Midtribulationism
Mid-tribulationism teaches that the rapture occurs at the midpoint of the tribulation. At that time, the seventh trumpet sounds (Revelation 11:15), the church will meet Christ in the air, and then the bowl judgments are poured upon the earth (Revelation 15—16) in a time known as the great tribulation. In other words, the rapture and Christ’s second coming (to set up His kingdom) are separated by a period of three and a half years. According to this view, the church goes through the first half of the tribulation but is spared the worst of the tribulation in the last three and a half years. Very close to mid-tribulationism is the belief in a “pre-wrath” rapture, i.e., a belief that the church is caught up to heaven before the “great day of … wrath” comes (Revelation 6:17). In support of their view, mid-tribulationists point to the chronology given in 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3. The order of events is as follows: 1) apostasy, 2) the revelation of the Antichrist, and 3) the day of Christ. The midtribulational view teaches that the Antichrist will not be decisively revealed until “the abomination that causes desolation” (Matthew 24:15), which occurs at the midpoint of the tribulation (Daniel 9:27). Midtribulationists use Daniel 7:25, which says the Antichrist will have power over the “saints” for three and a half years, to bolster their point—they assume this is the first half of the tribulation and that the saints spoken of are the church. Also, they interpret “the day of Christ” as the rapture; therefore, the church will not be caught up to heaven until after the Antichrist is revealed. Another foundational teaching of midtribulationism is that the trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15:52 is the same trumpet mentioned in Revelation 11:15. The trumpet of Revelation 11 is the final in a series of trumpets; therefore, it makes sense that it would be “the last trumpet” of 1 Corinthians 15. This logic fails, however, in view of the trumpets’ objectives. The trumpet that sounds at the rapture is “the trumpet call of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), but the one in Revelation 11 is a harbinger of judgment. One trumpet is a call of grace to God’s elect; the other is a pronouncement of doom on the wicked. Further, the seventh trumpet in Revelation is not the “last” trumpet chronologically—Matthew 24:31 speaks of a later trumpet that sounds at the commencement of Christ’s kingdom. First Thessalonians 5:9 says that the church has not been appointed “to suffer wrath but to receive salvation.” This would seem to indicate that believers will not experience the tribulation. However, mid-tribulationism interprets “wrath” as only referring to the second half of the tribulation—specifically, the bowl judgments. Limiting the word in such a way seems unwarranted, however. Surely the terrible judgments contained in the seals and trumpets—including famine, poisoned rivers, a darkened moon, bloodshed, earthquakes, and torment—could also be considered the wrath of God. Mid-tribulationism places the rapture in Revelation 11, prior to the start of the great tribulation. There are two problems with this placement in the chronology of Revelation. First, the only occurrence of the term “great tribulation” in the entire book of Revelation is in 7:14, before the opening of the seventh seal. Second, the only reference to a “great day of wrath” is in Revelation 6:17, during the events of the sixth seal. Both of these references come too early for a mid-tribulational rapture, which is timed according to the seventh trumpet. And a final weakness of the mid-tribulational view is shared by the other two theories: namely, the Bible does not give an explicit timeline concerning future events. Scripture does not expressly teach one view over another, and that is why we have diversity of opinion concerning the end times and some variety on how the related prophecies should be harmonized. A proponent of midtribulationism is Dr. Alan Kurschner.
My personal critique
Imminent event
The word imminent means “likely to happen at any moment; impending.” The rapture will be imminent. Jesus spoke of His return repeatedly during His ministry, which naturally prompted questions from His disciples. One of their questions was, “When will these things happen?” (Mark 13:4). Jesus responded, “Of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come” (Mark 13:32-33). The second coming of Jesus to the earth is not imminent. It will happen after the 7-year tribulation. Everybody will be able to calculate that day, 7 years after the beginning of the tribulation period.
If the rapture is supposed to take place at the midpoint of the tribulation period, it is no longer imminent.
The word imminent means “likely to happen at any moment; impending.” The rapture will be imminent. Jesus spoke of His return repeatedly during His ministry, which naturally prompted questions from His disciples. One of their questions was, “When will these things happen?” (Mark 13:4). Jesus responded, “Of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come” (Mark 13:32-33). The second coming of Jesus to the earth is not imminent. It will happen after the 7-year tribulation. Everybody will be able to calculate that day, 7 years after the beginning of the tribulation period.
If the rapture is supposed to take place at the midpoint of the tribulation period, it is no longer imminent.
The seventieth week of Daniel
Daniel 9:27 says "He (the Antichrist) will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
The seventieth week of Daniel is 7 years, not three-and-half years. That period begins with a covenant between the Antichrist and Israel in unbelief at the beginning of the 7-year. There is no reason to believe that the Antichrist will be revealed three-and-half years later. And the 7-year tribulation period ends at Jesus' second advent. There is no reason to believe that the first three-and-half years and the execution of the 7 seals judgment are counted as "no-part" of the tribulation period, because there is no half-seventieth week of tribulation. The second half will be more cruel than the first half dictatorial period. In the first half he (the Antichrist) will allow a temple to be built and will allow sacrifices and offerings to be presented. And two-thirds of the Jews will be killed. Only at the midpoint he will put himself at the center of the temple. With that power he will cause the remaining one-third of the Jews to flee to a safe place. There is no reason to believe that the rapture takes place at the same time that the Jews will flee.
Daniel 9:27 says "He (the Antichrist) will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
The seventieth week of Daniel is 7 years, not three-and-half years. That period begins with a covenant between the Antichrist and Israel in unbelief at the beginning of the 7-year. There is no reason to believe that the Antichrist will be revealed three-and-half years later. And the 7-year tribulation period ends at Jesus' second advent. There is no reason to believe that the first three-and-half years and the execution of the 7 seals judgment are counted as "no-part" of the tribulation period, because there is no half-seventieth week of tribulation. The second half will be more cruel than the first half dictatorial period. In the first half he (the Antichrist) will allow a temple to be built and will allow sacrifices and offerings to be presented. And two-thirds of the Jews will be killed. Only at the midpoint he will put himself at the center of the temple. With that power he will cause the remaining one-third of the Jews to flee to a safe place. There is no reason to believe that the rapture takes place at the same time that the Jews will flee.
The holy ones in Daniel 7:25
1. This verse says in the NIV "He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time."
2. In the NKJV it says "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time."
3. In the NLT it says "He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time."
Who are the holy people (NIV) or the saints (NKJV)? The mid-trib supporters say that these people are Christians. I disagree. I think it are the Jews. Why? Because it also says that the Beast/Antichrist will "change the times and law" (NIV and NKJV) or "change their sacred festivals and laws" (NLT). This refers to Jewish festivals.
1. This verse says in the NIV "He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time."
2. In the NKJV it says "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time."
3. In the NLT it says "He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time."
Who are the holy people (NIV) or the saints (NKJV)? The mid-trib supporters say that these people are Christians. I disagree. I think it are the Jews. Why? Because it also says that the Beast/Antichrist will "change the times and law" (NIV and NKJV) or "change their sacred festivals and laws" (NLT). This refers to Jewish festivals.