The Church History of the “Pre-Tribulation” Fallacy
“I wish we’d all been ready!” Larry Norman
There is a song by Larry Norman that was later covered by DC Talk, that is called, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready.” The lyrics are based on Scriptures that have been taught, by denominations and eschatology teachers, or newscaster pastors, that speak of what some churches call, the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the church. Some of the lyrics say, “Children died the days grew cold; A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold; I wish we'd all been ready; There's no time to change your mind; The Son has come and you've been left behind; A man and wife asleep in bed; She hears a noise and turns her head; He's gone; I wish we'd all been ready” I personally like the DC Talk version better, although I am a fan of Larry Norman’s version as well.
There are many views on the "rapture" of the church, and I want to begin by saying, that I do believe in the rapture of The Lord’s “Elect,” but I don’t believe in the popular version being taught. Regardless of your opinion on it, many consider it a non-essential for Salvation, although this may be true; the issue I have with it is, if a church is teaching this incorrectly, what other things are they teaching wrong? Now I used to be what’s called, a “Pre-Trib” believer; which teaches that Jesus will come once and take His “church” out of the world before the Seven-years of Tribulation, and then comes back a Second time, to gather Israel the nation and restore them from their exile. This is taught by many pastors, based on what they believe is depicted in The Book of Revelation and other “KEY” verses. I, after a deeper study, don't believe the tribulation lasts seven years, or that Jesus comes secretly, or more than Once, or to just take the “Church” and or restore Israel the nation, but we will get to that.
There are those who believe in The Mid-Trib, where Jesus comes mid way through the seven-year Tribulation period, after what Revelation calls the Abomination of Desolation, and there are also those who believe in The Post-Trib, where Jesus comes at the end of the seven-Year Tribulation. There are some who believe we are in the Thousand-year reign, like Jehovah's Witnesses, and other religions. There is also Preterits who believe all of prophecy in scripture or eschatology has been fulfilled. I find these a little harder to believe because of scripture and also because history, says something else. There is also Amillennialism, that believes Revelation is a symbolic book, where we are in the last days, in the midst of the tribulation, and Jesus will come once more, rapture His “elect,” not just a nation, but all who have repented and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, from every tongue, tribe, and nation. He will bring wrath to the Earth and restore Eden, once and for all. If I was to choose a particular belief, I lean more towards the last one.
As I’ve stated before, I used to believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, and even was excited when the “Left Behind” books came out. Those are fiction books, written by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B Jenkins, and Mr. Lahaye is a Pre-Tribulation believer, and looked to as an authority in this area. There are many “famous” preachers who make a living with this teaching, that they’ve sold millions of books, sold out conferences, and even made movies, pushing this idea. The more I’ve studied, the more I realize how wrong those books were, how unreal the movies were, because the Bible teaches a ONE time coming of Jesus, and a pre-wrath rapture, that will be covered throughout this book. I have looked at the Word in context, in the original language, and also have used other scripture to validate what is being said. I’ve listened to various sides, read many blogs, studies and listened to many pastors, and have compared them all to the word of God. What I am not adding is my own agenda, view point, denominational view, or eschatology to anything written. I know many disagree with me, but that’s okay, because like I stated, this is what’s considered a non-salvation issue, but again it leaves the door open for so many other incorrect teachings. I also think that most scripture can have what’s called as Dr. Micheal Heiser says, “An already, but also a not yet,” because the New Testament writers, all used the Old Testament to write their books and letters. All of the End Times writing are all in the Old Testament, and sadly many churches don’t even teach the Old Testament, let alone understand, “how the whole Word is one uniform book all pointing to Jesus,” as Tim Mackie from The Bible Project says.
Let’s start with some history, because I’m a big believer in understanding history, otherwise one will be lost in the present. I also believe in order to make sense of things, we must know and understand the facts, like Dragnet, “Just the facts ma’am.” J. Warner Wallace, a former cold case detective and now a leading apologetic teacher says, “While we are often willing to spend time reading the Bible, praying, or participating in church programs and services, few of us recognize the importance of becoming good Christian case makers.” In other words, can you do as Peter says in First Peter Three starting in verse Fourteen?
"But even if YOU SHOULD SUFFER for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ALWAYS being prepared to MAKE A DEFENSE TO ANYONE who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil." (ESV) (Emphasis Added)
Paul also tells us in Second Timothy Three beginning in verse Twelve,
"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus WILL BE PERSECUTED, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, CONTINUE in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have been ACQUAINTED with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and PROFITABLE FOR TEACHING, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING in righteousness, that the man of God may be COMPLETE, EQUIPPED for every good work." (ESV) (Emphasis Added)
And Paul also tells us in First Thessalonians Five beginning in verse Nineteen (which ironically is the same chapter that most use as a go to, to push their Pre-Tribulation theology,
"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, BUT TEST EVERYTHING; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." (ESV) (Emphasis Added)
More than anything, I think we need to be like the Bereans, as what Luke writes in Acts Seventeen Ten,
“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY to see if these things were so.” (ESV) (Emphasis added)
So, if you’re ready to start seeking the truth, join me down the road that leads to what The Lord says in His word. Let’s solve the case, through the truth of scripture.
