The Case for a Post Trib Rapture

[B-A-C]

The Case for a Post-Tribulation Rapture​

Thesis Statement:​

The rapture of the Church will occur after the Great Tribulation, at the visible return of Jesus Christ, when He gathers His elect with the sound of a trumpet. This view harmonizes the teachings of Jesus, Paul, and John, and maintains a consistent biblical timeline without inserting gaps or multiple second comings.

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1.​

Matthew 24:15–31
Jesus outlines a clear sequence:

• The Abomination of Desolation (v.15) marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
• The elect are still present during this time (v.22–24).
• Jesus warns against secret comings (v.26–27), implying His return will be public and unmistakable.
• Immediately after the tribulation, cosmic signs appear (v.29), and then Jesus returns and gathers His elect with a great trumpet (v.31).

Commentary:
This passage directly contradicts the idea of a secret, pre-tribulation rapture. The elect are clearly present during the tribulation and are gathered after it.

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2.​

2 Thessalonians 2:1–4
Paul warns believers not to be deceived:

• The Day of the Lord and our gathering to Himwill not occur until:
  • The apostasy happens.
  • The man of lawlessness is revealed and sits in the temple.

Commentary:
Paul explicitly states that the rapture cannot happen until these tribulation events unfold. This affirms the post-tribulation timeline.

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3.​

Revelation 20:4–6

• Those who were beheaded for refusing the mark are resurrected and reign with Christ.
• This is called the first resurrection.

Commentary:
If the rapture had already occurred before the tribulation, this could not be the “first” resurrection. This passage places the resurrection of the saints after the tribulation.

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4.​

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

• The dead will be raised and the living changed at the last trumpet.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

• The Lord descends with a shout and trumpet, and the dead in Christ rise first.

Matthew 24:31

• Jesus sends His angels to gather the elect with a great trumpet.

Commentary:
These trumpet passages describe the same event — the rapture — and it occurs after the tribulation, not before. The “last trumpet” implies a culmination, not a beginning.

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5.​

Revelation 7:3; 9:4

• God seals His servants to protect them from certain judgments.

Commentary:
God does not remove His people from tribulation but protects them through it — just as He did with Noah, Daniel, and Israel in Egypt.

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6.​

Revelation 13:7; 20:4

• The Beast makes war with the saints and overcomes them.
• Many are beheaded for their faith.

Commentary:
This is Satan’s wrath, not God’s. Believers are persecuted by the Beast, not punished by God. Their suffering leads to a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35).

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7.​

1 Corinthians 3:12–15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:14–30

• Believers will be judged for their works — some will receive greater rewards, others will suffer loss.
• Faithfulness leads to commendation, while neglect leads to loss of reward.

Commentary:
The resurrection is not just about being raised — it’s about being rewarded. Those who endure tribulation faithfully will receive greater honor.

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Conclusion​

The Post-Tribulation Rapture view maintains a consistent biblical timeline:

1. The Church will face the Great Tribulation.
2. The Antichrist will be revealed and persecute the saints.
3. Jesus will return visibly, after the tribulation.
4. The elect will be gathered at the last trumpet.
5. The faithful will be rewarded, and the wicked judged.

This view honors the plain reading of Scripture, avoids speculative gaps, and affirms the call to endure faithfully until the end.

 

[B-A-C]

Pre-Trib Rapture vs "The second coming".​

Does the Bible Teach Two Separate Events?​

1.​

• The concept comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:17, where believers are “caught up” (Greek: harpazō).
• This event is described in connection with the Lord’s coming, not as a separate event.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven... and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive... will be caught up together with them... to meet the Lord in the air.”

Commentary:
This passage describes the resurrection and rapture as part of Christ’s descent — not a separate, secret event.

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2.​

Matthew 24:30–31
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear... and they will see the Son of Man coming... and He will send forth His angels... and they will gather together His elect.”

Commentary:
This is a visible return, after the tribulation (v.29). There is no mention of a prior, secret rapture.

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3.​

2 Thessalonians 2:1–3
“With regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him... it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed.”

Commentary:
Paul treats the coming of Christ and the gathering of believers as a single event, which occurs after tribulation events.

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4.​

Revelation 19:11–16
Jesus returns on a white horse, with the armies of heaven, to judge and make war.

Revelation 20:4–6
The first resurrection includes those martyred during the tribulation.

Commentary:
There is no mention of a prior resurrection or rapture before this. The first resurrection happens after the Beast is defeated.

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5.​

There is no passage that clearly says:

• The rapture happens before the tribulation.
• The Second Coming happens after the tribulation.
• These are two distinct events separated by years.

Instead, the consistent pattern is:

• Jesus returns once, visibly.
• The dead in Christ are raised.
• The living are caught up.
• Judgment follows.

