David Hocking: THE CASE FOR PRE TRIB (Part 1 of 4)

Is the Church raptured before the Tribulation? In this in-depth study through 1 Thessalonians 4–5, Pastor David Hawking builds a biblical case for the pre-trib rapture, contrasts millennial and rapture views, and explains the Day of the Lord—what it is, whom it targets, and why it matters for your hope and readiness.

What you’ll learn

• The order of events: resurrection & “caught up” (1 Thes 4:13–18)
• The Day of the Lord vs. the Blessed Hope (1 Thes 5:1–11)
• Millennial views: premill, postmill, amill (Rev 20)
• Rapture timings: pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, pre-wrath, partial rapture (Rev 11; 7; 19)
• God’s purposes in the Tribulation:
  • Israel—chastening, purging rebels, national salvation (Jer 30; Amos 3; Zech 13; Mal 3)
  • The nations—judgment & Armageddon (Joel 3; Rev 6; 19)
  • God Himself—vindicating holiness & faithfulness (Ezek 38–39)
  • The Church—why Scripture gives no role for the Church in that period
• Who are the 144,000 and the innumerable Gentile martyrs? (Rev 7)

Key Scriptures

1 Thessalonians 4–5; Revelation 20; 6; 7; 11; 19; Jeremiah 30; Amos 3; Zechariah 13; Malachi 3; Joel 3; Ezekiel 38–39; Hebrews 12.

Takeaway

God “has not appointed us to wrath” (1 Thes 5:9). Live alert, encouraged, and ready—comfort one another with these words.

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THE CASE FOR PRE TRIB (Part 1 of 4)

“The word of our God shall stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

Scripture Reading — 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 5:1–11

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (KJV)
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 (KJV)
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your Word—especially the promises concerning the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. You have told us we are not of the night, and that we are not appointed to wrath but to obtain salvation through Jesus. Make these prophetic truths clear to us. Help us be ready and grounded in what Your Word declares. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Case for Pre-Tribulationalism (Part 1)

“Pre-tribulationalism” is the belief that Jesus Christ will return before the day of the Lord (the Tribulation), remove the entire church from earth to heaven, and that this catching away—the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4)—occurs prior to the seven-year period described in Scripture (Daniel 9; Revelation).

Christians agree Jesus is coming again, but there is significant debate about timing and sequence.

Views of the Millennium — Revelation 20

Read Revelation 20:4–7 carefully. Taken literally, it teaches:

• Believers are raised before the thousand-year reign of Messiah.
• Unbelievers are raised after the thousand years (Revelation 20:5–6).

Three main views:

1. Premillennialism — Christ returns before the thousand years.
2. Postmillennialism — Christ returns after a figurative “millennial” gospel age. (Historically popular before World Wars I & II.)
3. Amillennialism — The “thousand years” is symbolic; promises to Israel are viewed as fulfilled in the church (“replacement theology”). This is the doctrinal view in many Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and some Anglican/Episcopal traditions.

I take Revelation 20 literally: a real thousand-year reign, a first resurrection of believers, and a later resurrection of unbelievers.

The Day of the Lord / Tribulation — Daniel 9; Revelation

From Daniel 9, the final “week” points to a seven-year period. Revelation divides this into two equal halves: 42 months / 1,260 days each (Revelation 11–13). The day of the Lord is consistently portrayed in Scripture as a time of wrath, darkness, and judgment—not blessing (see e.g., Joel 2–3; Amos 5; Zephaniah 1).

Views on the Rapture’s Timing

1. Pre-tribulation — Christ comes for His church before the seven years begin (1 Thessalonians 4; 5:9).
2. Mid-tribulation — The church is raptured midway (cf. arguments from Revelation 11).
3. Pre-wrath — The church is raptured in the second half, just before the final outpouring of wrath (often tied to Revelation 15–16).
4. Post-tribulation — The Rapture and Second Coming are one event after the Tribulation (Matthew 24; Revelation 19).
5. Partial Rapture (a minority view) — Only “spirit-filled” believers are taken; “carnal” believers remain. (I do not find biblical support for this.)

Will There Be Believers on Earth During the Tribulation?

Yes. Scripture indicates:

• Jewish believers—notably the 144,000 (12,000 from each tribe) are sealed and protected (Revelation 7; 14).
• A great multitude of Gentiles from every nation, tribe, people, and language will come to faith—many through martyrdom (Revelation 7:9–17).

But dead believers (the majority of the true church across the ages) will not be on earth in the Tribulation. The church universal is being assembled in heaven (Hebrews 12:22–24)—“the general assembly and church of the firstborn…written in heaven.”

The Multitude in White Robes — Revelation 7:9–17

John sees an innumerable multitude from all nations standing before the throne. When asked who they are, he’s told: “These are they which came out of great tribulation” (Revelation 7:14). They have suffered hunger, thirst, heat—and God Himself will shepherd them, wipe away every tear, and comfort them. This is the greatest harvest the world will ever see—during the Tribulation.

Seven Lines of Proof for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture

(Today: Proof #1 — The Purpose of the Day of the Lord)

1) The Purpose of the Tribulation

We’ll assess this as it relates to Israel, the nations, God, and the church.

A. As It Relates to Israel

1. To Chasten Israel
   • Jeremiah 30:7–11 — “It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it… Though I make a full end of all nations… yet will I not make a full end of thee.”
   • Amos 3:1–2 — Because God has known Israel uniquely, He will punish her iniquities.
   • Amos 9:8–10 — God will sift Israel among the nations, yet not lose the least grain.
   • Zechariah 13:8–9 — Two-thirds will be cut off; one-third refined through the fire and will call on His name.
   • Malachi 3:1–6 — The Lord comes as a refiner and purifier, especially of the sons of Levi; “I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
2. To Cast Out Rebels and Unbelievers
   • Ezekiel 20:34–38 — God will gather Israel, bring them under the rod, and purge the rebels; they will not enter the land.
3. To Cause Israel to Know the LORD
   • Ezekiel 39:21–29 — God sets His glory among the nations; “the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.” He will pour out His Spirit on the house of Israel (cf. Zechariah 12–14).

B. As It Relates to the Nations

1. To Demonstrate God’s Holiness, Wrath, and Judgment
   • Ezekiel 39:21 — The nations will see His judgments.
   • Joel 3:1–14 — God gathers all nations to the Valley of Jehoshaphat to judge them.
   • Revelation 6:9–10 — Martyred saints cry, “How long… dost thou not judge and avenge our blood…?”
   • Revelation 19:1–2 — Heaven praises God because His judgments are true and righteous.
2. To Destroy Hostile Nations and Judge Their Treatment of Israel
   • Matthew 25:31–46 — The Sheep and Goats judgment: nations are separated based on how they treated the Lord’s brethren (Israel). Those who blessed are blessed; those who cursed are cursed (cf. Genesis 12:3).

C. As It Relates to God

• To declare His glory (Ezekiel 39:21).
• To demonstrate His love and faithfulness to His promises—He will preserve Israel and keep covenant even when destruction seems certain (Jeremiah 30; Zechariah 12–14).

D. As It Relates to the Church

• Nothing stated. There is no stated divine purpose for the church to go through the day of the Lord. This strongly supports the church’s removal prior to the Tribulation (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10).

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for Your wonderful Word. Help us continue as Bereans, searching the Scriptures to see whether these things are so. Fix our hope firmly on Jesus’ promise: “I will come again, and receive you unto myself” (John 14:3).

Make us ready—watchful, sober, and encouraged—until that day.

In Jesus’ name, amen.