The Second Coming Of Christ

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< > Chapter Eight Is it unkind of God to let us go through the Tribulation? Some Christians become afraid when they learn of the horrific events of the great tribulation. This is the real reason why people prefer to believe the theory of a secret advent of Christ and a secret rapture of the Church before the great Tribulation. One exponent of this doctrine has said, “If the Church is to pass through the tribulation, then farewell blessed hope, then welcome the coffin, then thrice welcome the undertaker.” This attitude springs from several false assumptions: The false assumption that the great tribulation is the wrath of God. Some Christians say that the great tribulation is the wrath of God, so on the basis of 1Thes.5v9., “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” they say Christians may be quite sure that they will escape going through the great tribulation. How unscriptural this reasoning is will be seen from the following facts. In Rev.7v9,14., God says that there will be a great number of Christians who will not only be in the great tribulation, but will come through it in glorious victory. God says that He will allow “a great multitude, which no man could number of ALL nations” to go through the great tribulation. How dare people say that God will not let His saints go through the great tribulation, when God has already said that He will. Dan.7v21,22. 11v35. Rev.6v9-11. 12v4,11,17. 13v7,10. 14v12,13. 15v2. 20v4. N.B. The great tribulation is the result of Satan's wrath, not God's wrath. We read in Rev.12v12., that the great tribulation is caused by the wrath of Satan, who knows that he only has a short time of freedom before he is put in God's prison, Hades. Rev.12v7-17. 13v7. God allows the career of Antichrist in order to reveal the horrific end of sin, and the malevolent and destructive nature of Satan. and the folly of going his way. Only God can give true pleasure, joy and happiness. Mt.24v15-22. Jn.10v10. 2Thes.2v7,8. Rev.9v11. 11v18. 1Pet.5v8. Is.35v10. The wrath of God will be poured out on the wicked during the great tribulation through the ministry of the two witnesses and others, or directly by angelic action. But these judgements will only come on the wicked, God's people are sealed and safe from them as they have always been in the past. The faithful Israelites were safe from God's judgements upon the wicked, in Egypt, the wilderness, and Canaan. Rev.9v4. 11v36. Numb.11v1-3,33,34. 16v1-3. 28-35,49. Ezek.9v3-6. God has power over His plagues, they don't fall on the saints, and even the wicked can escape them by turning to God in real repentance. Rev.16v9. The vials of the wrath of God appear to be poured out during the last weeks or months of the great tribulation. There is the final great act of judgement on the great day of the wrath of God. Is.42v13-15. 63v1-6. Rev.6v16,17. 11v18. 14v9,10,19. 15v1,7. 16v1. Some have suggested that the great tribulation and the day of the Lord are the same, however, a comparison of Mt.24v29,30. with Acts.2v20., proves that this is incorrect, the great day of God's wrath is a single day. The Christian is safe from the wrath of God, but not from the wrath of wicked men, as our Lord has warned us. John.14v30. Some say that it is no comfort to look for Christ's return, if His Church is to expect great tribulation before it. This is foolish, for the greater the extent of the darkness, the greater will be the comfort that our Lord's coming will bring. Paul informs us that the day when the saints are comforted by Christ's return and find rest from their persecutors, is the same day that our Lord punishes the wicked with everlasting destruction from His presence. 2Thes.1v5-10. 2v8. Titus.2v13. In Lk.17v26-30., Jesus emphasises this same point, when He states that His persecuted Church will be delivered on the same day that Antichrist is destroyed, just as the day of Lot's deliverance was the day of the destruction of Sodom. That God would not let His children suffer so. God has always allowed His people to suffer tribulation, temptation and trial, because they purify and perfect faith. and “we are to arm ourselves by recognising this fact.” Heb.11v35-38. 1Pet.4v1. James.1v2-4,12. 1Pet.1v3-7. Rom.5v3-5. Christ's Church has been warned that it can expect persecution for Christ's sake, and it is our glory and privilege to suffer for Him, for, “If we suffer with Him, we shall reign with Him.” 2Tim.2v12. 3v12. See Jn.15v19,20. 16v33. 17v15. Acts.5v41. 14v22. 2Cor.1v7. 1Thes.1v4-6. 3v3,4. Phil.1v29. 3v10. 1Pet.4v13. 2v19-24. Jesus said that faith in Him would bring death, suffering and persecution upon Christians, in addition to the normal suffering that comes upon men and nations. Jesus rebuked Peter, when Peter rebuked Him for saying that He must suffer and die, Jesus said Peter was thinking like men. Mt.16v22. Mk.8v31-38. What of the glorious company of martyrs of whom our Lord was the leader? John Wesley says, “Some have computed, that, from the year 1518 to 1548, fifteen millions of Protestants have perished by the Inquisition. This may be over charged; but certainly the number of them in those years, as well as since, is almost incredible. To these we add innumerable martyrs, in ancient, middle, and late ages.” The Scriptures and Church history prove that God does allow His people to suffer at the hands of evil men. In the great tribulation