The Blessed Hope: A Biblical Study of the Second Advent and the Rapture

FWIW, I had been a pre-trib believer since I was a kid. THat was all I'd ever been taught. But now as a midlife "why do I believe this?" exercise, I decided to do some research on the topic and began with my Bible. I was pretty amazed that, viewing Scripture in context and objectively (pretending I'd never heard of the second coming), there wasn't any real evidence of a secret rapture of the Church. Everything pointed to the Second Coming occuring *after* The Tribulation. So I began to do some research on where, exactly, the pre-trib rapture idea came from. Without re-writing Ladd's book, I suggest that you purchase it and read it for yourself. The information is pretty common knowledge out on the web, even; but the tragedy is, too many "pre-trib" believers aren't reading it and are even building doctrine, dogma and creeds around a theory that they can't support with Scripture. The pre-trib theory is just an assumption based on very very loose inferences at best. It should never be on the same level of Scripturally sound teaching as, say, Christ's birth, death and resurrection, folks. Read the book.

I've read many books on the subject, and found this book by Ladd to be the most fair in discussing all the views of end time prophesies in the Bible. He uses a lot of scripture and does not waste time discussing "current" events, as so many other authors do on this subject. So, if you are looking for a "meaty", yet small book, on all the important scriptures dealing with the Return of Jesus Christ ( The Blessed Hope ), this is the book for you.

This is an excellent, scholarly presentation of the historic Pre-Mill view of the second coming. Well worth the reading. Rev. Eugene Potoka

As a Christian raised in the Pre-Trib Rapture tradition, I thought I was losing my mind when I found myself becoming more and more convinced that the rapture of the church COULDN'T take place before the tribulation. I found a copy of The Blessed Hope and was so thoroughly convinced and put at ease that I have never questioned the subject again. Ladd's scholarship is awesome, especially his revelation of the seamy early history of pre-trib teachings. After reading where this teaching came from, its a wonder that anyone can believe it!