Pre Trib Idiots?

I did a search for pre trib rapture (which by the way most say is not correct) and came across a site claiming to destroy the pre-trib position with just one verse. What would be your response to him?

Q. I did a search for pre trib rapture (which by the way most say is not correct) and came across a site claiming to destroy the pre-trib position with just one verse.

What would be your response to him? I would like to know in case someone ever challenges me with this question. It would seem that where once most people regarded a pre trib rapture we are now quite in the minority where people think we’re idiots, which just proves how close we really are. Thanks in advance.

A. I’ve received several questions about the verse you cited, so in the interest of answering them all, here’s probably more information than you need.

First let me say that I disagree with your opinion that most people believe the pre-trib position is not correct. But even if they do what does that have to do with anything? Interpreting the Bible is not a matter of consensus, it’s a matter of right or wrong, and it’s up to each one of us to become knowledgeable enough to know which is which regardless of the swings in public opinion. The fact that some people are wavering in their faith because it’s becoming obvious that the end is near, is not a good reason to abandon our position.

In the article you sent me to the author claims that with just one verse he can destroy the pre-trib position. That should have made you suspicious right from the start because no sound doctrine has ever been built on one verse, nor can it be. We’re admonished to consider the whole counsel of God in studying His word to avoid the very mistake this author has made. He took a single verse and made it say something that the context of the passage it’s in doesn’t intend.

The verse in question is 2 Thes. 2:3 and comes from this passage.

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will 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. (2 thes. 2:1-4)

Right off the bat we see that Paul is addressing two issues, 1) the coming of the Lord, and 2) our being gathered to Him. These are two separate events. In the first He comes down to Earth and in the 2nd He calls us up to meet Him in the air and takes us to Heaven. They involve opposite directions. And you can’t build post trib doctrine on this passage because Paul put them in reverse order to further distinguish them from each other. Even the post trib position has the rapture before the 2nd Coming.

Then he went on to explain the conditions surrounding each one. Before the 2nd coming we’ll have a great apostasy, the anti-Christ will be revealed and will defile the Temple.

Then in verses 6-8 Paul said that the anti-Christ can’t be revealed until the restrainer is taken out of the way, or literally out of the midst. This restrainer is the Holy Spirit resident in the Church.

And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. (2 Thes. 2:6-8)

So the order he gave is first the apostasy, which has already begun, then the restrainer (the Church) will be taken out of the midst, then the anti-Christ will be revealed, he’ll defile the Temple and finally the 2nd Coming will occur.

Paul criticized the Thessalonians for being so easily alarmed by a letter that turned out to be a forgery, saying the Day of the Lord had already come. Think about that. If he had taught them a post-trib rapture position, they would have known that in just a few years they’d be in Eternity. Scary, yes. But panic, no. The only way this false information could have caused the response it did, would be if he had taught them a pre-trib position, because that would mean they had missed the Rapture. And that would mean they weren’t saved. Now that’s cause for alarm.

2nd Thessalonians is the clearest indication anywhere in the New Testament that the first rapture position ever taught in the Church was the pre-trib position. But like the Thessalonians, we become too easily alarmed when we hear a different view because we don’t know our Bible well enough to stand our ground. Shame on us.