Our point is this: since pretribulationism has defined "Revelation" as the end-of-the-age visible-to-all return of Christ in judgement on the world, then this word should ALWAYS mean the end-of-the-age visible-to-all return of Christ in judgement on the world. As Alexander Reese comments,

"... He will one day come forth: in power and glory. One of the names given to this crisis is apokalypsis or unveiling. All pretrib teachers taught that this great event coincides with the Day of the Lord and the inauguration of the [visible] Kingdom [on earth].

"Now, if pretrib theories of the End-time are true, it follows that this word, when used in the Epistles, must never be found associated with the existence of the Church on earth. If it is so used even once then the theories are wrong (The Approaching Advent of Christ, 1975, p 135).

The following verses are those that speak of Jesus' apokslupsis (revelation, an uncovering). Apokalupsis and apokalupto, the verb, refer to a universal unveiling of Jesus.

The theory of Pretribulationism proposes that Jesus is secretly revealed to the Church at the pretrib rapture, while remaining hidden from the world until He returns in judgement seven years later. But the passages that refer to His being revealed show this to be the figment of some false teacher's imagination; the very thought destroys the meaning of "revealed." A close examination of the verses reveals there is not one specific mention of a secret revelation of Jesus to the Church in a rapture before the Tribulation. Understanding what they say as well as what they don't say must bring the examiner to only one honest conclusion. This eliminates the false assumptions that have long been evident and have only served to cloud the truth.

Have pretribulationists used this word out of its proper setting once? Yes, and more than once. This is clearly shown below by the period of time stated as to when the "Revelation" occurs. Careful examination of these verses shows the pretribulational use of "Apokalypsis" and "Apokalupto" makes the term ambiguous, and the theory to be confusing, contradictory and therefore wrong if they use it for His coming at the beginning of the Tribulation.

There are no verses using Apokalypsis (Revelation) and Apokalupto (revealed) that could be placed in a secret pretribulational Revelation of Christ to the Church and not to the world. None of them state such a secret revelation as a fact because no such Scripture exists. Upon close examination, we will also see that there is no reason NOT to place these verses in the scenario describing Jesus' Revelation to the world at the end of the Tribulation. Let's look at the verses useing REVELATION and REVEALED:

Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is REVEALED (APOKALUPTO).

Definitely a posttrib scenario, with fire and brimstone falling from heaven on THE SAME DAY. Lot and his family left the city just before the fire and brimstone fell. jesus said it will be the same when He is revealed, a definite posttrib scenario.

Commentary on our next verse can be read at The Changing Of The Saints And Creation".

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be REVEALED (APOKALUPTO) in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the MANIFESTATION (APOKALUPSIS) of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

1 Corinthians 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the COMING (APOKALUPSIS) of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be REVEALED (APOKALUPTO) by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

"The day" spoken of here is the day of the Lord, a day that will be revealed by fire to judge "every man." This obviously is not a silent coming of the day of the Lord because of the obvious fiery description complementary to the day of the Lord. The context is posttribulational.

The next verse is definitely a posttribulational revelation of Jesus, since both persecutor and saint are affected when He is revealed. This verse breaks the pretribulational timing of their "Revelation' because the Church is present and given relief WHEN Jesus is revealed to deal with the persecutors. If it was raptured seven years earlier, how did it end up on earth in the midst of its persecutors being dealt with by a visible Christ?

2 Thessalonians 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be REVEALED (APOKALUPSIS) from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

The timing of this event becomes clear if we form a question out of verse 7: "[What] will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed (apokalupsis) from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels?" Verse 6 answers the question: "God is just. He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well." This must be a posttribulational revelation of Jesus, since both persecutor and saint are affected at the same time. This cannot be a secret revelation of the Lord to the saints unseen by the world. The scenario described as well as the meaning of "revelation" (uncovered) refutes the pretribulation stance.

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming (Parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be REVEALED (APOKALUPTO), the son of perdition;

Notice here the day of the Parousia of Christ is spoken of as occurring AFTER the apostasy and the revealing of the man of sin. The use of the word "parousia" here is not pretribulational ans pretirbulaitonists say it must be. This is a very crucial verse in exposing pretribulationism for the lie that it is.

2 Thessalonians 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be REVEALED (APOKALUPTO) in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be REVEALED (APOKALUPTO), whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his COMING (PAROUSIA): 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

The Lord destroys the antichrist "with the brightness of His PAROUSIA." Pretribulationists usually propose that the use of the word parousia regarding the saints refers to Christ's pretribulational return and the parousia mentioned in Matthew 24:30 is for the Jews. But in the above verse, Jesus destroys the antichrist with the birghtness of His cming (PAROUSIA). This HAS to be a posttribulational event since that is when the antcrist is thrown into the lake of fire.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be REVEALED (APOKALUPTO) in the last time.

Here the fulfillment of our hope is directly associated with the Revelation of Christ, which is after the Tribulation when He comes in judgement.

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the APPEARING (APOKALUPSIS) of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was REVEALED (APOKALUPTO), that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the REVELATION (APOKALUPSIS) of Jesus Christ;

Here the Church is directly associated again with Christ in the posttribulational revelation at the end of the age according to what the OT prophets prohesied. Nowehre did they prophesy a pretribulational appearing (APOKALUPSIS) of Jesus Christ. This is when the hope of the Christian is fulfilled.

1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be REVEALED (APOKALUPSIS), ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be REVEALED (APOKALUPTO): 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

The Church shall be partakers at the Revelation of Christ after the Tribulation period and the terrible sufferinbgs they undergo. The glory will be revealed when Christ is revealed, revealed meaning not hidden but openly manifested for all to see.

2 Thessalonians 1:6,7 "God is just. He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed (apokalypsis) from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels."

Each of these last three passages from Peter's first letter, as well as each of the other verses, promise Jesus' revelation in the last time. Notice that none qualify his apokalupsis with a specific group to whom He'll be revealed. For instance, none specifically say Jesus will be revealed to the Church, or to the world, or to the Church and the world. They all merely state that He will be revealed, period. Because the word means "to uncover," whatever is uncovered always is revealed to all, unless there is a qualifying phrase. It is impossible to use these verses to prove Jesus will be revealed only to the Church, or that His revelation will be in two parts, or that it will be secret. Rather, they do give us these facts:

• Both the Church and the world will be justly affected simultaneously at Jesus' one revelation (2 Thess. 1:6,7).

• The Church's salvation will be revealed when His glory is revealed (l Pt. 1:5,13) and the persecutors will be dealt with at the time of this same event.

• The Church is present to rejoice "when His glory is revealed" (1 Pt. 4:13).

• The Church will "share the glory to be revealed" when Jesus is revealed (l Pt.5:1).

Our hope of salvation (1 Pt. 1:5,13) is fulfilled when Jesus raptures the Church and deals with those who have troubled us (2 Thess. 1:6,7).

The Reason For The Confusion: An Added Element of Secrecy