Roger Best tells the story of the early history of Prewrath. This audio is from the 2008 Prewrath Conference.
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Prewrath Resource Institute,
I recently read Marvin Rosenthal’s book, The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church. The book was well written and I consider myself thoroughly convinced of his position. I greatly appreciate the labor and sacrifice represented by the book.
I am one of those who was previously convinced of the pre-tribulation rapture. I was convinced because every pastor and every spiritual mentor I’ve ever looked up to has been adamant about that position. It served as a litmus test between orthodoxy and heresy. This prevailing attitude was addressed in the book, so I know you understand. This attitude was deeply ingrained in me as well. If it were not for the high esteem I already held for the author, I wouldn’t have “wasted my time” reading the book.
I was impressed by the way Rosenthal laid out scripture after scripture in a way that gave corrected definitions to terms like, Day of the Lord, wrath, tribulation, Coming (parousia), seals, bowls, and trumpets. As prophetic passages were laid out alongside each other, the scheduling of events was made evident. As I read these passages now, it seems so clear that scripture teaches only one second coming of the Lord.
Thank you for your ministry.
Sincerely,
Douglas Fox
Maryville, TN
By Allen Hadidian who is the designer of “The Prewrath Chart“
(The following is from the closing message at the January, 2008 conference in Orlando.)
MY COMMUNICATION GOALS
10. Regarding my teaching skills: I will seek to sharpen my skills in teaching end-times prophecy.
9. Regarding the content I teach: I will not simply teach others what I have been taught. I will make sure I have done my own homework to determine whether Scripture does indeed confirm the truths I’m considering.
MY ONGOING ATTITUDE
8. Regarding my ego: I don’t have the personal need to prove to others that I am right.
7. Regarding my knowledge: I don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle or see all the evidence that is out there; therefore, there is always something for me to learn from someone else.
6. Regarding other positions: I will seek to understand opposing viewpoints and the rationale behind those positions.
5. Regarding critiques and hard questions asked of the position I hold:
a. I will read, and not avoid, books and articles critiquing the position I hold. I will be open to hearing and examining difficult questions regarding the position I hold.
b. When a hard question is asked and I have no clue how to answer it, I will say, “You have a good point. I really don’t know how to answer that question. Give me time to think it through.”
4. Regarding problems and errors in the position I hold:
a. When I discover problems in the position I hold, I will be honest with others regarding them and not feel the need to hide them.
b. When I see an error in my “system,” I will say, “I was wrong.”
3. Regarding the cost: I am willing to pay the price if I change my position.
MY LORD’S COMMANDMENT
2. Regarding Christ’s heart: I will always keep in mind the commandment of the Lord Jesus; the one always on His heart, emphasized over and over again to His disciples. It was not, “Locate the timing of the Rapture and convince others of it,” but rather, “Love one another.”
MY GREATEST PURSUIT
1. Regarding God’s goal: I will pursue as my greatest pleasure in life that which I will experience at the coming of Christ in the clouds — the inexpressible joy and delight of marveling at His glory.
Fundamentalist Pastor Vincent Sawyer gives an excellent expositional and pastoral sermon on the Prewrath view, as well as giving his Berean story of testing and thus leaving his Pretribulational Tradition. You can listen to his sermon here (He does an amazing job unpacking the Prewrath position in sixty minutes).
For Pastor Sawyer, studying the nature of the Day of the Lord beginning with the key text Joel 2:31 was the start of his epiphany to God’s truth on this matter.
(For those interested, there are four articles that I have written that are relevant to the topics of his sermon here, here, here, here.)
I recently had an appointment with a Doctor in Murfreesboro Tennessee, who is a specialist, for a problem I was having. As he was going over my information he noted that I was retired. He asked what line of work I had been in and I replied, the ministry. He then asked what denomination? To which I answered Baptist. He sat back in his chair and said, Oh you must be pre-millenial and pretrib? Not knowing what was coming I rather slowly responded, I am pre-millenial but not pretrib. Uh huh so what are you, he asked and of course I quickly answered prewrath. He jumped out of chair and said I must shake your hand, so am I! He had read The Sign and The Rapture Question Answered some years ago and said finally the timing of the rapture makes sense. What a good time we had discussing eschatology, and oh yes he cared for my problem as well.
I have just concluded a prophecy conference at Barfield Baptist Church in Murfreesboro Tennessee. The Sunday through Wednesday conference was well attended and well received as I had opportunity to present the biblical basis for the prewrath rapture. One man, not from the church, attended every session, his interest came because his neighbor had given him a copy of The Rapture Question Answered by Robert VanKampen. Once you discover the truth you want to share it with others. What a joy it is to see people taking notes and digging into the Word of God with eagerness like the Bereans of old (Acts 17:11). Once again I found so many Christians accepting the faulty pretrib position simply because that is what they had been taught. It was a delight as well to work with a pastor who is open to discovering the truth of God’s Word and not tied into simply what he had been taught. Barfield Baptist is a wonderful growing church and it was my privilege to share the Word of God with them.
Roger Best