Non-Posttribulationists, naturally, consider Posttrib to be a false doctrine because in their own belief, the catching away of the saints happens long before the end of Daniel's 70th week. To some of these, that must mean that we Posttribbers really have some hidden agenda. We don't.

The thought behind such thinking is that because Posttribbers believe we won't be caught up according to the pre- or midtribulation doctrines, we must somehow be Latter Rainists (Manifest Sons, the "new" Israel, etc.). The Manifest Sons of God, for instance, is a doctrine in which the body of Christ supposedly incarnates "Christ" by reaching sinless perfection. These Manifest Sons then cleanse the earth of all who oppose a globally united Church, and as "Christ," establish and reign over the Kingdom of God. After this, Christ supposedly returns and takes over the reign.

As Posttribulationists, we believe no such thing, and if anyone does believe this and claims to be a Posttribber, he IS NOT. Posttrib teaches that believers will pass through the entire Tribulation in which they will be persecuted and martyred for their faith, not ruling "as 'Christ'" on earth:

(Rev 13:6-7 KJV) And he (the first beast) opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. {7} And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

The Jews will be persecuted too, and God will be working in that nation to bring out what Scripture calls the remnant. The Gentile world will also pass through this period, as God entreats them to repent and turn to Him before the end of Daniel's 70th week.

The Posttrib belief is that "Immediately after the tribulation of those days" (Mat 24:29 KJV) Christians who have been martyred, and all the dead in Christ, will be caught up with those who remain alive, and meet the Lord in the clouds. Also during this time, the remnant Jews are gathered - all at the second coming of Christ Jesus our Lord. Scripture says,

(Zec 12:10 KJV) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Rather than BEING the Manifest Sons earth-rulers, the Posttribber will be persecuted BY the Manifest Sons. As I said, the MSOGs believe in sinless perfection so that the glory of God will shine through them BEFORE Christ returns. But the Posttribulationist believes the believer is glorified by Christ WHEN He returns at the end of the Tribulation period, i.e., Daniel's 70th week. No Christian can be perfected from his sin nature until Christ raises him from the dead or changes him to be like Him when He returns after the Tribulation period because we will live in a sinful body until then. "New" revelations cannot, as the MSOGs believe, overcome this body of death before the return of Christ:

(1 John 1:10 KJV) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The Manifest Sons doctrine teaches that its adherents put off corruption and overcome death due to their supposedly reaching sinless perfection. This article on the marriage supper of the Lamb on the Last Trumpet's web site shows clearly when "He will swallow up death in victory" at the times Christ returns to judge the nations "immediately after the tribulation of those days" (Matthew 24:29)::

(Isaiah 24:7 KJV) And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.

Here are some comparisons between what the Latter Rain doctrine states and what I believe as a Posttribulationist:

LATTER RAIN: The Church replaces Israel. For instance, Latter Rain sees the dead dry bones of Ezekiel 37 as the Church, the "new" Israel, who will live because God is putting His Spirit into them. Consequently, Israel no longer has a major role to play in the endtime scenario. In order to experience God's promises to Israel, both Jew and Gentile must become part of God's endtime Army.

POSTTRIBULATIONISM: The Church does not replace Israel. Israel has a very important role to play in the endtime scenario. It will be regathered to its land (as is now happening) and God will make a final call to the nation for repentance in the midst of the persecutions of the tribulation. The Church will also pass through the Tribulation and suffer the persecution of this period. The Scriptures speak of Israel in three different ways:

Natural Israel who won't believe (those who do not believe in Christ and will not, even to the end [2/3 of Israel])

(Rom 2:28-29 KJV) For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: {29} But he is a Jew (after the Spirit instead of the flesh) which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

(Rom 11:23 KJV) And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again

(Zec 13:8 KJV) And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

The Remnant who will believe (natural Israel which accepts Christ at the end of Daniel's 70th week [1/3 of Israel]).

(Zec 13:8 KJV) And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

(Rom 11:23-26 KJV) And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. . . . {25} For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. {26} And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

(Zec 12:10 KJV) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

(Rev 1:7 KJV) Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

The "household of God" or The Church (those [both Jew and Gentile] who do believe in Christ). This is Scriptural.

(Rom 2:29 KJV) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

(Gal 3:9 KVJ) So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

(Gal 3:29 KJV) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

(Rom 2:28 KJV) For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: {29} But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

(Philippians 3:3 KJV) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

LATTER RAIN: The celebration of the feast of Tabernacles in the "revival" sense supposedly fulfills these phases: unity, the "latter rain" revival, harvest, defeat of the Church's adversaries, establishment of the Kingdom. Tabernacles is understood spiritually as the Harvest Festival of joy and gladness, thus it is likened to the current laughing phenomena. It is also considered to be the invisible and spiritual coming of "Christ" to indwell His corporate Body. This coming of "Christ" to indwell His corporate body is now being expressed through "new truths": God is impregnating His Church to "raise up" Joel's Army, and thus the means to bring in the Kingdom of God.

