Why I Do Not Believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture: Jesus and Paul Did Not Teach This Part 1

I am doing this article to 1. Share my beliefs and 2. to spark a civil discussion. There will be points that others will bring up to support there view, and I am all for this. I believe it is logically sound with the different views like pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trip, and amillennialism, that all can be wrong. But, it is not logical to say they are all correct. That creates confusion in the church, and we know where confusion and division is from. 1 Cor 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. We are commanded to search the scriptures together daily. 

The doctrine of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture is a widely held belief among many Christians today. It teaches that believers will be taken up to heaven before the great tribulation, sparing them from the trials and judgments described in Revelation. However, upon closer examination of Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 24 and Paul’s writings in 2 Thessalonians 2, it becomes evident that neither Jesus nor Paul taught a Pre-Tribulation rapture. Instead, the biblical evidence points towards a Post-Tribulation gathering of believers.

1. Jesus Taught That the Gathering of the Elect Happens After the Tribulation

In Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus explicitly states:

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:29-31, KJV)

Jesus clearly states that the gathering of the elect (believers) occurs after the tribulation, not before it. This gathering aligns perfectly with Paul’s description of the rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, where believers are caught up to meet Christ in the air. Nowhere does Jesus suggest that believers will be taken away before the tribulation begins.

2. Paul Wrote 2 Thessalonians 2 to Correct a Misunderstanding
The church in Thessalonica was troubled, believing that they had missed the return of Christ. This indicates that they had an expectation of Christ’s imminent return, much like the modern Pre-Tribulation teaching. However, Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 to correct this mistaken belief and remind them of the correct order of events:

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, KJV)

Paul clearly lays out two major events that must happen first before Christ returns:

1. The falling away (apostasy) – A significant turning away from the faith.
2. The revealing of the Antichrist – The “man of sin” must be revealed before Christ comes.

If Paul had believed in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, he would have reassured them that they had not missed his return, and left it at that. But, he did not do that, he reminded them of the order of the events as a basic layout. There was just two events that Paul thought was important to remind them of. So, he tells them not to be deceived, emphasizing that these events must occur before Christ gathers believers. This further supports the Post-Tribulation viewpoint.

3. The Greek Word “Parousia” (Coming) and Its Application

To understand the word “coming” (Parousia – παρουσία, G3952), it is essential to examine how it is used throughout Scripture. Out of 24 occurrences in the New Testament, 22 refer directly to Jesus’ Second Coming, while only 2 apply to someone else. Here is a breakdown of these occurrences:

Occurrences Referring to Jesus’ Second Coming:

Matthew 24:3, 27, 37, 39 – Jesus’ coming at the end of the age.
1 Corinthians 15:23 – The resurrection of believers at His coming.
1 Thessalonians 2:19, 3:13, 4:15, 5:23 – Paul’s references to the return of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2:8, 2:9 – Christ’s coming to destroy the Antichrist.
James 5:7-8 – The Lord’s coming drawing near.
2 Peter 1:16, 3:4, 3:12 – The power and coming of Christ.
1 John 2:28 – Confidence at Christ’s appearing.

Occurrences Referring to Someone Else:

1 Corinthians 16:17 – The coming of Stephanas.
2 Corinthians 7:6-7 – The coming of Titus.

From this analysis, the overwhelming majority of uses of “Parousia” refer to the visible return of Jesus at the end of the Tribulation, aligning with the Post-Tribulation view. Nowhere does Scripture indicate a separate, secret rapture before the Tribulation.

4. The Greek Word “Offend” (Skandalizó) and Its Connection to Apostasy

The Greek word “offend” (Skandalizó – σκανδαλίζω, G4624) appears multiple times in Scripture. In many instances, it refers to falling away from faith or turning away from Christ, closely paralleling the concept of apostasy. Below is a breakdown of key passages:

Occurrences of “Offend” in Relation to Falling Away:

Matthew 24:10 – “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.”
Matthew 26:31, 33 – Jesus foretells that His disciples will be offended because of Him.
Mark 4:17 – “When affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.”
Luke 7:23 – “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”
John 16:1 – “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.”

These passages suggest that offense often leads to falling away, which aligns with the concept of apostasy (apostasia – ἀποστασία, G646).

5. The Link Between “Offense” and Apostasy in Scripture

The word apostasia (ἀποστασία, G646) refers to a defection from the faith, or a falling away. It appears in the following key passages:

Acts 21:21 – “Thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake (apostasia) Moses.”
2 Thessalonians 2:3 – “That day shall not come, except there come a falling away (apostasia) first, and that man of sin be revealed.”

Given that “offense” often results in turning away from the faith, and that apostasia explicitly describes a falling away, it is clear that Jesus and Paul both warned of a great spiritual decline before Christ’s return.

6. The Post-Tribulation View is Biblically Consistent

Both Jesus and Paul teach that believers will face tribulation before the rapture occurs.
Jesus explicitly says the gathering happens after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31).
Paul warns that the Antichrist must be revealed before Christ gathers believers (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).
The Greek words “Parousia” and “Skandalizó” reinforce the Post-Tribulation perspective.
The Pre-Tribulation view is based on assumptions rather than direct biblical teaching.
Thus, the biblical evidence overwhelmingly supports a Post-Tribulation rapture, with believers enduring tribulation but ultimately being gathered to Christ at His visible return.