ARE YOU READY TO BE CAUGHT UP?
7 Reasons the Pretrib Rapture Stands on Solid Ground
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1. A Clear and Literal Rapture Is Taught in Scripture
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
“The Lord himself will descend from heaven… and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive… will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
“We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed… in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”
John 14:2–3
“I go to prepare a place for you… I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
The word harpazō (“caught up”) means to seize or snatch away suddenly. These are not Second Coming verses, but promises of a sudden gathering to Christ in the air—not on earth.
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2. The Church Will Be Removed Before God’s Wrath Is Poured Out
1 Thessalonians 1:10
“Jesus… delivers us from the wrath to come.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:9
“Much more… shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”
The entire 7-year Tribulation is the unleashing of divine wrath (Rev. 6:17 – “The great day of His wrath has come”).
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3. The Tribulation Is the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” – Not the Church’s
Jeremiah 30:7
“Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.”
Zechariah 13:8–9
“Two-thirds shall be cut off… and I will bring the third into the fire… they will call upon my name.”
“Jacob” is Israel, not the Church. The Tribulation is a time of judgment and purification for the Jewish nation, leading to national repentance (Zech. 12:10).
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4. The Church and Israel Have Distinct Identities and Roles
Daniel 9:24
“Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city…”
Romans 11:25–27
“A partial hardening has come upon Israel… until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
Ephesians 3:5–6
“The mystery… is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs… partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
The 70th week of Daniel is specifically for Israel, not the church.
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5. Foreshadowed by Past Raptures and Removals Before Judgment
•Enoch walked with God and was taken (Gen. 5:24)
•Noah was shut in before the flood (Gen. 7:16)
•Lot was removed from Sodom before destruction (Gen. 19:22 – “I cannot do anything until you arrive”)
•Elijah was taken up to heaven alive (2 Kings 2:11)
•Philip was supernaturally transported (Acts 8:39–40)
•John heard “Come up here” (Rev. 4:1) — a foreshadowing of the Church being taken up
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6. The Blessed Hope Is Meant to Encourage
Titus 2:13
“Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 4:18
“Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
Revelation 3:10
“Because you have kept my word… I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.”
Believers are not waiting for the Antichrist—but for Jesus Christ. The Rapture is called a “blessed hope”.
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7. Early Church Fathers Alluded to a Pretrib View
•Irenaeus (c. 180 AD) — Against Heresies 5.29.1
“When in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said, ‘There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning…’”
•Ephraim the Syrian (c. 373 AD) — On the Last Times
“All the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord…”
•The Shepherd of Hermas (late 1st or early 2nd century)
“If you prepare yourself… you shall escape it, and not be consumed by it.”