By Stan Feldsine - www.tojesusbeallglory.com

Introduction

This article contains three major topics. The first is a description of the character of the Rapture itself without respect to the timing of when it occurs. Nearly all believers of various timing view agree on the fact of the Rapture.

The second section contains a description of the Rapture with respect to how Pre-Trib, Pre-Wrath and Post-Trib view the timing of when the Rapture occurs, whether before the Tribulation, During the Tribulation, or after the Tribulation.

The third section shows how various timing views either agree with or contradict scripture. Although scripture does not explicitly identify either of these views as the correct, by a process of elimination the correct view can rise to the surface through a careful study of contradicting passages and deductive reasoning.

The Term "Rapture"

The English word "Rapture" is not found in the Bible. Our understanding of "Rapture" comes from the Latin word "rapio", found in the Latin Vulgate, and the Greek translates this Latin word as "harpazo". The terms mean "caught up", "to seize or snatch in relation to an ecstasy of spirit or the actual removal from one place to another".

Charles Ryrie defines it as follows:

"Our modern understanding of rapture appears to have little or no connection with the eschatological event. However, the word is properly used of that event. Rapture is a state or experience of being carried away. The English word comes from a Latin word, rapio, which means to seize or snatch in relation to an ecstasy of spirit or the actual removal from one place to another. In other words, it means to be carried away in spirit or in body. The Rapture of the church means the carrying away of the church from earth to heaven."

The Greek term "harpazo" is used in passages indicating the "snatching away" of Phillip from one place to another, the "catching up" of Paul to the third heaven, and the living and dead saints who will be "caught up" to be with the Lord forever.

Act 8:39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

2Co 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.

1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Ryrie continues:

"The Greek word from this term “rapture” is derived appears in 1Th 4:17, translated “caught up.” The Latin translation of this verse used the word rapturo. The Greek word it translates is harpazo, which means to snatch or take away. Elsewhere it is used to describe how the Spirit caught up Philip near Gaza and brought him to Caesarea (Act 8:39) and to describe Paul’s experience of being caught up into the third heaven (2Co 12:2-4). Thus there can be no doubt that the word is used in 1Th 4:17 to indicate the actual removal of people from earth to heaven."

The Participants in The Rapture

The Body of Christ

The Rapture is for the Body of Christ, those who are "in Christ".

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Who Are Those "In Christ"

To be "in Christ" is a product of "baptism" in the Spirit. We are "in Christ Jesus...through faith", through being "baptized into Christ".

Gal 3:26-27 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, (27) for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Those of us who are "baptized into Christ" make up "one body".

1Co 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body--whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

The "body" is the same entity as "the church".

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Old Testament saints were not baptized in the Spirit and thus indwelt. They were saved by faith, but their experience with the Holy Spirit was not that of being indwelt, but of being experienced, or coming upon them and resting for a time and purpose. The Holy Spirit would influence them, but did not permanently live in them.

Num 11:25-29 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied--but did not do so again. (26) However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. (27) A young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." (28) Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' aide since youth, spoke up and said, "Moses, my lord, stop them!" (29) But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!"

Being baptized "by one Spirit" was only available to those alive from the Day of Pentecost forward.

Act 2:2-4 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. (3) They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (4) All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

It was only after that event that people would be able to receive the indwelling spirit and be "baptized by one spirit", and thus become "in Christ", or "clothed with Christ". Jesus spoke of this eventual arrival of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is a demarcation line.

Joh 16:7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

So 1Th 4:16 identifies those for whom the Rapture is intended as those who are "in Christ", which began on the Day of Pentecost.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Are Those on Earth After the Rapture "in Christ"?

Paul refers to "what is holding him back" and "until he is taken out of the way". This passage is referring to a restrainer that is holding back the anti-Christ from emerging on the world scene. The "restrainer" is the church operating under the power of the Holy Spirit. Most scholars agree that the one who is doing the "holding back" is the church, and that the church's removal is identified in John 14:1-3.

2Th 2:4-8 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (5) Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? (6) And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. (7) For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. (8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

The Rapture of the church will end the presence of the church on earth, as we will be taken to heaven, a place Jesus referred to as "where I am". He is presently in heaven at the right hand of the Father.

John 14:2-3 My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost states the following regarding the role of the Holy Spirit following the Rapture. Their conclusion is that there is little evidence of a continued indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers.

"The fact that the Holy Spirit is the restrainer, to be removed from the earth before the tribulation period begins, must not be interpreted to mean that the Holy Spirit is no longer omnipresent, nor operative in the age. The Spirit will work in and through men. It is only insisted that the particular ministries of the Holy Spirt to the believer in this present age, (baptism - 1Co 12:12-13, indwelling - 1Co 6:19-20, sealing Eph 1:13, Eph 4:30, and filling Eph 5:18) do terminate."

Pentecost continues by quoting Dr. John Walvoord's thoughts:

"There is little evidence that believers will be indwelt by the Spirit during the tribulation ... the tribulation period ... seems to revert back to Old Testament conditions in several ways; and in the Old Testament period, saints were never permanently indwelt except in isolated instances, though a number of instances of the filling of the Spirit and of empowering for service are found. Taking all the factors into consideration, there is no evidence for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in believers in the Tribulation. If believers are indwelt during the Tribulation, however, it would also follow that they are sealed by the Spirit, the seal being His own presence in them."

Additional consideration for those alive before the church starts and after the church is removed is the distinction between the Bride and the Friends of the Bridegroom.

Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum explains the Friends of the Bridegroom:

"The marriage ceremony and the marriage feast are two separate elements of a Jewish wedding. Only a few guests are invited to attend the marriage ceremony, and these are generally the relatives and close friends of the bride and groom. Then there is a wider invitation for many others to attend the wedding feast, which will last for seven days. This is where the "friends of the bridegroom" come in. These friends include a wider circle of people—sometimes more distant relatives and sometimes a wider circle of friends and also those involved in several facets of the wedding feast. All these may be classed as the "friends of the bridegroom." By way of application to eschatology, these would include the resurrected Old Testament saints and the resurrected tribulation saints who will participate in the wedding feast of the Lamb."

