Three camps on post-tribulation rapture

Bible believers deny a post-tribulation rapture for Christians. Rather, there is a post-tribulation rapture, but it is for tribulation saints. 

People who teach post-tribulation rapture have an infatuation to fight and resist the Antichrist system and will insist that they have to go through the tribulation. For example, Alex Jones, Steven Anderson, Texe Mars, Rasmussen, Hovind, Marvin Rosenthal, etc.

The majority of fundamentalist churches and evangelical churches deny post-tribulation rapture. But there should be a post-tribulation rapture for the tribulation saints. 

Arguments against the post-tribulation rapture

#1 – It’s not a rapture

Matthew 24:29-31 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

People like John Ankleburg argue that verse 31 is not a rapture up to heaven, but it’s a re-gathering of the nation of Israel. That argument falls apart by comparing it with Mark 13, “gathering His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.”

Mark 13:24-27: “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.”

In the same chapter of Matthew 24, the following verses also clearly debunk that there is no rapture.

Matthew 24:40-42: “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

#2 – One is saved, the other destroyed at Armageddon

The other argument is that one is saved, the other is destroyed at Armageddon. However, in the same verse, two shall be in the field, so how can one be destroyed?

Revelation 14:14-19: “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.”

Jesus coming upon the cloud (Revelation 14:14 cf Matthew 24:30) is repeated again, and it happens during a post-tribulation rapture. After this post-tribulation rapture, Armageddon occurs where people are squashed like grapes.

#3 – Dispensational raptures, there is more than one rapture

Apostle Paul taught dispensational raptures. He mentions there will be rapture for “the end.”

1 Corinthians 15:21-24: “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”

Every man in his own order:

  • Christ the firstfruits (the Old Testament saints that got raptured at Jesus’ resurrection)
  • They that are Christ’s at His coming (pre-tribulation rapture for the church)
  • The end (post-tribulation rapture for tribulation saints)