"The first duty of a historian is to be on guard against his own sympathies." James Froud
Before eighteen Hundred and Ten, all churches and believers in Jesus, taught a SINGLE coming of Jesus and a "Pre-Wrath" doctrine. There are many who claim that a priest taught a Pre-Tribulation message back in the fourth century, but there is no verifiable evidence of this. The words of Jesus as recorded by Matthew Twenty-Four, Luke Twenty-One and Mark Thirteen, along with Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, Peter's Letters, and finally, John’s letters and the book of Revelation, all speak of Jesus' "ELECT," going through a tribulation period, but not the final wrath. Let that sink in for a moment! Two events on “One day”, that ends the reign of Evil, once and for all, and brings a restoration of Eden. Nearly Two Thousand years of scripture based teaching on the true Rapture of the church, and then all of a sudden some, well correction, quite a few churches went left with this doctrine.
“Religion, like science, is only noteworthy when it emphasizes a matter of what is true rather than whose belief is greater or lesser or which deity works for whom. Sincere religion and tested science are similar in that their assertions can be argued logically and objectively; otherwise, we get false cults and babble.” Criss Jami
Let’s recap what happened in the eighteen Hundreds along with the “new” rapture teachings, and not good when it came to “men” creating “religions” and doctrines to suit their needs and or to fill their wallets. Joseph Smith (1805-1844) said he was given a revelation in Eighteen Twenty Two, along with a new gospel from tablets that only he was able to translate. He also wrote himself into Genesis, and Ezekiel Thirty Seven. He also was known as a pedophile and ordained marriage to young girls, and allowed Polygamy. This is known as the Mormon church or the Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ. (That title confuses me because they don’t even truly believe in the Jesus of the Bible, but that’s another story.)
Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) began the Jehovah’s Witness movement and created the Watchtower society. He re-wrote many verses in the Bible, that are incorrect translations of the original Greek and Hebrew, and actually was proven in court that he didn’t know Hebrew or Greek. His Watchtower society also has FALSELY predicted the end of the world various times, along with changing their meaning of the "144,000" in Revelation, who was allowed into their “group” many times. (This one baffles me even more, that people still follow this religion and cult with all the errors in translation and false prophecies, that this organization has put out.)
There also was the Seventh Day Adventist, and Christian Science along with the biggest deception out there, Darwinism or the THEORY of Evolution. I also wonder why people believe in a theory that has never been proven. These are just some of the bigger doctrines that came out in the eighteen Hundreds, but that wasn’t all.
Let’s look at the beginnings of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture history, as taught in many churches, as fact, or something those scriptures says, although it is a “newer” teaching. In Eighteen Hundred Twelve, a Jesuit priest from Chile named Manuel de Lacunza wrote a book, under the pen-name Rabbi J.J. Ben-Ezra (for me this is the first red-flag, a priest changing his name to a Hebrew name, all in the name of money, or fame) called, The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty. He claimed that all other church teachers and leaders, before him were wrong in their teaching of a Pre-Wrath doctrine because he was right, and they were wrong. (Visions of Matilda) According to Mr. de Lacunza all other teachers, pastors had been convicted of teaching the rapture wrong? (Red Flag Number Two) This statement makes no sense in that, how did he know that everyone who taught this belief, repented because many pastors and teachers were dead, before he was born, and or there wasn’t social media for him to look at their beliefs? (Red Flag number Three.) This is evident of all “New Revelations” from leaders and founders in all cults and heretical teachers. He claimed, in his version of the rapture, that Jesus would come then leave, causing a gap between the rapture of the church and the actual coming of Jesus, which is not biblical. I heard a comedian say once, “The pre-tribulation rapture of the church is like saying Jesus comes and says, “Peek-a-boo” or “Psyche” and then comes back later for real!” I think for me, once I started to study and research this, it made me wonder how people can read the Bible and find two comings of Christ?
Fifteen years later, Edward Irving, a Scottish preacher, took de Lacunza’s book and translated it into English and published it in England. He began teaching the Pre-Tribulation doctrine in Eighteen Twenty Seven. Around that time a man named John Nelson Darby, yes the same Darby who wrote a Bible, and is known as the father of Modern Dispensationalism. The issue with his bible, is that he removed and added text to the original scriptures, in order to fit his Pre-Tribulation view (Red flag number Four) because anyone who begins changing scripture to make their point, really falls into heresy teachings. There is a difference with using similar words in translations, but to changed whole meanings, and changing commas, is bad as John reminds us of, at the end of his book. C.I. Scofield (1843-1921) adopted the teachings of Mr. Darby and published his own reference bible in Nineteen Hundred and Nine. His reference bible became a bestseller and was globally adopted in almost all seminaries across the world. His reference bible is the main reason why so many teach this theory, especially throughout the Independent Baptist Churches, Calvary Churches and their offshoots.
