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REASONS FOR BELIEVING IN THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
Dr. Vince Morris, 2004
1. The Nature of the 70th Week
It is a time of wrath, judgment and indignation on a Christ-rejecting world
a. Wrath: Rev. 6::1; 11:18; 14:10,19; 15:1,7
b. Judgment: Rev.14:7; 15:14; 16:7; 19:2
c. Indignation: Isa.24:1,3,4,19,20; 26:20-21; 34:1-3
d. Hour of Trial: Rev.3:10
Promises of Romans 8:1; John 5:24; 1 John 4:17 state deliverance from judgment.
To place the Church in judgment is to deny the judgment of Calvary. Believers are
appointed to glory, not wrath (1 Thess.5:9-10)
2. The Scope of the 70th Week
Though embroiling all the earth, it is the “time of Jacobs trouble” (Jer.30:7; 25:15-18, 27-
30). The “Day of Jehovah” or “Day of the Lord” as used in the O.T. has Israel in view.
This is the 70th Week of Daniel 9:24-27 meted out to Daniel’s people, Israel, and Daniel’s
city, Jerusalem. The Church is not in the 69 weeks; there is, therefore, no reason to
place it in the 70th week.
The Church could not be in existence until after:
a. Death of Christ (Eph.5:25-26)
b. Resurrection of Christ (Rom.4:25; Col.3:1-3)
c. Ascension of Christ (Eph.1:19-20)
d. Pentecost – antecedent to all the Spirit’s ministries
Observe all the distinctions between Israel and the Church
Illustration: electric current is cut off; clock stops; current later starts; time on
clock starts exactly where it stopped, even though unrecorded time has elapsed
3. The Purpose of the 70th Week
The purpose is to effect the purification of Israel. No such purifying is needed for the
Church
4. The Unity of the 70th Week
The two parts of the 70th week are not two disassociated or differing parts, but one unit,
with just one character and nature throughout – although differing in intensity
5. The Nature of the Church Is Opposed to Her Being a Part of the 70th Week
a. Church is the body of which Christ is the Head (Eph.1:22; 5:23; Co.1:18)
b. Church is the bride of Christ (2 Cor.11:2; Eph.5:32)
c. Church is the building of God (1 Cor.3:9; Eph.2:19-22)
d. Church is beloved by Christ (Eph.5:25)
The saints of the tribulation period are said to be delivered into the hands of the beast as
he makes war on them (Rev.13:7). If the Church is in the tribulation, then the Church is
delivered into the hand of the beast. Since Christ and the Church are one, Christ then
would also be in the hand of the beast
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6. Silence on the Subject of the 70th Week in the Epistles
We are repeatedly told to expect suffering, warned about its causes, armed to meet it.
Why no revelation by way of help for the 70th week if we are to be in that unparalleled
time of suffering?
7. Necessity for an Interval
Because in Acts 28:15 the word apantesis has the idea of “to return with,” it is argued it
has the same meaning in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. But there are two events prophesied
which make necessary some interval “with Christ,” and so the Church is said to be
caught up to return with Christ, but not immediately. How long an interval is not
indicated, but its fact is necessitated by : (a) the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor.5:9;
I Cor. 3; Rev.4:4; Rev.19:8,14), (b) the Marriage of the Lamb (Rev.19:7-9). The Bride
makes ready, then comes with Him (v.14). Rapture and Judgment Seat of Christ are all
past.
8. Doctrine of Imminency in the Early Church
This was not a new doctrine which was begun by J. N. Darby, though he clarified and
popularized it. It is found in the church fathers. Though the eschatology of the early
church may not be altogether clear on all points, they all believed in the imminent return
of Christ. If this is the eschatology of the New Testament, the Church could not go
through any part of the 70th week.
9: Warnings to Watch for Christ (1 Thess.5:6; Tit.2:13; Rev.3:3)
We are not told to look for any signs or events, but for Him! This would not be true, and
signs would be given if the Rapture did not precede the 70th week
10 The Concept of the Church as a Mystery (Eph.3:1-5)
The fact that the Church is a “mystery,” revealed as a new thing after Christ’s final
rejection by Israel, argues for the completion of that new thing before the resumption of
God’s dealing with Israel
11. The Work of the Holy Spirit (2 Thess.2)
The Holy Spirit is the Restrainer. The “Lawless One,” identified with the beasts of
Revelation 13, can not be revealed until the Spirit be taken away
The Restrainer is not human government in general, nor the Roman government in
particular.
Restrainer is not law
“ “ “ the Church (i.e. the organized church)
“ “ “ Satan
Since Daniel 9:27 states that this Lawless One will be revealed at the beginning of the
week, and he can not be revealed until the Holy Spirit is taken away, it argues for the
pre-tribulation rapture. NOTE: the relationship of the Holy Spirit to the 70th week
12 First Thessalonians 4:15 states that here will be some who are alive and remain at the
coming of Christ. Since all people in his dominion who do not worship the Beast are
slain (Rev.13:7-8, 14-15; 15:2; 19:20-21; 20:4), there could not be some from “every
kindred, tongue, tribe and nation,” to meet Christ if the Church goes through the 70th
week.
