Ephraim the Syrian — Ten Undiscovered Pretribulation-Rapture Passages

In my ongoing studies in the early-church fathers, I have discovered a number of pretribulation-rapture passages in Ephraim the Syrian that I haven’t seen referenced in books, magazines, or online. I offer ten of the clearest here. Perhaps “undiscovered” is an overstatement, but unless my radar needs to be significantly upgraded, these passages do seem to have largely escaped notice in prophecy-loving circles. I found them in his 150-plus Greek works which not only aren’t included in the standard English-translation church-father collections, but the vast majority of them have never been translated into English, at least not with any semblance of formal publication.

If these passages are as clear to other prophecy students as they appear to me, this is potentially explosive information. They would be a significant addition to the patristic pretribulation-rapture references that we already have. It is high time that those who love Bible prophecy avail themselves of Ephraim’s largely unknown Greek works. This treasure trove significantly bolsters the proof that biblical eschatology—I mean premillennial and pretribulational—survived deep into the patristic era before the militant efforts of the apostatizing church almost entirely replaced the biblical truth with the error of replacement theology.

(#1) Ephraim the Syrian, Sermon on Repentance and Judgment and the Separation of the Soul From the Body

— (239) Behold, the kingdom of heaven is at the doors [ready] to flash forth, but we don’t want to hear about these things—not ever. The signs and wonders, which the Lord said had to happen, the famines, the earthquakes, the terrors, and the nations in upheaval. These all seem to us like a dream to be told to others. The report of these things does not disturb us, nor the spectacle itself. For the elect shall be gathered prior to the tribulation, so they shall not see the confusion and the great tribulation coming upon the unrighteous world. The season for harvest has now drawn nigh, and the end of the age holds forth. Angels holding scythes are waiting for the nod. Let us fear, brethren, for it is the eleventh hour of the day.

— (239) Ἰδοὺ ἐπὶ θύραις ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν τοῦ ἐκλάμψαι, ἡμεῖς δὲ περὶ τούτου οὐ βουλόμεθα ἀκροάσασθαι πώποτε. Τὰ σημεῖα καὶ τὰ τέρατα, ἃ εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος, γεγόνασιν, λιμοὶ καὶ σεισμοὶ καὶ φόβητρα καὶ ἐθνῶν αἱ κινήσεις· ταῦτα δὲ πάντα δοκεῖ ἡμῖν ὥσπερ ὄναρ διηγήσασθαι πρὸς ἀλλήλους. Οὐ θροεῖ ἡμᾶς ἡ ἀκοὴ αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ αὐτὸ τὸ θέαμα. Οἱ ἐκλεκτοὶ συνάγονται πρὸ τῆς θλίψεως, τοῦ μὴ ἰδεῖν τὴν σύγχυσιν καὶ τὴν θλῖψιν τὴν μεγάλην τὴν ἐρχομένην εἰς τὸν ἄδικον κόσμον. Ὁ ἀμητὸς ἤδη ἤγγικεν εἰς θερισμόν, καὶ τέλος ἔχει ὁ αἰὼν οὗτος. Οἱ Ἄγγελοι τὰ δρέπανα κατέχουσι καὶ τὸ νεῦμα ἐκδέχονται. Φοβηθῶμεν, ἀγαπητοί. Ὥρα ἐστὶν ἑνδεκάτη τῆς ἡμέρας.

— LATIN TITLE — Sermo de paenitentia et iudicio et separatione animae et corporis. — GREEK TITLE — Λόγος περὶ μετανοίας καὶ κρίσεως, καὶ περὶ χωρισμοῦ ψυχῆς καὶ σώματος. — GREEK TEXT SOURCE — K.G. Phrantzolas, Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ τοῦ Σύρου ἔργα, vol. 4, To Perivoli tis Panagias, 1992: 234-244. Retrieved from Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (stephanus.tlg.uci.edu). — WORK IDENTIFICATION — Roger Pearce #60, TLG #61. — ENGLISH TRANSLATION SOURCE — Translation is my own. — OBSERVATION — Ephraim’s statement “gathered prior to the tribulation” is clear presentation of a pretribulation rapture.

