J-7. WHEN is the RAPTURE of the CHURCH?

 The Rapture of the Church is at the COMING of Jesus? 

 You see dear child of God, this dear brother in the Lord does indeed see and understand the TRUTH that the FIRST resurrection has NO scriptural support for being DIVIDED into TWO parts to ALLOW for a RESURRECTION both BEFORE and AFTER the great tribulation so he came up with a NEW theory of his own private interpretation so he could CLING to a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation. I will explain more on the FIRST resurrection further on in this study of God's word as to WHY the Bible ITSELF does NOT teach that the FIRST resurrection is a resurrection of TYPE where only the RIGHTEOUS in Jesus Christ is resurrected. Satan will always use a LITTLE truth to sell his lies. We will also cover ALL the above verses that this brother uses to TRY and support his ALIVE ONLY rapture BEFORE the great tribulation.

But for now, let us read the CONTEXT of Matthew 24:30 where the SIGN of the coming of Jesus shall APPEAR for all to SEE. Remember Revelation chapter 1 where EVERY EYE shall SEE him at his coming and the tribes of Israel and the world will WAIL or MOURN because of his COMING to execute the WRATH of God.

Matthew 24:21-31 picks up right after Jesus teaches us that WE, the generation alive and remaining unto his coming, shall SEE the abomination of desolation.

“For THEN shall be great tribulation (Beginning with the abomination of desolation there will be 3 1/2 years of GREAT tribulation), such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (So then, this is a ONE time 3 1/2 years of GREAT tribulation that shall NEVER be again once it takes place. This is important, because SOME Christians teach that these words of Jesus have ALREADY been FULFILLED. But the word of TRUTH itself teaches us that the SECOND coming of Jesus takes place IMMEDIATELY AFTER the tribulation of these days beginning with the abomination of desolation and I KNOW that Jesus has NOT ALREADY come again. AMEN! ALSO please know and understand that the days AFTER the abomination of desolation where there has never been a time like this before nor shall even be again FOCUSED on the great tribulation or PERSECUTION of God's people both Christians AND the Jews, but ALSO INCLUDE the WRATH of God, which is poured out IMMEDIATELY AFTER the 3 1/2 years of GREAT tribulation. At the rapture there will be a GREAT earthquake such as never before and the WRATH that follows immediately will be like never before. Now I do not try and force my own opinions on any of my readers. I am just saying that what most Christians understand as “TRIBULATION” is the JUDGMENTS of God and NOT the PERSECUTION of God's people. So how can this tribulation or persecution be greater than what the early church went through? It is greater, because of the NUMBER being persecuted. And yes it is also greater because of the judgments of God because God's people are destroyed by reason of a LACK of KNOWLEDGE.)

22. And except those days should be shortened (Literally reads lopped off), there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. (I believe that these days have ALREADY been shortened BY John NOT writing down the seven THUNDERS in Revelation 10:1-6. The LITERAL translation reads that if NO these days were LOPPED then no flesh should be saved. The word “LOPPED” means to cut off, to be DISCOUNTED. To discount means to SUBTRACT, to take away and to LEAVE OUT. And this agrees perfectly with John being told NOT to WRITE down the PROPHECIES of the seven THUNDERS. They were LEFT OUT.)

23. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it NOT.

24. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25. Behold, I have told you BEFORE.

26. WHEREFORE if they (Anyone) shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go NOT forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it NOT. (WHY? Why are the DISCIPLES of Jesus, who came PRIVATELY to him asking him specifically “What shall the SIGN of your COMING BE?” told to STAY and NOT go into the SECRET chambers hoping to see Jesus? Believe them NOT!)

27. FOR (Or BECAUSE) as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (In other words, we will NOT need ANY man to tell us that Jesus has come so do NOT believe anyone, no, not even an angel, or a dream or a vision that Jesus has COME because EVERYONE will KNOW when Jesus COMES again at the SAME time. Jesus WARNS us that there will be FALSE Christ’s working great wonders. Personally I believe that as the day draws closer a prophet will arise in the religion of Islam working miracles by the power of Satan and DECEIVE many to convert to Islam, the MARK of the beast. Do NOT seek to save your MORTAL life by converting to Islam. Please read the study “COULD ISLAM BE THE MARK OF THE BEAST?”, but for now let us continue with Matthew 24)

28. For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (Compare this verse with Luke 17:33-37, which is another “Rapture” verse. “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

Luke 17:35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Luke 17:36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Luke 17:37 And they answered and said unto him, WHERE, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is (Or wheresoever the carcass is or the corpses are), thither will the eagles be gathered together.” 

Isaiah chapter 40 is a prophecy of the SECOND coming of Jesus when we shall mount up with wings AS eagles at the RAPTURE of the church and we shall be GATHERED TOGETHER by the angels and taken to MEET Jesus in the AIR over the place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon to help Jesus execute the WRATH of God as taught in Revelation 16:15,16. More on this further on in this study. So first Jesus tells us about the abomination of desolation and when we see the armies surrounding Jerusalem THEN shall be GREAT tribulation. Then Jesus describes what is coming will be like, so we will not be deceived by false teachers, because everyone at the same time will KNOW when he comes again, then Jesus gives that statement of WHERE the corpses or dead bodies are THERE will the eagles be GATHERED, then Jesus goes on and says,)

29. IMMEDIATELY AFTER the tribulation of those days shall the SUN be darkened, and the MOON shall not give her light, and the STARS shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the HEAVENS shall be shaken: (Revelation 6 at the opening of the SIXTH seal says that the heavens shall roll back like a scroll. And if you have ever seen a video of an atomic bomb being exploded when it is cloudy it is just like the sky rolling open as a scroll. Other verses add a little more detail of a great earthquake such as never been before.)

30. And THEN (Right after these SIGNS in the SUN, MOON, and STARS) shall appear the SIGN of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall SEE the Son of man coming in the CLOUDS of heaven with power and great glory. (If you follow the signs written together, then you will see that every one of those passages of Scriptures having these SIGNS in them speak of the SECOND coming of Jesus coming to execute the WRATH of God. Again the wrath of God is NOT the time of great tribulation. Please read the study “THE WRATH OF GOD VERSUS THE GREAT TRIBULATION!”)

31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a TRUMPET, and they shall GATHER TOGETHER his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Now all Christians agree that this passage of Scripture in Mathew 24:21-31 is without a doubt speaking of the time of GREAT tribulation and SECOND coming of Jesus IMMEDIATELY AFTER the time of great tribulation. And we ALL know that Jesus AT his SECOND coming is coming to execute the WRATH of God as a THIEF in the night upon the world and that Jesus will NOT come upon US as a THIEF in the night if we are WATCHING and READY.

So before we finish taking a look at ALL the verses that have the words “appear”, “appearing”, “revealed”, “revealing”, “revelation”, “come”, “coming”, and “return” of Jesus let us make a list of all the things that take place AT what we ALL AGREE is the SECOND coming of Jesus.

And then we will take that list of words and phrases and do word searches to COMPARE like Scriptures with like Scriptures to let the Bible interpret itself without reading INTO these verses our own personal interpretation. Here in Matthew 24:29-31 we have the following list of words. Remember that other verses of Scripture may ADD some more detail or may NOT have as much detail, but may add another detail that is not in Matthew 24. Therefore this list is sure to grow larger as we compare LIKE Scripture with LIKE Scripture getting a little more detail from each verse we compare.

#1. Trumpet

#2. Clouds

#3. Gather together

#4. Signs in the SUN, MOON, and STARS

#5. Wheresoever the carcass is there the eagles will be gathered.

Let us start with the phrase in #5, seeing that there are only a couple of verses to compare together. We all know and agree that there will be many dead bodies in the place called Armageddon at the time of the SECOND coming of Jesus and many more once he executes the WRATH of God, so let us read Revelation 16:15,16 in its CONTEXT.

Revelation 16:15-21.

“Behold, I COME as a THIEF. Blessed is he that WATCHES, and KEEPS his garments (White and spotless having no sin in his or her life at the moment Jesus comes again), lest he walks naked, and THEY see his shame. (The “his” shame is speaking of a believer being found UNWORTHY having SIN in their life when they die or when Jesus comes again. See Revelation 3:18 “I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the SHAME of your NAKEDNESS do NOT appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see.” The “THEY” here are the angels that Jesus sends to GATHER US TOGETHER and then take us to MEET Jesus in the AIR to help execute the WRATH of God.)

16. And he GATHERED them TOGETHER into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (The “he” is Jesus as to how Jesus gathers us together is by sending his angels to gather us together. Now please notice what takes place after we have all been GATHERED TOGETHER by the angels from one end of heaven to the other and from the uttermost part of heaven to the uttermost part of the earth to MEET Jesus in the AIR over the place called Armageddon when the SEVENTH vial is opened. Please understand that the FIRST SIX vials have already been poured out DURING the time of GREAT tribulation AND many centuries before the great tribulation. I will explain more on this later, but for now please know that I myself personally believe that the “beginning of sorrows” extends all the way back to the early church. Jesus is not coming to execute GREAT tribulation, but rather Jesus is coming to execute the WRATH of God IMMEDIATELY AFTER the GREAT tribulation where God's ELECT are caught up to safety first. So then, just briefly the SEVENTH seal, the SEVENTH trumpet, and the SEVENTH vial are the WRATH of God and NOT the great tribulation. The FIRST SIX seals, the FIRST SIX trumpets, and the FIRST SIX vials are the GREAT tribulation, and then come the SIGNS in the SUN, MOON, and STARS. Then comes the one and only ONE SECOND coming of Jesus to rapture his church to safety first and then Jesus executes the WRATH of God in the SEVENTH.)

17. And the SEVENTH angel poured out his vial into the AIR; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. (The MYSTERY of God is FINISHED or is DONE, completed, accomplished just as we are taught in Revelation 10:7. The MYSTERY being finished means the RAPTURE has just taken place AT the sounding of SEVENTH TRUMPET or the LAST TRUMP when we are CHANGED and caught up to be WITH Jesus in the AIR. So then, at the SECOND coming of Jesus the ARMIES of Jesus are in the AIR ready to JUDGE and make WAR to pour out the WRATH of God.)

18. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; 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.

20. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”

Now that you have a little of why the Bible ITSELF does NOT teach us about a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation lets us now take a CLOSE look at ALL the verses referring to the coming of Jesus to see IF there be ANY verses at all that can be used to support a PRE tribulation rapture of the church without reading into the verses the meaning, but rather allowing the verses to speak for themselves.

Here are the six verses of our Lord's APPEARING, which many pre-tribulation rapture teachers ALREADY agree speak of the SECOND coming of Jesus, but we will examine them anyway, because you may not agree that they ALL speak of the second coming of Jesus.

1Timothy 6:14.

“That you keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the APPEARING of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

I myself find NO proof either way from this verse alone being out of context. But left in context I find that verse 19 hints of the “time to come”, that we may lay hold on eternal life, which points more to a post-tribulation but does not prove a post-tribulation rapture. But neither does this verse PROVE a rapture before the great tribulation. The context in verse 12 teaches us to fight the good fight of faith, which again hints at hard times to come, and we must fight to lay hold on eternal life and certainly points to a post-tribulation rapture, but I myself would not use this verse to try and prove a post-tribulation rapture. And I definitely do NOT see this verse proving a rapture before the great tribulation. Now when we compare all the like verses together, then the correct understanding of this verse is indeed a post-tribulation appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. On to the next verse.

