Rapture Positions: Pre-Wrath

Introduction

The Pre-Wrath view is fairly new to the rapture debate. It basically follows a chronological view of Revelation as opposed to a recapitulating view. It is also futuristic and Pre- Millennial. The view strives to avoid the pitfalls of all the other views, while at the same time drawing off each one's strengths. Pre-Wrath places the rapture past the midpoint, but before the end of the seven-year period of the end time...between the seals and the trumpets. Interestingly, in its more developed explanation of Revelation's timing, it places the bowl judgments within the first 30 days after the end of the seven years (this time period is taken from Daniel 12:11).

The Olivet Discourse

The Olivet Discourse in Matt ch. 24-25 lists the signs that will precede the end of the age and usher in the Day of the Lord. After all the signs are listed, and especially after the sign of Christ's coming, we see a gathering of the elect. Shortly thereafter we see Jesus describe this event in different parables, saying that the day and hour are not known. Every Pre- Tribulationist that says we cannot set dates for the rapture quotes this very verse! The rapture occurs after the Great Tribulation, but before God's wrath at His coming.

The Day of the Lord Comes Firs

In 1 Thessalonians 4-5, Paul has just finished explaining the the order of events surrounding the rapture of those in Christ whether alive or dead; he then turns to the subject of when this will occur. He says he does not need to instruct them since they know that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. It is not until 5:11 that he concludes his discussion of those who are asleep at the rapture.

Coming, Gathering, Day of the Lord Equated

In 2 Thess. 2:1-2, Paul equates Christ's coming, our gathering, and The Day of the Lord in one verse. That is because they are different aspects of the same event. (Note the disciple's question back in Matthew 24..."What will be THE sign (that is, one sign) of your coming AND of the end of the age." These are not two events separated by years. They are back to back events that follow THE sign. Note carefully the sequence of events surrounding the rapture here. First the apostasy must come, and with it the Antichrist. Then tribulation (the word for "afflict" is from the same root as the one for "tribulation")... which will be cut short when God gives "relief" to His chosen ones, even as He pours out His wrath on the unbelieving world. It is the same sequence as the Olivet Discourse.

Revelation 6-7

If Christ's teachings in the Olivet Discourse ARE on the end times for the church, and if Paul's teachings on that sequence of events match, then we should expect Christ's teachings in Revelation to match that sequence. If you look at the six seals of the scroll (which contains God's wrath), they seem to follow the same sequence of events that we have seen so far (False Christ(s), wars, famine, death (tribulation martyrs), the sign in the sky of the coming of Christ AND HIS WRATH). Now, IF these events as portrayed in Matthew are parallel then the next thing we should see is the gathering of the elect (the church). Revelation 7 opens with the sealing of the Jewish believers on earth BEFORE God judges the earth. So, we should expect to see the rapture here. And what do we find after the description of the Jews on earth? A MULTITUDE IN HEAVEN!

Other

The rest of the Pre-Wrath arguments are so close to Mid-Trib that I have not included them here. Basically this view claims to have found exactly where the rapture takes place without calling attention to the actual time during the 7 last years that it will occur.