Are The Friends of the Bridegroom Participants?

John identifies three parties in this verse. The bride is the church "in Christ" who is marrying the bridegroom, who is Jesus. The friends of the bridegroom are those righteous saved either before the Day of Pentecost or after the Rapture.

John 3:29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

The Parable of the 10 Virgins also identifies these three distinct identities. The bridegroom is on His way to collect the bride, while the virgins are attendants who would be in the friends of the bridegroom category.

Mat 25:10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Conclusion

The Church consists of people from the day of Pentecost until today. Those before the Rapture in the Old Testament were not "baptized by the one spirit", and thus "in Christ". The same will be true following the Rapture and into the Tribulation.

The Events of The Rapture

There are four key passages that teach about the rapture. We will look at each.

The first passage speaks of a place being prepared for us, and that Jesus "will come back and take you" to be with Him. Although the passage does not speak of when or how this will happen, there is a promise that He will do so. This coming is to take us to heaven, and not somewhere on earth.

John 14:1-3 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. (2) My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Post-Trib teaches that Jesus comes to take us to earth somewhere.
This next passage explains some of the details of the rapture.

1Th 4:13-18 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. (14) For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (15) According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (18) Therefore encourage one another with these words.

In vs. 13-15, the first thing Paul explains is that people who are "in Christ" but have died will not miss out on being raptured. In fact, it is those who are already dead that will be the first to be "caught up" to be with him, followed by those who are still alive at His coming.

In vs. 16-17 Paul describes the sequence of events that make up the rapture.

"The Lord Himself" shall descend
He shall "descend from heaven"
"With a loud command"
"With the voice of the archangel"
"with the trumpet call of God"
"The dead in Christ will rise first" (The resurrection)
"Those who are alive will be caught up" (The translation)
8. "To meet the Lord in the air"

This next passage speaks about the need for change in the nature of our bodies.

1Co 15:50-58 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (51) Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- (52) in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (53) For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (54) When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." (55) "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (56) The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

vs. 50 speaks of the reason why a change is needed. Our bodies are corrupted and not suitable for living in heaven or eternity. This issue began with Adam in the Garden.

Gen 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; (17) but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."

Gen 3:17-19 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat from it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. (18) It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. (19) By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

It is sin that has caused corruption in our physical bodies. All mankind suffers from this.

Rom 5:12-14 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned-- (13) To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law. (14) Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.

Vs. 51-53 describe the change that will occur. We will be "changed", in the "twinkling of an eye", or a sudden flash of recognition. Both the dead and alive will be given bodies that are imperishable and immortal.

Vs. 52 speaks of this occurring at "the last trumpet sound". Non-PreTrib believers attempt to tie this trumpet to the seventh trumpet of Rev 11:15. It is worth noting however, that when Paul wrote the letter to the Corinthians, the Revelation had not yet been written. The Corinthians would not have had any knowledge of Revelation's seventh trumpet. The "last trumpet would be tied to the trumpet blasts of the Feast of Trumpets. (See Footsteps Of The Messiah, page 147) This passage does not speak to the timing of the Rapture, only that it will fulfill the Feast of Trumpets. This trumpet blast is the same as that of 1Th 4:16.

This passage speaks of the actual change that will occur in our bodies.

1Co 15:35-49 But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" (36) How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. (37) When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. (38) But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. (39) Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. (40) There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. (41) The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. (42) So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; (43) it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; (44) it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (45) So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. (46) The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. (47) The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. (48) As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. (49) And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

There are six points made regarding the resurrection bodies in this passage:

"it will be imperishable" or incorruptible.
"it is raised in glory" or a glorified body
"it is raised in power" I.E. resurrection power
"it is raised a spiritual body"
"it is a heavenly body"
"it is an immortal body"

We can also deduce from the text regarding Jesus own resurrection body what our might be like as well, however, it can be difficult to determine if these things are due to His resurrection or His deity.

His voice was recognizable (Joh 20:16).
His physical features were recognizable, even if not immediately (John 20:26-29, John 21:7).
His body was of flesh and bone, able to be handled. (John 20:17, John 20:27).
He was able to disappear (Luk 24:31) and go through walls (John 20:19).
He was able to eat food (Luk 24:41-43).

This transformation / resurrection represents the final victory over death.

The Rapture Viewpoints

There are three primary views of when the Rapture will occur in relation to the Tribulation period.

Some claim the Rapture will occur at the end of the Tribulation (Post-Trib), some before the "Day of the Lord / Wrath of God" is poured out (Pre-Wrath) and some before the Tribulation begins (Pre-Trib).

This study will look into all three of these views. In the interest of full disclosure, this writer leans towards the Pre-Trib view. It is my understanding that while the Bible does explicitly state that there will be a Rapture, it does not explicitly reveal when the Rapture event will occur. However, the timing can be arrived at through deduction. If timing view details contradict what scripture reveals about the event, a viewpoint can be determined to be contradictory and eliminated.

An example would be the Rapture detail that Jesus comes from heaven Himself for the Rapture, but in the passage that Post-Trib uses to set the time, Jesus sends His angels for the Rapture. These cannot both be true. The actual Rapture passage in 1Th 4:16 states "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command". The so called Post-Trib Rapture timing verse in Mat 24:31 says "And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call". In this case, we can deduce that Mat 24:31 cannot be a Rapture verse since Jesus coming Himself contradicts with Jesus sending His angels.

There are a considerable number of these sorts of clues about the correct timing viewpoint, which we shall see further down in this article.

