The Pre-Tribulational Rapture

John 5:28-29 King James Version

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Scripture teaches only two resurrections in the context of type: the Resurrection of Life and the Resurrection of Damnation. In an attempt to understand what Scripture teaches regarding the Rapture, we must place our understanding of resurrection in its proper context so that we do not confuse a reference to type with a reference of occurrence. In the above verse, we have a reference to both type and event. There are two types, the resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation. We see the concept of Eternal Life contrasted with Eternal Damnation.

We also see an event commonly known as the Resurrection of the Dead (Daniel 12:1-2; Matthew 22:23-32; Mark 12:18 & 23; Luke 14:14; 20:27-36; John 5:29), commonly called "the Resurrection." In the revelation provided to men in the Old Testament, the resurrection of the dead was held as a point in time when men who had died would be made alive again. We see the Lord asked on occasion what men needed to do to "receive eternal life (Matthew 19:16; Mark 10:17; Luke 10:25, 18:18), and in view of the revelation available to men at that time, it is best not to insert revelation that came afterward, given to us in the New Testament. Daniel refers to this general resurrection:

Daniel 12:1-2 King James Version

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.


The Writer of the Book of Hebrews refers to this resurrection when citing the foundational Doctrine of the Hebrew people derived from the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament):


Hebrews 6 King James Version

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

The Writer exhorts his brethren—The Hebrew people—to go on unto perfection. It is a literal call to move from the Old to the New. In Chapter Five, he makes it clear he is writing to people who are ignorant of the first principles of the Word of God and that they need to be taught the "ABCs" of that doctrine again. They are to progress to the revelation now being provided. It is not an abandonment of the first principles but a progression to what he—God—is revealing at that time. The distinction between Old and New is mentioned because it must be understood that throughout Biblical History, there are dividing lines between Eras where knowledge is withheld and knowledge is revealed. There is an Old Testament Doctrine of Resurrection, and there is a New Testament Doctrine of Resurrection.

The Writer's exhortation maintains relevance to those of us that are not Hebrew nor living in the first century in this way: we, too, are meant to progress from the first principles of the Doctrine of Christ to that which is complete (perfect). Unlike most in the first century, we have the distinct advantage in that we have the Word of God written down, that we might study the revelation provided. We have the advantage of having a more complete revelation to study. We also have the advantage that we are indwelt by God Who enlightens our minds to the truths of Scripture. Spiritual truth has always and only ever been revealed to men by God. This applies to saved and unsaved alike. Today, we can understand the first principles of Christ better than those in Old Testament Eras because we have a fuller revelation and the fulfillment of Christ's promise.

John 14:25-26 King James Version

25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.


There are three periods of revelation in view in this discussion: the Old Testament Era, the Ministry of Christ, and the New Testament Era, the Church Age. The Old Testament Eras could themselves could be divided in terms of revelation, such as the days of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Judges, and the days of the Kings and Prophets. However, we can place them into one of our categories for this study. The primary issue before us is that the Old Testament was given to record the events and reveal knowledge and God's divine will for men in those times and the days to follow. Within this time, mankind fell through Adam, and death was introduced to Man. We see the Proto-Evangelium, the first occurrence of the Gospel of Christ in Scripture, given to Adam himself, in that the seed of the woman (Eve) would destroy Man's great enemy (Genesis 3:15), Satan. We see the Gospel of Christ veiled in the Promise given to Abraham, "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:3)." We see the Gospel of Christ given in more detail—but still veiled to men—in Prophecy. Isaiah spoke in brutal detail of Christ's death (Isaiah 53), but their understanding had not been opened as ours has. That period closed with four hundred years of silence from God and an eager expectation of the fulfillment of the promise and prophecy of the coming Messiah.

