Biblical Prophecy and Warm Fuzzy Ignorance

AN ARGUMENT FOR A MID-TRIBULATION RAPTURE

Even though there are 8,352 verses in the Bible, or 27%, that are prophetic, most Christians seem quite willing to forego exposure to them, much less master them. In the New Testament, 1,711 verses are considered prophetic, or 21.5% of the New Testament, and yet 21% of all sermons do not seem to be concerned with the New Testament prophecies. I have often wondered why. 1 Thessalonians 5:20, “Do not treat prophecies with contempt…” does not get much “air play” from pulpits.

Sometimes I have wondered aloud about the lack of attention to Bible prophecy and have been told the most preposterous things. The Big Lie that seems to keep so many people warm and fuzzy in their self-imposed detention in the outer darkness is that the Rapture will occur so soon in the Second Coming chronology that Christians will not need to face any part of those tumultuous times. Frankly, however, the Scriptures do not say that. While it is true that 1 Thessalonians 5:promises that Christians will not “suffer wrath (NIV),” the Scriptures are also clear that Christians should be surprised by “this day.” See, 1 Thessalonians 5:4. Christians should look into NT prophecy and ask which day is “this day?” The point is not the date of “this day,” but rather the unique character of “this day” that will allow it to be identified.

For example, the Revelation (yes, that book) seems to divide the events it predicts into those events before “the great day,” Revelation 6:12, and every other day. Is “the great day” the same day as “this day?” If so, then “the day” upon which the Rapture is promised might be “the great day” the Sixth Seal is opened. If so, Christians participating in the Rapture would be the survivors of the opening of the first five seals. The Rapture would then, under this view of the Scriptures, take place before the pouring out of the seven bowls of God’s wrath, described in Revelation 16. Thus, it could be concluded that Christians, because the Rapture preceded the emptying of the bowls of wrath, would not “suffer wrath.”

The fact that Christians might have to bear up under some bad things released upon the opening of the six seals would not contradict the possible promise that God’s wrath will not be ladled upon Christians. To the contrary, it might indicate that the seemingly bad things erupting from the opened seals might not be nearly so bad as God’s wrath. Those who suffer wrath poured from those bowls might think that a few “food wars,” see Revelation 6:6, as well as wars, plagues and “wild beasts,” seem tame by comparison.

There are several Scriptures that dwell on exactly this question. Read them altogether, and a picture of “this day,” “the great day,” and the “Day of the Lord” seems to congeal. See, e.g., Malachi 4:5, I Corinthians 5:5, 2 Corinthians 1:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10, John 12:48, Romans 2:5, 2 Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 10:25, and Jude 6.

But many Christians seem to believe that the Rapture will occur not on “the day,” and certainly not on the “the great day” or the “Day of the Lord,” but on some other day, before anything in Revelation has a chance to percolate into motion. Christians would rather die in their sleep, it seems, han die while pointing and yelling, “See, I told you so!” as the four riders come thundering out of the first four seals.

Will there be no Christians to applaud the return of the martyrs when the fifth seal is opened? Will the only witnesses to the triumphant clothing of the martyrs in their white robes be those who rejected Christ? Who will do the yelling if Christians are “off the table?” Matthew 10:27 (“…proclaim from the housetops” NIV). My neighbors would have me committed if I started “proclaiming” from the housetop, unless I was proclaiming about something everyone could see but of which not everyone could make sense.

This warm fuzzy ignorance of Bible prophecy results in a lack of issue recognition regarding how world events implicate prophecies, ignorance regarding the importance of prophecy to Christian maturity, and inability to differentiate reasonable fears from faithlessness. Scripturally ignorant Christians are among the most tortured people, and Christians who avoid the prophecies are among the most ignorant.

Such Christians think Jesus meant to bring peace to the world. But, Jesus said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.” Matthew 10:34. Therefore, why would Christians leap to the conclusion that they will be left completely out of the events of the Revelation that lead to “this day?”