J-24. Part 5 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-Tribulation Rapture!

J-24. Part 5 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-tribulation Rapture!

This is part five of a six-part series of in-depth Bibles studies on why there will NOT be a PRE tribulation rapture of the church to escape the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation. The 250 reasons for a pre-trib rapture are from a pre-trib website. Again, there are not actually 250 reasons. Many of the numbered reasons need to be put together to make a single argument. This study will cover reasons #112 through #197 but the actual number of real pre-trib arguments are only a few. So again, it is a huge exaggeration to say 250 reasons for a pre-trib rapture. None the less, I will give my comments to each and every one of these so-called 250 reasons for a pre-trib rapture. I will only give a BRIEF comment at first and then after the actual argument is given, then I will give all the Scriptures to show the errors of interpretation made by the PRE-trib prophecy teachers.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING

#120. The Rapture relates to the Church. The Second Coming relates to Israel.

Yes, it is TRUE that the rapture, or more specifically our CHANGE, or our being given ETERNAL LIFE pertains ONLY to the CHURCH. And the EXECUTING of the WRATH of God relates to Israel and the world and all who are DISOBEDIENT to the GOSPEL.

However, BOTH the rapture of the church AND the WRATH of God will happen on the SAME DAY at the second coming of Jesus. Almighty God remembers MERCY and he lifts his WRATH from those who REPENT and CALL upon his name to be SAVED alive in their mortal bodies. And as I said before in other parts of this study, those who REPENT and CALL upon the name of the Lord when they SEE him COMING in POWER and great glory shall be SAVED. They will be saved, as in, they will be RESCUED and saved ALIVE in their mortal bodies. For you see, it will be TOO LATE for them to receive ETERNAL LIFE at this point in time, BECAUSE the RAPTURE of the CHURCH has ALREADY JUST taken place only a SPLIT SECOND BEFORE they actually SEE the SECOND coming of Jesus to repent.

#121. The Rapture occurs for Jesus’ heavenly people, the Church (Philippians 3:20-21, Hebrews 12:22-24). The Second Coming is for God’s earthly people, Israel.

Again, the argument is the SAME as above, because it is the SAME reason only worded slightly different. This point # 121, as well as most of these numbered arguments, are definitely NOT completely DIFFERENT reasons to try and prove a pre-tribulation rapture. In other words, in all actuality, there are NOT 250 DIFFERENT reasons that this author is TRYING to use as undeniable proof of a pre-tribulation rapture.

The TRUTH of the matter is that there are only around 15 to 20 logical reasons to even think of a possibility of a pre-tribulation rapture, which is nowhere close to this author's CLAIM of 250 reasons for a rapture of the church BEFORE the time of great tribulation.

 #122. At the Rapture, Jesus comes FOR His people, the Church (John 14:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:1) At the Second Coming, Jesus comes WITH His people, the Church. Jude 1:14-15.Revelation 19:14. Zechariah 14:5

Again, this very SAME reason has ALREADY been given and addressed earlier in this study. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 CLEARLY states that God will bring those SAINTS who have DIED IN Christ WITH HIM when he COMES to RAPTURE his CHURCH.

 #123. The Rapture OPENS the door for the “man of sin” to rise to power. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8. The Second Coming DOOMS the “man of sin.” Revelation 19:20.

NO, the WAR in heaven were Michael and his angels fight against Satan and his angels and Satan and his angels are CAST DOWN out of the MIDST of heaven and taken OUT of the WAY so that they can no longer HINDER the prayers of the SAINTS is the event that OPENS the door for the “man of sin”. And YES, this WAR in heaven takes place around the same time that a so-called PRE-tribulation would take place IF it were TRUE teaching as taught by the WHOLE word of God. And yes, it is true that the SECOND coming DOOMS this man of sin.

 #124. The Rapture is IMMINENT; it can occur at ANY moment. The Second Coming MUST be PRECEDED by very many DAYS and SIGNS and EVENTS.

This CLAIM is completely FALSE as I have already shown in many places in this study.

#125. No one knows the EXACT DAY of the Rapture (it is UNKNOWN)--Matthew 24:38-39, Matthew 25:13, Luke 17:26-30, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Hebrews 10:24-25. We are exhorted to be WAITING and WATCHING. BUT anyone who enters the “tribulation” will be able to COUNT SPECIFIC NUMBERS of DAYS and KNOW the DAY when Jesus will come to earth in His Second Coming. Daniel 9:27 (seven years, 84 months, 3520 days). Revelation 12:6 and Revelation 12:14. Revelation 13:5 (three and a half years, 42 months, 1260 days). There’s also added days in Daniel 12:11-12 (1290 and 1335 days), which probably relates to THE TIMING of a CELEBRATION of the Feast of Tabernacles, plus the JUDGMENT of the Sheep and Goat nations (this might not be fully understood until THE TIME arrives, as Daniel 12:9 indicates).

First of all, the day nor the hour of the coming of Jesus was NOT KNOWN by ANY man, no, NOT the angels, NOR EVEN Jesus, but ONLY Almighty God the Father knew the time of the coming of his Son Jesus AT the TIME that Jesus spoke these words. 

You see, the word that is translated as no man “KNOWS” the day of the hour can also mean no man has “PERCEIVED” the day or the hour. In other words, NO man had PERCEIVED as YET the day and hour of the return of Jesus. Or no man knows the day of the hour YET. However, the fact that NO man KNEW that day nor hour of the coming of Jesus during that day when Jesus spoke these words does NOT mean that no man will EVER be able to KNOW that day and hour of the return of Jesus.

Even those who teach the PRE-tribulation doctrine also teach that ONE DAY men WILL KNOW that day and hour of the COMING of Jesus.

Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that the ONE and the ONLY SECOND coming of Jesus does NOT need to be DIVIDED into TWO SEPARATE and completely DIFFERENT and DISTINCT comings as the ONLY WAY to harmonize these APPARENT contradictions in God's word.

 It is just a matter of RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of TRUTH, which CLEARLY teaches a POST tribulation rapture of the CHURCH without having to make ANY changes to God's word.

#126. After the Rapture, the Church will proceed to the Judgment Seat (the Bema) of Christ to receive REWARDS. 2 Corinthians 5:10. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20. 2 Timothy 4:8. 1 Peter 5:4. Revelation 2:10 b. Revelation 3:11. At the Second Coming, there will be a Judgment of the Sheep and Goats. Matthew 24:31-46.

For ME personally, I see the JUDGMENT SEAT of Christ as FIRST being FOUND to be IN Christ Jesus and having the EARNEST of the SPIRIT of Christ IN us. Secondly, I see the REWARD and NOT rewards as in plural. In other words, the REWARD of ETERNAL LIFE is given to us, BECAUSE of WORKS.

Yes, I can hear some of you thinking, “You BLASPHEMER, NO man is SAVED by his OWN GOOD WORKS! Do NOT believe this FALSE teacher! Why hear you him any longer!”

To these thoughts whether spoken or not I say PLEASE, I IMPLORE you to read the following all of the studies under the headings >>>CAN WE LOSE ETERNAL LIFE?<<< and >>>WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?<<<

And NO, Matthew 24:31-46 describes the RAPTURE of the CHURCH and NOT the dividing of the SHEEP and the GOATS. The dividing of the SHEEP and the Goats BEGINS at the SECOND coming of Jesus, but for ME, I see it CONTINUING right on through the 1000 year reign of Jesus and ending at the great white throne judgment at the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus because it is not until the END of the 1000 years that the GOATS are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death.

#127. The Rapture pertains to God’s mercy and grace. The Second Coming pertains to God’s wrath.

I absolutely agree but this does NOT prove a PRE-tribulation rapture. God can and WILL show mercy and GRACE at the SECOND coming of Jesus. God will show his mercy and GRACE at the RAPTURE of the CHURCH which takes place AT the SECOND coming of Jesus. The church has already been shown God’s mercy and grace. But there will also be mercy and GRACE for those who REPENT and CALL upon his name WHEN they SEE Jesus COMING in great POWER and glory. And WRATH upon all those who refuse to REPENT and who worship Satan and the beast and who follow the beast.

#128. At the Rapture, Jesus is the Morning Star-- 2 Peter 1:19, Revelation 2:28 and Revelation 22:16 --(which PRECEDES the sunrise of the New Day). At the Second Coming, Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness-- Malachi 4:1-2 --(which shines IN the New Day).

For ME personally. I do not see a difference between Jesus being the MORNING STAR and the SUN of RIGHTEOUSNESS. The Sun is a STAR and it ONLY BEGINS to shine in the MORNING. This argument does NOT prove the PRE-trib rapture because there will be a new day or rather a new world at the time of the rapture of the church AT the second coming. So to me, this argument supports the POST-tribulation rapture of a whole new world coming at the second coming of Jesus to rule and reign as the King of kings in the world to come.

#129. The Rapture is the HOPE of Jesus’ people, the Church, at THE END of the New Testament-- 2 Peter 1:19 and Revelation 22:16. The Second Coming is the HOPE of Jesus’ people, Israel, at THE END of the Old Testament-- Malachi 4:1-2.

Again. the HOPE of the CHURCH is the RESURRECTION and the RECEIVING of ETERNAL LIFE and of course to see Jesus our savior and Almighty God our Father who made it all possible. For with man, it was IMPOSSIBLE, but with God all things are possible. And the HOPE of Israel is their coming Messiah to deliver them from the enemy that seeks to wipe them from the face of the Earth.

#130. At the Rapture, the Church MEETS Jesus in the air in the clouds. At the Second Coming, Jesus sets His feet on the earth at the Mount of Olives.

Have you ever at least CONSIDERED that Jesus comes again AT his ONE and ONLY SECOND coming who then PAUSES just long enough to RAPTURE his CHURCH to MEET him in the AIR and THEN CONTINUE on DOWN to the Earth to fight against the armies that are fighting against his people Israel? And this ALL takes place AT the SECOND coming of Jesus.

Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that there is NO need to DIVIDE the ONE and ONLY SECOND coming of Jesus into TWO separate and distinct comings of Jesus as the ONLY WAY to harmonize these APPARENT contradictions in God's word that are NOT contradictions at all, but RATHER they are MISINTERPRETATION that MAN has come to CLAIM what these verses mean.

#131. At the time of the Rapture, the Mount of Olives will REMAIN UNCHANGED. At the Second Coming, the Mount of Olives IS DIVIDED, forming a valley east of Jerusalem.

Again this is based upon the FALSE ASSUMPTION that the ONE and the ONLY SECOND coming of Jesus MUST WITHOUT FAIL be DIVIDED into TWO separated comings.

But in TRUTH, Jesus could more easily come AT his SECOND coming, PAUSE in the air, BEFORE anyone on Earth can actually SEE him, RAPTURE his CHURCH at that time, then CONTINUE on to this place called ARMAGEDDON to execute the WRATH of Almighty God. It is at the second coming of Jesus WHEN the Mount of Olives is split in two to make a way of escape of his people Israel who are fleeing from the armies of the world who are trying to wipe them from the face of the Earth. Again, there is absolutely NO NEED for a so-called PRE-tribulation rapture to HARMONIZE those APPARENT but alleged contradictions in God's word.

#132. At the time of the Rapture, Church saints are TRANSLATED (bodies instantly changed to immortal without passing through a route called death). NO saints are translated at the Second Coming when Jesus places His feet back on earth.

Again, this reason is made upon FALSE assumptions that there MUST be TWO SECOND comings of Jesus. The CHANGE from mortal to immortal AT the FIRST resurrection of the DEAD IN Christ will take place AT the SECOND coming of Jesus when Jesus comes as a THIEF in the night, which is called the DAY of the Lord in which Jesus comes in FLAMING FIRE to execute the WRATH of Almighty God.

Again, the time of GREAT TRIBULATION is NOT the WRATH of God.

#133. At the time of the Rapture, the world is NOT JUDGED for sin--but instead SINKS DEEPER into sin. At the Second Coming, the world IS JUDGED at the return of Jesus when He deals with the Armageddon scene.

Again, at the EXACT SPLIT SECOND that the RAPTURE occurs, NO the WRATH of God is NOT being poured out, but the very next split second the WRATH of God will most certainly be poured out. This is NOT an argument for a PRE-tribulation rapture, just a rapture that occurs BEFORE the WRATH of God is poured out because the CHURCH is NOT appointed to the WRATH of God.

#134. The Rapture of the Church is a deliverance FROM the DAY OF WRATH. The Second Coming of Jesus is a deliverance FOR those who suffered under severe tribulation.

ABSOLUTELY, I totally agree. At the RAPTURE of the CHURCH, the CHURCH is DELIVERED from the WRATH of God, and AT the SAME time AT the SECOND coming of Jesus the CHURCH is also DELIVERED from any FURTHER suffering of the GREAT TRIBULATION which they have just ENDURED. The 3 1/2 years of the GREAT tribulation is NOT the WRATH of God.