The Pre-Trib Rapture Defined

Church Taken To Heaven

In one of the primary Pre-Trib passages, John reveals that Jesus, following His resurrection, will go to His Father's house to prepare a place for us. This is reminiscent of the Jewish betrothal in which the groom having been betrothed to his bride returns to his father's house to prepare a room for her. When the room is ready, the groom will go and collect the bride and bring her to his fathers house so that the bride can be where the groom is.

In this passage, with the bride having been betrothed to Jesus, Jesus going to His Father's house to prepare a place for His bride. When it is time, He will return for the bride and take her to the place that has been prepared for her in the Father's house. The Father's house is in heaven, in the New Jerusalem.

Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,

Rev 21:9-11 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." (10) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. (11) It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

Church Taken Before AntiChrist Revealed

Those who see a Pre-Trib Rapture event in scripture see that Rapture taking place some time before the anti-Christ is revealed. 2Th 2:6-8 indicates that the antiChrist is revealed to the people of earth only after that which is holding him back is removed. Most Pre-Trib Dispensational scholars see that the "he" who is holding the antiChrist back is the Holy Spirit indwelt bride being the salt and light of the world.

2Th 2:6-8 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. (7) For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. (8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

Since the indwelt bride is to be "taken out of the way" before the antiChrist can be revealed, then the bride is therefore removed before the Tribulation begins, since it is the antiChrist that starts the Tribulation.

Dan 9:27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."

The "he" that confirms the covenant is the same individual that sets up the Abomination of Desolation, showing that the "he" is indeed the antiChrist. This needs to be established since some holding other viewpoints believe that the "he" is Jesus and that He is confirming the New Covenant.

Dan 11:31 "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

The Pre-Wrath Rapture Defined

Those who see a Pre-Wrath Tribulation Rapture event in scripture see that Rapture taking place sometime around 3/4 or more of the way into the seven year Tribulation period. The Pre-Wrath view separates the Tribulation period into 2 halves, with the second half having 2 parts.

The First Half of the 7th Seven

The first half of the Tribulation period is the Beginning of Sorrows or the Beginning of Birth Pangs (Mat 24:7-14). It is also defined as "man's wrath". The bride is present on earth during this time frame.

Mat 24:7-14 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (8) All these are the beginning of birth pains. (9) "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. (10) At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, (11) and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. (12) Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, (13) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (14) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The bride will be present for the first four seal judgments during this time as well.

Rev 6:1-8 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" (2) I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. (3) When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" (4) Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword. (5) When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. (6) Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "Two pounds of wheat for a day's wages, and six pounds of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!" (7) When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" (8) I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

The Second Half of the 7th Seven

The second half of the Tribulation period consists of two parts, divided by Rev 6:16-17.

Rev 6:16-17 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! (17) For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?"

These two parts of the second half of the Tribulation are distinguished as "Satan's Wrath" and "God's Wrath". Satan's wrath is also known as "The Great Tribulation", and God's Wrath is also known as "The Day of the Lord". The bride will experience Satan's Wrath, but will not experience God's Wrath.

Part 1 of The Second Half of the Tribulation

This section, consisting of only "Satan's Wrath" will begin with the desecration of the temple with the Abomination of Desolation and the setting up of an image of the anti-Christ. Pre-Wrath holds that the restrainer is Michael the Archangel.

Mat 24:15 "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand--

2Th 2:3-4 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. (4) He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Rev 13:15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.

In part 1 of the second half of the Tribulation period, the bride continues into Satan's wrath. The following passage from the Olivet Discourse describes Satan's wrath.

Mat 24:15-26 "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- (16) then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (17) Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. (18) Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. (19) How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! (20) Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. (21) For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. (22) "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. (23) At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. (24) For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (25) See, I have told you ahead of time. (26) "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the wilderness,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.

Satan's wrath is unleashed on the whole earth, including the bride. Satan's wrath starts with the Abomination of Desolation being set up in the temple and continues through the 6th seal.

Rev 6:12-17 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, (13) and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. (14) The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. (15) Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. (16) They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! (17) For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?"

The 6th seal is a sign of terror for the ungodly, but for the bride, it is a signal to "lift their heads, for their redemption draws nigh".

Luk 21:27-28 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (28) When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Part 2 of The Second Half of the Tribulation

The difference in the two parts of the second half is that we now move from Satan's wrath to God's wrath, as delineated in Rev 6:16-17.

While the bride falls under under Satan's wrath, it is not destined for God's wrath, thus, the bride is removed during the timeframe of the opening of the seventh seal.

Rev 8:1-6 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (2) And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. (3) Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. (4) The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand. (5) Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. (6) Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

Joel indicates that prior to God's wrath being unleashed, there will be celestial events taking place. Joel says:

Joel 2:30-31 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. (31) The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

And then after the celestial events, but before the God's wrath starts, the sign of the Son of Man appears, and the Son of Man, Jesus, sends His angels to gather His elect in the Rapture. Pre-Wrath, like Post-Trib sees Mat 24:31 as a Rapture passage, while Pre-Trib sees it as a gathering of Israel to the land passage.

Mat 24:29-31 "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' (30) "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. (31) And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

John sees an innumerable multitude that have come out of Satan's wrath, or "The Great Tribulation" in the Rapture.

Rev 7:9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Rev 7:13-14 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?" (14) I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Following the gathering of the elect, God's wrath begins, on the same day with the opening of the 7th seal of the Revelation which brings about the 7 Trumpet and 7 Bowl judgments. This is the period known as "The Day of the Lord".

Source - https://www.alankurschner.com/2013/02/19/what-is-prewrath/

Source - https://www.alankurschner.com/2015/05/20/archangel-michael-the-restrainer-removed-2-thessalonians-26-7-part-2-of-2-ep-35/

The Post-Tribulation Rapture Defined

Those who see a Post-Trib Rapture event in scripture see that Rapture taking place after the second coming at the end of the Tribulation period. The primary passage of scripture used to support the Post-Trib position is Mat 24:29-31.

