THE RAPTURE: The Importance Of Getting This Right
Eschatology Deep Dive - Sub #24
Biblical signs all around us scream that we are living in the last days. The primary question that keeps rising among those aware of the times is, “When will the rapture happen? Is it close?” I have some good news. The Bible is very, very clear and plain in answering this question. The problem is that because of a very popular cinematic traditional view on this topic, the Biblical answer for many may be swallowed with a bit of a bitter taste. From the beginning, I want to be clear: whatever your belief is on this topic, it’s not a salvation issue. No one is promised tomorrow, and any day could be your last day. That said, while we are seeing the convergence of Bible prophecy occur today at an accelerated pace, it is affecting the Church’s mindset. Should we be preparing to vanish suddenly or for an epic battle against evil and the greatest evangelical revival and spreading of the gospel this world has ever seen?
Before answering this question, let’s first define what the rapture is. Some say that the word rapture isn’t mentioned once in the Bible and, therefore, is entirely false. This notion couldn’t be further from the truth. I will concede that if you’re looking for the word “rapture,” it’s not found in the Bible; however, its meaning is plainly spoken and defined. Just because you don’t see a particular word in the Bible doesn’t mean its definition doesn’t exist. Christians use the word rapture to articulate a very Biblically descriptive future event capsulized in one easily understood word. Another example would be the word “Trinity.” You don’t see this word in the Bible either, which means One God represented by three persons. The Bible very clearly articulates this throughout the scriptures as well, for example:
7For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 1st John 5:7 NKJV
So what is the definition of the word rapture, and where can this event be found in the Bible?
Rapture - This is a future event when Jesus comes back, and all dead Christian believers will be resurrected first and joined by other Christian believers who are still alive; they will rise into the clouds to meet the Lord Jesus in the air.
16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17
The phrase “caught up” in the original Greek used here is the word Harpazo.
Harpazo - 1) means to seize or carry off by force. 2) To seize on to claim for one’s self. 3) To snatch out of the way.
So now that we have cleared up whether or not the rapture event exists in the Bible, the next question is, does the Bible talk about the timing of this event? The answer is absolutely! There are many “ideas” about the rapture's timing but only one Biblical truth. The three most common stances for the rapture’s timing are pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, and post-tribulation, with variations within each view making this topic that much more confusing. Hmmm, who is the author of confusion? The most popular view of the three is the pre-tribulation stance. This is the view that many movies are created about and that many pastors teach from their pulpits. This is the view I blindly believed for the longest time myself. As much as I would like for this view to be accurate, unfortunately, there is not one scripture in the entire Bible that supports a pre-tribulation rapture. I can hear it now: “Another person is attacking the pre-tribulation rapture; this is why you should believe it to be true!” No, trying to bring Biblical clarity to an embedded false theology is not evidence or a proper defense of why a traditionally flawed theology is true.
Hermeneutically, they would say that the pre-tribulation stance is the only one that makes sense; again, I find this claim astonishing since, as I just stated, you can’t find one scripture in the entire Bible to support such a claim. What is their evidence? The pre-tribulation camp often uses the words "typology/shadows” to convey to their audience their interpretation of different elongated Bible accounts as a reference to a pre-tribulation rapture that’s just not there. They use the word “typology” as a free pass to mishandle God's word, whether they realize it or not. It’s a relatively new word traditionally used to convince people of their stance. I’m sure you’ve heard this term used before. This in the Bible is a “typology,” and that in the Bible is a “typology,” and so on. I find this tactic very dangerous and deceptive. They take what otherwise would be a reasonably simple Bible account to understand and impose a very confusing understanding into the story of why these Bible accounts parallel the future rapture that they say aligns with their pre-tribulation stance. It’s deceptive, to say the least, with no clear, concise Biblical answer in all the confusion they have created.
