Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great Tribulation Text: Mt. 24:34

Defining Premillennialism Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great Tribulation “Rapture”: Latin rapere in the Latin Vulgate for the Greek word harpazō [har-pad'-zo] (G726: “To snatch, or catch away”) in I Thess. 4:17, which is rendered by the phrase “caught up” in most English Translations.

Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great TribulationIntro We have looked at how the Scriptures are silent about a “rapture of the saints”  The word is Latin for the Greek word “harpazo” (G726) and is used to describe something or someone “snatched away, caught up, etc.” (Acts 8:39; I Thess. 4:17)  The passage that is mainly used to both defend and refute it is I Thess. 4:13-18 (Recap on that later) We have looked at Mt. 24 and seen that Israel is not to rise again as God’s chosen people  Rom. 11:26: “And all Israel shall be saved” refers to the saving power of the gospel, the same power that saves the Gentiles (Rom. 1:16).  Mt. 24 is cited as referring to Israel as the “budding fig tree,” which is said to have happened on May 14th, 1948, then again later in 1967 when Jerusalem became its capital.  Mt. 21:43: Jesus said their kingdom was removed from them

Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great TribulationIntro Part of understanding the false nature of the Premillennialism doctrine is to see how the Bible defines the “last days” and what it does and doesn’t say about a “Great Tribulation!” Part of understanding the false nature of the Premillennialism doctrine is to see how the Bible defines the “last days” and what it does and doesn’t say about a “Great Tribulation!” Premillennialists refer to these events as the “last days” and look to any war/catastrophe to signal the end

Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great Tribulation The “Last Days” Premillennialism teaches the “last days” are yet in the future:  Preceded with signs  Wars  Earthquakes  Tsunamis, etc.

Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great Tribulation The “Last Days” Scriptural doctrine on the “last days” started 2,000 years ago:  Joel & Peter – Acts 2:16-21 (Quoting Joel 2:28-32)  Paul & John – I Tim. 4:1-2; I Jn. 4:1-6  Heb. 1:1-2  Wars  Earthquakes  Tsunamis, etc. Acts 2:17 (Joel 2:28-32) 17. 'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS…’ Acts 2:17 (Joel 2:28-32) 17. 'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS…’ I Tim. 4:1 (I Jn. 4:1-6) 1. But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith... (I Jn. 4:3) I Tim. 4:1 (I Jn. 4:1-6) 1. But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith... (I Jn. 4:3) Heb. 1:2 2. in these last days has spoken to us in His Son… Heb. 1:2 2. in these last days has spoken to us in His Son…

Church built according to God’s eternal purpose Eph. 3:9-11 Christ sacrificed For the Church Eph. 5:25 Live faithfully II Pet. 3:14-18 Christ returns Dead raised Judgment Eternity II Pet. 3:9-13 The “Last Days” We are living in the “last days” now! Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great Tribulation The “last days” will continue till Christ comes again! The “last days” will continue till Christ comes again!

Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great Tribulation “The Rapture” (Brief Recap) The rapture speaks of a “secret, quiet” coming of the Lord in which He will remove His saints from the earth before the tribulation It is the doctrine that the church will be “translated” into Paradise for 7 years while those left behind on earth will suffer a “Great Tribulation” for 7 years (Dan. 9:27):  J. Dwight Pentecost in his Things To Come, says:  “The present age, in respect to the church, terminates with the translation of the church into the Lord’s presence.”  “The doctrine of translation of the church is one of the major considerations of the Eschatology of the New Testament…(1 Thess. 4:13-18).”

Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great Tribulation “The Rapture” (Brief Recap) I Thess. 4:13-18 (Acts 1:9, 11) 13. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18. Therefore comfort one another with these words. I Thess. 4:13-18 (Acts 1:9, 11) 13. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

