Evangelical Protestant Views on the Coming of Christ
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
What are the three evangelical views on the coming of Christ?
Evangelical Protestants generally hold one of three views concerning Christ’s return: Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, and Post-Tribulation. This study examines each view and compares them verse-by-verse with the teachings of Jesus, the Apostles, and the Old Testament prophets using the King James Bible.
Many evangelicals take one of three views when it comes to the coming of Jesus and the timing of when the Antichrist will appear on the world stage.
After careful examination of all three views, we will take a close look at the Scriptures to learn whether any evangelical Protestant views agree with what Jesus, the Apostles, and Old Testament prophets taught concerning the return of Jesus and when the Antichrist appears on the world stage.
Most of the time, this discussion is framed as “tribulation timing” in Evangelical theology.
The Three Evangelical Views of Tribulation Timing
Pre-Tribulation View
- Rapture happens before the tribulation
- Antichrist rises after the rapture
- Believers are spared the tribulation
Mid-Tribulation View
- Rapture happens midway through the tribulation
- Antichrist appears before the rapture
- Believers endure part of the tribulation
Post-Tribulation View
- Rapture happens after the tribulation
- Antichrist appears before and during the tribulation
- Believers endure the entire tribulation and return visibly with Christ
Evangelical Protestant Timeline of End-Times Events
Timeline
Pre-Tribulation → Tribulation (7 years) → Second Coming
What Jesus Taught About His Return
Lets now take a close look at the scriptures to see if the evangelical views line up with what the scriptures actually teach.
Luke 17:20–37 (KJV)
Commentary provided below each verse, as originally written
Luke 17:20–21 (KJV)
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Commentary:
It is clear that when Jesus was asked by the religious people of His day when the kingdom would come, His reply was very clear: His kingdom is not a physical kingdom that can be observed with the eyes. Instead, “the kingdom of God is within you.”
Luke 17:22 (KJV)
And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
Commentary:
Following His statement that “the kingdom of God is within you,” Jesus tells His disciples that they will desire to see Him—the Son of Man—but they will not see Him again physically walking on the earth.
Luke 17:23 (KJV)
And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
Commentary:
Jesus warns His disciples that people will claim He has returned and will say “look here” or “look there.” Jesus tells them not to believe these claims, because He has already stated that they will not see Him walking on the earth again.
Luke 17:24 (KJV)
For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
Commentary:
Jesus explains exactly how He will return. His coming will be sudden, visible, and unmistakable—like a flash of lightning across the sky.
Luke 17:25 (KJV)
But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
Commentary:
Jesus prophesies His suffering and rejection, which was fulfilled when He was crucified by the people of His generation.
Luke 17:26–27 (KJV)
26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Commentary:
Jesus describes the people of Noah’s day as living normal lives, unaware and unbelieving until sudden judgment came. The flood destroyed all who were not prepared.
Luke 17:28–29 (KJV)
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Commentary:
Jesus compares His return to the days of Lot. People were living their normal lives until sudden destruction came. Many today view God only as loving and forget that He is also Judge over all the earth.
Luke 17:30 (KJV)
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Commentary:
Jesus clearly links what happened in the days of Noah and Lot to the day He returns. Those who were ready were spared; those who were not were destroyed. His appearing will be from heaven, in the clouds, not walking upon the earth.
Supporting Scriptures (KJV) with Commentary
Matthew 24:30 (KJV)
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Commentary:
When Jesus returns, He will appear only in the clouds, and everyone living on the earth will see Him.
Revelation 1:7 (KJV)
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him…
Commentary:
Everyone—including those in their graves—will see Jesus coming, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.
Acts 1:9–11 (KJV)
…this same Jesus… shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Commentary:
Jesus ascended in a cloud, and He will return in the same way—appearing in the clouds of heaven.
Central Conclusion
When Jesus appears in the clouds and removes His true followers from the earth, those left behind will not be contending with the Antichrist, but with the Lord Himself, who comes in judgment. Scripture does not teach a second chance after Christ’s return.
Believers must resist the Antichrist before the Lord appears. The focus of every believer is to be ready to meet the Lord, whether or not His return happens in their lifetime.
Jesus Taught That Tribulation Comes Before His Return
Matthew 24:29–31 (KJV)
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Commentary:
Jesus said “Immediately after the tribulation of those days” the sign of the Son of Man appears. He did not say before the tribulation, nor halfway through it. After the tribulation, all the tribes of the earth mourn when they see Jesus coming in the clouds.
After His appearing, the trumpet sounds and His angels gather His elect. This gathering is what many call the “rapture,” and Jesus clearly places it after the tribulation.
This directly contradicts both the Pre-Tribulation and Mid-Tribulation views and contradicts what many evangelicals teach today.
The Trumpet and the Gathering of the Church
1 Thessalonians 4:16 (KJV)
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Commentary:
This trumpet Paul refers to is the same trumpet Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:31. It occurs when Jesus descends from heaven, not before the tribulation, but after, when He appears in the clouds.
Apostolic Teaching: The Day of the Lord Destroys the Earth
2 Peter 3:10–13 (KJV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Commentary:
The Apostles taught that in the Day of the Lord the heavens pass away and the earth is burned up. This confirms what Jesus taught when He said His return would be like the days of Lot.
The idea that people continue living on the earth after Jesus returns contradicts apostolic teaching. The Day of the Lord brings final judgment, not a continuation of history.
Old Testament Confirmation: The Day Burns Everything
Malachi 4:1–3 (KJV)
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
Commentary:
Malachi confirms that the Day of the Lord burns the wicked completely. This aligns with Peter’s teaching and with Jesus’ words that heaven and earth will pass away.
Heaven and Earth Will Pass Away
Matthew 24:35 (KJV)
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Commentary:
Jesus plainly taught that this present heaven and earth will not remain as it is after His return. The earth passes away and the Lord will restore the earth after the 1000 year millennial spoken on in Revelation 20 but in this study I do not teach on the millennial reign but know this that the earth as we know it todat will pass away and a new earth will be created when Christ takes those who made it in the rapture back to the new earth – See Revelation 21:1-4, this is when the meek will inherit the earth – Matthew 5:5.
Paul’s Teaching to the Thessalonian Church
2 Thessalonians 1:6–10 (KJV)
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe … in that day.
Commentary:
Paul teaches that when Jesus is revealed from heaven, He comes in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who reject the gospel. This happens when He is glorified in His saints, which is the gathering of the church.
There is no teaching here of people remaining on earth to face the Antichrist after Jesus returns. Instead, they face everlasting destruction.
No Second Chance After Christ Appears
Commentary:
Scripture does not teach that people are given another opportunity after Jesus returns. The idea that people must resist the Antichrist after the rapture is false teaching.
The truth is that the Antichrist must be resisted before the Lord returns. Once Jesus appears, judgment begins immediately.
Signs Before His Coming
Luke 21:25–28 (KJV)
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Commentary:
Jesus teaches that great distress and fear will come upon the earth before His return. After these things, people will see Him coming in the clouds. Believers are told to look up because redemption is near.
Be Ready at All Times
Matthew 24:36–44 (KJV)
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man…
39 …and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Commentary:
Just as in the days of Noah, judgment comes suddenly. Those taken are taken to safety; those left face judgment. Readiness—not escape theology—is what Jesus emphasized.
Final Exhortation
Understanding prophecy is important, but believers must come to the knowledge of what the Scriptures actually teach and reject teachings that contradict the Word of God.
The focus of every believer should be to be ready to meet the Lord, whether His return happens in our lifetime or not.