The second division of revelation would be the Ministry of Christ. Within this three-year period, the Lord Himself would reveal to men mysteries. Some that could be understood in that day, and some that would not be understood until men began to be baptized into Christ and receive the eternal indwelling of the Comforter. Christ would clarify to men the first principles of God's Word and help them understand the spiritual principles that lay behind His revealed will. However, there are general truths about His teaching that should be remembered: Christ taught within the Revelation that had already been revealed to men in the Hebrew Scriptures. Secondly, Christ's ministry was specific to the Nation of Israel. When He sent the disciples out to preach the Gospel, He forbade them from going unto the Samaritans and the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5). Many are under the impression that Christ's ministry was to expound the Gospel unto the world, but, He said Himself, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."


Galatians 4:4-5 King James Version

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.


This does not mean He never ministered to Gentiles. He did. Nevertheless, His Ministry was the fulfillment of Prophecy, and it had a specific focus on those to whom the prophecy had been given. Prophecy is often seen to have more than one fulfillment. Antiochus Epiphanes is a partial fulfillment of the Antichrist. The first coming of Christ was a partial fulfillment of the prophecy given regarding the Messiah's coming. This does not negate Gentile Inclusion (Isaiah 49:6; Luke 2:32), but it does force the sincere Bible student to bring this truth into proper context when attempting to understand the larger scope of Prophecy. How this is relevant to the Rapture deals primarily with the Lord's teaching concerning resurrection during his ministry and how that teaching correlates to the teaching found in the third division of Revelation.

The third division looks to the revelation provided by the New Testament Writers, specifically, teachings concerning resurrection. Having touched on the distinction between resurrection type and event, let us examine an important passage concerning resurrection:


Revelation 20:1-6 King James Version
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.*

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.

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. (*Daniel 7:11-12)


We see the two types of resurrection here, the first being the resurrection unto Life, in which Tribulation Martyrs are raised from the dead. The second is the resurrection unto damnation. Those who were not born again during the Tribulation are not raised to life but remain dead. Their state of death is twofold: first, they are dead physically. More importantly, they are dead spiritually because they have not received the life of Christ through regeneration:



John 6:49-54 King James Version

49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.


Just as there are two types of resurrection, there are two types of people in this world: those who have life and those who are dead. Being made alive is only possible through faith in the Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. And except a man be born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

In our current text (Revelation 20:1-6), the question remains which event this resurrection is. The Old Testament, as well as the Lord Jesus Himself, imply one singular event in their teachings. But we see in Revelation 20 two very distinct resurrections. This one (Revelation 20:1-6) takes place just after Christ's Return after the Tribulation ends (Revelation 19), and a second resurrection takes place after the thousand years have ended. That those who remain dead in the first occurrence of resurrection are raised again is seen in verse five: "...the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." In the second resurrection seen in Chapter 20, we see the dead collected, and they suffer the second death in the lake of fire:


Revelation 20:11-14 King James Version

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.



Now we consider the context to determine whether it is a resurrection of type—or a resurrection of event. This passage is cited by those who do not embrace a Pre-Tribulation Rapture because they have determined the context to be of event rather than type. This conclusion is primarily based on the fact that the resurrection of the Tribulation Martyrs is called the First Resurrection. In the Context of event, the First Resurrection is, of course—the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. After this, we have the resurrection of saints who appeared in the city after Christ's resurrection (Matthew 27:51-53). Then we have the first resurrection of Revelation 20:1-6, which takes place just after the Tribulation. Finally, we have the resurrection at the end of the Millennial Kingdom.

That the First Resurrection can and should be viewed as a reference to a type of resurrection is determined by what we are taught elsewhere in Scripture. Unless the literal meaning of Revelation 20 is removed, we see the fulfillment of God's Word concerning the Kingdom He would establish. This Kingdom promised a King that would rule forever. It promised long life (Isaiah 65:20) and an end to the enmity that the Fall brought between animals and between man and animals (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25). We are told in Revelation 20 that there will be a period of one thousand years and that the Tribulation Martyrs that are raised to life again will be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. It may be that the Tribulation Martyrs have received their glorified bodies. However, we keep in mind that there is a reversion to conditions that existed when God first created the world. Whether the Tribulation Martyrs are glorified or raised physically—like Lazarus—does not impact the doctrine of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. What will impact a pre-tribulation view is the removal of the thousand-year Kingdom. We have no reason to begin interpreting Prophecy differently in this book than we do in any other. Prophecy will be fulfilled to the jot and tittle.