— (14) Behold, now the holy and the just are chosen and gathered into the harbor of life that they should not see the tribulation and the snares (stumbling blocks) coming upon us because of our sins. … If we don’t now hasten and weep shamelessly, rightly repenting in humility of soul and complete meekness, oh how we shall mourn in the tribulation … Again, when we see the saints in glory flying off in light in the clouds of the air to meet Christ, the king of glory, but see ourselves in the great tribulation, who shall be able to bear that shame and terrible reproach?

— (14) Ὅσιοι καὶ δίκαιοι ἰδοὺ νῦν ἐκλέγονται καὶ ἐπισυνάγονται εἰς λιμένα τῆς ζωῆς, ἵνα μὴ θεωρῶσι τὴν θλῖψιν καὶ σκάνδαλα ἐπερχόμενα ἡμῖν δι’ ἡμῶν ἁμαρτίας. … Ἂν μὴ νῦν σπουδάσωμεν καὶ κλαύσωμεν ἀναιδῶς, μετανοοῦντες καλῶς ἐν ταπεινώσει ψυχῆς καὶ πρᾳότητι πολλῇ, πῶς μέλλομεν ἕκαστος θρηνῆσαι ἐν τῇ θλίψει … Ὅταν πάλιν ἴδωμεν τοὺς ἁγίους ἐν δόξῃ ἱπταμένους ἐν φωτὶ ἐν νεφέλαις ἀέρων εἰς ἀπάντησιν Χριστοῦ τοῦ βασιλέως τῆς δόξης, ἑαυτοὺς δὲ βλέποντες ἐν τῇ μεγάλῃ θλίψει, τίς ἄρα ὑπενέγκῃ τὴν αἰσχύνην ἐκείνην καὶ δεινὸν ὀνειδισμόν.

— LATIN TITLE — Sermo in patres defunctos. — GREEK TITLE — Λόγος εἰς πατέρας τελειωθέντας. — GREEK TEXT SOURCE — K.G. Phrantzolas, Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ τοῦ Σύρου ἔργα, vol. 2, To Perivoli tis Panagias, 1989: 252-266. Retrieved from Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (stephanus.tlg.uci.edu). — WORK IDENTIFICATION — Roger Pearce #16, TLG #15. — ENGLISH TRANSLATION SOURCE — Translation is my own. — OBSERVATION — Ephraim’s statement “not see the tribulation” and his contrast between those in the clouds and those in the tribulation clearly teach a pretribulation rapture.

— (407-408) Indeed, the grace of God strengthens and rejoices the hearts of the righteous; and they shall be seized up in the clouds to meet him. While those who are lazy and timid like me shall remain on the earth, trembling. … (409) For behold the Bridegroom is ready to proceed on the clouds of heaven with the glory of his blessed Father. And he will summon each of you by name, and he will place you in the rank of those saints abiding in the unspeakable light in the life that is undefiled, immortal, and eternal, according to your labors.

— (407-408) ἀλλ’ ἡ χάρις τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐνισχύει καὶ χαροποιεῖ τὰς καρδίας τῶν δικαίων· καὶ ἁρπάζονται ἐν νεφέλαις εἰς ἀπάντησιν αὐτοῦ. Οἱ δὲ ὁμοιωθέντες ἐμοὶ ῥᾴθυμοι καὶ ὀκνηροί, τρέμοντες μένουσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. … (409) Ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὁ Νυμφίος ἕτοιμός ἐστι τοῦ προελθεῖν ἐν νεφέλαις τοῦ οὐρανοῦ μετὰ δόξης τοῦ εὐλογημένου αὑτοῦ Πατρός, καὶ κατ’ ὄνομα ἕκαστον ὑμῶν φωνήσει, καὶ ἀνακλινεῖ αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ τάγματι τῶν ἁγίων ἐκείνων τῶν διαγόντων ἐν τῷ φωτὶ ἐκείνῳ τῷ ἀνεκλαλήτῳ, ἐν τῇ ζωῇ τῇ ἀκηράτῳ καὶ ἀθανάτῳ καὶ αἰωνίᾳ, κατὰ τοὺς καμάτους αὐτοῦ.

