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The Rapture Of The Church
By Michael Stephen Brumlow

What is the rapture?   When is the rapture?   Who will participate in the rapture?

There are 3 arguments among Christians in the debate concerning the rapture of the church, Pre Trib - Mid Trib - Post Trib.

Pre Tribs believe the rapture of the church takes place before the 70th week of Daniel, which Christians refer to as the Great Tribulation.

Mid Tribs believe the rapture takes place 3 1/2 years after the beginning of the Great Tribulation at the 7th Trumpet.

Post Tribs believe there is no rapture that the church goes through the Great Tribulation and is gathered when Jesus comes to defeat the antiChrist.

Which Argument Is Correct?   What Does The Bible Say?

Jesus said in Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
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 tribulation of those days Jesus is talking about, IS NOT the 70th week of Daniel Christian refer to as the Great Tribulation.

The sign Jesus talks about in verse 29 and 30 takes place only one time in the Bible, at the 6th seal in Revelation 6:12-13,

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

This is confirmed in Joel 2:31 and Acts 2:20. The sun is blackened, the moon turns to blood and the stars fall from heaven.
Jesus said when you see this sign appear in heaven know that the time of His coming is near.

The tribulation of those days Jesus is talking about in Matthew 24:29 is the opening of the first 5 seals before the 6th Seal.
The 6th seal does not occur during the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation comes later after the 6th Seal.
When people read the word "tribulation" in the Bible they automatically think it is the 70th week of Daniel Christians refer to as the Great Tribulation.
It is not. Know the distinction.

This is only the 6th seal. We still have the opening of the 7th seal and the sounding of the 7 Trumpets to go.
The 6th seal is a SIGN that the coming of Jesus is near. We are going to break down the timeline from the 6th seal to the coming of Christ.

The 7th Trumpet.
Jesus says he sends His angels to gather the elect from the 4 winds of heaven and in verse 31 Jesus says it takes place at The Great Sound Of A Trumpet.
These are Christians who have died in Christ and are in heaven in the spirit waiting for the resurrection of the saints.
How do we know these are Christians in heaven in the spirit waiting for the resurrection?
Let's read verse 31 again. "and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
These are not saints who have been resurrected, or else why would they be gathered from the four winds of heaven?
When you die, if you are a faith believing Christian, your spirit goes to heaven to wait for the resurrection of the saints.
II Corinthians 5:8, We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

In I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and in I Corinthians 15:51-52, Paul gives a description of the rapture of the church, which is the resurrection of the saints.
Paul said this event takes place at the sound of The Last Trumpet.

I Corinthians 15:51-53, Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the Last Trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Jesus says it is a Great Trumpet and Paul says it is the Last Trumpet.

When is the Last Great Trumpet Jesus and Paul talks about?
The last trumpet is the 7th Trumpet of the 7th Seal. Revelation 11:15-19,  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Before the rapture of the church can occur, these things must first take place.
The opening of the 7 seals and the sounding of the first 6 trumpets must first take place before Jesus comes again at the 7th Trumpet.
The opening of the 7 seals in Revelation Chapter 5 is significant to the coming of Christ. Jesus the Lamb is worthy to lose the 7 seals and to open the book.
Jesus cannot come until the 7 seals have been loosed in order to open the book of time. Revelation chapter 5 is important to the coming of Christ.
Jesus will not come until all prophecy has been fulfilled and the 7 seals have been opened.

So, we have established that Jesus comes in the clouds to rapture His church at the 7th Trumpet of the 7th Seal.

Note: The 7 sealed book is not the book of life. Two separate books.
Read my book, The Bible Prophecy Timeline to understand the Mystery of God and the 7 sealed book of time.

The Fulfillment Of Prophecy Is Crucial To The Coming Of Jesus.
The 3rd Temple must be built to fulfill the prophecies of Daniel and of Jesus concerning the abomination of desolation and the covenant between the antiChrist and Israel for daily sacrifices in the 3rd Temple. These prophecies take place during the 70th week of Daniel.
Before the 3rd Temple is built the Jews will sacrifice a red heifer on the Mount of Olives. The red heifer sacrifice is a ceremony of purification.
All these things must first take place on God’s timeline before Jesus comes to rapture the church.
The rapture of the church is the resurrection of the saints. The hope of every faith believing Christian who has died in Christ these past 2,000 years.

The Jews are already now preparing for the red heifer sacrifice.

Quick Note: This is for my Post Trib friends who do not believe in the rapture.
The word rapture is indeed in the Bible. The New Testament was originally written in Koine Greek and then later translated into Latin.
In the original Greek text the word “harpazo” is used translated in Latin to the word is “rapio” or “rapturo” from which we get the word “rapture”, which in the English translation is “caught up”. We see this in our King James Bible in I Thessalonians 4:17, “caught up” together with them in the clouds.
So, the word rapture refers to being “caught up” which is indeed in your King James English translated Bible.
Besides, it is the event itself that is scriptural whether you call it the rapture, or rapturo, or harpazo, or the catching away, or caught up together.
Whichever word you prefer to use from any of the translations the fact is, Jesus is coming to get his church. The question is when?
That is just for my Post Trib friends.

The word Trib stands for “tribulation” as in the Great Tribulation, which Christians associate with the 70th week of Daniel.

The 70 Weeks Of Daniel.
In Daniel chapter 9:24-27, Daniel is given a vision of 70 weeks, which are divided into 3 parts. 62 weeks - 7 weeks - 1 week.

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The 62 weeks are 434 years from the Babylonian captivity to the birth of Jesus. The 62 weeks began when King Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and destroyed the first Temple, Solomon's Temple.

The 7 weeks are 49 years from the Babylonian captivity to the command going forth from King Cyrus that the Jews were to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. This would be the 2nd Temple.

The last week of Daniel referred to as the 70th week is 7 years reserved for the last days when the beast and the antiChrist will rule the world.

In II Thessalonians 2:3 we see that Jesus does not come until the falling away and the antiChrist is revealed.
II Thessalonians 2:1-4, Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

In Revelation 13 we see there are two Beasts. One with 7 heads, 10 horns and 7 crowns and in Revelation 13:1-8, the first beast is given great power and authority. Then in Revelation 13:11 we see another beast with two horns like a lamb. This is the antiChrist.

At the beginning of the 70th week the antiChrist makes a covenant with Israel, Daniel 9:27. He does not yet have world power until after he commits the abomination of desolation, which takes place Mid tribulation according to Daniel 9:27, after the two witnesses and after the 7th Trumpet, Revelation 11.
The antiChrist stands in the 3rd Temple and declares himself as God. This is the abomination of desolation, prophesied by Daniel and of Jesus.
The antiChrist will not be revealed until the 70th week of Daniel and not until the 3rd Temple is built.

Paul said before the antiChrist is revealed there is a great falling away. We see this happening all over the world.
II Timothy 33:1-9, This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:37, But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
This prophecy of Jesus and of Paul is now being fulfilled.

The 70 weeks of Daniel is in reference to the Temple.
This is key to understanding the timeline in the book of Revelation.

Let me say that again.
The 70 weeks of Daniel is in reference to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Temple. The Temple is key to the 70th week of Daniel.

At the beginning of the 62 weeks of Daniel the first Temple (Solomon’s Temple) is destroyed by king Nebuchadnezzar.
At the end of the 7 weeks of Daniel the Jews are returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, the 2nd Temple.
For 434 years the Jews offer daily sacrifices in the 2nd Temple until 70 AD when the Temple is destroyed by the Romans.
In Matthew 24 when Jesus is telling his disciples what will happen in the last days, he begins by prophesying that the 2nd Temple would be destroyed.
That prophecy was fulfilled 37 years later in 70 AD by the Romans making way to fulfill three important prophesies.
The first prophecy that the Jews would be scattered and then become a nation again.
The second prophecy is the building of the 3rd Temple in the last days.
The third prophecy is the abomination of desolation.

A Quick Note:
On the Old Testament timeline from the creation of Adam to the birth of Jesus. The timeline stops at the destruction of Solomon's Temple by king Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian captivity in 434 BC. The 62 weeks of Daniel is the first part of the 70 weeks of Daniel and is 434 years to the birth of Christ. That is amazing.

