Simplifying End-Times Terminology

Interpretation of prophecy presents a problem of epic proportions. On one hand, hindsight is almost always 20-20. After all, it is easy to determine the pictures or types pointing to the cross in the Old Testament while standing on this side of the cross. Prophetic vision, on the other hand, seeks to understand or comprehend events and truths yet to occur. If this were not difficult enough, terminology serves as land mines waiting to dismember the unsuspecting Bible student and teacher.

First, there stands the difficulties presented by words like tribulation, rapture, and coming. The word rapture never appears in scripture, the word coming seems to be used in conjunction with various theological events, and the word tribulation is arguably a descriptive term for any distinct period of time consisting of troubling circumstances (Acts 14:22). Still yet, there is perplexing truth that prophetically speaking a day, or a week, or an hour could represent a much greater passage of time.

Those who refuse to hold to the doctrinal teaching that the church will be removed from the earth prior to a time of God’s dealings with Israel and outpouring of wrath upon this earth, often shift the attention away from their unscriptural position to focus on the weak terminology used by those who do hold such doctrines. As such, the truth is made less appealing and authoritative, not because it is false, but because of a poor choice of terminology on the part of those who believe the right doctrines.

In hopes of clearing some of the fog surrounding terminology, we will simplify the major prophetic events into three events: 1.) the church’s catching up, 2.) Daniel’s seventieth week, and 3.) the day of the Lord.