We have another reason to view this resurrection as being described in a context of type.


Revelation 20:5-6 King James Version

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

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.


The word "first" found in verses 5 and 6 is translated from the word prōtos. Strong's Concordance states:

prōtos, pro'-tos; contracted superlative of G4253; foremost (in time, place, order or importance):—before, beginning, best, chief(-est), first (of all), former.

It is used in contexts involving sequence, and it is used in contexts involving rank. A few examples of a context of rank (all verses KJV):


Matthew 20:27
And whosoever will be chief (G4413) among you, let him be your servant:

Mark 6:21
And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief (G4413) estates of Galilee;

Mark 12:30
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first (G4413) commandment.

Luke 15:22
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best (G4413) robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:


The Lord made the statement, "But many that are first (G4413) shall be last; and the last shall be first (G4413)." Here we see both sequence and rank. Those that came first (sequentially) will be last (in terms of rank), and those that are last (sequentially) shall be first (in terms of rank). So too, in Revelation 20, there is no need to demand a context of sequence to first, but to see that it is the type of resurrection that is indicated. To put it into easily understandable terms, the "first resurrection" is the resurrection of life, and "the second resurrection" is the resurrection unto damnation. The first resurrection is contrasted with the Second Death. Again, the "first resurrection" in terms of sequence is none other than the Resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Acts 26:22-23 King James Version (KJV)

22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.


Numerous resurrections occur prior to Christ's Resurrection, but His is the first resurrection where the One resurrected can say, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen. Revelation 1:18). All those resurrected prior to His Resurrection would die again physically.

Another reason we would not give the resurrection of Revelation 20:1-6 a context of sequence is that we have already seen a resurrection in Revelation itself prior to this "first resurrection."


Revelation 11:7-12 King James Version

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.



There is no debate. The Two Witnesses are raptured. These are two men within the Tribulation who are put to death, are dead for three and a half days, receive life from God—and are caught up to Heaven. This is a first resurrection that precedes the first resurrection of Revelation 20:1-6. This event has given rise to what is known as the Mid-Tribulational Rapture. A Mid-Trib rapture of the Church is a little better than a Post-Tribulational position, but like the Post-Trib view—it still has problems. Moreover, we are coming to the reason why we would not view this as the Rapture of the Church as described by Paul. So we now turn to a passage generally accepted as a Rapture passage, and probably the clearest presentation of Paul the Apostle on this doctrine:


1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 King James Version

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.



In this passage, the one point we want to focus on is that both the living and dead believers are raised at the same time. Because of that, we can say that it is an impossible scenario for the Rapture of the Church described here to take place in the middle of the Tribulation (the Two Witnesses) or at the end of the Tribulation (the First Resurrection of Revelation 20:4-6). The reason is simple: after the First Resurrection of Revelation 20, the thousand-year period concludes with another judgment upon the wicked. These unbelievers are the offspring of those who entered the Millennial Kingdom, who were believers who were born again and physically survived the Tribulation. Revelation 20 states in verses 7-8, "7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea." Because the Church is raptured as a whole, both the living and the dead, if the Rapture Paul teaches took place in either the middle or the end of the Tribulation—there would not be any living believers left to create the wicked population described in verses 7 and 8. This is why many make void the teaching of the thousand years, because they have to—in order to deny the Pre-Tribulational Rapture. They quote Peter, "...that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." Peter is not trying to give us a code used to interpret Prophecy. He points out that time holds no constraint for God, Who is eternal.


2 Timothy 2:16-18 King James Version

16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.


Do we think here that this is a reference to the general resurrection? It would be a little challenging to convince people that the general resurrection of the dead had already taken place. But perhaps not so difficult to convince people that the Rapture had already taken place. This is why we need to study ourselves, that God can, through His Word, strengthen our faith with His truth. According to a general consensus among scholars, this exhortation was written approximately a decade and a half after the teaching of the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4 and a little over a decade after Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 15. Both doctrines, the Rapture and the general Resurrection, would have been available to false teachers to wrest.