— LATIN TITLE — In secundum adventum domini nostri Jesu Christi. — GREEK TITLE — Eἰς τὴν δευτέραν παρουσίαν τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. — GREEK TEXT SOURCE — K.G. Phrantzolas, Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ τοῦ Σύρου ἔργα, vol. 3, To Perivoli tis Panagias, 1990: 404-415. Retrieved from Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (stephanus.tlg.uci.edu). — WORK IDENTIFICATION — Roger Pearce #49, TLG # 48. — ENGLISH TRANSLATION SOURCE — Translation is my own. — OBSERVATION — Ephraim’s contrast between those seized up in the clouds and those trembling in the tribulation indisputably portrays a pretribulation rapture.

(#4) Ephraim the Syrian, Sermon on the Advent of the Lord, and the End of the Age, and the Coming of the Antichrist

— (115) Watch always, praying continually, that you may be worthy to escape the tribulation and stand before God … (116) for if anyone has tears and compunction, let him pray the Lord that he might be delivered from the tribulation which is about to come upon the earth, that he might not see it at all, nor the beast himself, not even hear of its terrors. For there shall be famines, earthquakes, and diverse pestilences upon the earth. … We need to use many prayers and tears, oh beloved, that each and every one of us might be found steadfast in [our] trials, for many fantastic (deceptive?) signs by [the hand of] the beast are going to happen … (117) … Finally, brethren, there is a terrible struggle for all those men who are lovers of Christ, (118) that we may not manifest timidity till the hour of [our] death, neither stand in weakness (sponginess) when the dragon is marking with his own seal in opposition to the cross of the Saviour. … (122) And there is nowhere to flee or hide. Everything is in disarray—in the sea and on land. This is why the Lord said to us, watch and pray continuously that you might escape the tribulation.

(115) ἀγρυπνεῖτε πάντοτε, δεόμενοι συνεχῶς, ἵνα γένησθε ἄξιοι ἐκφυγεῖν τῆς θλίψεως καὶ σταθῆναι ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ Θεοῦ … (116) Εἴ τις ἔχει δάκρυα καὶ κατάνυξιν, δεηθήτω τοῦ Κυρίου, ἵνα ῥυσθῶμεν ἐκ θλίψεως τῆς μελλούσης ἔρχεσθαι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· ἵνα μήτε ἴδῃ παντελῶς μήτε αὐτὸ τὸ θηρίον, μηδὲ πάλιν ἀκούσῃ τὰ φόβητρα αὐτοῦ. Ἔσται γὰρ κατὰ τόπους λιμοί, σεισμοὶ καὶ θάνατοι διάφοροι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. … Πολλῶν εὐχῶν καὶ δακρύων χρῄζομεν, ὦ ἀγαπητοί, ἵνα τις ἡμῶν εὑρεθῇ ἑδραῖος ἐν τοῖς πειρασμοῖς. Πολλὰ γάρ εἰσι τὰ φαντάσματα τοῦ θηρίου τὰ γινόμενα … (117) Λοιπὸν οὖν, ἀδελφοί μου, φρικτὸς ἀγὼν ἅπασι τοῖς φιλοχρίστοις ἀνθρώποις, (118) ἵνα μέχρις ὥρας τοῦ θανάτου μὴ δειλιάσωσι, μηδὲ στῶσιν ἐν χαυνότητι, ὅταν χαράσσῃ ὁ Δράκων τὴν ἑαυτοῦ σφραγῖδα ἀντὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῦ Σωτῆρος. … (122) Καὶ οὐκ ἔστι ποῦ φυγεῖν ἢ κρυβῆναι· τετάρακται γὰρ τὰ σύμπαντα, ἡ θάλασσα καὶ ἡ ξηρά. Διὰ τοῦτο ἔφη ἡμῖν ὁ Κύριος· γρηγορεῖτε, δεόμενοι ἀδιαλείπτως ἐκφυγεῖν ἐκ θλίψεως.