The next thing that happened is a HUGE RED FLAG FOR ME. In Eighteen Thirty-One, a Fifteen-year-old Scottish girl, Margaret McDonald claimed to have a vision. This vision was a new revelation of a SPLIT COMING OF THE LORD, or as we know it today, a Pre-Tribulation coming of Jesus and then coming back again, after seven years. I will dive deeper into this later, but Revelation One Seven says,
“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.” (ESV)(EMPHASIS ADDED)
To have a vision is not wrong, unless of course, it isn’t supported by the original Word of God. Any guesses on who visited this young girl? If you’re following along and guessed Mr. Darby and Mr. Irving, then you get extra credit. Her “theory” quickly spread throughout Scotland, England and Europe and made its way into the US. Two Hundred years later it has been taught as “biblical” truth and sadly many put their “hope” in this teaching, as I once did.
When I used to listen to this teaching, and listened as most do, to the popular Pre-Tribulation teaching for years, I think we got enamored with the idea that we get to escape the troubles of this earth and life, vanishing and being in heaven, while hell breaks out on earth. But if one would just read all the “go to” scriptures in context and as a whole, you can see for yourself that what is taught, is not there. It only is there when pastors jump from scripture to scripture, interject words, or ideas, or people, or a nation, or the church, that aren’t in the text, they’re quoting, or they skip some of the verses and or not even read them completely, that this idea works.
I have no “professional” training in a seminary, but neither did any of the writers of the New Testament, with the exception of Paul who was trained in the way of The Pharisee’s, before Jesus called Him to go and make disciples. One thing I want people to say, is what they said about the Apostles in Acts Four,
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were UNEDUCATED, COMMON MEN, they were astonished. And they recognized that THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.” (ESV)(Emphasis added)
I was reading this scripture from Galatians One, and it made me think of some of the false teachings that have begun to permeate the church. We have the progressive gospel, formerly known as the Emergent Church, where people are changing their translation of bibles to include their social and political agenda. You have the Enneagram being taught as origins of Christianity as a personality test, but its origins are from the occult. You have the prosperity gospel, the name it and claim it, the healing ministers, and so many others that live in their traditions rather than the true gospel. I will even throw the Mary’s worship and exaltation of the Pope into this as that also is not scriptural. Paul writing to numerous churches around Galatia, because after he had visited them in Acts Fifteen, was troubled by their quick change of the Gospel he had taught them. Teachers had come in and said that they had to be circumcised, abstain from foods, and Paul even rebuked Peter for his hypocritical ways. Paul writes in Galatians One,
"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to A DIFFERENT GOSPEL— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to DISTORT the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accurse. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (ESV)
People have used this verse on me when I share my findings in the Gospels about Eschatology. There have been pastors who have blocked me or unfriended me on social media, because they choose not to defend their view, and or say I’m wrong. I know that what the Bible teaches about end times can be difficult to understand and there isn’t a consensus out there on a particular belief, but when you see the facts and you choose to ignore them, based on tradition or denomination, I believe that’s wrong. I can trace the beginnings of cults and false prophets, or teachers out there, and also the beginnings of certain sects and denominations. I can see what makes sense and aligns with God’s word, and what does not.
I know there are people who blatantly change ideas or meanings to push their agenda, and many who gather at churches that make them feel good, even though they’re being fleeced of their money, or their soul. In America or what is known as “Western” Christianity, too many people don’t study the word. Many just read or go to a service once a week, if that and get a half hour message of feel good messages, rock concerts, and potlucks, with no real repentance or discipleship going on. We are spoiled here in Western Christianity with God’s word and think more of it as a reference guide of how to read a verse when I’m feeling this or that, and or that God must do this or that, because, insert your own agenda or want, when that isn’t the case. The early church, went out and made disciples, fed the poor and their own, they were killed or jailed for their faith, and as I’ve said before, we coward of not going to church cause the government said not to.
I will dive into some major topics, like the Trumpet of God, The Dry Bones, Gog and Magog (Not RUSSIA, or any other human army), The Temple (Not Literal), The Elect, The 144,000, Israel (All of God’s people), The Seven Years (How Daniel is misquoted) and The One and Only Return of Jesus. I challenge you to study, not just read, and with an open mind, Matthew Twenty Four, Luke Twenty-One, and Mark Thirteen, First and Second Thessalonians, First and Second Peter, First John, Revelation, Ezekiel Thirty Six Thru Forty-EIght. Daniel, and Isaiah, Genesis Ten and Deuteronomy Thirty Two. I know it will be difficult for most to comprehend or look at it, with the lens of their denomination, but you will be amazed and what is being said. I don’t have the ability to change your bibles, but you will see how plain, a pre-trib scenario, just doesn’t add up.
We can’t change history as many are doing today, thinking that by doing that, that our lives will be better, or that why we are the way we are is someone else’s fault. What we can change is what we study to know to be true, because when we all stand before God, it will will be us in front of Him, and what will your excuse be? Paul reminds us that none will be without excuse in Romans One, so be Bereans, get out of your comfort zone and walk the Road of Emmaus with Jesus and see from Moses to the Prophets, all is about Him, His return and His restoration of Eden.” Jose Barajas