2 Timothy 1:10.

“But is now made manifest by the APPEARING of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”

Here the context speaks of immortality being shown or revealed to us, and when we compare 1 Corinthians 15 with Paul SHOWING us the MYSTERY of our CHANGE from mortal to IMMORTALITY taking place AT the LAST trumpet, then to me this verse definitely supports a POST tribulation rapture of the church.

Also, the context verse 11-13 point to suffering, holding fast and committing ourselves to God for him to keep against THAT DAY. So again to me, this verse definitely supports a POST tribulation rapture of the church.

2 Timothy 4:1.

“I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his APPEARING AND his KINGDOM;”

This verse leaves NO doubt that it is speaking of the SECOND coming of Jesus, because of two things. The first thing is that BOTH the quick or the LIVING saints and the DEAD in Christ are judged at our Lord's APPEARING. 

Please compare this verse with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, which we will look at again shortly. The second thing is AT his appearing AND his KINGDOM, which all Christians agree comes AT the SECOND coming of Jesus immediately after the great tribulation where Jesus executes to WRATH of God and then Jesus rules for Yahweh in his Father's KINGDOM for a 1000 years.

2 Timothy 4:8.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous JUDGE, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his APPEARING.”

Again, the CONTEXT of verse in verse 1, which we just read prior to this verse clearly teaches us that this verse is also speaking of the SECOND coming of Jesus and not a secret coming before the great tribulation, because of the words AND KINGDOM in verse 1.

Titus 2:13.

“Looking for that blessed hope, AND the glorious APPEARING of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;”

Now those who teach a PRE tribulation rapture CLAIM that our hope is the PRE tribulation rapture BEFORE the time of great tribulation in order to ESCAPE the great tribulation.

However the Bible ITSELF teaches us that our blessed hope is the RESURRECTION and our CHANGE from mortal to immortality AT the APPEARING of Jesus when we receive our hope of righteousness or crown of righteousness and are glorified with our Lord. At the end of this study is a list of the verses that clearly teach us that our HOPE is the RESURRECTION.

Blessed is he who takes part in the FIRST resurrection for we shall live and reign WITH Jesus during the millennial kingdom of our Lord. After reading through the list do your OWN word search on the word “hope” and do your best to find just ONE single verse that speaks or even hints at a pre-tribulation rapture being our hope. The very context of Titus clearly identifies our HOPE as laying hold on eternal life. Please see Titus 1:2 and Titus 3:7. In other words, dear child of God the HOPE of a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation is READ INTO Titus 2:13.

1 Peter 1:7.

“That the TRIAL of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it is TRIED with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory AT the APPEARING of Jesus Christ:”

This verse to me certainly speaks of the SECOND coming of Jesus because of both the immediate context and the broader context of TRIALS and SUFFERINGS. 

Please read 1 Peter 4:12,13 where the same writer goes on to say.

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the FIERY TRIAL which is to TRY you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13. But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, WHEN his GLORY shall be REVEALED, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

The fiery trial is singular and which is to try you is yet future. So to me, I am seeing a LITERAL FIERY trial that we should be expecting so we do not consider it strange and wonder what is happening. We are told things BEFORE they happen so we will be ready and prepared when they do come to pass. So again I myself see a FIERY trail trying those of us who are alive and remain unto the coming of Jesus coming is great GLORY.

My main point is that clearly seeing one disciple teaching what is without a doubt the SECOND coming of Jesus, then mere common sense should teach us that ALL the disciples of Jesus are teaching us of the SECOND coming of Jesus. That concludes the six verses with the word “APPEARING” in them and to me, NONE of them speak of a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation and the majority definitely point to a POST tribulation rapture AT the SECOND coming of Jesus.

Here are the four verses with the word “appear” in them that refer to the coming of Jesus.

Colossians 3:4.

“When Christ, who is our life, shall APPEAR, then shall you also APPEAR with him in GLORY.”

We know from 2 Thessalonians 1:4-10 that when Jesus comes WITH his angels in flaming fire to be GLORIFIED WITH his saints that he is coming to execute the WRATH of God in the flaming fire of vengeance.

Please read 2 Thessalonians 1:4-10.

“So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure: (It is BECAUSE OF these persecutions and tribulation that these saints THINK that the DAY of the Lord's return is near and about to come. And Paul ASSURES them that our GATHERING TOGETHER at the Lord's coming will NOT take place until TWO things happen FIRST. We will cover this later on in the study. You can also read the study “THE RAPTURE: WHO IS THE HINDERER?”), but for now please understand the suffering persecution and tribulation is that)

5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that (Or so that) you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you ALSO SUFFER:

6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to THEM that trouble you;

7. And to you who are troubled REST with us, WHEN the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven WITH his mighty angels,

8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on THEM that know not God, and that OBEY NOT the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

10. WHEN he shall come to be GLORIFIED in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe (Because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”

So then, when Jesus shall appear we shall appear WITH him in GLORY. In other words, we will be GLORIFIED and GATHERED TOGETHER, WHEN Jesus comes to execute the WRATH of God. Please continue with the CONTEXT of reading the next few verses in the next chapter.

Please read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5.

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our GATHERING TOGETHER unto him, (Compare with our being CAUGHT UP TOGETHER to MEET the Lord in the AIR and so shall we ever be WITH him in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-11 coming as a THIEF in the night to execute the WRATH of God. It is the SAME ONE and ONLY coming of Jesus called the SECOND coming. These saints were THINKING that the coming of Jesus was very near because of the persecution and tribulation so the early disciples of Jesus were NOT looking for a rapture to ESCAPE the great tribulation. Paul clearly teaches us here that our GATHERING TOGETHER UNTO Jesus is NOT at hand as some were thinking, telling them NOT to be SOON shaken in mind.)

2. That you are NOT soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (In other words, the persecution and tribulation you are going through is NOT the GREAT tribulation so, therefore,)

3. Let NO man deceive you by ANY means: FOR (Or BECAUSE dear child of God) that day (The day we shall be GLORIFIED and be with Jesus at his coming) shall NOT come, EXCEPT there come a falling away first, AND that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4. Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5. Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?”

Again please read the study “THE RAPTURE: WHO IS THE HINDERER?”), but for now let us finish looking at ALL the verses related in any way to the COMING of Jesus to see if ANY of these verses even HINT at a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation.

Hebrews 9:8.

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for him shall he APPEAR the SECOND time without sin unto salvation.”

Now I suppose one could TWIST this verse to CLAIM that the SECOND time that Jesus comes is BEFORE the great tribulation, but without sound Biblical proof of a THIRD coming one would be READING INTO this verse such a meaning.

The WHOLE word of God prophesies of only TWO comings; the FIRST coming of Jesus, which has already been fulfilled and our Lord's ONE and ONLY ONE SECOND coming when he shall APPEAR the SECOND TIME to gather together his church, his elect, his bride and then execute the WRATH of God all at his ONE second coming.

1 Peter 5:4.

“And when the chief Shepherd shall APPEAR, you shall receive a crown of GLORY that fades not away.”

The immediate context of chapter 5 relates to SUFFERING so one would be hard-pressed to try and make this verse prove a rapture before the great tribulation in order to ESCAPE suffering. I mean THINK about how much SUFFERING and PERSECUTION the early church went THROUGH and then teach a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation to ESCAPE suffering and great tribulation. It does not add up for the church in the last days to receive the SAME GLORY for ESCAPING great tribulation.

Also, the greater or broader context of Peter teaches us that we are looking for the heavens being on fire in the day of the Lord. So it is highly unlikely that Peter was speaking of a rapture before the great tribulation in the above verse when he also wrote 2 Peter 3:3-17, which is definitely NOT a picture of Jesus coming BEFORE the great tribulation and then again a third time after the great tribulation.

Please read 2 Peter 3:3-17.

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last of days SCOFFERS (Or MOCKERS), walking after their own lusts,

4. And saying, WHERE is the PROMISE of his COMING? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (Now image those who are being taught the PRE tribulation rapture to ESCAPE the time of great tribulation and it does NOT come as promised by those who teach that Jesus will come BEFORE the great tribulation. Some may grow cold because of sin abounding and start walking after their own lust MOCKING the faithful Christians saying where is the promise of his coming. It was all a lie, Jesus is not coming. Trust when I say that I have heard Christians say this already even three decades ago saying things like, “I have been taught that Jesus is coming any day now since I was a child and he has not come yet.” They were MOCKING and SCOFFING at the promise of Jesus coming again, and I could sense that they were giving up any hope of his coming, because they were NOT correctly taught the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God.)

5. For this they WILLINGLY are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (Peter is NOT taking about ESCAPING the flood of Noah here as some use the ark rising above the earth to escape the flood. No Peter is saying that those mocking the COMING of Jesus are willingly ignorant of the coming WRATH of God when Jesus comes again.)

7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (Peter was NOT looking for any kind of rapture to escape the great tribulation, but is warning us that if we want to escape the WRATH of God, then we best not MOCK the COMING of Jesus, being deceived into thinking that Jesus is NOT going to come.)

8. But, beloved, be NOT ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (Peter is teaching us here that part of God's wrath will be poured out right before the 1000 year long DAY of the Lord and the remaining half of God's wrath will be poured out at the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus.)

9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (Even though the early church was looking FOR the antichrist and the SIGNS in the SUN, MOON, and STARS, which did NOT come in their day, they NEVER gave up the HOPE of the PROMISE of his COMING again.)

10. But the DAY of the Lord will come as a THIEF in the night IN THE WHICH the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (So again Peter understood that the coming of Jesus IS the DAY of the Lord)

11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (What profit is it that a man gain the whole world and lose his soul?)

12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, WHEREIN the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. (Peter is saying while Jesus is coming to execute the WRATH of God in flaming fire taking vengeance WE are NOT appointed to God's WRATH and we are looking for the new heavens and the new earth. In other words, we are looking PAST the great tribulation, PAST the WRATH of God and even past the 1000 year reign of Jesus knowing that AT his coming we who over come shall be granted a crown of life to INHERIT the NEW heavens and the NEW earth where righteousness and peace shall dwell for all eternity with NO MORE wickedness ever again, no more pain, no more suffering, no more sickness, and no more death ever again and the second death will have no power over us after we are GLORIFIED with Jesus at his coming to avenge our suffering tribulation.)

14. WHEREFORE, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be DILIGENT that you may be FOUND of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (And the bride made HERSELF ready. Blessed are they who are CALLED to the MARRIAGE supper of the Lamb. Please read the study “IS ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL?”)

15. And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you;

16. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17. You, therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, BEWARE lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.”

1 John 2:28.

“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall APPEAR, we may have CONFIDENCE, and not be ashamed before him at his COMING.”

In the context of this verse, John speaks of the antichrist coming so clearly the early church was indeed LOOKING of the antichrist.

Now while not ALL of these verses have the word's “appear” and “appearing” in them proves to us definitely without a doubt of a POST tribulation rapture of the church, I myself find NONE of them even HINTING at a coming of Jesus BEFORE the great tribulation. But I myself did indeed find that many if not most of these verses are speaking of Jesus coming to execute the WRATH of God, which we ALL agree speaks of the SECOND coming of Jesus.