Post-Trib followers contend that Mat 24:31 is speaking of all the end of the age resurrections of OT and NT saints (Dan 12:2, Rev 20:4-5) including the Rapture since it occurs following the second coming.

Post-Trib theory then ties together the Mat 24:29-31 passage with 2Th 2:1-4 on the basis of a common meaning in these two phrases, "they will gather his elect from the four winds" and "coming of the Lord and our being gathered to him".

2Th 2:1-4 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, (2) not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us--whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter--asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. (3) Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. (4) He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Having conflated these two passages Mat 24:29-31 is used to establish 2Th 2:1-4 as taking place after the Son of Man appears.

Summary

All Views

At risk of being overly reductionist, a summary of passages that determine the various timing of the Rapture will be brought up. Those who hold to one of these three views of the timing of the Rapture generally agree that the 1Th 4:13-18 and 1Co 15:50-58 passages given by Paul are Rapture passages, with the understanding that these two passages do not indicate the timing in which the Rapture is fulfilled.

Pre-Trib View

The Pre-Trib Rapture includes the addition of John 14:2-3 and 2Th 2:7-8 which distinguish between Pre-Trib and the Post-Trib Rapture. The text indicates in John 14:2-3 that Jesus will take us to heaven (New Jerusalem) for blessings, whereas in the Post-Trib Rapture scenario Jesus takes us to earth for the judgment. 2Th 2:7-8 gives us the timing of the Rapture as before the anti-Christ is revealed by the departure of the "restrainer", who is the indwelt bride.

Pre-Wrath View

The Pre-Wrath Rapture includes the addition of Rev 6:17 to provide a demarcation point between the Wrath of Satan which all must endure and the Wrath of God which only unbelievers must endure. The Rapture in this view occurs at the sounding of the 7th Trumpet of the Revelation. Pre-Wrath agrees with Post-Trib that Mat 24:31 is a Rapture passage. The "restrainer" is Michael the Archangel.

Post-Trib View

The Post-Trib Rapture stands on the addition of Mat 24:29-31 to determine that the Rapture occurs following the second coming of Jesus. Who the "restrainer" is does not seem to be agreed upon by proponents of this view.

Problems With the Various Rapture Timing Views

In the following section differing passages of scripture regarding the Rapture timing views will be contrasted.

The Lord Meets Us vs. the Angels Gather Us

The "Lord Himself" seems to delight in coming for and meeting His bride Himself for the Rapture as 1Th 4:16 indicates. This is contrasted with other gatherings not involving the bride in which Jesus sends His angels instead of going Himself.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

There are a number of other events where either saints or the wicked are gathered up and in those cases the Lord will "send His angels" to do the work.

Mat 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Mat 13:41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

Mat 13:49-50 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous (50) and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This is a problem for the Post-Trib view which uses Mat 24:31 as a Rapture passage. That passage presents a contradiction between the Lord Himself coming to meet the bride versus the Lord sending angels to gather the bride. The source of the problem is that the Mat 24:31 passage is not about the Rapture, but the gathering of the people of Israel into their land in preparation for the Messianic Kingdom.

Matt 24:31 is a Quote From Isaiah Regarding the Restoration of Israel

Jesus, in Mat 24:31 is quoting from Isaiah. The passage is speaking of the regathering of the Jewish nation to the land promised them in the Abrahamic Covenant. This restoration of Israel is prophesied to take place at or near the end of the Tribulation period as they finally come to understand that they crucified their Messiah and mourn that transgression. Following the Tribulation, Israel will be gathered to their land in preparation for the Messianic Kingdom at the second coming of Christ. It is a quote from Isa 27:12-13.

Isa 27:12-13 In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, Israel, will be gathered up one by one. (13) And in that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.

Compare this with Mat 24:31 as both passages speak of the regathering of Israel from the nations and the sounding of a great trumpet. The trumpet in Mat 24:31 and Isa 27:12-13 is the same trumpet.

Mat 24:31 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.

The people of Israel would have been very familiar with the Old Testament prophecies relating to the gathering of Israel to their land. Passages in the Hebrew scriptures speaking of Israel's return to the land are spread throughout the scriptures and are a major topic. Mat 24:31 speaks of the same event in the same language and directly corresponds to them, as the following passages show. Mat 24:31 is not a Rapture passage, it is referring to the restoration of Israel at the second coming.

The following is a sampling from the Hebrew Scriptures dealing with Israel's restoration to their land.

Deu 30:1-5 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, (2) And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; (3) That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. (4) If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: (5) And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.

Isa 43:5-7 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. (6) I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-- (7) everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

Jer 23:3-4 "I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. (4) I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.

Jer 31:7-8 This is what the LORD says: "Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, 'LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.' (8) See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return.

Eze 11:14-18 The word of the LORD came to me: (15) "Son of man, the people of Jerusalem have said of your fellow exiles and all the other Israelites, 'They are far away from the LORD; this land was given to us as our possession.' (16) "Therefore say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.' (17) "Therefore say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.' (18) "They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols.

Eze 36:24-28 "'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. (25) I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. (26) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (28) Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Hos 3:4-5 For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. (5) Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.

Amos 9:14-15 and I will bring my people Israel back from exile. "They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. (15) I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the LORD your God.

Zep 3:18-20 "I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you. (19) At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame. (20) At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says the LORD.

Zec 10:8-12 I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before. (9) Though I scatter them among the peoples, yet in distant lands they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will return. (10) I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not be room enough for them. (11) They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria's pride will be brought down and Egypt's scepter will pass away. (12) I will strengthen them in the LORD and in his name they will live securely," declares the LORD.

Mar 13:24-27 "But in those days, following that distress, "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; (25) the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' (26) "At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. (27) And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

The context of Mat 24:31 is the restoration of Israel, the regathering to their land. Forcing the context of Mat 24:31 into a Rapture context is a misuse of the passage to support a Post-Trib viewpoint.