1 Corinthians 15:50-54 King James Version

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.



A "mystery" is a previously unrevealed truth. When Paul states, "I show you a mystery," he tells them, "I am telling you something that has not been revealed before." 1 Corinthians 15 is the most extensive teaching in Scripture concerning resurrection, and Paul reveals truths about the resurrection of the Church that was in the past unknown to men. Again we see that when this resurrection takes place, we shall all be changed. By all, he means the Church, not the world. Only those who are in Christ through the New Birth. By "changed," he means the glorification of the physical body. We will be made like Christ, and when we receive that resurrection, whether physically dead or alive, we will receive bodies that will be alive forevermore like the Lord's. This was the hope of Paul while he was alive:


2 Corinthians 5:1-8 King James Version

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.



The "earthly house" Paul refers to is the physical body we now dwell in. The "house from Heaven" is the glorified body we will receive in the Rapture of the Church (v.1). Paul states, "We groan because we desire greatly to receive the glorified body (v.2)." We desire to receive our glorified body because we do not want to be found unclothed, which is Paul's description of a spirit without a physical body. In Luke 24:39, following His Resurrection, the disciples were frightened by Christ's appearance, "...supposing that they had seen a spirit." Their understanding was that when one dies, their spirit departs from the body. The Lord, now glorified, tells them, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." He was not a "ghost" but had a physical body. So too, when we die prior to the Rapture—if we are born again believers having the life of Christ—our spirits will go to be with the Lord in Heaven, and we will be "unclothed." That is what Paul is referring to in this passage. Look carefully at verse four: "We groan, not that we should die (be unclothed), but that we should receive our glorified bodies, that the mortal nature of the bodies we are in now would be swallowed up by bodies that are eternal." We have confidence and courage because God has created us in Christ Jesus to receive that eternal body. Therefore we can abide in this body knowing that while we are here, we are absent from the presence of the Lord (vv.5-6). We have courage, but it would be better to be in the Lord's presence even if we do not receive our glorified bodies while we remain yet alive. In verse four, Paul clarifies that his desire is not to die so that he can go to be with the Lord but that he receive the glorified body he has taught about in the mystery revealed to us.


Romans 8:21-23

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.


Those that are born again have the life of Christ through the indwelling of Christ. When we received the Comforter at salvation, we received the eternal indwelling of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. John writes in 1 John 5:13, "13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." Because of this, as the Lord taught, we will never die. We will never be subject to the Second Death. We may die physically, but the Eternal Life we have received has no end, though this earthly house were dissolved. However, there is another stage of our salvation that we await and, in fact, groan for: "...to wit, the redemption of our bodies."
Moreover, one hope God has provided us through Paul's teaching is the Rapture. Does one have to embrace a Pre-Tribulational Rapture? No, the salvation of God is not dependent on what we think is going to happen. It is only dependent on what God has said will happen. How well we understand what God has given us in His Word depends on the time we spend with God in His Word. We are dependent on God to enlighten the words of life, which is the only way any man or woman has ever come to a proper understanding of the Word of God and His will for our lives.

Eternal Life, like Prophecy, has a progression. That progression is what is known as the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ died on the Cross that He might take the sin that separates us from God upon Himself. He was buried and rose from the grave to verify that His sacrifice was not only sufficient to accomplish our redemption but completely sufficient. He returned to Heaven from whence He came and sent the Comforter to bring conviction of sin upon sinners, that we might believe in Him and be saved.

There is a resurrection to come for all men and women, and the only question is, which of the two types of resurrection will we undergo? Will it be the resurrection unto life? Or the resurrection unto damnation. The Second Death can only be avoided through faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ. The good news is that we are not left to figure out the Good News, the Gospel. God will enlighten the natural mind, and understanding will be given to those who respond to God.

God bless