Now let us take a look at the word “return” of our Lord since there are only two verses related to the coming of Jesus calling it his “return”.

Luke 12:36.

“And you yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will RETURN from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open unto him immediately.”

Now those who teach a PRE tribulation rapture use this verse to try and prove that the rapture is BEFORE the great tribulation focusing on the word “FROM” the wedding. Here is their argument. They say HOW can Jesus be RETURNING FROM his wedding AT the SECOND coming? They argue that there is NO OTHER WAY for Jesus to be RETURNING FROM his wedding EXCEPT that Jesus comes first BEFORE the great tribulation, gets married up in heaven and we eat the WEDDING supper while the great tribulation is taking place ON the earth. THEN AT the second coming Jesus will RETURN FROM his wedding back to the earth where Jesus comes and knocks on the door for his ELECT to open.

Again just like Proverbs 18:17 says from the Complete Jerusalem Bible.

“The FIRST to state his case SEEMS right, TILL the other one comes and CROSS-EXAMINES.”

Let us now cross-examine this verse. First of all, this is a PARABLE and no parable should be taken literally word for word.

Secondly, the Greek word “Ek” Strong's number 1357 has other meanings than just the word “from”, such as, because of the wedding, by reason of the wedding, at the wedding, with the wedding, or returning unto the wedding.

Thirdly the context:

In verse 4 and 5 Jesus teaches us NOT to fear those who kill the body, but rather fear God who is able to 

destroy both the body and the soul.

Luke 12:4-5, 8-9.

“And I say unto you my friends, Be NOT AFRAID of them that KILL the body, (Something that will most certainly happen during the great tribulation, but not limited only to the great tribulation) and after that have no more that they can do.

5. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.”

In verses 8 and 9, Jesus warns us not to DENY him.

“8. Also, I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

9. But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.”

Why confess us before the ANGELS? Because the angels will GATHER US TOGETHER. Remember in Revelation 16:15,16 Jesus warns us to be ready having clean garments, which means being found WORTHY lest THEY, the ANGELS see our SHAME.

In verses 13-35, speak of laying up treasures in heaven and NOT here on the earth by being greedy and worry about our own needs for God will provide for us. Being READY is the focus of these verses.

Then in Luke 12:36 the Greek word translated as “wait” literally means to watch for with ANTICIPATION and then the next word “WHEN” has a “?” mark. So this verse is saying, Be like the humans that watch with anticipation toward RECEIVING the master while in their mind thinking WHEN will he return UNTO the marriage supper of the Lamb THAT or so that we who are watching for WHEN Jesus is coming will open up to him IMMEDIATELY when he knocks or the call is made.

Then the context in the verses that follow continue with this same thought of WATCHING for the WHEN, because when we know the WHEN we will be ready and NOT come upon us like a THIEF.

In Luke 12:40 we read that Jesus will be coming at a time when some will begin thinking that Jesus is NOT coming.

“Be you, therefore, ready also: for the Son of man comes at an hour when you THINK NOT.”

Jesus then says blessed are they who ARE watching and doing ALL the above things being ready for his coming. Then Jesus gives WARNING about those who say the Lord DELAYS his coming and grows cold thinking NOT that Jesus is coming MOCKING, where is the promise of his coming. So that servant seeks to serve his own lust and the Lord will come on him UNAWARE because he is NOT WATCHING and keeping himself without sin.

Luke 12:45-57.

“But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord DELAYS his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; (Like the rest of the world)

46. The lord of that servant will come in a day when he LOOKS NOT for him, and at an hour when he is NOT AWARE (Or THINKS NOT that the Lord is coming), and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47. And that servant, which KNEW his lord's will, and prepared NOT HIMSELF (And the bride made HERSELF READY), neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

49. I am come to send FIRE on the EARTH; and what will I, if it is already kindled?

50. But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it is accomplished! (Jesus is saying that he himself is faced with a BAPTISM speaking of his suffering and dying on the cross. This would seem to be an ODD place to say such a thing IF SO BE verse 36 was intended to teach us a PRE tribulation rapture to ESCAPE suffering. NO dear child of God the context speaks of suffering, tribulation and killing the servants of God. Jesus said if they persecuted him then they will persecute us. And the following verses we read where our own family members will betray us and turn us in because of our faith.)

51. Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

52. For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

53. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (This is already taking place in Muslim dominated countries. When a Muslim becomes a Christian the other family members are taught in the Quran to kill that family member in the name of their god Allah. Some interpret these verses to mean that when someone becomes a Christian that they will be rejected by their families, which is true, but the passage of Scripture is about the SIGNS of the COMING of Jesus.)

54. And he said also to the people, When you SEE a cloud rise out of the west, straightway you say, There comes a shower; and so it is.

55. And when you SEE the south wind blow, you say, There will be heat, and it comes to pass.

56. You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that you do NOT DISCERN this time?

57. Yea, and why even of yourselves judge you not what is RIGHT?”

Please keep in mind the CLEAR, PLAIN, verses that teach us in SIMPLICITY that Jesus MUST REMAIN IN HEAVEN UNTIL he comes to RESTORE the KINGDOM to Israel when God turns a SECOND time to recover the REMNANT of Israel AT the ONE and only SECOND coming of Jesus. When you interpret verses where prepositions like “EK” are used, you have more than just one meaning. So to me, the correct meaning of “EK” should be that Jesus is returning UNTO or FOR the wedding to his bride AT his SECOND coming and the warning is for us to be WATCHING and READY for his coming.

How can one WATCH for a secret coming with NO SIGNS to watch for? THINK about what the pre-tribulation doctrine teaches. “Imminent coming at any time with NO signs so it can happen any second, therefore be READY.” Now be honest with yourself. Has the teaching that Jesus could come any second kept you from sinning with absolutely NO sin in your life? Most would say no. So then, why were you NOT trembling when you gave into sin even for a second after being taught that Jesus could come at any MOMENT? So the argument that the teaching of a rapture BEFORE that great tribulation keeps people READY for his coming at any moment just does not hold up.

Let us move on to the other two verses with the word “return” in them that speak of the coming of Jesus.

Acts 15:15-17.

“And to this AGREE the words of the PROPHETS; as it is written,

16. After this I will RETURN, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

17. That the RESIDUE of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, says the Lord, who does all these things.”

Jesus will NOT be doing ANY rebuilding of the ruined places to be inhabited DURING the time of GREAT tribulation. All this takes place AFTER the great tribulation and even after the wrath of God during the 1000 year reign of Jesus when the RESIDUE of humans or those LEFT of the NATIONS will go into the Millennium in their MORTAL bodies to be taught of the Lord to seek him and his ways.

Now compare Acts 15:15-17 of our Lord's RETURN with Amos 9:10,11.

“All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, WHICH SAY, The evil shall NOT OVERTAKE nor prevent US.

11. In THAT DAY will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:”

To me, the “return” of our Lord speaks of his SECOND coming in both Luke 12:36 and Acts 15:15-17 when the context is closely examined and then compared to like verses. And if the “tabernacle” of David means the TEMPLE, then it is Jesus himself who will raise up the temple so the rebuilding the THIRD temple will be destroyed if so be that it is rebuilt for the antichrist to sit in and say he is God. And if the raising up the tabernacle of David means the RESURRECTION of David, then this is yet another verse that proves that the resurrection or the righteous in Jesus Christ occurs AT the SECOND coming of Jesus when he comes in his kingdom to rebuild the ruins.

Now let us take a close look at all the verses with the words “come” and “coming” in them that speak of the coming of Jesus to see if any are referring to a coming of Jesus BEFORE the great tribulation.

Remember that just because a verse does not specifically prove a POST tribulation coming beyond any shadow of a doubt does NOT mean that it automatically means a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation. Interpreting the Bible does NOT work like that. So then, we must find verses that without a shadow of a doubt PROVE a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation.

I can tell you right now that you will NOT find any verses that prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that there is a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation. Even some pre-tribulation rapture teachers openly admit in their teachings that a rapture before the great tribulation cannot be proven, but to THEM it seems to be implied. But since some may not agree, let us take a look and see what the Bible ITSELF teaches us as to WHEN the rapture of the church will occur.

Before we jump right in and cover all the verses related to the coming of Jesus with the words “come” and “coming” in them let us take a look at the list we made from Matthew 24.

#1. Trumpet

#2. Clouds

#3. Gather together

#4. Signs in the SUN, MOON, and STARS

#5. Wheresoever the carcass is there the eagles will be gathered.

We have already cover #5 so let us now take a close look at #1 Trumpet.

Please read 1 Corinthians 15:49-54.

“And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (Or as we have born mortality so shall we also bare immortality of eternal life in the world to come)

50. Now, this I say, brethren, that flesh, and blood CANNOT inherit the kingdom of God; (This means that NO MORTAL human being can enter into heaven as a LIVING mortal. In other words, when a saint dies their mortal body goes to the grave and the soul and spirit go to be present in heaven with Jesus where they wait under the altar in heaven until God sends his Son Jesus to return to the earth at his second coming to RESTORE the kingdom TO Israel where Jesus will rule and reign for a 1000 years in the kingdom of God) neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51. Behold, I show you a MYSTERY; (This is another word we want to add to our list and later we will compare it to Revelation 10:7, which tells us exactly WHEN this MYSTERY will take place or be accomplished.) We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (This means that we shall not all die and some will remain alive unto the coming of Jesus. But no matter if we live or die we ALL shall be CHANGED, which agrees perfectly with 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 that all Bible scholars teach as the RAPTURE)

52.  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, (This means that our CHANGE will be so quick that no one will have time to repent of their sins, so this is why we must always repent quickly obeying the Holy Spirit. Also, this MYSTERY of our CHANGE will take place) AT the LAST TRUMP: for (Or BECAUSE) the TRUMPET shall SOUND, and the DEAD shall be RAISED incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (In other words, the MYSTERY of our CHANGE is our being given ETERNAL LIFE, which shall take place, be accomplished, be done, or be finished AT the very moment that the LAST TRUMPET shall begin to SOUND. And this is almost word for word what we read in Revelation 10:7, which we will look at right after this next verse.)

54. So WHEN this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

This means that from the very moment we actually receive eternal life AT the SOUNDING of the LAST trumpet, then DEATH, as in, the SECOND death or lake of fire to be destroyed has no more power over us.

Now let us read Revelation 10:7.

“But in the days of the voice of the SEVENTH angel (Speaking of the angel who has the SEVENTH and LAST TRUMPET), when he shall BEGIN to SOUND (Or AT the LAST TRUMP when this SEVENTH and final TRUMPET shall BEGIN to SOUND), the MYSTERY of God should be FINISHED, (Or IT IS DONE) as he has declared to his servants the prophets.”

The MYSTERY declared to us is our CHANGE from mortality to immortality AT the very moment the LAST or SEVENTH TRUMPET BEGINS to SOUND right before the WRATH of God is poured out IN the SEVENTH trumpet, the SEVENTH vial, and the SEVENTH seal. Let us take a look at the sounding of the SEVENTH trumpet to see what takes place AFTER it has been sounded.

Please read Revelation 11:14-19.