Jesus is on Earth for the Resurrections and Heaven for Rapture

Ezekiel reveals that during the Tribulation Jesus will bring the Jews into Israel and meet them face to face as He executes judgment on them. Jesus will have returned in glory and power, and will be on earth at this point.

Eze 20:33-35 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. (34) I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered--with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. (35) I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you.

This takes place following Jesus's return to earth and the establishment of His reign on earth.

Rev 11:15-17 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever." (16) And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, (17) saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.

Rev 17:12-14 shows that the the war between "the ten kings" along with "the beast", who are physical earthly beings, wage war against the Lamb. The 10 kings and the beast are on earth, and the campaign of Armageddon takes place on earth. Jesus is the victor in this war, and wins the victory while He is present on earth after He had assumed His reign.

Rev 17:12-14 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. (13) They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. (14) They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."

Zechariah sees a day when the Lord will fight the nations as His feet stand on the Mount of Olives. This indicates that the battles of Armageddon are ongoing as Jesus's feet stand on earth.

Zec 14:1-4 A day of the LORD is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. (2) I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. (3) Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. (4) On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.

Before the resurrections for the Sheep and Goat judgment, Jesus sits on His glorious throne. Only then does the gathering of the nations and judgments take place.

Mat 25:31-32 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. (32) All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

The scripture to Post-Trib contradiction in this section is between the Rapture passage and the resurrection passages that deal with where Jesus comes from for the Rapture. The passages discussed so far show that Jesus is on earth before the Tribulation is concluded, and that the resurrections take place afterwards. However, the passages that speak of the Rapture claims that Jesus "Himself will come down from heaven".

The conflict is if Jesus has already been on earth for a significant period of time when the gathering occurs, He can't be said to come from heaven for the Rapture since He is already here on earth. The Rapture has to occur before Jesus returns to earth.

1Th 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Either Jesus comes from the earth, or He comes from heaven for the gathering. He can't be in both places, and the Rapture passages state He comes down from heaven.

Raptured Saints go to Heaven, Resurrected Saints go to Earth

In the passage in John 14:2-3, Jesus states that He is going to come to take the bride to be "where He is" in His Father's house following His Ascension. He is currently in heaven, and will be there at the time He comes for the bride in the Rapture. When He collects the bride, he will take her to heaven, where they will be until they return to earth later in the second coming.

If the Rapture and resurrections occur at the conclusion of the Tribulation period, then Jesus will be returning with the saints to earth in His second coming, not to heaven. If Jesus were to come for His bride at the conclusion of the Tribulation, then He would be taking her to earth as the judgment of the nations comes next.

This is a problem for the Post-Trib view as Jesus in John's gospel reports that when Jesus meets the bride, He takes them to heaven, where the Father's house is. Post-Trib has Jesus taking the bride to earth.

Rapture Before Trib is to Blessing, Rapture After Trib is to Judgment

If the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation period (Pre-Trib), then the destination is the Father's house. While there for 7 years the saints will go through the Bema Judgment (1Co 3:11-15) and the wedding of the Lamb and the bride (Rev 19:6-9). The purpose of the Bema Judgment is the distribution of rewards. For this reason we "wait for the blessed hope".

Tit 2:13 We wait for the blessed hope and appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua.

If the Rapture occurs following the Tribulation period (Post-Trib), then the destination of the saints is the judgment of the Sheep and Goats (Mat 25:31-32). This leaves no time for the Bema Judgment and the wedding of the Lamb and the bride. The purpose of the Sheep and Goat judgment is to determine who will remain for the Messianic Kingdom and who will be removed to Sheol. The basis for this judgment is belief in the gospel of Jesus and the treatment meted out to Israel during their time of great persecution during the Tribulation (Mat 25:35-40).

Rapture is a Day of Blessing vs. a Day of Terror

If as Post-Trib followers believe, the Rapture and the Second Coming are a single event, then there is a contradiction in many passages where some say it is a joyous occasion, and some say it is a day of terror.

The following are two of the many passages describing the Day of the Lord. See also: (Jer 30:4-8, Eze 7:19, Eze 30:3, Joel 1:15, Joel 2:1-2, Joel 2:11, Joel 3:14-16, Zep 1:14-15, Oba 1:15, Zep 2:1-3, Mal 4:5)

Isa 13:6-9 Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. (7) Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear. (8) Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. (9) See, the day of the LORD is coming --a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger-- to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.

Amos 5:18-20 Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light. (19) It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. (20) Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light-- pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?

The following are two verses that describe the joy that is ours, indicating that we will not see the judgments.

Tit 2:12-13 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (13) while we wait for the blessed hope--the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

1Th 4:17-18 (17) After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (18) Therefore encourage one another with these words.

This is a problem for Post-Trib and Pre-Wrath who both see us going through some portion of the judgments of the Tribulation. Titus indicates that we are going to be blessed, not judged.

Jesus Comes Alone in the Rapture, With Saints at Second Coming

There are a number of passages that speak of the saints coming to earth at the second coming WITH the Lord. In order for these saints to come with Jesus in the second coming, they would have had to previously been caught up to be with Jesus in heaven. The Pre-Trib Rapture would accommodate this scenario. The Post-Trib scenario cannot accommodate this.

Zec 14:5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

1Th 3:13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

1Th 4:14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

Rev 17:14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."

Jud 1:14-15 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones (15) to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (cf. 1Co 6:2-3).

Rev 19:14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

This is a problem for the Post-Trib view, as the presence of the saints with Jesus at the time he returns is a good indicator that the Rapture occurred at an earlier time, and therefore the "coming of the Lord" and the "Rapture" are two different events.

The Rev 19 Sequence of Rapture, Wedding, then Second Coming

This evidence like the previous one shows that the saints come back WITH Jesus at the second coming. In order for the saints to come WITH Jesus, there had to have been a previous event in which they went to be with Him.