“The Rapture” (Brief Recap) Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great Tribulation “Rapture”: Latin rapere in the Latin Vulgate for the Greek word harpazō [har-pad'-zo] (G726: “To snatch, or catch away”) in I Thess. 4:17, which is rendered by the phrase “caught up” in most English Translations. Quiet & Unknown VS. Shout, Voice, Trumpet (I Thess. 4:16) Quiet & Unknown VS. Shout, Voice, Trumpet (I Thess. 4:16) Separate comings VS. That “day” (I Thess. 5:1-4; II Thess. 1:6-10) Separate comings VS. That “day” (I Thess. 5:1-4; II Thess. 1:6-10) Resurrections 1,007 years apart VS. Same hour (Jn. 5:28-29) Resurrections 1,007 years apart VS. Same hour (Jn. 5:28-29) 7 years in Paradise VS. Be with the Lord forever (I Thess. 4:17) 7 years in Paradise VS. Be with the Lord forever (I Thess. 4:17) The doctrine of “The Rapture” is man-made, not taught by the apostles or N.T. writers! The doctrine of “The Rapture” is man-made, not taught by the apostles or N.T. writers!

Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great Tribulation The “Great Tribulation” Rev. 7:14 mentions a “Great Tribulation” and Premillennialists teach this refers to Jesus’ teachings in Mt. 24, but nowhere does either text mention 7 years! (Dan. 9:27: 1 week)  J. Dwight Pentecost in his Things To Come, quotes from Scofield (a major proponent of Premillennialism):  “Not only is there no syllable of Scripture which affirms that the church will enter the great tribulation, but neither the Lord nor the epistles so much as mention the great tribulation.” Tribulation for whom? Mt. 24:21  Mt. 24:1-3: Jesus was speaking to His disciples (Mk. 13:3: Peter, Andrew, James & John):  Tribulation facing saints – Mt. 24:1, 3, 9  Localized in Judea – Mt. 24:16 (can be escaped from, not taught by Premillennialists since 7 years globally)  Faithful told to flee – Mt. 24:16

Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great Tribulation The “Great Tribulation” To refute Premillennialism one must properly understand Mt :  Jesus was answering 2 questions from Peter, Andrew, James, and John (Mk. 13:3), who said, “Tell us” in Mt. 24:3:  1st Question: “When will these things happen?” Answered in 24:4-35  2nd Question: “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Answered in 24:36-51  Mt. 24:4: Jesus responded, “See to it that no one misleads you.”  Who? Not people hundreds of years later, but the “you” refers back to the “us”: Peter, Andrew, James, and John!  Mt. 24:33: Throughout the chapter Jesus says “you” and ends with saying, “When you see all these things…” and says, that “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (24:34).  In answering their questions, He said they would see it!  Two Events: Destruction of Jerusalem, and Christ’s 2nd Coming!

Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great Tribulation The “Great Tribulation” Divided into 2 sections:  The two sections are separated by a time text – Mt. 24:34: Jesus said, “This generation” would see the fulfillment, so everything discussed up to 24:34 would occur within that “generation.” (Not a generation after 1948!)  Judgment against the Jews  Rome to destroy Jerusalem – Lk. 21:20-24  Temple destroyed  That generation will see it come to pass – Mt. 24:34  The Jews lost their nation till 1948 when they came back as a political entity, not anything like in the 1st century!

Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great Tribulation The “Great Tribulation” “But what about Mt. 24:40-41?”  One taken, another left – Consistent with I Thess. 4:16-17 – end of the age!  Faithful & unfaithful separated  Faithful taken to meet Christ in the clouds  Unfaithful banished to hell! (Mt. 25:41-46) Tribulation as used in N.T. refers to some calamity, especially persecution  In Mt. 24 it refers to the judgment on Jerusalem (Mt. 24:4-35).  In Rev. 7:14 it refers to those saints who lost their lives for Christ. The doctrine of the “Great Tribulation” is not found in God’s word! The doctrine of the “Great Tribulation” is not found in God’s word!

Premillennialism Pt. 3: The Last Days & Great TribulationConclusion The doctrine of “The Rapture” & the “Great Tribulation” gives false hope  False hope to Israel that they will rise again  False hope to unbelievers that they will have a 2nd chance – after witnessing the rapture! We are living in the “last days” and will continue to preach the gospel till Christ comes again! Of that day and hour no one knows but God the Father! (Mt. 24:36; I Thess. 5:2) Of that day and hour no one knows but God the Father! (Mt. 24:36; I Thess. 5:2) Now is the time to hear and obey the gospel to be saved!

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?” Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)