 #135. The Rapture is always IMMINENT (meaning NO prophecy must be fulfilled BEFORE it can occur). There are VERY SPECIFIC SIGNS AND PROPHECIES (which MUST HAPPEN) before the Second Coming!

Again, this CLAIM that the rapture is IMMINENT is made upon FALSE ASSUMPTIONS and MISGUIDED INTERPRETATIONS. Jesus WARNS the CHURCH to WATCH for the SIGNS of his COMING so that the CHURCH would KNOW that the day and hour of his COMING is NIGH AT HAND. Hebrews teaches us to NOT forsake the assembling of ourselves together and exhort one another to GOOD WORKS and even MUCH THE MORE WHEN we SEE the DAY of our Lord APPROACHING. Simply put there is absolutely no way to SEE that day APPROACHING if there were NO SIGNS to look for so that when we SEE these SIGNS, then we would KNOW that his return in very NEAR.

#136. The Rapture is ONLY for the SAVED. The tribulation and the Second Coming deals with the ENTIRE WORLD.

I absolutely agree, ONLY those IN the CHURCH who have been found to be FAITHFUL and have ENDURED unto the END, whether that END be their FAITHFULNESS unto DEATH or our FAITHFULNESS unto the coming of Jesus, it is ONLY the FAITHFUL who will be SAVED and given ETERNAL LIFE AT the SECOND coming of Jesus. But again, this fact does NOT prove a pre-tribulation rapture. The church has gone through tribulation from the very beginning.

#137. In the Rapture, Jesus calls His Church UP TO HEAVEN--He comes FOR His Church. In the Second Coming, Jesus returns to earth WITH His Church. Revelation 19:7-8. Revelation 19:14. Jude 1:14-15.

This reason has ALREADY been shown to be FALSE several times in this study. No matter how many different ways one rewords this reason it is still just ONE reason. The TRUTH of the matter is that Jesus is coming FOR his CHURCH AT his ONE and ONLY SECOND coming, in the which a split second AFTER the CHURCH is HID and SAFE with Jesus, then Jesus will execute the WRATH of Almighty God upon those who do NOT REPENT and CALL upon his name to be saved alive to go into the millennium in their MORTAL bodies.

 #138. The gathering of “saints” AFTER the tribulation is done by ANGELS. The gathering of the Church to Jesus in the Pre-Trib Rapture is done by THE LORD HIMSELF.

Any honest Bible student knows that not EVERY verse that is referring to the exact SAME thing gives EVERY DETAIL in the EXACT SAME WAY. Anyone who SINCERELY is seeking the TRUTH will CLEARLY see ALL the SIMILARITIES of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 when compared to Matthew chapter 24.

Again, those that teach the FALSE PRE tribulation doctrine MUST, WITHOUT FAIL, find reasons, no matter how small they may be, because Matthew chapter 24 CLEARLY, PLAINLY and SIMPLY shows a RAPTURE of GOD'S PEOPLE being GATHERED TOGETHER to Jesus IN the CLOUDS. Therefore they MUST, WITHOUT FAIL, identify this group called the ELECT as someone OTHER than the CHURCH, or else their entire teaching is COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY.

The TRUTH of the matter is that Jesus HIMSELF SENDS his ANGELS to GATHER TOGETHER his CHURCH, his ELECT, his CHOSEN ONES to himself at this place called ARMAGEDDON to be WITH Jesus while he executes the WRATH of Almighty God upon all those who do NOT REPENT and CALL upon the Lord to give God GLORY. No NEED for a PRE- tribulation to HARMONIZE all the scriptures.

#139. BOTH the righteous and the wicked CANNOT be taken FIRST. In the Rapture, the RIGHTEOUS are TAKEN--the WICKED and UNREADY are LEFT BEHIND. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. In the “tribulation” and at the Second Coming, the WICKED are TAKEN/DESTROYED in the JUDGMENT, and the RIGHTEOUS are LEFT BEHIND to enter the Millennial Kingdom. Matthew 13:30 and Matthew 13:49-50.

Whether one is TAKEN to be destroyed or whether one is LEFT BEHIND to be destroyed, is just a matter of INTERPRETATION.

Here is what Matthew 13:30 actually says and teaches.

“Let both grow together UNTIL the HARVEST: and IN the TIME of HARVEST I will say to the reapers, Gather you together FIRST the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: BUT gather the wheat into my barn.”

Let me paraphrase this verse for you, IN the TIME of HARVEST there may be MANY things for the reapers of the harvest to do, BUT the very FIRST THINGS (PLURAL) they must do is gather the wicked to be burned or destroyed AND ALSO gather the RIGHTEOUS into the kingdom of God. AFTER this ONE task of BOTH THINGS is DONE we are not told in this PARABLE what the angels are to do NEXT. In other words, the FIRST JOB of the angels is to basically SEPARATE or distinguish between the RIGHTEOUS and the WICKED and then gather together the RIGHTEOUS into the kingdom of God and DESTROY the WICKED. To ME the word FIRST does NOT depict or DEMAND a specific order in which the wicked are destroyed and the righteous are gathered into the kingdom of God. To ME it is ALL ONE SINGLE JOB that the angels are sent to do FIRST.

One must also keep in mind that these are PARABLES and not every word in every PARABLE is to be taken LITERALLY. Here is what I mean by this. Keeping Matthew 13:30 and Matthew 13:49,50 in their CONTEXT let us read Matthew 13:47-50, which CLEARLY shows us that EVERY WORD in EVERY PARABLE CANNOT be taken LITERALLY.

Matthew 13:47-50.

“AGAIN, the kingdom of heaven is LIKE unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of EVERY kind: (Meaning BOTH the GOOD and BAD will be gathered together FIRST and then the GOOD will be kept and the BAD will be cast away. That is to say, IF every single word is to be taken LITERALLY in EVERY PARABLE)

48. Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the GOOD into vessels, but cast the BAD away.

49. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the WICKED from among the JUST,

50. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall bewailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Also, keep in mind that there will be some people who are considered moral and just people by Almighty God who will STILL be here ON the Earth after the RAPTURE of the CHURCH has taken place only a split second before. And in the wrath of God immediately after the rapture of the church, the WICKED will be SEVERED from AMONG the just and morally good but yet still unsaved people who will also be left behind. So then, neither of these PARABLES prove without a doubt the PRE-tribulation rapture. Otherwise, we would also have to have a rapture that gathers together ALL the people of the Earth both saved and unsaved together FIRST and THEN Jesus will separate them, the just from the unjust or the unjust from the just. To me, it is just a SINGLE job that must be done FIRST in order to move on into the new age of the millennium. Think of the world yet to come as another church age where people will be saved DURING the Millennium.

#140. In the Rapture, Jesus RECEIVES us to Himself. It will NOT be us “receiving” Him when He returns in the Second Coming. John 14:2-3. If the Rapture occurred in Revelation 19, we’d go up TO MEET (or RECEIVE) Him and IMMEDIATELY RETURN to earth with Him.

I am not sure how one gets the MEANING of MEET to be RECEIVED because the word “MEET” means to come into the presence of, or to join with, to come together. Now, if someone is coming from one place and heading to another place and we go to MEET them at a specific place then it is commonly assumed that we go to MEET with that person in order to CONTINUE on with that person to the place that that person was heading toward when we went out to MEET that person. In other words, when we MEET Jesus is the AIR we will JOIN with Jesus and be WITH Jesus to go with Jesus to the PLACE where he is HEADING, which is the PLACE called in the Hebrew tongue ARMAGEDDON. 

Please read Revelation 16:15,16 which teaches us that the ANGELS will GATHER those of us who are READY and have our garment clean and without spot TOGETHER to that PLACE called in the Hebrew tongue called ARMAGEDDON to MEET Jesus in the AIR to be WITH Jesus as he CONTINUES on DOWN to the Earth to the Mount of Olives to execute the WRATH of Almighty God.

Revelation 16:15,16.

“Behold, I come as a THIEF. Blessed is he that WATCHES, and KEEPS his garments, lest he walks naked, and THEY (Referring to the ANGELS of God sent by Jesus HIMSELF to GATHER TOGETHER his FAITHFUL, lest THEY the ANGELS) see his shame.

16. And he (Speaking of Jesus who he himself SENT his ANGELS to GATHER TOGETHER his ELECT, therefore HE, Jesus) GATHERED them TOGETHER into a PLACE called in the Hebrew tongue ARMAGEDDON.”

Please notice that we are NOT gathered together and then taken to heaven with Jesus for 7 years in order to escape the WRATH of God. NO, NONE of the PRE-tribulation rapture fantasy is necessary as the ONLY WAY to harmonize those SEEMINGLY contradictory verses of scripture.

#141. If we rose to meet Him and immediately returned to earth with Him in Revelation 19, WHERE are the Judgment Seat of Christ (the Bema) and the wedding ceremony for the Bride? The NEXT THING that happens AFTER the Second Coming is the Judgment of the Sheep and the Goats.

Again, I have ALREADY explained the judgment seat of Christ as being the very rapture itself. Jesus WARNS us in Revelation 22:11-14 that his coming is going to be QUICK. Therefore, those who are NOT ready when the RAPTURE takes place will be left behind. Or more specifically, those who are not ready by not living in sin when our CHANGE occurs, then they will be LEFT BEHIND because there will be NO TIME to REPENT at the time of our CHANGE. If you are NOT ready, then it will be TOO LATE to take part in the CHANGE and RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE at this particular time. 

However, I do see that there will be time to REPENT and CALL upon the Lord AFTER the Rapture has occurred in order to go into the 1000 years in a MORTAL body. So then, we can see that the age of GRACE goes on to CONTINUE into the millennium where the Jews and those who will be left of the nations that REPENT and call upon the name of the Lord when they SEE him coming in clouds of glory. Then they will go into the millennium in their MORTAL bodies and will be TAUGHT of the Lord and his Son Jesus.

Revelation 22:11-14. 

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12. And, behold, I come QUICKLY (Or at the very beginning of my coming will be a MOMENT in time when he that is unjust will remain unjust for that brief moment in time and he that is righteous in that MOMENT in time will not be able to fall away in that MOMENT but will be found to be righteous. And at this precise MOMENT in TIME, there will be a CHANGE that takes place to ONLY those who are found to be RIGHTEOUS at that EXACT MOMENT in time. So, therefore, be WARNED that I COME QUICKLY and you will NOT have time to REPENT. So WATCH for the SIGNS of my coming so that you will KNOW when my coming is NEAR AT HAND so that you will be SO MUCH MORE on your guard to be HOLY and RIGHTEOUS when I COME QUICKLY in a MOMENT and in a TWINKLING of an eye); and my REWARD (Speaking of our REWARD of ETERNAL LIFE, the PROMISE of our CHANGE) is with me, to give every man according as his WORK (That SINGLE WORK that we are doing AT that PRECISE MOMENT no matter if it is RIGHTEOUS or if it is WICKED we shall ALL be judged by that FINAL WORK we are DOING at that PRECISE MOMENT in time when Jesus COMES QUICKLY to give every man ACCORDING as his WORK) shall be. (Please understand that I am NOT saying that if a Christian who is NOT living in a lifestyle of sin SLIPS for a split second and commits a sin at the very moment that Jesus says let the righteous remain righteous and the sinners remain sinners that you will be left behind to suffer the wrath of God. For you see God KNOWS your HEART. God knows that you would have repented quickly IF time had not run out in this present world so to speak. God's mercy endure forever but that does not mean we should walk the line to take advantage of God's grace. I sincerely believe that the SIGNS of the coming of Jesus will be so sure to us that we will NOT SIN. See Job 5:19-24. Many of us have been taught the  “no signs so-called PRE-tribulation rapture ” so long that the SIGNS are not yet REAL to us. I believe that there will be NO DOUBT that our redemption is just moments away when we see the SIGNS. So to ME, I do not see any true born-again Christians giving in to any temptation WILLFULLY. To me, it is like Jesus freezes us so that it will be impossible to sin at the time just moments before our change. My point is to WATCH so that you will NOT slip at fall)

13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

14. Blessed are THEY that DO his COMMANDMENTS, that THEY (Speaking of ONLY THEY who are DOING his COMMANDMENTS of Jesus under the New Covenant written in the New Testament when Jesus COMES QUICKLY, because ONLY THEY) may have RIGHT to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city

#142. The Judgment of Gentile nations follows the Second Coming (Matthew 25:31-46). This scripture shows that BOTH the SAVED and the LOST are in NATURAL bodies (which would be IMPOSSIBLE if there were a translation, or Rapture, at the Second Coming).

NO, it is ONLY ASSUMED that it is impossible for there to be a CHANGE at the SECOND coming of Jesus because those who teach the pre-tribulation rapture need this FALSE ASSUMPTION to be true in order for their FALSE teaching to be supported.