the Church again has to endure suffering for Christ's sake. However, we read that because God loves His children, He will limit the length of the great tribulation, “For the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” Mt.24v22. N.B. The early Church Fathers expected the Church to suffer at the hands of Antichrist. Mr. G. Ladd in his book, “The Blessed Hope,” writes, “Every Church father who deals with the subject expects the Church to suffer at the hands of Antichrist.” Ladd cites amongst others, The Didache, (early 2nd Century), Justin Martyr, (A.D.150), Irenaeus, (A.D.115-202.), Tertullian, (A.D.160-240), Lactantius, (Late 3rd. early 4th. Cent.), Hippolytus, (3rd.Cent.). Certainly the early Church fathers do not support the pre-tribulation advent and rapture theory. Those who make Paul's statement in 1Thes.5v9., “For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” as one of their main proof texts for Christians being raptured before the great tribulation, have clearly twisted the Scriptures. Paul is dealing with the truth of salvation from sin, and how we can escape from the wrath of God by repentance and a holy life. 2Pet.3v16. 1Thes.1v10. Paul, like our Lord, warns us to be watchful lest we should be led away with the error of the wicked, like the evil servant of Mt.24v48-51., and share in his punishment. The fact that people have to resort to such texts proves the weakness of their arguments. In spite of the fact that Jesus said that the prophecies concerning the events at the close of the age do not start until Rev.4v1., some use Rev.3v10., to prove the Church is going to be delivered from the great tribulation by a secret advent and rapture. There is no proof that “the hour of temptation,” is the great tribulation, or that “keep thee from the hour of temptation,” means the rapture. Indeed, it is a fact that this was spoken by Jesus to meet the local circumstances at Philadelphia in John's time. When people are driven to confirm their viewpoint with texts like this, texts which have nothing whatever to do with Christ's second coming, it shows the weakness of their arguments. Does Luke.21v36. teach that Christians will escape the great tribulation? The Authorised Version of Lk.21v36., “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man:” has been used to prove that we will be raptured before the great tribulation. However, careful study shows that it teaches the very opposite, and proves that Christians will not escape FROM the great tribulation, but they can only come THROUGH IT and OUT OF it by watching and praying. The Majority Text reading of Lk.21v36., “that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things,” “hina kataxiothete ekphugein tauta panta,” occurs in A, C, D, R, Theta, f13, the Byzantine manuscripts, the Latin, the Syriac, the A.V., and T.R.. “Accounted worthy,” is “kataxiothete,” the aorist passive subj. of “kataxioo,” “to account worthy of.” 2Thes.1v5. Acts.5v41. The Critical Text reading, “hina katischusete ekphugein tauta panta,” “that you may prevail to escape all these things;” is supported by Aleph, B, L, and Psi. “Katischusete,” is the aorist active subjunctive of “katischuo,” “to have strength against.” or, “to be strong or powerful against;” from “kata,” “against;” and “ischuo,” “to be strong or powerful, to prevail.” Rotheram follows the Critical Text reading and translates Luke.21v36., “But be watching at every season, making supplication that ye may gain full vigour to escape all these things that are about to be coming to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” The Revised Standard Version follows the minority Critical Text reading and translates Lk.21v36., “But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” May we take heed to His warning. 2Thes.2v3. Mt.24v12. No matter which Greek reading we may prefer, both the Majority Text and Critical texts read “ekphugein,” the aorist active infinitive of “ekpheugo,” “to escape out, to flee out of.” “Ekphugein” is made up of two Greek words, “PHEUGO,” which means, “to flee or escape,” and “EK,” which means, “out of.” Both the Greek word “EK,” “out of,” and “APO,” which means, “from;” are frequently translated “from,” and they are very close in meaning to each another. However, the difference between them is that “APO” suggests that there is a starting point from without; whereas “EK” suggests a starting point from within; “out of,” must first enter before it can come out. Sometimes “EK” can be said to have much the same meaning as “APO,” the context must decide what is the best rendering. However, from the use of “ekpheugo” in the Scriptures, we can definitely say that it signifies NOT an escaping FROM the great tribulation by never entering it, but an escaping OUT OF it after entering it, this is shown in the following places where “ekpheugo” is used. a. “Ekpheugo” is used in Acts.16v27., to describe the escape of prisoners out of prison. b. “Ekpheugo,” is used in 2Cor.11v23., to describe Paul's escape out of Damascus. c. “Ekphugein,” the aorist infinitive of “ekpheugo,” is used in Acts.19v16., of the escape of the seven sons of Sceva out of the house, when the demon-possessed man attacked them. d. In 1Thes.5v3., Paul emphasises the destruction of the followers of Antichrist with a strong double negative, “ou me ekphugosin,” “they shall certainly not escape.” See Rom.2v3. Heb.2v3. 