“Come Let us Reason Together”
An Invitation to Pretrib Advocates
A.
The Major Concerns of Pretrib believers: The Pretribber clings to his
position because he honestly believes that this is the only position that can harmonize
a number of Biblical factors:
1.
Scriptures that demand present and constant readiness
2.
Scriptures that deny knowledge of a coming in contrast to scriptures that
clearly set forth preceding events to a
coming. – Hence two comings, one that
is unknown and one that is clearly made
known by preceding events.
3.
Scriptures that seemingly demand imminence of His coming
4.
Scriptures that demand a change of focus from the church to Israel
5.
Scriptures that speak of a coming “for” saints and others that speak of coming
“with” saints.
6.
The impact of such a coming as an incentive for holy living
7.
Scriptures that demand that saints are not appointed to wrath
This list is not exhaustive but it does
represent the major concerns of the Pretrib advocate and why he clings to his
position. He honestly wants to embrace something that can harmonize with all of
the above and the Pretrib position seems to do just that. Finally, this
position is the most popular position among evangelicals.
B.
The Posttrib response to these concerns: In addition to all the above concerns of the Pretribber, the Posttribber
also is concerned that a Biblical position must not contradict any prophetic
teachings of the Scripture. That is, any position with an emphasis that
contradicts and denies the very essence of Biblical prophecy cannot be
acceptable. The essence and heart of the Pretrib position is that it demands
that NOTHING MUST precede the coming of Christ. However, it is a very simple
task to illustrate from Acts chapter one to Acts chapter twenty-eight that the
scriptures are full of necessary preceding predictions to the coming of Christ.
The book of Acts is just the beginning where a list of necessary preceding
prophecies are to be found.
The Posttrib advocate demands that the
true Biblical position must harmonize not only with all six Pretrib concerns
but with necessary predictive prophecy as well. The Posttrib position can easily harmonize with all seven concerns.
For example:
1.
Scriptures that demand present and constant readiness: Acts 1:6-7
clearly demonstrates that the precise time of the Posttrib kingdom coming is presently UNKNOWN to all but the
Father. To prove this is simple. Please tell me the exact day and hour when any
of those “things” that announce His kingdom coming will occur???? You cannot tell me can you? Let me ask another question. Can holiness be
put on and off like a coat? No,
holiness is a maturing PROCESS. A person cannot wait until certain things begin
to start being holy and prepared for His coming. The fact that none know when
such things will begin is in itself a motivating factor to practice holiness
now with the intent to be ready when such things do begin. Peter teaches
clearly that Posttrib expectations can be used as incentives for present
readiness and holiness (see 2 Pet. 3:12-14). He points the believers past the
tribulation, past the millennial reign to the new “heaven” and new “earth” and
exhorts them to live holy lives in expectation of that new creation to
come. What about death? Surely, the imminence of death should be
enough of an incentive to practice holiness now without inventing a view of
eschatology to do so?
2.
Scriptures that deny knowledge of a coming in contrast to scriptures that
clearly set forth preceding events to a
coming. – Hence two comings,
one that
is unknown and one that is clearly made known by preceding
events.
However, as already pointed out, Acts 1:6-7
characterizes the time of the Posttrib coming as an unknown to all but the
Father. Moreover, when Matthew 24:36 is considered in its context it is clear
that it too refers to the coming just described in the verses that immediately
precede it (vv. 29-33). The point of
these verses is not that His coming is to be UNKNOWN ALWAYS but rather it is
unknown PRESENTLY. It remains unknown until certain events announce it. Hence,
there is no basis for inventing another coming by using this text as Acts 1:6-7
demonstrates so clearly.
3.