Rev 19:7-14 shows an unbroken sequence of events that starts with a Pre-Trib Rapture of the saints followed by the Bema Judgment, wedding, second coming with the previously Raptured saints.

The wedding of the Lamb has arrived, and the bride has made herself ready:

Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

The bride having made herself ready is adorned with "fine linen" which is the righteous deeds of the saints, a reference to the Bema Judgment of righteous acts having already taken place:

Rev 19:8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)

Followed by the second coming of Jesus in power and glory:

Rev 19:11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.

With the saints previously mentioned:

Rev 19:14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

This sequence of events shows that the Rapture must take place before the Bema Judgment, the Bema Judgment before the wedding, and the wedding before they can appear with Christ in His second coming at the conclusion of the Tribulation.

Caught Up (harpazo), Resurrection (anastasis) and Gathering (episunago)

The rapture, resurrection and gathering events are three different events, each with it's own terms to define them. If these were the same event which involved a resurrection of the dead and translation of the living they would have all been referred to as the "harpazo". But each has it's own unique term.

Harpazo - Translated from the Latin "rapturo", and English "rapture", meaning to catch away.

1Th 4:16-17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

This says that the living will be caught up to heaven (John 14:2-3). As living people they are not resurrected nor are they living people who are gathered to another location on earth. The Rapture removes them to where Jesus is, not to earth.

Strongs G726 - From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

Uses - Act 8:39, 2Co 12:2, 2Co 12:4, 1Th 4:17, Rev 12:5

Harpazo is used in the context of Jesus coming Himself to translate the living and resurrect the dead.

Anastasis - Translated "resurrection", meaning to be raised from the dead.

Rev 20:5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.

This says people are raised from the dead. There is no mention of the living being translated. If those who were alive where being translated in this event, "harpazo" would have been used.

Strongs G386 - From G450; a standing up again, that is, (literally) a resurrection from death (individual, general or by implication (its author)), or (figuratively) a (moral) recovery (of spiritual truth): - raised to life again, resurrection, rise from the dead, that should rise, rising again.

Uses - Mat 22:23, Mat 22:28, Mat 22:30-31 (2), Mar 12:18, Mar 12:23, Luk 14:14, Luk 20:27, Luk 20:33, Luk 20:35-36 (2), Joh 5:29 (2), Joh 11:24-25 (2), Act 1:22, Act 2:31, Act 4:2, Act 4:33, Act 17:18, Act 17:32, Act 23:6, Act 23:8, Act 24:15, Act 24:21, Rom 6:4-5 (2), 1Co 15:12-13 (2), 1Co 15:21, 1Co 15:42, Phil 3:10, 2Ti 2:18, Heb 6:2, Heb 11:35, 1Pe 1:3, 1Pe 3:21, Rev 20:5-6

Anastasis in the Rapture passages is only used in the context of Jesus sending angels to resurrect the dead, never to translate the living.

Episunagō - Translated "gathering", meaning to collect into the same place.

Mat 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Strongs G1996 - From G1909 and G4863; to collect upon the same place: - gather (together).

Uses - Mat 23:37, Mat 24:31, Mar 1:33, Mar 13:27, Luk 12:1, Luk 13:34

Episunago does not specify either the living or the dead, it just refers to a gathering of people, and is not a Rapture nor a Resurrection passage. This passage is a quote from Isa 27:12-13 and speaks of the regathering of the Jewish people to their land.

The use of Mat 24:31 as a Rapture passage conflicts with the use of the word "episunago" rather than "harpazo" to describe the "gathering" event. If Jesus had intended to speak of a resurrection of the dead and translation of the living He would have used "harpazo".

Matt 24:31 is an "episunago" (Gathering), not a "harpazo" (Catching up)

As the above study of the Greek words translated "Gathering" and "Caught Up" shows, the terms used for a gathering in Mat 24:31 and being caught up 1Th 4:17 reveal differing events based on differing words to describe those events.

Uses for the word "episunago" translated as "gathering" - Mat 23:37, Mat 24:31, Mar 1:33, Mar 13:27, Luk 12:1, Luk 13:34.

Mat 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

Mat 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Mar 1:33 The whole town gathered at the door,

Luk 12:1 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Luk 13:34 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

Uses for the word "harpazo" translated as "caught up" - Act 8:39, 2Co 12:2, 2Co 12:4, 1Th 4:17, Rev 12:5.

Act 8:39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

2Co 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.

2Co 12:4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.

1Th 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Rev 12:5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who "will rule all the nations with an iron scepter." And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.

The uses for gathering and caught up are such that the difference in significant. Matthew and Paul were referring to two different types of events. The harpazo was in the context of a resurrection and translation, while the gathering was simply the moving of people from once place to another common place.

Only 1Th_4:17 Speaks of a Harpazo (Translation of the Living)

Passages describing the Rapture (1Th 4:17) and the resurrections surrounding the second coming (Dan 12:1-2, Rev 20:4-5), use different Greek and Hebrew words to describe these events. In the case of the resurrections, they only reference those who are dead, as being made alive or raising from the dead. None of these words used in the text indicates that the living are translated. It seems that if the writers wanted us to know that they were talking about both, raising from the dead and translation of the living, then they would have been consistent with their use of words to describe these events.

The fact that they use differing words with differing meanings would be consistent with their intent if they were indeed referring to differing events.

Rapture uses "harpazo", which in the word used for the event in which both the living and the dead arise.

Resurrection in Rev 20:4-5 is "zao", which means to live, implying to be raised from the dead.

The Hebrew word in Dan 12:2 speaking of multitudes who sleep who will awake is "quts", which has the same basic meaning as the Greek "zao", meaning to live or to awaken.

Dan 12:1-2 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered. (2) Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

Rev 20:4-5 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (5) (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.