12v25. Paul reveals that Antichrist's followers will be saying “peace and safety” in the final hours of the great tribulation, after their victory over the two witnesses and the armies of the West. Their exultation and joy, and their feeling of safety and security, (“asphaleia,” only here and Lk.1v4., where it is translated “certainty”), disappears at Christ's return, when they are suddenly and completely destroyed by the Lord Jesus. No matter which of the two Greek readings of Lk.21v36. we accept; Christ was certainly not teaching that Christians would escape the great tribulation by a secret advent or secret rapture before it started. Indeed, Jesus tells us that the very opposite is true, and solemnly warns us that we will need great patience and faith, and a life of real watchfulness and prevailing prayer to spiritually survive these times. Lk.18v1-8. Rev.14v12. 13v10. Heb.6v12. Mk.13v13. Lk.21v12-19. Mt.24v12,13. N.B. “endureth to the end.” In Mt.24v44 to 25v13., our Lord warns us that Christians who are not prepared for the evils of the great tribulation will apostatise and go back into the world. Jesus exhorts us to prepare for these evil last days, and warns us that the lamps of those who have no reserve of oil for the dark last days, will go out. Who are the elect of Matthew 24v22,24,31. and Mark 13v20,22,27.? Some have foolishly stated, that the mention of “Judea” and “the Sabbath” in Mt.24v16,20., shows that Mt.24. was addressed to the Jews, and not Christians. They say this because Mt.24v30., is undoubtedly a coming in glory, and to admit that it. was addressed to Christians would destroy the pretribulation advent theory, and so the argument was advanced that Mt.24. was not addressed to the Church. In Mt.24v20., Jesus gives specific warning signs to Christians who will be in Judea in the time of Antichrist. The fact that Mt.24v20., speaks of people who are willing to listen to Christ and willing to flee on the Sabbath, proves that it is not addressed to strict Jews, who would do neither. Only Christians would take heed to the words of Christ. Jews will certainly not obey a prophet they do not believe in. Is Matthew 24 addressed to the Church of Christ, or the Jews? Jesus gives the answer in Mk.13v37., “What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch.” By giving this command to His apostles, Jesus instructs all His Church. The apostles were Israelites, but they were the apostles of the Church, and Jesus spoke to them in this capacity, as Christian believers. If Mt.24. is not to be looked upon as applicable to Christians, because it is “Jewish,” who is to decide what is Jewish and what is Christian? The Gospels are, with a few exceptions, a record of Christ’s ministry to Israelites, but they contain His vital teachings for His Church. The epistles of Peter, James and Hebrews are written to Jews, are we to set these aside? Never! They contain indispensable Christian truth. Was the New Covenant of Mt.26v28., just for the Jews, because it was only spoken to the apostles? Of course not! it is for every believer in Christ Jesus. The refusal to recognise that the truths of Mt.24. were addressed to the Church, has driven some to utter folly in their reasoning, it is reported that some have even looked upon the Lord's prayer and the Lord's Supper as “Jewish ordinances,” and not applicable to the Church of Christ. If Mt.24. was spoken to the apostles as Jews and not as Christians, how were they to know it? How shall we know what New Testament Scriptures apply to us? What use would these prophecies be to Jews who do not believe in Christ? It would be very strange if the earnest warnings of Christ in Mt.24., Mk.13., and Lk.17 and 21., were not addressed to Christians, but to Jews who have no faith in Christ. How can those who say that Mt.24. was written for Jews, use Mt.24v36,42. as their major text to prove that Christ may come at any moment for His Church? What kind of Scripture expositor uses a chapter which states that the coming of Christ is preceded by very clear signs, and warns against a secret second advent, to prove that there is a secret advent and rapture of the Church without those signs? Particularly when its advocates say that Mt.24. is addressed only to the Jews, and not to the Church. The pretribulation rapture theory has become widely accepted because Western Christians are unwilling to suffer persecution for Christ's sake. Heb.11v25. As someone has said, “It is an interesting fact that the pretribulation rapture theory did not arise out of a suffering Church. It has come out of a Western civilisation that has been the most comfortable and pleasant in the whole history of Christianity.” Some have said that the Church was not founded until the day of Pentecost; however, this can be shown to be wrong by many passages of Scripture. The apostles were converted before Pentecost; their names were “written in heaven,” Lk.10v20.; they were “clean,” Jn.15v3.; and they belonged to God. Jn.15v3. Pentecost was not the time when they were saved, they were rejoicing in their salvation before this, Pentecost was the time when they received the promise of the Father to His children, the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Lk.24v49,52,53. Christ said the Law and the prophets were until John, the age of grace and truth started when Jesus started His ministry. Mt.11v13. Lk.16v16. Jn.1v17. It is nonsense to say that Mt.24. was not spoken to the Church, because the Church did not exist until the day of Pentecost; God gave many