POSTTRIBULATIONISM: The feast of Tabernacles will be celebrated with Christ in the millennium, after He returns at the end of Daniel's 70th week (the tribulation period):

(Zec 14:17-19 KJV) And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. {18} And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. {19} This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

LATTER RAIN: Bases its concept of restoration - that Jesus can't return until all things are restored - on Acts 3:21. The primary need is restoration of the 5-fold ministry (Eph. 4:11-12), especially the offices of Apostles and Prophets. These would bring about the perfection of the saints and the effort to restore the world to a "righteousness" apart from Christ.

POSTTRIBULATIONISM: Believes the restoration of all things comes with the return of Christ "immediately after the Tribulation of those days" (Mat 24:29 KJV):

(Acts 3:20-21 KJV) And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: {21} Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

LATTER RAIN: Believes the Latter Rain Apostles and Prophets receive new, progressive revelations by which the saints will reach a state of sinless perfection. The Scriptures are allegorized or spiritualized. Church direction is also delivered through these "new, sacred truths."

POSTTRIBULATIONISM: Believes there are no "new revelations." Man is a sinner, but sin will no longer be a way of life till the day he dies. If we sin, the blood of Jesus cleanses us as we confess our sins. The Christian also lives to walk the way Jesus said to walk:

(James 3:2 KJV) For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

PERFECT - 5046. teleios, tel'-i-os; from G5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neut. (as noun, with G3588) completeness:--of full age, man, perfect.

"Perfect" in this context and in the Posttrib doctrine does not mean sinless perfection or sinlessness. Only Christ was sinless and did not sin.

LATTER RAIN: Teaches that as the saints reach a state of sinless perfection, death is overcome. These are the Manifest Sons (Romans 8:19) who attain immortality by incarnating Christ before Christ returns. Signs and wonders will be wrought by the Manifest Sons of God, leading to a glorious worldwide endtime harvest.

POSTTRIBULATIONISM: A believer overcomes death, not through perfecting himself in this lifetime, but through the resurrection when Christ returns at the end of the 70th week and raises him from the grave. Those who are alive at the Lord's coming will be changed in the twinkling of an eye. It is at this time that Christ glorifies the saints, changing their mortal bodies to be like His.

LATTER RAIN: Corporately, the Manifest Sons of God are known as Joel's Army. The Church's unity on a global basis is absolutely essential to Latter Rain doctrine, because Christ cannot incarnate in a divided body.

POSTTRIBULATIONISM: The Church is "one" by the Spirit of truth, a unity which it is to maintain in the bond of peace:

(Eph 4:2-3 KJV) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; {3} Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

LATTER RAIN: Jesus cannot physically return until the Church has torn down, and taken the place of, demonic powers in the heavenlies. The warfare is territorial in nature. Having overcome death, the members of Joel's Army will reign until all God's enemies, including the last enemy, death, are destroyed and the earth is made a footstool for Jesus' feet. The Tribulation is replaced by a period during which the Manifest Sons execute God's judgment and cleanse the earth of evil in order to establish the Kingdom of God.

POSTTRIBULATIONISM: Christ returns immediately after the end of the Tribulation period and then begins His 1000 year Millennial reign. The church will rule the nations under His headship at that time:

(Rev 2:26-27 KJV) And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: {27} And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

LATTER RAIN: The religious "Old Generation," the denominational Christians who reject the new teachings by holding to the "old way," will not enter in to "possess the land" nor achieve "fullness." According to Latter Rain, these will be destroyed by the "tribulation," while Joel's Army reigns from the heavenlies. As the ongoing incarnation of Christ, the Manifest Sons will have the power to judge God's enemies and cleanse His Church by destroying all who refuse to "repent".

POSTTRIBULATIONISM: Believes God's working in them through His word in its proper context is the standard for growth into the image (character) of Christ, leading to a walk of holiness. It is when Christ returns that the true saints will reign with Christ because they choose to walk as described in Revelation 3:8 and refused to follow after today's "new" revelations:

(Rev 3:8 KJV) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

LATTER RAIN: Presupposes that the Church must progress and evolve in maturity to reach a point of sinless perfection where Christ can incarnate His body in order to establish His Kingdom on earth before His physical return.

POSTTRIBULATIONISM: Believes Christians "have come to fullness of life in Him," which means that we are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10). We need only to learn to walk in this completeness: Christ's righteousness, justification, character, etc. (see definition for "perfect" above).