{
<!-- (set: $search to (trimmed: $search)) -->
|status>[(text-size:1.1)[''SEARCHING for ($search)... may take 10 seconds'']]
(after: 500ms)[=
<hr>
(set: _chapters to (passages: where its source contains $search))
(set: $book to (passages: where its name contains $search))
<!-- try to remove duplicates -->
(set: $allMatches to " ")
<!-- (set: $found to _chapters's length) -->
(set: $found to 0)(set: $excluded to 0)
(for: each _chapter, ..._chapters)[
(set: _verses to (split: newline,_chapter's "source"))
(set: _topic to _chapter's "name")
(for: each _verse, ..._verses)[
(if: _verse contains $search and does not contain "#" and does not contain "[[")[
(if: _topic is not "Start" and is not "startup" and is not "ABCs of Salvation")[
(if: _verse is not in $allMatches)[
(set: $allMatches to it +_verse)(set: $found to it + 1)(print: _verse + " ([[" +_topic + "]])<br><br>")]
(else:)[(set: $excluded to it + 1)]]]]]
(if: _chapters is (a:))[(replace: ?status)[(text-size:1.1)[''Nothing was found!''<br>]]]
(else:)[(replace: ?status)[(text-size:1.1)[''$found paragraphs found containing: //($search)//''<br>]]]
(replace: $search)[<mark>$search</mark>]
}{<hr>(if: $stype is 1 or is 2)[(if: (passage:)'s name is not "Search using text")[[[[Return to Text Search|Search using text]]<br>]]](if: $stype is 3 and (passage:)'s name is not "Search using topics" and is not "Search using text")[[[Return to Topic Search|Search using topics]]<br>]
(unless: (passage:)'s name is "Start")[[[Return to Start|Start]]<br>](if: (passage:)'s name is not "Start" and does not contain "Search" and $search is not 0)[(replace: $search)[<mark>$search</mark>]](text-size:0.5)[''Web app: M. Todd, last updated: 10/25/24'']
(if: (passage:)'s name is"Start")[<hr>(link-rerun:"Bible Tools Launcher")[(goto-url: "Bible%20Tools%20Launcher.html")]](if: (passage:)'s name is"Start")[(if: (saved-games: ) contains "Rapture")[<hr>(link: "Go to bookmark")[(load-game:"Rapture")]]](if: (passage:)'s name is not "Start")[<hr>(link: "(Save Your Place)")[(save-game: "Rapture")]]
}
(after: 2000ms)[=
<script type="text/javascript" defer="defer" src="https://labs.bible.org/api/NETBibleTagger/v2/netbibletagger.js">
var fontFace = 'Verdana';
var fontSize = 15;
var headerFontColor = '444444';
var contentFontColor = '000000';
var topColor = 'FFFFFF';
var bottomColor = 'D6D6D5';
var headerColor = '';
var backgroundColor = 'FFFFFF';
org.bible.NETBibleTagger.voidOnMouseOut = true;
</script>
{
|status>[(text-size:1.1)[''SEARCHING for ($search)...'']]
(set: $found to 0)
(after: 500ms)[=
<hr>(set: _items to (passages: where its source contains $search))
(if: _items is (a:))[''Nothing was found!'']
(for: each _a, ..._items)[(set: _anItem to _a's "name")
(if: _anItem is not "Start" and is not "startup")[(set: $found to it + 1)<br>(print: "- [[" + _anItem + "]]")]
]
[(replace: ?status)[(text-size:1.1)[''$found Topics found containing: //($search)//''<br>]]]
}(set: $stype to 0)
### The Rapture of the Church
//Happy (weekday:)!// The Rapture of the Church has been made into a complex subject, but, it need not be. What the Apostle Paul wrote 2,000 years ago has not changed. In the topics section are many interesting facts regarding this very important and timely subject.
<a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/rapture-of-the-church.html" target="_blank">From Got Questions</a>
The rapture of the church is the event in which God “snatches away” all believers from the earth in order to make way for His righteous judgment to be poured out on the earth. The rapture is described primarily in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50–54. God will resurrect all believers who have died, give them glorified bodies, and take them from the earth, along with all living believers, who will also be given glorified bodies at that time. “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). The rapture will involve an instantaneous transformation of our bodies to fit us for eternity. “We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
The doctrine of the rapture was not taught in the Old Testament, which is why Paul calls it a “mystery” now revealed: “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52).
The rapture of the church is a glorious event we should all be longing for. We will finally be free from sin. We will be in God’s presence forever. There is far too much debate over the meaning and scope of the rapture. This is not God’s intent. Rather, the rapture should be a comforting doctrine full of hope; God wants us to “encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
''Saving His Church from the Wrath to come''
//The next big event on God’s calendar//
{<hr>(text-size:1.05)[
#### [[Search using topics]]
#### [[Search using text]]
]
}{
<!-- set text search variable $search to 0, set search type to 0 -->
(if: $search is 0)[(set: $search to "hope")]
(set: $stype to 0)
}### Search using text:
Enter text to search for then click/tap Display: (case sensitive)
(input: bind $search,"X==",$search)
|=
(button:)[(link-repeat: "Display matching verses")[(set:$stype to 1)(goto: "SEARCH By Word")]]
=|
(button:)[(link-repeat: "Display matching topics")[(set: $stype to 2)(goto: "SEARCH By Topic")]]
|=|(set: $stype to 3)
{
### General Rapture topics:
|=
(button:)[[Jesus is Coming Soon]]
=|
(button:)[[Did Many People Disappear?]]
|=|
|=
(button:)[[Rapture vs Second Coming]]
=|
(button:)[[Imminence of the Rapture]]
|=|
|=
(button:)[[Definition of Rapture]]
=|
(button:)[[Raptures in the Bible]]
|=|
|=
(button:)[[New Testament Verses]]
=|
(button:)[[Jesus and the Ark]]
|=|
|=
(button:)[[Old Testament Raptures]]
=|
(button:)[[Signs: Rapture vs 2nd Coming]]
|=|
|=
(button:)[[Not a new doctrine]]
=|
(button:)[[What We Should Be Doing]]
|=|
|=
(button:)[[Seven Reasons the Church will not go through the Tribulation]]
=|
(button:)[[The Order of End Time Events]]
|=|
### Additional Pre-Trib Rapture Topics:
|=
(button:)[[Excuses against a Pre-Trib Rapture]]
=|
(button:)[[The Benefits of the Pre-Trib Rapture]]
|=|
|=
(button:)[[The Pre-Trib Rapture's Message of Imminence]]
=|
(button:)[[Two comings of Jesus]]
|=|
|=
(button:)[[Don't confuse Israel and the Church]]
=|
(button:)[[Days as usual until the Church disappears]]
|=|
|=
(button:)[[Church's "Comfort" in the Rapture message]]
=|
(button:)[[Nature of the Church and the Rapture]]
|=|
|=
(button:)[[The Holy Spirit and the Pre-Trib Rapture]]
=|
(button:)[[The Bride of Jesus]]
|=|
(button:)[[(NEW) Jewish Wedding vs The Rapture|Jewish Wedding vs The Rapture]]
|=
(button:)[[Gospel Preached to the Whole World]]
=|
(button:)[[Nature of the Tribulation]]
|=|
=><=
<a href="https://www.ithasbeenwritten.com/250-reasons-for-the-rapture" target="_blank">Reasons for the Pre-Trib Rapture</a>
<==
### More Topics from Got Questions:
|=
(button:)[[What is the concept of a secret rapture?]]
=|
(button:)[[What is the end times tribulation?]]
|=|
|=
(button:)[[What is the time of Jacob’s trouble?]]
=|
(button:)[[What is the Great Tribulation?]]
|=|
=><=
<a href="https://www.gotquestions.org" target="_blank">Got Questions</a>
<==
}### Imminence of the Rapture
<table class="minimalistBlack">
<thead> <tr>
<th>Verse(s)</th>
<th>Text</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>John 14:1-3</td>
<td>"I will come again and receive you to Myself"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1 Thessalonians 1:9-10</td>
<td>"Jesus... rescues us from the wrath to come"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1 Thessalonians 5:2</td>
<td>"(He comes) like a thief in the night"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1 Thessalonians 5:4-9</td>
<td>"Be sober... for God has not destined us for wrath"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1 Corinthians 1:7</td>
<td>"... awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Titus 2:13</td>
<td>"Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1 John 3:2-3</td>
<td>"We know that when He appears, we will be like Him"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Revelation 22:7, 12</td>
<td>"Behold, I am coming quickly"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Revelation 22:20</td>
<td>"Yes, I am coming quickly"</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>### Definition of the word Rapture
Comes from the Latin word raptus, meaning "to snatch up, to seize, or to carry off by force."
In the Greek New Testament, this word is harpazo.
It is used 14 times in seven books in the New Testament.
See [[New Testament Verses]] ### Raptures in the Bible
<table class="minimalistBlack">
<thead> <tr>
<th>Person(s)</th>
<th>Reference</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Enoch</td>
<td>Genesis 5:24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Elijah</td>
<td>2 Kings 2:11-12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jesus' ascension</td>
<td>Revelation 12:5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Philip (temporary)</td>
<td>Acts 8:39-40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Paul (temporary)</td>
<td>2 Corinthians 12:1-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John (possibly)</td>
<td>Revelation 4:1-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Living believers</td>
<td>1 Thessalonians 4:13-18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Two witnesses</td>
<td>Revelation 11:11-12</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>### Rapture vs Second Coming
<table class="minimalistBlack">
<thead> <tr>
<th>Rapture</th>
<th>Second Coming</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Translation of all believers</td>
<td>No translation at all</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Translated saints go to Heaven</td>
<td>Translated saints return to earth</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Earth not judged</td>
<td>Earth judged and righteousness established</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Imminent, at any moment, signless</td>
<td>Follows definite predicted signs, including the tribulation</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Not in the Old Testament</td>
<td>Predicted often in the Old Testament</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Believers Only</td>
<td>Affects everyone</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Before the day of wrath</td>
<td>Concludes the day of wrath</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>No reference to Satan</td>
<td>Satan bound</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Christ comes for His own</td>
<td>Christ comes with His own</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>He comes in the air</td>
<td>He comes to the earth</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>He claims His bride</td>
<td>He comes with His bride</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Only His own see Him</td>
<td>Every eye shall see Him</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tribulation begins</td>
<td>Millenial kingdom begins</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>### New Testament Verses
<table class="minimalistBlack">
<thead> <tr>
<th>Reference</th>
<th>Verse(s)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Matthew 11:12</td>
<td>From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew 12:29</td>
<td>How can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew 13:19</td>
<td>When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John 6:15</td>
<td>So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John 10:12:</td>
<td>He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John 10:28-29</td>
<td>I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Acts 8:39</td>
<td>When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Acts 23:10</td>
<td>As a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2 Corinthians 12:2-4</td>
<td>I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. …was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1 Thessalonians 4:17</td>
<td>Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jude 1:23</td>
<td>…save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Revelation 12:5</td>
<td>She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>### Most Popular Rapture verses
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. "
''1st Thessalonians 4:16-18''### Old Testament Raptures
<u><b>Both Enoch and Elijah were taken away and did not die.</b></u>
“Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:24).
“As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, ‘My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ And he saw Elijah no more” (2 Kings 2:11).
### Signs: the Rapture vs the Second Coming
(text-colour:red)[''Before the rapture'']—There are no signs that must take place. The rapture can happen at any moment. It’s a signless event. None of the rapture passages contain any mention of preceding signs. Believers are enjoined to be constantly looking for the rapture and “to wait” for it (1 Thessalonians 1:10). (text-colour:red)[''Before the return'']—Specific signs must come to pass before Christ will return to earth (Matthew 24:4-28). The same event cannot logically be both signless and yet portended by numerous signs. That is clearly contradictory. The simplest harmonization of these two different events supports a pretribulational rapture (which is signless and could happen at any moment), while the many events taking place during the tribulation are best understood as signs leading up to the second coming.
### The Rapture is not a new doctrine
<table class="minimalistBlack">
<thead> <tr>
<th>"Rapt"</th>
<th>"Rapture"</th>
<th>"Left Behind"</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Vernon Manuscript</td>
<td>Joseph Mede 1627</td>
<td>Robert Maton 1624</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Lydgate 1420</td>
<td>Nathaniel Homes 1653</td>
<td>Thomas Vincent 1667</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>William Bond 1613</td>
<td>Capt. John Browne 1654</td>
<td>Author of Theopolis 1672</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Thomas Draxe 1613</td>
<td>William Sherwin 1665 - 1700</td>
<td>Oliver Heywood 1700</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Barton Holyday 1626</td>
<td>Increase Mather 1700</td>
<td>Thomas Pyle 1715</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>George Walker 1638</td>
<td>Cotton Mather 1726</td>
<td>Grantham Killingworth 1761</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>William Sherwin 1665</td>
<td>John Norris 1738</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joseph Hall 1708</td>
<td>Philip Doddridge 1739</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>John Gill 1748</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>Thomas Broughton 1768</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>### What We Should Be Doing
''Anticipation''
Biblical commands to watch, wait, and look up (see Matthew 24:42; 25:12; Luke 12:36-37; 21:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; Revelation 16:15) all indicate that we should live in anticipation of the Lord’s coming for His own. We are to watch because we don’t know the time of His coming (Matthew 24:42; 25:13). He will come “like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2), and He will reward those “who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).
