The Christ in Prophecy Journal

Revelation Infers A Mid-Tribulation Rapture?

PDF

Isn’t a mid-Tribulation Rapture inferred in Revelation?

Some people think so. They point first to 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 which says the Rapture will occur at the blowing of the “last trumpet.” They then point to Revelation 11:15 where the seventh and last trumpet of the Trumpet Judgments is blown. Since this seventh trumpet appears to be blown in the middle of the Tribulation, after the Antichrist kills the two witnesses, the argument is that this must mark the time of the Rapture.

There are several problems with this argument. In the first place, there is nothing in the Bible that identifies the seventh trumpet of the trumpet judgments in Revelation as the “last trumpet” of 1 Corinthians 15. The assumption that the two are the same is just that — an assumption. It is a shaky assumption because the trumpets of Revelation are announcing judgments that are aimed at unbelievers. They don’t have any relationship to believers.

Now, there is a trumpet that the “last trumpet” of 1 Corinthians 15:52 can be identified with. It is the “trumpet of God” which 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says will be blown when the Rapture occurs. With that in mind, consider the fact that the last trumpet of the trumpet judgments in Revelation 11:15 is not identified as the trumpet of God but as the trumpet of an angel.

The second problem with the mid-Tribulation Rapture concept is that the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11 really doesn’t relate to the middle of the Tribulation at all. Its blowing triggers a flash-forward to the end of the Tribulation to the proclamation that “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

Another thing to consider is that 1 Corinthians 15 was written about 45 years before the book of Revelation. Thus, it seems logical that the reference to a “last trumpet” must refer to something in the Old Testament that the Corinthian church would have been familiar with. That would most likely have been the trumpet referred to by both Joel and Zephaniah — the trumpet that will be blown before the Day of the Lord’s judgment (the Tribulation — see Joel 2:1 and Zephaniah 1:16).

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

RELATED ARTICLES

ABOUT AUTHOR View all posts Author Website

Dr. David Reagan

Dr. David Reagan is the Founder and Evangelist Emeritus of Lamb & Lion Ministries. He is a life-long Bible student, teacher, and preacher and he led over 45 pilgrimages to Israel. Dr. Reagan was the host of the radio then television program Christ in Prophecy for nearly 40 years.

2 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • Hello Dr Regan,

    1 co 15:52 says in the actual greek "as the sound like a trumpet dies away" the dead in Christ will arise and then those that are alive. Therefore it is a very bad translation into english of 1 co 15:52.

    Jesus said Mid-trib rapture, so did john, daniel, paul and some ot prophets. Please read my book, it is all explained in my book, at http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?ISBN=9781432739263.

    Jesus is Lord

    Donald Dudley

  • Dear Dr, Regan,

    I would have to take exception to one comment you made and point out that the 7th Trumpet of Revelation is absolutely connected to the Church. The scripture explains that "in the days (plural) that the anegel is preparing to sound the "myster of God is finished." Paul defined the "mystery of God as Christ in you the hope of glory." I am not sure how you can ignore that in assocaition with the 7th (and final) trumpet. How many trumpets will there be AFTER the last one?

LEAVE A REPLY

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *