When it comes to the matter of the Rapture, differing ideas abound. The most popular viewpoints deny there is such a thing in Scripture. Another widespread belief combines it with the Second Coming.

There’s also a wide variety of opinions regarding the timing of the Rapture among those who believe in a literal seven-year Tribulation and Jesus’ thousand-year rule over all the nations. Most who hold to these premillennial beliefs place our homegoing before the Tribulation period, while others place it at various points during this time of “Jacob’s trouble,” or at its end.

There’s also another category that I refer to as the “Rapture agnostics.” When we think of an agnostic, the first thing that comes to our minds is someone who does not know if God exists or not. According to Dictionary.com, however, there’s a secondary meaning that describes this perspective as that of “a person who denies or doubts the possibility of ultimate knowledge in some area of study.”

Rapture agnostics deny “the possibility of ultimate knowledge” regarding the placement of the Rapture either before or during the Tribulation.

Many in this camp say that all the beliefs in regard to the positioning of the Rapture are just the “best guesses.” Several others remain uncommitted to any position by repeating the popular phrase, “It will all pan out in the end.”

But is it possible to know for sure that the Rapture will happen before the start of the seven-year Tribulation? Yes, and as I explain below, the viewpoint that says we cannot know whether or not we will experience the Day of the Lord wrath confirms my belief.

Why Would the Lord Allow His Bride to Experience His wrath?

Let’s start with something upon which all premillennialists agree: the Tribulation period will be a time of widespread death and devastation upon planet Earth. The horrific depictions of the Day of the Lord wrath in the Old Testament track closely with the judgment we read about in the book of Revelation.

The Lord described this future time in Matthew 24:21-22:

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”

The event that cuts this time short is Jesus’ Second Coming, which He describes in glorious detail in verses 29-31. According to Jesus, a very small percentage of people alive at the start of this time will remain breathing at its end, which aligns with God’s warning in Isaiah 13:6-13 and what we read about the Seal, Trumpet, and Bowl judgments in Revelation.

Premillennialists agree that this will be a horrific time of death, near total destruction. But why would the Lord allow His Redeemed to experience His judgments, i.e., the Day of the Lord wrath? And this begs another question.

Why Would the Lord Leave Us Without a Definitive Word?

The extreme nature of the Day of the Lord leads me to another question: “Is it reasonable to assume that the Lord would not give His Church, His Bride, any clear direction as to whether or not they will experience this horrific time on the earth?” The answer must be a definitive NO!

If we believe the Tribulation will be as bad as the Bible says it will be, are we really to believe that the matter of whether or not we will experience this horrific time is just our best guess? What does that say about our Savior if He indeed has left us with no clear indication of whether or not to expect deliverance or a need to prepare for this time of devastation?

If the Church is destined to go through this deadly time on the earth, we would expect to read something about our preparation for it. Of course, two millennia of prepping for it would be out of the question. Yet, we would expect to find something written among all the prophetic passages of the New Testament about preparing for it once the signs of the end appear, but there is nothing about this matter. Nothing!

If we are indeed destined for this dreadful time or even half of it, things will most assuredly NOT “pan out in the end.” NO! The vast majority of us will experience much pain followed by martyrdom.

Yes, the Lord told His disciples to expect tribulation (John 16:33), and the Apostle Paul warned that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). However, the Day of the Lord wrath targets those who reject Jesus and refuse to turn to Him even in the midst of severe judgments. It’s also a last call to repentance for those who reject the Savior, as well as a time of suffering for the Jewish people, so they will turn to their Messiah at its end. Where exactly do the redeemed fit into these purposes?

Is it realistic to assume that the Lord would leave us with no definitive word as to whether or not we would go through this horrific time of judgment on the nations? No, absolutely not. Jesus has provided us with a certain hope that we will miss this horrific time on the earth.

Is There a Clear Biblical Path to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture?

Yes, a decisive biblical path exists to our belief in the pre-Tribulation Rapture. In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Paul talks about the Day of the Lord wrath, warning that it will begin with “sudden destruction” during the time when “people are saying, ‘There is peace and security’” (verse 3). In verse 9-10, we have the promise of deliverance from this time:

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.”