Another piece of evidence that the pre-tribulation camp likes to use is “Church History.” This has nothing to do with the Bible; instead, it uses different Christian traditional views and teachings from highly regarded people from their own denominational history. So, for instance, “if this highly esteemed pastor, theologian, or Bible professor of history’s past said or taught it, it must be true.” Denominational Church History is not Biblical eschatology evidence. It’s just someone's teachings from the past based on their study and interpretation of God’s word. Nothing any different than someone studying and teaching God’s word today. Being from the past doesn’t make it a correct teaching, no matter how highly esteemed they may have been. I want to be careful not to knock Church History entirely. There is a lot we can gather from those who have done a lot of studying and digging into God’s word. Church History should be a tool that prompts you to dig deeper into the Bible yourself as you seek the truth on a subject (2nd Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible tells us that a complete understanding of end times would not come about until the end. I would argue that using Church History as evidence to understand the eschatology of future events of the last days will likely lead you in the wrong direction regarding this topic. So allow me to illustrate through the Scriptures what I mean.
4“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”……8Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things 9And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. Daniel 12:4, 8-10
According to what God was telling Daniel, the prophecies in which he was writing at the direction of God wouldn't be understood until the time of the end. Daniel a writer of Bible Prophecy himself didn’t even understand what he was writing over 2500 years ago. We also know from this passage that the wicked will be kept from an understanding while Christians earnestly seeking truth during the time of the end would understand. Christians are given an advantage during this time as a blessing to be able to navigate correctly.
The Bible also states your sons and daughters would be speaking prophecy during the last days, Acts 2:17. This isn’t a new prophecy they will be speaking; however, the prophecy that has already been revealed through God’s written word. So why would this be needed? Simply put, people will come along with a clear Biblical understanding of these last-day prophecies that have always been in the Bible. Acts 2:17 seems to indicate that what may have been widely recognized as an understanding of end-time Bible prophecy would need Biblical correction during the last days for clarity and direction due to so much confusion brought about by the various traditional teachings. These Bible prophecies were not meant to be understood entirely and unsealed until the time of the end.
33And those of the people who understand shall instruct many….Daniel 11:33
In conclusion, I will not be using any “Typologies/Shadows” or “Church History” to prove to you when the timing of the rapture will happen. Here is a novel idea; I’m just going to use clear, plain, concise, and easily understood scripture to show you that the Bible does, in fact, teach that the rapture happens immediately after the Tribulation. The evidence is overwhelming and follows hermeneutics. We will also be answering what this means for the Church. Buckle up folks. This is going to be an eye-opening ride. Let’s Jump In!
I want to begin this study with the words of Jesus himself. When did Jesus say the rapture would happen?
29“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29-31
Everything concerning eschatology in the Bible hermeneutically sinks perfectly without contradicting this passage by Jesus himself. There is not one scripture in the Bible that teaches a pre-tribulation rapture, but here you have Jesus’ own words plainly and concisely telling us that it will be immediately after the tribulation. I’ve learned it’s better to agree with Jesus than to argue against him, yet this is precisely what people try to do.
There are those who say Jesus’ gathering of the “elect” is the Jews, not the Church. So now, I suppose they are suggesting two raptures during the last days? One at the beginning of the final seven years and another at the end. You see how everything gets convoluted when their arguments are met with clear and concise scripture.
In the New Testament, the elect is mentioned several times, and in every instance, it refers to the Church except in a couple of passages where it refers to the angels. For example, Colossians 3:12-13 and Romans 8:33, these passages speak to the Colossian and Roman churches. Here is another very clear and concise passage on the meaning of the elect spoken in the New Testament.
7What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Romans 11:7
This passage plainly states that Israel is not the elect. The elect is the Church. When Jesus says he’s gathering his elect, he’s gathering up his Church. Even Just prior to verse 29 of Matthew chapter 24, the elect is mentioned two more times in verses 22 and 24, and in both cases, it refers to the Church, not the unbelief of the Jewish people.
Following the rapture event spoken by Jesus that takes place immediately after the tribulation, Matthew ch .24, in verses 40-42, continues to reinforce what Jesus just stated by giving more insight into what this event will look like.
40Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:40-42
This is the rapture folks! So there is no confusion: the hour referred to here is the rapture that happens immediately after the tribulation of those days that Jesus illustrated to us earlier.
26“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:26-27
In this passage, Jesus is talking to those in the tribulation, and if we’ve already been raptured prior, why is Jesus warning us about false reports about the coming Messiah? Jesus knew that the Church would be here during this time. This is an excellent segway into our next point.
