In 2008, I was just starting out with a podcast here at Echo Zoe, and four episodes in I interviewed my friend and the Associate Pastor of our church, Ryan Habbena. Our church, collectively speaking, held to a Pre-Millenial, Pre-Tribulational view of eschatology, so I was a bit surprised to hear that Ryan held a view that I had never heard of before: the Pre-Wrath view of the Rapture. I had asked Ryan if he would do a podcast episode with me, and he suggested that we talk about the Pre-Wrath view. I was still a Pre-Tribber myself, but I greatly respected Ryan and wanted to hear more about this strange view. Ryan confidently stated that he would be converting me, to which I replied “you're welcome to try, but I have my doubts.” That podcast episode, published in August of 2008, was his successful attempt to persuade me that the Pre-Tribulational view is not the most Biblically sound view of the issue of the timing of Christ's return to gather His church.
Prior to the interview with Ryan, I held rather strongly to Pre-Tribulationalism. I had heard a few different views; primarily Preterism, Amillenialism, Post-Millenialism, and Post-Tribulationalism. None of them fit well with my own reading of the Scriptures. Of all the views I had heard before, Pre-Tribulationalsim really was the most Biblically sound view. The key was: of all the views I had heard before.
I had come to salvation by way of eschatology. I had heard a presentation by Chuck Missler of Koinonia House that presented Biblical eschatology along side a commentary on current events (this was 1999, the presentation was probably a few years old at the time). The Holy Spirit used that presentation to show me that the Lord will be returning soon, and I was in trouble. The Law of God suddenly made sense. My conscience told me I was in trouble; if Christ returned, it wouldn't be a good thing for me. On the other hand, I also suddenly realized what the cross was all about. The Gospel, which I had heard all my life, suddenly made sense. I knew there was no way out on my own, I must repent and trust Christ alone for salvation.
I spent the first five years as a Christian not only devouring the Word of God, but focussing especially on prophecy, with an emphasis on end-times prophecy. I gobbled up everything Chuck Missler ever put out (to that point), followed Hal Lindsey, reveled in the “Left Behind” series, and soaked in whatever I could find that was Pre-Tribulational in nature. This just to say that I was sold on the theology, it wouldn't be easy to change my mind.
The one thing Ryan really had going for him was that, while I was sold on Pre-Tribulationalism, I have always had a greater desire for truth than I have had for being reinforced in what I believe. If something I believe isn't the truth, I've always wanted to know, and make the right corrections.
Despite seeing Pre-Tribulationalism as the most likely explanation for the things I was reading in the Scriptures, I had questions. There were things that seemed a little odd, but because the view explained things better than Preterism or Amillenialism, and certainly much better than Post-Millenialism, I let them go, figuring I'd eventually witness it all come to pass (either by living through it, or by watching from Heaven some day), so I wasn't too worried about it. As Ryan explained the Pre-Wrath view, my questions began being answered, without the problem of new and bigger questions replacing them.
Since then, I've given the view a lot of consideration. I haven't studied it with the fervor that I studied Pre-Tribbulationalism in my early days as a Christian, but I've read the scriptures looking for passages that could poke holes in the view, or that would reinforce the view. I haven't found anything substantial that pokes holes, but have found much that reinforces it.
In subsequent posts, I plan to lay out my understanding of eschatology, from a Pre-Wrath view, and interact with the Pre-Tribulational view. I still have many friends that hold to Pre-Tribulationalism, and respect those who still hold to it. My own pastor (Ryan and I haven't been at the same church for over 5 years) is thoroughly Pre-Tribulational in his view, and because I so greatly respect his handling of the Scriptures, I will likely interact with some of his objections or counter-claims. I will also pull from other sources that defend Pre-Tribulationalism and interact with their claims and challenges.