However, IN TRUTH, it is very easy to see that the CHANGE and the CATCHING UP of the CHURCH will take place AT the ONE and the ONLY SECOND coming of Jesus.

Jesus comes in the CLOUDS, PAUSES, the CHANGE or translation occurs where the DEAD in Christ are raised FIRST, then we who have REMAINED ALIVE and have SURVIVED the time of great tribulation are CHANGED right along WITH the SAINTS who DIED in Christ which God brings WITH him AT the SECOND coming of Jesus are ALSO resurrected and their bodies CHANGED. Then we will ALL be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER into the CLOUDS or in the AIR to be GATHERED TOGETHER by the ANGELS which Jesus HIMSELF SENT to gather us together and then the angels bring us to MEET Jesus in the AIR over this place called ARMAGEDDON where we will then CONTINUE on WITH Jesus DOWN to the Earth at the Mount of Olives to be with Jesus as he executes the WRATH of Almighty God.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO NEED to DEMAND that there is NO OTHER WAY to HARMONIZE the APPARENT contradiction other than to SPLIT the ONE and ONLY SECOND coming into TWO separate and distinct comings of Jesus because a POST tribulation rapture makes PERFECT sense of ALL the verses of scripture WITHOUT having to change even one single verse.

#143. IF the TRANSLATION (Rapture) took place at the same time as the Second Coming, there would be NO NEED to separate the sheep from the goats. The act of TRANSLATION would provide that separation.

No, the event of our CHANGE is for the CHURCH, whereas the separating of the SHEEP and the GOATS is referring to the separating of those who REPENT and CALL upon the name of the Lord AT his COMING when they SEE him coming in great glory and power and those who refuse to repent but rather follow the beast to fight to the death against Almighty God because to them there is NO GOD.

#144. IF believers were TRANSLATED (Raptured) at the Second Coming, and unbelievers were DESTROYED by the final tribulation judgment, there would be NO ONE LEFT IN THEIR FLESH TO POPULATE THE WORLD in the Millennium.

Now, this reason is a direct CONTRADICTION of this author's words because she has stated earlier that there are those who go into the millennium in their MORTAL bodies. Please read her previous reason number 142, which says,

#142 The Judgment of Gentile nations follows the Second Coming (Matthew 25:31-46). This scripture shows that BOTH the SAVED and the LOST are in NATURAL bodies (which would be IMPOSSIBLE if there were a translation, or Rapture, at the Second Coming).

I have ALREADY shown that it is NOT IMPOSSIBLE for there to be people in their mortal bodies when the rapture of the church takes place AT the SECOND coming of Jesus several times in this study. Even the PRE-trib rapture view teaches that there will be ANOTHER rapture at the second coming. So their THEORY that everyone is destroyed at the second coming is pure FICTICTION. That is NOT what the Bible ITSELF teaches us. That is the PRE-trib view EXAGERATING the great tribulation for Christians to FEAR the great tribulation and believe their PRE-tribulation rapture teaching to ESCAPE the great tribulation. The pre-trib rapture is a false hope! It is NOT going to happen the way the pre-trib doctrine teaches.

#145. Surviving tribulation saints are NOT translated (into immortal bodies) at the Second Coming of Christ, but carry on with ordinary activities, like farming, construction, and giving birth. Isaiah 65:20-25.

This statement is a DIRECT CONTRADICTION of the CLEAR, PLAIN, and SIMPLE word of God.

Please read Revelation 20:4-6, which CLEARLY teaches us that those who DIE DURING the time of the GREAT TRIBULATION who died IN CHRIST being found FAITHFUL unto DEATH, as well as those who have SURVIVED and have REMAINED ALIVE after the time of the GREAT TRIBULATION has come to an end when Jesus comes the SECOND time to CATCH UP his CHURCH to himself, will BOTH LIVE and REIGN WITH Jesus for 1000 years. The dead saints IN Jesus Christ will God BRING WITH him at the second coming of Jesus to JOIN the ALIVE saints who do not die during the great tribulation. The rapture of the church will take place AT the SECOND coming of Jesus.

Revelation 20:4-6.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were BEHEADED for the witness of Jesus (Or DIED for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus), and for the word of God, and which had NOT worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands; (Which we ALL know takes place DURING the time of GREAT TRIBULATION) and THEY (Referring to all the SAINTS who went THROUGH the GREAT TRIBULATION and were found to be FAITHFUL) LIVED and REIGNED WITH Christ a thousand years (In other words, THESE SAINTS who went THROUGH the time of GREAT TRIBULATION will LIVE and REIGN WITH Jesus in their GLORIFIED ETERNAL bodies and NOT in their MORTAL bodies as the FALSE doctrine of the PRE-tribulation rapture FALSELY teaches)

5. But the REST of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the FIRST resurrection. (Speaking of the resurrection of ONLY the DEAD in Christ because the REST of the dead are NOT raised UNTIL the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus. Keep in mind that the CHURCH of Jesus which INCLUDES ALL the SAINTS who go THROUGH the time of GREAT TRIBULATION who will reign WITH Jesus during the Millennium)

6. Blessed and holy is he that has PART in the FIRST resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign WITH him a thousand years.”

Verse 6 proves that those who LIVE and REIGN WITH Jesus for 1000 years have ALREADY RECEIVED ETERNAL LIFE and do NOT LIVE and REIGN in their MORTAL bodies as the PRE-trib doctrine FALSELY teaches. For you see, the Scripture says that the SECOND DEATH has NO power over them. In other words, they are ETERNAL BEINGS now. They received the CHANGE from being a mortal to becoming immortal AT the second coming of Jesus. Also, it would not be possible to live for 1000 years in a MORTAL body. Those in their MORTAL bodies during the millennium will live to be 100 years of age.

BIBLE HERMENEUTICS (INTERPRETATION)--SCRIPTURES MUST AGREE

#146. ONLY the Pre-Trib Rapture view allows for a TRULY LITERAL INTERPRETATION of the Old and New Testament passages regarding the tribulation. The SYMBOLS (which are used) are DEFINED throughout the Bible and are APPLIED in a LITERAL WAY.

This statement or reason is just a matter of opinion because, for ME, I find that the PRE-tribulation point of view CHANGES quite a lot of straight forward simple and easily understood passages of Scripture which have been TWISTED and REDEFINED to FIT the PRE-tribulation point of view. And, THEREFORE, some verses of Scripture have BECOME difficult to understand because of the WAY they were PREVIOUSLY TAUGHT. 

Any doctrine that if FALSE is hard for those who were TAUGHT this FALSE doctrine to SEE and UNDERSTAND the TRUTH. It is NOT because the word of God is HARD to understand, but RATHER it is HARD for them to LAY ASIDE these FALSE teachings long enough for them to RECEIVE the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God.

#147. ONLY the Pre-Tribulation view clearly DISTINGUISHES between Israel and the Church (and HOW God deals with each)--making it NECESSARY for an interval of time between the Rapture and the Second Coming.

Again, another FALSE statement, because not everyone who teaches the TRUTH of a POST tribulation rapture of the CHURCH makes the church a spiritual Israel.

Also, the ONLY interval of time that Almighty God needs is the PRECISE MOMENT in time that is so QUICK that the word of God calls it as a FLASH of lightning or a TWINKLING of an eye. God does NOT need 7 years to make his change from dealing with the CHURCH to his dealing with Israel!

#148. In the seven letters to the Churches in Revelation, Jesus says SEVEN TIMES “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.” When we get to the tribulation passage of Revelation 13:9, Jesus says “If any man has an ear, let him hear.” He LEFT OUT the words “what the Spirit says unto the Churches”--and did so BECAUSE there are NO CHURCHES on earth in the tribulation.

Again, this is an ASSUMPTION or one’s own personal INTERPRETATION of WHY these words “what the Spirit says to the churches” are not written in this particular verse of Scripture.

Just because these words are NOT spoken in EVERY verse that is spoken to the CHURCH does NOT prove in ANY WAY that the CHURCH is NOT being spoken to. For you see, IF this deduction were true then EVERY single verse in the Bible that was speaking to the CHURCH would have to INCLUDE these same words, “what the Spirit says unto the churches”

As I said before, not every passage of Scripture that speaks on the same things always says it in the EXACT SAME way. All of the Book of Revelation was written TO the church and SENT TO the seven churches in Asia.

Here is what Revelation 13:9 actually says and teaches when LEFT in its CONTEXT. Please read Revelation 13:8-10 which teaches us that there will be those SAINTS on the Earth whose names are WRITTEN in the LAMBS book of LIFE. ONLY those who BELONG to Jesus are found in the LAMBS book of LIFE. Therefore these SAINTS who are ON the Earth during this time of GREAT TRIBULATION are the CHURCH and NOT some NEW group of believers that take the place of the CHURCH. To bring in another group of believers, the so-called tribulations saints who have the testimony of Jesus, but then demand that they are NOT the church sounds like REPLACEMENT theology to me.

Revelation 3:8-10.

“And ALL that DWELL upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are NOT written in the book of life of the LAMB slain from the foundation of the world. (Meaning that Jesus is talking to his church, his saints whose names ARE written in the LAMB’S Book of life)

9. If any man have an ear, let him hear

10. He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the SAINTS”

In other words, Jesus is saying to the SAINTS, his CHURCH whose names ARE written in the LAMB’S book of life, to be PATIENT for the VENGEANCE is MINE says the Lord. Therefore, do NOT take up weapons to kill those that are seeking to kill you because Almighty God will AVENGE the shed blood that you willingly shed for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus.

Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that the CHURCH will go THROUGH the TIME of the GREAT TRIBULATION? So get your heart ready to lay down your life for the Lord if so be if you become faced with this honor. Do not fear death because we know that whether we live or whether we die in the Lord we KNOW that we will live and reign with Jesus in the world to come.

#149. In the tribulation passage of Revelation 13:6, the antichrist will be given a mouth to blaspheme God, His name, His tabernacle, and THEM THAT DWELL IN HEAVEN. Who are those who DWELL in heaven? The Raptured Church.

Those who dwell in heaven are as follows. There is Almighty God, his Son Jesus, the ANGELS who REMAINED FAITHFUL to God, the four beasts before the throne, and those SAINTS who have DIED in Christ Jesus throughout the church age, as well as those Old Testament SAINTS who were PREACHED to in the prison, called the holding place of the dead, in the heart of the Earth that rose from the grave with Jesus and ascended to heaven with Jesus.

There is absolutely NO NEED to DEMAND that this verse means that there is NO OTHER WAY for there to be anyone in heaven UNLESS there is a PRE-tribulation rapture to get them there.

#150. The Holy Ones (“saints” in the Church) are ALREADY with Jesus in heaven and will return to earth with Him. Zechariah 14:5. Revelation 19:14. Jude 1:14-15.

This line of reason has been addressed several times already in this study. See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 where we are taught that God will bring the SAINTS who have DIED IN Christ WITH him when he comes. There is NO NEED to fabricate a PRE-tribulation rapture to HARMONIZE this APPARENT contradiction in God's word.

#151. The Holy Ones who return with Jesus are NOT angels. The Holy Ones are arrayed in FINE WHITE LINEN which is the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SAINTS (which is the Church). Revelation 19:8. Revelation 3:5. Revelation 3:18.

This is the same line of reasoning as above. The truth of the matter is that Jesus is coming with BOTH his saints AND his mighty army of angels. Revelation 19:6-21 is speaking about the second coming of Jesus as being the marriage supper of the Lamb. Jesus will be coming with his ARMIES to make WAR in the place called Armageddon. Jesus is coming with the SOULS of the dead SAINTS who died IN Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:13,14 clearly teach us that God will BRING WITH him the dead IN Jesus Christ. THOSE are the SAINTS that Jesus will be coming with when he returns at his second coming. And 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 teaches us that Jesus will ALSO be coming WITH his mighty ANGELS at the time when his saints will be glorified. The rapture of the church and the second coming are ONE and the selfsame event on the SAME DAY. The rapture will take place just before the wrath of God is poured out by Jesus along WITH us being given the honor to execute the wrath WITH Jesus. The great tribulation is NOT the WRATH of God. Please read the study  “WRATH OF GOD VERSUS THE GREAT TRIBULATION!”

#152. Jesus opened His ministry in his first coming in Luke 4:18-19, quoting from the prophet Isaiah. He stopped reading AFTER saying THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD in the MIDDLE of a sentence and SHUT the book. Jesus’ ministry in His first coming opened a time of God’s GRACE through the Church.

