Let no one say that the author wants to see the Church suffer persecution or tribulation, or that he desires to find himself in the Great Tribulation. However, questions of theology are not decided by our desires or our dislikes; they are decided by appeal to the Word of God. And since we do not find pretribulationism taught in the Word of God, we must insist that this position should not claim that it is synonymous with the Blessed Hope. The author has frequently heard the reaction expressed both by laymen and pastors that they believe in a pretribulation rapture because they do not want to suffer the Great Tribulation. Who does desire it? However, the question is, What saith the Word? And unless the Word is clear on such an important point, can we run the risk of promising God’s people what may be a false security of deliverance from trouble when what they need is warning and preparation to endure trouble? —George Eldon Ladd, The Blessed Hope, 164–65.
