It is interesting that so many people, upon hearing of our very long study in prophecy, ask only one question: Where do you place the rapture ? We almost hate to answer the question, because to give the answer usually ends the conversation. In some cases, that indicates a very shallow interest in prophecy study. This "surface interest" can be most frustrating for those who wish to share what they have discovered.

Further, we know what answer most want to hear: "Pre-trib". Woe-betide the prophecy teacher that gives any other answer. He will not be given an opportunity to share prophetic insights in many Christian communities, nor will he be invited to be a featured speaker at prophecy conferences.

As one reviewer of this book said, "I have been pre-trib for two reasons: first, I am an optimist, and second, I'd rather be happy and wrong than sad and right." To which we add, to be happy and wrong is to be sadly unprepared for what is coming!

So, this study, and this chapter in particular, is directed to those special Christians who are keenly interested in knowing exactly what the Bible teaches, who desire to follow Bible logic, and who have the patience to assemble the pieces of the jig-saw puzzle. This exercise will not be successful without, (a) clear thinking, (b) an open mind, and, (c) a fervent prayer to the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.

It is not a light study...and we have broken up this chapter into "bite-size chunks" to provide the reader with places to pause and meditate, to agree, and then to proceed. This, then, is Part One of the chapter, "When Is the Rapture?"

Do the authors of this book despise or look down on those who have a different view ? Not if they have evidenced a similar commitment in time and effort as that given to this study, and an equal dedication to the pursuit of truth. We invite all such to join us in a dialogue that will think through to a position that embraces ALL the Scripture. We invite such readers now to engage in a mind-sharpening theological study, exploring Scripture in depth. We think that this will be a friendship-creating experience as we pursue the truth together.

In fact, we wish there were more who could engage in such a discussion -- whether they agree with us or not. As one District Superintendent said to his denominational convention, "We used to be skilled in prophetic Scripture; now we avoid prophecy because we do not feel competent to engage in such a study, and we are afraid to be embarrassed to be shown to be 'over our heads'."

So...this chapter is for those special Christians willing and able to walk with us through the Scripture.

We are grateful to God for the way in which we have been led through the Book. We humbly declare without hesitation that we have found what we believe is the key to understanding the Biblical timetable, our position in the stream of events, and the exact placement in the sequence where the rapture will occur.

The longer we studied and the more Scriptures we explored, the more confirmation we found, and the more smoothly did the Scriptures interlock. In other time sequences of prophetic study (as done in past days before this sequence was discovered), continued Bible study raised question after question, with Scripture seeming to disagree with Scripture, jarring our sequence, requiring us to be "inventive", demanding that we add to the Scripture in order to make the pieces fit.

What a great relief it has been to find the "dove-tailing" of prophetic truth from chapter to chapter and from book to book...and what a spiritual experience it is to step back and admire the symmetry and unity of the greatest story ever told...stretching from creation to coronation !

As we have already stated, we will not be using the word "tribulation" as we explore the sequence of events, since NO WHERE in Scripture is the seven year period that begins with the signing of the treaty with Israel called "the tribulation".

That means the terms "pre-trib", "post-trib" and "mid-trib" are not Biblical terms...even though these terms have definite meanings within the prophetic teaching of many people. In this study, we will not use those terms. We invite the reader to set them aside, to allow clearer thinking and an openness to true Biblical terminology.

Where the word "tribulation" does appear in the Bible, it does NOT refer to Daniel's seven years. So, to avoid confusion, where the Scripture uses the word "tribulation", we will use the word "persecution". We invite the reader to join us in disciplining our vocabulary in keeping with Scripture. When we want to refer to Daniel's seven-year period, we will call it exactly that (or "the 70th week" as Daniel also described it).

If the reader will join us in such a disciplined vocabulary, we will be well on our way to a clearer view of the prophetic Scriptures.

In a previous chapter of this prophetic study, we have explained the marvellous concept of "TimePosts" and the manner in which they place the order of events so clearly. Each TimePost has a cluster of events, before and after.

As you follow us in this study, you will recognize these TimePosts...and you can watch for them in the rest of our study. We invite you now to walk with us through the Book in a fascinating study, essential to understand the times in which we live.

So...finally, here we go into the Scriptures to look for (and find) the answer to the question: When does the rapture occur ?

There are key portions of Scripture that help us to know exactly when the rapture will occur, what sequence of events is involved, and the place of the rapture in that sequence.

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156 Bedford Road, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2G 3A4 (519) 623-7000 (888) 835-7007	Rev. Harvey G. Lainson, B.B.R. Principal      Executive Director   Last update January 26 2000 URL: http://home.golden.net/~stefanm