— LATIN TITLE — Sermo in adventum domini, et de consummatione saeculi, et in adventum antichristi. — GREEK TITLE — Λόγος εἰς τὴν παρουσίαν τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ περὶ συντελείας τοῦ κόσμου, καὶ εἰς τὴν παρουσίαν τοῦ Ἀντιχρίστου. — GREEK TEXT SOURCE —K.G. Phrantzolas, Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ τοῦ Σύρου ἔργα, vol. 4, To Perivoli tis Panagias, 1992: 111-128. Retrieved from Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (stephanus.tlg.uci.edu). — WORK IDENTIFICATION — Roger Pearce #53, TLG # 52. — ENGLISH TRANSLATION SOURCE — Translation is my own. — OBSERVATION — The idea in (118) is that if we stand in the weakness of hypocrisy now, we shall miss the rapture and stand in weakness before the dragon. — OBSERVATION — Ephraim’s statement “escape the tribulation” with the clarification “that he might not see it at all” emphatically teaches a pretribulation rapture.

(#5) Ephraim the Syrian, On Patience and the Consummation of this Age, and on the Second Coming …

— (179) Therefore beloved, faithful servants and elect soldier monks, let us take up in our hearts the full armor which we have been talking about, and without delay meditate on them one by one, that we may be able to fight the good fight and tread down all the power of the enemy, that we might be delivered from the wrath coming upon the sons of disobedience and that we might find mercy and grace in the day of judgment before the righteous judge who renders to every man according to his works.

— (179) Οὐκοῦν, ἀγαπητοί, πιστοὶ δοῦλοι καὶ ἐκλεκτοὶ στρατιῶται μοναχοί, ἀναλάβωμεν τὴν πανοπλίαν τῶν προειρημένων ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ἡμῶν, καθ’ ἑκάστην ἀνυπερθέτως μνείαν αὐτῶν ποιούμενοι, ὅπως δυνηθῶμεν ἀγωνίσασθαι τὸν καλὸν ἀγῶνα καὶ καταπατῆσαι πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Ἐχθροῦ, ἵνα ῥυσθῶμεν ἀπὸ τῆς ὀργῆς τῆς ἐπερχομένης ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας καὶ ἵνα εὕρωμεν ἔλεος καὶ χάριν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς κρίσεως ἐνώπιον τοῦ δικαίου Κριτοῦ τοῦ ἀποδιδόντος ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.

— LATIN TITLE — De patientia et consummatione huius saeculi, ac de secundo aduentu; necnon de meditatione diuinarum scripturarum; et quae quantaque sit quietis silentiique utilitas. — GREEK TITLE — Περὶ ὑπομονῆς καὶ συντελείας καὶ τῆς δευτέρας παρουσίας. Καὶ περὶ μελέτης τῶν θείων Γραφῶν. Καὶ τί τὸ τῆς ἡσυχίας ὠφέλιμον. — GREEK TEXT SOURCE —K.G. Phrantzolas, Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ τοῦ Σύρου ἔργα, vol. 4, To Perivoli tis Panagias, 1992: 155-179. Retrieved from Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (stephanus.tlg.uci.edu). — WORK IDENTIFICATION — Roger Pearce #55, TLG # 54. — ENGLISH TRANSLATION SOURCE — Translation is my own. — OBSERVATION — Ephraim employs phrases like the time of wrath coming upon the world as synonymous with the tribulation. — OBSERVATION — Ephraim’s statement “delivered from the wrath coming upon the sons of disobedience” is clear presentation of a pretribulation rapture.

— Blessed is he who unceasingly remembers the fear of Gehenna and hastens to sincerely repent with tears and groans in the Lord, for he shall be delivered from the great tribulation.

— Μακάριος ὃς μέμνηται διηνεκῶς τοῦ φόβου τῆς γεέννης καὶ σπεύδει ἐν δάκρυσι καὶ στεναγμοῖς εἰλικρινῶς μετανοεῖν ἐν Κυρίῳ ὅτι ῥυσθήσεται ἐκ τῆς θλίψεως τῆς μεγάλης.