Here is something else amazing. The 7 weeks which is the second part of the 70 weeks of Daniel is 49 years and Daniel says in Daniel 9:25 from the command going forth to restore and rebuild Jerusalem to the king. We know from History that king Cyrus 49 years after the Babylonian captivity gave the command for the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall and the Temple and in the 50th year of Jubilee the first group of Jews were back in the land. It would take 20 years to finish construction on the 2nd Temple in the year 364 BC. That is a total of 70 years to fulfill the prophecy of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 25:9-11,.
From 364 BC to the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 AD by the Romans, is also 434 Years. That is amazing.
People, do you see how God is in control of time for His purpose. This proves that the word of God is true and that God wrote the Bible.
There is no man alive or has ever lived that could have wrote the Bible or is in control of history or of time.
Come back later to read the entire Old Testament Timeline.

One More Point. God allowed both the 1st and 2nd Temples to be destroyed because the Jews had rejected God.
The 1st Temple is destroyed because the Jews turned away from God to worship idols.
The 2nd Temple is destroyed because the Jews rejected Jesus, God's only begotten son.
The parable of the vineyard Jesus gives in Matthew 21:33-46 reflects this.
It is also note worthy to understand that the Jews have been without a Temple for over 2,000 years. Also, in that same time the gospel of Jesus has been taken to the world to fulfill the Great Commission. As the Jews were scattered around the world from nation to nation, so was the gospel.

The 70th week, or last week of Daniel is 7 years reserved for the last days.
At the beginning of the 70th week the antiChrist makes a covenant with Israel for daily sacrifices in the Temple for 7 years, Daniel 9:27.
So, what has to happen before this prophecy can be fulfilled? The 3rd Temple must be built.
Think about it. The antiChrist is only relevant during the 7 years of the 70th week of Daniel. So, how can the antiChrist make a covenant with Israel for daily sacrifices and commit the abomination of desolation if the 3rd Temple has not been built?
After 3 1/2 years the antiChrist breaks the covenant and stands in the Temple to declare himself as God.
This is the abomination of desolation spoken of and prophesied by Daniel and of Jesus.

Just A Quick Note: The antiChrist does not commit the abomination of desolation in the 3rd Temple, which takes place Mid Tribulation after the church has been raptured, II Thessalonians 2:7.

Let's read Daniel 9:27, And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years), and in the midst of the week (half way or 3 1/2 years) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The antiChrist makes a covenant with Israel for daily sacrifices in the Temple for 7 years and after 3 1/2 years he breaks the covenant.

Where in the book of Revelation do we see the 3rd Temple?
In Revelation 11:1 the 3rd Temple is built and measured by John.

Revelation 11:1 is the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel to fulfill the prophecy of Daniel and of Jesus concerning the covenant with Israel for daily sacrifices and the abomination of desolation.

An Important Point.
In Revelation chapter 11 we see TWO Temples, one in heaven and one on earth.
At the beginning of Revelation chapter 11 and BEFORE the 7th trumpet, we see John is given a reed and told to measure the Temple.
This is the 3rd Temple built in the last days on earth in Jerusalem to fulfill the prophecy of Daniel and of Jesus.
How do we know this is the Temple on earth in Jerusalem?
Because in Revelation 11:2 John is told not to measure the court.

Verse 2, But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

The Gentiles tread under foot the court of the Temple that John measures for 42 months which is 3 1/2 years. The first half of the 70th week of Daniel

During this time the testimony of the two witnesses begins after the 3rd Temple is built, Revelation 11:3-12.
After 3 1/2 years, the testimony of the two witnesses is finished and the two witnesses are killed.
Their bodies lie in the street for 3 days. God brings them back to life and they are called up into heaven.

So let's be clear.
3 1/2 years after the beginning of the Great Tribulation the 70th week of Daniel, the 2 witnesses are killed by the beast, brought back to life after 3 days and call up into heaven, Revelation 11:3-14. The antiChrist then breaks his covenant with Israel to stop the daily sacrifices in the 3rd Temple. The antiChrist commits the abomination of desolation.

Then the 7th trumpet sounds (mid tribulation), Revelation 11:15, and we see the the Temple of God in heaven is opened, Revelation 11:19.

Let's read again in Revelation 11:15-19 what happens at the 7th Trumpet.
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Did you see it in verse 18?
and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints
This is the resurrection of the saints. The saints and prophets receive their reward.

Now why do you suppose the Temple of God in heaven is opened after the sounding of the last trumpet, the 7th trumpet?
To receive the resurrected saints, Christ church and to make ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Remember this point of the two Temples in chapter 11.
It is very important to the rapture of the church.

All these events takes place 3 1/2 years after the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel.
Confirmed by Daniel 9:27, Revelation 11:3, Daniel 12:11

So Let's Recap The Timeline.
The antiChrist is revealed. The antiChrist is only relevant during the 7 years of the 70th week of Daniel.
The 3rd Temple is built, Revelation 11:1-2 and the Jews make a covenant with the antiChrist to begin daily sacrifices in the 3rd Temple for 7 years, Daniel 9:27.
In Revelation 11:3-14 the two witnesses give their testimony for 3 1/2 years. The first half of the 70th week.
The two witnesses are killed, brought back to life and called up into heaven.
The 7th Trumpet, the last Trumpet sounds, the resurrection of the saints.
The antiChrist breaks his covenant with Israel to stop the daily sacrifices and commits the abomination of desolation.
Then in Revelation 13:5 the beast CONTINUES for 3 1/2 more years.
That word continues in Revelation 13:5 is important to the timeline. The last 3 1/2 years of the 70th week.
That is 7 Years Total, which is the 70th week of Daniel.

The 7 years of the 70 weeks of Daniel is divided into two parts, 3 1/2 years each.

Daniel 12:11-12, And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

We just read what takes place in the first half or the first 3 1/2 years of the 70th week of Daniel.
In the second half or the last 3 1/2 years of the 70th week of Daniel the beast and the antiChrist makes war with the saints (left behind lukewarm Christians), Revelation 13:7. The mark of the beast is required to buy or sell, Revelation 13:16-18 and the 7 vials of God's wrath is poured out on the earth, Revelation 16.

Before we go into chapter 2, I want to make this very important point clear.
We are just getting started. We still have a long ways to go.
In the chapters ahead we are going to go over what happens during the second 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week.
We have already determined that Jesus comes at the last Trumpet, the 7th Trumpet of the 7th seal to rapture His church, which is the resurrection of the saints.
Why is the 7th Trumpet not when Jesus comes to defeat the anti Christ and set up His kingdom to rule for a thousand years?
Because the 7th Trumpet happens Mid Tribulation and we still have the mark of the beast and the 7 vials of God's wrath, which takes place in the second half or the last 3 1/2 years of the 70th week of Daniel (Great Tribulation), Revelation 13-18.
If the 7th Trumpet is when Jesus comes to defeat the antiChrist, then that's it. It's the end. It's all over.
After Jesus defeats the antiChrist the only thing that is left is for Jesus to set up His kingdom to rule for a thousand years.
The 7th Trumpet takes place Mid Tribulation in Revelation chapter 11. In Revelation Chapter 13:5 the beast and antiChrist continues for 3 1/2 more years, the mark of the beast is required and the 7 vials of God's wrath are poured out. This all happens AFTER the 7th Trumpet and after the rapture of the church.

One More Important Point Before We Go On.
Jesus NEVER said Christians would be spared tribulation. The tribulation of those days Jesus was talking about in Matthew 24:29-31, takes place BEFORE the 6th seal. What Jesus did say to the church of Philadelphia in Revelation 3:10 is they would be spared the hour of temptation.
What is the hour of temptation? The hour of temptation is the mark of the beast, which takes place in the second half or the last 3 1/2 years of the 70th week of Daniel and after the 7th Trumpet. The church was raptured in the fist 3 1/2 years (Mid Tribulation) of the 70th week and BEFORE the beast and antiChrist continues 3 1/2 years more in chapter 13:5.

We are going to talk more about all of this in the coming chapters.

Chapter 2, Jesus Is Coming.
In chapter 2 we are going to go even deeper into the rapture of the church.

God has given us signs to look for at the coming of Christ and they are listed in Matthew 24-25, Revelation, Acts, I and II Thessalonians, II Timothy, Joel, Daniel and Zechariah. In fact all 9 books confirm one another. There are other books of the Bible that refer to the last days, however these 9 books are specific in their prophecies.

One Quick Note.
The book of Revelation was left out of the first canon Bible because no one could understand it including Bible scholars at the time.
It wasn’t until later that the book of Revelation was included.

