Pre, Mid & Post Trib Arguments, Daniels 70th Week (The Tribulation) & The Rise & Fall of Antichrist

The Difference Between the Rapture and the Second Advent

Last time we talked about the rapture and the second advent. So that was last Wednesday and really stressed the point that the rapture is one thing and Christ's second advent to the earth is something completely different.

Some people believe it's the same event. I think I demonstrated if not proved last week that they are not the same event. So last week we talked about the rapture and we said the rapture was what? Mid-trib?

Post-trib? No, we made the case last week for the pre-tribulational rapture. So let's turn to Revelation chapter three. This is a verse that I didn't mention last week so I wanna bring it up this time.

But in fairness, I do wanna cover the other positions that are out there because while we are pre-trib, that is we believe the rapture comes before the tribulation, I wouldn't say that I'm dogmatic about it.

Like there are some things that I'm certain about. I'm certain that the Bible is the word of God. I'm certain that Jesus was born of a virgin. I'm certain that Jesus is coming back. Am I 100 certain that the rapture comes before the tribulation?

I'm not at that same level of certainty. So while I do believe this, and what I found is the members of this church feel pretty passionately about the pre-trib rapture. I remember one time we had a meeting and we were kind of discussing the other viewpoints and one of the guys in the group, I think he felt like a case was being made for one of these other, and he stood up and he just pounded his fist on the table.

The rapture is pre-trib and that's all there is to it,.

He said.

So he seemed to be dogmatic. I think he said he was dogmatic. I can't be dogmatic about this, but that's the position I hold. That's the position we hold and pretty sure about it because look at Revelation chapter three, verse 10.

The apostle John says in Revelation 3 .10, or actually it's Jesus speaking, but John writing, the Lord says, because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial, which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.

Okay, so Jesus is speaking to the church at Philadelphia and I believe he's talking about his return because in the next verse, verse 11, he says, behold, I am coming quickly. Hold fast what you have that no one may take your crown.

So Jesus is speaking prophetically and he says to the church, he says, because you have kept my command to persevere, I will keep you from the hour of trial, which shall come upon the whole world. So in that statement, many commentators believe Jesus is talking about the tribulation period as that hour of trial that's coming upon the whole world.

And what does he say? That to the church, I will keep you from that. So that would be in line with a pre-tribulational rapture that the church is taken up out of the world and then you have the seven years of tribulation and God's wrath to come after that.

You see that in that verse. That's a pretty common interpretation of Revelation chapter three, verse 10. Okay, so now let's move on to the next position. Larry said, why is this so small? You know, the other two lines come all the way up here and this line's way down here.

And I said, well, because this is a minority position. Okay, but that's not actually why the line's so short, but it is a minority position. But this position holds that Jesus comes back when? Yeah, three and a half years into the tribulation.

Technically those who hold to this, Jesus would come slightly after the midpoint, but hey, close enough. Where do people get this idea? Let's turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 15, because we wanna just lay out all three positions to be fair, because I'll just be honest with you, if I find myself living in the tribulation period and no one has been raptured, but it's obvious that we're in the tribulation.

If pre-trib doesn't work anymore, if that's not a viable option, guess what I'm gonna be? I'm gonna be mid-trib. I don't anticipate that happening, but of course people have thought throughout the ages that, hey, we're living in the tribulation right now.

People thought that back in World War II. So the thing is, you're not actually gonna know. People will not know that they're living in the tribulation until the midpoint, until the antichrist sits in the temple of God, which we'll talk about in a few minutes.

Okay, 1 Corinthians, did I tell you chapter 15?

No.

Okay, 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15, let's start reading in verse 51. So this is the apostle Paul talking to the church at Corinth about the rapture. He says, behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.

In a moment.

In the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible. And we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. Oh, death, where is your sting?

Oh, Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law, but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

And here's how we know that this is a parallel passage with 1 Thessalonians 4 that we looked at last week. Remember when Jesus comes in the clouds at the rapture, 1 Thessalonians 4, the dead are raised.

Remember that? Well, what's happening here? The dead are raised. Verse 52, it happens in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. I want you to remember that statement, at the last trumpet.

For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be what?

Raised.

Okay, so this is a parallel passage with the rapture passage of 1 Thessalonians 4. And when does Paul, so I'm arguing now, some would say, I don't like this term, but people say, you know, the devil's advocate.

I'm arguing for this position and showing you why some people believe in this. When did Paul say the dead are raised? At the last trumpet. Okay, now let's turn to Revelation chapter 11. So this is the argument for a mid-tribulational rapture.

