By: Brian Tegart
http://www.tegart.com/brian/bible/prophecy/rapcomp.html
And
Ed
Burrell "Protection View"
| Protection | Pretrib | Midtrib | Prewrath | Posttrib | Partial ('Split') | |
| Rapture takes place | Before the Millennial Reign of Jesus | Prior to last final tribulation -- Any Moment |
Middle of last final tribulation | 6 months to 1½ years prior to the end of the final tribulation (after first 6 seals of Rev 6) | End of final tribulation | Both a pre-trib rapture (for the watching) and one of the other 3 (for the lukewarm) |
| Final tribulation is understood to be | 7 years | 7 years | 7 years | 7 years | Usually 7 years | 7 years |
| Rapture based on | Salvation | Salvation | Salvation | Salvation | Salvation | Works |
| "tribulation" and "wrath" | Equivalent in both focus and time | Equivalent in both focus and time | Different in both focus ("trib" for church at the hands of Satan and man, "wrath" for wicked at the hands of God) and time (3½ yrs trib, 3½ yrs wrath) | Different in both focus and time (5½-6½ yrs "trib", ½-1½ yrs "wrath") | Different in focus, same in time - "trib" is against saints, "wrath" is against wicked | Equivalent in both focus and time |
| "Church" and "Israel" | Essentially equivalent ("true Israel" didn't reject Christ) | Extremely separate in both role and purpose | Some take the pre-trib view, some the post-trib | Some take the pre-trib view, most the post-trib | Some distinctions recognized, but essentially equivalent ("true Israel" didn't reject Christ) | Some take the pre-trib view, some the post-trib |
| History | Developed in early 1990s | Developed in early 1800s | Developed in the 1940s | Developed in the 1960s | Resurfaced in early 1800s, found in writings of the first few centuries | Developed mid 1800s |
| Common "proof" texts | Jer 32:40, Isa 46:4, Ezk 11:19,20, Ps 1:3, Ps 125:1, Rev 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 3:5, 3:12, 3:21,John 16:33, Rom 12:21, 2Pet 2:19-20, 1John 2:13-14, 4:4, 5:4 | Luke 12:36, Rom 5:9, 1 Thess 5:9, John 14:2-3, Dan 9:24, Rev 5:8-10 (KJV), Rev 3:10 | Rev 11, Dan 7:25, Rev 12:6, Rev 13:5-10, Dan 12:7-12 | Matt 24 compared with Rev 6 (esp. Matt 24:29-31 with Rev 6:12-17), Joel 2:31, 1 Thess 5:9 | Rev 7:14, Acts 14:22, John 16:33, Matt 13:27-30, John 17:15, Gal 3, Rom 9:6-8, Matt 24:29-31 | Luke 21:36, 1 Cor 3:13-15, Matt 24:42-43, Matt 25:13, Mark 13:33-37, 1 Thess 1:10, 1 Pet 4:7, Rev 3:3 |
The "Protection View" is an outgrowth of my 25 years of study and application. It is based on my study of the Bible apart from just reading the works of many 21st Century Theologians. There are many web sites that promote one view or another. There are many sites that seek to refute one view or another.
How can One Word be the foundation of Theology? There are many examples of where Jesus used One Word to define His position as the Incarnate Son of God to the Jewish Religious Leaders and His Disciples. (Read the Gospel of John or the Gospel of John on-line study)
Let's look at the word overcome/s as it is used in "The Revelation of Jesus Christ". The word overcomes in the Greek is: nikao (nik-ah'-o) Strongs NT:3528 and means to subdue literally or figuratively. Nikao comes from the Greek primary word: nike (nee'kay) Strongs NT:3529 and means; conquest (abstractly), i.e. the means of success (figuratively).
When you look at the word overcomes as it is used in The Revelation of Jesus Christ an compare it to another word in 1 Corinthians 10:13: escape Greek ekbasis (ek'-bas-is) Strongs NT:1545; from a compound of Strongs NT:1537 and the base of Strongs NT:939 (meaning to go out); an exit (literally or figuratively) you will see a Theological statement of "Protection".
You may now ask, can this "Protection" be proven - illustrated in the Bible? The answer is yes!
Lets now look at the proof - illustration as provided by the Bible. You can do a reading in Genesis on the lives of Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and Joseph and see examples of God's provision of "Protection". I think that another, perhaps even more dramatic proof - illustration, can be found in the lives of the Israelites during the plagues that God brought upon Egypt before the Israelites were given their freedom.
If you will do a study of the plagues and look at how God brought judgement upon Egypt you will see that in several of the plaques God provided complete "Provision - Protection" for the Isralelites. During some of the plagues you will also see that God allowed the Israelites to also be judged. I believe that the most vivid illustrated of "Provision - Protection" for the Israelites was during the plaque of darkness that covered Egypt for three days.
The Bible states in Exodus 10:23: The Egyptians could not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days; but all the Israelites had natural light in their dwellings. (Amplified Version)
When you compare these proofs with other New Testament verses you will see an underlying priciple that is laid out in John Calvin's Five Points. Calvin's Point #5 (Perseverance of the Saints) seaks of the believer's ability to stand firm in their faith until they leave this world of sin and death.
I believe that if you will do a deep study of the scriptures (for yourself) you will find that since God is the one who provides faith to believe in Christ alone for salvation that He will also "Provide and Protect" the believer until the day of Jesus's return.
Many people have been caught up in the "Left Behind" books and videos. This left-behind mentality is an out-growth of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture that has been adopted by many seminaries, churches, and persons of all types of faith. The problem with the Pre-Tribulation position is:
What will you do if Jesus does not "Rapture"
you before the times of Great Tribulation?
Will you be able to "survive" or will you submit yourself to the New World
Order under the control of the Anti-Christ?
Do you have a plan and or insights that I have not considered and will you send me
your comments?
Click Here to Read something that You may have never considered.
Continuing Comments on the "Protecton" view of the Rapture:
The "Born-Again" Christian (the Elect) shall continue in faith and grace, the reason being that the Lord takes it upon Himself to preserve them in that state. The Elect are secured both in focus and time. Not only will God not depart from them, but He will so put His fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from him.
The Westminster Confession
states: "They whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called and
sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of
grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved." Or
in other words we believe that those who once become true Christians cannot totally fall
away and be lost, --- that while they may fall into sin temporarily, they will eventually
return and be saved.
AN OUTWARD PROFESSION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT
ALWAYS A PROOF THAT THE PERSON IS A TRUE CHRISTIAN
Mere church membership, of course, is no guarantee that the persons are real Christians.
Not every member of the Church militant will be a member of the Church triumphant. To
answer certain purposes, they make an outward profession of the Gospel, which obliges them
for a time to be outwardly moral and to associate themselves with the people of God. They
appear to have true faith and continue thus for a while. Then either their sheep's
clothing is stripped off, or they throw it off themselves, and return again to the world.
If we could see the real motives of their hearts, we would discover that at no time were
they ever actuated by a true love of God. They were all this while goats, and not sheep,
ravening wolves, and not gentle lambs. Hence Peter says of them, "It has happened
unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the
sow that had been washed to wallowing in the mire," 2 Peter 2:22. They thereby show
that they never belonged to the number of the elect. Copyright 1932(c) by Loraine Boettner,
D.Da. All rights reserved.
The Bible states in 2
Timothy 2:15:
Study and be eager and do your utmost to
present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be
ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully
teaching] the Word of Truth. (AMP = Amplified Version)
With the above verse in mind,
Click Here for the Bridge To Life Page that
illustrates, outlines, God's Plan of Salvation.
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