For us as believers, the Rapture signifies our deliverance from this time. If we were destined to endure this time, why would the apostle conclude with these words, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing”? Would this really apply if most believers were to suffer and die because of the Lord’s wrath against the wicked and ungodly? Where’s the comfort in certain suffering and death?

In my book, Invitation to a Lavish Feast, I include a lengthy section describing step by step how the words of the New Testament lead us to a definitive belief in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Such a path exists. It’s beyond the scope of this article to lay out all the biblical evidence for this conclusion.

Yes, many Christians disagree with my conclusion. But is this not the case with the other beliefs we hold dear? Differing opinions exist on almost every doctrine listed in any church statement of faith, which is why we depend exclusively on the words of Scripture for the basis of all that we believe.

The matter of settling most of our cherished beliefs often rests upon more than just one verse or single passage from Scripture. It happens by comparing Scripture with Scripture, allowing clear passages to interpret those that are not so clear on the topic, and accepting God’s Word as the only authority over human wisdom and experience.

The Rapture agnostics tell us we cannot determine whether or not we will go through all of the Tribulation or perhaps a part of it. This is not true.

The Bible provides us with a clear path leading to the certainty that Jesus is coming to take us home before the start of the Tribulation period, or what the Old Testament describes as the Day of the Lord. The absence of nary a hint that we must prepare for this time adds confirmation to this trek through Scripture.

Maranatha! Come soon, Lord Jesus!

***

My book, Invitation to a Lavish Feast – Wisdom’s Path to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, is available on Amazon or on SkyWatchTV. In this book, I demonstrate how the words of Scripture not only verify our beliefs in not only the restoration of Israel, but also our hope in Jesus’ soon appearing to take us home to glory. In each section, I show how our beliefs regarding Bible prophecy intersect with our lives on a daily basis.

Note: Please consider signing up for my newsletter on the home page of my website at https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/. It will greatly help me in reaching more people. Thanks!

 

I think we could all agree that the hymns of Christmas are one of the most edifying and enjoyable parts of our annual celebration of Jesus’ birth. We love to sing the old familiar carols, reminding us of the story of Christ’s first advent to the earth, but what about the songs of the holiday, which are less familiar? In this article, I would like to present RR readers with some of the “hidden treasures” from the hymns of Christmas. As you read and meditate on these lesser-known lyrics, I pray that this humble offering will add to your adoration of our Lord and your enjoyment of the true meaning of Christmas.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing (verse 4)

Theologians delight to point out to us what they call the “proto evangelium,” the “first gospel.” It is found in Genesis 3:15 where God tells Eve that,

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Also, 1 Cor. 15:45-49 says this:

“So it is written: ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.”

These two passages are what Charles Wesley and George Whitfield must have had in mind when they wrote this verse…

“Come, Desire of nations, come! Fix in us Thy humble home:
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head;
Adam’s likeness now efface, Stamp Thine image in its place:
Final Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love.”

For more teaching on this rich topic, see:

https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-second-Adam.html

https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/essays/jesus-the-second-and-greater-adam

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (verse 3)

What I love about this verse is that, more than any other seasonal carol I know, it declares the essence of our celebration of Christmas succinctly and joyously! This is what Christmas means for US if we are willing to believe it and receive it.

“Fear not then, said the Angel, Let nothing you affright
This day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright
To free all those who trust in Him from Satan’s pow’r and might
Oh tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy, Oh tidings of comfort and joy!”

O Holy Night (verse 1a and 2b)

These lyrics are sung often enough, but do we take time to really think about them as we sing? If you are like me, you are worrying so much about what to do with the high note at the end of the chorus that you may forget to rejoice in the meaning of the verses leading up to it! Meditate for a while on the sweetness of the bold-faced words below… you may never sing this hymn the same again.

“O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; 
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 
till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine!”

“…the King of kings lay thus in lowly manger;
in all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!”