This does NOT prove a PRE-tribulation rapture. I do not know what this pre-trib believer is trying to say here because God shows his mercy and grace through the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation and in the world to come. God’s grace does not end until the END of the Millennium when He destroys all the wicked in the lake of fire. The acceptable year of the Lord is speaking of the coming WRATH of God and Jesus is the ONLY WAY to escape the WRATH of God. But the WRATH of God is NOT the time of Great tribulation. And by this PRE-trib writer emphasizing the word MIDDLE then one could assume that this writer has changed from being PRE-trib to be a MID-trib believer by her use of the word MIDDLE.

#153. In Isaiah 61:1-2, the prophecy of Isaiah FINISHES where Jesus LEFT OFF. After “the acceptable year of the Lord” (GRACE--THE AGE of the Church) is the DAY OF VENGEANCE OF OUR GOD. AFTER the Church age the tribulation will come--“the day of vengeance of our God.” We understand HOW the Church will be Raptured, then THAT DAY will come--and it’s Pre-Tribulation.

Again, I have ALREADY addressed this same line of reasoning several times. And I have also clearly shown that there is NO NEED to have a so-called PRE-tribulation rapture because all the Scriptures HARMONIZE PERFECTLY with a POST-tribulation rapture of the CHURCH without having to redefine words and make CHANGES in the word of God. The age of this PRESENT world IS the church age. And AT the END age of THIS present world INCLUDES the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation. The age of THIS present world ENDS at the coming of Jesus to be the King of kings of the world to come, the Millennium. We are IN the MIDST of the 70th week of Daniel right NOW. Please read the study  “WHEN IS THE MIDST OF THE 70TH WEEK?”

#154. Revelation 4:1-11 opens with “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 (the trumpet voice of Jesus--see Revelation 1:10); which said, Come up hither, and I will show you things which must come HEREAFTER.” “After this” and “hereafter” is the same Greek word “meta tauta” which means AFTER THESE THINGS. After WHAT things? AFTER the THINGS of the SEVEN CHURCHES (the complete “Church Age”) in Revelation 2 and 3. Jesus will call “Come up hither” with His TRUMPET VOICE--the trump of God--and the Church, like John, will go through an OPEN DOOR in heaven in a PRE-TRIB Rapture! The structure is HIGHLY EVIDENT! Plus, the Holy Spirit REPEATED “hereafter” TWO TIMES to make this ABUNDANTLY CLEAR! Pre-Trib!

While I agree that Revelation 4:1 is a type, shadow, or figure of the rapture of the church it is just the FIRST of SEVEN types, shadows, or figures of the rapture of the church found in the book of Revelation. Now, there are NOT going to be SEVEN DIFFERENT raptures of the church, but rather, these seven different places in the book of Revelation illustrate the ONE and ONLY rapture that will take place IMMEDIATELY AFTER the time of GREAT TRIBULATION right BEFORE the Millennium begins. There will be another harvest at the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus as well. But that is NOT the same event as the rapture of the church BEFORE the Millennial reign of Jesus.

Here are the SEVEN different places in the book of Revelation where the rapture of the CHURCH can be found.

The FIRST example of the rapture: Revelation 4:1-11.

“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 show you things which must be hereafter. (The Greek compound word that is translated as “hereafter” actually means that everything BEFORE the word hereafter and everything after the word hereafter are CONNECTED. In other words, John is being shown the WHOLE age of the church including the time of the great tribulation. To say this another way, John is being shown the BLESSING first or the REWARD first that will be given for ENDURING until the end to be saved)

2. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

3. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

4. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats, I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

5. And out of the throne proceeded lightning and thundering and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

6. And before the throne, there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

7. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

9. And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11. You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you hast created all things, and for your pleasure, they are and were created.”

 The SECOND example of the rapture: Revelation 7:9-17

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with WHITE ROBES, and palms in their hands;

10. And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

11. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God, 

12. Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might be unto our God forever and ever. Amen. 

13. And one of the ELDERS answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in WHITE ROBES? And whence came they (Or from WHERE did they come)? 

14. And I said unto him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which CAME OUT of GREAT TRIBULATION, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15. Therefore, are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them.

16. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sunlight on them, nor any heat.

17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

Now, I want you to notice that chapter 7, where we see those who CAME OUT of GREAT TRIBULATION are NOW CAUGHT UP to the throne of God, that this chapter 7 is positioned BETWEEN the opening of the SIXTH SEAL and the opening of the SEVENTH SEAL.

The FIRST SIX SEAL will be opened DURING the time of GREAT TRIBULATION and the opening of the SEVENTH SEAL is not opened until AFTER the rapture in chapter 8. The opening of the SEVENTH SEAL represents the pouring out of the WRATH of God where there is SILENCE in heaven for the space of 1/2 an hour which represents ONE HALF or of the FIRST HALF of the HOUR of God's WRATH. For you see, God will remember MERCY and lifts his WRATH lest all of his people Israel be destroyed. The last half of God’s wrath is reserved for the END of the Millennium. Then in the next verse of chapter 8 we see the SEVEN trumpets being given to the seven angels. And again we see the first SIX opened one right after the other but, again, there is a GAP between the SIXTH trumpet and the SEVENTH trumpet. And in the gap, we see the THIRD example of the rapture of the church.

The THIRD example of the rapture: Revelation 11:11-14

“And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon them which saw them. (This verse is speaking of the FIRST RESURRECTION of the dead in Christ who were martyred DURING the time of GREAT TRIBULATION)

12. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, COME UP HITHER. And they ASCENDED UP to heaven in a CLOUD, and their enemies beheld them. (This is speaking of the RAPTURE of the CHURCH. The word heaven also means the SKY or the AIR where the CLOUDS are which is the SAME thing we are told in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 the famous rapture passage of Scripture)

13. And the SAME HOUR (Or AT this SAME time the HOUR of the WRATH of God BEGINS) was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the REMNANT was frightened, and gave GLORY to the God of heaven. (This is speaking of the REMNANT of Israel and ALSO the REMNANT of the NATIONS that CALL upon the name of the Lord and are SAVED alive to go into the millennium in their MORTAL bodies)

14. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe comes quickly.” 

The third woe is the WRATH of God which is the SEVENTH and LAST TRUMPET that is blown in the very next verse. And the third woe which is the wrath of God comes QUICKLY or immediately after the RAPTURE of the church. All the saints will be changed in a twinkling of an eye and then caught up into the AIR. Jesus will send his angels to gather us all together and take us to MEET Jesus in the AIR over the place called Armageddon. And we will be given the HONOR to help Jesus execute the wrath of Almighty God upon the world. God will show mercy and lift his wrath and the Millennium will begin.

Again, I want you to notice that FIRST SIX TRUMPETS are blown DURING the time of GREAT TRIBULATION and THEN the rapture occurs, and THEN the HOUR of God's WRATH is poured out AT the LAST of the SEVEN TRUMPETS. In other words, AT the LAST trumpet our change will take place. The MYSTERY of our change from mortal to immortal will occur or be finished AT the LAST or the SEVENTH trumpet. See Revelation 10:7 or read the study with all the verses called “THE RAPTURE OCCURS AT THE LAST TRUMPET!”

The FOURTH example of the rapture: Revelation 14:14-16

“And I looked, and behold a white CLOUD, and upon the CLOUD one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown and in his hand a sharp sickle.

15. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and REAP: for the TIME (SINGULAR, which teaches us that there is ONLY ONE rapture of the CHURCH) is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.”

The FIFTH example of the rapture: Revelation 16:15,16

“Behold, I come as a THIEF. (Please read the study “JESUS IS COMING AS A THEIF IN THE NIGHT!”) Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walks naked, and they see his shame.

16. And he GATHERED them TOGETHER into a PLACE called in the Hebrew tongue ARMAGEDDON.” 

In other words, the CHURCH is NOT taken up to heaven for 7 years to ESCAPE the time of GREAT TRIBULATION, but rather the church is taken to the battleground of ARMAGEDDON, which is the SUPPER of our great God where we judge the world with Jesus.

AGAIN, I want you to notice that the FIRST SIX VIALS are poured out DURING the time of GREAT TRIBULATION and THEN Jesus comes as a THIEF in the night to RAPTURE those in the church who are KEEPING SIN OUT of their lives and then we are GATHERED TOGETHER and taken to the SUPPER of our great God, which I personally believe is the MARRIAGE SUPPER of the Lamb where Jesus executes the WRATH and VENGEANCE of Almighty God for his SAINTS, the CHURCH.

In the very next verse, we can see the SEVENTH VIAL being poured out, which is the WRATH of God. Again, the time of GREAT TRIBULATION is NOT the WRATH of God! Please read the study “WRATH OF GOD VERSUS THE GREAT TRIBULATION!”

THE SIXTH example of the rapture: Revelation 18:4-8.

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, COME OUT of her MY PEOPLE, that you be NOT partakers of her sins, and that you receive NOT of her plagues. (This verse speaks coming out of the world to be caught up into the AIR at the rapture of the church. The plagues are referring to the WRATH of God and the faithful Christians are not appointed to the WRATH of God. The 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation has just ended. This is the RAPTURE of the church being called up and the saints being given the honor to help Jesus execute the WRATH of God)

5. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

6. REWARD her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her double. (This shows us, the CHURCH, helping Jesus execute the WRATH of God upon the world)

7. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

8. Therefore shall her plagues come IN ONE DAY, (Remember that a DAY is as a 1000 years and a 1000 years is as a DAY. Remember that the WRATH of God will be divided into two halves where the first half of God’s wrath will be poured out at the second coming of Jesus and the last half at the end of the 1000 year long DAY of the Lord. That is why the word, plagues, is in the plural. And that is why verse 6 says come out of her my PEOPLE and not saints. There will be TWO harvests of people. The first harvest will be BEFORE the Millennium and the last harvest will be at the end of the 100o year long DAY of the reign of Jesus) death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her.”

Then in Revelation 18:17-20 we read that this vengeance or WRATH is poured out in ONE HOUR.

“For in ONE HOUR so great riches has come to naught. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea stood afar off,

18. And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

19. And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! For in ONE HOUR is she made desolate.

20. Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has AVENGED you on her.”

Remember earlier when I told you that the SILENCE is heaven for the space of HALF an HOUR represents the FIRST HALF of God's WRATH? God remembers MERCY and lifts or more precisely suspends his WRATH only to be FINISHED at the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus when FIRE comes down from heaven and DESTROYS all those who REBELLED against God DURING the Millennium and in the final war after the 1000 years has ended. 

So the phrase “IN ONE DAY” means that AT the SECOND coming of Jesus when Jesus comes as a THIEF in the night in FLAMING FIRE to execute the WRATH of God only the FIRST PART of God's WRATH is poured out. Then at the END of the DAY or at the END of the 1000 years when Satan is loosed to tempt the nations to rebel against God. And then Almighty God will pour out the FINAL part of His WRATH to make an END of SIN and the TRANSGRESSIONS of his people. So to ME, the 1335 days of Daniel do not actually END until AFTER the 1000 year reign of Jesus. Please read the study  “WHEN DO THE 1335 DAYS IN DANIEL END?”

THE SEVENTH example of the rapture: Revelation 20:4-6

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and JUDGMENT was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were BEHEADED (Or killed) for the witness of Jesus, AND for the word of God, and which had NOT worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands; and they LIVED and REIGNED WITH Christ a thousand years. (Now, while we do not specifically see the catching up here, we do see the FIRST resurrection and the so-called tribulation saints reigning WITH Jesus for 1000 years. Therefore, we know that the so-called tribulation saints will be raptured and given eternal life to rule and reign with Jesus for 1000 years)

5. But the REST of the dead lived NOT again until the thousand years were finished. This is the FIRST resurrection.

6. Blessed and holy is he that has a part in the FIRST resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall REIGN WITH him a thousand years.”

In each and every one of these seven examples of the RAPTURE of the CHURCH the rapture takes place IMMEDIATELY AFTER the time of GREAT TRIBULATION and right BEFORE the WRATH of God is poured out, which matches EXACTLY with what WE, the CHURCH are taught in Matthew chapter 24.

Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, the ERROR of the FALSE PRE-tribulation doctrine? There is absolutely NO NEED to DEMAND that the ONE and the ONLY SECOND coming of Jesus be DIVIDED into TWO SEPARATE and DISTINCT comings as being the ONLY WAY to harmonize those APPARENT contradictions in God's word because those APPARENT contradictions are NOT contradictions at all when the word of TRUTH is RIGHTLY DIVIDED.

#155. A door is SHUT BEHIND some believers in Isaiah 26:19-20. Isaiah 26:19 shows the resurrection from the dead. Isaiah 26:20 shows the TRANSLATION (Rapture) of those who are alive. “Come, My people, enter you in to your chambers (mansions), and SHUT your DOOR about you; HIDE yourself as it were for A LITTLE MOMENT (7 years) until THE INDIGNATION be overpast.” The Church will enter heaven for 7 years, a little moment, until the INDIGNATION (God’s wrath upon the rebellious world) is done. The Rapture of the Church is Pre-Trib. How can people miss this?