Paul says that it happens at the last trumpet. So all you have to do, the argument goes, is you just have to figure out when the last trumpet is. So the last trumpet that's recorded in scripture is right here in Revelation chapter 11.

So look at Revelation 11 verse 15. It says, then the seventh angel sounded. Okay, so he's blowing the trumpet. So there's seven trumpet judgments. The angel, the seventh angel sounded and there were loud voices in heaven saying, the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever.

And the 24 elders who sat before God on the thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God saying, we give thanks to you, O Lord, God almighty. And it goes on. And basically the argument is, the seventh angel sounding his trumpet, the seventh trumpet, this is the last trumpet mentioned in the Bible.

Paul said the rapture happens or the dead are raised at the last trumpet. This is the last trumpet. And it's Revelation 11 is in the middle of the book, right? This would be around the midpoint of the tribulation when the seventh angel sounds.

Okay, now, is that a convincing argument?

I don't know.

Let's get your opinion. This is the last trumpet that's recorded in the Bible, but that's basically the argument for the mid tribulation rapture. So Revelation is kind of laid out in, basically in chronological order.

Chapter 11 is around the midpoint. So some would find that to be a credible argument. Others don't really see it. Okay, any questions or comments on that? All right, there's one other part. Let's go to second Thessalonians two.

Second Thessalonians chapter two. This is another argument for the mid trib position. Second Thessalonians two, verse one. The apostle Paul says, "'Now, brethren, concerning the coming "'of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.'".

So this does sound like the rapture. I believe it is. He says, "'We ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, "'either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, "'as though the day of Christ had come.'".

In other words, don't be troubled as if the rapture has come. "'Let no one deceive you by any means, "'for that day will not come "'unless the falling away comes first "'and the man of sin is revealed, "'the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself "'above all that is called God or that is worshiped, "'so that he sits as God in the temple of God, "'showing himself that he is God.'".

So the argument is the rapture, Paul, again, mid trib people would say, Paul is saying the rapture can't happen until the man of sin is revealed, sitting in the temple of God, and when does that happen?

The antichrist doesn't sit in the temple declaring himself to be God until when? The midpoint. So the argument is Paul's saying the rapture can't happen until you see that. So rapture would happen slightly after.

Now that's one way to interpret 2 Thessalonians 2, but there's another interpretation we'll look at after. Okay, so we've looked at pre-trib, mainly last week. We saw that passage in Revelation chapter three.

Looked at mid-trib, and now let's look at post-trib. Turn to Matthew chapter 24, and I hope this doesn't confuse you. I know there's some people who would prefer that, hey, just tell us what's right and don't confuse me with all this other information.

Right?

I understand, but when I'm certain about something, I'll preach it dogmatically, and I don't feel like I need to bring up other viewpoints, but this is a debated position. But the church is pre-trib, so say what's the argument for post-trib?

Well, Matthew chapter 24, does anyone know what I'm gonna say? Here's why I'm going through it. I want you to have at least heard this stuff before. Here's the problem. When a church only teaches one thing and they never give the other side, you know, you have one idea in your mind, and then years down the road, someone will make another argument and you feel totally blindsided.

Like, I never even knew there was another position. I've never heard that before. So I want to equip you with the information so that you're at least aware of it, because if you are not equipped, someone can bring up a different viewpoint and maybe that can be troubling or it can steer you away.

Matthew 24, verse 29. So here is maybe the best argument for the post-tribulational rapture. Post-trib means Jesus does what? He comes back at the end after the tribulation. Well, isn't that what this says?

Matthew 24, verse 29. Immediately what? Okay, immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened. The moon will not give its light. The stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Then the sign of the son of man will appear in heaven and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And then he will send his angels with a sound of a trumpet.

Okay, so actually, technically, this would be the last trumpet. He will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together his elect from the four winds. So what do you have?

Jesus coming in the clouds, gathering all his people together from the four winds. And when does it happen? After the tribulation of those days. Okay, so that's an open and shut case for a post-trib rapture, isn't it?

Well, not if you were here last week. Last week, we made the argument that this is what? Is this the rapture? No, this is the second advent. Two separate events. And again, we made that case last week.

Okay, so now I won't confuse you anymore. We'll just say, okay, we believe it's pre-trib, let's move on, okay? Any questions on that? So let me just get the other chart up. Okay, now, if you weren't confused before, maybe you will be with this.

Who's heard of Daniel's 70th week? Okay, you know, and maybe this is the first time somebody's heard this before. Well, once you hear it a few times, then you'll start to, you know, it might take, it might take a little while for it all to sink in, but how are you gonna learn if you never hear it, right?

