Scripture Contradicts a Pre-Trib Rapture # 2

Paul, in describing the resurrection / rapture of the Church writes,

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Paul states that Jesus will leave heaven come down into the clouds of the sky and then the dead and the living in Christ will be gathered to Him in the air. This describes the resurrection / rapture.

Some teach the theory that  the resurrection / rapture will take place before the Antichrist is revealed and before the Great Tribulation. This theory is called the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. However, Scripture contradicts this theory. 

For example, in Acts 3:21, we are told that Jesus must remain in heaven until the time for God to restore everything.

He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets (Acts 3:21).

When will God restore everything?

Most believe that Daniel’s 70 'sevens' prophecy (below) indicates when everything will be restored.

Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy (Daniel 9:24).

This passage describes the conditions at the completion of the 70 'sevens.'  The Great Tribulation takes place in the last half of the 70th 'seven.' Therefore, everything will be restored after the Great Tribulation when Christ establishes His Kingdom.

Certainly, God would not restore everything before or during the Great Tribulation when the Antichrist will be reigning on earth.

Therefore, Jesus will leave heaven and gather the Church after the Great Tribulation. Let's read it again.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets (Acts 3:21).

Acts 3:21 places the Second Coming after the Great Tribulation.

Here is another passage which also  describes the same timing of Christ's departure from heaven. David indicates that the Lord must remain "at the Father's right hand until" it's time for Him to rule in Jerusalem from Mount Zion.

Yahweh says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." Yahweh will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth. Yahweh has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth (Psalm 110:1-6).

Therefore, the resurrection / rapture of the Church will be after the Great Tribulation when Christ leaves heaven to defeat His enemies and establish His Kingdom on earth.

So, the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory is false.

Richard H Perry