I would think by now those of you who have read this entire study up to this point have come to the knowledge of the TRUTH that the time of great tribulation is NOT the WRATH of God. Therefore the “LITTLE MOMENT” is referring to the HOUR or more precisely the HALF an HOUR of God's WRATH of INDIGNATION and NOT the so-called 7 years of the great tribulation. 

I say half an hour because the wrath of God begins at the second coming of Jesus and then it is lifted for 1000 years during the reign of Jesus. And then the remainder of the wrath of God is poured out at the end of the 1000 year reign of Jesus upon those who are deceived by Satan when he is released for a little season. I do not mean to imply a literal 30-minutes at the length of time that the first half-hour of God's wrath will last. The HOUR of God's wrath is a figure of speech. The “HOUR of temptation or adversity” that we will be KEPT from in Revelation 3:10 is speaking of the HOUR of God’s WRATH and NOT the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation which is a LITERAL 42 months or 1260 days in the length of time.

Now for ME, I believe the chamber here in Isaiah is speaking of a CHARIOT of God that rides upon the clouds. In other words, for ME, I believe God, Jesus and the ANGELS will not be just floating along in the clouds. But RATHER they will be riding in the CHARIOTS of God. So what am I saying? I am saying that Almighty God, the Father, his Son Jesus, and the ANGELS will be riding IN  FLYING VEHICLES which in the day that we now live would be called UFO'S. Please see the study “WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT UFOs?” for all the Scriptures that teach us about the CHARIOTS of Almighty God. But for now, let us continue with this study in God's word.

#156. All believers in the Church must APPEAR before the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) This event is NEVER mentioned in the events of the Second Coming when Jesus sets His feet on the earth.

This line of reasoning of the PRE-trib rapture being in the clouds and the feet of Jesus coming all the way down at the second coming has already been addressed several times. As far as the judgment seat of Christ as being mentioned at the second coming there are also no verses of Scripture mentioning the judgment seat of Christ at the so-called PRE-trib rapture either. Therefore, we must INTERPRET 2 Corinthians 5:10 to simply mean that the judgment seat of Christ will take place at the COMING of Jesus Christ. There are NO verses of Scripture that even hint at the one SINGLE second coming to be DIVIDED into two separate comings.

BIBLE HERMENEUTICS (INTERPRETATION)--24 ELDERS DEFINED

#157. The 24 Elders in Revelation 4 and 5 are REPRESENTATIVE of a Raptured and glorified Church.

For ME, I personally believe that the 24 ELDERS represent the twelve tribes of Israel AND the twelve apostles of the CHURCH. I have already shown this earlier. I believe that John was shown the WHOLE big picture of ALL the events for BOTH the church and the children of Israel. I can see that at least 3 of the seven figures of the rapture in the book of Revelation speak of BOTH of the raptures. The rapture of ONLY the church BEFORE the Millennium and the rapture of the children of Israel and Gentile believers in Jesus at the END of the Millennium. Anyway, the elders before the throne do not prove a PRE-trib rapture. They simply prove a rapture which, to me, is the POST tribulation rapture.

#158. The 24 Elders CANNOT be angels. Angels DON’T WEAR crowns. Angels DON’T sit with God to rule and reign. We MUST define the 24 ELDERS by their SPECIFIC descriptions.

The 24 elders being a representation of the church and Israel does NOT prove a PRE-tribulation rapture. They simply prove that there will be a rapture. Again, there are SEVEN figures of the rapture in the book of Revelation which we already covered.

#159. Elders--a term used for Church leadership.

The same line of reasoning, nothing new so same as above, this does NOT prove a PRE-tribulation rapture. To me, this is stretching out ONE single argument to sound as if there are a dozen or more DIFFERENT reasons for a PRE-trib rapture when, in truth, this PRE-trib writer take a single argument and asks the same questions over and over, again and again, to make it appear that there are many different arguments. Out of all 250 SO-CALLED arguments that are really only around 50 different arguments. 

#160. Elders, the Greek “presbuteros.” Church terminology--the “Presbytery.”

AGAIN, the same as above. NO evidence for a PRE-trib rapture.

#161. The number 24. In1 Chronicles 24:1-31, King David divided the Priesthood into 24 COURSES because they’d grown so large. When 24 LEADERS of the COURSES met BEFORE David’s throne, the WHOLE PRIESTHOOD was REPRESENTED. The 24 ELDERS represent the ENTIRE CHURCH before God’s throne. This is a picture of the Church as PRIESTS.

AGAIN, I believe that the 24 ELDERS represent the twelve tribes of ISRAEL and the twelve apostles of the church, but this still does NOT prove a PRE-tribulation rapture. The WHOLE word of God proves the POST-tribulation rapture.

#162. The number 24 (part 2). The Church is composed of BOTH Jews and Gentiles. 12 tribes of Israel. 12 apostles of the Church. A total of 24.

AGAIN, no NEW reason, just the SAME reason over and over. I agree that the 24 elders represent the 12 Apostles AND the 12 tribes of Israel. But keep in mind that in the CHURCH there are no JEWS or GENTILES. So in truth, the 12 tribes of Israel do not JOIN the 12 Apostles until the END of the Millennium at the second harvest. So the mere fact that there are 24 elders and NOT just 12 elders actually prove the POST-tribulation rapture of the church AND another rapture at the END of the Millennium. Please read the study  “WHEN DO THE 1335 DAYS IN DANIEL END?”

#163. The Elders SIT. The work of the Church on earth in “the age of God’s Grace” is done.

This STILL does NOT prove a PRE-tribulation rapture. Jesus is SITTING on his Father's throne, at the right hand of the Father. The word “sit or sitting” proves nothing other than they are sitting. I agree that AfTER we receive eternal life our work is done. We can REST in knowing that the second death will have no more power over us after we actually receive eternal life in the world to come. But this does NOT prove a PRE-trib rapture

#164. The Elders sit on THRONES--the Church is seated on THRONES as KINGS.

SAME as above. The so-called tribulation saints will rule and reign as kings and priests WITH Jesus for a thousand years which proves the POST-tribulation rapture to be the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.

#165. The Elders wear “SPECIFIC” WHITE RAIMENT. The Church is promised white garments. Revelation 3:4-5. Revelation 3:18. That our garments (and ourselves) are to be washed and spotless are seen in Ephesians 5:26-27, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 3:14. Jude 1:23 and Revelation 1:5.

The SAINTS in Revelation chapter 19 have “SPECIFIC” white robes that are washed in the blood of the LAMB. And Revelation chapter 19 speaks of the SECOND coming of Jesus with his ARMIES to make WAR. Again, I believe that the 24 elders represent God's people Israel and the church and this representation of the twelve tribes of Israel. And having BOTH the twelve apostles of the church AND the twelve tribes of Israel before the throne of God PROVES the POST-tribulation rapture of the church. For you see, the REMNANT of Israel gets saved DURING the Millennium. So John is shown EVERYTHING concerning BOTH the salvation of the church in this PRESENT world and the salvation of Israel in the world to come. 

#166. The Elders wear CROWNS, which is STEPHANOS, given for OVERCOMING and GAINING A VICTORY (for finishing the race). The same kind of CROWNS is given to the Church. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20. 2 Timothy 4:8. James 1:12. 1 Peter 5:4. Revelation 2:10 b. Revelation 3:11.

 AGAIN, I believe that God's “PEOPLE” are represented by the 24 elders that are before the throne. And we all know and agree that the twelve tribes of Israel will not be saved UNTIL the world to come. This PRE-trib writer uses the SAME reasons over and over so I do not even try to restate my whole rebuttal each and every time.

 #167. The Elders wear crowns OF GOLD. Gold shows KINGSHIP. This shows the Church as KINGS.

This STILL does NOT prove a pre-tribulation rapture. In fact, it actually proves the POST-tribulation rapture of the church. Remember that there are SEVEN types or shadows of the rapture of the church in the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation presents a point and they repeat the same points over and over adding more detail each time. Revelation cannot be interpreted in a CHRONOLOGICAL order in a STRICT sense.

In Revelation 11:16-18 we, again, see the 24 elders sitting around the throne of Almighty God where it is TIME to give the REWARDS to the servants of God. It is the SAME scene in heaven but it is written in different words adding more detail. Keep in mind that this PRE-trib writer agrees that the 24 elders represent the CHURCH and that the church is NOT found after Revelation chapter 4. But yet here in Revelation 11:16-18 we see the elders AGAIN. And that means that the CHURCH is, indeed, found going through the ENTIRE period of the GREAT tribulation. For you see, the first SIX trumpets have already been sounded. The RAPTURE takes place in Revelation 11:7-15 right BEFORE the WRATH of God and then we see the ELDERS, which represent the CHURCH, in Revelation 11:16-18 ready to receive their rewards.

Revelation 11:16-18.

“And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God, 

17.  Saying, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which are, and was, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned. 

18.  And the nations were angry, and your WRATH has come, and the TIME of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward unto your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.”

Our change takes place AT the LAST trumpet and this scene of the rewarding the saints takes place AT the SEVENTH or the LAST TRUMPET. Clearly, the Bible ITSELF teaches us of a POST-tribulation rapture of the church.

#168. In Revelation 5:1-14, the Elders sing a NEW SONG of THEIR REDEMPTION (as seen in the King James Version--which is translated from a MORE RELIABLE old manuscript). The Elders sing of being SAVED by the blood of Jesus.

To ME, the word ELDERS means LEADERS. In other words, 12 of the ELDERS are the LEADERS or HEADS of the 12 tribes of ISRAEL which could be a part of the Old Testament saints who ascended with Jesus to heaven. Or they may be a part of the SEALED of the twelve tribes of Israel that will be saved during the Millennium. And the other 12 ELDERS represent the 12 apostles of the church. I believe the 24 ELDERS are REPRESENTATIVES of BOTH the church and Israel. Also, there are TWO songs, the song of the LAMB, and the song of MOSES which again represent the TWO witnesses. Right now in this present world, the children of Israel sing the song of Moses as their savior but in the world to come they will learn to sing a NEW SONG, the song of the LAMB. Please read the studies “THE TWO WITNESSES-WHO ARE THEY?” and “WHO ARE THE TWO WITNESSES PART 2?”

#169. The Elders are saved “out of” (“called-out of”) every kindred, tongue, people, and nation on earth. The Church is predominantly Gentile, “called-out of” the world.

Again, I believe the 24 ELDERS are representatives of the church and Israel. And as I have already shown this argument of the elders actually proves the POST-tribulation rapture of the church.

#170. In Ezekiel and Daniel, we find SIMILAR DESCRIPTIONS of heaven as shown in Revelation. EXCEPT FOR ONE THING. The Old Testament prophets did NOT see 24 Elders! Why? The Church is a MYSTERY that was NOT clearly revealed in the Old Testament.

The absence of the 24 ELDERS in the Old Testament does NOT prove a pre-tribulation rapture. EVERY vision does not include EVERY detail of everything that is before the throne of God. Just like every account, in the four gospels, do not contain the exact same details from one gospel to the next. So also, not every prophecy contains every detail. So the absence of the 24 elders in the Old Testament does NOT prove a PRE-tribulation rapture. The truth of the matter is that the prophets did understand that God was going to do NEW THINGS in the earth and they DESIRED to see them, as in, they desired to be a part of seeing their Messiah.

BIBLE HERMENEUTICS (INTERPRETATION)--GREAT MULTITUDE DEFINED

#171. The Great Multitude of Revelation 7:9-10 are NOT the Church. WHY? Their descriptions are DIFFERENT.

Here is what Revelation 7:9,10 actually says and teaches in its CONTEXT. Please read Revelation 7:9-17, which says.

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of ALL nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood BEFORE the THRONE, and BEFORE the Lamb, CLOTHED with WHITE ROBES, and palms in their hands; (Sounds like the Jewish and Gentile church to me. Who ELSE would they be if so be the great multitude is not the church? We have already seen that the so-called tribulation saints ARE, indeed, the CHURCH. So if so be that this great multitude is not the church and not the tribulation saints then who are they? Israel is just ONE SINGLE NATION and this great multitude which no man can number is from ALL nations. They are NOT unsaved people because they are clothed with WHITE ROBES which represent righteousness)

10. And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

11. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the ELDERS (Or the leaders of the CHURCH) and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God,

12. Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might be unto our God forever and ever. Amen.

13. And one of the ELDERS answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in WHITE ROBES? And whence came they (Or where did they come from)?

14. And I said unto him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which CAME OUT of GREAT TRIBULATION, and have WASHED their robes, and made them white in the BLOOD of the Lamb. (Sounds like the DEAD in CHRIST or the CHURCH to me. How could any Christians with eyes to see and ears to hear make the CLAIM that this great multitude is NOT the CHURCH? Who but the church is washed in the BLOOD of Jesus?)