The early Christians did not understand the book of Revelation because it was not relevant to their time.
It is only relevant to those who will participate in the last days prophecy. As we get closer to Christ’s return we will know when the time of his coming is near because we are going to see all the prophecies of the last days fulfilled in our life time.

We are the witnesses to the coming of Christ. Read my book, The Bible Prophecy Timeline.

The book of Genesis is the beginning of God’s word and the book of Revelation completes it.
The number 7 in the Bible is the number of completion. The book of Revelation is filled with the number 7.
7 candlesticks, 7 churches, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 thunders, 7 angels with 7 vials and 7 years of Great Tribulation which is the 70th week of Daniel.

99% of Christians who will read this article will ignore it. That is just a scriptural and spiritual fact.
It is also a fulfillment of last days prophecy. Keep reading and you will understand why.
You May ignore it now but you won’t later.

Also at the end of this article I am going to include a warning from Jesus, so keep reading.

The reason people ignore prophecy, especially the book of Revelation is because they don’t understand it.
Also, because of one thing Jesus hated and that was Religious Traditions.
Religious traditions stems from the lack of knowledge or from the lack of understanding.
God said in Hosea 4:6, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
It is the same reason why the people of the Old Testament ignored and killed the prophets, Religious Traditions.

Jesus despised the Scribes and Pharisees for their religious traditions. Their traditions blinded them to the truth of the scriptures.
They were taught the scriptures from a child and were knowledgeable of what the scripture said but yet in their blindness they were unable to see Jesus for who he truly was because of their religious traditions. Jesus threatened their position of power.
Their knowledge of the scriptures was not to understand the truth of God's word but to gain power and recognition.
They studied and followed the scriptures not to know God but to be seen of men.
Just like a lot of religious Christians today. The religious people of Jesus day did not know God and God did not know them.

Paul said in Romans 10-11 that in the last days God will lift the veil of blindness from their eyes and the Jews will come to Christ and accept him as their Messiah.

People by nature reject the things they do not understand.
The majority of the world rejects Christ and salvation because they do not understand God’s word.
Those few people who accept Christ do so not because they completely understand God’s word but because of Faith and Hope.
God’s word is the hope of those who believe. Faith is the substance of hope, Hebrews 11:1.
People who reject Christ and God’s word have no hope because they have no faith.
They do not believe the Bible is God's word. You must first believe before you can have faith.
Romans 10:17, So, then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Jesus Is Coming. That is our hope by faith. If we die before Jesus comes again our hope is to be resurrected because we believe and we have faith in Jesus.

What The Scriptures Say.
Christians have been taught that Jesus is coming back someday and we will all go up to meet him in the air but is that really what the Bible teaches?
The things Christians believe concerning the rapture of the church is mostly based on religious tradition and what they have been told to believe.

How many times have you heard Christians say, "Jesus comes as a thief in the night"?
Yes that is scriptural and true but that is where Christians leave off because of their lack of understanding.
Partial truth is not truth.

Yes it is true, I Thessalonians 5:2 does say that Jesus comes as a thief in the night, however look at verses 4-6.

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Jesus comes as a thief in the night to the unsaved lost and to those who are not watching for his return.
He does not come as a thief in the night to the true church who is watching for his return. That is the true message.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:42-44,
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Jesus said to watch and be ready.

How many times have you heard Christians say, "no one knows when Jesus is coming except the Heavenly Father"?
Is that what Jesus or the Bible really says? Or, did Jesus actually say “no one knows the HOUR or DAY except the Father?
“HOUR” and “DAY” are key words.

What Jesus did say is that we would know when the time of his coming is near.
Then he gave the parable of the fig tree and said when you see these signs happening know that the coming of the son of man is near, EVEN AT THE DOORS.
Jesus said we would know when the time of his coming is near.

Jesus Gave Us Signs To Look For.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:29-30, Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Who was Jesus talking to?
He was talking to the relevant participants of the last days who would see him coming in the clouds.
He was talking to the people in the last days who would see the sun blackened, the moon turn to blood and the stars fall from heaven.
For over 2,000 years Christians have been watching for the sign of Matthew 24:29, Joel 2:30, Acts 2:20 and Revelation 6:12-17 but we are the ones who are going to see it happen. We are the ones who are going to know when the coming of Christ is near because Jesus told us so. Jesus was talking to us.
We are the relevant participants of the last days that are going to see Jesus coming in the clouds.

This significant sign Jesus said to look for takes place at the opening of the 6th seal, Revelation 6:12-17.
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, a, nd the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Prophecy is a warning from God. It also gives validity to the scriptures that the word of God is true.
Jesus fulfilled 356 prophecies of the Old Testament and proved without a doubt that He was God and His words are true.
The probability of one man fulfilling just 10 prophecies is astronomical.
To fulfill 356 prophecies is divine, Only God can do it.

There are 1,239 prophecies found in the Old Testament and 578 prophecies in the New Testament. A total of 1,817 prophecies found in 8,352 verses.
Prophecy reveals the power of God and the truth of his word. Jesus fulfilled every prophecy of the Old Testament in regards to his first coming and he will fulfill every prophecy of the New Testament with regards to his second and third coming.

Christians by tradition talk about the second coming of Christ but they never mention His third coming. From a lack of understanding they believe the second coming of Christ is just one event but it’s not. This is where Post Tribs get it wrong. These are two separate events.
At the second coming of Christ He comes in the clouds to rapture His church at the 7th Trumpet, Revelation 11:15-19.
At His third coming he comes in His glory to set up his kingdom to rule for a thousand years. Matthew 25:31-46, Zechariah 14, Revelation chapter 19.
This is after the 7th seal, 7 trumpets, 7 thunders, two witnesses, the abomination of desolation, the mark of the beast and the 7 vials of God's wrath and judgement.

Here is the distinction.
At the rapture of the church Jesus does NOT come with a sword.
Why would Jesus come with a sword to rapture His church, the bride of Christ?
At His third coming to defeat the antiChrist, he comes with a sword. Two distinct separate events.
I go much deeper into this in my book, The Bible Prophecy Timeline.

At Jesus’s second coming He comes in the clouds and the church is caught up to meet him in the air.
At the third coming of Jesus He comes as God and as king. The number 3 in the Bible is the number of divinity.
At His third coming He comes with the angels and His church clothed in white linen and this time He touches down on earth, Revelation 19:11-21.
Zechariah 14 says He descends on the Mount of Olives and splits the mountain into. He enters Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate and defeats the antiChrist with a single word.

So, how could the church come with Jesus in Revelation chapter 19 and Zechariah 14 if they were not already raptured in Revelation chapter 11?

Jesus himself prophesied of His second and third coming in Matthew chapters 24 and 25.
We are going to compare what Jesus said in Matthew 24-25 with what the apostle Paul said and what the apostle John saw and recorded.

All my life I have heard it said that Jesus could come today but that is not scriptural and nor is it true.
God has a specific timeline and there are certain prophecies that must first be fulfilled before Jesus comes again.

The first of these is the last days prophecy that Israel would become a nation again. There are many verses that confirms this but we will look at Ezekiel 37:21-22.
And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:

That took place in 1948 and began the end times clock ticking. Prophecy Fulfilled.
Jesus said this generation shall not pass away until all things be fulfilled.

Jesus also said in Matthew 24:14, And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
This prophecy of Jesus has been fulfilled by missionaries who have taken the gospel to every nation of the world in order to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus to go into all the world and preach the gospel in Matthew 28:18-20. Prophecy Fulfilled.

These two fulfilled prophecies has opened the door for the coming of Christ and we will see it happen in our lifetime.

Next is the opening of the 7 seals, which is yet to be fulfilled but is taking place even now.
Jesus comes to rapture the church at the 7th trumpet of the 7th seal in Revelation 11:15-19 to fulfill the prophecies of Jesus in Matthew 24:30-31 and of Paul in I Corinthians 15:51-54. All these prophecies must first be fulfilled before Jesus comes to rapture His church.

What Is The Rapture?
The second coming of Christ is the rapture of the church which is the resurrection of the saints, the dead in Christ.
So to be clear, the rapture is the resurrection of the saints.