Again, some churches, they're not talking about this stuff anymore, or they don't wanna touch it with a 10-foot pole.

Why?

Because there's people who disagree, and they're afraid if they take one position, then some other guy, he believes this, and he's gonna be upset. They don't wanna upset anybody, so they just don't talk about it.

I think that's the wrong approach. I think this is stuff that's gonna happen. It's in our future. This is what the church has to look forward to. I think this is very important. The coming of Christ is a very important subject.

How can churches ignore it? So I totally don't understand how you can ignore this subject. Okay, let's turn to Daniel chapter nine. So we wanna talk about how you even get the idea of a seven-year tribulation to begin with.

Is there any verse in the Bible that talks about the seven-year tribulation? Are you gonna see that exact wording in the Bible? You're not, you're not gonna find it, okay. Now, that doesn't really prove anything, because, right, we talked about this last week, the word trinity is not in the Bible.

It doesn't mean the trinity doesn't exist. The word Bible isn't in the Bible, but we still have the Bible. Just because you don't see the word, or the exact term, doesn't prove that the Bible doesn't teach it.

Okay, you're in Daniel chapter nine. Okay, this is the prophecy. You see the screen here. This is the prophecy of Daniel's 70th week.

All right.

Daniel nine, starting in verse 24, it says, 70 weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city to finish the transgression. Okay, stop. Who is he talking to? When he says your people, what people is he talking about?

This is the Old Testament, right? Book of Daniel. Daniel is, what's his ethnicity?

He's Jewish.

Okay, so they're talking about the Jewish people, and the holy city is what city? Jerusalem. Okay, so you got the Jews and Jerusalem. To finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.

So as of this moment in history, has everlasting righteousness been ushered in? Are we living in an age where it's just, righteousness abounds from sea to sea?

No.

So whatever he's talking about, it hasn't happened yet. Do we agree with that?

Okay.

Verse 25, know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and 62 weeks, and the street shall be built again, and the wall even in troublesome times.

Now, why would Jerusalem have to be rebuilt? Daniel is writing, he's writing while captive in Babylon. So the Babylonians came in, they destroyed the Jewish temple, they destroyed the city of Jerusalem, they took the Jews captive in Babylon for 70 years.

Daniel is writing while in captivity. So the city of Jerusalem is just laid waste. So he's talking about rebuilding the city. Now, he says there shall be seven weeks and 62 weeks. So what you have to understand is that these are what?

Weeks of years. Who's never heard such a thing? A week of years, what does that even mean? Okay, a week is how many days? Seven days. So a week of years is seven years. Okay, I could spend the next 20 minutes and explain, I'm just giving you the short version.

So these are weeks of years. Okay, verse 26, and after the 62 weeks, Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself, and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

The end of it shall be with a flood. Until the end of the war, desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week, he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering, and on the wing of abominations shall be the one who makes desolate, even until the consummation which is determined is poured out on the desolate.

So I have to admit that even when I read this, you have to pay attention, you scratch your head. Obviously, this needs some interpretation. There's not a single person on earth who can read this for the first time and say, oh yeah, I know what this is talking about.

Like, that ain't gonna happen. You have to do a lot of study and compare this with other biblical passages. Okay, so let's try to make this as simple as we can, if that's possible. So it's Daniel's 70th week, that's the prophecy.

So Daniel talks about the seven weeks. Okay, so if there's seven weeks of years, that's 49 years from the decree to rebuild the city until they actually do it, okay? So there's seven weeks, which is 49 years, and then 62 weeks, which is 434 years, and that adds up to 483 years.

This is how much time has passed from the decree to rebuild the city of Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, until Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, which is the day that he declared himself to be the Messiah.

All that period of time was 483 years, and there's a whole calculation where it came down right to the day, okay? But 70 times seven is 490. So the whole prophecy is 490 years, but only 483 years has gone by.

So what does that mean? Yeah, there's one week left. In a week is how long? Seven years, okay. So there is seven years left, and that's where you get the idea of a seven-year tribulation. So the final week, Daniel's 70th week, is the seven-year tribulation, okay.

Does that make sense? All right, now why did it stop? Why did everything stop after 483 years?

It was a provision.

Okay.

They had to accept the Christ.

Right.

So if Jesus, when he came in on Palm Sunday, if they had accepted him as the nation, if they received him as their king, what would have happened? Everlasting righteousness would have been brought in.

The Jews would have inherited the kingdom. But did they accept Jesus? No. Instead, the leaders of the nation had him crucified. So when Jesus was crucified, one way you could put it is God kind of, the whole thing is playing out and God pressed pause.

