While this essay may seem somewhat self-serving, my intent is a larger point than it being about me, so please hang in there if you will. I began writing novels before I knew the Lord. My first book wasn’t all that good, but it was therapeutic and cathartic, as it enabled me to express and let go of feelings I had built up in the course of an unpleasant divorce.  At that time, I wrote because I liked to read and also thought I could add to the suspense and thriller genres.

Fast forward a number of years. I had stopped writing due to the busyness of life. Then God got ahold of me. Still busy, but in my salvation, I determined to follow hard after the Lord. Being born again through the blood of Jesus wasn’t something I took lightly. I’m one of those who came to know God through fear (of being left behind!) and have had to experience His love in order to bring balance to my faith and witness.

About six years ago through God’s providence, I began writing again and quickly transitioned back to the long form of the novel, which works best for me. Because I now had a Christian perspective, everything I wrote, by necessity, had to reflect the nature of my faith and, more importantly, have a redemptive purpose to give glory to God. Additionally, since I’d gotten saved through reading the Left Behind series, I had a passion for the prophetic and for end-times scenarios. Thus, my writing gravitated toward bringing forth my Christian worldview through a Biblically prophetic and eschatological lens.

My quest to know God and to understand His ways more deeply has led me into interesting research. I continue to read a lot and also listen to much teaching on YouTube.  In my meanderings, I was introduced to fallen angels and some of the more interesting, unusual passages in the Bible, such as the Genesis 6:1-4 account of the sons of God cohabiting with human women and creating Nephilim offspring.  All this brought me to writing Alien Revelation, which deals with these ideas in a fictional, present-day narrative.

Upon the book’s release, to my surprise, I was contacted by a fellow who wanted to review the book for his Christian website. Reviews—good ones obviously—are very helpful to a writer, so I agreed. I didn’t know anything about Peter Younghusband and his review website: https://perspectivebypeter.com/ but once he told me he liked the book very much and was giving it a positive review, I naturally wanted to learn more about his process.

Even more surprising in this episode was Peter giving the novel the Christian Redemptive Fiction award.  What was that? It turns out that Peter teams up with David Bergsland, who maintains the http://radiqx.com/ website. Their desire is to advocate for Christian fiction that truly gets to the heart of our faith. In their deliberations about this, they realized that too many stories that have a Christian label are really only that on the surface. They don’t reflect the depth of faith, nor do they portray the intense spiritual battle that we face. Peter and David realized that as we near the return of Jesus, this spiritual warfare is increasing, as the Bible has so plainly stated that it will. To encourage Christian writers to more accurately portray these concepts, David wrote a guide called A Spiritual System for Rating Books: https://indd.adobe.com/view/8e4a7c49-2393-4b74-a52a-c2b6fedfa0e9?red=a.  Through the guidelines outlined in this booklet, Peter and David seek to highlight the work of Christian authors that meet their stringent criteria.

Now, I won’t get into the rating system used; you can read that for yourself. The real issue here is how we as faith-filled believers who enjoy reading have been lulled into thinking that Christian fiction need not reflect the depth of faith as we know it, nor the realities of spiritual warfare, nor the intensity of the times as we approach the Rapture. By reviewing fictional books that provide deeper insights into these areas and awarding those authors who bring these things forth, Peter and David hope to increase the quality of what we read in this Christian genre. I have no doubt that had they been reviewing and awarding when This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti came out, that book would have earned their highest acclaim.

I think there’s great value in that. For one, it’s an acknowledgment to authors that what they write can have significant impact. If we show in our fictional context that our faith matters, to ourselves and to others—as we read these accounts—hopefully our desire to grow closer to the Lord will increase. For readers to see that books don’t have to be secular to tell a good story is also quite important. Christians don’t have to settle for books that omit God or denigrate Him. One of the first strong Christian women I knew was an actress and director. She taught me that we shouldn’t let the world take up all the oxygen in the arts, that Christians can and should reclaim that space to the glory of God. That’s what Peter and David hope to do in their efforts of awarding Christian authors who dive into and adhere to these deeper elements of our faith.

What I realized in reading David’s spiritual rating booklet and receiving the Christian Redemptive Fiction award for Alien Revelation and now subsequently for my novel, The Tattooed Cat, is that what they seek is exactly what I try to convey in my writing. I want that depth and reality. I want to portray the challenges many face in their walk with Christ, or even before as they struggle to come to faith. I want to demonstrate that spiritual warfare is real and intense, yet that we, as our fictional characters do, can overcome because Jesus overcame first.