Let me say that again.
The rapture is the resurrection of the saints. It is the hope of every believer since the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus into heaven.
For the last 2,000 years, every Christian who have died in Christ has this hope of salvation to be resurrected to meet Jesus in the air when he comes back for his church. The Bible says in II Corinthians 5:8 to be absent from the body is to be in the presence of the Lord.
Those Christians who have died in Christ are in heaven in the spirit Matthew 24:31 but will one day when Jesus comes be resurrected with a new incorruptible body.

Paul said in I Corinthians 15:51-55, Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

I Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Who will be raptured?
Very few Christians who are alive when Jesus comes will go up to meet Jesus and the resurrected saints in the air.
Many are called but few are chosen. It is because 99.999% of Christians today are lukewarm and Jesus said unless you repent I will remove your candlestick. Revelation 2:4-5. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Does that mean you can lose your salvation? NO.
That means if you are alive when Jesus comes and you are unrepentant of your lukewarm Christianity, Jesus will remove your candlestick to be a part of the raptured church. The theme of the book of Revelation to the church of the last days is TO REPENT and OVERCOME.
Revelation 2:4-5, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:16, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 3:12, Revelation 3:19, Revelation 9:20-21.
Jesus said in Revelation 3:5, He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

The 7 stick candlestick in Revelation 1 represents the church.
It is the church that goes up to meet Jesus in the air, which will mostly consist of the resurrected saints who are the dead in Christ, sanctified in death by their belief, faith and hope in Jesus. If you die before Jesus comes again and you are a faith believing Christian professing Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will be a part of the resurrected church, sanctified in death by your belief and faith in Jesus. Even if you die in Jesus one minute before the 7th Trumpet sounds, you will be resurrected. That will be a very short sleep.

The majority of faith believing Christians will die before Jesus comes to rapture the church. Revelation 6-9.
At the 5th and 6th seals and the during 6 trumpets of the 7th seal is when the majority of Christians will lose their life for their faith in Christ.
We are already seeing that happening all over the world today, even in the USA. So the chances of you participating in the rapture of the church are pretty good for that very reason. Only if you die in Christ to be resurrected.

Just recently a man in Wisconsin was arrested for reading his Bible on the street. How could this happen in America?
Last days prophecy being fulfilled. The beginning of what Jesus called the time of sorrows.

Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 4:13-18, But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
That verse right there assures you that if you die believing in faith that Jesus is the son of God and that he rose again on the third day and you have put your trust in him as your Lord and savior, you will be resurrected when Jesus comes to rapture His church.

When Christians talk about the rapture of the church, it is always about those who are alive when Jesus comes.
Now look at verses 15-18. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

So, who are those people whom Paul refers to as “we which are alive and remain” that will go up to meet Jesus in the air?
It may not be who you think it is. It is certainly not unrepentant lukewarm Christians who have affections for the things of this world.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:40-41, one is taken and one is left behind. Who is taken and who is left behind?
Jesus also said when you see these things happening look up for your redemption draws nigh. Who was Jesus talking to?
He was talking to the very few faith believing Christians in the last days who are not lukewarm but who live their lives solely for the purpose to serve Christ doing the Father’s will every single day. These are Christians who are in the mold of the church of Philadelphia.
These are Christians who are faithfully watching for Christ’s return and are living their lives accordingly.

The majority of today’s Christians are pharisee Christians who practice the religion of Christianity in their denominational church traditions but not the faith of Christianity. They attend church and go through the motions of Christianity but it is more about being social and having a good standing in the community. They are not really serious about their Christianity. They only practice Christianity to be seen as a good moral person. Most of these Christians will not repent and will fall victim to the delusion of the antiChrist in the “hour of temptation”. Revelation 13:7.

Then there are Christians who are faith believing Christians but are lukewarm in their faith with affection for the things of the world. They mind earthly things and have desires for worldly possessions. They totally ignore what Jesus said about laying up treasures on earth. Jesus said in Revelation 3:17 they are blind to their lukewarm Christianity. They truly do believe they are serving God in their religious acts of Christianity.
They spend more time building and maintaining a beautiful home then they do the things of God. Jesus said they are wretched poor and naked.
These are the Christians in Revelation 3:14-22, whom Jesus said are lukewarm and in Revelation 2:4-5 and in Revelation 3:19 to repent or else I will remove your candlestick. Some of these faith believing Christians will indeed repent and overcome their lukewarm Christianity but the majority of these Christians will not repent and are left behind to face the wrath of God’s judgement. Although, they will be redeemed and martyred for their faith and testimony during the Great Tribulation and for their refusal to accept the mark of the beast during the hour of temptation, Revelation 7:13-17, Revelation 13:7.

Just because you claim to be a Christian does not mean you will go up to meet Jesus in the air if you are alive when Jesus comes.
Jesus said to repent and overcome.
Note: Read my article on the 4 types of Christians on the "Articles Of Faith" page.

Christians will indeed go through the Great Tribulation but the church will not. Understand this distinction.

A huge majority of Christians will be killed during the opening of the 5th seal and before the rapture of the church takes place but they will be a part of the resurrection of the saints.

Revelation 6:9-11  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Let me stop right here for just a moment and make two key points.
In Jesus letter to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3, Jesus has a specific message and grievance to each of the 7 churches of Asia except for the church of Philadelphia. However, he was talking to the Christians of the last days who would be participants of the prophecies of Revelation 6-22 and his message to the church of the last days is the same as it was in John’s day, TO REPENT. The message of Revelation 2-3 applies to every individual Christian of the last days.

Also, here is a very important point.
Christ letter in Revelation 2-3 was to the 7 churches of Asia. At that time there were over 100 churches that had been established throughout the region.
Why wasn’t the church of Thessalonica included in Jesus letter to the churches? Or the church at Corinth, or the church at Colosea, or the church at Galatia or any of the other churches at that time? Why only the 7 churches of Asia?
The answer is found in Revelation 2:13, Revelation 9:11 and Revelation 12.
It is because Asia is the seat of Satan, the RED DRAGON who does battle with the saints of the last days who will fulfill the prophecies of the book of Revelation.
Have you ever noticed how China and much of Asia worships the red dragon. You see the red dragon displayed in all their parade celebrations.
Do you think that is just a coincidence? China has always throughout history worshiped the RED DRAGON.
If you know the history of China you will understand this. China is a main player in the last days prophecy as we are now seeing it being played out on the world stage.

The last days is the final battle between Satan and his seed against the church, which is the body of Christ and the seed of God, which are the saints.
Revelation chapter 12 introduces Satan as the RED DRAGON.
Chapter 12 is a pause between the opening of the 7 seals and the 7th trumpet in Revelation 6-11, to the beast and the antiChrist from Revelation 13-19.
Chapter 12 reaffirms the rapture of the church in chapter 11, that God has prepared a place of refuge that is out of the reach of Satan’s destructive power for those faithful Christians who serve Christ. The key to understanding Revelation 12 is the 3 1/2 years mentioned in verse 14.
A time, and times and a half time is 3 1/2 years.

In chapter 12 we see Satan and his followers are cast out of heaven by Michael the arch angel.
It is Satan that deceived and tempted Eve to disobey God that brought sin and death into the world.
Chapter 12 is a testament of what God told Satan the dragon in Genesis 3:15.
And I will put enmity (hostility) between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

It is Satan that gives power to the beast and to the antiChrist in Revelation 13:4 to continue for 3 1/2 years more.
In chapter 13 verse 4, the dragon and the beast are worshiped.
Revelation 13 is the beginning of the last 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation when the beast and antiChrist reaps havoc upon the world. This is when the wrath of God begins.
In the final battle between God and Satan Christ gets the victory in the end in chapter 19.

NOTE: Satan does not gain power until chapter 13 and AFTER the church has been raptured, or taken out in chapter 11.
However, look at Revelation 13:7, 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

We just saw in chapter 11 that the church was raptured at the sound of the 7th Trumpet. So, who are these saints in chapter 13?
These are lukewarm Christians who were left behind because of their unrepentance, Revelation 2:4-5. They are martyred for their refusal to accept the mark of the beast, Revelation 7:13-17. The beast makes war with them and overcomes them in the second half of the 70th week of Daniel.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:15-24 that when you see the abomination of desolation standing in the Temple to flee to the mountains (wilderness).
This takes place in the last 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation. A time, and times and a half time.
Who is Jesus talking to? He is not talking to the raptured church and He is certainly not talking to unbelievers.
Jesus is talking to left behind believers, unrepentant lukewarm Christian. He tells them to lee to the mountain where God has prepared a place of refuge. Only to the elect, believers.