Okay, hold on, you just crucified the Messiah. Everything stopped. Everything stopped. God had a plan for Israel, but for lack of a better term, they messed it all up when they crucified their king. So everything has been put on hold and now we're kind of in a parenthesis between the Old Testament and the kingdom age.

So this age we're living in is what age? The church age or the age of grace.

Okay.

Notice this statement in verse 27. Daniel 9, 27. It says, he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. So it talks about the prophecy. Messiah is cut off in verse 26. And then verse 27 says, he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week.

Who is this?

Yeah.

Oh, we believe this is the antichrist. So maybe you've heard that, you know, when the antichrist comes, he will sign a seven-year peace treaty with Israel. Who's ever heard something like that, right?

Well, we don't actually know if it's gonna be a seven-year peace treaty with Israel, but he is going to confirm a treaty or a covenant with many, maybe the whole world, maybe less. He's gonna do it for a period of seven years.

So anytime there is talk about peace in the Middle East between Israel and whoever else who's ever trying to broker the peace, whenever that has happened, and there's been times throughout the last 50 years or so, or 70 years where they've tried to do that, that's when people start talking about, is this it?

Is this it? And of course it hasn't been it up until this point. But we believe this is talking about the antichrist. He will confirm a covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of the week, what does he do?

He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. So the idea is that when the rapture happens, the Jews are then given a green light to rebuild their temple, but the antichrist breaks the treaty. And in the middle of the week, three and a half years in, I have the wrong chart up, but you remember the other one, halfway through, halfway through the antichrist, he goes into the temple and what does he do?

He declares himself to be God. That event is known as the abomination of desolation. Okay, now let's turn to Matthew 24 again. You say, well, how do we know that? Abomination of desolation. Well, Jesus talks about this.

So if you don't wanna believe me, that's fine. You can believe Christ, because he's the one who discusses this. All right, this chart should look familiar because this is the one we had last week. Okay, so the rapture and three and a half years in is the midpoint, the abomination of desolation.

Look at Matthew 24, starting in verse 15. Who's speaking? Again, if you have a red letter Bible, then you know that it's the words of Christ. Matthew 24, 15, Jesus says, therefore, when you see what?

Abomination.

The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, that's where we just were. When you see it standing in the holy place, whoever reads, let him understand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. What is he saying? When you see this, run for your life. Don't waste any time.

When you see this, get out and get out as fast as you can. And he says in verse 19, woe to those who are pregnant and those who are nursing babies in those days, because this is the great tribulation.

You don't want to be raising children or have a baby during, this is a bad time for that. Not that they knew, but this is what he's saying. And he says in verse 20, and pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath, because in Israel on the Sabbath, everything's shut down, you can't get anywhere.

Verse 21, for then there will be what? Great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved, but for the elect's sake, those days will be shortened.

In other words, if Jesus didn't come back to put a stop to all this at the second advent, there'd be nothing left. There'd be nothing left. But thankfully he does come back. Okay, now let's turn to 2 Thessalonians chapter two, and we'll get another look at this chapter.

But hopefully it's starting to become a little more clear. Daniel the prophet talks about the abomination of desolation. Jesus talks about it. It happens at the midpoint of the tribulation. And after the abomination, that's when everybody knows.

This is the sign. How do you know you're living in the tribulation period? Well, a pre-trib rapture would let people know, number one. But if there is no pre-trib rapture, or if you're not convinced about that, or if people, you know, just a few thoughts I had.

When the rapture happens, and millions of people disappear, the leaders of the United Nations, you know, head of government, they're not gonna say, hey, Jesus came back and took all his people. That's not what they're gonna say.

They're gonna have a different explanation. I don't know what it's gonna be.

I have some ideas, but yeah.

Aliens is a popular one these days. Who knows? But they're not gonna say, hey, give God the glory.

He just took his church out of,.

That's not what's gonna happen. But anyways, my point is, this is when people will know. If you didn't know it before, when you see the abomination of desolation, that's how the people living at the time will know they're living during the tribulation period.

Okay, so 2 Thessalonians 2, that's where you are. You say, yeah, I see the words abomination of desolation, but where do you get this idea that the Antichrist goes and sits in the temple and declares himself God?

Where does that come from? Well, it comes from this passage, 2 Thessalonians 2. So do you see how Bible prophecy, it's like a jigsaw puzzle. You have to put the pieces together, and then, oh, that's what happens.

The picture becomes clear. But you have to do the work. 2 Thessalonians 2, one through eight, Paul writing to the church, he says, "'Now, brethren, concerning the coming "'of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, "'we ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, "'either by spirit or by word or by letter as if from us, "'as though the day of Christ had come.