Scriptures that seemingly demand imminence of His coming. The key to understanding such language is found in
the parable of the “fig tree” and “all the trees.” This parable clearly teaches that it is the FOCUS POINT of His
coming that is uncertain and impending. By FOCUS POINT we mean what we are
directed to be LOOKING for. This parable demands that the FOCUS POINT for the
coming of summer is the sight of trees budding and green foliage appearing. If
you are looking for the coming of summer, Jesus demands that your FOCUS POINT
be upon these things. Then, the Lord
applies this to His own coming which is unknown to all but the Father (Acts
1:6-7 with Mt. 24:36). He says “SO
LIKEWISE ye, when ye SEE THESE THINGS begin to come to pass KNOW that it is
nigh even at the doors.” The words “so
likewise” means that we are to apply the point of his nature illustration in
regard to watching for summer to watching for His coming. Just as the FOCUS POINT
for the coming of summer is the budding and green foliage SO LIKEWISE the FOCUS
POINT for His coming is the beginning of “these things.” In other words, you cannot watch or be
looking for the coming of summer if your not watching or looking FIRST for that
which announces its coming. SO LIKEWISE, you cannot be looking for His coming
if you are not FIRST watching or looking for “these things” which announce the
time of His coming. This parable defines the FOCAL POINT of His coming and it
is this FOCAL POINT that is unknown and impending. It is this FOCAL POINT that
the rest of the parables in the Olivet Discourse refer to as unknown and
impending.
Furthermore, the terms “looking for” and
“watch” do not mean something may occur at any second. Peter clearly
demonstrates this when he uses these terms in regard to the Posttribulational,
Postmillennial new heaven and earth (2 Pet. 3:12-14). The simple fact of the matter is that we presently do not know
when “these things” will begin and therefore we cannot know the time of His
coming until they do begin. Since they are unknown, it behooves us to be ever
watching and looking and ready as we know not the hour.
The Apostle Peter warns against “scoffers”
that will arise in the “last days” who will scoff at the “promise of His
coming” due to the fact that long periods of time have lapsed between His
departure and their day. They scoff because the language of His promise does
not harmonize with the fact that a long period of time has come and gone and
yet no Christ. Peter warns Christians
not to be so ignorant as to count or reckon the “promise” according to how men
count such terms. In other words, “quickly” and “is at hand” and other such
language of his coming is not to be understood as men reckon such terms. Men
reckon such terms as terms of imminence. However, Peter says for Christians to
do so is ignorance (2 Pet. 3:8-9). God counts this promise as in terms of
DIVINE IMMINENCE and divine imminence sees a “THOUSAND YEARS” as but one day.
Hence, with the Lord it has only been TWO DAYS since the promise has been made.
The point Peter is making is that His coming cannot be considered in terms of
human imminence or it would make Christ a liar and the scoffers would be
correct. Of all people, Peter knew that Christ could not come at any second because
Christ bluntly told him that he would grow old and die before His coming. For
Peter to teach Pretribbism would be to make Christ a false prophet.
Some argue that the metaphor of Christ
coming “like a thief” demands human imminence or any secondism. However, it
should be noted that this metaphor is ALWAYS used in contexts where saints are
described as NOT LOOKING for His coming and NEVER in contexts where the saints
are looking and watching. Indeed, Paul denies that Christ will come like a “thief”
upon those watching (I Thes. 5:4).
4.
Scriptures that demand a change of focus from the church to Israel: The New Testament says that the “church” was a
“mystery” previously hidden in the Old Testament (Eph. 3:1-5). Therefore, you
should not expect any explicit mention of it in Old Testament prophecies
concerning the coming of Christ.
However, it is wrong to suggest that both Israel and the church cannot
be on earth at the same time. The church overlapped with Israel until 70 A.D. a
period of 40 years and therefore it can easily overlap again for a period of 7
years at the end of the age. The book
of Matthew knows of only two ages (Mt. 12) and the church is said to be present
on earth until the end of this “age” (Mt. 28:20). The absence of the term
“church” in Revelation 4-21 does not keep Pretribbers from finding it in
chapters 4,18,19 or 21 and therefore why should it be a problem in any of the
other chapters. The term “church” is not found in Revelation where there are
visions in heaven. The most likely reason that this term is not found in these
chapters is simply because it is a time of tribulation and in such times the
churches have met secretly as abundance of historical records from the Dark
Ages will show. The term “church” refers to a PUBLIC assembly.