The Rapture passage in 1Th 4:17 is the only passage that deals with the raising of the the dead AND the translation of the living through explicit language.

1Th 4:16-17 (16) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

The 70th Seven (The Tribulation) is a Jewish Event

The 70 Sevens prophecy was given to Daniel by Gabriel to correct Daniel's understanding of coming of the Messianic Kingdom. Daniel began to pray in the 67th year of the captivity in Babylon believing that in three years they would return to their land in Israel and the Messiah would come and establish the kingdom.

Gabriel informed Daniel that Israel would return to their land, but rather than experience the coming kingdom, they would experience a probationary period of an additional 490 years due to their hard heartedness.

Lev 26:27-28 "'If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, (28) then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over.

The probation period of seven times 70 is strictly applicable to Israel as it is addressed to "Daniel's people".

Dan 9:24 "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

69 sevens were completed when the "anointed one will be put to death" prophecy was fulfilled at the death of Jesus on the cross.

Dan 9:26 After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.

The final seven will not start until after the anti-Christ is revealed, and "confirms a covenant with the many for one seven.

As the final seven is a part of the entire 70 sevens of Israel's probation, the final seven is not held to the brides account. The final 7 sevens is only held to Israel's account, and thus the bride is removed from the judgments Israel will undergo.

Jesus in the Olivet Discourse in Mat 24:15 ties the 7 year Tribulation period to Daniel's 70th seven when He says that the Abomination of Desolation that will occur at the end of the age is the same Abomination that Gabriel spoke to Daniel.

Mat 24:15-21 "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- "

Jeremiah describes the nature of the Tribulation as "Jacob's" trouble.

Jer 30:3-10 The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,' says the LORD." (4) These are the words the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah: (5) "This is what the LORD says: "'Cries of fear are heard-- terror, not peace. (6) Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor, every face turned deathly pale? (7) How awful that day will be! No other will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it. (8) "'In that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. (9) Instead, they will serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. (10) "'So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel,' declares the LORD. 'I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.

This "trouble" belongs to Israel, as it is corrective to that nation. It is a part of the 490 year probation period decreed for Israel's continued hard heartedness following the 70 year Babylonian Captivity. The nature of the entire period of 490 years is Jewish, a punishment for their wickedness and bad attitudes.

One Taken and the One Left, A Gathering, Not the Rapture

Folks from all the views have varying understandings of what Mat 24:36-41 is talking about, who is involved and when it occurs.

Mat 24:36-41 "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (37) As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (38) For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; (39) and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (40) Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. (41) Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

Post-Trib adherents see this event occurring at the conclusion of the Tribulation and understand it to be talking about the Rapture which they conflate with and as the "First Resurrection" of Rev 20:4-5 and those awakening from the dust in Dan 12:2.

Some Pre-Trib believers understand this to be speaking of the Rapture prior to the Tribulation due to it's similarity to Rapture language that speaks of the righteous being removed and the unrighteous remaining on earth for the Tribulation. The issue with this view is that according to the analogy of Noah's day, it was the wicked who were removed and the righteous who remained on earth, so in that case the analogy doesn't work.

Other Pre-Trib believers, including myself see this passage as detailing the Sheep and Goat judgment. In the Sheep and Goat judgment, the wicked are told to depart for they are cursed and the righteous remain for the kingdom as is consistent with the analogy.

Mat 25:31-34 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. (32) All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (33) He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. (34) "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

Mat 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Rapture Event is Quiet, Resurrection Event is in Glory and Power

There seems to be a significant differences in the nature of the events of Jesus's second coming. On one hand, His appearing seems like a global event that no one will be able to miss, but on the other it appears to be a quiet event that not everyone will see happen.

If it happens in the "twinkling of the eye", then there will be people all over the earth who will not learn that such an event has occurred until some time after it is done.

1Co 15:51-52 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- (52) in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

On the other hand, scripture tells us that the second coming will be a lengthy event taking place over time in which "every eye will see Him".

Rev 1:7 "Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen.

Rev 19:11-16 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. (12) His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. (13) He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. (14) The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. (16) On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

This is a problem for Post-Trib, as the global appearance of Jesus accompanied by armies of heaven, cosmic events and fanfare stands in stark contrast to the Rapture which will be commenced and completed in the "twinkling of an eye". While people will see the resulting disappearance of people from earth and the aftermath, it is unlikely that they will see the event of His coming itself.

Paul's Rapture Trumpet vs. John's Revelation Trumpet

While the trumpets mentioned in 1Th 4:16 and 1Co 15:52 are the same trumpet, the context of the trumpet of Rev 11:15 indicate that it is a completely different event. Paul writes about the Rapture while John writes about the release of judgments in the Tribulation.

Not only is the context of these trumpets different, but Paul would not have known about the Trumpet of the Revelation since John did not write about it until some 40 years after Paul wrote about the Rapture trumpets.

Paul wrote about these two trumpets with respect to the Rapture:

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

1Co 15:52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

John wrote about this trumpet 40 years later:

Rev 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever."

These are two different trumpets occurring at two different times. Post-Trib conflates all of these trumpets as the same event, which since John's trumpet occurs near the end of the Tribulation, then Paul's Rapture must also occur at the end of the Tribulation.

The net of this is that the trumpets of Paul cannot be conflated with the 7th Trumpet of the Revelation. Paul's and John's trumpets are each unique in purpose and context.

Paul's Rapture Trumpet and Matthew's Gathering of the Jews Trumpet

Matthew also mentions a "loud trumpet call" announcing the gathering of the Jews into their land in Mat 24:31. Post-Trib also conflates this trumpet with Paul's and John's described in the previous section. Since this trumpet also occurs at the end of the Tribulation at the time of the second coming, Post-Trib sees this trumpet as additional support for their Rapture timing view.

