This is the final message in a series of lessons delivered at Bible Baptist Church of Puyallup Washington. This "Why Series" was intended to answer questions asked mostly by some of the young people of our church. For more resources from Bible Baptist Church of Puyallup,WA and Pastor Marvin McKenzie please visit http://www.puyallupbaptistchurch.com

1. WHY I BELIEVE IN THE
PRETRIBULATION
RAPTURE

2. I. DEFINITIONS
A. Amillennialism
• All things continue as they are forever
B. Pretribulation Rapture
• The Rapture will occur just before the Tribulation period
C. Mid-tribulation Rapture
• The Rapture does not happen until halfway through the
Tribulation.
. Post tribulation Rapture
• the Christians that have survived the Tribulation alive will be
raptured out of this earth at the end of the Tribulation, and then
immediately return to the earth, with the rest of the Christians
already in heaven

3. II. HISTORY
A. The earliest Christians believed in the Pretribulation Rapture
In 1 Thessalonians 4:17
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds... (KJV)
•
• Paul believed that the Rapture would happen in His own lifetime.

4. II. HISTORY
B. As the Catholic Church grew and took root, it began to teach that the Bible was
not to be taken literally, but spiritually.
The Reformers tried to justify a literal interpretation of the Bible with their Catholic
teachings by coming up with such things as post tribulationalism.

5. II. HISTORY
D. In the last several years, there has been a popular movement towards the Mid-
Tribulation Rapture view by many fundamentalists.
By the turn of the century, a large number of independent Baptists, especially
missionaries I think, had secretly embraced this teaching.

6. III. WHY I BELIEVE THE RAPTURE TAKES PLACE
BEFORE THE TRIBULATION
A. Because our judgment has already been dealt with on the cross.
The Tribulation serves two purposes;
• First, to bring the Jews to a place where they will trust Christ as Saviour.
• Second, to judge the Gentiles for their idolatry and rejection of God.

7. III. WHY I BELIEVE THE RAPTURE TAKES PLACE
BEFORE THE TRIBULATION
A. Because our judgment has already been dealt with on the cross.
B. What purpose is there for the Rapture if not to rescue the
Christian from Tribulation suffering?
C. The word church is not found anywhere in the book of Revelation
after the Tribulation begins.
D. The promise of the Blessed Hope suggests the Pretribulation
Rapture of the believers.

8. CONCLUSION
The Rapture is pretribulational. God will remove us
from this earth before the hour of trial that is to try
this earth.
This is the blessed hope of the believer.