promises that belong to the Church to the Old Testament prophets, many centuries before the day of Pentecost. The facts and context prove the elect of Mt.24 are Christians, and that Mt.24. is addressed to Christians. The elect are Christians who are all over the world, and preaching the Gospel to all the world. Mt.24v14. The elect are Christians who are hated, persecuted and dying for Christ all over the world. Mt.24v9,16-20. Mk.13v9-13. The elect are Christians who are looking for Christ's return and are warned about false Christs. Mt.24v13-27. Lk.21v19,28. The elect are Christians who are gathered by angels, for we know from Is.65v15-21., that the Israelites, who are scattered throughout the world are gathered, not by angels, but by the Gentiles, who bring them to Jerusalem as an offering to God. We read that Mt.25v1. begins with a “Then,” connecting it with Mt.24v44-51.; Jesus said the subject is the kingdom of Heaven, not the kingdom of Israel. The parable of the ten virgins is a parable on the truth stated in Mt.24v42-51., the good servant who follows Jesus faithfully to the end of the great tribulation, and the evil servant who backslides into the world in those dark and evil days. The good servant and evil servant appear to be Christian leaders, whose work is to give correct truth at the end of the age. The good servant faithfully fulfils his task, whereas the evil servant has the incorrect idea that His Lord has delayed His coming, and as a result loses faith and lives an evil life, and is cut in sunder by His Lord. The virgins appear to be Christians who again had wrong ideas about their Lord’s return, probably through wrong teaching, and had not prepared for the darkness of the last days. This is a very definite Christian truth, which is addressed to all of the Church of Christ. Jesus warns us that Christians will have to persevere in prayer or they will faint and lose their faith in Him. Lk.18v1-8. Jesus speaks of an elect who are crying day and night for deliverance, and of a God that will avenge the sufferings of His elect at the hands of the wicked. This is certainly not the kind of language that we would expect if we are sure to miss the tribulation. Those who endure as far as the rapture are those who have prayed and not fainted, but many will backslide, and Jesus warns us, “and when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” Lk.17v34-36. 18v8. Mt.24v12,13. Rev.13v10.16v15. Paul states in Rom.11v5,6., that people have to believe in Jesus to receive the “election of grace.” Paul was heartbroken that most of Israel were blinded by unbelief, and in becoming enemies of Jesus and His Church,. were “broken off” from their promises and election, Rom.9v31-33. 10v3,21. 11v7-10,20,28. However, in Rom.11v25,26,28., Paul states that the promises given to Abraham and his faithful seed will be fulfilled. The Jews are beloved for their forefather's sakes, and God will keep His covenant promises to faithful Jews. Exod.3v14-16. God gave the Israelites His word, and godly Jews are loved and precious to Him; and when they are presented with a sign-attested Gospel they often respond to the truth in Jesus. God has always given the Jews time to consider His Word, and has invited them to reason with Him. God welcomes scarlet sinners, both Jews and Gentiles, with sweet forgiving reasonableness. Is.1v18. We see from Acts.10v1-48. N.B. v34,35., that, “In truth God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” Cornelius was justified on an Old Testament basis, and he was loved, acceptable, and precious to God, even before He heard the Gospel; and so are godly Jews. Paul states that there is now no difference between Jew and Greek, the elect consists of those who call on the Lord to save them. Rom.10v8-14. N.B. v13. Mt.1v21. In Christ, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal.3v28. No one can be among the New Testament “elect” unless they believe in Jesus as Saviour. Jn.6v37,45,53. 8v24,42. 1Thes.1v4. 2Pet.1v10. 1Jn.5v9-13. 1Pet.1v9-12. Some have stated that Mt.24. and Thes.4v13 to 5v5. are different events, one speaking of a coming in glory and the other speaking of a secret rapture. However, though their aim was different, Mt.24. was given to show the signs of Christ's coming and the end of the age, and 1Thes.4v13 to 5v5. was given to comfort and challenge the relatives of departed believers, they are both speaking of the same event, they both use the same descriptive language, they speak of angelic powers, a great voice, a great trumpet, the clouds of heavenly glory, and the elect being gathered and caught up to meet their Lord. I agree with Sidlow Baxter, on pages 219, 220 of his, “Explore the book,” that the parallels between 1Thes.4 and Mt.24., are irresistible to an honest mind. Both have angels, voice, trumpet, clouds, and gathered congregating saints. What kind of Bible interpretation can take exactly the same phrases and symbols, and teach a glorious public coming in Mt.24, and a secret coming in 1Thes.4v13-18.? It proves that 1Thes.4v13-18. does not teach a secret rapture. With Baxter, I exhort Bible students to test doctrines by the Scriptures, and appeal for Christian love in studying such doctrines. Our study of Mt.24. has made it absolutely clear that it is addressed to the Church of Christ, and that there will be a post-tribulation advent of Christ and rapture of the Church. < >
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Chapter Eight

