The post-tribulation rapture view posits that believers will endure the Great Tribulation and be raptured at its conclusion, coinciding with Christ's Second Coming. This perspective is supported by several biblical passages and interpretations, which we will explore in detail.

Jesus' Direct Teaching on the Timing of His Return

One of the most compelling arguments for the post-tribulation rapture comes directly from Jesus' words in the Olivet Discourse. In Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus provides a clear sequence of events:

This passage clearly places the gathering of the elect (often interpreted as the rapture) after the tribulation and in conjunction with Christ's visible return. It should be noted that any would-be pre-tribulational rapture is completely absent from this narrative. Begin at Matthew 24:1.

John 17:15: Protection, Not Removal

Jesus' prayer in John 17:15 provides further support for the post-tribulation view:

This verse suggests that God's plan is not to remove believers from the world (or the tribulation) but to protect them through it. This aligns with the post-tribulation perspective, which sees believers enduring the tribulation rather than being raptured before it begins.

Revelation 5: A Pre-Cross Scene

Revelation 5:3 states: "And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon." This verse suggests that the scene in Revelation 5 occurs before Christ's crucifixion, as no one was found worthy to open the scroll. This interpretation aligns with the post-tribulation view, as it places the events of Revelation in a chronological context that spans from before the cross to the final judgment.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8: Christ's Revealing and Judgment

This passage describes Christ's return as a time of both rest for believers and judgment for unbelievers:

This text supports the post-tribulation view by linking Christ's return (and thus the rapture) with the judgment of unbelievers, suggesting these events occur simultaneously rather than being separated by a seven-year tribulation period.

Matthew 13: Parables of the Kingdom

Two parables in Matthew 13 provide insight into the end-times scenario:

The Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

This parable describes the righteous and wicked growing together until the harvest, which is explicitly identified as "the end of the world" (v. 39). The angels gather the wicked for judgment before gathering the righteous, aligning with a post-tribulation perspective.

The Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-50)

Similarly, this parable depicts a separation of the wicked from the just at "the end of the world," supporting the idea of a single event rather than a pre-tribulation rapture followed by a later judgment.

Genesis 7:13: The Timing of Noah's Ark

Genesis 7:13 states: "In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark." This verse suggests that Noah and his family entered the ark on the same day that the flood began, not seven days earlier as some interpret. This timing parallels the post-tribulation view, where believers are "raptured" or protected at the last moment, rather than being removed well before the tribulation.

The Last Trump: Connecting 1 Corinthians and Revelation

An important element in the post-tribulation rapture view is the connection between the "last trump" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11:15. Let's examine these passages:

Some argue that because Revelation was written several decades after 1 Corinthians (although probably true, this is not Scriptural), Paul couldn't have been referring to the seventh trumpet when he mentioned the "last trump." However, this argument overlooks several important points:

• Prophetic Insight: As an apostle, Paul had prophetic insights into end-time events. The concept of a final trumpet call could have been part of early Christian teaching, later elaborated in Revelation.
• Thematic Consistency: Both passages are associated with the culmination of God's plan and the rewarding of the saints. In 1 Corinthians, it's linked to the resurrection and transformation of believers. In Revelation, it's connected to Christ's kingdom being established and the time for rewarding the saints (Rev 11:18).
• Timing of Events: The events described in both passages appear to be simultaneous. The resurrection and transformation in 1 Corinthians align with the establishment of Christ's kingdom and the rewarding of the saints in Revelation.
• Significance of "Last": Paul's use of "last trump" suggests a series of trumpets, with this being the final one. This aligns perfectly with the seventh trumpet in Revelation, which is indeed the last in a series.

The parallel between these passages is further strengthened by the events that follow the seventh trumpet in Revelation:

This verse describes the judgment of the dead and the rewarding of the saints, which aligns closely with the resurrection and transformation described in 1 Corinthians 15:52.

While it's true that Revelation was probably written later, this doesn't negate the possibility that both Paul and John were referring to the same eschatological event. The consistency in themes and timing provides strong support for viewing the "last trump" of 1 Corinthians and the seventh trumpet of Revelation as referring to the same moment in God's prophetic timeline, further reinforcing the post-tribulation rapture perspective.

The First Resurrection and Post-Tribulation Rapture

This passage is significant for the post-tribulation rapture view for several reasons:

• Timing of the First Resurrection: This resurrection occurs after the tribulation period, which includes the rule of the beast. This aligns with the post-tribulation view that the rapture and resurrection of believers happen after the tribulation.
• Inclusion of Tribulation Martyrs: The passage specifically mentions those who were beheaded for their witness of Jesus and refusal to worship the beast. This indicates that believers who die during the tribulation are part of this first resurrection.
• Survivors of the Beast's Rule: The text also includes those "which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark." This suggests that some believers will survive through the tribulation period without compromising their faith. These survivors are included in the first resurrection.
• Single Resurrection Event: By calling this the "first resurrection" and including both martyrs and survivors, the passage suggests a single resurrection event for all believers, rather than separate events for different groups (as proposed in some pre-tribulation views).
• Contrast with "The Rest of the Dead": The passage distinguishes between this first resurrection and "the rest of the dead" who are not resurrected until after the thousand years. This supports the idea of two distinct resurrections: one for believers (including tribulation saints) and one for unbelievers.

Implications for the Post-Tribulation View:

• This passage strongly supports the idea that believers will go through the tribulation, with some martyred and others surviving.
• It places the resurrection and, by extension, the rapture (as understood in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) after the tribulation period.
• It unifies the resurrection of all believers (pre-tribulation saints, tribulation martyrs, and tribulation survivors) into one event, which is consistent with the post-tribulation understanding.
• It challenges the concept of a pre-tribulation rapture by including tribulation saints in the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:4-5 provides strong support for the post-tribulation rapture view by depicting a single resurrection event that includes both those who died for their faith during the tribulation and those who survived the beast's rule without compromising. This unified resurrection, occurring after the tribulation, aligns closely with the post-tribulation understanding of end-time events.

Conclusion

This paper illustrates only a few of the arguments for a post-tribulation rapture. The reader is urged to read Let Both Grow for a more complete discussion, showing detailed diagrams.

The post-tribulation rapture view finds support in various biblical passages, parables, and Jesus' own teachings. It emphasizes the believer's endurance through trials, aligns the rapture closely with Christ's visible return, and suggests that God's plan is to protect His people through tribulation rather than remove them from it. While sincere believers may interpret these passages differently, the post-tribulation perspective offers a cohesive understanding of end-times events that harmonizes with many biblical texts.