Chapter 12 is also a parallel representation of when Jesus was born and king Herod tried to have baby Jesus killed.
God appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary and the baby Jesus and to flee into Egypt.
Herod of course represented the antiChrist by the power of Satan.
Joseph took his family and fled to Egypt out of the reach of king Herod and Satan.

In these last days we are going to see the power of Satan manifested.
Not just with the beast and the antiChrist but the power of Satan is everywhere with a multitude of followers, servants and evil doers.
You see them in our own government and you know who they are.
They are the ones who call the truth a lie and a lie the truth.
This is the fulfillment of Prophecy spoken of by Paul in II Timothy 3.

Chapter 3. Let's Go Deeper. The Signs Of The Coming Of Christ.
The signs of the last days prophecy begins with the opening of the first 6 of the 7 seals in Revelation 6.

The FIRST SEAL is opened with a white horse and the rider wears a crown and carries a bow. A war of conquest.

The SECOND SEAL is opened with a red horse and the rider is given a great sword and peace is taken from the earth.

The THIRD SEAL is opened with a black horse and the rider carries a pair of scales indicating a time of economic collapse.

The FORTH SEAL is opened with a pale horse and the rider is death.

NOTE: The opening of the first four seals is referred to as the Four Horses of the Apocalypse. Jesus said this is the beginning of sorrows.
The 4 Horses of the Apocalypse represents the 4 ancient world powers. Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome.

The FIFTH SEAL is opened and Christians are killed for the testimony of the word of God.

The SIXTH SEAL is opened and the sun is blackened, the moon turns to blood and stars fall from heaven.

Jesus prophesied of the opening of the 6th seal in Matthew 24:29-33. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

The 6th seal is confirmed in Acts 2:19-21 and Joel 2:30-32.
Acts 2:19-21, And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Joel 2:30-32, And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Jesus said in Matthew 24 we would know when the time of his coming is near, EVEN AT THE DOORS.
When the sun is blackened, the moon turns to blood and stars fall from heaven, then will we know the coming of Jesus is near.

When Is The Sign Of Jesus Coming?
According to Revelation 6:12-17 at the opening of the 6th seal.
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Notice the reference of the fig tree in Matthew 24:32 and Revelation 6:13.
That is not just a coincidence.

There is a Great War during the 5th, 6th and 7th seal in which most Christians will lose their life for their testimony of Christ.
It is during the first 6 trumpets of the 7th seal that most Christians will be persecuted and killed. Revelation 8-9.

At the FIRST TRUMPET hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

At the SECOND TRUMPET a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

At the THIRD TRUMPET and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; The name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

At the FORTH TRUMPET the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
An angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound.

At the FIFTH TRUMPET a star falls from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

At the SIXTH TRUMPET a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Then in Revelation chapter 10 we see a great angel clothed in a cloud with a rainbow on his head and the 7 Thunders utter their voices but John is told not to write down what they utter. The 7 Thunders are a mystery.
This is when the Great Tribulation which is the 70th week of Daniel is about to begin.
In verse 6 of chapter 10, TIME IS NO LONGER at the sounding of the 7th trumpet.

So, Let's Recap.
The rapture of the church is the center point in the last days prophecy and the mystery of God is finished and fulfilled.
Read my book, The Mystery Of God.

Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

This is the mystery Paul talked about in I Corinthians 15:51-52.
The mystery of God is finished at the 7th trumpet, the last trumpet.

In Revelation 11:1 John is told to measure the Temple.
This is another prophecy that must first be fulfilled before Jesus comes again.
The building of the 3rd Temple is to fulfill the prophecies of Daniel and Jesus concerning the abomination of desolation.
The 70 weeks of Daniel represents the Temple.
The Temple is key.

This is the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel, the Great Tribulation.

Next we see the testimony of the two witnesses who preach for 3 1/2 years. Revelation 11:3-14.
This takes place at the first part of the 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation.
The two witnesses are killed by the beast and their bodies lay in the street for 3 days.
They are brought back to life and then called up into heaven.

AFTER THE TWO WITNESSES ARE CALLED UP INTO HEAVEN THE 7TH TRUMPET SOUNDS.

THE 7TH TRUMPET IS THE LAST TRUMPET SPOKEN OF BY THE APOSTLE PAUL IN I CORINTHIANS 15:51-52.

Let’s read I Corinthians 15:51-52 again.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMPET: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

THE RAPTURE TAKES PLACE AT THE SEVENTH TRUMPET, THE LAST TRUMPET.

Revelation 11:15-19, And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, AND THE TIME OF THE DEAD, THAT THEY SHOULD BE JUDGED, AND THAT THOU SHOULDEST GIVE REWARD UNTO THY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS, AND TO THE SAINTS, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

AN IMPORTANT OBSERVATION:
Everything that is written in the book of Revelation from chapter 6 to chapter 10 has nothing to do with the Great Tribulation.
Everything written from chapter 11 to chapter 22 has everything to do with the Great Tribulation.

THE RAPTURE DEBATE.
Pre Tribs believe that the rapture of the church takes place before the 70th week of Daniel referred to by Christians as the Great Tribulation.
Their argument comes from Revelation 3:10 when Jesus tells the church of Philadelphia they will be spared ”the hour of temptation”, which is the mark of the beast.

NOTE: “Hour Of Temptation“.

Out of the 7 churches, only the church of Philadelphia was promised to be spared “the hour of temptation”.
In fact Jesus told the church of Ephesus unless they repent Jesus would remove their candlestick, Revelation 2:4-5.

The church of Ephesus is not unique in this judgement.
The candlestick is removed from any individual Christian of the last days who are unrepentant.

What is the ”hour of temptation“?
As we have discussed earlier the ”hour of temptation” is the mark of the beast and does not happen until the second half of the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 13:16-17.

Let me say again.
The “hour of temptation” is the mark of the beast.

This is after the 3 1/2 years of preaching by the two witnesses during the first half of the Great Tribulation and after Revelation 13:5 where the beast is given power TO CONTINUE 42 months, which is 3 1/2 years, the second half of the 70th week of Daniel referred to as Great Tribulation.
That phrase “to continue” is very important. It indicates that the 7 years of the Great Tribulation is divided into two parts, 3 1/2 years each.

Daniel confirms this in Daniel chapter 12.

Remember also in Revelation chapter 12, a time, and times and a half is 3 1/2 years.

NOTE: ”Tribulation of those days”, the ”Great Tribulation”, the “hour of temptation” and the “wrath of God” are not all the same thing.
They are all FOUR separate entities.

The “hour of temptation” of Revelation 3:10 is the time during the Great Tribulation when the antiChrist requires the world to accept the mark of the beast.
This happens in the last 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation, Revelation 13:16-18.
Without the mark of the beast you will not be able to buy or sell or even participate in the things necessary to live and survive.
No job. No insurance. No healthcare. No debit or credit cards. No bank account. No paying utilities. No groceries.
No cell phone. Not anything we take for granted in a free society.
In fact your home will be taken away from you if you do not have the mark of the beast.
Many left behind Christians will be tempted to accept the mark of the beast just to live and survive and many will indeed surrender to temptation to accept the mark.
Your child is sick but unless you have the mark of the beast you cannot take your sick child to the hospital or doctor.
This is the “hour of temptation”.

This takes place after the beast is given power TO CONTINUE for 3 1/2 more years, Revelation 13:5.

Those lukewarm Christians who are left behind will reject the mark of the beast and go into hiding to be hunted down and martyred for their refusal to take the mark. They are redeemed in martyrdom.
These are the ones Jesus tells in Matthew 24 to flee to the mountains. The ones in Revelation 7:13-17 in white robes who come of the Great Tribulation.

Let me ask you again.
Who do you think Jesus was talking to when he tells these people to flee to the mountains?
He wasn’t talking to unsaved lost people or unbelievers but rather it is lukewarm Christians who were left behind to face the Great Tribulation for their unrepentance.
Left to face the hour of temptation.

The “wrath of God” is the 7 angels with 7 vials that is poured out on the earth toward the end of the Great Tribulation. This is the judgement and wrath of God upon the earth, Revelation 15-16.
This takes place during the second half of the Great Tribulation just before Jesus comes with His church to defeat the amtiChrist.

Pre Tribs are right that the true church will not know the wrath of God nor the “hour of temptation” however the church will indeed experience tribulation during the time of the first 6 seals up until the time of the two witnesses which is the first 3 1/2 years of the 70th week of Daniel.

