This group had been believers in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture for decades.  One big problem: they held the doctrine so dogmatically that—when it did not occur when they thought it would (before the emergence of the antichrist)—they actually joined the world system and received the mark.  Here’s the story line.

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Cindy and Bruce loved their church.  They grew up at First Baptist, first met there and then went on to be leaders of the young married class after their wedding.  Three years after the birth of their first child, things began to change.

Through the early years of the child-rearing process, Bruce and Cindy attended a local Bible seminary upon the completion of their four-year college degrees.  They wanted to be further equipped in “rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”  During this time, the world underwent profound change.  Then, a man emerged on the global scene—one who Bruce and Cindy eventually discerned to be a strong candidate for the antichrist.  Due to their church’s Pre-Tribulation Rapture position, Bruce and Cindy soon found it more difficult to serve.  Why?

First Baptist was absolute in their commitment to this end-time position, so much so that Bruce and Cindy started hearing messages from the pulpit saying this global leader was not the antichrist because the Rapture must happen BEFORE the man of lawlessness would become public.  The messages continued to teach that because this was not the antichrist, the congregation was strongly encouraged to join the spiritual revival this global leader was promoting.  It actually got to the place where Bruce and Cindy were shocked at the willful ignorance of the pastor due to what clearly had become (due to undeniable world circumstances) his absolute commitment to the false teaching of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture.  We join their conversation.

“Bruce, please understand, if you and Cindy reject my counsel and chose to fight this movement of God, you will be in eternal jeopardy.  Contrary to some of the cultic voices warning of this one who they are calling the little horn, we know he is not the antichrist because the Rapture event has not yet happened.  You remember your seminary class covering eschatology.  The next global event on the prophetic timetable is the Rapture. Imminence means nothing significantly prophetic needs to take place before our departure when Christ comes for His church.  Therefore, this global leader is clearly NOT the antichrist.”

“Pastor Al,” Cindy responded, “You assume the Pre-Trib position.  Through this three-hour conversation with us, you have confessed you cannot cite one clear passage that affirms this doctrine, yet you stand by it as if it were Gospel Truth.  As Bruce has asked multiple times, what if you’re wrong about this assumption and this is indeed the antichrist?  Are you prepared to face God and give account for such presumption?”

Pastor Al calmly answered, “Cindy, he isn’t.  That’s all I can promise you.  Time will tell. You just need to be patient at this juncture.”

At this, Bruce lightly tapped on Cindy’s back and she knew it was time to stop. “Pastor Al, thank you for the time you’ve taken with us this afternoon.  Cindy and I have to be going.”  Pastor Al suggested they close their time in prayer, but Bruce and Cindy respectfully declined.

Immediately after their departure from the church office, Pastor Al was on the phone; Bruce and Cindy were off making final plans to endure the time of increased tribulation against God’s Saints in Jesus Christ through the antichrist and his global following.

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If indeed the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is false, we have a problem today.  Many people hold to it so dogmatically that, when the man of lawlessness actually comes on the world scene—and remember, this one is biblically characterized as one bringing huge deceit—they will indeed say, “This cannot be the antichrist because the Rapture event has not yet happened.”  In this there is great deception, so much so, that, if possible, even the elect are deceived.

We would like to encourage you to reread the Scriptures addressing the final days before the return of Jesus Christ.  Please go to the biblical passages and study this eternally significant doctrine, PLEASE!  It will come to the place where a person’s eternal destiny is determined, for those who go on to receive the mark of the beast—the beast of Revelation 13 which many scholars believe is the antichrist—will not inherit the kingdom of God but will “ … drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” (Revelation 14:10-12; NAS-U)

Remember, there will not be one case of the elect receiving the mark of the beast.  Those who receive the mark are not followers of Jesus Christ.  As watchmen to the people of God in Christ Jesus, we must be teaching this eternally binding Truth of Scripture! For God’s glory and praise, we do so at great cost because love—including the speaking of truth in love to those whose lives are hanging in the balance—endures all things.

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