''Preparation''
In the meantime, believers are to live in preparation for His coming. We are called to be “without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 6:14). Even if we are tested by fire, we may “be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7). In light of His promised appearing, “everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3).
''Participation''
Jesus told the disciples that they would do “greater works” than He had done because He was going back to heaven to the Father (John 14:12). In the meantime, He instructed them to remain faithful and keep busy serving Him here on earth until He returns (Matthew 24:45-46). In the parable of the talents, Jesus commended the servants who were the most productive while the master was away (Matthew 25:14-30).### What is the concept of a secret rapture?
The secret rapture—usually just called the rapture of the church—is the idea that Christ will come to take believers out of the world before His return with them at the second coming. The secret rapture is “secret” in that no one will see Jesus coming except believers; this is in contrast to the second coming of Christ after the tribulation, when “every eye will see him” (Revelation 1:7). There is considerable disagreement among Christians regarding the timing of the secret rapture. Some believe in the pre-tribulation rapture, which occurs before the beginning of the seven-year tribulation. Others hold to a mid-tribulation rapture, and still others to a post-tribulation timing.
Secret rapture is a term frequently used as a pejorative by those who deny the idea that the rapture of the church is separate from the second coming of Christ. Those who believe the rapture and the second coming are one and the same event often use the term secret rapture in derision and refer to those who believe in the rapture as “rapturists.”
“One-coming believers” who deny the rapture put themselves in conflict with the Bible and biblical scholarship, as well as the majority of the evangelical world. Among the arguments they pose are that the word rapture doesn’t appear in the Bible. While it is true that the English word rapture doesn’t appear, the concept of the rapture of the church is certainly present.
First Thessalonians 4:16–17 (the definitive passage on the rapture of the church) says that the Lord will descend from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive and remain will be “caught up.” The word rapture is derived from rapio (“to catch up or snatch away”), a form of which is found in the Latin Vulgate Bible. To say the rapture won’t happen because the word isn’t found in Scripture is a specious argument. The phrase second coming isn’t found in the Bible, either, but the reality of it certainly is.
Whatever we believe about the existence and/or timing of the rapture, there are two realities all Christians must keep in mind. First, no difference of opinion among Christians justifies unkindness or hostility toward those who hold different views. Jesus commands us to love one another, just as He loved us. He also said that by our love for one another all people would know that we are His disciples (John 13:34–35). Wrangling and name-calling over issues such as the timing of the rapture does not exhibit Christ’s love.
Second, the most important aspect of eschatology is not a secret rapture but the absolute certainty of the return of Jesus Christ to the world in the last days (Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11–16). The timing of that event doesn’t alter the fact that those who belong to Him will enjoy eternal life and those who do not will experience everlasting condemnation (John 3:18). Faith in Christ as the only Savior from sin will distinguish the saved from the unsaved, regardless of our views on the rapture.### What is the end times tribulation?
The tribulation is a future seven-year period when God will finish His discipline of Israel and finalize His judgment of the unbelieving world. The church, comprised of all who have trusted in the person and work of the Lord Jesus, will not be present during the tribulation (Got Questions Ministries takes a pretribulational approach to eschatology). The church will be removed from the earth in an event called the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 1 Corinthians 15:51–53). In this way, the church is saved from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
Throughout Scripture, the tribulation is associated with the day of the Lord, that time during which God personally intervenes in history to accomplish His plan (see Isaiah 2:12; 13:6–9; Joel 1:15; 2:1–31; 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2). It is referred to as “tribulation . . . in the latter days” (Deuteronomy 4:30, ESV); the great tribulation, which refers to the more intense second half of the seven-year period (Matthew 24:21); “a time of distress” (Daniel 12:1); and “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7, NKJV). And we have this description of the tribulation that attends the day of the Lord:
“That day will be a day of wrath— a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness— a day of trumpet and battle cry” (Zephaniah 1:15–16).
The tribulation will be marked by various divine judgments, celestial disturbances, natural disasters, and terrible plagues (see Revelation 6—16). In His mercy, God sets a limit on the duration of the tribulation. As Jesus said, “Those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive” (Mark 13:19–20).
Daniel 9:24–27 reveals the purpose and time of the tribulation. This passage speaks of 70 weeks that have been declared against “your people.” Daniel’s people are the Jews, the nation of Israel, and Daniel 9:24 speaks of a period of time in which God’s purpose is “to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.” God declares that “seventy sevens” will fulfill all these things. The “sevens” are groups of years, so 70 sevens is 490 years. (Some translations refer to 70 “weeks” of years.)
In Daniel 9:25 and 26, the Messiah will be cut off after “seven sevens and sixty-two sevens” (69 total sevens), beginning with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. In other words, 69 sevens (483 years) after the decree to rebuild is issued, the Messiah will die. Biblical historians confirm that 483 years passed from the time of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the time when Jesus was crucified. Most Christian scholars, regardless of their view of eschatology, have the above understanding of Daniel’s 70 sevens.
God said that 70 weeks had been determined (490 years), but, with the death of the Messiah, we only have 69 weeks accounted for (483 years). This leaves one seven-year period to be fulfilled “to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy” (Daniel 9:24). This final seven-year period is what we call the tribulation—the time when God finishes judging Israel and brings them back to Himself.
Daniel 9:27 gives a few highlights of the final week, the seven-year tribulation period: “[A ruler] will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” Jesus refers to this passage in Matthew 24:15. The ruler who confirms the covenant and then sets up the abomination is called “the beast” in Revelation 13. According to Daniel 9:27, the beast’s covenant will be for seven years, but in the middle of this week (3 ½ years into the tribulation), the beast will break the covenant, putting a stop to the Jewish sacrifices. Revelation 13 explains that the beast will place an image of himself in the temple and require the world to worship him. Revelation 13:5 says that this will go on for 42 months, which is 3 ½ years (the second half of the tribulation). So, we see a covenant lasting to the middle of the “week” (Daniel 9:27) and the beast who made the covenant demanding worship for 42 months (Revelation 13:5). Therefore, the total length of time is 84 months or seven years.
We also have a reference to the last half of the tribulation in Daniel 7:25. There, the ruler will oppress God’s people for “a time, times, and half a time” (time=1 year; times=2 years; half a time=½ year; total of 3 ½ years). This time of oppression against the Jews is also described in Revelation 13:5–7 and is part of the “great tribulation,” the latter half of the seven-year tribulation when the beast, or the Antichrist, will be in power.
A further reference to the timing of events in the tribulation is found in Revelation 11:2–3, which speaks of 1,260 days and 42 months (both equaling 3 ½ years, using the “prophetic year” of 360 days). Also, Daniel 12:11–12 speaks of 1,290 days and 1,335 days from the midpoint of the tribulation. The additional days in Daniel 12 may include time after the tribulation for the judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31–46) and time for the setting up of Christ’s millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4–6).
In summary, the tribulation is the seven-year period in the end times in which humanity’s decadence and depravity will reach its fullness, with God judging accordingly. Also during that time, Israel will repent of their sin and receive Jesus as their Messiah, setting up a time of great blessing and restoration (Zephaniah 3:9–20; Isaiah 12; 35).### What is the time of Jacob’s trouble?
The phrase the time of Jacob’s trouble comes from Jeremiah 30:7, which says, “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it” (KJV). It is our view that the time of Jacob’s trouble corresponds to the seven-year tribulation of the end times.
In the previous verses of Jeremiah 30, the Lord is speaking to Jeremiah the prophet about Judah and Israel (Jeremiah 30:3–4). In verse 3, the Lord promises that, one day in the future, He will bring both Judah and Israel back to the land He had promised their forefathers. But their return will involve many distresses: “How awful that day will be!” (Jeremiah 30:7). It will be “the time of Jacob’s trouble”—Jacob being a synecdoche for all the nation of Israel. Verse 5 describes Jacob’s trouble as a time of great fear and trembling. Verse 6 describes it in terms of the pains of childbirth, indicating a time of agony. But there is hope for the people of Israel, for the Lord promises He will save them. Even though this is “the time of Jacob’s distress” (NASB), and even though “in all history there has never been such a time of terror” (Jeremiah 30:7, NLT), God will deliver His people.
In Jeremiah 30:10–11 the Lord references the blessings that will come after the time of Jacob’s trouble: “‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. I am with you and will save you,’ declares the Lord.”
As part of the deliverance He provides from the time of Jacob’s trouble, the Lord says He will destroy the nations who held Judah and Israel in captivity, and He will never again allow Jacob to be completely destroyed. The Lord also describes this as a time of discipline for His people. He says of Jacob, “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”
Jeremiah 30:7 says, “That day is great, so that none is like it.” The only time period that fits this description is the end-times tribulation. This time is unparalleled in history.
Like Jeremiah, Jesus described the tribulation as a unique time of suffering, speaking of “great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again” (Matthew 24:21). The Lord also used some of the same imagery as Jeremiah. In Matthew 24:6–8, He said the appearance of false christs, wars and rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes are “the beginning of birth pains.”
Paul, too, described the tribulation using the simile of birth pains. First Thessalonians 5:3 says, “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” This event follows the rapture and the removal of the church in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18.
These “birth pains” are described in detail in Revelation 6—12. One purpose of the tribulation—“the time of Jacob’s trouble”—is to bring Israel back to the Lord (see Jeremiah 30:22; Hosea 6:1–2; Zechariah 12:10).
The time of Jacob’s trouble demonstrates that God keeps His promises, judges sin, and saves those who trust in Christ. In the end times, God will pour His judgment on a wicked world, and this seven-year tribulation, from Israel’s point of view, is the time of Jacob’s trouble. In this time, God purges His chosen people of the wicked and unbelieving, but “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls” (Joel 2:32; cf. Romans 10:13). After that time of Jacob’s trouble is a time of peace, as the Lord Himself sets up His kingdom on earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–6; cf. Isaiah 11).### What is the Great Tribulation?
The Tribulation is a future time period when the Lord will accomplish at least two aspects of His plan: 1) He will complete His discipline of the nation Israel (Daniel 9:24), and 2) He will judge the unbelieving, godless inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 6-18). The length of the Tribulation is seven years. This is determined by an understanding of the seventy weeks of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27; also see the article on the Tribulation). The Great Tribulation is the last half of the Tribulation period, three and one-half years in length. It is distinguished from the Tribulation period because the Beast, or Antichrist, will be revealed, and the wrath of God will greatly intensify during this time. Thus, it is important at this point to emphasize that the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation are not synonymous terms. Within eschatology (the study of future things), the Tribulation refers to the full seven-year period while the “Great Tribulation” refers to the second half of the Tribulation.
It is Christ Himself who used the phrase "Great Tribulation" with reference to the last half of the Tribulation. In Matthew 24:21, Jesus says, "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall." In this verse Jesus is referring to the event of Matthew 24:15, which describes the revealing of the abomination of desolation, the man also known as the Antichrist. Also, Jesus in Matthew 24:29-30 states, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days . . . the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory." In this passage, Jesus defines the Great Tribulation (v.21) as beginning with the revealing of the abomination of desolation (v.15) and ending with Christ’s second coming (v.30).
Other passages that refer to the Great Tribulation are Daniel 12:1b, which says, "And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time." It seems that Jesus was quoting this verse when He spoke the words recorded in Matthew 24:21. Also referring to the Great Tribulation is Jeremiah 30:7, "Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it." The phrase “Jacob’s distress” refers to the nation of Israel, which will experience persecution and natural disasters such as have never before been seen.
Considering the information Christ gave us in Matthew 24:15-30, it is easy to conclude that the beginning of the Great Tribulation has much to do with the abomination of desolation, an action of the Antichrist. In Daniel 9:26-27, we find that this man will make a "covenant" (a peace pact) with the world for seven years (one “week”; again, see the article on the Tribulation). Halfway through the seven-year period—"in the middle of the week"—we are told this man will break the covenant he made, stopping sacrifice and grain offering, which specifically refers to his actions in the rebuilt temple of the future. Revelation 13:1-10 gives even more detail concerning the Beast’s actions, and just as important, it also verifies the length of time he will be in power. Revelation 13:5 says he will be in power for 42 months, which is three and one-half years, the length of the Great Tribulation.
Revelation offers us the most information about the Great Tribulation. From Revelation 13 when the Beast is revealed until Christ returns in Revelation 19, we are given a picture of God’s wrath on the earth because of unbelief and rebellion (Revelation 16-18). It is also a picture of how God disciplines and at the same time protects His people Israel (Revelation 14:1-5) until He keeps His promise to Israel by establishing an earthly kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6).### Excuses against a Pre-Trib Rapture
''(a.) ''Some people insist that the Church should prepare for trouble. They say that the Church better know how to survive in the tribulation—in just in case—because we might find ourselves in the midst of it.