The true church and true faith believing Christians are then raptured out just before the “hour of temptation “ and before the wrath of God begins with the 7 angels with the 7 vials.

Let me say this again.
The “hour of temptation “ and the wrath of God does not begin until AFTER the 7th trumpet, in the last part of the second 3 1/2 years of the 70th week of Daniel referred to as the Great Tribulation and after the church is raptured.

Pre Tribs have confused tribulation with the hour of temptation and the wrath of God.
Jesus and John did not say the church would be spared tribulation but rather the “hour of temptation” and this takes place during the second half of the Great Tribulation.
The wrath of God does not come until the 7 angels with 7 vials pour out the wrath of God upon the earth and this is after the mark of the beast.
This happens in Revelation 15-16, which is after Revelation 11 and after the 7th trumpet when the church is raptured.

Let me say again.
The church is raptured just before the “hour of temptation” and before the wrath of God begins.
If you look at Revelation 3:10 Jesus tells the church of Philadelphia, “I also will keep thee from the “hour of temptation”, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth”.

It is crucial that you understand this important point. The “hour of temptation” is when the antiChrist requires the world to accept the mark of the beast and it is compelled upon all the people of the earth to accept the mark, or to reject it.
Left behind Christians will reject it and will be martyred for their refusal to accept the mark of the beast.

Here is another distinction.
The church is the makeup of the resurrected saints, those who remain and those Christians who are alive when Jesus comes who are in the mold of the church of Philadelphia.
Not all professing Christians who are alive when Jesus comes is of the mold of the church of Philadelphia to be spared the “hour of temptation“.

The raptured church does not experience the wrath of God however unrepentant lukewarm Christians who are left behind will know the “hour of temptation” and the wrath of God if you survive the 5th and 6th seal to the first 6 trumpets of the 7th seal.

Christians who are unrepentant when Jesus comes will have their candlestick removed from participating in the raptured church.
You better look at Revelation 2:4-5 and examine your life and your true Christian faith.

Remember this also. There are left behind Christians who will survive to the very end to see Jesus coming with His church.
They will witness Jesus touching down on the Mount of Olives and see Him break the seal of the Eastern Gate.
They will be a witness to Jesus defeating the antiChrist.
These are witnesses to God’s final judgement.
Matthew 24:13, But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:22,  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

So, for the Pre Tribs the rapture does not take place pre Great Tribulation but rather pre wrath of God and pre “hour of temptation”.
Do not confused tribulation with God’s wrath and final judgement.
They are two separate entities.

Chapter 4. Who Will Go Up To Meet Jesus In The Air?

We have already determined that the rapture of the church is the resurrection of the saints.
People put too much emphasis on people who are ALIVE when Jesus comes and they forget all about the saints who have died in Christ these past 2,000 years.

Christians will say, “Jesus is coming and we are ALL going up to meet him”. WRONG!
Most likely you are not, unless you die first before Jesus comes to be a part of the resurrection.
Or, if you are a Christian in the mold of the church of Philadelphia, which most Christians today are not.
Very few are.
Out of the 7 churches only the church of Philadelphia was promised to be spared the hour of temptation.
The other 6 church Jesus said to repent and overcome. In fact Jesus told the church at Ephesus if they did not repent He would remove their candlestick.Revelation 2:4-5. Jesus told the church of the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:15-18, I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

That sounds like most Christians today. So, I ask you again. How do you think a lukewarm Christian with a love and affection for this world will go up to meet Jesus in the air if you are alive and unrepentant of your lukewarm Christianity when Jesus comes to get his church? Revelation 2:4-5
Do you think just because you profess to be a Christian and go to church, that is your ticket to go up in the rapture if you are ALIVE when Jesus comes to get His church? You better read Revelation 2-3 again.
The majority of Christians today practice the religion of Christianity but very few practice the faith of Christianity. They are called lip serving Christians.
Lukewarm Christians are blind to their lukewarm Christianity. They think they are spirit filled and spirit led when in reality they try to hold hands with Jesus and hold hands with the world. Their Christianity is more show then it is substance. Jesus said with the faith of a mustard seed a mountain could be moved into the sea but Christians today do not even have enough faith to move a mustard seed across a table.
So, you are a spirit filled Christian?
When was the last time you won someone to Christ if ever?
Do you have worldly possessions?
Do you participate in worldly affairs?
Do you ever fast and pray?
Do you visit people in prison or hospitals, or spend time helping those who are helpless and in need?
Have you taken up your cross DAILY to follow Jesus, or are you just a part time follower?
Is your faith in Christ what you say or is it what you do? Are you a doer of the word or just a hearer only? A lip server.
You may go to church, read a chapter or two in your Bible devotion and pray for a minute or two but you never pray God’s will to be done but what you want God to do for you. You may tell someone occasionally about Jesus so you can say you gave someone the gospel but your Christianity is more emotional than it is scriptural or spiritual.
However, that is the extent of your Christianity. Your life is more about your daily affairs, work, school, making a home, entertainment. In fact you spend more time doing home chores then you do witnessing for Christ. More time in front of the TV than you do in the word of God. Ask a lukewarm Christian what they do in their spare time and it’s always about leisure and play. Maintaining all your worldly possessions. In fact you even have insurance on all your possessions in case you lose them.
You know who all the Hollywood actors, rock and country stars are but you can’t even name 5 of the apostles.
You have a Sunday school knowledge of the Bible and even if you know more of God’s word than most, you don’t have any understanding of what you know. You can only grasp the basics of the gospel but even your understanding of salvation is that of a child. Be thankful Jesus said that it only takes the faith of a child to be saved.
You are a Religious Pop Culture Lukewarm Lip Serving Christian. Revelation 3:15-19.
You are torn between your life in this world and your place in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus said to repent and do the first works (win souls to Christ) or else I WILL REMOVE YOUR CANDLESTICK, Revelation 2:4-5
Jesus also said in Matthew 5:16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Salvation is not the result of works but rather works is the result of salvation.

If Jesus removed your candlestick for being a lukewarm Christian that does not mean you will lose your salvation. Salvation is by grace and is God’s eternal gift to those who believe in faith. Except love, believing repentance and faith are action words. That is why James said to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only, James 1:22>/b>
If you die in Christ professing Christ as your savior you will be resurrected to be a part of the raptured church, SANCTIFIED IN DEATH as a believer in faith. That is God’s promise of salvation. The hope of every Christian.

What does it mean when Jesus said I WILL REMOVE YOUR CANDLESTICK? It means if you are ALIVE when Jesus comes you will not be a part of the raptured church if you are unrepentant of your lukewarm Christianity but instead you will be left behind to face the tribulation. 99.9999% of Christians today will not go up in the rapture but will be left behind to be a part of that untold number in Revelation 7:9-17. Left behind Christians who come out of great tribulation and have washed their robes in the blood of the lamb. THE UNTOLD NUMBER.
The only way that 99.9999% of lukewarm Christians today have a chance to be a part of the raptured church is IF YOU DIE in Christ before Jesus comes to be a part of the resurrection. If not, resolve yourself to be left behind to face the 70th week of Daniel to be a part of that untold number in Revelation 7:9-17.
The majority of Christians will die or be killed during the 5th and 6th Seal and the first 6 Trumpets of the 7th Seal. They will be a part of the resurrection.

The first works of love Jesus was talking about in Revelation 2:4-5. Sell all your worldly possessions, take up your cross daily and spend your life to win souls to Christ. Matthew 7:15-23, Proverbs 11:30.

