‘Fundamentalists,’ the Presidential Election, and the Rapture

A shofar made from the horn of a Greater kudu

An animal horn trumpet.

Certain Protestant views are mentioned in the following article:

The Rapture of the Church and the Upcoming Presidential Election

Either America will elect the “right” person in the upcoming election (which for most fundamentalist Christians is almost anyone other than the current president) or America, and the world, should prepare for the end, commonly referred by them as “The Rapture.”…

Each time there is an election, for example, or an increase in the frequency of natural disasters and/or political and social unrest, there is a noticeable increase in frequency with which these church leaders talk about the end of the world, especially in terms of the Rapture.

The Rapture is a belief system about how human history will end. At its core, its proponents believe that believers in Jesus, or the church, will be “raptured,” or snatched up from the surface of the earth and gathered together in the clouds, just prior to the Great Tribulation and the rise of the Antichrist. What “Rapturist” proponents do not tell you, however, most likely because they do not know, is that the Rapture is not taught anywhere in Bible.

Nowhere. Nada…

Just as nobody knows the outcome of the upcoming election, nobody knows what will happen in the future. Jesus said as much (Matt. 24:36). http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-mcswain/what-the-rapture-and-the-_b_1602237.html

Now, the above is not quite the case.

While it is true that Americans who attend church most often do not tend to support the current USA president (Barack Obama), the reality is that many are also concerned about supporting a Mormon (Mitt Romney).

It is true that certain Evangelicals who call themselves “Fundamentalists” tend to believe that they will be raptured away from the earth prior to the start of the Great Tribulation. And it is true that many feel that Barack Obama is taking steps to bring the world to the brink of the Great Tribulation.

However, contrary to the hint of the article above, Jesus gave specific signs to look for prior to His return that all can clearly see. And as it turns out, Jesus taught that He would return AFTER the start of the Great Tribulation, not prior to it as certain Protestant Evangelicals tend to believe.

The proof is found in various places of the Bible, but perhaps the most clear are the statements from Jesus in Matthew 24:

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

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. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:15-31)

So, Jesus is teaching that AFTER the abomination of desolation is set up that Daniel mentioned, that the faithful Christians should flee. This is seemingly the fleeing in Revelation 12:14-16. THEN the Great Tribulation will begin. And then AFTER the Great Tribulation, and the sound of a great trumpet (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:52) Jesus will return.

Now, that is what Jesus Himself taught, and thus the idea of a PRE-Great Tribulation rapture, has no real basis in scripture. Protestants who claim to believe in sola Scriptura need to study the scriptures as they prove that there is no such thing as a pre-tribulation rapture.

Many misunderstand end time prophecy. In the faithful COG, we try to show people what the Bible teaches.

For more details on several of the subjects in the commentary, please check out the following articles:

Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected? What does the Bible really teach? Who really is left behind?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory.
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Hope of Salvation: How the Genuine Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, did Martin Luther’s writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority? Statements from him changing and/or discounting 18 books of the Bible are included. Do you really want to know the truth?
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now a remnant remains.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? This is the longest and most complete article on this page on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Some Dissimilarities Between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and the Genuine Church of God The Living Church of God is not related to the Mormons and this article explains some differences and a couple of similarities. Also, might certain LDS prophecies apply to Mitt Romney.