What is the difference between post tribulationist and pre tribulationist?

Answer 1

These two words are used in the description of when the "Rapture" will occur. Some believe pre- or before the tribulation and others post- or after the tribulation. There is a world of difference between the two positions which can not be discussed in this space.

Answer 2

This all has to do with the interpretation of passages primarily from the Book of Revelation, the last book in the New Testament. "Tribulation" refers to a time of trouble, upheaval and violence throughout the earth, and is said to be 7 years long in Revelation. Now the New Testament also describes another event, known as the Rapture, when Christ returns and gathers up the church, the ones who believe in Him. A Pre-tribulationist believes that the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation, while a Post-tribulationalist believes that it will come after the Tribulation. (This gets very complex very quickly, as you might guess. If you have heard of the Left Behind series of books - they give us a pre-tribulational view.

Answer 3

The 'Rapture' and 'Tribulation' are theological inventions of John Nelson Darby, founder of the Plymouth Brethren, in the nineteenth-century. The concept has evolved over a period of nearly two hundred years, but is still essentially the same as originally proposed by Darby. His original scheme, devised in 1830, was 'Pre-tribulation' - in other words, the Rapture occurs first, then the Tribulation. However, later proponents of his theology found what they felt were flaws in his scheme, and some opted for a post-tribulation scenario, while others opted for a mid-tribulation scenario.

Pre-Tribulation Rapture: (or "pre-trib")
The Rapture happens just before the Tribulation, so that believers will not have to experience any of its disruption and pain. The main difficulties with pre-trib are contained in the Olivet Prophecy of Jesus. In Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, Jesus describes the terrible destruction and loss of life of the tribulation period. The disaster is believed to be so intense that no human (Christian or non-Christian alike) would remain alive, except that God shortens the duration of the disaster for the sake of the believers. Jesus then continues by describing his return towards earth immediately after the terrible devastation. From this passage, it is obvious that the rapture will follow the Tribulation. The supporters of the "pre-trib" position suggest that Jesus will have a total of three comings: the first during the first century CE; the second at the start of the tribulation, and a third at the end of the tribulation.

Post-tribulation Rapture: (or "post-trib")
The faithful experience the full horrors of the entire Tribulation and are raptured only at the end of the 7 years. The main problem with this theory is that there are many Bible passages which state that Christ's return will be at a time that cannot be predicted. But the Tribulation period starts with the arrival of the Antichrist and an interval of peace. Precisely 42 months later, a sudden shift occurs, a peace treaty is broken, and devastation begins. These would be well defined dates that would allow an accurate prediction of the end of the Tribulation. There are other weaknesses to this theory.