I am having a (sometimes heated) discussion. I say the Rapture will come before the Tribulation. He says the Tribulation will come before the Rapture. What are some Scriptures that I can show him that will show that the Rapture will precede the Tribulation?
Jesus tells us plainly in Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is
likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed (weeds) tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from
whence then hath it (weeds) tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather
them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together FIRST first the TARES (WEEDS) tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
(first the tares WEEDS get gathered, then the wheat last) could it be any more plain than this?
Matthew 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and
went into the house: and his disciples came unto him,
saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the
good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of
the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked
one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is
the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the
We are given an account of the horrific events of the Tribulation in Revelation Chapters 4 through 29. This is a time when God will pour His wrath on on an unbelieving world. There is no place in scripture that tells us that God's wrath will be poured out on believers. In fact, in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5, it tells us that we are not appointed unto wrath, but to salvation. During the tribulation, there is no mention of the church until Chapter 19 when Christ comes back. But it says that He comes back with all His saints (The Church). If we come back with Him, it would seem to me that we are in heaven with Him during the tribulation. Plus, there is a wedding taking place in heaven before Christ comes back with His saints. We are His bride and this wedding is taking place in heaven while the tribulation is still happening on the earth. So, with that being said, I also agree with you the the church will be removed prior to these horrific events take place. There would be no purpose for us to be here during that time.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:52 - In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the LAST TRUMP last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
We are changed at the LAST TRUMP and where is this found?
In REVELATION, the LAST BOOK of the Bible there are 7 trumps and the 7th trump is the LAST ONE and is at the end of the tribulation. there is not a 7th last trump prior to the tribulation.
The First Resurrection is of the dead in Christ and the Second is after 1000 years. Paul wrote that the Dead in Christ MUST rise FIRST, THEN we who are alive and remain will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 ...and the dead in Christ shall RISE FIRST
17 THEN we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them...
In Rev. 20:4-5, John sees the souls of Saints who were BEHEADED for refusing the Mark of the Beast during the Great Tribulation. John writes that they will rise and reign with Christ for 1000 years and that this is the FIRST RESURRECTION!
If according to John, the beheaded rise in the FIRST resurrection and Paul said those who are alive and remain are not caught up until AFTER the dead in Christ are resurrected, then this means the catching up or rapture takes place AFTER tribulation!
Now compare the above with 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-23:
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of those who slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; AFTERWARDS THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST'S AT HIS COMING.
Notice only one resurrection of the dead in Christ is mentioned here! Which, according to Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 must take place BEFORE we who are alive and remain are "caught up" with them!
When did Jesus say the dead in Christ would be resurrected?
John 6:39-40: Jesus said, "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up ON THE LAST DAY.
In Revelation 20:4-6 the last book of the Bible there are only 2 more FUTURE Resurrections (Raptures) spoken of: (after the 2 witnesses appear)
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the FIRST RESURRECTION. or rapture
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the FIRST RESURRECTION: on such the SECOND DEATH hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Thank you.
likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed (weeds) tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from
whence then hath it (weeds) tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather
them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together FIRST first the TARES (WEEDS) tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
(first the tares WEEDS get gathered, then the wheat last) could it be any more plain than this?
Matthew 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and
went into the house: and his disciples came unto him,
saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the
good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of
the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked
one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is
the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the
fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
We are given an account of the horrific events of the Tribulation in Revelation Chapters 4 through 29. This is a time when God will pour His wrath on on an unbelieving world. There is no place in scripture that tells us that God's wrath will be poured out on believers. In fact, in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5, it tells us that we are not appointed unto wrath, but to salvation. During the tribulation, there is no mention of the church until Chapter 19 when Christ comes back. But it says that He comes back with all His saints (The Church). If we come back with Him, it would seem to me that we are in heaven with Him during the tribulation. Plus, there is a wedding taking place in heaven before Christ comes back with His saints. We are His bride and this wedding is taking place in heaven while the tribulation is still happening on the earth. So, with that being said, I also agree with you the the church will be removed prior to these horrific events take place. There would be no purpose for us to be here during that time.
We are changed at the LAST TRUMP and where is this found?
In REVELATION, the LAST BOOK of the Bible there are 7 trumps and the 7th trump is the LAST ONE and is at the end of the tribulation. there is not a 7th last trump prior to the tribulation.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 ...and the dead in Christ shall RISE FIRST
17 THEN we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them...
In Rev. 20:4-5, John sees the souls of Saints who were BEHEADED for refusing the Mark of the Beast during the Great Tribulation. John writes that they will rise and reign with Christ for 1000 years and that this is the FIRST RESURRECTION!
If according to John, the beheaded rise in the FIRST resurrection and Paul said those who are alive and remain are not caught up until AFTER the dead in Christ are resurrected, then this means the catching up or rapture takes place AFTER tribulation!
Now compare the above with 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-23:
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of those who slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; AFTERWARDS THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST'S AT HIS COMING.
Notice only one resurrection of the dead in Christ is mentioned here! Which, according to Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 must take place BEFORE we who are alive and remain are "caught up" with them!
When did Jesus say the dead in Christ would be resurrected?
John 6:39-40: Jesus said, "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up ON THE LAST DAY.
In Revelation 20:4-6 the last book of the Bible there are only 2 more FUTURE Resurrections (Raptures) spoken of: (after the 2 witnesses appear)
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the FIRST RESURRECTION. or rapture
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the FIRST RESURRECTION: on such the SECOND DEATH hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
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