Is it unkind of God to let us go through the Tribulation?

Some Christians become afraid when they learn of the horrific events of the great tribulation. This is the real reason why people prefer to believe the theory of a secret advent of Christ and a secret rapture of the Church before the great Tribulation. One exponent of this doctrine has said, “If the Church is to pass through the tribulation, then farewell blessed hope, then welcome the coffin, then thrice welcome the undertaker.” This attitude springs from several false assumptions:

The false assumption that the great tribulation is the wrath of God.
Some Christians say that the great tribulation is the wrath of God, so on the basis of 1Thes.5v9., “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” they say Christians may be quite sure that they will escape going through the great tribulation. How unscriptural this reasoning is will be seen from the following facts. In Rev.7v9,14., God says that there will be a great number of Christians who will not only be in the great tribulation, but will come through it in glorious victory. God says that He will allow “a great multitude, which no man could number of ALL nations” to go through the great tribulation. How dare people say that God will not let His saints go through the great tribulation, when God has already said that He will. Dan.7v21,22. 11v35. Rev.6v9-11. 12v4,11,17. 13v7,10. 14v12,13. 15v2. 20v4.

N.B. The great tribulation is the result of Satan's wrath, not God's wrath.
We read in Rev.12v12., that the great tribulation is caused by the wrath of Satan, who knows that he only has a short time of freedom before he is put in God's prison, Hades. Rev.12v7-17. 13v7. God allows the career of Antichrist in order to reveal the horrific end of sin, and the malevolent and destructive nature of Satan. and the folly of going his way. Only God can give true pleasure, joy and happiness. Mt.24v15-22. Jn.10v10. 2Thes.2v7,8. Rev.9v11. 11v18. 1Pet.5v8. Is.35v10.

The wrath of God will be poured out on the wicked during the great tribulation through the ministry of the two witnesses and others, or directly by angelic action. But these judgements will only come on the wicked, God's people are sealed and safe from them as they have always been in the past. The faithful Israelites were safe from God's judgements upon the wicked, in Egypt, the wilderness, and Canaan. Rev.9v4. 11v36. Numb.11v1-3,33,34. 16v1-3. 28-35,49. Ezek.9v3-6. God has power over His plagues, they don't fall on the saints, and even the wicked can escape them by turning to God in real repentance. Rev.16v9. The vials of the wrath of God appear to be poured out during the last weeks or months of the great tribulation. There is the final great act of judgement on the great day of the wrath of God. Is.42v13-15. 63v1-6. Rev.6v16,17. 11v18. 14v9,10,19. 15v1,7. 16v1. Some have suggested that the great tribulation and the day of the Lord are the same, however, a comparison of Mt.24v29,30. with Acts.2v20., proves that this is incorrect, the great day of God's wrath is a single day. The Christian is safe from the wrath of God, but not from the wrath of wicked men, as our Lord has warned us. John.14v30.

Some say that it is no comfort to look for Christ's return, if His Church is to expect great tribulation before it. This is foolish, for the greater the extent of the darkness, the greater will be the comfort that our Lord's coming will bring. Paul informs us that the day when the saints are comforted by Christ's return and find rest from their persecutors, is the same day that our Lord punishes the wicked with everlasting destruction from His presence. 2Thes.1v5-10. 2v8. Titus.2v13. In Lk.17v26-30., Jesus emphasises this same point, when He states that His persecuted Church will be delivered on the same day that Antichrist is destroyed, just as the day of Lot's deliverance was the day of the destruction of Sodom.

That God would not let His children suffer so.
God has always allowed His people to suffer tribulation, temptation and trial, because they purify and perfect faith. and “we are to arm ourselves by recognising this fact.” Heb.11v35-38. 1Pet.4v1. James.1v2-4,12. 1Pet.1v3-7. Rom.5v3-5. Christ's Church has been warned that it can expect persecution for Christ's sake, and it is our glory and privilege to suffer for Him, for, “If we suffer with Him, we shall reign with Him.” 2Tim.2v12. 3v12. See Jn.15v19,20. 16v33. 17v15. Acts.5v41. 14v22. 2Cor.1v7. 1Thes.1v4-6. 3v3,4. Phil.1v29. 3v10. 1Pet.4v13. 2v19-24. Jesus said that faith in Him would bring death, suffering and persecution upon Christians, in addition to the normal suffering that comes upon men and nations. Jesus rebuked Peter, when Peter rebuked Him for saying that He must suffer and die, Jesus said Peter was thinking like men. Mt.16v22. Mk.8v31-38. What of the glorious company of martyrs of whom our Lord was the leader? John Wesley says, “Some have computed, that, from the year 1518 to 1548, fifteen millions of Protestants have perished by the Inquisition. This may be over charged; but certainly the number of them in those years, as well as since, is almost incredible. To these we add innumerable martyrs, in ancient, middle, and late ages.” The Scriptures and Church history prove that God does allow His people to suffer at the hands of evil men. In the great tribulation the Church again has to endure suffering for Christ's sake. However, we read that because God loves His children, He will limit the length of the great tribulation, “For the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” Mt.24v22.

