Do Pre-tribulationists take the scriptures more literally?

Some maintain that the pre-tribulation position is the more literal. That is,

• The more literally one reads the scriptures the more likely one is to take a pre-tribulationist position
• The more one spiritualises the scriptures the more likely one is to hold a post-tribulationist position

This position is difficult for a pre-tribulationist to sustain.  The pretribulationist maintains the following about critically central eschatological doctrines :

1. The ‘last trumpet’ does not mean the last trumpet (1 Cor 15.52 and Rev 11.15)
2. The second return of Jesus is not the ‘second return’ but the third return – first as a child, second to rapture the church and third to judge the world.
3. The first resurrection is actually multiple resurrections – they happen continuously though the tribulation period. (Rev 20.6)
4. Jesus coming as a thief does not happen when Jesus says it does.
   • Rev 16.15 states that Jesus has not yet come as a thief. 
   • This passage by all reckonings is at the very end of the tribulation period
   • Pretribulationists however maintain that Jesus comes as a thief years prior to this – before chapter 5 in fact.