It’s true that we should NEVER THINK that since we KNOW Jesus—we’ll not experience anything bad. It’s true, that IN this world, people experience troubles, trials, tragedies and afflictions. It’s also true that the Church, in Jesus, will OVERCOME these sufferings. It’s true that our faith should be strong in the Word of the Lord, and in His promises, so we can RISE ABOVE whatever situation we might face. BUT IT’S NOT TRUE that the Church should FORTIFY ourselves in order to SURVIVE THE TRIBULATION. The true Church will NOT be in the tribulation, NOT AT ALL!
''(b.)'' People say the Church will grow lazy if we expect a Pre-Trib Rapture.
That idea runs contradictory to scripture. I’ll cite two examples. Jesus told His servants to “occupy until I come.” Luke 19:13. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has ordained BEFOREHAND that we should WALK in them. Ephesians 2:9. When we love Christ and are walking in the Spirit (not the flesh), our DESIRE is to be ACTIVE in the things our Lord has instructed us to do. To operate otherwise is to be in disobedience.
''(c.)'' People say GOD IS LOVE—so, therefore, He’ll NOT get angry, or allow people to be hurt and killed.
That excuse is THE RESULT of unbalanced teachings in the compromised Church of these end times. The LOVE of God is overly emphasized, while His Holy attributes are ignored.
Scripture declares that God is a JEALOUS God, visiting the iniquity upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him. God will allow “no other gods” before Him. God is JUST and He WILL punish the unrighteous. God HATES sin and He WILL JUDGE it! I know this is an uncomfortable picture, but GOD DOES NOT CHANGE. People need to KNOW these facts.
Here’s the good news: God has provided A WAY by which sinful mankind can approach His HOLINESS. He sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, into the world, that whosoever believes on Him SHOULD NOT PERISH, but have everlasting life! Jesus paid a HIGH PRICE to save us—shedding His blood, dying and resurrecting, so that we can have FELLOWSHIP with Him and with the Father.
''(d.)'' People say NO ONE can know whether the Rapture will be Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Post-Trib or Pre-Wrath. Therefore, they’ll settle the issue for good, and call it “Pan-Trib,” meaning that “everything will PAN-OUT in the end.”
This excuse rings TRUE for those who are so CONFUSED that they don’t know WHAT to believe about the Rapture. So they, conclude (correctly, I might add), that since they KNOW Jesus, everything will be okay.
But these people also FEARFULLY add that if they find themselves in the tribulation, facing death, they’ll gladly die. Their BLESSED HOPE has been robbed—(maybe, they never had any HOPE of ESCAPE to begin with.) And perhaps, the Pan-Tribulation believer does NOT want to devote THE TIME to find out what’s REALLY TRUE—so they opt out by saying, with a chuckle, “It will all pan-out in the end.”
I won’t judge anyone for their choice in this matter. But there IS a BETTER WAY. I offer this LIST OF REASONS for the Pre-Trib Rapture to edify, help and encourage the ones who are confused.### The Benefits of the Pre-Trib Rapture
''(a.)'' We learn important lessons in Bible interpretation.
''(b.)'' We properly distinguish between the Church and Israel.
''(c.)'' We’re encouraged. 1 Thessalonians 4:18.
''(d.)'' We have LIVING hope. Titus 2:13.
''(e.)'' We practice holy living. Matthew 24:42-51, 1 John 3:2-3.
''(f.) ''It makes a difference in how we face the world of these end times.
If we believe in the Post-Trib Rapture of the Church, REALLY BELIEVE IT, we’ll live in fear for ourselves and for our loved ones.
If we believe in the Pre-Trib Rapture of the Church, REALLY BELIEVE IT, we look for Jesus to arrive at any moment, and are full of joy.### The Pre-Trib Rapture's Message of Imminence
''1.'' The Pre-Tribulation Rapture is the ONLY position which MAINTAINS IMMINENCE. Other positions REQUIRE that certain prophecies be fulfilled FIRST. It is true there are signs we are told to watch for, like knowing those who see Israel reform will be the last generation, or the great signs of Revelation 12 happening prior to when the one who is to rule the Nations with a rod of iron is "Caught up", but we didn't know what the sign of the woman was until right before it happened. Those who knew of it were probably more ready to meet the Lord than anyone. Now that this has happened, it would appear that the second sign may be in concert with the rapture! SO we have remained in a state of imminence, the entire time. Obviously there must be some period of time, in order for the fullness of the gentiles to come in, but no one knows when that will be. We only know some of the signs that will happen, when it is near.
''2.'' Instead of watching for Jesus to come in the air, instead of anticipating His arrival with joy, people watch for the APPEARANCE of the ANTICHRIST, for signs, for wars, and for the unfolding of many other prophecies FIRST. This DESTROYS imminence.
''3.'' Scripture declare that no one KNOWS the day or the hour of Jesus’ appearance. This HAS TO MEAN the Rapture His Church! If it were meant for the time AFTER the tribulation, it does NOT make sense. The days and hours of the tribulation CAN BE COUNTED and KNOWN, according the prophecy of Daniel 9:27! EXACT years, months and days are GIVEN—and anyone WHO SEES the antichrist make the “peace covenant” with Israel can BEGIN counting—ARRIVING at the year, month, and day when Jesus’ feet will touch the earth. Should the Church be required to enter the tribulation, we’d calculate the day and the hour—which is the opposite NOT KNOWING! The scriptures MUST show TWO DIFFERENT events!
''4.'' We see many instances where Jesus exhorted His people to watch, emphasizing NOT KNOWING the day or the hour. In Matthew 24:42-47, the Goodman of the house is to be WATCHING.
''5.'' In Mark 13:28-37, the parable of the fig tree (the rebirth of Israel) is given, showing a general time and season. Jesus again exhorted His people to be ready and WATCHING, because they do NOT know the day or the hour when He will come.
''6.'' In Luke 21:29-36, the parable of the fig tree is repeated, with a parallel warning, to be ready and WATCHING, because no one KNOWS the day or hour (when Jesus will appear to Rapture His true Church).
''7.'' In Matt 24:48-51, the evil servant did NOT watch. He said, “the Lord DELAYS His coming.” Thinking there’s plenty of time BEFORE the Lord appears, the evil servant began beating his fellow servants, and fulfilling the LUSTS of his flesh, eating and drinking with the drunken. Jesus will come when that evil servant is NOT looking for him, NOT expecting His imminent arrival, in an hour when the servant is NOT AWARE—NOT WATCHING! The Lord will cut that servant asunder—in judgment. People who do NOT EXPECT the Lord’s IMMINENT coming GROW LAX in keeping guard over their lives, and are NOT ready—because they think there’s still plenty of time.
''8.'' The Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church calls for us to remain IMMINENT, and it’s an INCENTIVE for holy living! 1 John 3:2-3.
''9.'' The EARLY CHURCH believed in the IMMINENCE of Jesus’ coming. EARLY WRITINGS have been discovered which SHOWS His coming was expected at ANY MOMENT. (A fact of history.) “The original ‘pre-millennial, pre-tribulation’ views can be traced throughout church history. The essentials of these views appear in the Epistle of Barnabas, (AD. 100) and other early writings: Irenaeus, in Against Heresies; Hippolytus, a disciple of Irenaeus (2nd century); and Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho. These views also show up in The Approaching Deliverance of the Church, by Peter Jurieu, 1687; Philip Doddridge’s Commentary on the New Testament, 1738; Dr. John Gill’s Commentary on the New Testament, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.. 1748; James Macknight’s Commentary on the Apostolical Epistles, 1763; and Thomas Scott’s Commentary on the Holy Bible, 1792. The recent discovery of the writings of Ephraem the Syrian also confirm this view: Thomas D. Ice and Timothy J. Demy, Bibliothecra Sacra, July—September 1995.”
''10.'' Following the early Church councils (where sound Christian doctrine was upheld), came a time of decline. Many doctrines that mainline denominations support are based on heresies proposed by Augustine—no millennium, the “spiritualization” and “allegorical” methods of interpretation. IMMINENCE was lost. And a Church which was NOT EXPECTING the Lord’s SOON RETURN became lax in sharing the Gospel, and drifted into many areas of error. (Another fact of history.)### Two comings of Jesus
''1.'' Israel, and the Jewish Pharisees, at the time of Jesus did NOT recognize their promised Messiah when Jesus presented Himself to them. Why? They didn’t differentiate between their own prophecies which show the TWO COMINGS OF JESUS.
''2.'' In Jesus’ FIRST COMING, He arrived on earth as the SUFFERING Messiah. Isaiah 53:2-10. Psalms 22:6-8 and Psalms 11:1-18.
''3.'' In Jesus’ SECOND COMING, He’ll arrive on earth as a CONQUERING and REIGNING King. Psalms 2:6-12. Zechariah 12:9 and Zechariah 9:16.
''4.'' Jews, who studied the scripture (as if they had a microscope) missed this. When Jesus did not FIT THEIR IDEA of a KING, they rejected Him. How could that be? How could they have missed it? TWO REASONS: (a.) They had PRECONCEIVED IDEAS of what to expect. (b.) They “studied” scripture with NATURAL UNDERSTANDING (the corrupt mind of the flesh—which is AT ENMITY—and hostile to God. Romans 8:7-8 and 2 Corinthians 2:9-14). The religious leaders continually tried to TRAP Jesus, and He rebuked them often, which further infuriated them. (Matthew 12:1-50 is the classic example of their blindness.) The “religious” people could NOT see Who Jesus really was. When Jesus said “I AM” (the Hebrew equivalent of God’s name— Luke 22:70), and said that they would see Him sitting at the right hand of God, the Father (Matthew 26:64), they tore their clothes and accused Him of blasphemy! This led to His crucifixion, exactly as the scriptures prophesied. The “religious leaders” in Israel were “instrumental” in (helping) to fulfill their own prophecies.
''5.'' Today, people also study the scriptures with their NATURAL UNDERSTANDING (without the Light of the Holy Spirit). They have PRECONCEIVED IDEAS of HOW the prophecies will be fulfilled. Many do NOT see the Second Coming of Jesus as happening in stages.
''6.'' Stage ONE is The Rapture of the Church, when Jesus descends into the air to call His Church up to Himself. Stage TWO is the Second Coming, when the feet of Jesus actually touch the earth.
''7.'' 1 Corinthians 15:22-25 CLARIFIES the STAGES, by showing us STAGES of the First Resurrection.
''8.'' (a.) Christ is the FIRSTFRUITS of those who RISE from the dead. This happened on the Feast of Firstfruits, three days AFTER Jesus died. All who have died from the beginning of time, all the way up to the rapture point, are the first order of resurrection, then we who are alive and remain at the time of the rapture will, by no means precede all who have died up until the rapture. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
''9.'' (b.) “Afterward, they that are Christ’s at His Coming.” This is the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church.
''10.'' (c.) THEN COMES THE END—in which the Kingdom of God will be established at the start of the Millennium. “For He (Jesus) MUST REIGN—till He has put ALL ENEMIES under His feet”—(during the Millennium). According to the structure of 1 Corinthians 15:22-25, AFTER “the tribulation” is DONE, a THIRD STAGE of the First Resurrection will occur so that some saints can enter the Millennium in their glorified flesh. These are the tribulation saints— Revelation 20:4. And the Old Testament saints— Job 19:25-26.
''11.'' The SEQUENCE of 1 Corinthians 15:22-25 clearly SHOW a Pre-Trib Rapture of the Church! When the “plain sense” makes “perfect sense” seek “no other sense.”
''12.'' DETAILS of The Rapture and the Second Coming are VERY DIFFERENT and CANNOT be the same event! We must RIGHTLY DIVIDE the Word of God! 2 Timothy 2:15.### Don't confuse Israel and the Church
''1.'' There’s a DISTINCTION between the Church and Israel. Acts 15:14-15. Romans 11:25-27.
''2.'' To suggest that the Church will remain on earth for the tribulation CONFUSES the message of Daniel’s 70th week, and causes the Church TO RECEIVE what was APPOINTED to Israel and their Holy City.
''3.'' The UNITY of Daniel’s 70th week is MAINTAINED by the Pre-Trib view. By contrast, the Mid-Trib and Pre-Wrath views DESTROY that unity and CONFUSES God’s PROGRAM for Israel with that of the Church.
''4.'' The Post-Trib view denies the clear teaching of the 70th week by subjecting the literal prophecy to one form or another of allegory. It gives Israel’s destiny to the Church!
''5.'' In the 70th week (during the “tribulation”) as prophesied in Zechariah 13:8-9—TWO-THIRDS of Israel will NOT SURVIVE, but will PERISH. A THIRD part of them will come through THE FIRE of that time, REFINED like silver and gold, and will SAY that the Lord is their God. It’s NOT the Church who will be refined by that terrible judgment!
