Page 170 - The Rapture Question by John F. Walvoord

General Posttribulational Arguments
Christ at all (1 Cor. 1:7-8) and this could be the Rapture. In
other words, once again his argument depends on a hasty and
unsupported generalization. Like all other common words, the
context must determine what is meant by “the end,” and the
verses cited present no difficulty at all for the prctribulationist.
Doctrine of the Rapture
Posttribulationists do not usually appeal to the doctrine
of the Rapture itself for support of their position. Ladd, for
instance, seemed to avoid any specific exegesis of the principal
rapture passages (John 14:3; 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess.
4:13-18). The reason for this, of course, is that they contribute
nothing to support posttribulationism. Reese, on the other c
hand, while not appealing to these passages, cited several in- jf-C-1
stances where he believed positive teaching ofScripture placesy1'
the Rapture after the Tribulation.
Posttribulationists, depending on their line of argument,
frequently offer proof, as Reese did, that the Rapture occurs
after the Tribulation by referring to such texts as Matthew
24:31 and Matthew 24:40-41. Gundry joins Reese and others
in arguing from this doctrinal basis. In view of later exegesis of
these passages where these arguments will be considered, it
may be stated here that the pretribulational interpretation is
that none of these passages actually refer to the Rapture; and,
therefore, they do not constitute proof that the Rapture is
explicitly after the Tribulation. Instead, even posttribu­
lationists like Ladd agree that there is no explicit statement of
a posttribulational Rapture.
Reese’s argument is as follows: “In His discourses the
Lord shows us the Elect being won for Him through the
world-wide preaching of the gospel (Matt. xxii. 14); shows the
Elect in the very midst of the trial (xxiv. passim)', describes the
trial itself; portrays the Elect as a poor widow, crying in her
distress to the Righteous Judge to hasten His Coming, and
remember her in her affliction; shows us that, when the very
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