“The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe comes QUICKLY. (Or right after what just took place finishing up the second WOE the THIRD WOE shall come swiftly. How many times does Jesus say behold I come QUICKLY? The THIRD WOE comes QUICKLY)

15. And the SEVENTH angel SOUNDED (The LAST and final seventh TRUMPET, right after the two witnesses are CAUGHT UP in the SIGHT of all who dwell on the earth); 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. (This means that AT the very moment that the LAST of the SEVEN trumpets BEGINS to sound the MYSTERY of God shall be accomplished AND the RESTITUTION of all things shall begin to take place. In order for the kingdoms of this world to be RESTORED to Israel, Jesus must take them by FORCE for even some of the nations will turn and fight against Jesus at his coming. Compare with Acts 3:19-23 and Acts 1:6 that speak of when the kingdom would be RESTORED to ISRAEL and their king will reign over them just like the prophecies foretell.)

16. 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 (WHY? Why will the nations be angry?), and your WRATH IS 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. (So then dear child of God, our reward of eternal life, the MYSTERY of our CHANGE, is given to us AT the SECOND coming of Jesus, AT the sounding of the LAST or SEVENTH TRUMPET. Wherein is the WRATH of God poured out upon the nations of this world just like we are told in Matthew 24:29-31.)

19. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were LIGHTNINGS, and voices, and thundering, and an EARTHQUAKE, and great hail.”

Now before we continue with the word “trumpet” let us add a few words to our list; Mystery, Wrath, Earthquake, Reward of ETERNAL LIFE, and Resurrection or the dead in Christ are raised or the dead are raised.

#1. Trumpet

#2. Clouds

#3. Gather together

#4. Signs in the SUN, MOON, and STARS

#5. Wheresoever the carcase is there the eagles will be gathered.

#6. Mystery

#7. Reward of ETERNAL LIFE

#8. Resurrection

#9. Earthquake

#10. Wrath of God.

We have already read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 at the beginning of this study and most of you should remember that there is a TRUMP or TRUMPET at the time of the RAPTURE of the church.

We also saw a RESURRECTION of the dead in Jesus Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 that MUST take place AT the RAPTURE of the church BEFORE any of the alive saints are CHANGED and caught up TOGETHER WITH THEM into the CLOUDS to meet Jesus in the AIR.

We saw a RESURRECTION in 1 Corinthians 15: 49-54 where the MYSTERY of our CHANGE from mortal to IMMORTAL takes place AT the LAST TRUMPET and we are ALL changed TOGETHER.

We saw a RESURRECTION in Revelation 11:14-19 where the LAST of the seven trumpets or the SEVENTH trumpet is SOUNDED when the MYSTERY of God is finished or accomplished. And the saints are REWARDED with eternal life and the THIRD WOE comes QUICKLY, which we saw is the WRATH of God where again Jesus come to execute the WRATH of God AT his SECOND coming in flaming fire with his angels to be GLORIFIED in his saints when he GATHERS them TOGETHER. To say this another way, we all know and AGREE that at the SECOND coming of Jesus he comes to execute the WRATH of God in flaming fire taking vengeance upon the ungodly and disobedient to the gospel as we are clearly taught in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12.

Now let us take another look at Matthew 24:29-31.

“IMMEDIATELY AFTER the tribulation of those days (Or immediately AFTER the 3 1/2 years of GREAT tribulation such as has never been nor shall ever be again) shall the SUN be darkened, and the MOON shall not give her light, and the STARS shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30. And THEN shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, (Or the nations shall mourn and be angry for they know that the WRATH of God is about to be poured out upon them) and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with POWER and great glory. (Jesus is coming with his ARMIES from heaven to make WAR with those nations who are destroying the earth and seeking to wipe Israel and Christians off the face of the earth)

31. And he shall send his angels with a great SOUND of a TRUMPET, and they shall GATHER TOGETHER his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Now those who teach a rapture BEFORE the time of great tribulation argue that this is NOT the SEVENTH trumpet in Revelation 11:14-19, but they fail to realize that AT the SECOND coming of Jesus, the Son of man is coming to execute the WRATH of Almighty God the Father. And the SEVENTH trumpet IS the WRATH of God. The SEVENTH trumpet is also the LAST trumpet just like 1 Corinthians 15:49-54 teaches us as to WHEN we are glorified with a new glorified immortal body of flesh and bone just like Jesus has now. And mere common sense teaches us that ANY trumpet sound BEFORE the great tribulation could NOT possibly be the LAST trumpet, because we see right here in Matthew 24 that immediately AFTER the great tribulation we see a TRUMPET SOUNDING.

And to argue that the trumpet in Matthew 24 is a different KIND of trumpet is to read one's OWN PERSONAL INTERPRETATION into that verse blatantly IGNORING the clear, plain, and simple word of God that agrees so perfectly by just merely putting all the pieces together.

In other words, since there IS most definitely a TRUMPET sounding AFTER the great tribulation, then any trumpet sounding DURING, as in, the MIDDLE of, or before the great tribulation can NOT be the LAST trumpet where the RESURRECTION of the dead in Jesus Christ and our CHANGE takes place.

So then, in simple words, Mathew 24:29,31 IS INDEED a description of the RAPTURE of the church where we the church are CAUGHT UP into the CLOUDS to MEET Jesus is the AIR at the sounding of the LAST TRUMPET in Revelation 11:14-19.

Also, those who teach a rapture before the great tribulation argue that the word “ELECT” is speaking of God's chosen people Israel and NOT the church. Now, according to this logic, then the so-called tribulation SAINTS are NOT a part of the church, so what happens to those pour tribulation saints seeing that Jesus is only coming for the ELECT, which THEY claim is ONLY Israel and NOT the church?

You see how false teaching contradicts not only God's clear word but also itself or with its own teaching. The truth of the matter is that the Church IS the elect and so is Israel, but Israel is NOT the bride of Jesus Christ. Israel does not yet believe that Jesus is their MESSIAH. We will add the word “ELECT” to our list. But if we do not get to it this study, then please be sure to do your OWN word search on the word elect and prove what I just said by the word of God.

Here are the verses with the word “COME” in them that are speaking of the coming of Jesus, and then we will cover some more words in our list comparing Scripture with Scripture to allow the Bible to interpret itself.

Matthew 2:6 “And you Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of you shall COME a Governor, that shall RULE my people Israel. (All the prophecies of Jesus, concerning his SECOND coming, speak of him coming to RULE. In other words, there is absolutely NO prophecy of a SECRET coming, a SILENT coming or an INVISIBLE coming of Jesus.)”

Matthew 10:23 “But when they persecute you in this city, flee you into another: for verily I say unto you, You shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man has come”

Matthew 13:49 “So shall it be at the END of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,”

Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and THEN he shall reward every man according to his works.”

Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Jesus is coming at the END of this age after the gospel has been preached in the entire world. The gospel IS still yet being preached DURING the time of great tribulation)”

Matthew 24:42 “Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord does come. (Years ago those who taught a rapture before the great tribulation used the verses where no man knows the day nor the hour to try and support their teaching that there are absolutely NO SIGNS before the rapture of the church and that all the SIGNS pertained to the SECOND coming of Jesus only. Well that is just about all of the verses speaking of his coming.)”

Matthew 24:43 “But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. (Jesus warns us to WATCH for the SIGNS of his coming so that we will KNOW the time of his coming so that we will make ourselves ready for our Lord's appearing so that he will not come upon US as a THIEF in the night. Jesus IS coming as a THIEF to make war and destroy the wicked)”

Matthew 24:50 “The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, (So WATCH for the SIGNS of the coming of Jesus and be READY by keeping sin out of your life)”

Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, THEN shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:”

Matthew 25:34 “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Jesus is coming to restore the kingdom of God to his people the Christians and the house of Israel)”

Mark 4:29 “But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he puts in the sickle because the HARVEST has come. (We need to add the word “HARVEST” to our list)”

Mark 10:30 “But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Here we see that we do not actually receive our reward of eternal life UNTIL the world to come. In other words, the MYSTERY of our CHANGE from mortal to immortal does not take place UNTIL the world to come, which does not come until the SECOND coming of Jesus)”

Mark 13:29 “So you in like manner when you shall SEE these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. (How can we SEE any of these SIGNS if so be that the rapture is before the great tribulation and all these signs that Jesus warns us to WATCH for so that we would know that our redemption draws near? Also, redemption means our DELIVERANCE is drawing near.)”

Luke 9:26 “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come IN his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.”

Luke 12:37 “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find WATCHING: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.”

Luke 12:38 “And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so (WATCHING), blessed are those servants.”

Luke 12:39 “And this know, that if the good man of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have WATCHED, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. (Jesus warns us in Revelation 3:3 that he WILL come upon those who are NOT WATCHING as a THIEF. So comparing Scripture with Scripture means that all the verses with “WATCHING” and “WATCH” in them speak of the SECOND coming of Jesus.)”

Luke 12:46 “The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. (The “that servant” is speaking of Christians who are NOT WATCHING for our Lord's return. The term “watching” speaks of both watching for the SIGNS of the coming of Jesus but also watching in PRAYER and keeping ourselves from sin.)”

Luke 12:49 “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? (The baptism of FIRE in my own opinion is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but rather the submersion of FIRE at the second coming of Jesus. Think it not STRANGE the FIERY trial that is to try you. Jesus will bring one third THROUGH the FIRE. Jesus said shall he find faith on the earth when he comes. He comes in an hour we THINK NOT that he is coming. How many would give up hope of the coming of Jesus if they found themselves surrounded by flames of FIRE when they were told over and over by their church denomination that they would ESCAPE the time of great tribulation? But if you are told of a fiery trial BEFORE it takes place, then you will be ready and not think it to be a strange thing happening to start thinking and losing FAITH that Jesus is coming to DELIVER you.)”

Luke 13:29 “And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. (This speaks of our being gathered together from the four winds, the cardinal directions of north, south, east and west from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. The same words are used in Matthew 24, so again like verses are speaking of the SAME event.)”

Luke 13:35 “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, You shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.”

Luke 17:22 “And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when you shall DESIRE to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you shall NOT see it. (In other words, the SIGNS of the coming of Jesus would NOT be seen in the days or the generation of those disciples standing there with Jesus. Now some who teach a rapture before the great tribulation focus on the word “DAYS” being plural and claim that Jesus is teaching us about TWO days or TWO comings where ONE day is before the great tribulation and the other day is after the great tribulation and his disciple would DESIRE to see the ONE DAY BEFORE the great tribulation. Due to the length of the CROSS-EXAMINING of this argument, we will cover this pre-tribulation claim of days meaning TWO days or two comings right after we finish reading the verses with the word “come” in them speaking of the coming of Jesus.)”

Luke 19:13 “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, OCCUPY TILL I COME. (Then in the next verse 14 we see that the citizens said at his coming that they would not have this man rule over them. This is what will happen at the second coming of Jesus; the armies of the nations will turn and fight against Jesus when he comes for his servants who are faithful to be doing the work of the Lord when he comes.)”

Luke 19:43 “For the days shall come upon you, that your enemies shall cast a trench about you, and compass you round, and keep you in on every side, (This is the armies surrounding Jerusalem to make her desolate or the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet.)”

Luke 20:16 “He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.”

Luke 21:6 “As for these things which you behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Luke 21:7 “And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what SIGN will there be when these things shall come to pass?”