— LATIN TITLE — Beautitudines, capita quinquaginta quinque. — GREEK TITLE — Μακαρισμοί, κεφάλαια νεʹ. — GREEK TEXT SOURCE — K.G. Phrantzolas, Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ τοῦ Σύρου ἔργα, vol. 2, To Perivoli tis Panagias, 1989: 252-266. Retrieved from Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (stephanus.tlg.uci.edu). — WORK IDENTIFICATION — Roger Pearce #30, TLG # 29. — ENGLISH TRANSLATION SOURCE — Translation is my own. — OBSERVATION — Ephraim’s statement “delivered from the great tribulation” indisputably portrays a pretribulation rapture.

— (272-273) Give to us a desire, Lord, to watch for your meeting, having the loins of our understanding girded and the intellectual lamp of our soul unquenchable, waiting for you, our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Count us worthy, Lord, of the rapture of the righteous, when they meet you the Master in the clouds, that we might not be tried by the bitter and inexorable judgment … The righteousness flight is swift, lifting the righteous from earth to heaven. May your grace, Lord, be our strength, and may you take us up in the clouds, with the righteous and the elect in the air, to meet you the king of everything.

— (272-273) Δὸς ἡμῖν, Κύριε, προθυμίαν ἐγρηγορέναι εἰς τὴν σὴν ἀπαντήν, ἔχοντας τὰς ὀσφύας τῆς διανοίας περιεζωσμένας, καὶ τοὺς νοεροὺς λύχνους τῆς ψυχῆς ἀσβέστους, σὲ προσδοκῶντας τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν καὶ Σωτῆρα Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν. Ἀξίωσον ἡμᾶς, Κύριε, τῆς ἁρπαγῆς τῶν δικαίων, ὅτε ἐν νεφέλαις ὑπαντῶσί σοι τῷ Δεσπότῃ, ἵνα μὴ πειρασθῶμεν ἐκείνης τῆς πικρᾶς καὶ ἀπαραιτήτου κρίσεως. … Ἡ δικαιοσύνη πτέρα ἐστὶν ὀξυτάτη κουφίζουσα τοὺς δικαίους ἀπὸ γῆς εἰς οὐρανόν. Ἡ χάρις σου, Κύριε, ἰσχὺς ἡμῖν γενηθήτω καὶ ἀναλάβῃ ἐν νεφέλαις, σὺν δικαίοις καὶ ἐκλεκτοῖς εἰς ἀέρα, εἰς ἀπάντησίν σοι τῷ Βασιλεῖ τῶν ἁπάντων.

— LATIN TITLE — De resurrectione mortuorum sermo. — GREEK TITLE — Περὶ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν λόγος. — GREEK TEXT SOURCE —K.G. Phrantzolas, Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ τοῦ Σύρου ἔργα, vol. 4, To Perivoli tis Panagias, 1992: 256-274. Retrieved from Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (stephanus.tlg.uci.edu). — WORK IDENTIFICATION — Roger Pearce #62, TLG #63. — ENGLISH TRANSLATION SOURCE — Translation is my own. — OBSERVATION — His reference to our being tried (πειρασθῶμεν) by the bitter, inexorable judgment is an allusion to the hour of trial (τῆς ὥρας τοῦ πειρασμοῦ) in Rev. 3:10. He obviously regards the hour of trial as a time of divine judgment. — OBSERVATION — The pretribulation rapture cannot be taught any more clearly than Ephraim’s statement that the church will be caught up to the clouds that they “might not be tried by the bitter and inexorable judgment.” They won’t be down here to see that horrible time.

— (94) Let us pray the Lord in great humility that he would take us out (remove us) from the coming fear, and count us worthy of that rapture (snatching away) when the righteous are raptured (snatched) in the clouds to the air to meet the king of glory, and we shall inherit the kingdom of heaven with meekness and humility.

