Grace Fellowship Church

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• Grace Fellowship Church
• www.GraceDoctrine.org
• Pre-Tribulation Rapture
• of the Church
• Pastor/Teacher- Jim Rickard

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The following is a summary of a Doctrine taught
by Pastor Rickard on the Pre-Tribulation Rapture
of the Church. This outline is based on a section
within J. Dwight Pentecosts books, Things to
Come, with modifications.
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For the full teachings on this subject, please
visit our website under Listen to the Latest
Bible Study, 2007, and look for lesson numbers
07-33 through 07-064, or Topically under
Rapture.
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The following chart depicts the various
viewpoints within Christianity of Resurrection.
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Post-Millennialism
Pre-Millennialism
Post-Trib
Pre-Trib
Mid-Trib
Pre-Wrath
New Heavens New Earth
Church Age
Tribulation
Millennium
2,000 yrs
7 yrs
1,000 yrs
A-Millennialism
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Why Pre-Tribulation?
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We have noted 25 points as to why the Church will
be Resurrected and Raptured prior to the
beginning of Daniel's Seventieth Week. In this
doctrine we have noted
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1. The Nature of the Seventieth Week (A
description of the horrific time period)
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2. The Scope of the Seventieth Week (The
entire world as Jacob's trouble to the exclusion
of the Church)
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3. The Purpose of the Seventieth Week (Hour of
testing for the unbelieving world and preparation
for the King)
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4. The Unity of the Seventieth Week (In
relation to Dan 924-27)
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5. The Nature of the Church (The body and
bride of Christ)
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6. The Concept of the Church as a Mystery
(Must have a conclusion because it is an
interruption of the Age of Israel)
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7. The Distinctions between Israel and the
Church (24 points)
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8. The Work of the Restrainer in 2 Thes 2 (So
the Lawless One can be revealed)
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9. The Necessity of an Interval between the
Rapture and Second Advent (Events of Rev 19 for
the Church prior to the 2nd Advent)
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10. The Problem Behind 1 Thes 413-18 (Why
grieve if deceased will be spared from the
Tribulation, they wont miss out on the glory)
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11. The Distinctions between the Rapture and the
Second Advent (17 additional points)
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12. The Twenty-Four Elders (May be
representatives of the Church)
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13. The Announcement of Peace and Safety
(Lethargy when the thief comes in)
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14. The Relation of the Church to Governments
(Church is to honor government officials)
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15. The Silence Concerning the Tribulation in the
Epistles (No instructions for the Church to
stand firm during this time)
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16. The Message of the Two Witnesses (Wearing
sackcloth announce the coming King)
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17. The Destiny of the Church (Heavenly vs
earthly Kingdom)
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18. The Waiting Remnant at the Second Advent
(Believing Jews and Gentiles physically enter
the Kingdom)
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19. The Times of the Gentiles (Jerusalem under
Gentile dominion until the Lord's return)
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20. The Sealed 144,000 from Israel (Saved to a
special Jewish relationship)
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21. The Great Object of Satanic Attack (Israel
under attack not the Church)
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22. The Apostasy of the Period (Religious
organizations part of the apostasy)
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23. The Promises to the True Church (Not
appointed to and rescued out from wrath)
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24. The Agreement of Typology (Noah, Rahab and
Lot types of deliverance)
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25. The Last Day(s) (1. Israel-kingdom and
glory, Church-apostasy 2. Resurrections)
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ConclusionSome of these proofs are applicable
to the Mid and others to the Post -Tribulation
Rapture positions.
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All of the arguments do not carry the same weight
or importance.
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Collectively, along with the Doctrine of
Imminency, there is overwhelming agreement for
the understanding of the Pre-Millennial,
Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church.
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This also indicates a clear distinction between
the promises to Israel and the promises to the
Church
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... and that the Church will be delivered by
Rapture before the inception of Daniels
Seventieth Week.
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For more information you can also write toGrace
Fellowship Church, 23 Messenger St., Unit 3,
Plainville, MA 02762 USA