book explained it for me. The pre-wrath rapture would come after the Great Tribulation, followed by “the day of the Lord.”

For thirty years a confirmed pretribulationist, he now believes that the church will have to endure the persecution of the Antichrist. Rosenthal says…In view of the fact that Christians will not escape all of the “Tribulation” period… Rosenthal urges godly living…so we will be prepared for Satan’s intense opposition.

Buy a copy of The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church by Marvin Rosenthal.

If you hate the book, please read it first. “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him” (Proverbs 18:13; p. 685).

Sing our hymn again.

Am I a soldier of the cross, A follower of the Lamb;
And shall I fear to own His cause, Or blush to speak His name?

Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize, And sailed through bloody seas?

Sure I must fight, if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy Word.
     (“Am I a Soldier of the Cross” by Dr. Isaac Watts, 1674-1748;
         stanzas 1, 2 and 4).