Good Christian fiction has the potential to lead people to faith in Christ. I know that because of my personal experience with Left Behind. Through the reviews and awards that Peter and David bring to the table, good Christian fiction can also prepare us for the battles ahead as this world grows increasingly lawless and dark. The bottom line is that good Christian fiction can help us move toward deeper faith as we look up and await Jesus’ return.

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Gary W. Ritter is a lay pastor, Bible teacher, and serves as Missions Director at his church.  He is also a prolific author.  His Whirlwind Series is comprised of three books: Sow the Wind, Reap the Whirlwind, and There Is A Time.  All these books are also contained in the collected volume of the Whirlwind Omnibus.  Gary has been given the Christian Redemptive Fiction award for two novels: The Tattooed Cat and Alien Revelation.  His intent in all his writings is to bring a strong Christian witness to what people read.  You can reach him via his website at www.GaryRitter.com or his Facebook Author page at https://www.facebook.com/gritter3390.   You can also see his video Bible teachings on his Gary Ritter YouTube page – look for the fish symbol.

When it comes to interpreting the book of Revelation, controversy rages in the midst of many widely diverse opinions.

Some commentators believe John wrote the book in code to encourage the first-century believers. Others claim Jesus fulfilled all of its prophecies during the first century, thus making it a historical account rather than prophetic. Many today say the apostle wrote the book as an allegory, although they assume a small part of it still awaits a future fulfillment.

Premillennialists regard the book of Revelation as future prophecy, the very thing it claims to be (22:18). As we have acknowledged from the beginning of this series, a discussion of where to place the rapture only makes sense within the teachings of premillennialism, which maintains belief in a literal tribulation before the millennium (the thousand-year reign of Jesus on earth).

This brings us to our next signpost on our way to establishing a biblical basis for a pretribulation rapture: Absence. The book of Revelation excludes the church from judgments of the tribulation.

Kept out of the Coming Worldwide Trial

Jesus made this promise to the church in Philadelphia, “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth” (Rev. 3:10).

Do Jesus’ words have any significance for us today? Were they just for the church at Philadelphia or do they apply to all those who belong to Jesus in our day?

Let’s look more closely at the promise. The phrase “keep you from” literally means to keep someone out of something. Jesus says He will keep this church out of the coming “hour of trial” that will impact the entire world.

What is the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world?

First, it’s something that will impact all those who dwell on the earth. This signifies something different than persecution against believers since this trial includes everyone on earth, not just people of faith.

Second, nothing like this happened during the life of the church at Philadelphia or, for that matter, at any time since then. This much more likely refers to the tribulation that John describes in Revelation 6-16.

Third, this is a time of testing specifically for “those who dwell on the earth.” John uses the phrase referring to earth dwellers eight times later in the book of Revelation (6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8 12, 14; 14:6; and 17:8). In each of these instances, the phrase refers to either people impacted by the tribulation or those refusing to repent of their sins during this time of great tribulation on the earth.

In all other places in the book of Revelation, this particular phrase points to those on the earth who will experience God’s judgments during the tribulation.

Fourth, Jesus says this right after making this promise, “I am coming soon” (3:11). The Greek word for “soon” more accurately points to an event that takes place “quickly.” Jesus ties His quick return for the church to His pledge to keep it out of the time of testing for the entire world.

Since both the time of this testing and Jesus’ appearing are future events, Jesus’ words to the church at Philadelphia apply to His church today.

In Revelation 3:10, the Lord promises to keep His true church, signified by the one in Philadelphia, out of the coming tribulation. Those in Christ will not remain on the earth during this time because the rapture will take place before it starts. That’s why Jesus said “I am coming quickly” in connection with the promise; He will keep us out of the tribulation by taking us to His Father’s house and the place He’s preparing for us (John 14:2-3).

Dr. Thomas Ice, in his internet article “Kept From the Hour,” wrote this in regard to Jesus’ promise:

• “Therefore, since the future hour spoken of in 3:10 is set in contrast with the present set of believers in the church age, and the future ‘earth dwellers’ will be active during the time period in which believers are said to be kept from, it is clear that John speaks of the time or hour of the tribulation. This is why 3:10 is a clear promise that Christ will keep believers from the time of the seven-year tribulation.”

If the church was destined to endure the horrors of God’s wrath during the tribulation, the Lord undoubtedly would have provided instructions for it in His letter to the churches, but He does not do so.