— (94) Δεηθῶμεν οὖν τοῦ Κυρίου ἐν ταπεινοφροσύνῃ πολλῇ, ὅπως ἐξέληται ἡμᾶς ἐκ τοῦ φόβου τοῦ μέλλοντος, καὶ ἀξιώσῃ ἡμᾶς τῆς ἁρπαγῆς ἐκείνης, ὅτε οἱ δίκαιοι ἁρπάζονται ἐν νεφέλαις εἰς ἀέρα εἰς ἀπάντησιν τοῦ Βασιλέως τῆς δόξης, καὶ κληρονομήσωμεν μετὰ πραέων καὶ ταπεινῶν τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.

— LATIN TITLE — Ad eversionem superbiae. — GREEK TITLE — Πρὸς καθαίρεσιν ὑπερηφανίας. — GREEK TEXT SOURCE —K.G. Phrantzolas, Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ τοῦ Σύρου ἔργα, vol. 1, To Perivoli tis Panagias, 1988 (repr. 1995): 84-95. Retrieved from Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (stephanus.tlg.uci.edu). — WORK IDENTIFICATION — Roger Pearce #3, TLG #3. — ENGLISH TRANSLATION SOURCE — Translation is my own. — OBSERVATION — Here he refers to the tribulation or hour of trial as “the coming fear.” This expression doesn’t have the ring of standard English, but if we paraphrase it as “the coming horrors” the point is driven home to the deepest recesses of our inner man. — OBSERVATION — Ephraim’s statement that the church will be removed prior to the time of the coming horrors, and this by being raptured up to the clouds, is a strong testimony for a pretribulation rapture.

— (68) Blessed are those who cry day and night that they should be delivered from the coming wrath.

— (68) μακάριοι οἱ δακρύοντες ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτός, ἵνα ῥυσθῶσιν ἀπὸ τῆς μελλούσης ὀργῆς.

— LATIN TITLE — Quomodo anima cum lacrymis debeat orare deum, quando tentatur ab inimico. — GREEK TITLE — Περὶ ψυχῆς ὅταν πειράζηται ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἐχθροῦ πῶς ὀφείλει μετὰ δακρύων τῷ Θεῷ προσεύχεσθαι. — GREEK TEXT SOURCE —K.G. Phrantzolas, Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ τοῦ Σύρου ἔργα, vol. 2, To Perivoli tis Panagias, 1989: 59-70. Retrieved from Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (stephanus.tlg.uci.edu). — WORK IDENTIFICATION — Roger Pearce #23, TLG #22. — ENGLISH TRANSLATION SOURCE — Translation is my own. — OBSERVATION — Here Ephraim refers to the tribulation as “the coming wrath.” — OBSERVATION — Ephraim’s deliverance prior to the coming wrath is clearly a pretribulation rapture.

— (323) Blessed are those who cry day and night because they shall be delivered from the coming wrath.

— (323) Μακάριοι οἱ δακρύοντες ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτός, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ῥυσθήσονται ἀπὸ τῆς μελλούσης ὀργῆς.

— LATIN TITLE — De beatitudinibus atque infelicitatibus. — GREEK TITLE — Περὶ μακαρισμῶν καὶ ταλανισμῶν. — GREEK TEXT SOURCE —K.G. Phrantzolas, Ὁσίου Ἐφραίμ τοῦ Σύρου ἔργα, vol. 3, To Perivoli tis Panagias, 1990: 323-326. Retrieved from Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (stephanus.tlg.uci.edu). — WORK IDENTIFICATION — Roger Pearce #41, TLG #40. — ENGLISH TRANSLATION SOURCE — Translation is my own. — OBSERVATION — This is identical to the prior citation except that it presents the promise in the indicative rather than the subjunctive. This evidences, as I have long observed, that there was semantic overlap between the subjunctive and the future indicative in the minds of the Greek speakers of yore. — OBSERVATION — Here, as above, Ephraim is clearly teaching a pretribulation rapture.

