(1) You said this in regard to the precisely correct observaton that the church is never mentioned in the book of Revelation after chapter 3. This is an invalid argument because it attempts to negate an observation about one part of scripture with quibbles about other parts of scripture.
When we examine the Holy Spirit’s use of the word church (or churches) in “the first three chapters” of Revelation, we see that
every single mention refers to a local gathering of the visible church in Asia Minor, not the invisible universal redeemed body of believers that Gromacki is actually talking about. These references come to seventeen in total and are found in Revelation 1: 4, 11, 20; 2:1, 7, 11, 12, 17, 18, 23, 29; 3:1, 6, 7, 13, 14, 22.
So, there is not one reference to “the true Church” as a spiritual organism prior to Revelation 4:1. This totally negates the whole Pretrib argument.
Let us be very clear, just because someone belongs to a local church means nothing. Salvation is not secured by attending a local church. God’s favour is not automatically on a local church; it isn’t now and it wasn’t then, and it won’t at the end. We just have to look at some of the things he said to those churches in question.
The church of Ephesus had left its first love (Revelation 2:4). The church in Pergamos was being destroyed with the “doctrine of Balaam” (Revelation 2:14) and the “doctrine of the Nicolaitans” (Revelation 2:15). The church in Thyatira was being seduced by a Jezebel spirit (Revelation 2:20). The church of the Laodiceans was lukewarm and Christ was about to spew it out of His mouth.
Surely no Prettribber would consider these mere church attendees “true believers” on the grounds of their (local) church attendance. Not one reference in Revelation chapters 1-3 therefore refers to “the true Church” that the Pretribbers argue is non-existent during their 7 years tribulation between Revelation 4:1 and Revelation 19. They all relate to dysfunctional local assemblies. So if there is any consistency in the Pretib argument they would have to concede that there is not one reference to “the true church” in the whole book of Revelation.
(2) The first part of this is immaterial. For althugh it was specifically addressed to these seven churches, for even before that address is stated, it says, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3) So this message is also sent to all Christians of all time.
And the second part is contrary to explicitly stated scripture. For the stated purpose of this revelation was “to show His servants--things which must shortly take place.” (Revelation 1:1)
Unquestionably, the
whole book of Revelation was initially and primarily addressed to the seven Asian churches of John’s day. Notwithstanding, like every other New Testament epistle, it has a current and powerful relevance for the Church today as it has previously been down through history. It will also have relevance for the Church right up until the glorious Second Advent. There is no doubt that the other New Testament books (in whole) from Matthew to Jude were initially written to early church Christians and/or to specific local assemblies of them Christians, as a marvelous inspired record and testimony to the person, work and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, they also carry a wider relevance to the Church of the Jesus Christ– period – as an infallible Divine message of truth, instruction and admonition to the Church.
(3) This is factually incorrect. These words, terms, titles, and descriptions were used elsewhere to describe believers, but not in referring to the church, as such.
Not so. Please read the NT and you will see these words frequently used to describe the redeemed. The Church is found on earth throughout Revelation 4-19.
The Church throughout the Word is shown to be made up of the
“saints” (
Revelation 5:8, 8:3, 8:4, 11:18, 13:7, 13:10, 14:12, 15:3, 16:6, 17:6, 19:8 and 20:9), the
“redeemed” (
Revelation 5:9, 14:3 and 14:4),
“them which are saved” (
Revelation 21:24), the
“brethren” (
Revelation 6:11, 12:10, 19:10, 22:9), the
“chosen (or elect), and faithful” (
Revelation 17:4),
“servants” of God (
Revelation 1:1, 2:20, 7:3, 10:7, 11:18, 19:2, 19:5, 22:3 and 22:6).
Frankly, if these aren’t Christians, what are they?
The Church is described as those that possess
“the faith of Jesus” (
Revelation 14:1), and consequently carry
“the testimony of Jesus” (
Revelation 1:2, 9, 12:17, 19:10), and are
“the witness of Jesus” (
Revelation 20:4). They exhibit the
“patience of Jesus” (
Revelation 1:9), and many become the
“martyrs of Jesus” (
Revelation 17:6).
Frankly, if these aren’t Christians, what are they?
The Church is the
“woman” (
Revelation 12:1,4, 6, 13, 15, 16 and 17),
“the bride” of Christ (
Revelation 18:23, 21:9, 22:17),
“the Lamb's wife” (
Revelation 19:7 and 21:9),
“the temple” (
Revelation 3:12, 11:1 and 2).
Frankly, if these aren’t Christians, what are they?