"'Let no one deceive you by any means, "'for that day will not come "'unless the falling away comes first "'and the man of sin is revealed.'". Again, we believe that to be the Antichrist, "'who is also called the son of perdition, "'who opposes and exalts himself above all "'that is called God or that is worshiped "'so that he does what?

"'He sits as God in the temple of God, "'showing himself that he is God.'". So he confirms a covenant. He allows the Jews to rebuild their temple. They enjoy it for three and a half years, and then for whatever reason, he says, "'That's enough of that,' and he walks into the temple and he declares himself God and demands that everybody worship him.

That's not gonna go over so well. The Jews aren't gonna like that very much. I mean, they partnered with the guy up until this point, but this is where he reveals himself for who he really is. The man of lawlessness, but by then, it's almost too late at this point.

Okay, so just looking at the context of what's happening in this passage, apparently what had happened, the church had received a letter supposedly from Paul that they were living during the tribulation period.

That's why Paul's saying, you know, "'Don't be troubled,' "'cause they thought that they had missed the rapture "'and they were living in the tribulation.'". So they were going through persecution, but it wasn't anything like the tribulation is gonna be.

So they're confused, and Paul writes to them, basically reminding them that no, the rapture comes first, that's the argument, and he's saying, concerning the coming of the Lord, you know, don't be troubled.

You're not living in the tribulation. The day of Christ has not come. It's not going to come until the falling away comes first. And what's the falling away? In the Greek, the word is apostasy. So basically, for the first 1 ,700 years, 1 ,800 years of Christianity, Christianity had been growing and growing and growing to where Christianity has spread across the entire globe.

Okay, so now there's Christian churches in every country on Earth, Christians all over the world. It really wasn't until probably the 20th century where the reverse is now happening. Now, Christianity is probably shrinking.

So it was growing, growing, growing. The 20th century, just how many of you have visited Europe and visited a church in Europe? They're empty. All the cathedrals, they're all empty. Biblical Christianity in Europe, it almost doesn't exist.

I mean, obviously, there are still believers in Europe, but Europe is totally dead. And it used to be, well, it used to be the Holy Roman Empire, right? So everybody was Christian. We know that wasn't actually the case, but Christianity kind of dominated Europe.

Now, nobody's a Christian anymore. And it's starting to happen in this country, isn't it? I think the poll, was it last year, for the first time in American history, less than 50 of Americans went to church or belonged to a church, something like that.

So we can all see it. We've heard it many, many times. Church attendance is in decline, and it's just shrinking. So I would argue, this is my personal opinion, that we are living in the midst of the great falling away right now.

I can't prove that. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's the way it looks. But Paul is saying to the church, the rapture can't happen until the falling away comes first. And then the man of sin will be revealed, okay?

There's a good mid-tribulation point.

Yeah.

Because if the falling away begins and Christians start going through their tribulation period, they're like, hey, I was pre-trib, why am I still here? And then they turn away from God because now they're angry that they're having to go through this.

And there you go, just kind of progresses and they.

Right.

Well, I see what you're saying. And Jesus talked about the parable of the sower and those who stumble, right? Because of persecution. See, if a Christian starts going through hard times and those hard times cause that person to just abandon their faith.

Well, I mean, I would argue.

They were never truly converted to begin with, but again, a person shouldn't put 100 confidence, like if the pre-trib rapture isn't true, then I'm gonna give up my faith. Someone should not think that way.

But I could see how that would happen with some people. All right, let's turn to Revelation chapter 19. So in 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul continues on and he talks about the restrainer or what is restraining.

I believe that the end times have not yet happened. Well, number one, it's not God's time yet, but the earth is being preserved because there's still hundreds of millions of believers all over the world.

Just this country, if every Christian in the United States disappeared tomorrow, I mean, you think this country is going downhill, it'd be like, whoop, if all believers were gone. So Paul talks about the restrainer.

I believe that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit working in and through the church. But once the church is gone at the rapture, there's nothing restraining evil anymore. And that's when all hell breaks loose during the tribulation.

Okay, you're at Revelation 19. Let me just, this is one verse. This is, you can stay there, but in 2 Thessalonians 2, verse eight, he talks about the lawless one, the antichrist, who will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming.

So when does Jesus destroy the antichrist with the brightness of his coming? Right here, the second advent, and that's where it's listed right here in Revelation 19. Look at Revelation 19, verse 19. John writes, and I saw the beast.

Who's the beast? Another term for the, the antichrist has a lot of names. Man of lawlessness, son of perdition, the beast. He says, I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse and against his army.