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne (verse 5)

I have often thought of the Christmas story as being similar to the Mark Twain tale, The Prince and the Pauper. In this account, the son of a king dresses in rags and goes out among the common folk to see how they live. Only one man believes that he is truly the king’s son and endeavors to help him. At story’s end, the young prince regains his throne, and the man who believed in him is honored and rewarded beyond his wildest dreams! In the same way, Christ the King, when He returns in His glory, will reward us for believing in Him despite the “rags” He wore at His first appearance.

This is one of the only Christmas verses I know of that looks forward as well as backward! With the eye of faith, it envisions the sweet reward of Christ waiting at His royal return for those who have made room in their hearts for Him when first He came as a babe. A blessed meditation and motivation all in one!

“When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing, 
at Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying
‘Yet there is room, there is room at My side for thee.’
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
when Thou comest and callest for me.”

Noel, Noel (verse 6)

Here is another carol that captures 2 great truths of Christmas in just 14 words! The blood of the babe of Bethlehem has purchased back our lives from hell! No wonder we rejoice with great gladness at this time of year! The chorus of this hymn is especially dear to me. It was one of the very first Christmas carols I sang when I was first saved. Imagine my joy as a Jewish believer to learn that Jesus was truly the “King of Israel”! This is a truth I believe our Lord would have all Christians embrace afresh as we see the world of sinners descending into a demonic vortex of anti-semitism!

“Then let us all with one accord, sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood our life hath bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel!”

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear  (verses 3 and 4)

I think sometimes we forget that Christmas, as commemorated in other countries, is experienced very differently than here in the land of plenty. In restricted nations where Christians are persecuted for their testimony of Christ, many are jailed, many are homeless refugees, and many grieve for family members martyred for their faith!

The verse below is one that a very large number of precious believers worldwide can relate to thoroughly. Let’s lift them up this Christmas season, that God may give them rest beside their weary road.

“And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way, with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours, come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing!”

In verse 4 is another rare but blessed occurrence of a Christmas hymn that looks forward instead of backward. The verse below pictures the Millennial Reign of Christ, which immediately follows His second advent. After all, don’t we recite this passage often at Christmas time?

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end.”

The implication in the song here is that since the first advent was fulfilled literally, not figuratively, we can logically deduce that Christ’s second advent and the kingdom it brings will be fulfilled literally as well! What a thrilling expectation!

“For lo! the days are hastening on, by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth, its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song, which now the angels sing.”

“O Come O Come Emmanuel” (v. 1,3,4,5,7)

In my opinion, the most neglected but haunting Christmas hymn of all is the one titled “O Come O Come Emmanuel.” I have printed 5 of its 7 verses below. The lyrics date back to the monasteries of the 8th century. This hymn above all others retains the centrality of God’s chosen people in the story of Christmas. And why not? Jesus told the Canaanite woman, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Yet, in the churches of America, we rarely ever hear this biblical emphasis.

The music for this hymn was originally used as a funeral dirge in the 1500s, and how fitting this seems to me, for their rejection of their own Messiah signaled the spiritual death of my ancient people until God “resurrects” their faith during the “time of Jacob’s trouble.” I do plead with my readers to pray for God’s Chosen People to be drawn to their Savior at this Christmas season.

Finally, how appropriate is verse 7 at this particular time in man’s history when wars and rumors of wars wrack and ruin in every corner of the earth … when Israel has been fighting for her life for all 77 years since her rebirth in 1948 … when every sign of the Olivet Discourse can be seen converging together in these last few years before the Rapture! Yes, pray for the peace of Jerusalem, but also pray for the lost and dying world of souls about to enter the terrors of the Tribulation times! Think of all these things as you contemplate these words below…

1 O come, O come, Immanuel and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear

Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel … shall come to you, O Israel.

3 O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times did give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain

4 O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem, unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o’er the grave.

5 O come, O Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road and bar the way to death’s abode. Refrain

7 O come, O King of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease and be yourself our King of Peace.

https://hymnary.org/text/o_come_o_come_emmanuel_and_ransom

I hope you will enjoy the hymns of Christmas perhaps a little more this season as you pause to reflect upon the meaning of their lyrics. It may well be our last Christmas on Earth, for, in December of 2026, we may be singing these songs in heaven at the feet of Jesus Himself! Have a blessed Christmas, one and all!

is53@att.net