Why do I hold to a pretribulation rapture view rather than a prewrath rapture view? 1. The Church is Not Appointed to Wrath •1 Thessalonians 5:9: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” •Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” •Pretribulationists argue that the entire tribulation (not just part of it) is God’s wrath, beginning with the opening of the first seal (Revelation 6:1). Therefore, the Church is removed before the tribulation begins. 2. Imminence of Christ’s Return •Titus 2:13: “Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” •1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command… Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” •Pretribulation emphasizes the imminence of Christ’s return, meaning it could happen at any moment, without needing specific signs or events to occur first. The prewrath view places the rapture later in the tribulation, making it dependent on the progression of events. 3. Distinction Between the Church and Israel •Daniel 9:24: “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city…” •Jeremiah 30:7: “Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob…” •The tribulation is described as “Jacob’s Trouble,” a period specifically focused on Israel, not the Church. Pretribulationists hold that the Church’s role ends with the rapture, and God’s focus shifts back to Israel during the tribulation. 4. The Restrainer Must Be Removed •2 Thessalonians 2:6-8: “And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.” •The restrainer (commonly understood as the Holy Spirit working through the Church) must be removed before the Antichrist is revealed. Are we to be looking for Jesus, or the Antichrist? 5. The Entire Tribulation is God’s Wrath •Revelation 6:16-17: “Hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” •Prewrath proponents argue that only part of the tribulation is God’s wrath, but Revelation 6 indicates that even the seal judgments are part of His wrath, which begins at the opening of the seals. Approximately 2 billion people will die during the seals alone. How is this not Gods wrath if He is sovereign? 6. Comfort for Believers •1 Thessalonians 4:18: “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” •Paul’s description of the rapture is intended to comfort believers. The pretrib view offers hope and assurance that believers will be spared from the horrors of the tribulation. The pretribulation rapture view is supported by the Church’s deliverance from wrath, the imminence of Christ’s return, the distinction between Israel and the Church, and the removal of the restrainer. These Scriptures collectively suggest that believers will be taken to be with the Lord before the tribulation begins.