''6.'' The PROPHECY for ISRAEL clearly says, “Seventy weeks are DETERMINED upon your people (Daniel’s people—Israel) and upon your Holy City (Jerusalem).” Daniel 9:24. There is NO MENTION of the Church.
''7.'' The Church Age fits into a PARENTHESIS that happens between Daniel’s 69th and 70th week.
''8.'' God STOPPED Israel’s CLOCK in order for the Church Age to happen. God won’t RESTART Israel’s CLOCK until the after Church Age is finished.
''9.'' The dispensation of Israel (under the law) was INTERRUPTED by the dispensation of God’s Grace through the Church. When the dispensation of GRACE in the Church is complete, then God will RESUME and FINISH the INTERRUPTED dispensation of His law in Israel. Clearly shown by the GAP between the 69th and 70th weeks of Daniel 9:24-27.
''10.'' Yes, there are DISPENSATIONS in God’s dealing with mankind during the millennia. (I mention this because many people OBJECT to the idea of God having separate programs, especially for the Church and Israel.) A “dispensation” is defined as God’s MANNER OF WORKING as He performs His ADMINISTRATION, overseeing various groups of people throughout the scripture. He has dealt with VARIOUS groups in DIFFERING means of ADMINISTRATION. We can SEE it by paying CAREFUL attention to what’s recorded in the whole Bible. Dispensations are CLEARLY mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:17, Ephesians 1:10, Ephesians 3:2 and Colossians 1:25-26.
''11.'' The tribulation (all 7 years of it) is distinctly JEWISH in nature.
''12.'' In the Church, there is NEITHER Jew or Gentile, but ALL are ONE in Christ’s BODY. Ephesians 2:11-22. Galatians 3:28.
''13.'' Yet in the tribulation, there IS a distinction. Revelation 7:1-17—144,000 sealed servants from the twelve tribes of Israel. Jeremiah 30:7—which speaks of the tribulation as “Jacob’s trouble.”
''14.'' During the chapters of Revelation which gives DETAILS about the tribulation, the Church is not mentioned—not even ONCE. From Revelation 6 through Revelation 18.
''15.'' The Church is the KEY player (sharing the Gospel) from Acts to Jude.
''16.'' The Church is KEY player in Revelation 1 to 5, AND is seen again in Revelation 19 to 22.
''17.'' There’s an ABSENCE of TEACHING about the TRIBULATION in KEY “Church-related” Bible passages. That’s why there is NO INSTRUCTION given to the Church on how to LIVE THROUGH the tribulation. BECAUSE the Church will NOT need to know HOW TO SURVIVE the tribulation. The Church will NOT be in it!
''18.'' When ISRAEL was CENTRAL in the Old Testament, the Church was a MYSTERY.
''19.'' When Israel was the CENTRAL FOCUS in the Gospels, the Church is virtually unmentioned.
''20.'' When the CHURCH is the FOCUS in Acts through Jude, ISRAEL is NOT mentioned (EXCEPT when the Apostles told THE CHURCH to NOT to deem themselves better—ISRAEL will be grafted back in. PLUS there is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile) in the CHURCH, but ALL are the BODY OF CHRIST).
''21.'' The Church is CENTRAL in Revelation 1 to 3 (mentioned 19 times), and is also seen in Revelation 4 and 5 in the description of the 24 elders. Israel is NOT mentioned in those first chapters.
''22.'' When Israel is in FOCUS IN Revelation 6 to 18, the Church is NOT mentioned.
''23.'' Only when God’s PURPOSE for BOTH the Church and Israel is finished—then God SPEAKS of them TOGETHER. Revelation 19 to 22.
''24.'' There are NO passages in either the Old or New Testament which SPECIFICALLY SAYS that the Church will go through the tribulation. (Try to find where it SPECIFICALLY SAYS that the Church will be IN the tribulation—it can’t be found!)
''25.'' The tribulation is called THE TIME of “Jacob’s Trouble” Jeremiah 30:7. The tribulation is NEVER called the time of “The Church’s Trouble.”
''26.'' The Church has NO PART in the first 69 weeks of Daniel’s prophecy, and it will have NO PART in the final 70th week either!
''27.'' The GODLY REMNANT of the tribulation have descriptions and attributes upon them—THE SAME as seen upon Old Testament ISRAEL. The Church is NOT present during that time—there are NO “Church-related descriptions” upon tribulation saints.
''28.'' THE Pre-Trib view (UNLIKE Mid-Trib, Post-Trib and Pre-Wrath), does NOT CONFUSE terms like “elect” and “saints” OF THE TRIBULATION with the Church. Terms like CHURCH and IN CHRIST apply ONLY to those who are IN the BODY OF CHRIST in THIS AGE, and these terms are NEVER found in passages which relate to the tribulation.
''29.'' Israel is NOT cut-off from the COVENANTS that God gave them. But blindness (in part) will be their destiny UNTIL the Church is complete. Acts 15:14-16. Romans 11:1 and Romans 11:25-27.### Days as usual until the Church disappears
''1.'' In Matthew 24:36-42 and Luke 17:26-27, we see the EVENTS (plural) of the Church’s Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus likened to the days of Noah. The KEY thing to see, is that, like in the “days of Noah,” people on earth will be doing BUSINESS AS USUAL—eating and drinking, marrying, giving in marriage—right up to THE DAY that Noah entered the ARK—his shelter from God’s judgment. Likewise, the Church is TAKEN to SAFETY in the Pre-Trib Rapture—then THE WORLD will suffer God’s judgment.
''2.'' The world of Noah’s time was exceedingly wicked and violent, ripe for judgment. The world, at the time of the Pre-Trib Rapture, will be exceedingly wicked and violent, ripe for judgment. 2 Timothy 1:1-3. 2 Timothy 3:1-9.
''3.'' Noah’s ark was LIFTED ABOVE the JUDGMENT, and ALL within the ARK were KEPT SAFE and were NOT judged. So likewise, the Church will be LIFTED ABOVE the judgment, and take to heaven, in our ARK, Jesus, and will NOT suffer WRATH.
''4.'' The ARK had only ONE DOOR. Jesus is the ONLY DOOR through which people may come to God and BE SAVED from the HIS WRATH. John 14:6.
''5.'' Noah and the ark CAN be pictured as Israel kept safe THROUGH the JUDGMENT, but that interpretation does NOT take into account that TWO-THIRDS of Israel will PERISH in the tribulation’s judgment. Zechariah 13:9. NOBODY perished on Noah’s ark! NOBODY in the true Church will perish in the tribulation.
''6.'' In Luke 17:28-30, we see the EVENTS (plural) of the Church’s Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus likened to the days of Lot. Again, the KEY thing to see, is that, like in the “days of Lot,” people in Sodom were conducting BUSINESS AS USUAL. They ate and drank, bought and sold, planted and built—right up to THE DAY that the FIRE hit Sodom. God—(in answer to Abraham, who asked in Genesis 18:1-33—“Will You destroy the righteous with the wicked?”)—made sure Lot, a righteous man, was removed from Sodom BEFORE the judgment. God’s PLAIN ANSWER—I will NOT cast the righteous into a time of judgment! Likewise, when the true Church is TAKEN to SAFETY in the Pre-Trib Rapture, THE WICKED WORLD will suffer God’s judgment.
''7.'' The city of Lot was exceedingly wicked. Righteous Lot was VEXED by what occurred around him, which is described in Genesis 19:1-38 as blatant, “in your face,” homosexuality. 2 Peter 2:6-9 says that the Lord KNOWS HOW to DELIVER the RIGHTEOUS, and RESERVE THE UNRIGHTEOUS for His day of judgment. The world, prior to the Pre-Trib Rapture, will also show the increase of homosexuality, and like Sodom, will be sorely judged. The true Church, like righteous Lot, will be REMOVED BEFORE the judgment hits (Pre-Trib).
''8.'' In Genesis 19:16, we see how Lot lingered. The angels, who were sent to REMOVE Lot from Sodom, LAID HOLD upon Lot’s hand, and also LAID HOLD of Lot’s wife and daughters. The angels BROUGHT them FORTH and SET them outside the city BEFORE the fire could fall. In the ACTION of LAID HOLD, we see that the angels SEIZED Lot and his family BY FORCE to REMOVED them—the EXACT DEFINITION for “Rapture.” Likewise, BEFORE the tribulation, the true Church will be “seized by force and removed”—THEN the tribulation will come.
''9.'' In Genesis 19:22, we see the angel tell Lot to “Haste you, ESCAPE”—(to the small town of Zoar). The angel added (and this is important)—“I CANNOT do anything”—(in judgment) UNTIL you are OUT OF THIS PLACE! Likewise, when God’s WRATH of the tribulation approaches, the judgment CANNOT come UNTIL the true Church is TAKEN out of the earth in the Pre-Trib Rapture.
''10.'' In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, we see that the tribulation (the day of the Lord) will come like a thief in the night, when people are saying, “Peace and safety,” and, to the world’s surprise (and horror) “sudden destruction” will befall them. But the true Church will NOT be caught in it.
''11.'' The world will think “peace and safety” is coming. They think by man’s wisdom, society will grow better and better. Do we hear this today? You bet!
''12.'' The tribulation judgment will HIT, bringing “sudden destruction.” The unrighteous world will NOT ESCAPE. The true Church, however, will NOT be overtaken in that time. We true Christians (BORN-AGAIN, REGENERATED, INDWELLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, MADE NEW CREATURES IN CHRIST), will obtain SALVATION (the deliverance) from that time of WRATH, and we (whether having died in Jesus—or are alive at the time) will LIVE TOGETHER with Jesus (in heaven in the MANSIONS He’s prepared for us). The pattern of being TAKEN to SAFETY is the SAME throughout scripture—BEFORE God’s judgments come! The Church is promised a Pre-Trib Rapture. Do you believe it?### Church's "Comfort" in the Rapture message
''1.'' The Apostle Paul’s exhortation for the Church to be COMFORTED by “the coming of the Lord” (in 1 Thessalonians 4:18) can ONLY BE TRUE in the CONTEXT of a Pre-Trib Rapture. In the Post-Tribulation view, the Lord’s coming is a FEARSOME thing to be dreaded, because of EXPECTING years of horrendous judgments. There’s NO COMFORT in teaching that the Church will go through the tribulation.
''2.'' We, the true Church are told to LOOK FOR the “glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13. IF other prophetic events MUST happen BEFORE Jesus can appear, that verse is foolish and doesn’t make sense.
''3.'' We are to PURIFY OURSELVES in view of Jesus’ soon appearing (1 John 3:2-3). IF His coming is NOT IMMINENT, then that passage is meaningless, too. (People can think, “If He’s NOT going to appear soon, then why bother with being pure?—let’s do what we want for a while.”) Our BLESSED HOPE in the PRE-TRIB RAPTURE, and it’s IMMINENCE, keeps us on our toes, spiritually.
''4.'' The Church is told to LOOK ONLY for “the coming of Christ” in the Rapture (often called “His appearing”): IF we must LOOK for other prophecies FIRST, that DOESN’T make sense either. Titus 2:13
''5.'' The Church is told TO ONLY LOOK for the coming of Jesus in the Rapture: It is ISRAEL and the tribulation saints who must LOOK for SIGNS of the Second Coming, and who must ENDURE until the end of the tribulation.### Nature of the Church and the Rapture
''1.'' People will be CONFUSED about Jesus’ coming FOR His Church, if they do NOT understand the TRUE NATURE of the Church as a UNIQUE BODY of God’s people, A BRIDE for Jesus.
''2.'' In the Revelation, WRATH is seen 10 times. Revelation 6:16, Revelation 6:17, Revelation 11:18, Revelation 14:10, Revelation 14:19, Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:7, Revelation 16:1, Revelation 16:19, and Revelation 19:15. The Church is “not appointed to wrath.” Romans 5:1 and Romans 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, and Revelation 3:10. The Church, therefore, CANNOT enter into the “great day of God’s wrath.”
''3.'' In Revelation 3:10, a FAITHFUL and TRUE Church is promised to be KEPT OUT OF the TIME of TEMPTATION which shall COME UPON the WHOLE WORLD to TRY them who DWELL UPON THE EARTH. This TEMPTATION is the EXPERIENCE of EVIL, ADVERSITY, and EXTREME TROUBLE. Jesus TOLD us to PRAY, “and lead us NOT into TEMPTATION, but DELIVER us from EVIL.” While this is correctly interpreted to mean protection from “ordinary everyday troubles” we face on this earth, it can also have an extended meaning. “TEMPTATION” is the VERY SAME GREEK WORD as seen in Revelation 3:10—defined as that TIME of THE WORST EVIL which has ever happened on the earth (Matthew 24:21-22). Why would Jesus ask us to PRAY to be DELIVERED from that EVIL, if there were NO ESCAPE possible? Compare to Luke 21:36. There is INDEED a DELIVERANCE available FROM the tribulation (the MOST AWFUL TEMPTATION EVER)—and it’s called the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church!