In Christ letter to the church in Revelation 2-3, Jesus told the church of Philadelphia because they had kept His word He would spare them from the hour of temptation, Revelation 3:7-13. Only those Christians today who are of the mold of the church of Philadelphia will not go through the 7 vials of God’s wrath in the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week. They will be caught up in the rapture to meet Jesus in the air with the resurrected saints and the early Christians who are still alive and remain. Jesus said many are called but few are chosen.
There are very few Christians ALIVE today who are of the mold of the church of Philadelphia, who not lukewarm but have taken up their cross daily to follow Jesus. Who have given their life to the cause of Christ, to minister to the those in need and to win souls to Christ.
They do not own worldly possessions.
They do not participate in worldly affairs.
They do not spend their time shopping, going to ball games or the theater.
They are not involved with pop culture.
They do not sit in front of a TV and being entertained is not a part of their life or who they are.
They do not worry about money and finances.
They do not waste their time building and maintaining a beautiful home.
The desires of their heart is not a new car or new clothes or all the latest trends and fashions.
Their desire is to serve God and to do the Father’s will EVERY DAY.
Everything that makes a Christian lukewarm is not who they are.
They spend ALL THEIR TIME winning souls to Christ.
They do the first works of love giving aid and comfort to those in need and those who are helpless.
It is not something they do only on a part time bases or just occasionally. It is every single day.
They have dedicated their life solely to the cause of Christ without recognition.
They spend their time studying the word of God to know who God is and his purpose.
They fast and pray with blood, sweat and tears.
They have kept the word of Christ patience which is love and they walk in the spirit fulfilling the fruits of the spirit to shine the light of Jesus.
They live by faith and they dwell in the righteousness of Christ.
They have the power of God being completely dead to self and have no desire for any vain glory.
Everything they do is to the glory of God.
Their path is the way of truth and their life is not their own.
They are sealed with the promise of God and they keep his commandments to love Him and to love their fellow man.
When they are persecuted they give praise to the Father and when they are scorned and mocked they find refuge in their faith.
The Holy Spirit leads and guides them and they have comfort in their convictions.
They are humble before God and he is their rock and salvation.
They are rare to find in the modern world of today’s Christians.
Jesus told the lukewarm church of Laodiceans in Revelation 3 to repent and overcome.
It is the same message to lukewarm Christians today.

It is hard for most Christians to be totally surrendered to God every single day.
All your worldly possessions mean more to you then what Jesus requires of a faithful servant.
The only thing you can give Jesus is lip service and an occasional work to say you have done something for Christ.
Your flesh overcomes your spirit and unless you tell someone you are a Christian they would not know.
Jesus said, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
So, prepare yourself for the Great Tribulation if you are ALIVE when Jesus comes because as a lukewarm Christian you will be left behind.
The only hope you have of being a part of the rapture is if you die before Jesus comes to be a part of the resurrection.

The saints who have died in Christ are the true church, the body of Christ sanctified in death.
The rapture of the church is not about those who are alive when Jesus comes but rather the rapture of the church is about the resurrection of the saints.
Revelation 11:18

NOW, Who Are “We Which Are Alive And Remain”.
When the apostle Paul said “we which are alive and remain” will be caught up together to meet Jesus in the air, the word “REMAIN” is key.
Here are some verses who those Christians just might be.
Those who “REMAIN”.

CONSIDER THIS.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:28, Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Luke 9:27, But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

Jesus said these people would not taste death until he comes again.
Ponder on that for just a moment.

Matthew 27:50-53, Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

A person who is resurrected does not die a second death.
The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27 it is appointed unto man ONCE to die.
These people did not ascend into heaven with Jesus when he went up into heaven so what happened to them?
It is not scriptural to die, be resurrected and then die again a second death.
I believe Lazarus was one of those people standing there with Jesus when he made the remark “there are some standing here which will not taste death until I come in my kingdom”.
According to Jesus these people are still alive.

NOTE: Jesus said these people would not “taste death” until I come again.

Paul says in I Corinthians 15:51-57, Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This corruptible mortal body must take on an incorruptible body which means this mortal body must die.
In the twinkling of any eye this body is changed.
That’s what Jesus meant by will not “taste death” but will be changed in the twinkling of an eye.
So once this corruptible mortal body takes on an incorruptible body it will not die again.

What about the apostle John?
John 21:20-24,  Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

John is the only disciple that followed Jesus all the way to the cross when the other 10 disciples including Peter ran and hid.
Judas had already hung himself after he betrayed Jesus, so he was longer relevant or considered a disciple.
Peter denied Jesus 3 times but later went out and wept and then repented.
Jesus look down from the cross and saw John. Jesus also saw His mother Mary standing there.
Jesus said to John, behold thy mother. Then He said to Mary, behold thy son.
Jesus was telling John to take care of His mother Mary.

John is the only disciple whose death was not recorded.
He was called up into the 3rd heaven and then came back to earth to write down in the book of Revelation what he had seen.
Do you think someone who is called up into the 3rd heaven would see death. Really?
How much faith do you have in the power of God?
John was told in Revelation 10:11, And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Think about this. Look at that verse again.
Revelation 10:11, And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
WHEN? When does that happen?
It is not recorded that John ever prophesied AGAIN before many people, nations, tongues and kings.
It certainly is not referring to the book of Revelation or the word “AGAIN” would not have been used.
So when does John prophesy again? Maybe in the last days? Think about it.
Paul mentions John in II Corinthians 12 being called up into the 3rd heaven but that is all Paul knew.

Jesus is the way, the TRUTH and the life.
Jesus did not speak in hypotheticals.
The only thing that came out of Jesus’s mouth was truth.
Or else, why would the Bible record that the other 11 disciples believed what Jesus was saying that John would not die. Although the scripture says that Jesus did not say he would not die but that he would tarry (REMAIN) until Jesus comes again.
Would Jesus allow them to think or even believe something that was not true? Jesus never deceived anyone.

The apostle John, the people who were standing with Jesus when he made these remarks and those who were resurrected at Jesus death and his resurrection are those people who Paul said “we which are alive and remain”. They still remain.
I’m sure the apostle Paul knew most of them if not all of them who were no doubt instrumental in establishing the early churches.
It takes enormous faith to understand this.
CONSIDER IT. WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

You really don’t think unrepentant lukewarm Christians with the affections of this world are going up in the rapture to meet Jesus in the air if they are ALIVE when Jesus comes, do you? Really?
Why else would Jesus say TO REPENT and OVERCOME?
These are the Christians of Revelation 13:7 and of Revelation 7:13-17.
Only if you die as a faith believing Christian professing Christ will you go up in the rapture as a part of the resurrection, sanctified in death for your faith and belief in Jesus.
If you are alive when Jesus comes your chances are very slim unless you are that Christian in the mold of the church of Philadelphia.

Yes there are Christians today in the mold of the church of Philadelphia that will go up in the rapture if alive when Jesus comes but they are very few.
Very few.

Post Tribs believe there is no rapture of the church but that the Church will go trough the Great Tribulation including the wrath of God.
It is true that unrepentant lukewarm Christians will be left behind to go through the Great Tribulation, martyred for their rejection of the antiChrist and also will know the wrath of God. However, the true church will not see the wrath of God nor the “hour of temptation”.
There are lukewarm Christians who will survive until the very end spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24 and Matthew 25:31-46 but their candlestick was removed from being a part of the raptured church for their unrepentance before Jesus came.
These are Christians who Jesus was talking to when he told them to flee to the mountains in Matthew 24:15-22 and they will survive by living in the wilderness for the last 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation.
Jesus said, he that endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:13
These are those Christians who survive the Great Tribulation to see Jesus coming with his church to defeat the antiChrist.
These are the witnesses to the power of God in the last days.
There are always witnesses to God's glory.

Matthew 25:31-32 says that Jesus comes in his glory and gathers all the nations of the world before him who have survived the Great Tribulation and he separates the sheep from the goats.
We know the sheep are not the church because the church who was raptured in Revelation 11 and they come with Jesus, Revelation 19:8-9 and 14, Zechariah 14:5.
The argument of Post Tribs has no merit because they do not recognize the resurrection of the saints, which is the true church in I Thessalonians 4, I Corinthians 15 and Revelation 11 at the last and 7th trumpet.

Partial truth is not truth.

Now we come to Mid Tribs.
Mid Tribs believe the rapture takes place 3 1/2 years after the beginning of the Great Tribulation which is the 7 years of Daniel’s 70th week.
This is the only argument supported by scripture as we have seen at the 7th and last trumpet.

So, which argument is correct? The Mid Tribs by scripture have the greatest argument.
Let me hear anyone try to dispute it with scripture?

font size=5>Let's Recap Again And Go Deeper Still.
Let’s begin with what Jesus said concerning the last days so you can get the full picture.
We are going to go over all the scripture in reference to the last days.

Jesus said in Matthew 24
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

The second Temple was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans and the Jews were scattered in 73AD.
This was to fulfill prophecy in Deuteronomy 4:25-30 Moses warns his people will be exiled if they turn away from God.
Hosea 9:17 The people of Israel would be wanders in other nations.
Leviticus 26:32-33 Enemies would move into the land of Israel.
Luke 21:24 Jesus prophesies the Jews would be scattered.
PROPHECY FULFILLED.

