The Rapture Question

by John F. Walvoord

Now completely revised and enlarged, using quotations from the New International Version -- John F. Walvoord's classic work on the Rapture! The Rapture Question examines the four views of the church's role in the tribulation: Partial Rapturism, Pretribulationism, Midtribulationism, and Posttribulationism, with the revised edition particularly discussing the current debate between pretribulationism and posttribulationism. In updating his work, the author also added treatments on the Rapture in the Gospels, in 1 Thessalonians 4, in 1 Thessalonians 5, in 2 Thessalonians, in 1 Corinthians, and in Revelation. A bibliography of current literature plus general and Scripture indexes are included.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Biblical Studies

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 1979

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading this as I’ve been preaching/teaching a series on prophecy. This book was a great help to me & the people of our church. The allegiance to Scripture was appreciated. Not only was the pretribulational view outlined but other views that were contrary to it were examined. Without being preachy or condescending, he showed the fallacies of the other arguments. The Rapture Question gets my endorsement.

[Eli · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is probably one of the worst books I have ever read. Though I have nothing personally against the man, the way Walvoord handles the Scriptures is nothing less than violent, and he avoids all the serious challenges to his view. Anyone who is unaware of the rapture issues will leave this book feeling bewildered and will probably give up trying to understand it altogether (which perhaps was Walvoord's goal?) I do not recommend this book. If one is interested in understanding the rapture question, I highly recommend George Eldon Ladd's "The Blessed Hope."

[Kathryn Duerst]

This is a very good book, well worth reading to examine the support for, and objections to, the Pre-Tribulation Rapture teaching. I have the revised and expanded version of the book. The last chapter summarizes the findings of the study with fifty arguments in support of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. These are grouped under headings: Historical Argument, Hermeneutics, Nature of the Tribulation, Nature of the Church, Doctrine of Imminency, The Work of the Holy Spirit, Necessity of an Interval Between the Rapture and the Second Coming, and Contrasts Between the Rapture and the Second Coming.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the 5 best books on the issue.
one of his others is in my top 5 list also

[Noah McMillen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Rapture Question was an interesting read. I’m glad I read it to fully understand the arguments for dispensational premillennialism, with which I was raised. However, I came away from the book still standing firm in my post-tribulational beliefs.

I believe the key elements undergirding pre-tribulationism are the dispensational sharp distinction between Israel and the church (which is unscriptural), an argument from silence and false ecclesiology in Revelation, and a misunderstanding of imminence as it relates to the second coming of Christ.

Additionally, Walvoord deals heavily with premillennial post-tribulationism but barely deals with amillennialism, which I lean towards.

All this being said, I am still confused with some passages that could lean towards dispensational premillennialism. I am confused on my interpretation of 2 Thessalonians 2, on how to read Revelation (futurist or other methods), and with OT passages (e.g. Isaiah 65) which may be dealing with the millennium.

[Deanna Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a highly recommended resource for anyone desiring to better understand the book of Revelation and in understanding the arguments behind each of the held beliefs in the timing of the rapture, be it pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, or post-tribulation, this author does a fantastic job of furnishing information on why each believes the way that they do, but then offers compelling biblical evidence as to why the pre-tribulation rapture of the church is the only explanation that makes sense both biblically and logically. You will learn a lot of eschatology from this fascinating read and find yourself revisiting many portions of the book over again! If you are looking for biblical evidence to support the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, look no further than "The Rapture Question" by John F. Walvoord. This is a must-have masterpiece!

[Peter Vik · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always enlightening to read a theology book on a controversial issue from 60-70 years ago, observing what has changed and what has stayed the same. John F. Walvoord was part of a great generation of dispensational writers. Few theologians of any time wrote with the lucidity of Walvoord and his dispensational contemporaries. His positive arguments for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture stand the test of time, while some of his arguments against his opponents are no longer relevant, as the popularity of many of those views have waned. I believe certain aspects of dispenstionalism remained to be tightened up at the time this book was written, but it is a great read from a great theologian.

[Jim Moroney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most important question of this decade

I have read a lot of books on this question and this is the best. I am disturbed by the resurgence of post tribulation arguments that seem to be coming up these days. I rarely hear any sermons about the end times anymore. Have Christians lost their voice? It seems that rapture is a forbidden word never to be spoken in church anymore.

[Artur Pl · Rating 1 out of 5]

An example of how pretribulationists twist Scripture

Unfortunately, John Walvoord—like other pretribulationists—is an expert at distorting the plain meaning of God’s Word. The teaching of two future comings of Christ is unbiblical. This book is an example of how pretribulationists twist Scripture to support their deluded views.

[Gay Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, John F. Walvoord closely examines several Biblical texts that confirm a pre tribulation rapture. He compares his literal interpretation of scripture with contemporary alternative rapture interpretations. The book is written in an easy to understand English for his readers. Recommended.

[TheReadingSpot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for someone wanting to understand the timeline of the rapture within schatology in the bible. It was a dense read, but I have learned a lot, and this book definitely made me a good kickstart to have a good schatological understanding.

[Brian Miracle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Dwight Pentecost, whom he taught, Walvoord addresses the arguments of those who disagree with the pretribulatuonal position and refutes them using consistent literal interpretation of scripture.

[Mario A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay

Much info on the rapture and the 2nd coming of Christ. Very good notes and footnotes. Everything is very well documented

[Jonathan Mcleod · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hold the posttribulational view, so I don't agree with Walvoord on the timing of the "rapture." But the book gives a good and thorough explanation of the pretribulational view. I read Ladd's The Blessed Hope (posttribulational view) before I read this book. I wish that Walvoord would have interacted more with Ladd's book.

[Joe Molinari · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a sermon, John MacArthur referred to this book as "the finest book on the Rapture ever written." Having read it now, I am certain that I may never need to read another book on the topic. Walvoord answered virtually every question I had sufficiently. This is definitely one for my library.

[John J Jubak Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book

The best explanation of the rapture that I have encountered so far. It's great a reference book for Christians to keep in their library.