03/12/2026

 

Samuel Clifford

 

More proofs of the Pretribulational Rapture are found throughout the Scriptures in the form of typologies. One example of a typology is how Moses is a “type” of Christ. In other words, Moses shares many similar characteristics to Christ. Moses gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments and Mosaic Law, hence why he is termed a Lawgiver, just as Jesus is considered to be a Lawgiver. In the same way, many events in the Bible are representative of a future Pre-Tribulation Rapture. 

 

Typology 1: Enoch was Raptured Prior to Noah’s Flood

 

“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:24 KJV

 

“And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.” Genesis 7:17-24 KJV

 

Enoch walked with God, and then God took him, i.e., raptured him. “Walk” is the biblical expression for fellowship and obedience that results in divine favor. Enoch’s walk lasted 300 years. This points to a Pre-Tribulation Rapture since Enoch was raptured by God BEFORE the Worldwide Flood, which occurred in 2348 BC in Genesis 7:10, which is a type of the Great Tribulation as evidenced by Jesus in Matthew 24:38-39.

 

“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:38-39 KJV

 

Paul also confirms this interpretation of Enoch being raptured in Hebrews 11:5, which says, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (KJV).

 

The word “translated” in the Greek means “transport.” This shows us undoubtedly that Enoch was raptured. In Genesis 5:24, the word “took” in Hebrew is ‘לקח’ (laqach), which means to seize, carry away, etc. This shows, once again, Enoch was raptured, as evidenced in Genesis 5:24 and Hebrews 11:5. 

 

What about Noah? 

 

He, too, was righteous “. . . but he went through the Flood, being protected by God in the ark. [Isn’t] that a better picture of God protecting the Church during and through the Tribulation? . . . Noah isn’t a picture of the Church; [he’s] a picture of God’s sovereign protection of Israel during the Tribulation, a subject that gets much coverage in the Book of Revelation. Noah pictures Israel, while Enoch represents the Church, which is raptured prior to judgment” (“13 Reasons Why The Rapture will be Pre-Tribulation,” End Times, Eternal Truth Ministry, February 25, 2005, http://www.eternaltruthministry.com/2005/02/13-reasons-why-the-rapture-will-be-pre-tribulation/, punctuation slightly changed with respect to the original phrase).

 

Typology 2: Lot was Taken out of Sodom before the Wrath of God was Bestowed upon the City

 

In Genesis 19, God brings judgment upon a morally wicked Canaanite civilization. Lot was an upright citizen who was hospitable and generous (vv. 2-3) and a leader of the community. He denounced the Canaanites lifestyle, yet he enjoyed his life in Sodom because he could make money off its citizens (Genesis 13:10-11). He escaped the judgment that God was going to bestow upon Sodom by the grace of God. Lot and his family had to be removed from Sodom BEFORE God could pour His wrath out on the city (Genesis 19:17-21), which is why the angels say to Lot and his family:

 

“Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.” Genesis 19:22 KJV

 

This points to the Pre-Trib Rapture because just as Lot and his family had to escape Sodom BEFORE God could pour His wrath out on the city, so shall we have to escape the earth BEFORE The 70th Week of Daniel in order for God to pour His wrath out on the world.

 

Typology 3: Issac took a Gentile Wife before a Tribulation

 

In Genesis 24, Abraham’s servant, in order to fulfill the promise God gave to Abraham, acquired a bride for Issac, the son of Abraham. Rebekah, a Gentile, became the wife of Issac (24:60-67) before a famine (tribulation) happened in Genesis 26:

 

“And there was a famine in the land. . .” Genesis 26:1 KJV

 

This is a typology for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture because Rebekah was a Gentile, so she can be considered a “type” of the Church since the Church is composed of mostly Gentiles. Rebekah was taken by Issac, who is considered a “type” of Jesus due to Issac being the only son of Abraham just as Jesus is the only Son of God, and due to how the event in which Issac was going to be sacrificed is similar to how Jesus was sacrificed. Rebekah (the Church) was taken by Issac (Jesus) before the famine (tribulation).

Typology 4: Joseph took His Gentile Bride Before the Seven Year Famine

 

“Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.” Genesis 29:27 KJV

 

“Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:” Genesis 41:29 KJV

 

In the story of Joseph, the seven years of agricultural abundance was the time for Egypt to get ready for the seven-year famine that would come upon the land. In the case of the Church, the Church Age is the time for the Bride of Christ to make Herself ready for when the Lamb comes. Joseph marries and receives a Gentile bride before the seven-year famine (Genesis 41:45). After the receiving of his bride, this famine later begins, and Joseph’s father and brothers (Israel) and the world suffer for seven years (Genesis 41:53-54).

 

This points to how the Bride (the Church, composed of mostly Gentiles) will be received by Jesus Christ before the seven-year Tribulation (Revelation 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 4:13-18; etc.) And after Jesus receives His Bride (the Church), the world and Israel suffer for seven years, and that’s why it’s called the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, a.k.a the Time of Israel’s Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). 

Typology 5: Moses took his Gentile Wife Before the Plagues

 

“And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.” Exodus 2:21 KJV

 

In Exodus 2, Moses was fleeing from Egypt and went into the land of Midian. On a certain day, Moses was sitting by a well when he met the seven daughters of Reuel, who was a priest of Midian. Moses then protected Reuel’s daughters, which caused the girl’s to invite Moses to dine with their family. Then Moses subsequently married Zipporah, the daughter of Reuel, who was a Midianite. Therefore, she was a Gentile. Moses gained his Gentile wife prior to God’s judgment on Egypt in the form of plagues. This is a great typology of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture as Moses represents Christ by taking Zipporah the Gentile, who represents the Church, before God’s judgment in the form of plagues. Plagues, in fact, are a part of the Tribulation (Revelation 22:18-19). 

One of the typologies or foreshadowings found in Deuteronomy, is Moses’ death. Moses’ death is eerily similar to Christ’s death. This makes sense considering the Bible is the inspired word of Gods from beginning to end.

 

Moses’ death is recorded at the end of Deuteronomy:

 

“And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, and the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭34:1-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

 

Within this passage there are four similarities to Christ’s death. And we also see similarity to Christ’s resurrection in Moses as well.

 

1. In both Moses’ death and Christ’s death, they went up to die. In Moses’ death it is recorded “And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah” (v. 1). In Christ’s death, he walked up to Calvary (John 19:17-18).

 

2. Moses died alone except for Gods presence (Deuteronomy 34:6). Christ’s followers all forsook Him (Matthew 26:56).

 

3. The Lord talked to Moses (Deuteronomy 34:7). The Lord talked to Christ (Hebrew 1:8-12).

 

4. Moses’ faculties were unimpaired (Deuteronomy 34:7). Christ was in control of His death (John 19:28-30.

 

5. Both Moses and Jesus were seen after death (Matthew 17:1-3; Acts 1).