''4.'' In 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 we see that God will REPAY TRIBULATION upon the ones who have TROUBLED the Church. WHILE that RECOMPENSE occurs, the Church will BE AT REST. The Church will receive a Pre-Tribulation rapture!
''5.'' The Church will NOT be “overtaken by the Day of the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9. The “day of the Lord” is another phrase which defines the tribulation. The Church will NOT be caught in it.
''6.'' The believer in Jesus, who has prayed to accept Him, WILL be found WORTHY to ESCAPE the tribulation. Luke 21:36.
''7.'' In Zephaniah 2:1-3, we see an exhortation from God to His people, which parallels THE ATTITUDE we’re to have BEFORE the tribulation arrives. BEFORE the decree comes forth (the “peace covenant” with the antichrist which STARTS the “tribulation”), BEFORE the FIERCE ANGER of the Lord comes—DO THIS! Seek the Lord in righteousness and meekness. WHY? So that we will BE HID in THE DAY of the Lord’s anger—another reference to a Pre-Trib Rapture.
''8.'' It’s God’s character to DELIVER His own (righteous ones) from His judgments. Enoch, Noah, Lot, and Rahab are a few. The judgment could NOT happen to Sodom until Lot was TAKEN OUT OF THERE. So also, the tribulation CANNOT happen UNTIL the Church is TAKEN OUT OF THE WORLD in the Pre-Trib Rapture. Compare Luke 17:28-30 to Genesis 19:15-22—paying special attention the verses 16 and 22.
''9.'' It’s clear from scripture that there’s an INTERVAL OF TIME between the translation of the Church and the Second Coming of Jesus. John 14:3, Isaiah 26:20.
''10.'' ONLY the Pre-Trib Rapture does NOT DIVIDE the Church (Christ’s Body) on a WORKS BASED PRINCIPLE, as does the Partial Rapture. The Pre-Trib Rapture is the GRAND FINALE to our great SALVATION—by GRACE ALONE!
''11.'' The scriptures are FIRM that the Church is UNDIVIDED—we are ALL members of ONE BODY in Jesus. (It’s in this PRESENT world that the Church is indeed divided by the CONTINUING OLD FLESH NATURE of believers—which results in dissensions and splits. When the Church is GLORIFIED at the Rapture, there will be no more fleshly divisions.)### The Holy Spirit and the Pre-Trib Rapture
''1.'' The Holy Spirit is RESTRAINER of evil in this world. He CANNOT be taken out as prophesied UNLESS THE CHURCH (which is INDWELLED by Him), is taken out, too. The RESTRAINER is the Spirit-filled Church. 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8.
''2.'' The Holy Spirit’s RESTRAINING work MUST be removed BEFORE the “lawless one” is revealed. (The tribulation BEGINS with the SIGNING OF A COVENANT with ISRAEL—which STARTS the 7 years of tribulation. That act REVEALS the antichrist. So therefore, the Church must be Raptured BEFORE the tribulation begins.) The true Church will NOT see the antichrist revealed.
''3.'' While the tribulation occurs on earth, the antichrist will overcome (and PREVAIL AGAINST) the tribulation saints. Revelation 13:7. But for the Church, the gates of hell will NEVER prevail against us, which PROVES that “the saints” of the tribulation CANNOT be the Church. The Church OVERCOMES by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 16:18. Romans 12:21. 1 John 2:13-14. 1 John 5:4-5. Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:17, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:12, and Revelation 3:21. That’s LOTS of OVERCOMING for the Church! This PROVES the Rapture MUST be Pre-Trib.
''4.'' In Daniel 7:21 and Daniel 7:25, the little horn (antichrist) made war with the saints and PREVAILED AGAINST them, plus the antichrist will speak great words against the most high and shall WEAR OUT the saints. Again, for the Church, the gates of hell shall NOT prevail against us (or overcome us). Again, the Church CANNOT be the saints in the tribulation who are PREVAILED AGAINST, and OVERCOME! Again, this PROVES the Rapture MUST be Pre-Trib.### The Bride of Jesus
''1.'' The Church is called THE BRIDE of Christ. The comparison to marriage and Christ and His Church is made in Ephesians 5:22-33, and especially seen in verses Ephesians 5:29-32.
''2.'' The WEDDING of Jesus and His Church follows the Jewish model. Remember, Jesus CAME to the Jews, God in the flesh of a man through a JEWISH LINEAGE.
''3.'' In John 14:1-3 (where the Rapture of the Church is PROMISED), the structure of the Jewish wedding ceremony is HEAVILY IMPLIED. “In My Father’s house are many mansions.” “I GO and PREPARE a place for you.” “I will come again and receive you unto Myself…”
''4.'' In the Jewish wedding, the groom INITIATES an AGREEMENT to marry a woman with the bride’s father. The groom PAYS A PRICE for his bride (the mohar). Jesus PAID THE PRICE for His Church with His own precious blood.
''5.'' Once the agreement for the marriage is made and the price is paid, the marriage covenant is established. The young man and woman are considered as husband and wife, even though they have not yet lived together. From the payment of the mohar the bride is DECLARED to be CONSECRATED or SANCTIFIED—(“set apart” for her groom). As a SYMBOL of that CONSECRATION, the groom and bride drink a cup of wine over which the betrothal is announced. The Church is SET APART and SANCTIFIED unto Jesus. IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE PRICE that Jesus paid, the Church drinks the cup of communion wine.
''6.'' After the marriage covenant is established, the groom leaves his bride at her home. He RETURNS to the HOME of his FATHER, where he will remain for about 12 months. After Jesus paid the price with His blood, HE RETURNED TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE IN HEAVEN. The Church is LEFT AT HER HOME (a temporary place) upon the earth.
''7.'' The bride has time to PREPARE her wedding trousseau, GETTING READY for married life. The Church remains true to Jesus, PREPARING TO MEET HIM SOMEDAY.
''8.'' At the home of his father, the groom PREPARES A DWELLING PLACE for himself and his bride. Jesus returned to His Father’s house in heaven at the time of His ascension. He promised His followers that while He’s there, He PREPARES MANSIONS for us to dwell in.
''9.'' At THE END of the period of separation, the bridegroom WILL RETURN—usually at night—to TAKE his bride TO COME LIVE WITH HIM. The groom, his best man, and other male escorts will leave the father’s house and do a torch-light procession to the home of the bride. The bride DOES NOT KNOW THE TIME of her bridegroom’s coming. As a result, the groom’s arrival is preceded by a shout. The TIME when Jesus will DESCEND into the air, to catch His Bride up to Himself is UNKNOWN. Therefore, the Church is exhorted to BE READY. Someday, the SHOUT which precedes Him will reach our ears and we’ll RISE UP TO MEET HIM.
''10.'' After the groom receives his bride (together with her bridesmaids), the enlarged group RETURNS to the HOUSE of the GROOM’S FATHER. Jesus and His Church will be united in HEAVEN after the Rapture, at the HOUSE of GOD, THE FATHER.
''11.'' The bride and groom, shortly after their arrival at the house of the groom’s father, are escorted by other members of the wedding party to THE BRIDAL CHAMBER. The bride wears a veil so her face is not seen. The marriage is consummated. A little later, it’s ANNOUNCED to the wedding guests, AT WHICH TIME the guests have a party for SEVEN DAYS. Once in heaven, Jesus and His Church will have our marriage sealed, and it’s ANNOUNCED in heaven. Then SEVEN DAYS of celebration (corresponding to the SEVEN YEARS of the tribulation) ensues.
''12.'' While the SEVEN days of the celebration takes place, the bride and groom remain HIDDEN in the bridal chamber, called the “huppah.” AFTER the SEVEN DAYS are finished, the groom comes OUT OF HIDING, bringing his wife with him, and her veil is removed so all can see her. At that time, the marriage is ANNOUNCED TO THE WORLD AT LARGE. When the SEVEN YEARS of the tribulation is finished, Christ and His Bride will LEAVE THEIR CHAMBERS. Jesus will RETURN to the earth in His Second Coming to set His feet on the Mt. of Olives, and His Bride (the Church) will ACCOMPANY Him! At that time, the marriage is ANNOUNCED TO THE WORLD AT LARGE, and people will see the face of the Bride, as she RULES and REIGNS with Jesus.
''13.'' The MARRIAGE of Christ and the Church is seen in Romans 7:4. “…that you should be married to another—even to Him Who is raised from the dead.”
''14.'' In 2 Corinthians 11:2, we, the Church, are “espoused to one husband,” that we may be presented as “a chaste virgin to Christ.”
''15.'' In James 4:4, the Church is warned about the lusts of the flesh and love of the world which makes us “adulterers and adulteresses”—a people who turn against their wedding vows (by refusing to keep themselves separate from such things).
''16.'' The Apostle Paul continually reminds the Church of THE HIGH COST of our PURCHASE PRICE, the BLOOD of Jesus. Paul continually teaches of our COVENANT WITH CHRIST, by which we, His Bride, are SET APART and SANCTIFIED.
''17.'' There is clearly a “coming of Jesus” FOR His “Bride” BEFORE His Second Coming to earth. During the tribulation, His Bride is ALREADY in heaven, and WILL RETURN to earth WITH Him at the Second Coming. Revelation 19:7-10 and Revelation 19:14. Jude 1:14-15.### Gospel Preached to the Whole World
''1.'' A surprising FACT—the Church will NOT be the vehicle through which the Gospel reaches the entire world!
''2.'' The Church INDEED preaches the GOSPEL of Christ’s FINISHED WORK in His death and resurrection (inviting people to ACCEPT Jesus into their hearts and lives—to become members of the LIVING and TRUE Church). However, the LAST age of the Church is pictured as one of weakness and complacency—falling away from true doctrine. The spirit of Laodecia. Revelation 3:14-22. 2 Thessalonians 2:3. (This disproves what the “Kingdom Now” and “Dominion” groups teach.)
''3.'' Scripture declares that Elijah will come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Malachi 4:5-6. Elijah is ONE of the TWO special prophets who will minister to Israel in the near future.
''4.'' Elijah will be joined by a SECOND special prophet, who will minister in Israel with the same miracles that Moses performed—under God’s guidance and power. These are the TWO WITNESSES seen in Zechariah 4:1-14 and in Revelation 11:3-13. They will declare God’s testimony during the dark days of the tribulation, and antichrist will be furious with them.
''5.'' “And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14. Jesus spoke these words, but WERE they MEANT for the Church? NO! These words were spoken in THE MIDDLE of a teaching where Jesus described THE TRIBULATION and ISRAEL’S place in it.
''6.'' Revelation 7:3-8 shows 144,000 sealed SERVANTS of God. These young men will preach the Gospel during the tribulation. They number 12,000 from specific TRIBES OF ISRAEL—and are ministers who will PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL during the awful time when judgments fall from God’s throne. Nothing can harm these servants, because God’s protection is upon them (they are sealed). The RESULT of their PREACHING is A GREAT MULTITUDE seen in Revelation 7:9-12 and Revelation 15:2-4, a group of martyred souls who sing THE SONG OF MOSES. An Israeli TESTIMONY is in sight here—NOT a Church testimony.
''7.'' Further EVIDENCE of the Gospel reaching EVERY NATION in the world is shown in Revelation 14:6. AN ANGEL flies through the midst of heaven (the sky) to PREACH to all those who dwell on the earth. Again, this is NOT the Church.
''8.'' The Everlasting Gospel and the Gospel of the Kingdom WILL be preached in the tribulation—which is God bringing HIS MERCY in the MIDST OF JUDGMENT (but the Church is NOT the ministers). Furthermore, the MESSAGE of the Gospel of the Kingdom is that Jesus will soon RETURN to earth (after the tribulation) to set up His Kingdom in Jerusalem for the Millennium—so the SERVANTS will say, “Prepare to meet your King.” Jesus’ return to THE EARTH will also answer the petition, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”### Nature of the Tribulation
''1.'' ONLY the Pre-Trib Rapture position shows a DISTINCTION between the “the coming SEVEN YEAR tribulation” and “tribulation in general”—a “general” trouble which PLAGUES the world RIGHT NOW, and which EVERYONE experiences. Daniel 9:27—the 70th week, DEFINES the “tribulation period.” Romans 8:18, defines the “general” suffering and tribulation of this PRESENT TIME in the Church Age; Jesus also mentions it in John 16:33. There’s a HUGE DIFFERENCE between what happens now—and what WILL happen in the seven year tribulation!
''2''. The “time of tribulation” is properly understood in the Pre-Tribulation view as a PREPARATION for the restoration of Israel. Deuteronomy 4:29-30. Jeremiah 30:4-11. Daniel 9:24-27. Daniel 12:1-2.