When Jesus comes to receive His bride in the clouds, also known as the 1st resurrection, Jesus will be returning for His Church. This is what the Bible clearly teaches.
4And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 4:6-7
There is no debate among most scholars and pastors that the 1st resurrection is the rapture of the Church. The first resurrection refers to those who are dead in Christ rising first.
16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17
This is the same passage that everyone from every camp uses to prove that the rapture is in the Bible; remember, I used this very passage at the beginning. Also, do you see that some of the same verbiage is used here that Jesus uses in Matthew 24:29-31?
The problem is that pre-trib proponents skip over passages that contradict the traditional teachings they have been taught in seminary. Revelation 20:4-6 plainly shows us that those who are beheaded for their witness to Jesus and who did not receive the mark of the beast are a part of the first resurrection. These people who are beheaded are also mentioned as reigning with Christ during the 1,000-year millennium that follows. How could those who did not receive the mark of the beast and were beheaded be a part of the rapture (1st resurrection) if it happened seven years prior?
During the tribulation, it describes those who died for the faith and those who came through the tribulation as part of the 1st resurrection. There is only one 1st resurrection, and it’s the rapture. This doesn’t happen seven years prior.
51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1st Corinthians 15:51-52 KJV
There was a trumpet mentioned in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 and also in Matthew chapter 24:29-31, and here in 1st Corinthians, we see the trumpet mentioned again with some added information. It will be at the LAST TRUMPET. So, where is the last trumpet mentioned in the Bible? The book of Revelation mentions seven trumpets. Lets take a look at the 7th and final trumpet and see what’s happening.
15Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud 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!” Revelation 11:15
At the last trumpet, we see that Jesus comes and transitions human government to Godly, crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords. If the rapture happens at the same time, this all works together because the Apostle Paul says the rapture happens at the last trumpet, which coincides with when “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.” You see, all of the scriptures hermeneutically agree.
Jesus says Immediately after the Tribulation He’s coming
The 1st resurrection occurs after the Great Tribulation
The Last Trumpet happens after the Tribulation when “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ
Still in Revelation chapter 11, during the 7th Trumpet, it goes on to say:
18The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth. 19Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. Revelation 11:18-19
We see that God’s wrath has come while simultaneously He’s giving out the reward of our inheritance, which only happens at the rapture.
13In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
So when you try to pin down a pre-tribulation teacher to point to a specific scripture that would justify a pre-trib rapture, the go-to verse nine times out of ten is Revelation 3:10. They will say, see, it says Christians will be kept from God’s wrath so there is no way we will be here during the final seven years.
10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Revelation 3:10
Many hold on to the scripture that says we aren’t appointed to the wrath of God, which is true. We aren’t. So, understanding what the wrath of God is, the timing of when God’s wrath is poured out, and how we are protected during this time is critical. I can tell with certainty that the entire final seven years of Daniel’s 70th week are not the wrath of God. God’s wrath isn’t poured out until the very end, and the hour that is mentioned in Revelation 3:10 refers to the literal last hour, when “the fierceness of the winepress of God’s wrath” is poured out with full force as described during the 7th Trumpet. This all happens on the last day. You know there has to be a last day at some point; that last day is not seven years long. Allow me to show you scripturally.
Jesus gave a parable of the 2 harvests in Matthew chapter 13.
30Let both grow together (until the harvest,) and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matthew 13:30
The 2 harvest are mentioned again in (Revelation 14:14-20)
14Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the (great winepress of the wrath of God). 20And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs. Revelation 14:14-20
The first thing to note is that Jesus is coming from heaven on that cloud again, just like what was mentioned in Matthew 24:29-31 and 1st Thessalonians chapter 4, not to mention with a host of angels ready to take their marching orders. Matthew chapter 13 above calls these angels reapers. I also seem to remember that in Matthew 24, Jesus sending his Angels to gather up his elect (Church). The only difference between the two passages above is that the wheat & tares are labeled differently. Wheat is called the harvest of the earth, and the tares are called the harvest of the vine of the earth. (Revelation 14:14-16) is the Rapture and (verses 17-20) is the wrath of God. Verses 17-20 describe Jesus pouring out his wrath during the Battle of Armageddon, which takes place at the very end. A simultaneous harvest happens on the same day. As we are literally escaping, God will be pouring out his wrath.