N.B. The early Church Fathers expected the Church to suffer at the hands of Antichrist.
Mr. G. Ladd in his book, “The Blessed Hope,” writes, “Every Church father who deals with the subject expects the Church to suffer at the hands of Antichrist.” Ladd cites amongst others, The Didache, (early 2nd Century), Justin Martyr, (A.D.150), Irenaeus, (A.D.115-202.), Tertullian, (A.D.160-240), Lactantius, (Late 3rd. early 4th. Cent.), Hippolytus, (3rd.Cent.). Certainly the early Church fathers do not support the pre-tribulation advent and rapture theory.

Those who make Paul's statement in 1Thes.5v9., “For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” as one of their main proof texts for Christians being raptured before the great tribulation, have clearly twisted the Scriptures. Paul is dealing with the truth of salvation from sin, and how we can escape from the wrath of God by repentance and a holy life. 2Pet.3v16. 1Thes.1v10. Paul, like our Lord, warns us to be watchful lest we should be led away with the error of the wicked, like the evil servant of Mt.24v48-51., and share in his punishment. The fact that people have to resort to such texts proves the weakness of their arguments.

In spite of the fact that Jesus said that the prophecies concerning the events at the close of the age do not start until Rev.4v1., some use Rev.3v10., to prove the Church is going to be delivered from the great tribulation by a secret advent and rapture. There is no proof that “the hour of temptation,” is the great tribulation, or that “keep thee from the hour of temptation,” means the rapture. Indeed, it is a fact that this was spoken by Jesus to meet the local circumstances at Philadelphia in John's time. When people are driven to confirm their viewpoint with texts like this, texts which have nothing whatever to do with Christ's second coming, it shows the weakness of their arguments.

Does Luke.21v36. teach that Christians will escape the great tribulation?
The Authorised Version of Lk.21v36., “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man:” has been used to prove that we will be raptured before the great tribulation. However, careful study shows that it teaches the very opposite, and proves that Christians will not escape FROM the great tribulation, but they can only come THROUGH IT and OUT OF it by watching and praying.

The Majority Text reading of Lk.21v36., “that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things,” “hina kataxiothete ekphugein tauta panta,” occurs in A, C, D, R, Theta, f13, the Byzantine manuscripts, the Latin, the Syriac, the A.V., and T.R.. “Accounted worthy,” is “kataxiothete,” the aorist passive subj. of “kataxioo,” “to account worthy of.” 2Thes.1v5. Acts.5v41.

The Critical Text reading, “hina katischusete ekphugein tauta panta,” “that you may prevail to escape all these things;” is supported by Aleph, B, L, and Psi. “Katischusete,” is the aorist active subjunctive of “katischuo,” “to have strength against.” or, “to be strong or powerful against;” from “kata,” “against;” and “ischuo,” “to be strong or powerful, to prevail.” Rotheram follows the Critical Text reading and translates Luke.21v36., “But be watching at every season, making supplication that ye may gain full vigour to escape all these things that are about to be coming to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” The Revised Standard Version follows the minority Critical Text reading and translates Lk.21v36., “But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” May we take heed to His warning. 2Thes.2v3. Mt.24v12.

No matter which Greek reading we may prefer, both the Majority Text and Critical texts read “ekphugein,” the aorist active infinitive of “ekpheugo,” “to escape out, to flee out of.” “Ekphugein” is made up of two Greek words, “PHEUGO,” which means, “to flee or escape,” and “EK,” which means, “out of.” Both the Greek word “EK,” “out of,” and “APO,” which means, “from;” are frequently translated “from,” and they are very close in meaning to each another. However, the difference between them is that “APO” suggests that there is a starting point from without; whereas “EK” suggests a starting point from within; “out of,” must first enter before it can come out. Sometimes “EK” can be said to have much the same meaning as “APO,” the context must decide what is the best rendering. However, from the use of “ekpheugo” in the Scriptures, we can definitely say that it signifies NOT an escaping FROM the great tribulation by never entering it, but an escaping OUT OF it after entering it, this is shown in the following places where “ekpheugo” is used.

a. “Ekpheugo” is used in Acts.16v27., to describe the escape of prisoners out of prison.
b. “Ekpheugo,” is used in 2Cor.11v23., to describe Paul's escape out of Damascus.
c. “Ekphugein,” the aorist infinitive of “ekpheugo,” is used in Acts.19v16., of the escape of the seven sons of Sceva out of the house, when the demon-possessed man attacked them.
d. In 1Thes.5v3., Paul emphasises the destruction of the followers of Antichrist with a strong double negative, “ou me ekphugosin,” “they shall certainly not escape.” See Rom.2v3. Heb.2v3. 12v25. Paul reveals that Antichrist's followers will be saying “peace and safety” in the final hours of the great tribulation, after their victory over the two witnesses and the armies of the West. Their exultation and joy, and their feeling of safety and security, (“asphaleia,” only here and Lk.1v4., where it is translated “certainty”), disappears at Christ's return, when they are suddenly and completely destroyed by the Lord Jesus.

