Posttribulationism
A view held among orthodox Christians
The view that the church will go through the tribulation and be gathered to Christ at his one visible return at its end.
Also called: posttrib, post-tribulation rapture, posttribulation rapture, posttribulational
What it means
Posttribulationism teaches that the gathering of believers to meet the Lord and his visible return in glory are one event, which happens after the tribulation. Believers are caught up to meet him in the air, as citizens go out to welcome a returning king, and return with him as he comes to reign. This is the usual view of historic premillennialists, and amillennialists and postmillennialists likewise expect one return of Christ.
Its holders note that Jesus places the gathering of the elect "after the tribulation of those days," that Paul says the day of the Lord will not come before the rebellion and the man of lawlessness, and that Scripture often tells believers to expect suffering rather than escape from it. God's people are kept through trial and protected from his wrath, not necessarily removed from the earth.
On this site, a premillennial church with a posttribulation view is recorded under this position. Like the other rapture views, it is a matter of timing on which faithful believers differ.
In Scripture
Immediately after the tribulation the Son of Man comes and gathers his elect with a trumpet.
Our gathering to Christ will not come before the rebellion and the man of lawlessness.
The dead are raised and the living changed at the last trumpet.
Jesus prays not that his people be taken out of the world but kept from the evil one.
Paul and Barnabas teach that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Where it comes up
On this site: End times
Related terms
PremillennialismA view held among orthodox Christians
The belief that Christ will return before a literal thousand-year reign on earth.
Pretribulation raptureA view held among orthodox Christians
The premillennial view that Christ will take the church from the earth before a seven-year tribulation.
Prewrath raptureA view held among orthodox Christians
The premillennial view that the church will endure the Antichrist's persecution and be raptured just before God pours out his wrath near the end of the tribulation.
AmillennialismA view held among orthodox Christians
The view that the thousand years of Revelation 20 describe Christ's present reign from heaven between his first and second comings.