The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Doctrine is a Myth
Part 21 of the Harlot of Babylon Series
The teachers who mislead many in Matthew 24 are the ones teaching pre-tribulation rapture. Its strength is fear. There is plenty to be afraid of in the natural realm. We are going into the tribulation. Of course, it’s scary. That is why it’s called the great tribulation! Without the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the secret grace that comes from the heavenly realm, it is terrifying.
Hundreds of thousands of Christians have been put to death in the last two millennium. Don’t listen to the false prophets who say it can’t happen here. In the history of the world, whenever people say it can’t happen here, it means it is about to happen here! Are we better than the martyrs who have gone before us? Don’t think for a minute that it won’t happen to us.
Ezek 13:10 It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace.
Ezekiel chapter thirteen talks about false prophets who tell the people peace when there is no peace. It is directed at Israel in Ezekiel’s day but verse five also speaks of the day of the Lord.
Ezek 13:5 You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord.
This means the final fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy takes place in the last days. Verse ten is talking about the pre-tribulation rapture myth. Verse five says the teachers have not prepared the church for the battle on the day of the Lord. This warning is repeated in second Timothy.
II Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
For the time will come. This is talking about the last days. They will accumulate teachers in accordance to their own desires. The people desire an escape from the tribulation. They will turn away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. The greatest myth in the last days is the pre-tribulation rapture. Most of the church will be unprepared for the battle of the day of the Lord.
The letter to the church in Smyrna is a foreshadow of the church in the tribulation.
Rev 2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: 9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’
History tells us that this church was persecuted out of existence. As far as we know, they were all killed. This is a church in tribulation and poverty, but the Lord says they are rich. He tells them ahead of time that the devil is going cast them into prison. This is for their testing. Then the Lord tells them not to fear what they are about to suffer! Do not fear is a command from the Lord! Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
The teachers who teach the pre-tribulation rapture fail to understand the purpose of the tribulation. The purpose of the tribulation is to get the apostasy out of the last day apostate church. Now let’s look at the church in Laodicea. The Lord is going to discipline and reprove Laodicea, the last day apostate church. Apostate means to fall away from the faith.
Rev 3:16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
This church is the exact opposite of Smyrna. Smyrna was poor but Jesus said they were rich. Laodicea says they are rich, but Jesus says they are poor. This church has taken the easy path. When faced with difficult times, they simply compromised the Word of God. Make it easy on everyone. Just get along. Don’t make waves. Don’t cause trouble. They are lukewarm.
They say they are rich and wealthy and have need of nothing. Outwardly they appear great. They are doing fine. They lack in nothing. Inwardly, they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. The Lord advises them to buy gold refined by fire and white garments to clothe themselves and eye salve to anoint their eyes.
Then the Lord tells them how He is going to make this happen. He tells them how He is going to bring them out of their apostasy and back to Him. Discipline. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. This is the tribulation. Therefore, be zealous and repent.
The purpose of the tribulation is to bring the church of the last days back to Jesus. Those whom I love. Jesus loves the fallen away church just like He loved the prodigal son. He did not abandon the prodigal son and He will not abandon the lukewarm church. He will do whatever it takes to bring them back, even if it means putting them into great tribulation. I discipline and reprove those whom I love.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone opens the door, I will come in and dine with him and he with Me. Laodicea has traded His presence for the easy path. Jesus is outside the church knocking on the door. During the tribulation, this church will realize what they have done and open the door to Jesus. They will repent and the Lord will come in and dine with them.
Now remember the words of Peter.
I Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
Rejoice that we are counted worthy to share in the sufferings of Christ!