Luke 21:9 “But when you shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.”

Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh. (Due to its length we will cover this verse as well after we have read through the verses with the word come in them to see if any of these verses prove beyond any shadow of a doubt a rapture or coming of Jesus BEFORE the great tribulation.)”

Luke 21:31 “So likewise you, when you see these things come to pass, know you that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”

Luke 21:34 “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”

Luke 21:35 “For as a snare shall it come on all THEM that dwell on the face of the whole earth.”

Luke 21:36 “Watch you, therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (I will explain this verse further on in this study in detail, but for now please know that the “these things” are referring to the WRATH of God and NOT the great tribulation. Look at the context of the previous verses 34 and 35 that you just read. We are NOT appointed to God's WRATH! But the Bible itself teaches us that through MUCH tribulation we shall inherit the kingdom of God. So the Bible says nothing about NOT be appointed to the great tribulation, great persecution or even being martyred for Jesus.)”

John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (This passage of Scripture does NOT refer to a coming again either BEFORE the great tribulation nor AFTER the great tribulation, but rather this coming again of Jesus is speaking of coming again back from the GRAVE where Jesus ascended to the Father after his resurrection and come right back being committed all power and authority to judge. This whole passage of Scripture speaks of Jesus cleansing us so the Holy Spirit can come to dwell IN us to empower us to be where Jesus is, having the Holy Spirit dwelling IN him. Please read the study “THE POWER AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER!”, which I originally named ARE YOU DWELLING IN YOUR MANSION YET!)”

Acts 2:20 “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: (SAME SIGNS as in Matthew 25:29-31, which occur IMMEDIATELY AFTER the great tribulation AT the SECOND coming of Jesus.)”

Acts 3:18 “But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he has so fulfilled. (FIRST coming FULFILLED, the following verses speak of our Lord's ONE and ONLY SECOND coming. Proof positive that there is NO coming BEFORE the great tribulation.)”

Act 3:19 “Repent you, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”

Act 3:20 “And he shall SEND Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:”

Act 3:21 “Whom the heaven MUST receive UNTIL the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”

Romans 11:25 “For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles is come in. (Will not some GENTILES be saved DURING the great tribulation? Absolutely, and it is my prayer that MANY Gentiles AND Jews will be saved during the great tribulation. So if even ONE single Gentile is saved DURING the great tribulation, then the FULLNESS of the Gentiles has not yet come in. So then the so-called “tribulation saints” ARE the CHURCH going THROUGH the great tribulation until every last Gentile that will be saved is saved and the gospel has been preached in all the world UNTIL not one, no not one will seek after God and the great apostasy is at it's fullest.)”

1 Thessalonians 1:10 “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (Again, nothing anywhere in the Bible ITSELF about being delivered from the GREAT tribulation)”

2 Thessalonians 1:10 “When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (Because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”

2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”

1 Timothy 6:19 “Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (Again the MYSTERY of our CHANGE from mortal to immortal occurs AT the LAST trumpet and the LAST trumpet is found in Revelation 11:14-19 and Matthew 24:29-31 when Jesus come to execute the WRATH of God.)”

2 Timothy 3:1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (Why tell us about the perilous times if so be that we are not going to be here?)”

2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (To me this is a PERFECT description of those who teach a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation in order to ESCAPE being persecuted and possibly being martyred for Jesus. Some refuse to ENDURE SOUND Biblical teaching of the POST tribulation rapture of the church and heap to their ears teachings that are pleasant to hear which tickle their ears, but it is my prayer that MANY and not a few will BELIEVE the truth of the whole word of God)”

Hebrews 10:37 “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”

Hebrews 13:14 “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (We are seeking the kingdom of God when Jesus comes. We are seeking the city of God the New Jerusalem.)”

2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (I challenge any Christian to find even one verse where Jesus comes as a THIEF in the night to secretly steal the saints up into heaven to escape the GREAT TRIBULATION.)”

Revelation 2:5 “Remember therefore from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent.”

Revelation 2:16 “Repent; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”

Revelation 2:25 “But that which you have already hold fast till I come.”

Revelation 3:3 “Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall NOT watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you. (Now the opposite is equally true that if we ARE watching, then we WILL KNOW the hour of our Lord's coming. Please read the study “NO MAN KNOWS THE HOUR” )”

Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (The correct understanding of this verse is because we have been found faithful to KEEP the words of Jesus DURING the time of GREAT tribulation, then he will NOT come on US as a THIEF in the night and KEEP us from the HOUR of God's WRATH. Please read the study “250 REASON WHY THERE WILL NOT BE A RAPTURE BEFORE THE GREAT TRIBULATION!”)”

Revelation 3:11 “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown. (Crown of eternal life our crown of glory being glorified with Jesus at his coming when we are GATHERED TOGETHER, but before that day comes TWO things must happen first. See 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.)”

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Jesus will come with an OPEN door to save alive any who REPENT at his coming, but they must repent QUICKLY before the angels destroy them. All who are not ready at his coming but do repent quickly will be saved alive in their mortal bodies to go into the 1000 year reign of Jesus to be taught of the Lord.)”

Revelation 4:1 “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. (This is the FIRST of SEVEN examples of the RAPTURE that is found in the book of Revelation.)”

Revelation 6:17 “For the great day of His wrath has come; and who shall be able to stand?”

Revelation 7:14 “And I said unto him, Sir, thou 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. (The next verse 15 says THEREFORE or for this very REASON of COMING OUT of GREAT tribulation are they before the THRONE of God. Through MUCH tribulation we inherit the kingdom of God. This is the SECOND example of the RAPTURE of the church which takes place AFTER the SIXTH seal is opened where the WRATH of God is being announced that it has come and who shall be able to stand. So just like Matthew 24:29-31 teaches we are raptured AFTER the great tribulation but right BEFORE the WRATH of God is poured out in the SEVENTH trumpet and the SEVENTH seal and as you will see the SEVENTH vial.)”

Revelation 11:12 “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 the THIRD example of the RAPTURE which is AFTER the first SIX trumpets, but right BEFORE the SEVENTH and LAST trumpet is sounded just as it BEGINS to sound.)”

Revelation 11:18 “And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou 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.”

Revelation 14:7 “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”

Revelation 14:15 “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 is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that WATCHES, and KEEPS his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (This is the FIFTH example of the RAPTURE of the church being gathered together to MEET Jesus in the AIR over the place called Armageddon where Jesus will make WAR with those Islamic nations and their allies that make war against Israel. These first SIX vials are already past and the GREAT tribulation is over. In verse 17 the end of the chapter we see the WRATH of God being poured out in the AIR over Armageddon when the SEVENTH vial is opened. The word translation in the air could also be from the air where the armies of Jesus first use an AIR strike against the armies of the earth and Satan's army of angels in the heavens. By the way, the ANGELS are called STARS in the Bible. And the STARS of heaven shall fall like ripe figs off a fig tree SHAKEN by the wind. And the POWERS of heaven shall be SHAKEN and the army of ANGELS or STARS shall fall from heaven.)”

Revelation 18:4 “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 is the SIXTH example of the RAPTURE of the church where we COME OUT of the world into the AIR to execute the WRATH or the VENGEANCE of God giving DOUBLE what they gave to us. This is the SUPPER of our great God, the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is the PATIENCE of the saints to NOT take up weapons to fight neither ISLAM nor any government seeking to put us to death for our faith in Jesus.)”

Revelation 18:8 “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her.”

Revelation 18:10 “Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.”

Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.”

Revelation 19:17 “And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;”

Revelation 21:9 “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.”

Revelation 22:7 “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that KEEPS the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”

Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

Revelation 22:20 “He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Now as for ME personally I only found TWO verses in the above verses with the word “come” in it that those who teach a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation use in order to try and support their teaching that the church will ESCAPE the time of GREAT tribulation.

Here are those two verses and if I missed any please write to me and let me know.

Luke 17:22.

“And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when you shall DESIRE to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you shall NOT see it.”

Luke 21:36.

“Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to ESCAPE all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man”

Let us read Luke 17:22 being left in its CONTEXT to see if Jesus is the teaching of just TWO days, as in, TWO comings as claimed by those who teach an ESCAPE from the great tribulation rapture and another rapture for the ELECT, which some claim is speaking of Israel and NOT the church. Just a thought? What about the so-called “tribulation” saints? If so be that the “ELECT” are ONLY Israel as claimed by those who teach a PRE tribulation rapture of the church, then what about those who suffered GREATER tribulation such as have never been before nor shall ever be again? Are they NOT worthy to be the bride of Christ?

You see did children of God how many things must be forced into being TWO things when the Bible itself only teaches as being ONE thing. TWO brides or half a bride at a time.

The ONE and ONLY ONE second coming must be DIVIDED into TWO comings making the THIRD coming. And there are NO verses that teach us about a THIRD coming of Jesus.

The ONE single event the FIRST resurrection must be INTERPRETED to mean a resurrection of KIND and not in TIME where ONLY the dead in Christ are resurrected in their ORDER, Jesus the firstfruits, THEN those AT his COMING and THEN comes the END. But the END in their proof text is NOT the end of the great tribulation, but rather the end of the 1000 year reign of Jesus. We will look at this in detail further on.

The ONE bride of Christ must be SPLIT into TWO parts where half or first part ONLY get to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb and those who go through the great time of tribulation ever upon the earth MISS OUT on the marriage supper of the Lamb according to the PRE tribulation teaching.

The ONE rapture divided into TWO raptures one before the great tribulation and one after the great tribulation.

And the ONE HARVEST must be split into TWO harvests where the Bible ITSELF only teaches us of ONE harvest of the righteous and the harvest of the wicked suffer the WRATH of God.

Here is the CONTEXT of Luke 17:22 speaking of ONE of the DAYS of the Son of Man.

Please read Luke 17:22-37.

“And he said unto the disciples, The DAYS will come, when you shall DESIRE to see ONE of the DAYS of the Son of man, and you shall NOT see it. (The GENERATION in the day of Jesus did NOT see the DAYS that will yet come, but Jesus goes on to tell US what those DAYS will be like that WILL yet come)

23. And they shall say to you (Or us as believers in Jesus), See here; or, see there: go NOT after them, nor follow them. (In Matthew 24 Jesus warns us of false Christ’s coming in his name and NOT to go after them and follow their teachings. And since we all AGREE that Matthew 24 is the SECOND coming of Jesus, then everything in this CONTEXT is also speaking of the second coming of Jesus)

24. FOR (Or BECAUSE) as the lightning, that lightens out of the one part under heaven, shines unto the other part under heaven; so shall ALSO the Son of man be in his DAY (In other words, you know PERFECTLY that the coming of Jesus shall be as a THIEF in the night and you will NOT need any man to tell you when the Son of man comes again, because we will all know at the same time).

25. But first, must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

26. And as it was in the DAYS of Noah, so shall it be ALSO in the DAYS of the Son of man. (So then, the DAYS coming when the Son of man will come shall be LIKE the DAYS that wherein the day of Noah when Noah and his family ENTERED INTO the ark to ESCAPED the DESTRUCTION of the wicked. Then Jesus goes on to DESCRIBE what HE HIMSELF meant by the DAYS of Noah being LIKE the DAYS of the Son of Man.)

27. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, UNTIL the DAY that Noah entered into the ark, AND the flood came and destroyed them all. (So then, we see the WRATH of God being poured out upon the wicked just as soon as Noah ENTERED INTO the ARK. The wicked already had their chance to repent and enter the ark when Noah preached to them about God's coming judgment of a great flood, of which they chose to be willingly ignorant and did NOT repent when they heard the preaching of Noah. See 2 Peter 2:5. The literal meaning of given in marriage in the simplest terms is getting divorced, as in, having the attitude of being in and out of marriage like it is no big thing to keep on marrying and getting divorced over and over again and again. And eating and drinking can be interpreted a couple of ways such as partying and getting drunk or just merely continuing on with everyday life as if NOTHING was going to happen like Christians are warning the world that the wrath of God is coming.)

28. LIKEWISE ALSO (Or just like the DAYS of the Son of man were likened to the DAYS of Noah LIKEWISE ALSO are the DAYS of the Son of man likened) AS it was in the DAYS of Lot; (Jesus describes the DAYS the way HE himself means the DAYS of the Son of man to be like saying) they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; (Or business as usual not believing that God's WRATH is approaching or drawing near.)

29. But the SAME DAY that Lot WENT OUT of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (Or the FIRE of God's WRATH was poured out upon the wicked the VERY SAME DAY that Lot was taken out of harm's way.)

30. EVEN THUS SHALL IT BE be in the DAY when the Son of man is revealed. (Therefore the SAME DAY that Jesus comes to pour out the WRATH of God the righteous IN Jesus Christ are DELIVERED or CAUGHT UP in the clouds to ENTER INTO the “ARK”. Please read Psalm 27:5 “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” Or HIGH on a rock to be LIFTED ABOVE our enemies. And in Psalm 68:17 we read that God, his Son Jesus, and the angels are coming in CHARIOTS. “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place” Please read the study “WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT UFO'S?”)

31. In THAT DAY (The ONE DAY of the COMING of the Son of man), he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

32. Remember Lot's wife. (And remember that the SAME DAY that Lot went out of Sodom the WRATH of God destroyed the wicked. Now if you did NOT know that God was coming in his CHARIOTS, which the world will say is a UFO invasion, then would you run to seek to save your life? Now personally I myself believe that those who are READY at his coming will have already been changed in a twinkling of an eye and be ascending up into the clouds when the world actually sees the chariots of God and us ascending up into them. But I may be wrong and we will see the chariots of God as part of the fiery trial. Jesus said men's hearts will FAIL them when they SEE the things coming on the earth. I am 100% confident that we WILL see the SIGNS in the SUN, MOON, and STARS. And if the STARS falling like figs are the fallen angels being shot down in their chariots, which again the world will say are UFO'S being shot down, then perhaps we will see the beginning stage of this war between Michael and his angels fighting against Satan and his angels when the heavens are OPENED to see into the spiritual realm like in the days of Elijah. See 2 Kings 16,17.)

33. Whosoever shall seek to SAVE his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall LOSE his life shall preserve it. (I believe this is also speaking of seeking to save one's life by denying Jesus and taking the MARK of the beast. It will be better to lose your head than your soul.)

34. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

35. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

36. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

37. And they answered and said unto him, WHERE, Lord? (Or WHERE Lord will they be taken?) And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.”

Matthew 24:28-31 says Wheresoever the carcass or the corpses are shall the eagles be GATHERED TOGETHER. Now we all agree that there will be many dead corpses at the battle of Armageddon where the Islamic Muslim nations and their allies are making all-out war against Israel, killing the Jews and the Christians who did NOT heed the warning to FLEE from the land of Judea when they saw armies gathering all around Jerusalem.

And when we compare the whole context of Isaiah chapter 40 with us mounting up on wings as EAGLES, then you can see that the eagles being GATHERED TOGETHER are symbolic of us who wait upon the Lord mounting up as wings as eagles. Again I do not limit my understanding of the eagles to be ONLY the righteous Christians and the remnant of the Jews, but also LITERAL eagles and every literal bird of prey.

In Isaiah 40:1,2 we read that the war being waged upon Israel is ACCOMPLISHED or about to be ENDED by Jesus at this point in time WHEN God's WRATH is about to be poured out upon the world. Jesus is coming to make WAR with those 10 Islamic Muslim nations who are seeking to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. And the church is to comfort Israel with the following words. I mean WHO is the YOU here if so be the church is in heaven. Who is the THEY that feed Israel in the wilderness for 3 1/2 years if the church is in heaven during this time? And HOW is the church in heaven when flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God and we ALL receive our CHANGE at the SAME time TOGETHER? There are just way too many contradictions with a rapture before the great tribulation and ANOTHER rapture after the great tribulation.

Isaiah 40:1,2.

“Comfort you, comfort you my people, says your God.

2. Speak you comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is PARDONED: for she has received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.”

Then in Isaiah 40:29-31 at the end of the chapter we read.

“He gives POWER to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength.

30. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31. BUT they that WAIT upon the LORD shall RENEW their strength; they shall mount up with wings as EAGLES; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.”

I believe that this applies spiritually every day of our lives and that God will give us power and strength to overcome all things during the great tribulation. 

Now the simplest meaning of ONE of the DAYS of the Son of Man that I can give to those of you truly seeking the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God keeping this verse in the CONTEXT of where it is found and considering that Jesus only told us about ONE of the DAYS of the Son of Man IN this CONTEXT is that Jesus perceived that his disciples were DESIRING to PERCEIVE or have a greater understanding of ONE of the DAYS of the Son of man and that they were NOT desiring to have greater understanding of the OTHER DAY of the Son of Man.

In other words, the disciples of Jesus desired to hear of the DAY when Jesus would come again as a mighty warrior to rule and reign in the kingdom of God and they were not desiring to hear of the DAY of his suffering and dying on the cross.

You see even when Jesus was ascending into heaven they asked Jesus if he was going to RESTORE the kingdom of God to Israel and again at that time and Jesus told them that it was not for them to completely perceive the times and the season of his second coming when he would restore all things. That is the ONE day of the Son of man that they DESIRED to SEE. WHEN is the SIGN of your COMING Lord?

When Jesus told them of his DAY of suffering and dying Peter said NOT SO Lord, because they were LOOKING for that DAY of when the Son of man would RULE and reign over Israel and free them from their enemies who were oppressing them. They did NOT want to hear of the FIRST DAY or the FIRST coming of Jesus, because they did not understand its importance. What DAY they wanted to hear Jesus teach them about is the DAY of the SECOND coming of Jesus coming as a mighty warrior defeating their enemies and setting up God's kingdom of peace.

The word translated as the desire to “SEE” also means desiring to PERCEIVE and understand more about that ONE day of the coming again of the Son of man. That is the DAY that they wanted to understand. Read the passage again and notice that Jesus only told us about ONE day and the CONTEXT of the ONE day describes the SECOND coming of Jesus and not a so-called secret coming before the great tribulation. Also, notice the use of DAY in the SINGULAR when that ONE of the DAYS is being described. It is always described as the SECOND coming of Jesus.

Now if so be that Jesus was describing a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation, then surely HE HIMSELF would have said something like, “Just as the ark of Noah was LIFTED UP OFF the earth so shall it be in the DAY of the Son of man when he shall take you UP to heaven to escape the GREAT tribulation.” However, Jesus himself did NOT describe the DAYS of Noah in that way so why do those who teach a pre-tribulation rapture READ INTO the Scripture what THEY want it to say?

Let us move on to the next verse that is used by those that teach a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation in order to ESCAPE the GREAT tribulation. Here is the verse OUT of its context and then we will read the CONTEXT.

Luke 21:36.

“Watch you, therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to ESCAPE all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man”

This is where those who teach the pre-tribulation rapture of the church get the idea that the church will ESCAPE the great tribulation, but in TRUTH what the Bible ITSELF is saying that we shall ESCAPE the WRATH of God and NOT the 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation.

Please read the CONTEXT found in Luke 21:25-36.

“And there shall be SIGNS in the SUN, and in the MOON, and in the STARS; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (The SAME signs found in Matthew 24:20-31, which we ALL AGREE speaks of the SECOND coming of Jesus. So comparing like verses Luke 21 is ALSO speaking of the SECOND coming of Jesus)

26. Men's hearts failing them for FEAR, and for LOOKING AFTER THOSE THING which ARE COMING on the earth: FOR (Or BECAUSE) the POWERS of heavens shall be SHAKEN. (Men's hearts are not failing because of what has already PAST or has been fulfilled DURING the great tribulation, which they brushed off and did NOT repent of their sins, but rather they are seeing the WRATH of Almighty God about to be poured out. They are seeing the ARMIES of Jesus in the AIR. After these SIGNS in the SUN and MOON and STARS and the heavens being SHAKEN is the SIGN of the Son of man coming in POWER and great glory in FLAMING FIRE.)

27. And THEN shall they see the Son of man coming in a CLOUD with POWER and great glory. (Then Jesus says to us his church)

28. And WHEN THESE THINGS (Speaking of the SIGNS in the SUN, MOON, and STARS) BEGIN to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; FOR (Or BECAUSE) YOUR redemption draws nigh. (Or your DELIVERANCE from the WRATH of God draws near at hand. This agrees perfectly with Matthew 24:21-31 where IMMEDIATELY AFTER the great tribulation there shall be SIGNS in the SUN, MOON, and STARS and the POWERS of heaven shall be SHAKEN and then the sign of the Son of man COMING and then the sounding of a TRUMPET and the GATHERING TOGETHER of the elect). And he spoke to them a parable; Behold the fig tree and all the trees;

30. When they now shoot forth, you SEE and KNOW of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

31. So likewise you, when you SEE THESE THINGS come to pass, KNOW you that the KINGDOM of God is nigh at hand.

32. Verily I say unto you, This generation (That SEES THESE THINGS come to pass) shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

33. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

34. And take HEED to YOURSELVES, lest (Or for fear that) at any time YOUR HEARTS be overcharged with surfeiting, (The literal translation reads that we are to take heed for fear that our heart be OVERCHARGED or becomes burdened with “Skull WRESTLING” or our hearts also becoming so full of fear FAILING for FEAR of what is coming on the earth to lose faith and hope and THINK NOT that Jesus is coming) and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so THAT DAY come upon you unawares. (What DAY is he speaking of here in the CONTEXT of pray that you may ESCAPE these things and accounted worthy to stand before the Son of man? The THAT DAY is the DAY of the Lord's WRATH that if so be we are watching and purifying ourselves even as he is pure that that day shall not come upon us as a THIEF in the night. Please compare 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, which is the CONTEXT of the famous RAPTURE Scripture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.)

35. For as a snare shall it come on all THEM that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36. Watch you, therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted WORTHY to ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

The truth of the matter is that we are NOT appointed to the wrath of God and being FOUND to be that GOOD and FAITHFUL servant. The Bible teaches us that the DISOBEDIENT to the gospel will suffer the wrath of God. This is why we are WARNED over and over to WATCH and keep sin out of our lives OR ELSE Jesus will come upon the DISOBEDIENT to his word at his coming.

