- Joined
- Aug 21, 2006
- Messages
- 4,672
- Reaction score
- 3,567
- Location
- Spurs Country
- Website
- www.jayyoungweb.com
Since there seems to be a good bit of confusion over the concept of “The Rapture”, I figured it might be helpful to have a thread which gives on overview of the subject. Of course there are a million websites with more thorough information, but an AW handbook might come in handy.
The four main views
1. Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Jesus will return invisibly at an unknown time and instantly steal all believers, taking them into Heaven. A seven year period of great Tribulation follows during which people can still accept Christ and after which Jesus returns visibly to judge the living and the dead and reign forever. This view is relatively new (within the last 150 years) but has gained wide acceptance and was the basis of the Left Behind book series.
2. Post-Tribulation Rapture
There will be a seven year period of great Tribulation, after which Jesus will return visibly to judge the living and the dead and reign forever. Historically, this has been the widely held belief within Christianity and still has a broad base of believers.
3. Mid-Tribulation Rapture
There will be a seven year period of great Tribulation during the middle of which Jesus will return and take all believers to Heaven, after the remaining 3 ½ years he will return visibly to judge the living and the dead and reign forever. This is generally not a widely held view among Christians.
4. Preterism
All prophesies regarding the return of Jesus were fulfilled in 70 A.D. with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, many of which are interpreted as figurative or spiritual, and we are currently living in the Eternal Kingdom. This too is generally not a widely held view among Christians.
Note: many among those who hold to the first three views are also “Partial Preterists” who believe that some, but not all of the prophecies associated with the return of Jesus were fulfilled in 70 A.D.
Other notes of interest
The term “Rapture” does not appear in Scripture. It is sometimes used synonymously with the term “The Second Coming”.
All views hold that there are signs in Scripture which indicate the events which will happen, although not the specific time or year. Many of these prophecies involve the Temple in Jerusalem, unprecedented natural disasters, the persecution of the Church, and the rise of the Man of Lawlessness. Some of the main Scriptures which are referenced are: Revelation 4 – 22, 2 Thessalonians 2, Matthew 24, and Daniel 11-12.
The Great Tribulation is a seven year period most believe to be literal where Christians will face unprecedented persecution and a man will rise to power who will become the Antichrist midway through the seven years.
The Millennium / The Millennial Reign is a period of 1,000 years (which most views believe to be a literal time span) during which Christ will reign on Earth, after which will be the Great Judgment. There are many differing views on the purpose, timing, and literality of the Millennial Reign.
Anyway, that’s the nickel tour according to my understanding. I’m sure there will be clarifications and corrections from others with a better understanding than I in this thread, but hopefully this has been helpful. I’m not really looking for us to debate the merits of each view, but just want to give a basic overview of the belief systems.
The four main views
1. Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Jesus will return invisibly at an unknown time and instantly steal all believers, taking them into Heaven. A seven year period of great Tribulation follows during which people can still accept Christ and after which Jesus returns visibly to judge the living and the dead and reign forever. This view is relatively new (within the last 150 years) but has gained wide acceptance and was the basis of the Left Behind book series.
2. Post-Tribulation Rapture
There will be a seven year period of great Tribulation, after which Jesus will return visibly to judge the living and the dead and reign forever. Historically, this has been the widely held belief within Christianity and still has a broad base of believers.
3. Mid-Tribulation Rapture
There will be a seven year period of great Tribulation during the middle of which Jesus will return and take all believers to Heaven, after the remaining 3 ½ years he will return visibly to judge the living and the dead and reign forever. This is generally not a widely held view among Christians.
4. Preterism
All prophesies regarding the return of Jesus were fulfilled in 70 A.D. with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, many of which are interpreted as figurative or spiritual, and we are currently living in the Eternal Kingdom. This too is generally not a widely held view among Christians.
Note: many among those who hold to the first three views are also “Partial Preterists” who believe that some, but not all of the prophecies associated with the return of Jesus were fulfilled in 70 A.D.
Other notes of interest
The term “Rapture” does not appear in Scripture. It is sometimes used synonymously with the term “The Second Coming”.
All views hold that there are signs in Scripture which indicate the events which will happen, although not the specific time or year. Many of these prophecies involve the Temple in Jerusalem, unprecedented natural disasters, the persecution of the Church, and the rise of the Man of Lawlessness. Some of the main Scriptures which are referenced are: Revelation 4 – 22, 2 Thessalonians 2, Matthew 24, and Daniel 11-12.
The Great Tribulation is a seven year period most believe to be literal where Christians will face unprecedented persecution and a man will rise to power who will become the Antichrist midway through the seven years.
The Millennium / The Millennial Reign is a period of 1,000 years (which most views believe to be a literal time span) during which Christ will reign on Earth, after which will be the Great Judgment. There are many differing views on the purpose, timing, and literality of the Millennial Reign.
Anyway, that’s the nickel tour according to my understanding. I’m sure there will be clarifications and corrections from others with a better understanding than I in this thread, but hopefully this has been helpful. I’m not really looking for us to debate the merits of each view, but just want to give a basic overview of the belief systems.
Last edited:
Actually I'd be kinda freaked out if I didn't know there were no bald dudes at my church... we had a "pastor's chat" sort of thing last weekend and as a response to a question he replied with... well, your post. Almost exactly. 