No matter which of the two Greek readings of Lk.21v36. we accept; Christ was certainly not teaching that Christians would escape the great tribulation by a secret advent or secret rapture before it started. Indeed, Jesus tells us that the very opposite is true, and solemnly warns us that we will need great patience and faith, and a life of real watchfulness and prevailing prayer to spiritually survive these times. Lk.18v1-8. Rev.14v12. 13v10. Heb.6v12. Mk.13v13. Lk.21v12-19. Mt.24v12,13. N.B. “endureth to the end.” In Mt.24v44 to 25v13., our Lord warns us that Christians who are not prepared for the evils of the great tribulation will apostatise and go back into the world. Jesus exhorts us to prepare for these evil last days, and warns us that the lamps of those who have no reserve of oil for the dark last days, will go out.

Who are the elect of Matthew 24v22,24,31. and Mark 13v20,22,27.?
Some have foolishly stated, that the mention of “Judea” and “the Sabbath” in Mt.24v16,20., shows that Mt.24. was addressed to the Jews, and not Christians. They say this because Mt.24v30., is undoubtedly a coming in glory, and to admit that it. was addressed to Christians would destroy the pretribulation advent theory, and so the argument was advanced that Mt.24. was not addressed to the Church. In Mt.24v20., Jesus gives specific warning signs to Christians who will be in Judea in the time of Antichrist. The fact that Mt.24v20., speaks of people who are willing to listen to Christ and willing to flee on the Sabbath, proves that it is not addressed to strict Jews, who would do neither. Only Christians would take heed to the words of Christ. Jews will certainly not obey a prophet they do not believe in.

Is Matthew 24 addressed to the Church of Christ, or the Jews?
Jesus gives the answer in Mk.13v37., “What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch.” By giving this command to His apostles, Jesus instructs all His Church. The apostles were Israelites, but they were the apostles of the Church, and Jesus spoke to them in this capacity, as Christian believers. If Mt.24. is not to be looked upon as applicable to Christians, because it is “Jewish,” who is to decide what is Jewish and what is Christian? The Gospels are, with a few exceptions, a record of Christ’s ministry to Israelites, but they contain His vital teachings for His Church. The epistles of Peter, James and Hebrews are written to Jews, are we to set these aside? Never! They contain indispensable Christian truth. Was the New Covenant of Mt.26v28., just for the Jews, because it was only spoken to the apostles? Of course not! it is for every believer in Christ Jesus.

The refusal to recognise that the truths of Mt.24. were addressed to the Church, has driven some to utter folly in their reasoning, it is reported that some have even looked upon the Lord's prayer and the Lord's Supper as “Jewish ordinances,” and not applicable to the Church of Christ. If Mt.24. was spoken to the apostles as Jews and not as Christians, how were they to know it? How shall we know what New Testament Scriptures apply to us? What use would these prophecies be to Jews who do not believe in Christ? It would be very strange if the earnest warnings of Christ in Mt.24., Mk.13., and Lk.17 and 21., were not addressed to Christians, but to Jews who have no faith in Christ. How can those who say that Mt.24. was written for Jews, use Mt.24v36,42. as their major text to prove that Christ may come at any moment for His Church? What kind of Scripture expositor uses a chapter which states that the coming of Christ is preceded by very clear signs, and warns against a secret second advent, to prove that there is a secret advent and rapture of the Church without those signs? Particularly when its advocates say that Mt.24. is addressed only to the Jews, and not to the Church. The pretribulation rapture theory has become widely accepted because Western Christians are unwilling to suffer persecution for Christ's sake. Heb.11v25. As someone has said, “It is an interesting fact that the pretribulation rapture theory did not arise out of a suffering Church. It has come out of a Western civilisation that has been the most comfortable and pleasant in the whole history of Christianity.”

Some have said that the Church was not founded until the day of Pentecost; however, this can be shown to be wrong by many passages of Scripture. The apostles were converted before Pentecost; their names were “written in heaven,” Lk.10v20.; they were “clean,” Jn.15v3.; and they belonged to God. Jn.15v3. Pentecost was not the time when they were saved, they were rejoicing in their salvation before this, Pentecost was the time when they received the promise of the Father to His children, the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Lk.24v49,52,53. Christ said the Law and the prophets were until John, the age of grace and truth started when Jesus started His ministry. Mt.11v13. Lk.16v16. Jn.1v17. It is nonsense to say that Mt.24. was not spoken to the Church, because the Church did not exist until the day of Pentecost; God gave many promises that belong to the Church to the Old Testament prophets, many centuries before the day of Pentecost.

