Customer Reviews

RAPTURE: Post-Tribulation and Pre-Wrath

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What a book! I dare you to read it! I won't say it didn't take some persuasion to leave my comfort zone and delve into a different perspective on the rapture but I am so glad I did. Questions that had been nibbling at the back of my mind were finally answered: Why does the Bible keep telling us to watch for the return of Jesus, but "people" tell me we won't know when he's coming for the church (check out Chapter 3).

They will never make a movie out of this book; it was not written to be a people-pleaser and entertain them. But I think it is a significant book--it answers questions; explores ideas; correlates old and new testaments; has understandable charts; is fully backed with scripture. To me one of the most important things is that it made me rethink ideas that I had always accepted but never put to the scriptural test. Once again--I dare you to read it!

"Don Montgomery has written an excellent, layman-friendly book that graciously proves the Bible teaches the Rapture of the church is after the Tribulation and before God pours out his Wrath. This book is exceptional because it is original, and not a rehashing of everything else you have probably already read about the post-trib Rapture. Some of Don's conclusions may surprise you, but they will inspire you to dig into your Bible and pray and think.

Interestingly, RAPTURE: Post-Tribulation and Pre-Wrath is also an excellent book for preterists who are open to considering Don's conclusion that Jesus prophesied two destructions of Jerusalem: one in 70 A.D. and one still future. Don's analysis will encourage preterists to harmonize all of the scriptures regarding Christ's Olivet Discourse.

Buy RAPTURE: Post-Tribulation and Pre-Wrath. It will make you think.

I appreciate it when people have an open mind to a new understanding regarding the topic of the rapture--but that does not mean that any new understanding will do. Mr. Montgomery uses dangerous hermeneutics in this book that I believe invalidate his theory. He bases much of his conclusions on assumptions which he does not support or defend--he just assumes them.

For example, his entire theory is based on the premise that the end-times events in Revelation and Daniel actually occur during two overlapping periods of 7 years--the 70th week of Daniel and Jacob's Trouble. Even though everything rests on this premise, the author give NO scriptural evidence to show that the time of Jacob's Trouble lasts 7 years. NEITHER does he spend any time demonstrating that Jacob's Trouble is different from the 70th week, or a part of the 70th week (such as the Great Tribulation). Rather, he uses this assumption to allow a longer timeline of events (around 10 years). I found it very interesting that the term "Jacob's Trouble" is only used in one place in Scripture (Jer. 30), and this Scripture mentions nothing about a 7 year period--but that is a foundational argument of this book.

A few other assumptions the author also makes seem to weaken his credibility. For example, since 7 years in Daniel are referred to as a "week", the author applies that selectively (but not consistently) to time periods mentioned in the book of Revelation-so that any time it mentions a day, he says it means a year, an hour is rendered as 1/24th of a year, or 15 days. This completely ignores several facts: 1. The original Hebrew term translated "weeks" allows it to be translated as "sevens" and can therefore actually be intended to mean 7 years, but the Greek words for "day" and "hour" do not have alternate translations that allow them to be rendered as "year" and "15-day-period". 2. Daniel explained that his "weeks" were 7 years long so that we wouldn't misinterpret them to be just 7 days long. John made no similar distinction, so why should we assume that when he said "1 hour" that he meant otherwise. 3. The author is applying a linguistic choice made and explained by Daniel to a work written (and not explained) by John.

I give this book 2 stars because I appreciate the effort to present a fresh look at several passages of Scripture, and some parts of this book bring valid questions to mind, but overall the new ideas are based on the author's assumptions which he makes no attempt to support/defend.

I am a firm believer in the "post-trib, pre-wrath" concept of the rapture, so I begin by agreeing with the author overall. This particular book, however, doesn't do the best job in presenting that position due to the fact that the author bases too much of his argument on the "overlapping sevens" hypothesis. If that hypothesis turns out not to be true, Montgomery's entire argument fails.

The problem is that one can definitely be a pre-wrath believer without accepting the overlapping sevens hypothesis. I would not want someone to read this book, reject the hypothesis, and then reject the pre-wrath view as a consequence.

I still feeel that this book is worth reading, however, because Montgomery offers a fresh approach to Revelation that believers should at least consider. The book is also worth reading if it prompts one to reconsider his beliefs about the second coming in general. Overall, the book has more pluses than minuses.

I just want Amazon.com readers to know about the unsolicited comments which I (the author) have received from Christian authors and teachers. These read: "...fascinating, insightful... refreshingly original...required reading...a wake-up call for the church...recommend it...worthy and well written...exceedingly helpful to the cause of Christ...leads one easily through the maze of (prophecy). Hopefully, and prayerfully, you will have similar reactions! Don

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS BOOK!!!

I believe in the post-tribulation and pre-wrath second coming/gathering of God's people. Having said that, this book is tainted by a bunch of nonsense, guessing, assumption, and conjecture. I wouldn't waste your time with this book. Instead, spend time reading and studying:

1. The Prewrath Rapture Position Explained by Van Kampen (A short description of the position, but very sound and detailed considering its length.)

2. The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church by Rosenthal (This is the gold standard for the position, and is a must read for any prophecy student. Full book length. Read it and reread it.)

3. The Rapture Question Answered by Van Kampen (Similar to Rosenthal's book. Highly recommended.)