In His seven letters, which form an introduction to the book of Revelation, Jesus does not mention the coming tribulation nor does He seek to prepare the churches for it. Instead, He promises the church will be absent from the earth during this time.

The Elders

If the church is absent from the earth during the tribulation, where is it? The 24 elders in Revelation 4-5 represent the church, which is in heaven with the Lord before the judgments of Revelation 6-16 start.

Is there a strong case for identifying the 24 elders as representing the church? Yes! The points below are adapted from John MacArthur’s commentary on the book of Revelation:

First, we have the reference to the 24 thrones upon which the elders sat; these signify rule and authority (Rev. 4:4). Scripture never pictures angels as sitting on thrones or ruling with Christ. Hebrews 1:14 describes them as “ministering spirits set out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation.”

Second, in Scripture, the word “elder” only applies to men, never angels. The term implies an aging process that does not apply in any way to angels.

Third, the “white garments” (4:4) almost certainly refer to the dress of believers. MacArthur says, “Christ promised the believers at Sardis that they would ‘be clothed in white garments’ (3:5) . . . White garments symbolize Christ’s righteousness imputed to believers at salvation.”

Fourth, the elders have “crowns on their heads” (4:4). Scripture promises crowns as rewards to believers (2 Tim. 4:18; 1 Pet. 5:4; James 1:12), not to angels. The elders later “cast their crowns before the throne” of the Lord, recognizing their rewards really belong to the One who enabled them to live for Him (4:9-11).

Dr. Thomas Ice sums up the significance of identifying the elders as the church:

• “Since the 24 elders of Revelation represent the church in heaven, this means that the church—the body of Christ and His Bride—is complete, since she has received her rewards (i.e., the crowns) and is in a position of co-rulership with Christ (Rev. 3:21). This depiction supports a pre-trib rapture because, from a chronological perspective of Revelation 4, the events of the tribulation have yet to begin. How do we know? We know because Revelation 5 presents the plan for tribulation judgment as contained in the scroll that only the Lamb is worthy to open.” [i]

Digging Deeper

In addition to the above points, the words of the elders in Revelation 5:9 indicate they belong to the church. Notice the King James Version translation of this verse: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (emphasis mine).

Why is this different from modern translations whose wording makes it less obvious that the elders are referring to themselves as the redeemed? It’s a matter of which Greek manuscript to follow.

Despite the fact that there is only one Greek manuscript of the book of Revelation that omits the word “us” from verse 9, all the modern translations read “you have ransomed people for God” rather than “Thou . . . hast redeemed us to God.” They do so because they claim including the word “us” makes the grammar awkward in the verse despite all the better Greek manuscripts’ support for the King James translation.[ii]

Who are the 24 elders of Revelation 4-5? They are those “redeemed” by the Savior’s blood who later say “God has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10). Who else can this be but the church in heaven with Jesus? And to whom besides the church does the Lord promise will reign with Him other than us, His true church?

What Does this Tell Us?

The absence of the church on earth confirms a pretribulation rapture.

Revelation 3:10-11a connects Jesus’ return with His keeping the church out of the worldwide testing to come, the tribulation period. The Apostle John refers to “those who dwell on the earth” many times in connection with judgments of Revelation 6-16, but he never mentions the church during this time nor does he in any way suggest the presence of the church during this time. Why?

It’s because we will not be on earth during this time. It will be absent from the earth during the time of the tribulation.

The identification of the 24 elders as the church verifies our presence in heaven before the start of the judgments in Revelation 6. Apart from the church, no other identification fits the elders who describe themselves as “redeemed” and those who will reign with Jesus on the earth. John pictures them already sitting on thrones in heaven dressed in white robes.

We will be absent from the earth during the tribulation.

Since Paul assures us of deliverance ahead of the wrath that will fall upon the earth during the day of the Lord (1 Thess. 5:3-10), it makes sense that we will be in heaven with Jesus before the judgments of Revelation 6-16 start.

Our absence from the earth during the tribulation confirms Paul’s promises to the Thessalonians as well as the sense of imminence that characterized the early years of the church.

Jonathan Brentner

Website: Our Journey Home

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E-mail: Jonathanbrentner@yahoo.com

[i] Thomas Ice, Internet article: Who are the 24 Elders in Revelation?

[ii] Thomas Ice, Internet article: Revelation 5 and the Rapture.