The phrase “that shall come to pass” in the LITERAL reads, “the being ABOUT to becoming or the being ABOUT to be occurring”, which is speaking of the WRATH of God that is ABOUT to BECOMING or occurring AFTER the SIGNS in the SUN, MOON, and STARS. And when we see these SIGNS in the SUN, MOON, and STARS just beginning to occur, then we are to LIFT UP our heads that are hanging low and KNOW that our DELIVERANCE or our being LOOSED is drawing near at hand and is even at the door. Psalms 102:20 teaches us that many shall be in PRISON awaiting their death in that day and their PRAYERS will be heard.

This will be a time of FIERY TRIAL. Many will grow cold and NOT ENDURE unto the END to be saved. Sin shall abound and we are to TAKE HEED lest we fall away or be deceived that Jesus is not the Son of God. It will be a time when our own family will turn us in to those seeking to behead us. Many Muslims are not facing this very thing where when they become Christians their OWN family members either turn them in or behead them themselves. Men's hearts will be FAILING them when they see what is about to be coming on the earth. The WORLD may see the coming of Jesus with his great armies from heaven as an alien invasion of UFO's attacking the earth and the armies on earth will turn and fight against Jesus and his armies for heaven.

Remember that Jesus said or wondered, or was perceiving in Luke 18:7,8 if he would find FAITH on the earth at his coming.

Luke 18:7,8.

“ And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8. I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, shall he find FAITH on the earth?”

Jesus warns us to WATCH because he is coming in an hour of time when we THINK NOT or begin to THINK that he is NOT coming and some will mock and say where is the PROMISE of his coming?

Again the CONTEXT of Luke 21:36 is the coming of Jesus with his KINGDOM. 

Please read Luke 21:31 again.

“So likewise YOU, when YOU SEE THESE THINGS come to pass, know YOU that the KINGDOM of God is nigh at hand.”

Now let us look at all the verses with the word “COMING” in them that refer to the coming of Jesus to see if ANY of these verses teach us about a rapture before the great tribulation.

Matthew 16:28 “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (This is speaking of the kingdom of God coming in our hearts. And it speaks of Jesus being resurrected from the dead and given authority to be the PRINCE of his kingdom and at his coming, he will be anointed as the King of kings over his kingdom)”

Matthew 24:3 “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him PRIVATELY, saying, Tell us, (#1.) when shall these things be? And (#2.) what shall be the sign of thy coming, and (#3.) of the end of the world? (Jesus is asked THREE questions which are when shall the stones of the temple be cast down and when shall be the SIGN of his COMING and WHEN shall the end of the world be or when shall the heavens and the earth pass away? Please read the study “MATTHEW 24 EXPLAINED IN CONTEXT!”)”

Matthew 24:27 “For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

Matthew 24:30 “And then shall appear the SIGN of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall SEE the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Matthew 24:37 “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man is.”

Matthew 24:39 “And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

Matthew 24:48 “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays his coming;”

Matthew 25:27 “You ought, therefore, to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. (The context of this verse in verse 30 says that this unprofitable servant will be cast into outer darkness and not cast into great tribulation)”

Matthew 26:64 “Jesus said unto him, You have said: nevertheless, I say unto you, Hereafter shall you SEE the Son of man sitting on the right hand of POWER, and coming in the CLOUDS of heaven.”

Mark 13:26 “And then shall they SEE the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”

Mark 13:36 “Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. (The CONTEXT is speaking of the SECOND coming of Jesus AFTER the tribulation where Jesus is WARNING us to WATCH for his coming)”

Mark 14:62 “And Jesus said, I am: and you shall SEE the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

Luke 12:45 “But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; (The CONTEXT speaks of the SECOND coming)”

Luke 19:23 “Wherefore then gave not you my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? (Again being that good and faithful profitable servant bearing fruit unto the Lord)”

Luke 21:26 “Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Speaking of the WRATH of God about to come upon them)”

Luke 21:27 “And then shall they SEE the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

Luke 23:29 “For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. (Speaking of the great tribulation coming)”

John 5:25 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (I suppose that one could twist this verse to teach a resurrection before the great tribulation, but when compared to all the verses speaking of the resurrection of the dead in Jesus Christ this verse speaks of the SECOND coming of Jesus)”

John 5:28 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (The word “hour” often speaks of the WRATH of God so like the above verse when compared to like verses, this verse speaks of the SECOND coming of Jesus to execute the HOUR of God's WRATH.)”

1 Corinthians 15:23 “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (This verse needs far more than a brief comment so I will cover it at the end of these verses with the word “COMING” in them that speak of the coming of Jesus.)”

1 Thessalonians 2:19 “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? (The context speaks of the second coming of Jesus.)”

1 Thessalonians 3:13 “To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ WITH all his saints. (Now while we already covered Jesus coming WITH his saints and FOR his saints at the same time, I did not give you all the verses so we will cover this verse as well after we finish the verses with the word “COMING” in them to see if any clearly and plainly teach a coming BEFORE the great tribulation as claimed by those who teach a PRE tribulation rapture of the church.)”

1 Thessalonians 4:15 “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (Again the CONTEXT of chapter 5 clearly teaches us that this coming of Jesus is his SECOND coming as a THIEF in the night to execute the WRATH of God, but right before the wrath of God is poured out, the LAST TRUMPET is sounded and we are all changed from mortal to immortal and caught up into the CLOUDS TOGETHER to meet Jesus in the AIR)”

1 Thessalonians 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Same as the above verse)”

2 Thessalonians 2:1 “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our GATHERING TOGETHER unto him, (The CONTEXT teaches us that that day of the Lord's coming will not take place until TWO things happen and one of those things is the coming or revealing of the antichrist. The SAME context in verse 8 teaches us that this same antichrist shall be destroyed at the COMING of Jesus and there is NO mention of ANOTHER coming between the revealing of the antichrist and the destroying of the antichrist. So the MID tribulation rapture is also a FICTIONAL coming that is NOT going to happen so be NOT deceived by ANY pre-tribulation rapture to ESCAPE the great tribulation dear child of God. Rather pray that God strengthens you that you fall not away but endure unto the end to be saved or to receive the END of your salvation, which is eternal life)”

2 Thessalonians 2:8 “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:”

2 Thessalonians 2:9 “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,”

James 5:7 “Be PATIENT, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.”

James 5:8 “Be you also patient; ESTABLISH your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh. (The context of both of these verses speak of the DAY of SLAUGHTER from the Lord)”

2 Peter 1:16 “For WE have NOT followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (This verse to me is a perfect description of the CUNNINGLY DEVISE FABLE of a coming BEFORE the great tribulation.)”

2 Peter 3:4 “And saying, Where is the PROMISE of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (The CONTEXT speaks of the SECOND coming of Jesus)”

2 Peter 3:12 “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”

1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (The CONTEXT speaks of antichrist, denying Jesus as the Son of God and as the Christ and the promise of eternal life, which are all connected with great tribulation and the SECOND coming of Jesus)”

That concludes ALL the verses having the words, “appear”, “appearing”, “revealed”, “revealing”. “return”, “come”, “comes”, and “coming” of Jesus in them. And NONE of these verses clearly and plainly teach us of ANY coming BEFORE the GREAT tribulation.

However, in the study, we covered MANY verses that CLEARLY and PLAINLY teach us in SIMPLICITY that Jesus MUST remain IN Heaven UNTIL he comes to RESTORE the KINGDOM of God TO Israel. Also MOST if not all of these verses teach us of the SECOND coming of Jesus. And while the FEW vague verses do not prove a POST tribulation rapture, at the same time NEITHER do they prove a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation. However, the CONTEXT of even these vague verses leads anyone with eyes to see that even they ALSO speak of the SECOND coming of Jesus.

None the less as I said I will cover those vague verses anyway to expel any doubt that ALL these verses speak of the SECOND coming of Jesus and NONE even hint at a rapture before the great tribulation.

Here is the verse that I said needs far more than just a few comments.

1 Corinthians 15:23.

“But every man in his OWN ORDER: Christ the firstfruits; AFTERWARD they that are Christ's at his coming.”

Those who teach a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation use this verse to TRY and support there teaching that the FIRST resurrection does NOT mean first in TIME, but rather means FIRST in KIND, as in, PREFERRED BEFORE like Jesus is FIRST or preferred before or above us.

In other words, they CLAIM that Jesus partook of the FIRST resurrection and being the FIRST in the ORDER of the FIRST resurrection of KIND where the kind is the RIGHTEOUS only. So then they claim that the next in the ORDER of the FIRST resurrection is the dead in Jesus Christ at his coming, which THEY claim is the coming of Jesus BEFORE the great tribulation, because the next verse says and THEN comes the END, which THEY claim means the END of the GREAT tribulation.

Let us now see if their CLAIMS are SOUND Biblical teaching by reading the CONTEXT.

Please read 1 Corinthians 15:22-26.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made ALIVE. (Or ALL shall be RESURRECTED from the dead, but NOT all shall be given eternal life. And he is the ORDER of these THREE different SINGLE ONE-time event resurrections)

23.  But every man in his OWN order: (Or each group having their OWN resurrection in this ORDER) (#1.) Christ the firstfruits (Which resurrection was already PAST when John wrote the book of Revelation calling the resurrection of the dead in Christ AT the second coming of Jesus the FIRST resurrection); (#2.) afterward they that are Christ's AT his coming. (Which John calls the FIRST resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6 where we CLEARLY see that these saints went THROUGH the great tribulation and got VICTORY over the MARK of the beast, his image and the name of the beast.)

24.  THEN comes the END, (NOT the end of the great tribulation, but rather the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus, which is WHEN John teaches us in Revelation 20:4-6 will be the FINAL resurrection when the REST of the dead are resurrected. So then, according to the PRE-trib theory, there will be TWO resurrections are given in the ORDER and THEN comes the final third resurrection at the END) WHEN he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

25.  For he must reign, TILL he has put ALL enemies under his feet.

26.  The LAST enemy that shall be destroyed is DEATH.”

And the LAST enemy DEATH is NOT destroyed until the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus WHEN John says that the REST of the dead are resurrected.

Can you not see dear child of God how DECEPTIVE the teaching of a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation has become? Anyone with eyes to see can clearly see that the CONTEXT, without a doubt, teaches us that the END is the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus and NOT the END of the great tribulation as CLAIMED by those who teach a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation.

The Bible teaches us of THREE resurrections of the FIRSTFRUITS.

#1. The resurrection of Jesus, which was ALREADY PAST when John wrote the book of Revelation, teaching us about the REMAINING TWO resurrections.

#2. The resurrection of the dead IN Jesus Christ ONLY AT his COMING. And John calls this resurrection the FIRST resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6.

#3. The final resurrection at the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus where the REST of the dead are resurrected from the dead.

Now in this FINAL resurrection, ALL the REST of the dead are resurrected where the REST of the dead means ALL the wicked from Adam to that time at the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus, AND all the RIGHTEOUS who died DURING the 1000 year reign of Jesus. ANOTHER book of life will be opened and those NOT found in EITHER book of life shall be cast into the lake of fire called the SECOND DEATH and DEATH and HELL is cast into the lake of fire with them to be destroyed.

The RIGHTEOUS who died DURING the 1000 year reign of Jesus who will be resurrected in this final resurrection of the REST of the dead at the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus will be given eternal life seeing that DEATH is destroyed in the lake of fire and there will be NO MORE DEATH, and no more wicked.

