Originally Posted by
Thunder Stick
The term, “Premillenialist” means someone who believes Christ will return just before His millennial (thousand year) reign on earth. In reality, the early church believed in a “Pretribulation” return of Christ for His “Bride” the church, composed of believing Christians. The tribulation is a seven-year period of God’s wrath, foretold by the prophet Daniel that occurs before the millennial reign of Christ. This return is called the rapture. (Greek: harpazo = Latin: rapture) Saint Victorius, Bishop of Petau, wrote of the pretribulation return when he wrote a Revelation commentary about the church being taken out. So did Pseudo Ephraem in AD 372.
These were not mere theories of men but actual teachings from the Bible itself. In John 14:1-3 Jesus says he will return for His own. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says that Christ will come for His people then, in 1 Thessalonians 5:3, comes the destruction and verse 9 calls it God’s wrath. This is verified by 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 and James 5:7-9, all of which speak of the pretribulation return of Christ. Its purpose is to keep believers safe from the approaching global crisis.
John chapter 14:1-3 (nothing at all here regarding secret pre-trib rapture)
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
1 Thessalonians chapter 4:16-17(nothing at all here regarding secret pre-trib rapture, on the contrary "a shout","voice of archangel", "trump of God" sounds more like Matthew 24:31 which happens after the abomination of desolation Middle of the 7 year period and not a secret pre-trib)
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.
1 Thessalonians chapter 5:3&9 (nothing at all here regarding secret pre-trib rapture, point of fact, the entire 7 year period is NOT the wrath of God, in fact the wrath of God does not start until the 6th seal is broken See Revelation 6:17, Also in Christ's own words Matthew 24:8 the first part of the 7 year period is only the beginning of sorrows and then Matthew 24:21 towards the Middle, events will move from sorrows to Great Tribulation but NOT Gods Wrath)
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Thessalonians chapter 1:10 (nothing at all here regarding secret pre-trib rapture, see above regarding wrath)
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
2 Thessalonians (nothing at all here regarding secret pre-trib rapture)
1 Corinthians chapter 15:51-58 (nothing at all here regarding secret pre-trib rapture, this scripture is definitely talking about the rapture and salvation but zero reference or inference to a before the 7 year period spoken of Daniel the prophet)
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.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
James chapter 5:7-9 (nothing at all here regarding secret pre-trib rapture)
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Since it is found in the Bible verses I’ve listed. (But it is not found in any of the verses you listed, not one! This kind of reminds me of gaslighting technique, if you say something enough times, no matter how absurd... there are some folks that will believe it) Darby did not come up with anything “new” and many mistakenly credit him with the idea of the pretribulation “catching away” of believers. Reverend Morgan Edwards’ “The Millennium” (1788) predated Darby by seventy years. Joseph Mede also wrote about the Rapture. (1586-1638)
In reality, the various beliefs in mid-tribulation, pre-wrath and other raptures are the “new” ideas, not the longstanding belief in the imminent, pretribulation rapture of the Christian church. Pre-tribulation simply means that the Rapture of the church must precede the seven years of tribulation.
The rapture of the church will be swift and without warning. This is why every Christian should live as though this is the day that Christ will return. (1 Thessalonians chapter 5:3-4 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
I wonder what Paul was Talking about here)