No Body Knows The Hour: Does Post-Tribulation Rapture Contradict Scripture?
BIG CAUTION: DO NOT BELIEVE DOGMATICALLY OR IN A RIGID FASHION. TEST EVERYTHING PRESENTED HERE WITH THE WIDTH AND DEPTH OF SCRIPTURE LIKE THE BEREANS DID WHEN THEY RECEIVED NEW OR UNCOMMON TEACHINGS (ACTS 17:11). THE BIBLE LAYS THE BURDEN OF PROOF OF (THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TEST) PROPHECY, TEACHINGS AND SPIRITS, UPON THE HEARER (1 THES. 5:20-22; 1 JOHN 4:1).
Having previously provided quite compelling scriptural evidence pointing to a post-tribulation rapture (that the rapture will happen after the great tribulation not before), certain questions were raised, by those who started to consider it worth evaluating for doctrinal decision making purposes; for example, two respondents raised the below feedback:
The post-tribulation rapture idea appears to contradict the scripture that says, "Nobody knows the day nor the day nor the hour," since Jesus' coming is immediately after the great tribulation and the 3.5 years can be counted from the day the abomination of desolation is revealed. Additionally, it appears to dilute the scripture that says, "The day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night." If His coming can be vividly counted down, then the surprise element is thereby lost!
It therefore becomes necessary to cast further light on the subject as follows:
One cannot be able to begin to count any of the said days towards the end until the antichrist has entered the 7 year peace treaty with the nation of Israel in accordance with Daniel 9:27. So only those alive at that time will be privileged to participate in this end of age countdown.
It is true that from the time of the abomination of desolation in a temple in Jerusalem, one can count 1,260 days or 42 months (Rev. 12:6; 13:5) to the end of the great tribulation. But it should not be forgotten that between the end of great tribulation period and the appearance of the son of man, there are four great signs in the sky that must occur.
That means although one may know the length of the great tribulation, it is not known for how long the stars will fall from the sky. It is equally unknown how long the sun will be darkened or how many days the moon will be made blood red or for how long the heavenly bodies will be shaken? So then that makes it impossible to calculate the day or the hour. Consequently, the thought that post-tribulation rapture would contradict the scripture "Nobody knows the day nor the day nor the hour," is hereby laid to rest.
Matthew 24:29-31, NKJV.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (See also Revelation 6:12-19)
In my view, by giving us these clear signs (the seven year peace agreement between the antichrist and Israel; the abomination of desolation and resulting tribulations; together with clear signs in the heavens), we do not even need to know the exact day or hour as surely enough information has been provided for us to follow the sequence of end time events.
So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near-at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. (Matthew 24:33-34).
Whereas it is true that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (Matthew 24:43), it will not do so to the believer but the unbeliever. For those looking forward to His coming, He will not come like a thief because we are not of the darkness or the night that it should come upon us as a thief.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-8, NKJV
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
The believer will therefore not be surprised by those days because clear signs and sequence of events are given for the believer to watch out for.
Jesus limits our ignorance of the timing of His coming to the hour or the day. "Nobody knows the day nor the hour," (Matthew 24:36). Don't you think there is a reason why He didn't say, nobody knows the week nor the month nor the year?