It was necessary to destroy the Temple in order to fulfill prophecy that the Jews would be scattered and that Israel would once again become a nation. That the 3rd Temple would be built to fulfill the prophecy of the abomination of desolation.

Israel became a nation in 1948 and begin the end times clock ticking.

THIS CLEARLY SHOWS THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL.

Let’s continue.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

We are even now seeing the words of Jesus being fulfilled.
Jesus says this is the beginning of sorrows.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

In Matthew 28:19=20 Jesus gave the Great Commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
This prophecy of Jesus has been fulfilled by missionaries who have taken the gospel to the world.
Jesus said when the gospel has been preached in every nation then comes the end.

15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then SHALL BE GREAT TRIBULATION , such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

The abomination of desolation cannot happen until the 3rd Temple is built.
The abomination of desolation happens during the second half of the Great Tribulation. Jesus own words in verse 21.

The 70th week of Daniel begins after the opening of the 7th seal and after the 6th trumpet.
In Revelation chapter 11 John is told to measure the Temple.
This indicates that the 3rd Temple has been built so the words of Jesus are fulfilled.

When you see the abomination of desolation know that there is great tribulation.
The abomination of desolation is when the antichrist stands in the Temple and declares himself to be God.
What must first take place before this happens?
THE 3RD TEMPLE MUST BE BUILT.

Notice the pause between the 6th trumpet and the 7th trumpet.

After the Temple is built in Revelation chapter 11 we see the two witnesses begin their ministry for 3 1/2 years then they are killed by the beast and left lying in the street.
After 3 1/2 days they come back to life and are called up into heaven.

THIS TAKES PLACE MID TRIBULATION.

After the two witnesses are called up into heaven the 7th trumpet sounds.
Revelation 11:15-19

Then in Revelation 13:5 says the beast continues for 3 1/2 years.

MID TRIBULATION (Mid Trib).

Here is what John says in Revelation 11 that takes place at the sounding of the 7th trumpet (Paul’s last trumpet) after the two witnesses are called up into heaven.

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Look at verse 18 again because this is important. Memorize it.
“and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, AND TO THE SAINTS, and them that fear thy name, small and great;”

This is the rapture and resurrection of the saints.
MID TRIB.

The opening of the 7 seals fulfills Revelation chapter 5.
Jesus the Lamb which was slain, the lion of Judah and the root of David is worthy to loose and open the 7 seals to open the book.
The 7 seals are opened by Jesus to make way for the rapture of his church and to finish the mystery of God at the last trumpet, the 7th trumpet of the 7th seal.

Post Tribs believe there is no rapture of the church that the coming of Christ is when he comes to defeat the antiChrist to rule on earth in Jerusalem for 1,000 years.
WRONG!

Here’s what Post Tribs don’t understand.
When Jesus comes to rapture the church he comes in the clouds and does not touch down on earth. The church is called up to meet Jesus in the air.
“Caught up”. Raptured. I Thessalonians 4
When Jesus comes to rapture the church HE DOES NOT COME WITH A SWORD. That is a very important point.
Why would Jesus come with a sword to rapture his church?
Does the groom come to get his bride with a sword?

When Jesus comes to defeat the antiChrist HE COMES WITH A SWORD.
He touches down on the Mount of Olives and according to Zechariah 14 and he splits the mountain into.
He enters into Jerusalem through the Eastern gate breaking the seal and he defeats the antiChrist with a single word.
He comes with the angels and with his church (the bride of Christ) clothed in white linen. Revelation 19.

Now how could he come with his church in Revelation 19 if the church before time has not already been raptured?

All my life I have been a pre trib but I have changed my position from Pre Trib to Mid Trib because of Revelation chapter 11 and the 7th trumpet and because of the last trumpet of I Corinthians 15:51-52.

So, let’s go through the scripture again and read what the word of God says and lay out the last days timeline according to Scripture and God’s word.
I Thessalonians 4 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

That is the rapture of the church, the resurrection of the saints.
Rapturo in the Latin text and Harpazo in the Greek.
“Caught up” or the “catching away”.

Jesus said one is taken and one is left behind. Matthew 24:40-43

When does this happen according to the apostle Paul?
At the last trumpet.

In I Corinthians 15: 51 Paul writes, Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the LAST TRUMP: for the TRUMPET shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

When does the last trumpet sound?
According to Revelation 11 the last trumpet is the 7th trumpet of the 7th seal.
Revelation 11:15-19
Especially verses 15 and 18

15 AND THE SEVENTH ANGEL SOUNDED; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

What Are The Signs Of Jesus Coming?
II Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Paul says there will be a falling away before Jesus comes.
We are already seeing this happen, even among professing Christians.

I Timothy 4: 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:13 as it was in the day of Noah, so shall the coming of the son of man be.

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

This is backed up by Acts 2:20, Joel 2:31, Revelation 1:7 and Revelation 6:12-14

Acts 2: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

Joel 2: 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

When Does This Happen?
According to Revelation 6:12-14 at the 6th seal.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Do you see the mentioning of the fig tree at the opening of the 6th seal.
That’s exactly what Jesus said in Matthew 24.

32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Jesus is saying when you see the 6th seal being opened the time of his coming is near. EVEN AT THE DOORS.
What happens at the 6th seal.
The sun is blackened, the moon turns to blood and the stars fall from heaven.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

So Jesus verifies that there will be a catching away.
One is taken and another is left behind.

Jesus said that no one knows the hour or day of his coming except the father.
The key words here are HOUR and DAY.
However, Jesus said we would know by the signs when that time is near, EVEN AT THE DOORS.

Let’s read I Thessalonians 4:13-18 again but this time let’s include chapter 5:1-11 because I want you to see a very important point.

I Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

There it is the description of the raptured church.

Now what does chapter 5 say?

5: 1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Did you see it in verse 4-6
Let’s read it again.

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

That’s exactly what Jesus said.
We would know when his coming is near.
Why? Because we are the children of light.

Jesus only comes as a thief in the night to those who are lost and unsaved and to those who are not watching for his return.

WATCH THEREFORE FOR YOU KNOW NOT WHAT HOUR YOUR LORD DOES COME.
WATCH AND PRAY.

THE WARNING FROM JESUS TO THE BAD SERVANT IN MATTHEW 24.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

THIS IS THE TIMELINE.
These things must First take place before Jesus comes again.
1. Israel becomes a nation again. Ezekiel 37:21-28 Jesus said this generation shall not pass away before all things be fulfilled. FULFILLED.
2. The gospel must be preached in every nation. Matthew 24:14 FULFILLED.
3. The opening of the first 6 seals. Revelation 6.
     First seal, the white horse whose rider carries a bow and wears a crown, war and conquest.
     Second seal, the red horse whose rider is given a great sword and peace is taken from the earth.
     Third seal, the black horse whose rider carries a scale.
     Fourth seal, the pale horse whose rider is death.
     Fifth seal, Christians are killed for the testimony of the word of God.
     Sixth seal, the sun is blackened and the moon turns to blood and the stars fall from heaven, the sky is scrolled back and every mountain and island moved out of its place. People of the earth hide themselves.
4. The falling away. The truth becomes a lie and a lie becomes the truth. II Thessalonians 2:1-12
5. The seventh seal opened, the first 6 trumpets and the 3 woes. Revelation 8-9.
6. The 7 thunders, Revelation 10
7. John prophesies again, Revelation 10
8. The 3rd Temple is built to fulfill the prophecy of the abomination of desolation. Revelation 11:1-2
9. The two witnesses begin their 3 1/2 ministry, they are killed and lay in the street for 3 1/2 days, brought back to life and called into heaven. Revelation 11:3-14
10. The seventh trumpet sounds. Revelation 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

The rapture of the church takes place at the 7th trumpet.
I Corinthians 15: 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

CHAPTER 6. LAST DAYS SCRIPTURE.
These are verses you need to know ans understand concerning the rapture of the church.

Ezekiel 37: 21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:

Matthew 24
1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
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.
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Chapter 25
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Joel 2
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Acts 2
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Revelation 6
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

I Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Chapter 5
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

I Corinthians 15
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Revelation 11
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Zechariah 14
1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.
11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.
16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
20 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

Daniel 12
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

II Thessalonians 2
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

I Timothy 4
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

II Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

II Peter 3
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.