5.
Scriptures that speak of a coming “for” saints and others that speak of
coming
“with” saints.
This is the easiest argument to reconcile
with the Posttrib coming of Christ. Indeed, I Thessalonians 4:13-17 demands
that Christ comes FIRST “with” the departed saints FOR those that are alive.
Hence, what is supposed to be the chief proof text for Pretribbism demands that
ONE coming is both WITH the saints and FOR the saints. Besides, how can I Thessalonians 3:13-17 be
used for a Pretrib SECRET coming????
There is a “GREAT SOUND” of a trumpet and a “SHOUT” and the emptying of
graveyards that occur first. Is God using a dog whistle for a trumpet and will
people on earth be both deaf and blind?
6.
The impact of such a coming as an incentive for holy living: Fear is a good incentive. However, it would seem that
the fear of death and the possibility of dying and coming into the presence of
God would be a sufficient incentive without creating another theory of His
coming. If such a coming is necessary
for holy living, then, were Old Testament saints without such an incentive?
The Posttrib position gives a much better
and more scriptural incentive for holy living. For example, when are you closer
to God? When trouble and tribulation is threatening or when things are going
good? The Bible says that “tribulation
worketh….” (Rom. 5:3-5). Every trial we
now experience is matures us and prepares uf for great trials to come and for
greater usefulness.
7.
Scriptures that demand that saints are not appointed to wrath: All such scriptures when considered in their context
MAY be easily applied to ETERNAL WRATH rather than TEMPORAL wrath. Usually the
context refers to the doctrine of justification and the cross. Shouldn’t we
make a difference between “tribulation” and “wrath”? If saints are not appointed to tribulation then why does the New
Testament continuously repeat that we are appointed to tribulation (James 1:2;
Jn. 16:30; I Pet. 4:12; Rom. 5:3-5; etc.)?
Pretribbers believe that saints will be in the 70th week and
some will survive it. If saints are not appointed unto tribulation are these
INFERIOR saints. When the time for rewards are given out, why then, are these
tribulation saints given the preeminence (Rev. 20:4) IF they are an INFERIOR
class of saint appointed to wrath? Either saints are or are not appointed unto
wrath. If they are not, then neither
are those in the Tribulation. The Pretribber fails to make a distinction
between the “wrath” of God and the “tribulation” upon saints by the world. In
the 70th week of Daniel the Great Tribulation refers to the wrath of
the Antichrist, the Great Harlot and the world. Saints are in the Great
Tribulation and therefore are appointed to tribulation as have been all saints
in all ages. Furthermore, Revelation
9:20-21 and Revelation 16:1-14,16-17 clearly show that the trumpets and vials
are for the wicked only and not for the saints. None of the Gentile saints in Revelation are sealed in the
forehead and yet many survive it (Mt. 25:31-44; Rev. 7:9-14). It seems to me
that just like in Egypt, God is able separate His people from the Egyptians.
CONCLUSION: None of the above concerns contradict the Posttrib
coming of Christ in the least. However, the Pretrib position violates the
scriptures terribly. The Bible never uses a plural “comings” or any other
plural to describe the coming of Christ (revelation, appearance, coming, etc).
If there were two comings then such a plural should be found somewhere? To
argue that there are not two comings but only two “phases” is absurdly
ridiculous. If you left your house got in your car and went to church but
didn’t go in, merely picked someone up and returned to your house and then
seven days later left your house and got in your car and went into the church
would that be TWO COMINGS to church or only TWO PHASES of one coming to
church? The essence of the Pretrib
teaching contradicts and denies multitudes of necessary preceding prophetic events.
Another thought to ponder – Jesus spends a whole sermon teaching His disciples
not to “fear” such things but rather to embrace them with joy and expectation
(Lk. 21:28). Why then do Pretribbers
constantly present the same things in the context of FEAR and DREAD and hope of
escape???????
Look at the other articles on this page
and reconsider your position in the light of God’s Word and a balanced position
that harmonizes necessary preceding prophecies and constant readiness.