Let’s connect another rapture dot to the battle of Armageddon. Everything I’m showing you from the Bible is using proper hermeneutics, meaning it flows together perfectly. I’ve held to my end of the bargain up to this point by not giving you any kind of foggy “types/shadows, etc. So, let’s continue at this pace.
No matter what camp they come from, there isn't one Bible prophecy student who would disagree that the rapture happens when the Lord comes as a thief. Here are some references:
42Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Matthew 24:42-43
2For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 1st Thessalonians 5:2
10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2nd Peter 3:10
Right before the battle of Armageddon, we see the exact same warning mentioned again at the end of the 6th bowl found in Revelation chapter 16.
15“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. 16And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. Revelation 16:15-16
This is the last warning from Jesus before the rapture of the Church. The next two verses following Jesus's warning during the 7th bowl (Revelation 16:17-18) are the events that take place at the Battle of Armageddon. Except for one significant prophetic proclamation that comes from the throne of heaven just as the armies gather for battle, "It is done!". I humbly submit to you that at this climactic point is when the Church's rapture takes place.
17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Revelation 16:16-18
As a pastor friend of mine would ask, “Why would God be issuing a warning that He will be coming as a thief right up until the battle of Armageddon if He came as a thief seven years prior to this?” The answer is, Jesus wouldn’t.
On a side note, Jesus will not be coming as a thief or by surprise for the Church; only the unsaved will be surprised by this event. The Church will know when He is coming as 1st Thessalonians 5:1-8 teaches.
Let’s continue. The pre-tribulation stance say that the book of Revelation is written in Chronological order. For example, according to their understanding, the Seven Seals happen first, then the Seven Trumpets, followed lastly by the Seven Bowls. However, an easy comparison of the 7th Seal, 7th Trumpet, and 7th Bowl brings their whole theory of the book of Revelation being written in Chronological order, crashing down.
Seventh Seal
5Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. Revelation 8:5
Seventh Trumpet
15Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud 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!”…..19Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. Revelation 11:15, 19
Seventh Seal
17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Revelation 16:17-18
The 7th Seal, 7th Trumpet, and 7th Bowl all describe the same event from three different views. Much like Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all describe four separate accounts of Jesus and his death, burial, and resurrection. The book of Revelation gives us several accounts from different angles and views of the culmination of events that lead to the rapture and 2nd coming of Jesus. This proves conclusively that the book of Revelation is not in chronological order, which, of course, is the basis of the pre-tribulation rapture. The 7 Seals are the long story ending at Jesus' return, rapture, and Armageddon, 7 Trumpets are the shorter story ending at Jesus' return, rapture, and Armageddon, and the 7 Bowls are the very short story ending at Jesus' return rapture, and the Battle of Armageddon. As you can see visually, an overlapping is shown, with all three groups of seven ending with the same event. I give a much more detailed breakdown of each of these groups of seven in my book “The EndTime Is Now.”
So, if the final seven years are not the wrath of God, what’s its purpose? I could probably do a separate deep dive just answering this one question alone. The purpose of today’s study is the rapture, so having said that, allow me to show you why the final seven years lead and end with the rapture and, by doing so, hopefully it provides you with a simple enough Biblical answer to the initial question.
To begin with, there is not one scripture in the Bible that references a seven-year tribulation. I know this may be shocking to hear; however, it’s true. Six references in the Bible speak only of a 3 1/2-year Great Tribulation (Daniel 7:25, Daniel 12:7, Revelation 11:2, Revelation 11:3, Revelation 12:14, Revelation 13:5). So where does this seven-year time frame come from? The final seven-year time frame is derived from one passage in the Bible, Daniel 9:27. The proper name for this time period is Daniel’s 70th week; maybe you’ve heard it mentioned as this before. This is a time when the Antichrist brokers a false peace deal with Israel that includes many other nations and only last 7 years. Let me be clear: this is not when the Antichrist is revealed; many will be involved in this, but without him, it would not be confirmed or ratified. This is the event where you can put a stake in the ground to know that the final seven years (Daniel’s 70th week) have just commenced.
27Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” Daniel 9:27
As we look at Daniel we discover what Jesus is referring to in Matthew chapter 24. The Great Tribulation actually begins at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, or final seven years. Those are the six scriptural references I shared earlier for the length of this period. It’s this event, “Abomination of Desolation,” at the mid-point of the final seven years that begins Jacobs Trouble, not at the beginning (Jeremiah 30:7). You see, Antichrist doesn’t have global authority until this event happens. His war against the Jews and the Saints doesn’t commence until this event happens. Antichrist global revealing is not until this event happens. In the first half of the final seven years, Antichrist is growing in prestige on a platform of peace, more than likely following the aftermath of a global war (WW3). I’ll be doing a deep dive on this event sometime in the near future. This proof alone of a 3 1/2 tribulation and not a seven brings the house of cards down for all the mid-tribulation campers since their whole theory is predicated on a seven-year tribulation.
15“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand)…..21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. Matthew 24:15, 21
Some will also say there is a seven-year tribulation, but the Great Tribulation begins at the halfway point. They attempt to blend the two concepts. Again, this is not scriptural. The Bible mentions that everyone will have tribulation in this world (John 16:33); there are no distinctions in general tribulation we will have in this world, and the final seven years that many try to impose on the Bible as a final seven-year tribulation. There is a final seven-year time frame, but it’s very important to note that the Great Tribulation doesn’t begin until the halfway point of Daniel’s 70th week. It’s very important that the distinction is made between Daniel’s 70th week and the start of the Great Tribulation to keep the timeline clean and understandable. We must not blur these lines. It confuses people. God is not the author of confusion.
Ok, now we can talk about the wrath of this time period. Beginning from the Abomination of Desolation and following the final 3 1/2 years left is the time Satan’s wrath begins, not God’s. Again, this is an important distinction in this timeline. God’s wrath doesn’t start until the end; Satan’s wrath begins in the middle of the final seven years and lasts for the remaining 3 1/2 years. You see, the Great Tribulation is not God’s wrath. It’s Satan’s, hence the reason Jesus calls it the Great Tribulation. At the time of the Abomination of Desolation will be when we see Satan himself incarnate through the Antichrist.
7And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him….12Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time. Revelation 12:7-9, 12
Up until this point, Satan has been able to go back and forth to heaven to accuse the brethren, even approaching God’s throne. Remember, In the book of Job, Satan approached God’s throne for permission to tempt Job (Job 1:6-8). After this war that breaks out in heaven, Satan and his angels are cast down to earth without the ability to go back and forth into the heavenly realms. This is the time Jacob’s trouble begins (Jeremiah 30:7); however, notice in verse 12 that the warning is for all inhabitants of the earth, not just the Jews. It states clearly that the Devil has come down having “Great Wrath” (Great Tribulation). The reference that Satan understands that he only has a short time is in direct correlation to the 3 1/2 year time period mentioned several times in the Bible.
7It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Revelation 13:7
The point in breaking all this down is to show you that God’s wrath doesn’t begin until the very end and that the final seven years are not God’s wrath, and when someone tries to tell you, well, we are going to be raptured prior to the final seven years because Christians aren’t appointed unto God’s wrath. Though that’s true, we aren’t appointed to God’s wrath; you’ll know why they are misunderstood in the timing of God’s wrath and, therefore, their rapture argument. Knowing the timing of God’s wrath is fundamental to knowing the timing of the rapture.
The original question during this segment was: So if the final seven years are not the wrath of God, what’s its purpose? The second part of this question is pretty simple and also points to the rapture happening immediately after the tribulation, as Jesus stated.
The purpose of Daniel’s 70th week is to bring the Jews back into right relationship with Jesus. Jesus will not come back for his bride until the Jews are brought back into the fold of the Church. When Jesus was here the first time, there was a Jewish/Gentile Church mix, and when he comes back the 2nd time, there will be a Jewish/Gentile Church mix. A part of the refining and purification of the Bride (Daniel 12:10) is all about making the Church whole again by bringing the Jews back into the fold of the Church. Once this happens, Jesus will come to get us. Can I prove this scripturally? Absolutely!