''3''. The “tribulation” is separated into categories—“the beginnings of sorrows”—first three and a half years; “the Abomination of Desolation”—Mid-Trib; “the great tribulation”—last three and a half years, and the SECOND COMING itself. Daniel 9:27. Matthew 24:4-14. Matthew 24:15-20. Matthew 24:21-28. Matthew 24:29-31.
''4''. The SEVEN-SEALED SCROLL in Revelation parallels what Jesus described as “the beginning of sorrows.” False Christs— Matthew 24:4 and antichrist— Revelation 6:1-2. Wars and rumors of wars— Matthew 24:6-7 and Revelation 6:3-4. Famines— Matthew 24:7 and Revelation 6:5-6. Pestilences— Matthew 24:7 and Revelation 6:7-8. Martyrdom of saints— Matthew 24:9-14 and Revelation 6:9-11. Earthquakes in diverse places— Matthew 24:7 and Revelation 6:12-17.
''5''. Understanding the “birth pangs” symbol. The START of the “tribulation” brings the earth into ACTUAL LABOR. Then WHY do we see “birth pang” SIGNS right now, Pre-Trib? Remember that a pregnant woman KNOWS her labor is “near” WELL BEFORE the ACTUAL ONSET of it. The world of today is exceedingly swollen in pregnancy—ready to give birth the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Like a woman may have Braxton Hicks pains, contractions that are NOT ACTUAL LABOR—so also, we see the world doing the same thing (as the ACTUAL LABOR of the “tribulation” draws VERY NEAR). Every time an earthquake hits, which had been DAILY here lately, I think, “Oh, here’s another Braxton Hicks, and my bags are packed—I’m ready to move out of here.”
''6''. The “Abomination of Desolation” in Matthew 24:15-20 parallels Daniel 9:27 and Revelation 12:6 and verses Revelation 12:13-17.
''7''. The “great tribulation” of Matthew 24:20-28 parallels Daniel 12:1, plus Revelation 8 and 9 and 16 (omitting some details from Revelation 11, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18—it’s too confusing, for the purpose of this list, to offer a possible chronology.)
''8''. The “Second Coming” in Matthew 24:29-31 parallels Isaiah 63:1-6, Zechariah 14:1-7 and Zechariah 14:12-15, and Revelation 19:1-21.
''9''. What is the purpose of “the tribulation? 2 Thessalonians 1:6 informs the Church that those who have TROUBLED us, who have PERSECUTED us, MARTYRED some of us, and have PLAGUED us with all manner of ill will, are to receive from God RECOMPENSE (repay)—and vengeance—for what they do. The enemies will be recompensed with “tribulation” (in the time of God’s WRATH) for having given the Church severe trouble while she (Jesus’ Bride) was on the earth. The enemies also receive judgment for standing against Israel.
''10''. The tribulation is called a DAY OF WRATH in the Bible (Zephaniah 1:15), but the Bible also says “God has NOT APPOINTED us (the Church) to wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9)
''11''. The tribulation is called a DAY OF WRATH, but the Bible says Jesus “has DELIVERED us FROM the wrath to come”—(delivering the Church FROM the tribulation period). 1 Thessalonians 1:10.
''12''. In scripture, the seven year tribulation is called THE DAY OF THE LORD, THAT DAY, THE INDIGNATION, THE DAYS OF VENGEANCE OF OUR GOD. And the Bible also clearly teaches that the tribulation will FALL upon UNBELIEVERS, while the Church ESCAPES “that day.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2-10.
''13''. Contrary to the Mid-Trib and Pre-Wrath interpretations, the Pre-Trib POSITION offers an ADEQUATE EXPLANATION for the BEGINNING of the tribulation in Revelation 6. Mid-Trib and Pre-Wrath POSITIONS are clearly REFUTED by the PLAIN TEACHINGS of scripture, which SHOW that THE WRATH of God begins LONG BEFORE the 7th trumpet of Revelation 11!### Jesus and the Ark
''Seven clues about the rapture in the story of Noah and the ark.''
Genesis 7:1;7:4;7:16.
''Verse 1''. “Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.”
//CLUE 1️// Who is the ark? Jesus. (Rapture typology). The ark represents an escape from Gods world judgment, escape found only for those who are “In Christ”, abiding in Him. Those in the ark are safe (tucked away) in the Father’s house while the judgement happens on the earth.
//CLUE 2️// Who is saved? The righteous.
Those found within the ark, Jesus. Note: It’s HIS righteousness that keeps us safe, not ours; But we must live surrendered lives unto the Lord like Noah did to be counted worthy to escape.
''Verse 16''. “So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.”
''Verse 4''. “For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.”
//CLUE 3️// After they’re safe in the ark and the door is closed, does the judgement start right away? NO. It starts 7 days later.
//CLUE 4️// The judgement lasts 40 days and nights (40 is God’s number of testing), this represents the 7 year tribulation on the earth to test those who’ve rejected the truth. Not to test Noah and his family.
//CLUE 5️// How many living things are destroyed on the earth? ALL. The 21 judgements of God during the 7 year tribulation will do the same.
''Verse 16''. “So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.”
//CLUE 6️// Male and female of ALL FLESH entered the ark. This represents males and females of ALL races, colors, nationalities, ethnicities, and ages will be raptured.
//CLUE 7️// Who closes the door. GOD.
When is the door closed? 7 days BEFORE the judgement.
J. Bouchard### Jesus is Coming Soon
''We are living on borrowed time.''
//By Dr. David R. Reagan//
Many people believe there is nothing that can be known about the timing of the Lord’s return because Jesus said He would return like a “thief in the night” ([Matthew 24:42-44]).
But Paul makes it clear in [1 Thessalonians 5:1-6] that Jesus’ statement does not apply to believers: “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief…” He then proceeds to explain why: “for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.” Paul is referring, of course, to the light of the Holy Spirit who indwells all true believers and who can enlighten us through our study of Scripture to know the season of the Lord’s return ([1 John 2:27]).
### God’s Attitude
As a matter of fact, God is obligated by His character to warn the world of the imminent return of His Son. The reason is that Jesus is returning in great wrath to “judge and wage war” ([Revelation 19:11]), and God never pours out His wrath without warning.
God does not wish that any should perish, but that all should be brought to repentance ([2 Peter 3:9]). Therefore, God always warns before He executes His wrath. He warned the world through Noah for 120 years. He warned Sodom and Gomorrah through Abraham. He sent Jonah to warn the pagan city of Nineveh, and He sent Nahum to the same city 150 years later.
Likewise, God is warning the world today that His Son is about to return. He is calling the world to repentance. The message of the hour to unbelievers can be summed up in these words: _“Flee from the wrath that is to come by fleeing into the loving arms of Jesus now.”_ Jesus came the first time as an expression of God’s love; He came to die for the sins of Mankind. But when He returns, He will come in vengeance to pour out the wrath of God on those who have rejected God’s love and grace.
The soon return of Jesus also carries with it a message for believers. Lukewarm Christians and carnal Christians are being called to commit their lives to holiness: “The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” ([Romans 13:12-14]).
### God’s Method of Warning
God is alerting believers of the soon return of His Son through what are called “signs of the times.” These are prophecies concerning world events that we are told to watch for, prophecies that will identify the season of the Lord’s return.
The Bible is full of these signs. There are about 500 prophecies in the Old Testament that relate to the Second Coming of the Messiah. In the New Testament, one out of every 25 verses is concerned with the return of Jesus.
In fact, there are so many signs that it is difficult to grasp all of them. The best way I have found to do this is to put them in categories:
**1) The Signs of Nature** — We are told to watch for earthquakes, famine, pestilence, and signs in the heavens (see [Matthew 24:7] and [Luke 21:11]).
This is the least respected category of signs for several reasons. For one thing, many people simply shrug their shoulders and say, “There have always been natural calamities, so what else is new?” Note that Jesus says these signs will be like “birth pangs” ([Matthew 24:8]) — that is, they will increase in frequency and intensity as the time draws near for His return. In other words, there will be more intense earthquakes and more frequent ones. That is exactly what is happening today.
Another reason these signs are given little respect is because most Christians are so rationalistic that they do not really believe in the supernatural, and they therefore find it difficult to believe that God speaks to the world through signs of nature. Yet, the Bible teaches this principle from start to finish.
God dealt with the world’s sin through a great flood in the days of Noah (Genesis 6). He called the nation of Judah to repentance through a terrible locust invasion (Joel 1). In like manner, He called for the nation of Israel to repent by sending drought, wind storms, mildew, locusts, famine and pestilence ([Amos 4:6-10]). The prophet Haggai pointed to a drought as evidence that God was calling the people to get their priorities in order ([Haggai 1:10-11]).
The New Testament begins with a special light in the heavens marking the birth of the Messiah ([Matthew 2:2]). On the day that Jesus was crucified, there was three hours of darkness and an earthquake ([Matthew 27:45-51]). And when Jesus returns, the earth will experience the greatest earthquake in its history as every mountain is lowered, every valley is raised, and every island is moved ([Revelation 16:17-21]).
God has always spoken through signs of nature, and He continues to do so today. We had better pay close attention to them.
**2) The Signs of Society** — Jesus said that society will become increasingly lawless and immoral as the time approaches for His return. In fact, He said it would become as evil as it was in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:12;24:37-39).
Paul paints a chilling picture of end time society in [2 Timothy 3:1-5]. He says it will be characterized by three loves — the love of self (Humanism), the love of money (Materialism), and the love of pleasure (Hedonism). He then points out that the payoff of this carnal lifestyle will be what the philosophers call Nihilism — that is, a society wallowing in despair. Men’s minds will become depraved ([Romans 1:28]), and people will call evil good and good evil ([Isaiah 5:20]).
We are seeing these prophecies fulfilled before our eyes today as we watch our society reject its Christian heritage and descend into a hellish pit of lawlessness, immorality, and despair. Even worse, we are exporting our nihilism around the world through our immoral and violent movies and television programs.
**3) The Spiritual Signs** — There are both positive and negative spiritual signs that we are to watch for. The negative ones include the appearance of false christs and their cults (Matthew 24:5;24:11;24:24), the apostasy of the professing church ([2 Thessalonians 2:3]), an outbreak of Satanism ([1 Timothy 4:1]), and the persecution of faithful Christians ([Matthew 24:9]).
These negative spiritual signs began to appear in the mid-19th Century when Christian cults started forming. First came the Mormons, then the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and then a great variety of spiritualist groups like the Church of Christ Scientists and the Unity Church.
The apostasy of the mainline Christian denominations began in the 1920’s when the German school of higher criticism invaded American seminaries and undermined the authority of the Scriptures, teaching that the Bible is Man’s search for God rather than God’s revelation to Man.
During the 1960’s Satanism exploded on the American scene and has since been exported worldwide through American movies, books, and television programs. Dabbling in the occult has become commonplace in the form of astrology, numerology, crystal gazing, transcendental meditation, and channeling. The whole trend has consummated in the appearance of the New Age Movement with its teaching that Man is God.
As society has secularized, true Christianity has come under increasing attack. Judeo-Christian values, once the foundation of Western Civilization, are now openly mocked, and those who still adhere to them are castigated as “intolerant fundamentalists” by the media.
The positive spiritual signs include the proclamation of the Gospel to the whole world ([Matthew 24:14]), a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit ([Joel 2:28-32]), and spiritual illumination to understand prophecies that have been “sealed up” until the end times ([Daniel 12:4;9]).
As with the negative signs, we are seeing these positive signs fulfilled in our day and time. Through the use of modern technology, the Gospel has been proclaimed throughout the world in this Century, and the Bible has been translated into all major languages.
The great end time pouring out of the Holy Spirit that was prophesied by the prophet Joel has also begun. Joel called it “the latter rain” ([Joel 2:23]), and he said it would occur after the Jews had returned to their land. The state of Israel was re-established in 1948. In 1949 God anointed two ministries that would have a worldwide impact — the ministries of Billy Graham and Oral Roberts. Then, in the 60’s, came the Charismatic Movement which prompted renewal in worship and gave emphasis to the continuing validity of the gifts of the Spirit.
The acceleration in the understanding of Bible prophecy began in 1970 with the publication of Hal Lindsey’s book, //The Late Great Planet Earth//. It seemed to open up to popular understanding many prophecies that had been “sealed up” until the end times (Daniel 12:4;9). Remarkably, it became the number one best seller in the world — with the sole exception of the Bible — for the next ten years!
**4) The Signs of Technology** — The book of Daniel says that there will be an explosion of knowledge in the end times and that people will move about quickly ([Daniel 12:4]). There are many Bible prophecies that cannot be understood apart from modern technology. For example, how can the whole world look upon two bodies lying in the streets of Jerusalem ([Revelation 11:8-9])? Modern television satellite technology makes it easy. How can the False Prophet build an image of the Anti-Christ that appears to be alive ([Revelation 13:15])? The answer, of course, is the science of robotics. How can the False Prophet require all people on earth to take the mark of the Anti-Christ in order to buy and sell ([Revelation 13:16-17])? It would not be possible apart from computers and lasers.
