Is the Doctrine of Escape at the Rapture Before the Antichrist a Biblical Concept?
Is the Doctrine of Escape at the Rapture Before the Antichrist a Biblical Concept?
The concept of the Rapture, the sudden, unpremeditated, and voluntary departure of the faithful to meet Jesus Christ in the air, is often associated with some Christian eschatology. However, its foundational biblical basis and mainstream Christian acceptance are under scrutiny. This article explores the legitimacy of the Rapture doctrine, particularly in relation to the Antichrist and the Great Tribulation, as per Christian scriptures.
Context of Ancient Apocalyptic Thoughts
Apocalyptic thought has permeated various religious traditions throughout history, with Jewish and other Near Eastern communities having beliefs in imminent apocalyptic events long before the Christian era. Yeshua Bar Yousef, who would be known as Jesus, himself was an apocalyptic teacher who predicted the imminent coming of God's Kingdom. Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24:34, 'Surely I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place,' further emphasizes his conviction regarding the imminence of these events.
Emergence of the Rapture Doctrine
The concept of the Rapture, as we know it, originated with the Premillennial Dispensationalist movement in the 1870s. This doctrine was later embraced by certain evangelical and fundamentalist Christians, primarily in the Southern and rural United States. However, it is not a core doctrine of Mainline Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, or the Roman Catholic Church, and has been largely abandoned by mainstream Christians as a whole.
Biblical Interpretation and Biblical Support
Contrary to popular belief, the idea of being taken to safety before the tribulation is not supported by the Bible. According to Matthew 24:29-30, the Rapture is to occur immediately after the days of distress:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
The Antichrist brings the “distress” or “tribulation” as described in the prophecy. Jesus does not mention the rapture occurring before the Great Tribulation but explicitly states that the rapture will follow the distress. Ezekiel 38 and Daniel 9:27 provide additional clarity, warning about the desecration of the temple by the Antichrist, marking the start of intense persecution and tribulation.
Signs and Prophecies Before the Desecration
Jesus gives clear instructions regarding the signs and events that precede the Great Tribulation. In Matthew 24:15-16, he warns about the appearance of the ‘abomination that causes desolation’ in the temple, followed by a period of peace before the ultimate assault:
15 So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
These signs are crucial for identifying the end times and the coming of the Antichrist. In Matthew 24:30, Jesus indicates that his return will coincide with the end of the tribulation:
30 Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Furthermore, Paul's writing in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 provides a clear description of the Antichrist's actions:
4 He will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
These events occur in a strict sequence and are not preceded by a pre-tribulation rapture.
Conclusion and Biblical Evidence
From the scriptures and the sequence of events outlined by Jesus, it is evident that the doctrine of the Rapture before the Antichrist and Great Tribulation is not supported by the Bible. Christian eschatology must therefore be based on a clear understanding of biblical prophecy and the events leading up to the Second Coming of Christ.