read Revelation.....The first 3 chapters are to the churches.
The church age is from the time at Antioch where we were first called Christian (not saints alone, but Christian) to the church being taken out at the rapture.
During the tribulation those who come to believe are called Saints alone, not christian.
The church is the body of Christ, but we were never called his bride, or a church until after his ascension, and the events at Antioch.
The church age is from Antioch, and the time of the rapture.
This period alone is the believer called Christian, or the bride of Christ.
We who have come to Jesus have an unique relationship with our King of Kings, we are his bride. Revelation 19:6
I would exhort you to read chads break down of these events, and read the scripture concerning them..........
Evidence For A PreTribulation Rapture
by Kent Crockett
Let me first say that our fellowship as Christians is not based upon the timing of the rapture, but upon the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Some have accused those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture as "escapists," trying to avoid all trouble or persecution. On the contrary, the Church always has been and always will be persecuted as long as we are in the world, but this is not the same as the wrath of God poured out during the Tribulation. We believe the rapture occurs before the Tribulation because scriptures overwhelmingly support a pre-tribulation rapture, as opposed to the a-millennial, post-millennial, and post-tribulation theories.
The following is a look at 16 scriptural evidence that indicate the rapture will be Pre-Tribulation. ("Pre-tribulation" rapture means Jesus will gather those who believe in Him together in heaven before the Seven Year Tribulation starts.)
Evidence #1: Revelation 19:11-21 doesn't mention a resurrection
The rapture is a resurrection of those "in Christ" (
1 Thess. 4:13-18). Isn't it a little bit odd that in
Rev. 19:11-21, which is the clearest picture of the second coming of Christ, there is no mention of a resurrection? The rapture will be the biggest event since the resurrection of Jesus where hundreds of millions of Christians will be resurrected and translated, yet there isn't any mention here. Don't you think it deserves at least one verse? The rapture isn't mentioned because it doesn't happen at the second coming.
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Evidence #2: Zechariah 14:1-15 doesn't mention a resurrection
This is an Old Testament picture of Jesus returning to earth at the second coming. Again, no mention of a resurrection.
Evidence #3: Two different pictures are painted
In the Old Testament, there were two different pictures painted of the Messiah—one suffering (
Isa. 53:2-10,
Ps. 22:6-8,
11-18) and one reigning as King (
Ps. 2:6-12,
Zech. 14:9,
16). As we look back on these scriptures, we see they predicted two separate comings of the Messiah—the 1st coming as a suffering Messiah and the 2nd coming (still future) as a reigning King.
In the New Testament, we have another picture added. Again, we have two pictures painted which don’t look the same. These two different descriptions of Jesus’ coming point to two separate events we call "the rapture" and "the second coming."
Evidence #4: The Known Day and the Unknown Day
Concerning the return of Jesus, the Bible presents a day we
can't know and a day we
can know.
Matthew 25:13 says Jesus will return at an unknown time, while
Revelation 12:6 says the Jews will have to wait 1,260 days for the Lord to return. The 1,260 days begins when the Antichrist stands in the Temple and declares himself to be God (
Matt. 24:15-21,
2 Thess. 2:4) This event will take place at the mid-point of the seven year Tribulation (
Dan 9:27). The Antichrist has authority to rule for 42 months, which is 1,260 days (
Rev. 13:4) and will be destroyed by Jesus at His second coming (
Rev. 19:20,
2 Thess. 2:8). The known and unknown days must happen at different times, meaning they are two separate events.
Evidence #5: A door open in heaven (Revelation 4:1)
The door in heaven is opened to let John into heaven. We believe John's call into heaven is prophetic of the church being caught up at the rapture (see proof #6). In
Revelation 19:11, heaven is opened again, this time to let the armies
which are already in heaven out. This is the Church, which has been raptured at a previous time, following Jesus out of heaven at the second coming.
Evidence #6: "Come up here." (Revelation 4:1)
A voice called for the apostle John to "Come up here," and immediately he was in heaven. This could be a prophetic reference to the rapture of the Church. The words "Come up here" are spoken to the two witnesses who are killed in the middle of the Tribulation, who are resurrected and ascend into heaven (
Rev. 11:12). Therefore, the phrase "Come up here" could mean the church is raptured in
Rev. 4:1. The word "church" is mentioned 22 times in Rev. 1-3, but is not mentioned again until
Rev. 22:17.
Evidence #7: The 24 elders have their crowns
After John is called up into heaven, he sees the 24 elders with their crowns (
Rev. 4:4-10). We know that Christians will receive their rewards (crowns) at the rapture (
2 Tim. 4:8,
1 Pet. 5:4). We will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous (
Luke 14:14). The elders couldn't receive their crowns unless the resurrection (rapture) has taken place.
Evidence #8 Holy ones are already with Jesus in heaven (Zech. 14:5, Rev. 19:14)
The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, follow Jesus out of heaven at His second coming (
Rev. 19:14,
Zech. 14:5,
Col. 3:4). These are not angels because
Rev. 19:8 tells us the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. In order to come out of heaven we first have to go in, indicating a previous rapture.
Evidence #9: Kept from the hour of testing (Rev. 3:10)
Revelation 3:10 says we will be
kept out of the hour of testing which will come upon the whole earth (the Tribulation). Some have wrongly believed "keep" means to keep through, or protect through the Tribulation. Suppose you approach a high voltage area with a sign that says, "Keep Out." Does that mean you can enter and be protected? No, it means you are forbidden from entering the area. But this verse also says He will keep us from
the hour of testing. It is not just the testing, but the time period. If a student is excused from a test, he still may have to sit in the class while others take the test. But if he is excused from the hour of testing, he can go home. The Church will be called home before the hour of testing.
Evidence #10: Angels don't resurrect people when they gather them for judgment
When the angels are sent forth to gather the elect at the second coming (
Matt. 24:29-31), some have wrongly interpreted this as the rapture. There is one huge problem with this interpretation. If we are resurrected at this time, why would we need angels to gather us? In the resurrection, we will be like the angels (
Matt. 22:30), able to travel in the air at will. Obviously, these people who are gathered are
not resurrected, therefore it can't be the rapture. No one would claim the wicked are raptured at this time, yet
Matthew 13:39-41) says the angels will not only gather the elect, but also the wicked. This gathering is not a resurrection.
Evidence #11: Both wicked and righteous both can't be taken first
First Thessalonians 4:13-17 says the righteous are taken and the wicked are left behind.
Matthew 13:30,
49 says the wicked are taken first and righteous are left behind. This points to two separate events, the rapture and the second coming.
Evidence #12: Jesus returns from the wedding