Mat 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

The trumpet mentioned in Mat 24:31 is different in context than that which either Paul or John writes. The Israelites sounded trumpets for various occasions, and this sounding is unique and different from both Paul's Rapture trumpet and John's Revelation Trumpet. Given that Jesus is actually quoting Isa 27:12-13 some 700 years prior to any revelation about the Rapture, this cannot be a trumpet related to a Rapture.

Post-Trib Confusion of "that day" with "the Rapture"

An argument has been raised concerning the identification of "that day" in 2Th 2:3. Some from the Post-Trib camp have indicated that "that day" is referring to the day the Rapture / First Resurrection takes place. If that is the meaning of the text, it would follow that the antiChrist will be revealed prior to the Rapture.

2Th 2:1-4 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, (2) not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us--whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter--asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. (3) Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. (4) He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

To paraphrase, those from the Post-Trib camp would say, "Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for [the Rapture] will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed,

The issue with this is the antecedent of "that day" is in vs. 2, and it states that that the "day of the Lord" will not come until....

In this case, the paraphrase would be "... whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter--asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. (3) Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come ...."

Paul's reference to "that day" is the Day of the Lord, not the Rapture.

Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail vs. AntiChrist Overcomes the Saints

When Jesus announced that He would build a church, He said that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church".

Mat 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

But in Rev 13:7, John describes the "Holy People" as being conquered.

Rev 13:7 It was given power to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

Jesus's and John's statements are at odds with each other if the Rapture is a Post-Trib scenario and the church is still present on earth during Tribulation period. Pre-Trib resolves this as the Rapture removes the church from the influence of the antiChrist, and those that are being conquered are those who became believers after the church was removed.

Imminence

Imminence means that there is nothing that needs to happen prophetically between now and the event of Christ's return for us. It could happen at any moment. From a scriptural point of view, the following passages will show the expectation and understanding of the disciples that Christ could return at any moment. If they understood from scripture or what Jesus had taught them that the Tribulation, or some part of it needed to happen first before Jesus came, then they would not have acted as if He could come at any moment. They would have been waiting for the Tribulation, or some other event to occur first.

For example, if the disciples understood that Jesus would come in the middle of the 7 years of the Day of the Lord, then the Rapture would always be at least 3 1/2 years in the future.

In this passage, it appears that Peter connected Jesus' saying "If I want Him to remain alive until I return", with the thought that he was not going to die. A rumor started to that effect. That people were buying into this shows that they did not believe there was anything that needed to happen scripturally before the return of Christ.

Joh 21:20-23 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") (21) When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" (22) Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." (23) Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"

In Rom 13:11-12, we see that "salvation is nearer now than when we first believed". Salvation in this context cannot be our born again salvation experience, since all hearing this were saved, but rather an eschatological salvation, a salvation in the future, being saved from the Tribulation. We must awaken from our sleep and be ready.

Rom 13:11-12 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (12) The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

James also shows the imminence of Christ's return when He is referred to as "standing at the door". We are to "be patient" like a farmer waiting for crops to bring their yield.

Jas 5:7-9 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. (8) You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. (9) Don't grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Paul understood that he would be a participate in the translation of the living, showing that He believed that the Rapture could occur at any time in his day. Note in this passage the number of times Paul identifies himself as one who would be taken up with the living. He mentions "those" who have fallen asleep, and "we" who are still alive and left will be caught up". Paul expected to be caught up.

1Th 4:13-18 (13) Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. (14) For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (15) According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (18) Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The Bible as a whole ends with an appeal to patience.

Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Conclusion

There is hard scriptural evidence for the fact of a "Rapture", a catching away of both, the dead and the living to heaven. This is explicitly stated. There is a considerable difference of opinion as to the timing of the Rapture, which is not explicitly stated. The differences in the various views can be catalogued and compared with the whole of scripture to determine which views consist of contradictions. This deductive comparison will give rise to a view that has the least contradictions, and is most likely the correct view. That was the goal of this article.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

The Rapture of the Bride

Introduction

The Term "Rapture"

The Participants in The Rapture

The Body of Christ

Who Are Those "In Christ"

Are Those on Earth After the Rapture "in Christ"?

Are The Friends of the Bridegroom Participants?

Conclusion

The Events of The Rapture

The Rapture Viewpoints

The Pre-Trib Rapture Defined

Church Taken To Heaven

Church Taken Before AntiChrist Revealed

The Pre-Wrath Rapture Defined

The First Half of the 7th Seven

The Second Half of the 7th Seven

The Post-Tribulation Rapture Defined

Summary

All Views

Pre-Trib View

Pre-Wrath View

Post-Trib View

Problems With the Various Rapture Timing Views

The Lord Meets Us vs. the Angels Gather Us

Matt 24:31 is a Quote From Isaiah Regarding the Restoration of Israel

Jesus is on Earth for the Resurrections and Heaven for Rapture

Raptured Saints go to Heaven, Resurrected Saints go to Earth

Rapture Before Trib is to Blessing, Rapture After Trib is to Judgment

Rapture is a Day of Blessing vs. a Day of Terror

Jesus Comes Alone in the Rapture, With Saints at Second Coming

The Rev 19 Sequence of Rapture, Wedding, then Second Coming

Caught Up (harpazo), Resurrection (anastasis) and Gathering (episunago)

Matt 24:31 is an "episunago" (Gathering), not a "harpazo" (Catching up)

Only 1Th_4:17 Speaks of a Harpazo (Translation of the Living)

The 70th Seven (The Tribulation) is a Jewish Event

One Taken and the One Left, A Gathering, Not the Rapture

Rapture Event is Quiet, Resurrection Event is in Glory and Power

Paul's Rapture Trumpet vs. John's Revelation Trumpet

Paul's Rapture Trumpet and Matthew's Gathering of the Jews Trumpet

Post-Trib Confusion of "that day" with "the Rapture"

Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail vs. AntiChrist Overcomes the Saints

Imminence

Conclusion

No comments:

Post a Comment