When I discovered the first of these references to a pretribulation rapture in Ephraim the Syrian’s Greek works, I could hardly believe what I was reading. It was so emphatic and clear. As my research progressed, and the clear testimonies to a pretribulation rapture began to pile up, my excitement level went through the roof. I felt like I had stumbled upon a treasure trove in the mountains. While these passages do not prove a pretribulation rapture — that is the province of Scripture alone — they establish beyond all shadow of a doubt that there was a clear and strong pretribulation rapture testimony in the early church. May these pretribulation-rapture passages from the writings of a fourth-century monk prove a blessing to all who love the prophetic Scriptures and the glorious hope they hold out for the church.

End Times Ping

There are many who say the Rapture is some 17th century invention by Darby. They have always been wrong and will gaslight you if you believe in a Pre-Trib Rapture of the Church by continuing to double down on that thought.

I’ve posted this to counter their arguments.

FURTHER LINKS ON THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE:

https://youtu.be/iaIIn1kdQZs

https://youtu.be/MeUQ9g1QlDk

https://youtu.be/3p0w05XOby8

I wonder how many prophecy party invitations John received? Because well before the days of Ephraim the Syrian, folks ran off with their interpretations...

"Which is he that betrayeth thee?"

John 21
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

If Jesus believed the settled and/or popular doctrines, he'd never recognize himself. At least he was born again so it's all good, all in the timing.

Bio: The writings attributed to St. Ephrem the Syrian are divided into two corpora: a Syriac collection and a Greek collection, the latter being largely independent of the former. For many centuries, Orthodox Christians had access only to the Greek writings. These writings were translated into Slavonic early on and generally exercised an enormous impact on Orthodox ascetical theology. But in the 18th century, an edition of both corpora was published in Rome, to which St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain responded with enthusiasm, since the Syriac writings also included a Latin translation, rendering them, for the first time, highly accessible to those who could not read Syriac.

Seems like many are missing the point of this thread.

It’s not to equate these writings with Scripture, but these writings are evidence that belief in a pre-tribulation rapture is not a new invention as it is often accused of being.

This is the evidence that people early on in church history also recognized and interpreted the passages on the rapture the same way we do, that the rapture will occur BEFORE the Tribulation.

The one thing I take exception to is the idea that when the rapture happens, it will only be for those found watching and waiting. That puts it on a works level.

The rapture of the church is the removal of the church body, all of it, watching or not.

There will be no Christians left behind because they didn’t do enough or good enough works.

If they are left, it will only be because they weren’t born again believers in the first place.

There will be no Christians left behind because they didn’t do enough or good enough works.

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people.

But the Good news will still be preached even if no one has any ears to hear.......................

Since we are four years into Revelation Chapter 12, it is time to put the Pre-Tribulation Rapture to bed, and get on with some real eschatology.

It is more complicated and at the same time much more understandable it you spend some time to look at the whole picture. For example, why would Jesus tell the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, if there was going to be only one Rapture? Why did Jesus talk so much about Believers being persecuted for His Name’s sake?

Brenda Weltner has figured it out.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnatAaTTPCHsmSfiR8aBwGQ

God always gives opportunities for repentance and experiencing His mercy before judgment falls, usually for many years and with many warnings.

It is not His will that any perish but all come to repentance - 2 Peter 3:9

Sorry man - that ship doesn’t float.

No serious Christian truly believes we’re actually 4 years into the Tribulation.

Where’s the AC?
His Abomination of Desolation?
His Mark?

All of that should’ve happened by now.

Good grief!....SMH.

Exactly right MM!
The message we believe is the one they believed also.

When that Last Trump sounds, God will not “forget” anybody of His own.

It is HIS WORK, never ours.

Prayer of St. Ephraim:

Lord and Master of my life, grant me not a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition, or vain talking. But rather a spirit of purity, humility, patience, and love bestow to me Thy servant. Ye O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brother, for Thou art blessed unto the ages of ages.

Since we are four years into Revelation Chapter 12

Demonstrably false ...

When did 1/4 of the entire population of the earth get killed (4th seal)?

When was 1/3 of the earth burned up? (1st trumpet)

When did 1/3 of the sea become blood? (2nd trumpet)

I could go on ... and on ...

Every Fall you predict something based on your understanding of Revelation or the rapture ... and every year it doesn't come true.

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