Don’t Believe In The Rapture?

Q

There is a question that has been troubling me. If someone is a born again child of God but doesn’t believe in the Rapture, will that person still be taken? If he believes that the Church will go through the Tribulation to be tested and purified to be made “safe to save” does that show a lack of faith and salvation, or just a different understanding of the relevant scripture?

A

All born again believers will go in the rapture no matter what they believe about its timing. Belief in the rapture is not a condition of salvation.

Most people who claim the church needs to be purified by going through the tribulation haven’t really thought their position through. If they did, they’d see that what they’re really saying is Jesus didn’t pay the full price for their salvation at the cross. That means they have to save themselves through persecution or martyrdom.

This view conflicts with Scripture (1 Thes. 1:10) as well as the doctrine of salvation by grace (Ephes 2:8-9). And because there hasn’t been a Great Tribulation in each generation it means either ours is being singled out for special punishment or previous generations of believers weren’t really saved. It’s an illogical position.