I used to be a pre-tribulationist - the first year I was a Christian. Then I studied the subject.
I’m now “pre-wrath, post trib”.
A lot of Christians, IMHO, are going to be very confused when they are still here as the civilized world crumbles around them.
Yep. Rapture/left behind is a recent construction, and not Biblical.
“A lot of Christians, IMHO, are going to be very confused when they are still here as the civilized world crumbles around them.”
Yes, and I think this will lead to a great loss of faith for many who were “lukewarm”.
This view stems from a misunderstanding of what the Tribulation is, and what the Rapture is.
The tribulation is not "the world crumbling down around us." The world has done that before, and will continue to do so again until the Lord returns. This particular approach to eschatology is driven by current events, not God's Word.
The tribulation is a very specific act of God in which He specifically pours out His wrath in judgment upon an unbelieving world (Rev. 6:17). It is an act of His wrath, not just a general "oh well, everything's going to pot because our political goals aren't being realised," which is how many Americans (especially) and post-tribbers seem to approach it.
God has not appointed His children to wrath (Rom. 5:9, I Thess. 5:9). These verses are talking about His wrath IN TOTALITY. Both the future eternal wrath of hell, as well as the temporal wrath called "the tribulation" or "time of Jacob's trouble." In essence, God is not a wife-beater, as the post-tribbers seem to think He is.
Usually William Lane Craig is a fairly careful scholar, but in this case, I think he is allowing his "faith tradition" within mainline Protestantism to drive his thinking more than a careful exegesis of the Word of God. It's a basic mistake of not reading the text clearly to see the second coming of Christ *to the earth* in I Thess. 4.
I share that view. If the pre-tribbers are right; then I leave a little earlier than expected. But if I am right; the faith of many pre-tribbers will be shaken when they find themselves unprepared for tribulation.
Similar here, though I disagree with you on the nature of eternal damnation.
One thing to add here is I think the pretrib focus is largely an American/British phenomena, largely because its easy to believe. Who doesn’t want donuts and a seminar on our coming great escape? But go to Iraq or Iran and see if you can find folks who think Christians will be spared from the persecutions of of the antichrist. And such persecutions are not God’s wrath. Remember Israel in Egypt was oppressed as well, but never suffered under the 10 plagues, which were God’s wrath on unbelievers then. So there is no argument that we must be evacuated before His return in the clouds, as He promised, for He will never subject us to His wrath, who are in Christ, though all the worlds grows dark around us, in Him we will always have our light, no matter where we are.
I have seen, studied and heard both doctrines preached. I am of the opinion when the Lord comes it’s done. I have seen congregations and friendships destroyed over this which is sad.
The differences are not worth arguing or fighting about and distracts from the real mission of Christians spreading the Word and seeing souls saved. The main thing repent and get saved, either way it plays out your good.