"PRE-TIRB. OR PRE WRATH?" Study Three
Matt. 24:1-51
"THE DISPENSATIONAL METHOD"
Almost every person who has studied the Bible to any length is familiar to some
degree with the dispensational method of Bible interpretation. The Scofield Study Bible
gives the following definition for a dispensation: "A dispensation is a period of time during which man is tested in respect to his obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God."
Three important concepts are implied in this definition: (1) There is a divine
revelation concerning the will of God that has to do with man’s conduct and actions. (2)
Man is held to be a steward of this revelation in which he is obligated to obey it; and (3)
There is a time period called an ’age’ which begins in glory and ends in the judgment of
God. " While this is not a study of dispensations, it is pertinent to understanding our
topic, so, let me name them as I understand them:
There are 7 or 8 depending on what book you read:
(1) INNOCENCE, from creation of man to the fall;
(2) CONSCIENCE (Moral responsibility) from the fall of Adam to after the flood;
(3) HUMAN GOVERNMENT; from Noah to Abraham;
(4) PROMISE; from Abraham to Mt. Sinai;
(5) LAW; from Mt. Sinai to the Cross;
(6) CHURCH; from the Cross to the kingdom;
(7) KINGDOM; the 1,000 years reign of Christ on earth.
(8) ETERNAL; (some do not consider this an age but the Bible does refer to this as
- "The eternal Ages" see Eph. 2:7 and 2:21).
In light of this, here is the reasoning of the dispensational teaching about the
pre-tribulation coming of Christ. In Daniel 9:20-27, there is the prophecy about the
seventy week (or weeks of years, or 490 years). It is the last week that has not been yet
fulfilled. In verse 24, Daniel says that these seventy weeks are determined upon thy people (the nation Israel). Therefore, since these 7 years are a part of the other 483 years and the other 483 years are under the law dispensation - then, God must revert back to the law dispensation for these last seven years. Therefore, since it is the law dispensation and not the church dispensation, the church will not be here. In other words, these last seven years pertain to the nation of Israel and not to the church.
In light of the fact that there is not one verse that teaches that the church will be taken out this is a pretty weak argument. Also, if you teach that the church did not have
its beginning before the day of Pentecost; then, you could say that all of the four gospels
are talking to the nation Israel and not to the church. So, dispensationally, Jesus was
giving instructions to Israel and not to the church in Matthew 24 & Mark 13 & Luke 21. I
do not have the time nor space in this little book to take up all the teaching of Scripture
that prove that the church did exist before the day of Pentecost and that our Lord did begin
His church during His personal ministry; so let the following points be considered: (1) The
disciples, before the day of Pentecost, performed every function of a New Testament
church. They preached the gospel, made converts, baptized those converts, observed the
Lord’s supper, and practiced church discipline. They had the offices set in the church. For
example, in I Corinthians 12:28 it says, "And God hath set some in the church: first
Apostles. second prophets. third teachers; after that miracles. then gifts of healing. helps.
governments. diversities of tongues. "
Now, it shouldn’t take someone long to figure this out; if you can find the place where
God set something in the church, then the church must have been there. What did God set
in the church first? He set apostles first (I Cor. 12:28). If we can go to the place where the
Apostles were set in the church, then, the church must have been in existence for it to be
set in it. If I set a gallon of milk in the refrigerator, it is certain that the refrigerator must
be there before I can set it on the shelf. Look at Luke 6:13, ’’And when it was
day. he called unto him his disciples (or the church); and of them he chose twelve. who
also he named apostles. " Now if Jesus set the apostles in the church here in Luke 6: 13
(and He did because the Scripture says He did) then, the church had to be there.
Another argument for the Pre-tribulation position is "The tribulation is a time of
punishment for the earth, and the Lord loves the church to much to let her suffer through
it. " Will God let His people suffer? The answer to that is written in the blood of saints
down through the ages. We live in a country where we have shared a wonderful freedom
of worship without the danger of persecution. However, even in the world today, there are
many places where God’s people are suffering for the faith. Jesus told the church before
He went back to the father, "These things I have spoken unto you. that in me ye might
have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome
the world (John 16:33).
The history of the church has been a story of untold suffering and persecution.
Without arguing the reasoning behind why Christians suffer, (and the Bible lists some valid
reasons), let it be sufficient to say that God does let His people suffer. Why should He let
His people suffer in every generation, and love them to much too let them suffer during this
time of history?
One of my pastor friends, when asked if he was a "pre-tribber" or a "post-tribber"
answered by saying, "I am neither, I am a "pre-wrather". I like that answer better than any
other I have heard. I do not believe that God will let his people suffer through the wrath of
God. I am also convinced that many are confused in the difference between "The Great
Tribulation" and "The Wrath of God". Many make the entire 7 years of tribulation and the
wrath of God the same event and it is not. The wrath of God does not come until most of
the seven years are accomplished. Let me list the Scriptures:
"For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? (Rev. 6: 17)
Note: this is the breaking of the sixth seal and well into the tribulation period. Look again
at Revelation 11: 18, ’’And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, . . . . . . "
Note: this is the blowing of the seventh trumpet and well toward the end of the
tribulation period. Again in Revelation chapter 15, we are told that the seven angels which
have the seven vials of the wrath of God pour them out on the earth.
So the Word of God does not teach that the seven years of tribulation are all the
wrath of God but that the wrath of God is a specific happening toward the last of the. seven
year period. Therefore when we read Scriptures like Romans 5:9, ".. .we shall be saved
from wrath through him. ". . .and Revelation 3: 10 . . .J also will keep thee from the hour of
temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. "
Also in Isaiah 26:20,21 where God tells us that He will hide us during His indignation.
These passages are just stating that God will take His people out before He pours out His
wrath on the earth. The blowing of the seventh trumpet will be the catching away of the
saints. Now, it may be debated on precisely when the blowing of the seventh trumpet will
take place but it cannot be debated that it will take place at the beginning of the tribulation.
(Note: there will be a chapter devoted to the seventh trumpet later in the book.)
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CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTRO: Larry Jacobs
email: LarryJ713@aol.com
Web Site: cbcbedford.com