15. THEREFORE,(Or for this REASON of making there garment WHITE in the BLOOD of Jesus) are they BEFORE the THRONE of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them.

16. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. (This is EXACTLY what is said about the CHURCH in Revelation 21:1-4, 22-24)

17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

To ME, you would have to be blinded by Satan to CLAIM that this great multitude is NOT the church. First of all, there is NOTHING in the CONTEXT that even hints that this great multitude which no man could NUMBER that came OUT of great tribulation is NOT the CHURCH. But rather, the whole context proves that this great multitude IS the CHRUCH. For you see, everyone of any nation who is washed in the BLOOD of Jesus is part of the BODY of Christ. And, therefore, they are members of the CHURCH. I do not see Israel as a whole accepting Jesus DURING the time of great tribulation because if they did then they would no longer be Israel. But rather, they would be part of the body of Christ or the CHURCH. I see Israel recognizing their Messiah Jesus AT the time of his SECOND coming. So the great multitude cannot be Israel. And the great multitude is not unsaved people. 

So who is the great multitude if so be they are not the church or Israel? This PRE-trib writer never says WHO the great multitude could be. She only argues trivial differences between the 24 ELDERS in Revelation chapters 4 and 5 from the description of the great multitude in Revelation chapter 7 because she NEEDS the great multitude to NOT be the church. For you see, this great multitude will come OUT OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION actually proves the PRE-trib rapture to be FALSE teaching. So ANY reason that can even suggest that the great multitude is not the church will only work for SOME PRE-trib believers who are NOT TRULY seeking the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Think this through for yourself. Common sense says that a GREAT MULTITUDE which no man could NUMBER would better fit ALL the saints from the Old Testament, plus ALL the saints during the church age, plus ALL the saints who will be saved during the great tribulation as opposed to ONLY the saints that will be saved DURING the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation. For you see, when we read the book of Revelation we find that not very many people will REPENT of their sin DURING the great tribulation.

Please read Revelation 16:8-11.

“And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 

9.  And men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God, which has power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. 

10.  And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 

11.  And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”

And Jesus said of himself “Shall I find FAITH on the earth when I COME?” Yes, I believe that many people will be saved during the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation but NOT a great multitude that no man could NUMBER.

#172. The Great Multitude STANDS before God’s throne. The 24 ELDERS of the Church SIT on thrones.

So she is comparing the 24 elders which represent the church TO the great multitude in order to TRY and show that the great multitude is not the church.

Yes, the saints of God sit upon THRONES but in the King James Version of the Bible Revelation 4:4 says that the 24 ELDERS sat upon the SEATS round about the throne. Is this truly a DIFFERENCE from the great multitude STANDING before the throne? Perhaps, but NOT enough of a difference to DEMAND that there be a DIFFERENCE between the TWELVE Apostles of Jesus being a part of the church and ALL of his other disciples NOT being a part of the church. The 24 thrones or seats of the 24 elders are reserved for the 12 Apostles of Jesus and the 12 leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel.

 Being a Post tribulation rapture believer, I would NOT even consider using such a TRIVIAL point as this to try and prove the TRUTH of a POST tribulation rapture of the CHURCH.

The PRE-tribulation point of view seems to dogmatically teach that the 24 ELDERS are the CHURCH and they ALSO dogmatically teach that the CHURCH is NOT found after Revelation chapter 4, until Revelation 19. But this pre-trib writer also uses the elders in Revelation 4:4 AND in Revelation chapter 5 as being the church which contradicts the pre-trib teaching that the church is NOT found after Revelation 4:1 and before Revelation chapter 19.

So then, what about Revelation 11:15-19 as well where the 24 ELDERS are seen at the time of the sounding of the SEVENTH TRUMPET which IS the LAST trumpet?

Revelation 11:15-19.

“And the SEVENTH (Or the LAST) angel SOUNDED; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.

16. And the FOUR and TWENTY ELDERS, which sat before God on their SEATS, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God, (So here again, we see the 24 ELDERS sitting on SEATS rather than sitting on THRONES like the CHURCH. Is this truly a DIFFERENCE? Again, PERHAPS, but a TRIVIAL difference to ME. My point is that this pre-trib writer KNOWS that the BULK of evidence proves that this great multitude IS, indeed, the CHURCH. So she is FOCUSING your attention on anything that she can find to TRY and show that there is a DIFFERENCE between the great multitude and the church by focusing ONLY on the 24 ELDERS which only represent the church. In other words, she ignores all the other Scriptures in the New Testament that give a description of the CHURCH, such as being cleansed by the BLOOD of Jesus. Who but the CHURCH ALONE is washed in the BLOOD of the LAMB?)

17. Saying, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which are, and was, and is to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned. (Please notice the TIME that the SAINTS receive their rewards. It is AT the SECOND coming of Jesus when Jesus will execute the WRATH of Almighty God. So the so-called marriage supper up in heaven for seven years to receive our rewards while the great tribulation is on the earth is a man-made fabrication!)

18. And the nations were angry (WHY?), and your WRATH has COME, (Remember that the SEVENTH SEAL, the SEVENTH TRUMPET, and the SEVENTH VIAL are the WRATH of God. In other words, the WRATH of God is just now being poured out upon the world which is right after the RAPTURE of the CHURCH) AND the TIME of the dead, that they should be judged, AND that you should give reward unto your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.

19. And the temple of God was OPENED in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there was lightning, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

The ONLY time that the 24 ELDERS are seen before the throne of God is AFTER the RAPTURE of the CHURCH. And in Revelation chapter 11, we CLEARLY see a type, shadow, or figure of the RAPTURE of the church. And right AFTER the RAPTURE, we see the 24 ELDERS sitting on their SEATS before the throne of God just like in Revelation 4:4.

The Bible teaches that the church sits on thrones, but in reality does EVERY SINGLE BELIEVER get his own personal SEAT that is around the throne of God to sit upon! For ME, I personally see sitting upon the throne of Jesus as a position of AUTHORITY and NOT an ACTUAL THRONE that EACH and EVERY believer will SIT upon. The 24 ELDERS are ELDERS who I believe are REPRESENTATIVES of BOTH Israel and the church. The 24 ELDERS are NOT ALL of ISRAEL or ALL of the CHURCH. But RATHER they are 24 REPRESENTATIVES from BOTH the church AND Israel. They are not the whole church. The 12 APOSTLES are ALREADY up in heaven as well as all the OLD Testament saints representing the 12 tribes of Israel. God MAY chose 12 Old Testament leaders for the12 tribes of Israel. OR God MAY chose one leader from each of the 12 tribes of Israel who will yet be sealed at the time of the rapture of the church in Revelation chapter 7. We can only speculate as to who the 12 elders of the tribes of Israel will be. Will they be Old Testament elders or will they be elders from the 144,000 in the future. I am pretty sure the 12 elders of the church will be the 12 Apostles of Jesus and that Paul will be the one who replaced Judas and not Matthias. No matter who the 24 elders are it does NOT prove a PRE-trib rapture of the church. And if the 24 elders are the whole church then the pre-trib teaching MUST agree that the church IS INDEED found in the period of the great tribulation because the elders are found in Revelation chapter 11 at the time that the SEVENTH and LAST TRUMPET will sound.

 #173. The Great Multitude wears white robes (the Greek “stole”). The 24 ELDERS wear white raiment (the Greek “himation”). There IS a DIFFERENCE!

Another TRIVIAL difference when compared to the overwhelming evidence that the great multitude IS the CHURCH. But since the author DEMANDS that there IS a DIFFERENCE then we shall see if there is, in fact, a DIFFERENCE.

The Greek word “himation” that is TRANSLATED as “raiment” also means ROBE and GARMENT. And this SAME Greek word “himation” is used in Revelation 16:15,16, when Jesus comes as a THIEF to GATHER TOGETHER his CHURCH to the PLACE called ARMAGEDDON to fight against the armies that are fighting against Israel. But let us read the CONTEXT of this verse which is right in BETWEEN the pouring out of the SIXTH VIAL and the SEVENTH VIAL.

Please read Revelation 16:12-19.

“And the SIXTH angel poured out his VIAL upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be PREPARED. (So this is right toward the end of the great tribulation and the Battle of Armageddon just about to begin)

13. I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to GATHER them (In other words these evil spirits GATHER together the nations to fight against God's people) to the BATTLE of that GREAT DAY of God Almighty (Speaking of that great and notable DAY of the Lord when the WRATH of Almighty God is poured out by Jesus to END this war that is set on wiping Israel off the face of the earth. Remember Jesus said when you SEE the ABOMINATION of DESOLATION or when you SEE ARMIES surrounding Jerusalem ready to make her DESOLATE. I personally believe that the radical Islamic Muslims will unite to make war with Israel for the last 3 1/2 years before Jesus returns. And towards the end of the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation, the Muslim armies will use nuclear weapons or some chemical weapon to try and wipe the Jews off the face of the earth. And Jesus will come upon them as a THIEF to destroy those who are destroying the earth or the LAND in that part of the world)

15. Behold, I come as a THIEF. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his GARMENTS (The SAME EXACT Greek word that is translated as raiment for the ELDERS is used here and translated as GARMENTS, it is the SAME THING), lest he walks naked, and they see his shame.

16. And he (Jesus) GATHERED them TOGETHER (Referring to those of us in the CHURCH who have KEPT their GARMENT or RAIMENT or ROBES clean and WHITE will be caught up into the AIR and gathered by the angel to MEET Jesus in the AIR) into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

17. And the SEVENTH angel poured out his VIAL (RIGHT AFTER the RAPTURE and the GATHERING TOGETHER of the CHURCH) into the AIR; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. (Referring to the MYSTERY of the dead in Christ rising and our CHANGE in a MOMENT and a TWINKLING of an eye is FINISHED when the LAST TRUMPET shall sound)

18. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightning; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

19. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his WRATH.”

To ME, this argument of there being a difference between a robe, a garment, and raiment is trivial. A garment, a robe, and raiment are all the same thing. The point is that they are WHITE which represents RIGHTEOUSNESS. So to ME, this trivial so-called difference does NOT prove a PRE-tribulation rapture. 

But if the PRE-trib believers DEMAND that the Greek word “himation” is SPECIFICALLY meant for the 24 ELDERS ONLY and NOT for those who CAME OUT of GREAT TRIBULATION, then how do they explain this SAME EXACT Greek word “himation” being used for those SAINTS being GATHERED TOGETHER by Jesus when he comes AT the SECOND coming as a THIEF? Again, these differences that this author is pointing out are TRIVIAL and do NOT prove a PRE-tribulation rapture. And when you examine these 250 reasons more closely they actually prove the POST-tribulation rapture of the church.

#174. The Great Multitude holds PALM BRANCHES in their hands (like Israel did when they celebrated Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey). The 24 ELDERS have “stephonos” CROWNS (given for “winning a race” and “obtaining a victory”) upon their heads.

First of all, it was the FOLLOWERS of Jesus who are the ones who laid down the PALM branches before Jesus. Israel, as a whole, did NOT FOLLOW Jesus. Many of the Scribes and Pharisees did NOT FOLLOW Jesus. So to say that the PALM branches in the hands of these SAINTS, who are before the throne, proves that this great multitude is Israel and not the church is absolutely ridiculous. For you see, they have washed their robes in the BLOOD of the Lamb. So to try and automatically disqualifies them as being a part of the body of Christ just because they have palm branches in the hands is ridiculous. When did ISRAEL ever wash their robes in the BLOOD of the Lamb? Yes, those who WERE at one time ISRAEL who went away FROM Israel to FOLLOW Jesus washed their robes in the BLOOD of the Jesus, but the moment they did they became part of the body of Christ, the CHURCH. Again, this so-called difference does not prove a PRE-trib rapture. But the CONTEXT of the great multitude definitely proves the POST-tribulation rapture of the church.

#175. The Great Multitude CRY WITH A LOUD VOICE. The 24 ELDERS of the Church SING A NEW SONG.

In Revelation 15:2-4, we read where those who CAME OUT of GREAT TRIBULATION and who had gotten VICTORY over the BEAST and the MARK of the beast SANG.

“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the VICTORY over the BEAST, and over his IMAGE, and over his MARK, and over the NUMBER of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

3. And they SING the SONG of Moses the servant of God, AND (They SING)  the SONG of the LAMB, saying, Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, you King of SAINTS.

4. Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy: for all nations shall come and worship before you; for your judgments are made manifest.

To ME, crying with a LOUD voice could be interpreted as PRAISING God. A SHOUT of PRAISE.  Again, this argument that there is a DIFFERENCE between CRYING with a LOUD VOICE and SINGING a new SONG is TRIVIAL and does NOT prove a PRE-tribulation rapture.

