I was young once. Don't laugh, it's true. And, I was once just as sure of myself as so many of our young teachers are today. But, time does its thing. As a result, I'm not so sure about everything. The funny thing is, I understand more now than ever did.

Here's something scary to think about. There was a time I could confidently teach some things that I question today. Now, if that isn't a sobering thought, I don't know what is.

Here's my point: How is it we've all become so certain about the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine? I was raised to believe it. In fact, I've probably spent more time defending the doctrine than most. Nevertheless, the whole time I defended it, I always wondered why the arguments were so weak. You would think that by now there would be some definitive Scripture found to once and for all settle the issue. But, there never has been. I couldn't help but wonder why.

What if it turns out the pre-tribulation doctrine is wrong? What will we say then? Do we just tell our listeners to go out for themselves, hurry up and decide what it is they're going to believe to get them through what's coming? Yes, I have doubts. And, I can't understand why others don't.

Recently, a friend told me why he began to question the pre-tribulation doctrine. He said it was over the issue of what happens to all those who become believers during the tribulation -- the saints the Antichrist makes war with. His question was, if all these believers have already missed the rapture, how will they escape God's coming wrath? After all, didn't the Apostle Paul assure us that believers are not destined to experience God's wrath?

It was something different for me. I began questioning the doctrine because of the sequence of events in Daniel 7: 7-12. Here we find the throne room scene that's in Revelation chapter four occuring after the Antichrist is revealed and boasting great things, not before. And, just saying it's a different throne room doesn't work well. For one thing, the book of Revelation must be interpreted by the book of Daniel. For another, in Acts 2: 14-21 Peter appears to be suggesting that the church age and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit continues for a witness to the nations until the end of the tribulation -- to when the sun is darkened.

But, if the church age continues until the end of the tribulation, this would also answer my friends question. According to this view, all the tribulation saints are raptured along with us at the end of the tribulation, but before God's wrath. Then, after God's wrath is over at the end of the 70th week, Jesus physically returns with all of us and sets up His earthly Kingdom.

In the meantime, we have those among us who are insisting they have it right. They're confidently teaching we won't be here for the tribulation. They're so certain, in fact, they're telling people to not even worry about it.

But, what if?