The facts and context prove the elect of Mt.24 are Christians, and that Mt.24. is addressed to Christians.
The elect are Christians who are all over the world, and preaching the Gospel to all the world. Mt.24v14.

The elect are Christians who are hated, persecuted and dying for Christ all over the world. Mt.24v9,16-20. Mk.13v9-13.

The elect are Christians who are looking for Christ's return and are warned about false Christs. Mt.24v13-27. Lk.21v19,28.

The elect are Christians who are gathered by angels, for we know from Is.65v15-21., that the Israelites, who are scattered throughout the world are gathered, not by angels, but by the Gentiles, who bring them to Jerusalem as an offering to God.

We read that Mt.25v1. begins with a “Then,” connecting it with Mt.24v44-51.; Jesus said the subject is the kingdom of Heaven, not the kingdom of Israel. The parable of the ten virgins is a parable on the truth stated in Mt.24v42-51., the good servant who follows Jesus faithfully to the end of the great tribulation, and the evil servant who backslides into the world in those dark and evil days. The good servant and evil servant appear to be Christian leaders, whose work is to give correct truth at the end of the age. The good servant faithfully fulfils his task, whereas the evil servant has the incorrect idea that His Lord has delayed His coming, and as a result loses faith and lives an evil life, and is cut in sunder by His Lord. The virgins appear to be Christians who again had wrong ideas about their Lord’s return, probably through wrong teaching, and had not prepared for the darkness of the last days. This is a very definite Christian truth, which is addressed to all of the Church of Christ.

Jesus warns us that Christians will have to persevere in prayer or they will faint and lose their faith in Him. Lk.18v1-8. Jesus speaks of an elect who are crying day and night for deliverance, and of a God that will avenge the sufferings of His elect at the hands of the wicked. This is certainly not the kind of language that we would expect if we are sure to miss the tribulation. Those who endure as far as the rapture are those who have prayed and not fainted, but many will backslide, and Jesus warns us, “and when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” Lk.17v34-36. 18v8. Mt.24v12,13. Rev.13v10.16v15.

Paul states in Rom.11v5,6., that people have to believe in Jesus to receive the “election of grace.” Paul was heartbroken that most of Israel were blinded by unbelief, and in becoming enemies of Jesus and His Church,. were “broken off” from their promises and election, Rom.9v31-33. 10v3,21. 11v7-10,20,28. However, in Rom.11v25,26,28., Paul states that the promises given to Abraham and his faithful seed will be fulfilled. The Jews are beloved for their forefather's sakes, and God will keep His covenant promises to faithful Jews. Exod.3v14-16. God gave the Israelites His word, and godly Jews are loved and precious to Him; and when they are presented with a sign-attested Gospel they often respond to the truth in Jesus. God has always given the Jews time to consider His Word, and has invited them to reason with Him. God welcomes scarlet sinners, both Jews and Gentiles, with sweet forgiving reasonableness. Is.1v18.

We see from Acts.10v1-48. N.B. v34,35., that, “In truth God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” Cornelius was justified on an Old Testament basis, and he was loved, acceptable, and precious to God, even before He heard the Gospel; and so are godly Jews. Paul states that there is now no difference between Jew and Greek, the elect consists of those who call on the Lord to save them. Rom.10v8-14. N.B. v13. Mt.1v21. In Christ, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Gal.3v28. No one can be among the New Testament “elect” unless they believe in Jesus as Saviour. Jn.6v37,45,53. 8v24,42. 1Thes.1v4. 2Pet.1v10. 1Jn.5v9-13. 1Pet.1v9-12.

Some have stated that Mt.24. and Thes.4v13 to 5v5. are different events, one speaking of a coming in glory and the other speaking of a secret rapture. However, though their aim was different, Mt.24. was given to show the signs of Christ's coming and the end of the age, and 1Thes.4v13 to 5v5. was given to comfort and challenge the relatives of departed believers, they are both speaking of the same event, they both use the same descriptive language, they speak of angelic powers, a great voice, a great trumpet, the clouds of heavenly glory, and the elect being gathered and caught up to meet their Lord. I agree with Sidlow Baxter, on pages 219, 220 of his, “Explore the book,” that the parallels between 1Thes.4 and Mt.24., are irresistible to an honest mind. Both have angels, voice, trumpet, clouds, and gathered congregating saints. What kind of Bible interpretation can take exactly the same phrases and symbols, and teach a glorious public coming in Mt.24, and a secret coming in 1Thes.4v13-18.? It proves that 1Thes.4v13-18. does not teach a secret rapture. With Baxter, I exhort Bible students to test doctrines by the Scriptures, and appeal for Christian love in studying such doctrines. Our study of Mt.24. has made it absolutely clear that it is addressed to the Church of Christ, and that there will be a post-tribulation advent of Christ and rapture of the Church.

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