Now if one is looking for a passage of Scripture to show ISRAEL, then Revelation 14:1-6 would be my choice. For you see, the 144,000 are the same 144,000 sealed of ISRAEL in chapter 7 which is the REMNANT of the Jews and NOT a great multitude which no man can NUMBER.

Please read Revelation 14:1-3.

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb STOOD on the mount Sion, and WITH him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. (Or being sealed in their foreheads)

2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, (The voice of Jesus is the second voice in Revelation 1:15. The first voice as of a trumpet is the voice of the Almighty) and as the voice of a great thunder: (The voice of Almighty God the Father) and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 

3. And THEY SUNG as it were a NEW song BEFORE the throne, and BEFORE the four beasts, AND the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.”

So clearly these 144,000 are NOT the ELDERS because they SANG this NEW song BEFORE the throne and BEFORE the ELDERS and the four beasts. So then, it does not say that the ELDERS SING a SONG, but rather it says THEY sang a new song BEFORE the elders. Those who come OUT of GREAT TRIBULATION SING a SONG. And ISRAEL SINGS a SONG. Shouting, crying, singing, praising. So all these so-called differences, to ME, they have NO real significant DIFFERENCE. Again, think things through for yourself, 144,000 is a specific NUMBER but yet those who came out of the great tribulation is a great multitude which no man can NUMBER.

You see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, the phrase “BEFORE the THRONE” does NOT always mean that the THRONE is IN HEAVEN. Yes, it is God's THRONE but when Jesus comes back Almighty God the Father is coming WITH his Son. Not all the way to the surface of the Earth as I see it, but the tabernacle of Almighty God, his THRONE, will hover above Jerusalem. It is the NEW JERUSALEM as I see it as to where the throne of God WILL be at the time of the second coming of Jesus. And at the END of the Millennium the City of God, the New Jerusalem will not come DOWN to the Earth. At the END of the 1000 year reign when the END to SIN has been accomplished and DEATH has been cast into the lake of fire, then Almighty God will create the NEW heavens and a NEW Earth. And then the TABERNACLE of God will come DOWN to the NEW Earth and Almighty God HIMSELF will wipe away all our tears. The New Jerusalem may even remain in the outer atmosphere orbiting above the earth over Jerusalem. Or it may be visible in the sky above Jerusalem. Please read the study  “WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT UFOs?”

#176. The Great Multitude comes OUT OF GREAT TRIBULATION (the LAST half of Daniel’s 70th week). The 24 ELDERS come out of the AGE OF THE CHURCH.

First of all, this is based on the ASSUMPTION that the PRE-tribulation rapture is the TRUTH. It is NOT SOUND Biblical teach to use something that is unproven to try and PROVE that it is proven.

The fact remains that the CONTEXT of the great multitude which no man can NUMBER who washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb in Revelation chapter 7 absolutely proves the POST-tribulation rapture of the church. CLEARLY, who but the church is washed by the blood of the Lamb? And the context of the great multitude that is washed in the blood of the Lamb is said to have come out of GREAT TRIBULATION.

Again, I have CLEARLY shown that those who CAME OUT of GREAT tribulation are PART of the body of Christ because ALL who ACCEPT Jesus as their Savior are then WASHED in the BLOOD of the LAMB and become a part of the CHURCH.

#177. The Great Multitude SERVE GOD day and night in His TEMPLE. The 24 ELDERS of the Church RULE and REIGN with Jesus.

The TRUTH of the matter is that we ALL SERVE God INCLUDING the 24 ELDERS. As I said before not every passage of Scripture that is clearly speaking of the SAME thing does not always give EVERY SINGLE DETAIL in EVERY SINGLE passage of Scripture. The four gospels are a good example of this ABSENCE of DETAIL in EVERY place. So to ME, this trivial difference proves nothing. Is not ruling and reigning with Jesus SERVING God? And do not the SAINTS who came out of the great tribulation in Revelation 20:4-6 RULE and REIGN WITH Jesus?

#178. God will spread HIS TABERNACLE over the Great Multitude--another Israel and Old Testament reference.

I am not sure where this pre-trib writer is going with this, but Israel will not receive eternal life until after the 1000 year reign of Jesus. And almost all Christians agree that the LITERAL 1000 year reign of Jesus is AFTER the second coming of Jesus. So I do not see how this argument #178  proves a pre-trib rapture.

 #179. God wipes the tears out of the eyes of the Great Multitude. WHY? To console them after they have died a martyr’s death in the tribulation. The Church will rejoice with joy unspeakable at the time of the Pre-Trib rapture.1 Thessalonians 2:19.

Then what about the CHURCH mentioned in Revelation 21:1-5. Does not the PRE-tribulation rapture view teach that the CHURCH is found in Revelation chapters 19-22?

Let us read Revelation 21-1-5.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (Or no more wicked)

2. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, COMING DOWN from God out of heaven, prepared as a BRIDE adorned for her husband.

3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the TABERNACLE of God is WITH men, and He (Almighty God himself) will dwell WITH them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4. And God shall wipe away all tears from THEIR eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

So to say that the CHURCH does not get there TEARS WIPED AWAY just to TRY and proved a PRE-tribulation rapture by trying to show differences between the great multitude and the church is a bit far to ME. What about all those early church believers who were MARTYRED that did not make it to this SO-CALLED PRE-tribulation rapture in order to ESCAPE severe TRIBULATION in the early church? I thank God that I do not live in a country where Christians and Jews are being beheaded for their faith in God.

Also, the REJOICING being spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 2:19 is NOT about ESCAPING the great tribulation. But rather, it is Paul’s HOPE that those to whom he has preached the gospel will ENDURE unto the END to be present with him at the coming of Jesus. You have to KEEP the verses in question that you are interpreting their CONTEXT to know their true meaning. Let us read 1 Thessalonians 2:19 in its CONTEXT so you can see that it is NOT speaking about the unspeakable JOY unspeakable of the so-called PRE-tribulation rapture of the church to ESCAPE the great tribulation as the pre-trib writer claims.

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20.

“But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 

18  Wherefore. we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. 

19  For what is our HOPE, our JOY, our crown of REJOICING? Are not even YOU in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 

20.  For YOU are our glory and JOY.”

If you can not see by now that this teaching of a PRE-tribulation rapture is FALSE teaching then I IMPLORE you to keep reading because this FABLE of a rapture that occurs BEFORE the time of GREAT TRIBULATION is NOT going to happen. It is a FALSE HOPE, a FABLE, and a DECEPTION of the enemy to catch believers off guard.

BIBLE HERMENEUTICS (INTERPRETATION)--A GROUP IN REVELATION 15

#180. The group pictured on the sea of glass mingled with fire before God’s throne in Revelation 15:2-4 are NOT the Church.

Of course, those that teach this FALSE doctrine of a PRE-trib rapture will make this CLAIM that the CHURCH is NOT found between Revelation chapter 5 and Revelation chapter 19. But, in TRUTH, TWO songs are heard from this GROUP on the sea of glass. SOME are singing the song of MOSES, which I see Israel who will become followers of Jesus DURING the Millennium. And some others on the sea of glass mingled with fire sing the song of the LAMB. And, to ME, the song of the LAMB DEFINITELY describes the CHURCH that has gone THROUGH the time of GREAT TRIBULATION. Also, keep in mind that Satan will be let LOOSE at the end of the 1000 year reign of Jesus to deceive the nations one final time to make WAR against God’s people. So to me, I am seeing a MIRROR image of what happens BEFORE the Millennium also happens right AFTER the Millennium.

My main point right now is that just because someone makes the CLAIM that those who sing the song of the LAMB are NOT the church does not prove that they are not the church any more than an atheist CLAIMING that there is NO God.

#181. These people stand on a sea of glass MINGLED WITH FIRE. FIRE is a Biblical symbol that shows they stand at God’s throne after having died in the time of His judgment. The 24 ELDERS are present in heaven on a sea of glass LIKE UNTO FINE CRYSTAL. Pure--no spot, wrinkle or blemish. No fire. The 24 ELDERS have NOT come out of a time of God’s judgment.

Fire in the Bible is also used to be a PURIFIER. I am sure that you remember the verse of Scripture TRIED in the FIRE of the furnace seven times. James says to the CHURCH think it NOT STRANGE the FIERY TRIAL that is to TRY YOU. God will bring us THROUGH the fire.

Also, the word STANDING may be symbolic of victory over the sea of glass that will be destroyed in the lake of fire. Glass is easily broken and the word “sea” in prophetic language sometimes refers to the wicked sinners. And we will STAND and  JUDGE the wicked sinners.

#182. The group before the throne in Revelation 15:1-8 obtained victory over the beast when they died and went to heaven. The Church will NEVER MEET the beast.

And what IF the PRE-tribulation rapture of the church ESCAPE the MARK of the beast is WRONG and you find yourself in the middle of the great tribulation facing the mark of the beast?

AGAIN, this argument of the church not being here during the time of the MARK of the beast is based upon the ASSUMPTION that the church will be caught up BEFORE the time of GREAT TRIBULATION. There is not one clear plain verse of Scripture stating that the church will not be here when the antichrist appears. But there are many verses of Scripture giving us signs so that we can KNOW who the antichrist will be so that we are not DECEIVED by him when he does come. I believe that ISLAM IS the MARK of the beast. Please read the study “COULD ISLAM BE THE MARK OF THE BEAST?”

In TRUTH, the CHURCH will be here ON the Earth through the ENTIRE period of the great tribulation. So I IMPLORE you to prepare your heart toward God and get serious about getting SIN out of your life.

#183. The group before the throne in Revelation 15:1-8 have the HARPS OF GOD. The 24 ELDERS have NO HARPS, but they DO wear “stephanos” CROWNS as a REWARD for OVERCOMING.

Well, CLEARLY, Revelation 5:8 teaches us the TRUTH and that is the everyone of the 24 ELDER do indeed have HARPS.

“And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and FOUR and TWENTY elders fell down before the Lamb, having EVERY ONE OF THEM HARPS, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.”

Whoops! I guess this pre-trib writer missed reading that verse of Scripture. But what does having harps or not having harps have to do with proving a pre-trib rapture? All these TRIVIAL so-called differences do NOT prove a PRE-trib rapture of the church. The group that gained the VICTORY OVER the mark of the beast in Revelation 15:1-8 is the SAME group of blood-washed Christians who will rule and reign WITH Jesus in Revelation 2:4-6. And ONLY the CHURCH will rule and reign with Jesus during the Millennium.

#184. The group before the throne, in Revelation 15:1-8, SING THE SONG OF MOSES--which again shows the Israeli and Old Testament emphasis. The 24 ELDERS of the Church SING A NEW SONG of their REDEMPTION through the blood of Jesus(obtained during the age of God’s GRACE in the Church).

First of all, the song of the Lamb is a NEW SONG for EVERYONE. The New Covenant is NEW to EVERYONE. Before Jesus, the ONLY song for God’s people was the song of Moses. No one sings the song of the Lamb until AFTER they are saved. And DURING the Millennium the children of Israel will LEARN to sing this NEW SONG of the Lamb.

Again, when the WHOLE CONTEXT is read you will see that this group or at least some of this group sang the song of the LAMB which, to ME, clearly describes the CHURCH and NOT Israel. But if you do not LOOK UP the Scriptures for YOURSELF then you may never have known the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.

NATURE OF THE TRIBULATION

Although the Church is promised to be caught up to Jesus BEFORE the tribulation, so much misunderstanding exists about the TRUE NATURE of this HORRENDOUS time that I offer a brief BIBLICAL glimpse of it.

#185. 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!

While it is true that Jesus said this time of great tribulation would be like no other time, I have to expound a little deeper. It is true that there have always been earthquakes, drought, famine, sickness, disease, pestilence, floods, hurricanes, wars, and rumors of war, it seems as if there are MORE in these last days than ever before. They are CLOSER together, more severe, more people dying, and even in places where there were never any earthquakes recorded in history. So then. the frequency of these catastrophic events as well as the intensity of these catastrophic events increasing could be a way of saying they are like never before.

Likewise, persecution has been present in the church since it's beginning. And during different periods of history many THOUGHT that the DAY of the Lord was AT HAND because of the massive amount and severity of the persecution. So to make LIGHT of the PERSECUTION of the church by using the word “GENERAL” to ME makes all the persecution the church has gone through as MILD tribulation COMPARED to the GREAT TRIBULATION when to ME it is NOT.

Burning alive is pretty intense tribulation if you ask me. Being torn asunder, again pretty intense. So then, what I believe Jesus meant was that this persecution or tribulation would be more widespread throughout the church or more of an everyday killing of Christians. But the word of God assures us that we will love our lives NOT unto death. Oh, death where is your sting. We are assured that God will give his people PEACE. Also, all this persecution coupled with all the earthquakes and wars, and famines all together is what makes it like no other time in history. PLUS the WRATH of God will come immediately after the tribulation of THOSE days. So what WE call the GREAT tribulation may not actually be the great tribulation. In other words, there will, indeed, be greater tribulation for 3 ½ years but the GREATEST tribulation is the WRATH of God that immediately FOLLOWS the tribulation of THOSE days.