Now let us CROSS-EXAMINE the final verse used to try and prove a PRE tribulation rapture of the church but arguing HOW can Jesus come WITH his saints and FOR his saints at the SAME time?

Again we have already covered this argument, but I did not give you the VERSES of Jesus coming WITH his saints and Jesus coming WITH his angels and WITH his saints when Jesus comes at his SECOND coming FOR his saints.

1 Thessalonians 3:13.

“To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ WITH all his saints”

Deuteronomy 33:2.

“And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came WITH ten thousands of SAINTS: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.”

Zechariah 14:5.

“And you shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, you shall flee, like as you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints WITH you.”

Now all Christians AGREE that when Jesus comes WITH his ANGELS speaks of his SECOND coming so we will not look at those verses. And obviously Jesus coming WITH ALL of his SAINTS speaks of his SECOND coming as well coming FOR his ALIVE saints. So all we need to do is show HOW God can come WITH his saints and FOR his saints AT the second coming of Jesus WITHOUT having to come first BEFORE the great tribulation and take some SAINTS back with him to heaven so that he can BRING these saints back WITH him when he comes AT his second coming WITH his saints.

I mean in truth we should not ask HOW God will do this when his WORD says that he WILL, but for those who QUESTION God please read 1 Thessalonians 4 13-18.

“But I would NOT have you to be ignorant (Or it is not Paul's or God's desire that anyone should remain stupid, ignorant or uninformed by not knowing the TRUTH based on ALL the evidence from God's word. In other words, Paul is saying PLEASE do not remain NOT knowing the TRUTH), brethren CONCERNING them which are asleep (Or the truth CONCERNING your brothers and sisters and loved ones in the Lord, who have DIED before the coming of Jesus), that you SORROW NOT, even as others which have NO HOPE. (No hope of WHAT? No hope of the RESURRECTION at the coming of Jesus. You see dear child of God ONLY those who have died as BELIEVERS in Jesus as their savior have the promise of hope in the RESURRECTION and CHANGE from mortality to immortality or ETERNAL LIFE when Jesus comes again. These Christians in the early church at Thessalonica did not understand the TRUTH about the RESURRECTION and their CHANGE of receiving eternal life or a new immortal glorified body of flesh and bone when Jesus returns or comes again. They wrongly thought that they had to be ALIVE when Jesus came in order to receive eternal life and they had loved ones who had DIED before Jesus came and they were in great SORROW that their dead loved ones would NOT receive eternal life because they had DIED before Jesus returned. So this whole passage of Scripture is CONCERNING the COMFORTING of the ALIVE saints CONCERNING the DEAD in Christ so that the ALIVE believers will be COMFORTED and NOT SORROW. And here is WHY we do NOT SORROW for the dead IN Jesus Christ.)

14. For (Or BECAUSE) if we believe that Jesus DIED and ROSE AGAIN, even so, them ALSO which sleep (Or even so just as Jesus died and rose again those who have DIED as faithful believers) IN Jesus will God bring WITH him. (Now one of the arguments for a rapture before the great tribulation is HOW can Jesus be coming WITH his saints and FOR his saints at the same time. Then they immediately say that the ONLY WAY that this is possible is for Jesus to come BEFORE the great tribulation and take the saints UP into heaven BACK with him so he will have some SAINTS to BRING WITH him when he comes at the SECOND coming. You see dear child of God, just like Proverbs we read above says, he who presents his case FIRST may SEEM right, UNTIL one CROSS-EXAMINES that teaching and the TRUTH is revealed. Always beware when a teacher of God's word says, the ONLY WAY or there is NO OTHER WAY to interpret this verse because this blinds the hearer to blindly accept what they are being taught. A person's mind is tricked to accept what they are taught without going to the word of God for THEMSELVES when they hear phrases like there is NO possible way for Jesus to come WITH his saints and come FOR his saints at the same time EXCEPT if Jesus comes first secretly BEFORE the great tribulation to take his saints to heaven so that he will then have saints in heaven with him when he returns again AFTER the great tribulation bringing his saints BACK WITH him at his SECOND coming. This statement SEEMS right UNTIL you hear the word of TRUTH, which clearly teaches us that the dead saints or the saints, who have died in Jesus Christ that are ALREADY IN heaven with Jesus right NOW under the altar of God, are the saints that Jesus will BRING WITH him at his SECOND coming. So then, this verse here plainly and clearly teaches us that God will BRING WITH him those who have DIED being believers IN Jesus Christ and NOT some so-called saints who were raptured BEFORE the great tribulation. So now that you have heard the TRUTH are you going to believe the cunningly devise fable or a man-made THEORY that there is NO OTHER WAY for Jesus to come WITH his saints and FOR his saints at the same time EXCEPT the second coming be SPLIT into two parts having a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation for the church only and ANOTHER rapture AFTER the great tribulation for the ELECT who are the JEWS and the “tribulation” saints? OR are you going to believe the SIMPLE uncomplicated word of TRUTH right here in this verse that God will BRING WITH him the dead in Jesus Christ, who no doubt are SAINTS that come WITH Jesus AT his SECOND coming? Please remember that those who teach in a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation dogmatically demand that there is NO POSSIBLE WAY for Jesus to bring is saints WITH him when he is coming FOR his saints. Therefore by their OWN words they cannot use THIS passage of Scripture to teach a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation, because we are plainly taught in simplicity that SAINTS WILL indeed come WITH Jesus.)

15. For (Or BECAUSE) this we say unto you BY the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall NOT PREVENT (Or the ALIVE saints shall NOT go BEFORE) them which are asleep (Or those who have DIED in Jesus Christ, who are IN heaven under the altar of God awaiting their CHANGE to be clothed in immortality with US who have survived and have remained alive unto the coming of our Lord will be brought WITH Jesus when he comes again and be resurrected FIRST. The words “NOT prevent” here mean that the living or the ALIVE saints AT the coming of Jesus will NOT GO BEFORE or will NOT be RAPTURED, TRANSLATED or caught up to be with Jesus BEFORE those who have DIED IN Jesus Christ are brought WITH Jesus at his coming and RESURRECTED in their mortal bodies, and THEN and ONLY then will we ALL receive our CHANGE from being mortal to immortality at the SAME moment of time in a twinkling of an eye AT the LAST trump just like 1 Corinthians chapter 15 teaches us. Also compare Hebrews 11:39,40 where God's plan is that we ALL be made perfect TOGETHER at the same time.)

16. For (Or BECAUSE) the Lord himself shall descend from HEAVEN with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the TRUMP of God: and the dead in Christ shall RISE FIRST (Or the dead saints that God and his Son Jesus will bring WITH him when Jesus descends from HEAVEN with the TRUMP of God, will be resurrected FIRST and):

17. THEN (Or and THEN and ONLY THEN shall) we which are ALIVE and remain shall be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM (WITH them WHO? Who is the THEM that the ALIVE saints that Jesus is coming FOR seeing that we which are ALIVE and remain unto his COMING will be caught up or raptured TOGETHER WITH THEM? The “them” here is referring to the dead SAINTS in Jesus Christ that Jesus BRINGS WITH him at his coming FOR his ALIVE saints. The THEM are the dead in Christ who MUST be RESURRECTED FIRST so that we ALL can be CHANGED at the exact same time and be raptured or caught up TOGETHER at the SAME time. And WHERE does the Bible ITSELF teach us in simplicity that we are caught up to?) in the CLOUDS, (And what is going to happen when we are caught up INTO the CLOUDS? We are going to be GATHERED TOGETHER by the angels of Jesus and taken to the place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Please see Revelation 16:15,16) to MEET the Lord in the AIR (And WHY are we taken by the angels to MEET Jesus in the AIR over Jerusalem at the place called Armageddon? To help Jesus execute the WRATH of God. Please see Revelation 18:4-6 where we are called to COME OUT of her and then given her DOUBLE what she gave to us. This agrees with the words of Jesus himself plainly teaching us in SIMPLICITY with no interpretation needed in Matthew 29-31 which ALL Christians AGREE is speaking of the SECOND coming of Jesus. I will explain all of this verse by verse and step by step after we finish reading the ENTIRE CONTEXT of this famous rapture passage of Scripture. But for now please know that once we are caught up to be with Jesus in the AIR): and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18. Wherefore (Or for this very reason of the dead in Jesus Christ being RESURRECTED and ALL believers being given ETERNAL life and caught up to be with Jesus forever AT the time of his COMING) COMFORT one another with these words. (Because whether we live or whether we die we know that we shall LIVE WITH Jesus forever Amen. Now those who teach a rapture BEFORE the great tribulation argue that going THROUGH the great tribulation does not sound like words of COMFORT. Therefore these words of COMFORT prove that the rapture of the church is BEFORE the great tribulation. But where does the actual text ITSELF say, “CONCERNING the great tribulation brethren I do not want you to be ignorant? There is no need to SORROW about going through the great tribulation because by the word of the Lord we are going to be raptured up into HEAVEN to ESCAPE the time of GREAT tribulation?” This is man's INTERPRETATION of these words. Read the ENTIRE CONTEXT by continuing to read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 to understand the TRUE SOUND Biblical meaning of this text without reading INTO the text what one's OWN PRIVATE INTERPRETATION. Let us allow the Bible to INTERPRET ITSELF by the ENTIRE CONTEXT and then comparing the like verses together having NO contradictions with any other part of God's word.)”

Now every verse speaks of God coming WITH his saints. ALL speak of the SECOND coming of Jesus FOR his saints so WHY should 1 Thessalonians be any different? God will BRING WITH him the dead SAINTS to be resurrected FIRST at the SECOND coming of Jesus and then the ALIVE saints that Jesus and God are coming FOR shall be CHANGED TOGETHER WITH the saints that God BRINGS WITH him. And we are ALL caught up into the CLOUDS TOGETHER at the same time and then gathered together from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven by the angels and taken to MEET Jesus in the AIR over the place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon where we will help Jesus execute the WRATH of Almighty God, to be a part of his ARMY clothed with IMMORTALITY so NO weapons formed against us shall prosper. For further study on this subject of the rapture of the church, the great tribulation, the mark of the beast, please read the studies in the links listed throughout this study or click on the tab at the top called >>>PROPHECY-THE COMING OF JESUS<<< for a list of all the studies I have on the end times.

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

Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Brother Mark.

RETURN to HOMEPAGE

AT

AMatterOfTruth.com

All the verses below when reading them in their CONTEXT refer to the RESURRECTION as being our blessed HOPE and NOT a secret rapture BEFORE the great tribulation in order to ESCAPE the great tribulation.

Act_2:26 “Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover, also my flesh shall rest in hope:”

Act_23:6 “But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.”

Act_24:15 “And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”

Act_26:6 “And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:”

Act_26:7 “Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.”

Rom_8:20 “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,”

Rom_8:24 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?”

Rom_8:25 “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

1Co_15:19 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

2Co_1:7 “And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.”

Gal_5:5 “For we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”

Eph_1:18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”

Col_1:5 “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;”

Col_1:23 “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;”

Col_1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

1Th_4:13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”

1Th_5:8 “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”

2Th_2:16 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,”

1Ti_1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;”

Tit_1:2 “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

Tit_2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

Tit_3:7 “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

1Pe_1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

1Pe_1:13 “Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

1Pe_1:21 “Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”

1Pe_3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

1Jn_3:3 “And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.”