25For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob Romans 11:25-26
These verses perfectly describe God simultaneously dealing with the Jews and the Gentiles (you and me) during the tribulation. Some Jews will continue to reject Jesus until what the Bible says, "until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." When this happens, those Jews still alive during the tribulation (the time of Jacob's trouble, finale 3 1/2 years) will be saved. What does it mean by "until the fullness of the Gentiles come in?" Answer: It's when the last Gentile accepts Christ, who is a part of the rapture. The fullness of the Gentiles only happens once. If it happened seven years prior, one would have to explain why Gentiles are still being saved during the tribulation. God doesn’t make mistakes and say whoops I forgot a few lets save some more Gentiles during the tribulation. The only rational and Biblical reason why we see Saints mentioned during the tribulation is that the fullness of the Gentiles is not completed until the end when all of Israel is saved. Precisely what Romans 11:25-26 depicts. In conclusion, God will deal with the Jews and the Gentiles throughout the entire tribulation period. It will be the most remarkable revival this world has ever had, ending with Christ's return for his complete bride.
If we will be here throughout the tribulation, then it would make sense that we will have to contend with the Antichrist.
1Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2nd Thessalonians 1-8
The pre-trib camp has really butchered this passage up with the interpretation they preach to their congregations. I’m not saying this is an intentional mishandling of the Bible they are doing; however, they are certainly ignoring a very plain and concise teaching from the Apostle Paul and opting for the traditional easy-on-the-ears false message.
From the beginning in verse 1, we are told that this passage is referencing the 2nd coming of Jesus and the rapture as one event. In verse 2, Apostle Paul is rebuking the doctrine of Imminence not supporting it. This whole passage is a rebuke of the doctrine of imminence. In verse 3, we are told plainly that “this Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and that the man of sin is revealed.” You can’t make it anymore more straightforward than this. Verse 4 here, clearly parallels Daniel 9:27, the Abomination of Desolation; we discussed this already. When did Daniel say this event was going to happen? In the middle of the seven years. The Antichrist can not be revealed at any other time; this passage confirms this. The Apostle Paul goes out of the way to make it clear what the revealing of the Antichrist will look like. So, just from this, we are already 3 1/2 years into the final seven years. If we look at verse 6, we are given the answer of who “He” is and the meaning of “restraining.”
Answer: God and his timing. Many scholars see the phrase “taken out of the way” and automatically want to jump to the conclusion that this means the rapture. God wouldn’t tell us one thing a few verses before that our gathering unto him wouldn’t happen until after the Antichrist is revealed and then reverse his answer a couple of verses later.
God controls time. He does everything in His own time; just read Ecclesiastes chapter 3. To add to that, Jesus couldn’t come the first time until it was time for Him to come, see:
4But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law Galatians 4:4
This goes true for the Antichrist and his revealing. The restrainer is God’s timing for the revealing of the Antichrist, not the Church; again, the answer is right there in verse 6. One last point: the Church is never called a “He” but rather as the “Bride.” After this event, we know that we have only a short time before Jesus’ 2nd coming (Rapture) and the destruction of the Antichrist at the Battle of Armageddon Vs 8.
The evidence is overwhelming that we will not be raptured until immediately after the tribulation. There are so many more clear and concise passages that I could cover. For the sake of the length of this Update, I’ll just cover a couple more.
Jesus stated his 2nd coming would be like the days of Noah and Lott. I really could go deep here, and through these two accounts, narrow the time of the rapture down to the very hour. In “Substack #11, THE GREAT COMMISSION during THE GREAT TRIBULATION,” I do exactly that, if you want to read that “deep dive” after finishing this one, you can. For this update, we will just stick to the Day of. : )
37But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:37
4For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.” Genesis 7:4
Noah was told just before this to get himself, his family, and the animals all squared away in the Ark. Then God told Noah what He was about to do and when it would happen in Genesis 7:4. Are you picking up what I’m dropping you? Noah had a 7-day notice of his departure (redemption) and the day God’s wrath would be poured out. Noah knew ahead of time exactly what was going to happen and when. No one left behind had any second chances. The “same day” Noah was rising into the heavens in the Ark was the “same day” God’s wrath was being poured out on the earth. That Day was the 7th day.
17Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. Genesis 7:17
Just like Noah, we will be getting a one-week’s notice. It’s called Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:27), and we are out of here at the end of that week! When you see the confirmation of the covenant between Israel and many other nations (United Nations), which will have to include the Palestinians, the day that it's ratified (confirmed) by the UN, mark it on your calendars because our final week of years just commenced.
What about the Days of Lott?
29but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. Luke 17:29 KJV
Here we see again on the “same day” Lot left Sodom, God’s wrath was being poured out on Sodom. Lot didn’t get much of a head start; he left on the same literal day. If anything good can come from Lot’s wife's actions, it's that she reinforces the fact that all this was happening on the same day. After being told by God not to, she looked back at the city and turned to a pillar of salt. They obviously weren’t that far away.
26But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26
So, we have covered quite a bit in this study, but believe it or not, we could have covered much more. Let’s do a quick review of some of the high points.
Jesus taught that the rapture would happen immediately after the tribulation (Mattew 24:29-31)
After those martyred during the tribulation, they are resurrected, the Bible says, “This is the first resurrection.” (Revelation 20:4-6)
The two accounts of the Simultaneous Harvest (Matthew 13:30, Revelation 14:14-20)
Our gathering together unto Him can’t happen until after the Antichrist is revealed. (2nd Thessalonians 2:1-3)
Jesus warns us He’s coming as a thief, He gives us this warning right up to the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:15-16)
Noah and Lot’s escape was on the same day God’s wrath was poured out. (Genesis 7:4, Luke 17:29)
The 7th Seal, 7th Trumpet, 7th Bowl all describe the same event (Revelation 8:5, Revelation 11:15-19, Revelation 16:17-18)
Rapture happens at the Last Trumpet when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ. (1st Corinthians 15:51-52, Revelation 11:15-19)
And everything in between!
Anyone who sees these last days as a joke or does not take it seriously usually does so for one of two reasons. A total denial of the reality of the times in which we are living that the Bible foretells or just a complete ignorance of God’s word concerning the last days and, as a result, don’t understand the ramifications of not taking seriously or wanting the desire to understand about 1/3 of the Bible. In any scenario, it's a blatant attitude of derision or contempt against God himself. We are the last generation of Saints that Revelation, as well as other prophetic passages, are speaking towards, the fig tree generation (Jeremiah 30:3, Isaiah 66:8, Matthew 24:32-34, A single verse capsulation of the last day's Psalm 90:10). We are the generation that has been given the understanding of how to endure till the end. The Church must be prepared to continue the Great Commission during the Great Tribulation. Though often ignored, eschatology isn’t a joke. It’s a blessing, and it’s time to get it right and take this portion of the Bible seriously so that we can be properly equipped and prepared to continue the Great Commission going forward. This world is growing darker by the hour, and this last generation Church needs to be preparing for the next phase of battle.
I hope this study has helped you connect some dots because this topic does matter. There will be a cost of not getting this right. I believe It’s time for the leaders of our faith to be honest with the Church, and in doing so, she may be battle-ready and non-complacent in fighting evil now. You have a responsibility to take serious teaching and preaching the full counsel of God. How we prepare as a Church going forward mentally, emotionally, physically, and Spiritually will allow us to persevere to the end. We don’t have long.
So I ask you again, should we be preparing to vanish suddenly or for an epic battle against evil and the greatest evangelical revival and spreading of the gospel this world has ever seen? BE READY!
Be sure to check out this great follow-up Deep Dive. What will it look like to be the Church during the Great Tribulation?
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For those interested,
The Hour Of The Wrath Of God can be found in this update: “THE GREAT COMMISSION during THE GREAT TRIBULATION”
https://theendtimeisnow.substack.com/p/the-great-commission-during-the-great?r=34pslr
Absolutely. Get it right, learn your history. Figure out who Darby and Schofield are, learn about shcofields fruits, look up Darby's translational… differences from conventional versions, and realize futurism was created by Jesuits (agents of the beast from the sea), specifically Francisco riebers, refined by Darby, and perfected by Cyrus schofield, destroying protestantism, western eschatology (historicism is the truth), and ultimately obfuscating the beast that ruled for 1400 years , enjoying supremacy often the European continent. Very soon she will make her return and the world will marvel after this new globalized church state union.