1. Pre-tribulationism is the only view that allows literal interpretation of the Old and New Testament passages on the great tribulation.

2. Pre-tribulationism distinguishes clearly between Israel and the Church and their respective programs.

3. The great tribulation is properly interpreted by pretribulationists as a time of preparation for Israel's restoration (Deut 4:29-30; Jer 30:4-11). It is not the purpose of the tribulation to prepare the church for glory.

4. None of the Old Testament passages on the tribulation mention the church (Deut 4:29-30; Jer 30:4-11; Dan 8:24-27; Dan 12:1-2).

5. None of the New Testament passages on the tribulation mention the church (Matt 13:30,39-42,48-50; Matt 24:15-31; 1 Thess 1:9-10; 1 Thess 5:4-9; 2 Thess 2:1-11; Rev 4-18).

6. In contrast to mid-tribulationism, the pre- tribulational view provides an adequate explanation for the beginning of the great tribulation in Rev 6. Mid-tribulationalism is refuted by the plain teaching of Scripture that the tribulation begins long before the seventh trumpet of Rev 11.

7. The proper distinction is maintained between the prophetic trumpets of Scripture by pre- tribulationalism. There is no proper ground for the pivotal argument of mid-tribulationalism that the seventh trumpet of Revelation is the last trumpet in that there is no established connection between the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11, the last trumpet of 1 Cor 15:52, and the trumpet of Matthew 24:31. They are three distinct events.

8. The unity of Daniel's seventieth week is maintained by pre-tribulationalists. By contrast, post- tribulationalists and mid-tribulationalists destroy the unity of Daniel's seventieth week and confuse Israel's program with that of the church.

9. The translation of the church is never mentioned in any passage dealing with the Second Coming of Christ after the tribulation.

10. The church is not appointed to wrath (Rom 4:9; 1 Thess 1:9-10; 1 Thess 5:9). The church therefore cannot enter "the great day of their wrath" (Rev 6:17).

11. The church will not be overtaken by the day of the Lord (1 Thess 5:1-9), which includes the tribulation.

12. It is characteristic of divine dealing to deliver before a divine judgement is inflicted on the world as illustrated in the deliverance of Lot, etc. (2 Pet 2:5-9)

13. At the time of the translation of the church, all believers go to the Father's house in heaven (Jn 14:3) and do not immediately return to the earth after meeting Christ in the air as post-tribulationists teach.

14. Pre-tribulationism does not divide the body of Christ at the rapture on a works principle. The teaching of a partial rapture is based on the false doctrine that the translation of the church is a reward for good works. It is rather a climatic aspect of salvation by grace.

15. The Scriptures clearly teach that all, not part, of the church will be raptured at the coming of Christ for the church (1 Cor 15:51-52; 1 Thess 4:17).

16. As opposed to the view of a partial rapture, pre- tribulationism is found on the definite teaching of Scripture that the death of Christ frees from all condemnation.

17. Those of a godly remnant of the tribulation are pictured as Israelites, not members of the church, as maintained by the post-tribulationists.

18. The pre-tribulational interpretation teaches that the coming of Christ is actually imminent.

19. The exhortation to be conforted by the coming of the Lord (1 Thess 4:18) is very significant in the pre-tribulational view and is especially contradicted by most post-tribulationists.

20. The exhortation to look for "the glorious appearing" of Christ to his own (Titus 2:13) loses its significance if the tribulation must intervene first. Believers in that case should look for signs.

21. The Holy Spirit as the retainer must be taken out of the world before "the lawless one," who dominates the tribulation period, can be revealed (2 Thess 2:6-8).

22. According to 2 Corinthians 5:10, all believers of this age must appear before the judgement seat of Christ in heaven, an event never mentioned in the detailed accounts connected with the Second Coming of Christ to the earth.

23. The coming of Christ for his bride must take place before the Second Coming to the earth for the wedding feast (Rev 19:7-10).

24. Tribulation saints are not translated at the Second Coming of Christ but carry on ordinary occupations such as farming and building houses, and they will bear children (Isa 65:20-25). This would be impossible if all the saints were at the Second Coming to the earth, as post- tribulationists teach (from The Rapture Question, Zondervan, 1978, pp. 270-274).