They are those
“in / with white robes,” who are washed in the blood of the Lamb (
Revelation 3:4, 5, 18, 4:4, 6:11, 7:9, 13, 14, and 19:8, 14), and are now
“kings and priests” (
Revelation 1:6, 5:10 and 20:6), they are the “souls” in heaven (
Revelation 6:9 and 20:4), the
“fellowservants” (
Revelation 6:11). God calls them as
“my people” (
Revelation 18:4) and
“his people” (
Revelation 21:3).
Frankly, if these aren’t Christians, what are they?
The Church relates to those
“that overcometh” (
Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21 and 21:7), and
“that watcheth, and keepeth their garments” (
Revelation 16:15),
“they that do/keep God’s commandments” (
Revelation 12:17, 14:12 and 21:14), and “they which are written in the Lamb's book of life” (
Revelation 21:27).
Frankly, if these aren’t Christians, what are they?
The Church is described as
“the dead which die in the Lord” (
Revelation 14:13), as
“them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark” (
Revelation 15:2),
“much people in heaven” (
Revelation 19:1), who are
“a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” (
Revelation 7:9), and are
“out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (
Revelation 5:9), and are
“the armies which were in heaven” (
Revelation 19:14).
(4) In the first place, this is an inane argument. And in the second place it is factually incorrect. Unbelieving professors are mentioned repeatedly in the book of Revelation, mostly in regard to their giving up even the remnants of truth they had formerly professed.
Pretibbers present the seven dysfunctional local assemblies in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 that are full of false prophets, false doctrines and false professors as supposed evidence that the true Church is still on earth. But are these not the same type of churches and believers that Pretrib argues misses the rapture? They contend that it is only the true Church and the true believers that make the catching away. So, the countless apostate churches and the numerous false believers existing today that will be present at the catching away actually enter the Pretrib 7-year tribulation. So why are they not mentioned in Revelation 4 to 19?
The absence of any mention of these apostate churches must surely prove (if Pretrib is consistent) that they are not present during the 7-year tribulation. Where are these counterfeit assemblies with their false prophets? Everyone know there are countless today, so there will be countless that miss Christ’s Coming. Why are they not recognised or named during this period? This is surely proof (if we use Pretib logic) that they have been removed from the earth???
(5) Here, you are basing your argument on arguments given you by ignorant persons, ratiher than on arguments made by leaders of pre-trib thinking. For the argument is not that “the word ‘church’ is not found in Revelatiin 4-20,” but that “the church” is never mentioned. And I am not aware of a single leader of pre-trib thought tha argues that Revelation 4 is the rapture.
Speaking of a supposed secret Pretrib rapture of the Church, Dispensational writer Denis Lyle, in his book ‘Countdown to Apocalypse’ succinctly affirms, “Revelation 4:1 is a picture of all believers being ‘caught up’ at the Rapture of the Church” (p. 152).
This is such a moot argument, devoid of any reasonable viable interpretative substance. It is actually highly contradictory. Rev. Charles Cooper highlights this, arguing, “Nowhere in all of the New Testament is there warrant to apply the understanding that John represents the church in Rev. 4:1. The context clearly implies that ‘John’ refers to... John, and no one else. He is simply given a heavenly perspective of what is going on behind the visible world and what will take place during the last days. Nothing else. To say otherwise is to grasp at straws to try to support a hollow argument” (Why is the church not mentioned in Revelation 4-22?).
Referring to Revelation 4:1, strong Pretrib advocate Jack Van Impe states in his book Revelation Revealed, “John states, ‘After this.’ After what? After the completion of the history of the seven churches. After this, John sees a door opened in heaven and hears a trumpet-like voice loudly and victoriously crying, ‘Come up hither.’ This is the rapture of the church of Jesus Christ.”
Pretribs passionately argue that the rapture of the Church occurs in Revelation 4:1, yet, the word “church” is notably not remotely mentioned anywhere in Revelation 4 (or 5).
We can immediately identify a major discrepancy in the Pretrib rationale. If the non-mention of the word church between chapters 4 &19 is their main justification for arguing the Church can’t be present on the earth during that period (which they say is a 7-year tribulation) then we should apply that same logic to the non-mention of the word in Revelation 4 – which is their proof text in Revelation for a rapture before the tribulation.
If Prettrib is consistent in their reasoning on the absence of the word “church” then their argument relating to chapters 4 &19 must be equally applied to their understanding of Revelation 4 also. Significantly, if it is, then they have absolutely no basis whatsoever for locating the Church in Revelation 4, as they do, and therefore arguing for a secret rapture of the Church in that chapter. On the basis of this logic we can safely assume that the Church isn’t remotely in view or can it participate in the happenings of this chapter.
Pretrib hermeneutics actually end up destroying the Pretrib doctrine. When consistently applied, it pulls apart the whole foundation of Pretrib.