The following scriptures I believe also support the Pre-Trib position. However, in comparison to some of the many others I have brought up in the past weeks it can be interpreted differently.
Luke 21:34-36 –34“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
The first thing a person who does not believe in the Pre-Trib position is going to say that escape doesn’t mean rapture. That’s correct escape by itself doesn’t mean rapture.
In verse 34 we have a warning from Jesus to make sure that the worries, preoccupation, and cares of this world, don’t blind us of…….what?
Even if one is drunk or busy their going to see the things that are happening during the tribulation. Almost all will be terrified and half of those left on earth are expected to perish. It is also a warning that if you’re not careful it will close in on you unexpectedly like a trap.
Then it goes on to say in verse 35 that it will come upon all of those who live on the face of the whole earth. So if you’re on the earth it will come upon you.
In verse 36 Jesus says to always be on watch and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen. There is a lot that is going to happen during the tribulation. It doesn’t say pray that you are hidden from what’s going to happen. Because if your still on earth that’s what would have to happen. Also it states that the beast was given power to make war with the saints and conquer them.
Revelation 13:7 – 7He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.
It appears that if you do believe Luke 21:34-36 is a pre-trib rapture verse then these saints must be the drunk and the one’s not praying, because it doesn’t appear the saints are escaping at this point.
Last it says pray that you may escape and be able to stand before the Son of Man. If we are raptured and escapes the tribulation, that’s where we’re going to be standing.
Tomorrow I want to expound a little further on this.