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13. Why would the Thessalonians be concerned (1 Thess.4) that those who died would be at a
disadvantage, for if the Church were to go through the 70th weed, it would be better to
die than to go through the Tribulation. The dead would be definitely advantaged
(Rev.14:13)
14. First Thessalonians 5:3 reveals that the Rapture is after a time of “peace and safety,” while
Revelation 7:14 reveals that the return to earth is after a time of wrath. Since the entire
70 week is a time of wrath, judgment, etc., the Church can have no part of it, for never in
the 70th week will it be possible to announce a time of peace and safety.
15. The message preached to andby the Church is always a message of grace. The preaching
of the two witnesses is a message of judgment, as shown by the sackcloth (Rev.11:3),
showing that the Church can not be present
16. The Church Is Instructed to Pray for Those in Authority
a. That we may live in peace
b. That they may be saved (1 Tim.2:4)
In the Tribulation the wrath of God is called down on authority. The imprecatory Psalms
are prayed by Israel, not the Church
17. As long as the Church is on the earth, there are no saved Israelites as such. All who are
saved are saved to a position in the body of Christ. During the 70th week, when the
church is gone from the earth, we find the saved of Israel again (e.g. Rev.7:4-8). This
could not be until the Church is gone
18. If the Church goes through the 70th week, then the Jews, as well as the Gentiles of the 70th
week period, would become part of the Church. After the 70th week, the Jews would go
into an earthly glory and the Church into heavenly glory. This would have the effect of
dismembering
19. The Laodicean church could not go through the 70th week and come out “lukewarm”
(Rev.3:14-18). They would be either hot, because of the fires of persecution, or cold,
because of their spiritual death, but never lukewarm
20. The chronology of the book of Revelation argues for a pre-tribulation Rapture:
a. This present age (1-3)
b. Entire 70th week (4-11) Notice repetition in 10:11 results, not in Rapture, but in the
Revelation and Reign of Christ
If this Rapture is not in chapter 4, there is no place for it. The saints of Revelation 7 are
not the Church, for 7:15 says “He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle
over them,” while the Church will be seated on the throne with Him
21. The Twenty-four Elders (Reb.4:4,10,; 5:5,6,8,11,14; 7:11,13; 11:16; 14:3; 19:4)
Two answers are offered:
a. Angels – While elders are associated with the four living creatures, angels are
not said to be crowned with stephanos (the crown for a victor), seated on
thrones, robed in white as a result of judgment
b. Redeemed of this age – They are clothed and crowned, sitting on thrones,
which are connected with royal personages (Rev.5:8), and angels never do; they
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must be redeemed men. Ezekiel sees the four living creatures and angels, but
never the twenty-four elders, for the simple reason they are not there yet
Thus, we see that the twenty-four elders, representing the Church, are seen to
be in heaven, judged, rewarded, enthroned at the beginning of the 70th week. If
the Church is not raised in Revelation 4:1, and not until 20:4, what is she doing in
heaven in 19:7-11?
22. Argument from the “Times of the Gentiles” (Lk.21:24)
Jerusalem shall be trodden down until the “times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” The Times
of the Gentiles will not be fulfilled until the armies of the Beast are destroyed by the
return of Christ to the earth.
Revelation 11:2 is a reference to the Times of the Gentiles mentioned after the trumpets
have begun. The trumpets sound at the beginning of the second half of the 70th week,
telling us that it is yet 3 ½ years before the overthrow of Gentile world powers. Thus the
trumpets could not be events of the first 3 ½ years, which shows us that the mid-
tribulation rapture position is impossible, for they say the trumpets belong to the first
3 ½ years.
23. The Ministry of Elijah. (Mt.17:10; Mal.4:5; Rev.11:3-12)
Elijah’s ministry was to Israel. The return and ministry of Elijah to announce the
Kingdom to Israel shows that God is dealing again with Israel, not the Church
24. The 144,000 of Revelation 7
The appearance of these Jewish witnesses shows that God is dealing with Israel, not the
Church during the 70th week. Since the Church was to be a witness while on earth, the
indication is that the Church is not present
25. Promises to the True Church (Rev.3:10)
“I will keep you from (out of – ek), not “in the midst of.” God is keeping them, not only
from the Tribulation, but from the “hour” or, the very time of the Tribulation. The Church
is mentioned 19 times in Revelation 1-3, and not again as being related to the earth until
Revelation 19. Revelation 2:22 reveals what part of the Church will go through the
Tribulation – i.e. the unbelievers of the professing church
26. Promise in Luke 21:35-36
“escape” (ekfugeo) in verse 36 can only mean a “complete removal out of a state or
place,” hence complete escape, not endurance within the trial. Tribulation saints are
overcome by the Beast (Rev.13:7) and are given over into his hand (Dan.7:25); so this is
escape from, not preservation within the 70th week
27. Promise in 1 Thessalonians 5:9
Believers of the Church are “not appointed to wrath.” How? By our living together with
Him (1 Thess.5:10). The contrast is between the children of darkness who are
appointed to wrath, and the children of light, who are to be delivered from wrath
28. Agreement of Typology
a. Enoch – begat Methusaleh, and then “Enoch walked with God; and he was not for
God took him” (Gen.5:21-24)
b. Lot – the angel could do nothing until he was taken out (Gen.19:22; 2 Pet.2:6-9)
