Notes Johnson: “One is hard pressed to think that all of the great minds from St. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin and Charles Haddon Spurgeon, that though they had read I Thessalonians 4 failed to understand the important teaching of a pre-millennial, pre-tribulation rapture.”

Then he lashes out with his best, Sunday punch.

“Pre-tribulation rapture theology is at its foundation conceited!”

I do not subscribe to a mid-trib (for lack of a better term) scenario. Although I will tie up my thoughts in the summary of his volume, I want to give some context as to the why our Rapture is at the beginning of the 70^th week, rather than the middle. Furthermore, if we understand that Scripture never ties the Rapture with the start the 70^th Week of Daniel, we can see how and why a gap must be necessary.

Bible prophecy is being fulfilled in dramatic, even spectacular ways. That’s good news because it means that the return of Jesus is getting closer. But the Bible makes it clear that the buildup to Christ’s return will be anything but pleasant. At some point, those of us who are in Christ will be raptured out of here. But between now and the rapture, difficulties will increase. America’s power and influence may be destroyed even sooner than we had imagined.

We hope you will enjoy the four messages and Q & A presented at the Proximity: Awaiting His Return Conference held on January 5. Speakers included Amir Tsarfati, Pastor Barry Stagner, Pastor Jack Hibbs, and Jan Markell.

When did the idea of the rapture originate? Many claim this teaching originated with a man named John Darby who lived in the early nineteenth century. They insist the idea of Jesus’ appearing for His church started with visions of a woman who was acquainted with Darby.