#186. 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.

I agree that some of Israel will repent and follow Jesus during the time of great tribulation, but the main REMNANT that turns to the Lord in the last days will be AT his SECOND coming when Jesus comes as a CONQUERING KING.

#187. 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.

 For ME, I see the time of great tribulation as a 3 1/2 year period of time, 42 months, or 1260 days.

#188. 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.

As I said before, the FIRST SIX SEALS, the FIRST SIX TRUMPETS, and the FIRST SIX VIALS are OPENED, SOUNDED, and POURED OUT DURING the time of the GREAT TRIBULATION and the SEVENTH of all of these is the WRATH of God.

#189. 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 to 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.”

For ME, the pangs are the early SIGNS that the coming of the Lord is near. And the CLOSER the contractions get, the NEARER we are to the BIRTH, when ISRAEL shall bring forth her child, so to speak. In other words, the actual birth of Israel will be when Israel RECOGNIZES their MESSIAH when they SEE his coming as a CONQUERING KING to DELIVER them from the ARMIES that are trying to wipe them off the face of the Earth.

#190. The “Abomination of Desolation” in Matthew 24:15-20 parallels Daniel 9:27 and Revelation 12:6 and verses Revelation 12:13-17.

For ME, the abomination of desolation is Jerusalem surround by ARMIES to make Jerusalem desolate. Please read Luke 21:20,21 and notice that right BEFORE we see those who are in Judea FLEE, we see that Jerusalem is SURROUNDED by ARMIES.

Luke 20:20.21.

“And when you shall SEE Jerusalem COMPASSED with ARMIES, then KNOW that the DESOLATION thereof is nigh.

21. THEN let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains, and let them which are in the midst of it depart out, and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.”

Then in Matthew 24, we see almost the exact same wording only we see the words “ABOMINATION of DESOLATION” wherein Luke we see the following.

Matthew 24:15.16.

“When you, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:) 

16.  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:”

Luke 20:21.

“And when you shall SEE Jerusalem COMPASSED with ARMIES, then KNOW that the DESOLATION thereof is nigh.”

Now read Daniel 9:27 and WITH Daniel 11:31-36.

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations, he shall make it DESOLATE, even until the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

Daniel 11:31-36.

“And ARMS shall stand on his part, and they (The Islamic Muslims ARMIES) shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate. 

32.  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 

33.  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: YET they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 

34.  Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 

35.  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. 

36.  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.” 

#191. 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.)

The SIMPLE chronological order of events is this:

The great tribulation, THEN the SIGNS in the sun, moon, and stars, THEN the rapture, THEN the wrath of God, THEN 1000 year reign of Jesus, THEN the final deceiving of the nations at the end of the Millennium, THEN the final part of God's wrath after the final war at the end of the Millennium, THEN the complete end of sin and death in the lake of fire, THEN ages to come for all eternity.

But first, there will be SIGNS of the coming of all these things.

Of course, there will be all the SIGNS spoken of in Matthew 24 and the corresponding gospels, which we may be seeing in the world today. However, ALL these signs will not be just in the last decade but for several decades.

One of this first undeniable SIGNS of the APPROACHING day of our Lord's return is the abomination of desolation, which is when Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies that want to totally destroy her and God's people as well. I Personally see ISLAM involved in her destruction.

Another sign in NO RAIN in the area of Jerusalem for three and a half years.

Of course, there will be great persecution of God's people, both the church and Israel. And when it gets to the point when it looks to some as if Jesus is NOT coming again and there is a great falling away or turning away from believing in God, particularly when many are teaching that there is NO God and that ALIENS were just mistaken as gods, then know that his return is drawing closer.

But some of the last SIGNS we will see right BEFORE the RAPTURE of the church are these SIGNS in the SUN and the MOON and the STARS. We will only see these particular signs BEGINNING. There could be just prediction on the news like a huge meteor will hit the earth head-on in three days. That was just an example. But I do believe that the media will TRY an explain away some of the signs such as the stars falling from heaven as being a meteor shower so that the people do not panic. Luke chapter 21 teaches us that people will have heart attacks for FEAR of what is coming upon the earth. All we know for sure is that Jesus said when we see THESE signs BEGIN to come to pass then we will KNOW that our redemption draws near. So if you really what to know what these SIGNS shall be, then get into the word of TRUTH and search. Ask God to help you to understand and then BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit will GUIDE and LEAD YOU into ALL TRUTH.

Then right AFTER these SIGNS BEGIN to come to pass is the RAPTURE straight up into the AIR or into the clouds. And right after being caught up into the AIR is the GATHERING TOGETHER of the CHURCH to MEET Jesus in the AIR over the place called Armageddon. And once we are there we will help Jesus execute the WRATH of God. And then when God remembers MERCY he will lift his WRATH and those who called upon the name of the Lord will be SAVED or kept alive in their mortal bodies and they will go into the 1000 years in their MORTAL bodies along with the 144,000 sealed of Israel where Jesus and his new wife, the church, will teach them about God. 

Then at the end of the 1000 years, Satan will be turned loose and allowed to tempt the nation one final time to prove to him and all the angels that they were created PERFECT in the day that they were created and mankind being created INFERIOR to them lived without sin, therefore God is JUST in casting ALL who SIN into the lake of fire to be destroyed.

Then Jesus commits his Father's kingdom back into his Father's hand and we move on into the ages to come where your GUESS is as good as mine as to what the ages to come will be like. I would like to think that we will travel the stars to see the universe and all of God's creation.

#192. 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.

There is ONE and ONLY ONE SECOND coming of Jesus, that is why the Bible just teaches us that Jesus will come a SECOND time and NOT Jesus will come a SECOND time and then 7 years later he will come a THIRD time. NO my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, the words of God are NOT COMPLICATED or hard to understand, but because of FALSE doctrines, MAN has made it difficult for some to LET GO of what they have been previously TAUGHT.

But you must let go of this FALSE teaching of escaping the time of great tribulation so that you can SEE and UNDERSTAND the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God.

#193. 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.

Tribulation is also to try the church. God in his plan for the church has included SUFFERING for the name of Jesus. Acts 14:22 teaches us that through many tribulations we enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:22.

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” 

#194. 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)

Here is what Zephaniah 1:14,15 ACTUALLY says.

“The great day of the LORD is near (Speaking of the day of WRATH), it is near, and hastens greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

15. That day (Referring to the GREAT DAY of the Lord) is a day of WRATH, a day of trouble and distress, a day of waste and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,”

This MISGUIDED belief that the time of GREAT TRIBULATION is the WRATH of Almighty God is perhaps the biggest STUMBLING block for those who teach the PRE-tribulation rapture of the church. So AGAIN I say, The time or period of GREAT TRIBULATION is NOT the WRATH of God. So I implore you to read the study “WRATH OF GOD VERSUS THE GREAT TRIBULATION!”

Now, I know that I have ALREADY shown you this TRUTH earlier in this study of God's word several times, but for some, you need to hear it again. Acts 2:20 CLEARLY teaches us that there shall be SIGNS in the SUN and in the MOON that will occur BEFORE that great and notable DAY of the Lord, which is when the WRATH of God is poured out. 

Then in Matthew 24:29-31 we are CLEARLY and PLAINLY taught by Jesus himself that IMMEDIATELY AFTER the time of great tribulation there shall be these SAME EXACT SIGNS in the SUN and the MOON and the STARS. And then right in the MIDDLE, right BETWEEN these SIGNS and the WRATH of God, we will see the SIGN of the SECOND coming of Jesus to GATHER TOGETHER his ELECT of his CHOSEN ones.

And you do KNOW that the ONLY ONES that Jesus will CHOOSE are those who are READY! And what I mean by READY is that Jesus will ONLY CHOOSE those who have NO SIN in their life at that moment Jesus returns in a twinkling of an eye, so QUICKLY will our CHANGE be that there will be NO time to repent! So WATCH for the SIGNS so that you will KNOW that the hour of his return is NIGH AT HAND so that you can be all that MUCH MORE diligent to KEEP yourself from SIN.

Put AWAY this FALSE HOPE of a PRE-tribulation ESCAPISM FALSE doctrine and ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE as the Bible teaches us that many, in the last days, would NOT do because they want to hear that which is PLEASANT to hear. Therefore, they heap to themselves TEACHERS, books, websites, radio programs, and other like-believers who will TICKLE their ear with this FABLE.

#195. 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.

Refer back to reason #194. You must know and understand that the WRATH of God is NOT the 3 ½ years of the great tribulation.

#196. 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.

Again, refer back to reason #194. You must know and understand that the WRATH of God is NOT the 3 ½ years of the great tribulation.

#197. 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!

This is because those who teach the PRE-tribulation doctrine have NOT DISCERNED how to read and UNDERSTAND the book of Revelation. You simply CANNOT read the events foretold to us as taking place one right after the other because then there would be many raptures and many times that the wrath of God is poured out. The book of Revelation REPEATS itself over and over. 

THEREFORE, the great tribulation just does not begin with revelation chapter 6 with the opening of the seals. But ALSO the great tribulation BEGINS with the sounding of the TRUMPETS. And AGAIN the great tribulation BEGINS with the pouring out of the VIALS. Get a hold of this TRUTH that the first SIX seals, the first SIX trumpets, and the first SIX vials cover the tribulation from the days of the Apostles of Jesus all the way through the last 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation in this present world. And the SEVENTH sea, the SEVENTH trumpet, and the SEVENTH vial is the WARTH of God that comes AFTER the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation at the END of each world, this present world AND the world yet to come. And when you grasp this truth the book of Revelation will begin to open up to you. Job prophesies of the SIX troubles during the great tribulation that the church will go through but the SEVENTH trouble will NOT touch us.

Please read Job 5:19-24.

“He shall deliver you IN SIX troubles: yea, in SEVEN there shall no evil touch you. (The first SIX seals, the first SIX trumpets, and the first SIX vials represent the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation and the SEVENTH seal, the SEVENTH trumpet, and the SEVENTH vial represent the WRATH of God which will NOT touch us)

20.  In famine, he shall redeem you from death: and in war from the power of the sword. 

21.  You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue: neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes. 

22.  At destruction and famine you shall laugh: neither shall you be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 

23.  For you shall be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you. 

24.  And you shall know that your tabernacle shall be in peace, and you shall visit your habitation, and shall not sin.”

There is no need to FEAR the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation. It is NOT going to be like the PRE-tribulation doctrine teaches. The judgments of the plagues of the great tribulation are NOT for the church. They are for the SINNERS to repent of their sins. Yes, Christians may be affected by the wrath of Satan and suffer the storms and things like earthquakes. But things like the SORES all over the body are for those who have the MARK of the beast. And I personally do NOT believe that everyone will be forced to have a computer chip in their hand in order to be able to buy or sell. I believe that the MARK of the beast is the religion of Islam. Please read the study “COULD ISLAM BE THE MARK OF THE BEAST?”

And to continue with part 6 of this study please click on “Part 6 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!”

If you have not read Part 1 through Part 6 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture or you would like to reread one or more parts then please click on one of the following links.

“Part 1 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!” 

“Part 2 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!”

“Part 3 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!”

“Part 4 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!”

“Part 5 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!”

“Part 6 of 250 Reasons for NO PRE-trib Rapture!”

And for ALL my studies on the rapture of the church and end time prophecy please click of the heading >>>PROPHECY-THE COMING OF JESUS<<<

Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. 

And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus. 

Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands. 

And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels. 

Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels. 

For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here?  Is God at WAR? **.

More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God. 

If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.

For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1, In the BEGINNING! 

And also read the study called D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD! 

At the top of my homepage, there are subjects or categories which contain compiled lists of ** ALL Studies! ** I have written on that particular subject. So, if a link within a study is broken, then click on ** ALL Studies! ** to find the suggested study.

Or you can scroll down to the MORE dropdown menu list to find those studies as well. 

Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. 

And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus. 

And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **

And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading ** C-0 The TRUE FOUNDATION of the Church! ** 

This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.

Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Brother Mark.

My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. 

So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament. 

To learn more TRUTH, then please return to:

My HOMEPAGE at

AMatterOfTruth,.com

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Type in the SEARCH bar

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Also, here is the MASTER Menu List of my 8 NEW BOOKS with LINKS to all of the chapters in those eight new books.

Click here to learn HOW to use the Microsoft Edge reading aloud feature, so that you can LISTEN to my studies being read aloud to you!

Always be faithful to share, to preach, and to teach the whole gospel of Jesus Christ!