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Summary Statement​

The Bible does not explicitly teach two separate events — a Pre-Tribulation Rapture and a later Second Coming. Instead, it consistently presents the return of Christ as a single, visible, climactic event that includes:

• The resurrection of the dead in Christ (1 Thess 4:16; Rev 20:4).
• The transformation and gathering of living believers (1 Thess 4:17; Matt 24:31).
• The defeat of the Beast and judgment of the wicked (Rev 19:20–21).
• The beginning of Christ’s reign (Rev 20:4).

This supports the Post-Tribulation Rapture view, which sees the rapture and Second Coming as one unified event, occurring after the tribulation.

 

[B-A-C]

I invite someone to give a rebuttal here. Perhaps "The Case for a Pre-Trib Rapture".

and see if it stands up Biblically. But I would ask if you do this.. don't use speculative scriptures...
For example..

Rev 3:10 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

In the context of this verse... there is no mention of tribulation or rapture. People speculate it's about the tribuaton.. but in context it isn't.

All of the verses I gave above specifically mention the rapture and the tribulation in the context they are used.

 

[Curtis]

Rev 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
Rev 4:3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
Rev 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

Here, the Apostle John has a vision of the throne of God, and he sees 24 Elders wearing "white Robes", and they were wearing "crowns of Gold"
Who exactly are these people, and why are they wearing white robes and crowns of gold? Crowns of gold are only given to those who have been judged for their deeds while living in physical bodies. (judgment seat of Christ) White robes are indicative of having "incorruptible" spiritual bodies.
We do not have to guess or theorize who these people are, as they themselves tell us exactly who they are!
Rev 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
Rev 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
Rev 4:11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."

Rev 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Rev 5:7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
Rev 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
Rev 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

The twenty-four Elders are representative of the Church ( have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,) the Body of Christ who have been raptured, given incorruptible bodies, judged, rewarded, and given crowns of gold!

They see Jesus take the scroll from the hand of God the Father, which has the seven seals that he (Jesus) will open, starting the tribulation period.

 

[B-A-C]

he twenty-four Elders are representative of the Church ( have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,) the Body of Christ who have been raptured, given incorruptible bodies, judged, rewarded, and given crowns of gold!

It's possible...
But I tend to lean this way...

Symbolism of 12 + 12 = 24​

• 12 tribes of Israel: Represent the faithful of the Old Testament.
• 12 apostles: Represent the foundation of the New Testament church (cf. Ephesians 2:20).
• Together, they form a complete representation of God's people.

​

• Revelation 21:12–14: The New Jerusalem has 12 gates named after the tribes of Israel and 12 foundation stones named after the apostles.
• This reinforces the idea that both groups are part of the eternal kingdom and may be reflected in the 24 elders.

But I will say.. you've given me something to think about.

 

[Curtis]

It's possible...
But I tend to lean this way...

Symbolism of 12 + 12 = 24​

• 12 tribes of Israel: Represent the faithful of the Old Testament.
• 12 apostles: Represent the foundation of the New Testament church (cf. Ephesians 2:20).
• Together, they form a complete representation of God's people.

​

• Revelation 21:12–14: The New Jerusalem has 12 gates named after the tribes of Israel and 12 foundation stones named after the apostles.
• This reinforces the idea that both groups are part of the eternal kingdom and may be reflected in the 24 elders.

But I will say.. you've given me something to think about.

They can’t be Old Testament saints or tribulation martyrs. The elders are in heaven before the tribulation, seated on thrones, wearing their robes and crowns. They are already rewarded. This means that they have already participated in the resurrection. This forbids identifying them as Old Testament saints or tribulation martyrs. Those two classes don’t receive their rewards until they are raised at the second coming.

The timeline of the twenty-four elders absolutely demands a pretribulation rapture. The sequence starts with a summons to heaven which is a type of the rapture summons—“Come up here!” (Rev. 4:1). The twenty-four appear in the throne room, resurrected and rewarded (Rev. 4-5), prior to the opening of the first seal, which releases the antichrist (Rev. 6:1-2). This means that they shall not see the antichrist, or the seventieth week, or the tribulation. This is a pretribulation rapture.

Besides the 24 Elders are made up of every nation, every tongue, every people every tribe on earth. I am sure there many Jews in included in this group of people.

 

[B-A-C]

Those two classes don’t receive their rewards until they are raised at the second coming.

This only applies if you believe the rapture and second coming are two different events.

or the seventieth week

A speculative timing at best. Some of us don't believe the 70 weeks apply to the timing of the tribulation.

Besides the 24 Elders are made up of every nation, every tongue, every people every tribe on earth. I am sure there many Jews in included in this group of people.

A possibility.. but difficult to prove I think.

I take it you believe there will be multiple raptures?