Jesus said that the Tribulation will be so terrible that all life on earth would cease to exist if He did not cut the period short ([Matthew 24:21-22]). How could all life be threatened prior to the advent of nuclear weapons? Another reference to nuclear power is likely contained in Luke’s statement that men in the end times will “faint from fear” because “the powers of the heavens will be shaken” ([Luke 21:26]). That certainly sounds like a reference to the splitting of the atom.
**5) The Signs of World Politics** — The Bible prophesies that there will be a certain pattern of world politics that will characterize the end time geopolitical map.
The focus will be the re-established state of Israel ([Zechariah 12:2-3]). It will be besieged by a menacing nation from the “remote parts of the north,” the nation of “Rosh” — or modern day Russia ([Ezekiel 38:2;6). There will also be a threatening nation to the East that will be capable of sending an army of 200 million — namely, China ([Revelation 9:13-16] and Revelation 16:12-13). A third source of danger to Israel will be the Arab nations that immediately surround it. They will covet the land and will try to take it from the Jews ([Ezekiel 35:10] and [36:2]).
Another key player on the world political scene in the end times will be a coalition of European nations that will form a confederation centered in the area of the old Roman empire ([Daniel 2:41-44], [Daniel 7:7], [Dan 7:23-24], and [Revelation 17:12-13]). This confederation will serve as the political base for the rise of the Anti-Christ and the creation of his worldwide kingdom ([Daniel 7:8]).
Other international political signs include wars and rumors of wars ([Matthew 24:6]), civil wars ([Matthew 24:7]), and general international terrorism and lawlessness ([Matthew 24:12]).
**6) The Signs of Israel** — The signs related to the state of Israel are prolific and very important.
The most frequently repeated prophecy in the Old Testament is the prediction that the Jewish people will be regathered from the “four corners of the earth” in the end times ([Isaiah 11:10-12]). The Bible states that a consequence of this regathering will be the re-establishment of the state of Israel ([Isaiah 66:7-8]). The Scriptures say that once the Jews are back in their land, the land itself will experience a miracle of reclamation (Isaiah 35). The desert will bloom and people will exclaim, “This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden” ([Ezekiel 36:35]).
Another end time miracle will be the revival of the Hebrew language ([Zephaniah 3:9]). Most people are not aware of the fact that when the Jews were dispersed from their land in 70 A.D., they ceased to speak the Hebrew language. The Jews who settled in Europe developed a new language called Yiddish — a combination of German and Hebrew. The Jews who migrated to the Mediterranean basin created a language called Ladino — a combination of Hebrew and Spanish.
Other significant signs of Israel that we are told to watch for in the end times include the re-occupation of Jerusalem ([Luke 21:24]), the resurgence of Israeli military strength ([Zechariah 12:6]), and the re-focusing of world politics on Israel ([Zechariah 12:3]).
All these signs have been fulfilled in this century. The nation has been re-established, the land has been reclaimed, the ancient language has been revived, the Jews are back in Jerusalem, and Israel is the focal point of world politics.
Jesus says in [Luke 21:28] that when these signs begin to happen, we should “straighten up and lift up our heads” because “our redemption is drawing near.”
### The Key Signs
The most important signs are the ones that relate to Israel because God uses the Jews throughout the Scriptures as His prophetic time clock. By this I mean that very often when the Lord is revealing an important event that will take place in the future, He will point to the Jewish people and state that when a certain thing happens to them, the important event will also occur.
A good example of this principle can be found in Daniel 9 in the famous “Seventy Weeks of Years” prophecy. The prophet tells us to watch for a decree to be issued that will authorize the rebuilding of Jerusalem. He then says that the Messiah will come sixty-nine weeks of years (483 years) after that decree is issued to the Jewish people.
There are two key prophecies which relate the return of Jesus to events that have occurred in Jewish history since 1948. These two events clearly established the period in which we are now living as the season of the Lord’s return.
### The State of Israel
The first is the re-establishment of the state of Israel which occurred on May 14, 1948. Jesus singled out this event as the one that would signal His soon return.
His prophecy is contained in the fig tree parable ([Matthew 24:32-35]) which He presented in His Olivet Discourse. The day before He delivered this speech, He had put a curse on a barren fig tree, causing it to wither ([Matthew 21:18-19]). This was a symbolic prophecy that God would soon pour out His wrath upon the Jewish people because of their spiritual barrenness in rejecting His Son.
The next day Jesus reminded His disciples of the fig tree. He said to watch for it to bloom again. In other words, He said watch for the rebirth of Israel. He indicated that when the fig tree blooms again, He would be at the gates of Heaven, ready to return ([Matthew 24:33]).
Equally significant, He added an interesting observation: “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” ([Matthew 24:34]). What generation? The generation that sees the fig tree blossom.
We are that generation. The fig tree has blossomed. Jesus is at the gates.
### The City of Jerusalem
The second key event was prophesied by Jesus in the same speech, as recorded by Luke: “[The Jews] will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” ([Luke 21:24]).
The first half of this prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D., forty years after Jesus spoke the words. In that year the Romans under Titus conquered Jerusalem and dispersed the Jews among the nations. Jerusalem remained under Gentile occupation for 1,897 years — until June 7, 1967, when Israel won the city back during the Six Day War.
The Jewish re-occupation of the city of Jerusalem is proof positive that we are living in the season of the Lord’s return. Jesus said it would mark the end of the Gentile Age.
### A Call to Action
There is no way to escape the conclusion that we are living on borrowed time. The signs of the times are upon us, and they are shouting for our attention.
Are you ready? If Jesus were to return today, would He be your “Blessed Hope” ([Titus 2:11-14]) or would He be your “Holy Terror” ([Revelation 6:12-17])? If you have never received Him as your Lord and Savior, now is the time to act. Repent of your sins, and call upon the name of the Lord that you might be saved ([Acts 2:14-39]).
And if you are a Christian, are you living as if Jesus might return any minute? Have you committed your life to holiness? Are you praying for the lost and witnessing for the Lord when you have an opportunity?
Are you yearning for the Lord’s return? Can you say with Paul that you are a candidate for a “crown of righteousness” because you have lived your life “in the love of His appearing” ([2 Timothy 4:7-8])?### Did Many People Disappear?
''Jesus Came. Were You Left Behind? What’s Next?''
Further details on life during the Tribulation.
//By Nathan E. Jones//
If you are reading this because millions of people have suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, then you are looking for answers to what has happened, why it has happened, and what will be happening next.
### What Has Happened
First, as to what has happened — Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has returned.
For 2000 years the Bible has been proclaiming to the world that Jesus would be coming back. Jesus stated in [John 14:3], “I will come back.”
Because Jesus has returned, millions of people who have put their faith and trust in Jesus as Savior, accepting His free gift of salvation, have disappeared in an event called the Rapture.
You might be thinking that there was something mysterious in the sudden disappearance of millions of people, but the Bible has already explained this so-called mystery. Jesus said that when He came again, He would come for those who are saved. He said, “I will receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” ([John 14:1-4]). The Apostle Paul put it this way: “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” ([1 Corinthians 15:51-52]).
The Rapture happened to those of us who accepted Jesus as Savior, both those alive and those who had died since Jesus was resurrected. Both groups — living and resurrected believers — were caught up to be with Him in the air ([1 Thessalonians 4:13-18]).
This all happened very quickly, like a flash of lightning. Jesus left as suddenly as He came, taking those who have accepted Him and His salvation, and leaving behind those who have rejected Him. And you, sadly, have been left behind.
Well, maybe you know a loved one who has disappeared — a wife, a husband, a child, a friend — and are wondering what has become of them. In that flash, as those who had accepted Jesus as their Savior were caught up to meet Jesus in the air, they traded their earthly bodies for bodies that are perfect, imperishable and immortal (1 Corinthians 15:42-44; 15:50-55).
They sit with Jesus now in Heaven at a great banquet called the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19). They will live in great joy and know no sorrow. They will be with their King and live in love forever. They are well taken care of, and you don’t have to worry about them.
### Why It Has Happened
But, it is the why of the disappearances that is your cause to worry. For believers in Jesus were taken out of this world to spare them from the great wrath that has just begun to befall the planet (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10;5:9).
Jesus’ return for all His true believers was just a prelude to His final Second Coming. The second phase of Jesus’ return is to set up His Kingdom on earth. Jesus’ Kingdom is why this whole thing is happening.
You see, we have come to the end of one age and will soon be beginning the age of Jesus’ glorious reign right here on earth. But first, God has to deal with rebellion — sin — before setting up His Kingdom. God’s going to use this intermediate time period you now live in to pour out His wrath on mankind for its continued refusal to accept His Lordship. The time you live in is called the Tribulation.
### What It’s About
What is the Tribulation all about? The unparalleled horror of the Tribulation is spelled out in detail in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. Isaiah wrote that it will be a day of “the terror of the Lord” when “the pride of men will be abased” (Isaiah 2:10; 2:17;2:19). Zephaniah proclaimed that it will be a “day of wrath,” “a day of trouble and distress,” and “a day of destruction and desolation.” Men will stumble around like they are blind and “their blood will be poured out like dust” (Zephaniah 1:15;1:17).
This dreary picture is echoed in the New Testament. Jesus said it will be a time of tribulation “such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall.” In fact, Jesus said it will be so terrible that if it were not stopped at the end of seven years, it would result in the destruction of all life ([Matthew 24:21-22]).
The Apostle John states that the chaos will be so great that the leaders of the world will crawl into caves and cry out for the rocks of the mountains to fall upon them ([Revelation 6:15-16]).
Why is there going to be such carnage? How could a God of grace, mercy and love allow such an outbreak of unbridled terror and bloodshed?
One reason is to satisfy the justice of God. Yes, God is characterized by grace, mercy and love. God is a God of love. Jesus says so in [John 3:16], “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
But, God is also a God of justice. The Bible also says in [John 3:36], “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” It is God’s very nature to love, but also in love to see justice done for evil.
### What Comes Next
So, what comes next? For starters, people are going to try to explain away the Rapture with all sorts of wild theories, like possibly Global Warming or UFOs. So-called “Christian” leaders are going to come out and say the Church is still around because they didn’t disappear.
Jesus said in [Matthew 24:24] that they cannot be believed, for the times will be filled with false religious teachers. The greatest of these false teachers the Bible calls the False Prophet, and he will seemingly be able to do many miracles and will promote a one-world religion and leader ([Revelation 13:11]).
Amid all the chaos from the Rapture, the Bible teaches that the world will turn to a dynamic leader to bring order and peace ([Revelation 6:1-2]). He will succeed where no other person has been able in establishing a peace treaty for Israel ([Daniel 9:27]). That treaty marks the official beginning of the 7 years that the Tribulation will last.
But, the world leader, known to believers in Jesus as the Antichrist, is anything but peaceful. He will plunge the planet into nuclear world war, resulting in terrible famines, pestilence and mass death. Violence, disease and starvation will be a way of life. A quarter of the world population — almost 2 billion people — will die from this war (Revelation 6).
In Jerusalem, 2 men will appear and preach there for 3 1/2 years that Jesus is the Messiah the Jews have been looking for ([Revelation 11:3]). 144,000 Jews will call Jesus their Messiah and also preach about Him throughout the whole world. Millions will accept Jesus as their Savior — hopefully you will be one of them. But, many of those millions of believers will be killed by the Antichrist for not pledging their loyalty to him by receiving his mark on either their right hand or forehead. The persecution of believers in Jesus will be awful in the Tribulation ([Daniel 7:21]; Revelation 7).
Next, the greatest earthquake the world has yet experienced will devastate the planet ([Revelation 6:12-14]). Something falling from space will then burn up a third of all the world’s vegetation. A second item from space, probably a meteor, will crash into the ocean and annihilate a third of the world’s marine life and ships. A third object from space will taint the world’s water supply, poisoning millions ([Revelation 8:7-11]).
The devastation to the atmosphere will block out most of the sun and moonlight so that the days appear shorter ([Revelation 8:12]).
Next, some supernatural “woes” will befall mankind. First, the holding place for a demonic hoard is opened and millions of locust-looking demons pour out and sting people like scorpions. The pain will last 5 whole months. Second, 200 million riders on horse-creatures will burn and impale, wiping out a remaining third of the people ([Revelation 9:1-19]).
Three and a half years into the Tribulation will see the 2 men witnessing in Jerusalem killed, but 3 1/2 days later come back to life ([Revelation 11:7-12]). It will also see the Antichrist supposedly killed and appear to come back to life as well ([Revelation 13:3]).
And that’s just the first half of the Tribulation. As bad as the first half of the seven years is, the next half is even worse (Revelation 16).
Those who take the Antichrist’s loyalty mark on their hand or forehead will suffer from painful boils. Those who don’t take the mark will be cut off from commerce and hunted down, but the Bible assures ([Revelation 20:4-6]) that those who take the mark have made a decision that will last forever — eternal damnation — so don’t take it!
