Have you ever heard the old saying, "If you ever tell one lie, you have to tell several more to prop up the first one."? This is exactly what has happened with the "Rapture Theory." Someone told the lie that Jesus would "Rapture" the church out of the world, and leave the sinners here on earth to endure 3 1/2 to 7 years of tribulation, at which time the Great Antichrist would come into being.

Consider the following diagram which shows how many people perceive the end of time and what will take place:

Old Testament --> Christ's Death on the Cross --> Church Age --> Rapture --> Tribulation & Antichrist --> Millennial Reign

This chart, or diagram, is called a "time- line." These time-lines vary with different people's views of what will happen at the end of time as we know it. This particular time-line is the general view of most people who believe the "Rapture Theory."

As I have previously stated, "If you ever tell one lie, you generally must tell more in order to support the first." The "Rapture Theory" is full of holes, or fallacies, or lies, if you will.

Let us examine the "Great Tribulation Theory." Many who teach this "Tribulation Theory" teach that it will be a terrible time, the worst in the history of the world, a time when you won't be able to buy or sell unless you possess the mark of the Beast. (It is not my intent to get into a discussion on "the mark of the Beast" in this article.) The Beast is not some man or system yet to come in the future.

A common verse of Scripture used by "Premillennialists" (people who hold to the Rapture Theory) to support their tribulation theory is Zachariah 14:12, which reads: "And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth." They teach that this verse is referring to a nuclear war during the end of time. They use several other verses from the Old Testament, but we need to examine several New Testament verses that they try to twist into their theory.

Two chapters that are of interest in the Tribulation debate are Matthew 24 and Revelation 16. Because of the scope of this article, I can't go into great detail with either of these chapters. However, I will give an overview of each.

This chapter has been mangled by the Rapture Theory. It is a common thought that this chapter tells what the Great Tribulation will be like. There are famines, pestilence, earthquakes, nation against nation, false christs, false prophets and many other horrid things.

Matthew 24 does mention many terrible things, but they are not to occur in the future. They have long since been fulfilled.

Closely investigate the first three verses of this chapter. First, we find Jesus and His disciples coming out of the temple (the place of worship). Secondly, Jesus makes a profound statement. He tells His disciples that the temple that took 36 years to build was going to be destroyed. Thirdly, He sat down upon the Mount of Olives and His disciples asked Him two questions. The first question was, when was the temple going to be destroyed and the second was a two-part question: 1. What shall be the sign of thy coming, 2. and of the end of the world? The reason that the disciples asked these questions in this particular order was that they figured if the temple were destroyed, it would certainly be the end of the world. Remember, even after Christ's resurrection, the disciples didn't understand about Christ and His Kingdom (the Church) Acts 1:6.

The disciples thought that if the temple was destroyed, it would be the end of time and Christ would establish an earthly kingdom. This was not Christ's intent at all. (John 18:36)

In Matthew 24, Jesus is not describing what the end of time will be like, but rather the destruction of Herod's temple and the events that would precede this awesome destruction. Herod's temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. This is what Matthew 24 is concerning, the events leading up to the destruction of that temple, in the year 70 A.D. If you would like to read in depth on this topic, the book entitled The Antiquities of Flavious Josephus is a great source.

Revelation 16 is another chapter used by many to prop up their "Tribulation Theory." They use this chapter as the end of the "Tribulationary Period." They say that the "Battle of Armageddon" will be fought at the last part of the tribulation and it will be like a "Grand Finale." They teach that Satan and all of his forces will fight against Christ and all of His saints, but the victory will belong to Christ.

First, we need to realize that Revelation is written in very symbolic language. It may seem to say one thing on the surface, but if you let the Bible explain itself, it may be saying something totally different.

Again, I can't go into every detail on Revelation 16, but I will give an overview of this chapter.

Seven angels proceed to pour out vials full of God's wrath. Remember: symbolic language. After six of these angels have dispersed of the contents in their vials, we come to the much talked about Armageddon in verse 16. To be blunt and to the point Armageddon, or the battle that is being referred to in Revelation 16 was fought years ago. This battle was fought when Christ fought Satan while He was on the earth. And Christ did, in fact, come out the victor. Read the next few verses of Revelation 16 and see what happened after the seventh angel poured out the seventh vial. Sounds exactly like what happened when Christ defeated Satan on the cross doesn't it? This is no coincidence, it is that very victory that Revelation 16 is referring to.