The oceans and everything in them are totally destroyed, as well as all the fresh water. The heat from the sun will become scorching. The Antichrist’s kingdom will fall into pitch darkness.
An even greater earthquake than the one 7 years earlier will flatten the earth and 100 pound hailstones will crush the inhabitants.
The Euphrates River in Iraq will dry up and a massive army from the East will cross and enter the Valley of Armageddon in Israel to fight the Antichrist’s army. This is what the Book of Revelation calls the battle of Armageddon.
It is the moment that Jesus will gloriously return with all those who disappeared in the Rapture. Jesus Himself by just speaking will destroy the armies at Armageddon. Jesus will throw the Antichrist and the False Prophet into Hell, and Satan into a deep pit. Jesus will be victorious and all who continued to rebel will be put to death — all of them (Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-3). This is the Tribulation — the wrath of God.
### What You Can Do
Now, you may be asking _“God, why didn’t you tell us all this before the Rapture so we could get ready.”_ Well, He did. The Bible clearly teaches that God never pours out His wrath without warning for He is a just and loving God who does not wish that any should perish. That is why God provided the Bible, the Good News about Jesus spreading across the planet, and the many signs alerting us to the fact that we were living on the threshold of the Tribulation and soon return of Jesus Christ. God gave the world every possible chance for 2000 years to repent of its rebellion and return to Him.
But, it’s not too late for you to be with Jesus unless you’ve taken the mark. You see, this story has a happy ending. Jesus’ return at the end of the Tribulation means great joy to those who love him. Jesus will cleanse the world of evil and the damages from His wrath and restore the planet to pristine condition. Jesus will rule from Jerusalem over those who throughout human history have put their faith and trust in Him ([Revelation 20:4-6;20:9).
You can be one of those people. Whether you die in the Tribulation or not, it is where you end up eternally that truly matters. Everybody who does not accept Jesus as Savior during the Tribulation will go to Hell for their rebellion. Anyone who accepts Jesus as Savior, though their earthly bodies may die during the Tribulation, will then live forever in glorified bodies with Jesus in His love and glory.
Remember Jesus’ promise in [John 3:16], “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Pray now for forgiveness for your sins and ask Jesus to be the Savior and Lord of your life. Don’t delay!
In what little time you have in this life, get a Bible or download one from <a style="color: blue;" href="http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=3086">Bible.org</a>, so you know God’s will for your life. Download this and everything you can from our website at <a style="color: blue;" href="https://christinprophecy.org">christinprophecy.org</a> or others like <a style="color: blue;" href="http://www.raptureready.com">raptureready.com</a> so you can know more about Jesus and what is in store for you in the Tribulation and the glorious return of Jesus. Gather quickly with others who have accepted Jesus as Savior for support and to worship together.
If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, we will be waiting for you on the other side of this. May God bless you and keep you. Maranatha!
“The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” ([Nahum 1:7])### Seven Reasons the Church will not go through the Tribulation
''1) Jesus preparing a place … will come and get you — this is different than great tribulation''
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
(John 14:1-4)
''2) The “rapture” is a secret not revealed in prior ages — but the great tribulation is prophesied in the Old Testament''
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7)
And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? (Joel 2:11)
The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. (Zephaniah 1:14)
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (1 Corinthians 15:51)
''3) The “rapture” is a quantum event — In the twinkling of an eye … we will be changed — but the great tribulation will be 7 years''
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)
In the twinkling of an eye … we will be changed – From our birth in dying mortal bodies. Then in a Twinkling of an eye. A single click of God’s clock. We will be changed to be immortal with God forever.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. (Mark 13:26)
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:25-28)
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11)
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. (Revelation 1:7)
''4) The “rapture” is a rescue, but the great tribulation is a judgment''
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. (John 17:6)
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thessalonians 2:5-8)
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. (Joel 2:1-2)
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matthew 16:27)
Matthew 24 is the second coming (not the rapture) — Many Christians confuse the “taken” in this passage with the rapture of the church. This is wrong. It occurs in the context of the judgments at the second coming not the rapture of the church. It refers to the judgment of the Noahic flood where the unbelievers were taken in judgment and the 8 souls were kept safe and dry in the ark (1 Peter 3:20). It reflects back on the carrion birds eating the dead bodies of those who were judged (Matthew 24:28) 7 reasons Matthew 24 “one will be taken and one will be left” is not the rapture — 7 reasons from the parallel gospel accounts that Matthew 24 “one will be taken and one will be left” is not the rapture of Christians to heaven.
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (Matthew 25:31)
''5) The Apostle Paul taught a pre-tribulation “rapture”''
If the Apostle Paul had believed and taught a mid-tribulation rapture, a post-tribulation rapture, or an amillennial non-rapture, he would have simply told the Thessalonians that the rapture hadn’t happened yet because XYZ hadn’t happened yet. But, he didn’t. He described the rapture as the next great event in the heavenly calendar. So encourage each other with these words.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
''6) “Gathered to meet Him” is different than “The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones”''
Everything is peaceful before the rapture but not before the second coming.
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (2 Thessalonians 1:7)
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
''7) No mention of the church during the great tribulation in Revelation 4-21''
There is no mention of the church in the prophetic description of the great tribulation period. The church is mentioned 16 times in chapters 1-3. But, it is not mentioned once in chapters 4-21 from the great tribulation through the battle of Armageddon and the 1000-year reign of Christ on Earth.
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1)### What is the Order of End Times Events?
''The Rapture:'' ALL believers in Christ will be taken up when Christ returns in the clouds. Notice that when He returns at this time His feet will not touch the ground, we will meet Him in the air. This is an imminent event that can happen at any moment.
''Chaos:'' Once the church is gone, worldwide chaos will ensue, this will set the stage for Daniels Seventieth Week where God will bring Israel to repentance and deal with an unbelieving world.
''Leader Rises:'' A Satanically empowered man (anti-Christ) will gain worldwide control with promises of peace. He will be aided by another man – the false prophet. This false prophet will head up a religious system that will require the worship of the anti-Christ.
''Peace Treaty:'' Israel will sign a peace treaty with this world leader, but this treaty will be a covenant with death.
''The Tribulation Begins:'' A period of seven years where the worse time of distress in history will begin. During this time, the Lord will complete His discipline of Israel and judge the godless inhabitants of this earth. While the Tribulation last seven years, the last three and a half years are known as the "Great" Tribulation. It is distinguished from the Tribulation period because the anti-Christ, will show his true colors, and the wrath of God will greatly intensify during this time.
''Battle of Gog-Magog:'' A great army from the north, in alliance with several other countries from the Middle East will attack Israel. They will be defeated by God Himself at the end of the tribulation period.
''Abomination of Desolation:'' At the midway point of the seven-year tribulation, the anti-Christ breaks his covenant with Israel and shows his true colors.
''Israel Flees:'' The Jews will be scattered and flee to the mountains, and many of them will call upon the name of the Lord. They will recognize their Messiah.
''Armageddon:'' As the final judgments are being poured out, the Euphrates River dries up. The dragon, the beast, and the false prophet will attempt to use this as an opportunity to war against God. They will call the kings of the earth to gather their military forces to join them.
''Jesus Returns:'' Jesus will return with the armies of Heaven and put an end to all wars. The anti-Christ and the false prophet will be thrown alive into the lake of fire.
''The Sheep and Goats Judgment:'' Jesus will gather those who are alive and will separate the righteous from the wicked. The righteous will enter the Millennium Kingdom and the wicked will be cast into hell.
''The Binding of Satan:'' Satan will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years.
''The Millennial Kingdom:'' Jesus Himself will rule with an iron rod for a thousand years. The earth will be restored and there will be a time of peace upon the earth.
''The Final Battle:'' At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released for a short period of time. He will deceive the nations once again, and there will be a rebellion against the Lord. This battle will quickly be defeated and Satan will be cast into the lake of fire forever.
''The Great White Throne Judgment:'' All those in hell will be brought forth, and all the wicked from all eras of history will be resurrected to stand before God in a final judgment. Their verdicts will be read, and all of sinful humanity will be cast into the lake of fire.
''The New Heaven and New Earth:'' God will completely destroy the present heaven and earth. After He does this, He will create a New Heaven and a New Earth. In this new world, sin won’t even be a possibility, and because of this, we will no longer see the painful consequences that it brings. There will be no more crying in Heaven, or even death. We will not experience sorrow or grief, as the problems of this present life will pass away.
All who truly believed in God will live with Him for ALL eternity: Imagine living in the presence of our Heavenly Father for all eternity, in a world without sin, a place where we can never get out of fellowship with the Lord!
Andy Woods & J Kelley### The Jewish Wedding vs The Rapture
<table class="minimalistBlack">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>The Jewish Wedding</th>
<th>Our Wedding</th>
<th>Scriptures</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>The groom's father makes the match (Shiddukhin) and chooses the bride, and the groom approves the choice.</td>
<td>The Father chooses us the bride, and Jesus approved the choice.</td>
<td>John 10:28;15:16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>A marriage covenant (Ketubah) is made in writing for the bride as a promise to the bride that it will be fulfilled.</td>
<td>A new covenant is made in the written Word of God, for us the bride. The Old Covenant Promise is fulfilled.</td>
<td>2 Corinthians 3:5-6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>They would then break bread and drink from the cup to seal the betrothal (Kiddushin) and new covenant.</td>
<td>He breaks bread and drinks from the cup at the last supper sealing His New Covenant in His blood.</td>
<td>Matthew 26:27-29, Luke 22:14-20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The groom pays the price (Mobat) showing the bride his love for her.</td>
<td>Jesus paid the price for us on the cross. This shows us the bride how there's no greater loves for us.</td>
<td>1 Corinthians 6:20, John 15:23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The groom makes a speech of promise to his bride that he would come for her soon.</td>
<td>Jesus' speech is recorded as a promise to us His bride, that He will come again for us soon.</td>
<td>John 14:1-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The groom prepares a place for His bride and builds a room addition on his father's house.</td>
<td>Jesus says He goes to prepare a place for us in His Father's house where there are many rooms.</td>
<td>John 14:1-3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Father is the only one who knows the day or hour of the grooms return for his bride.</td>
<td>Jesus said that no one but the Father knows the day or hour of His return for us, as His bride.</td>
<td>Mark 13:32-33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The groom gives the bride love gifts (Mattan).</td>
<td>Jesus our groom gives us His bride gifts of love, eternal life, peace, etc.</td>
<td>John 10:22-28, John 14:13-14;14:27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Father gives the bride gifts (Shiluhim) to equip her for her new life, as an inheritance.</td>
<td>We are given the gifts of the Holy Spirit and our spiritual gifts are from the Father for us in our new life in Him, and with Him.</td>
<td>John 14:16-17, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Galatians 5:22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The bride would then take a purifying bath or Mikveh which is the Hebrew word for baptism.</td>
<td>We are baptized in the Holy Spirit Who cleanses and purifies us.</td>
<td>Acts 1:4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The bride's unmarried friends (bridesmaids) attend to the bride and provide light for the groom Who will come as a thief in the night.</td>
<td>We prepare the bride by letting our light shine so the bride is ready for the groom who will come as a thief in the night.</td>
<td>Matthew 25:1-13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The bridegroom comes, the grooms' men run ahead and shout that He is coming by blowing the Shofar.</td>
<td>When our bridegroom comes, it will be with a shout of the trumpet that Jesus is coming.</td>
<td>Rev. 4:1, 1 Thes. 4:16-17, 1 Cor. 15:51-52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The groom snatches away and abducts his bride.</td>
<td>Jesus, our groom will rapture us away as He abducts us as His bride.</td>
<td>Luke 17:34-36 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The groom takes his bride to the chamber, they consummate (Nissuin), and celebrate for a period of seven (Shavuah) days.</td>
<td>Jesus will take us to His bridal chamber where we will consummate and celebrate for a period of seven (Shavuah) years.</td>
<td>Joel 2:15-16, Daniel 9:27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The party waits outside until the groom tells the best man that it is consummated. Then the guests rejoice for a period of seven days.</td>
<td>During our seven year celebration, the world goes through the seven year tribulation.</td>
<td>Revelation 19:7-8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>There is a big feast, (the wedding feast), after the wedding celebration</td>
<td>We too, after the seven year celebration, have the Marriage Feast of The Lamb.</td>
<td>Revelation 19:9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>There were three groups present at the wedding: the groom, the bride, and the invited guests.</td>
<td>There will also be three groups of people involved in the marriage of the Lamb: The Groom-Jesus, The Bride-Church and the Guests those saved after the Rapture, at the end of the seven year tribulation. </td>
<td>2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:23-27, Rev. 21:9-10, Rev. 7:13-14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The new home of the bride was Jerusalem and it was the bridegroom who came to the bride to dwell with her.</td>
<td>It is from the new Jerusalem that the believers in the Messiah during the Messianic age, or Millennium, will reign with the Messiah.</td>
<td>Rev. 21:1-4, Ezekiel 43:1-2;43:7, Isaiah 2:2-4, Micah 4:1-5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>