When is the Rapture?
By Thomas Taylor
Pre-trib, Mid-Trib, Pre-Wrath, or Post-Trib?
I have found that most Christians do not study the Bible on this subject. They mostly go by what their preacher says then read the prophecies through that filtered mindset. So where did that preacher get his teaching on the subject? Hopefully, he studied the Bible for himself without being biased by a denomination or seminary but, sadly, this is seldom the case. I want to challenge you to study this subject for yourself. Listen to what your preacher says or what I say, then go and see if those things are true. Do not accept those things taught unless you see it for yourself in the Bible. It’s tragic but eschatology happens to be one of those subjects where preachers have become lazy and have just depended on someone else to do the study for them. Therefore, there is a lot of wrong teaching out there. But do not let that be said about you; find out if those things you have been taught are so.
The Rapture is at the Seventh Seal
When understanding the timing of events, we always start with the prophetic teachings of Jesus particularly in Matthew 24 which put the prophecies of the Old Testament and Revelation in a perfect chronological order.
Matthew 24:29-31 KJV 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.
Verse 29 gives us a definite time signal: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days.” There is no need for this to be confusing. Jesus mentioned tribulation, hard times, previous to this, then He says something will happen “immediately after.” We do not even need to be concerned with the content of that tribulation because we are focusing on the rapture timing. We need to see what will happen because after it happens is when, “shall appear the Son of Man” and the gathering of the Church in the Rapture. So, what will happen? The sun will be darkened and the moon shall not give her light and the stars shall fall from heaven.
These signs of the sun, moon, and stars, are the things that are clearly stated as happening before He comes to rapture His Church. Do we have any information when these signs of the sun, moon, and stars take place? Because if we figure that out, we will know when the rapture happens. Yes!:
Revelation 6:12-13 KJV 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.
Revelation clearly says these signs of the sun, moon, and stars take place at the Sixth Seal. Obviously, the Sixth Seal takes place after the previous five seals but before the Seventh Seal. The previous five seals describe the following:
Seal 1 – False Christ/Christians and the the Spirit of Antichrist over religion
Seal 2 – War and the Spirit of Antichrist over government
Seal 3 – Famine and the Spirit of Antichrist over economics
Seal 4 – Death and Hell and the Spirit of Antichrist over nature
Seal 5 – Persecution & Martyrdom of Christians
The first four seals describe the major forces that determine the life of mankind on earth: religion, government, economics, and nature. The spirit of Antichrist will rise to a place of controlling much of that in the end. Then the Antichrist man will use that power he has gained to destroy Christians and Jews. Then the Sixth Seal occurs which is the Wormwood asteroid strike. Afterward, Jesus comes to Rapture His Church and pour out His wrath on those remaining at the Seventh Seal. The wrath of God includes Armageddon.
Therefore, we understand that Christians will be here during the first six seals, including a time of great tribulation, in the form of persecution and martyrdom just like Jesus said in Matthew 24:9:
Matthew 24:9 KJV 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.
The Rapture is at the Seventh Trumpet
The Seventh Seal starts with the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet. Going back to the words of Jesus in the original passage of Matthew 24:
Matthew 24:31 KJV 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.
Notice Jesus is very clear that a trumpet blast will occur at the Rapture – the time He gathers His elect using angels. But is this just any trumpet or is it a specific trumpet mentioned somewhere else in the Bible? Consider 1 Corinthians, the great Resurrection/Rapture chapter:
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 KJV (51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [die], 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.
Notice it mentions a “last trump” then the Resurrection. Again, the timing is very clear that the last trump will sound then the Resurrection, also known as the Rapture, will take place. That is exactly what Matthew 24 mentions: a trumpet then the Resurrection/Rapture. Paul against mentions this trumpet in his dissertation on the Resurrection/Rapture in 1 Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV (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.
So this “last trump” is absolutely associated with the Resurrection/Rapture. But last in relation to what? What came first? Obviously, there were at least one other trumpet calls previous for this to be the last. There is only one place in the Bible where a series of trumpet calls take place and that is in Revelation 8, where the first six trumpets occur, and Revelation 11, where the last trumpet, the Seventh Trumpet, occurs. Let’s look at that last trumpet and see if we find the Resurrection/Rapture:
Revelation 11:11-15 KJV (11) And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them [the Two Witnesses of God who died], 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.
So, we have the two witnesses being Resurrected/Raptured. When did this happen? During the Second Woe of the Sixth Trumpet. Then quickly comes the Third Woe and Seventh Trumpet – the Last Trumpet. So we do not have a description of all saints being Resurrected/Raptured here but the Two Witnesses are Resurrected and Raptured at this time right before the Last Trumpet. This coincides perfected with what Jesus and Paul taught. That there will be a great last trumpet and the dead in Christ will rise first, then those that remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds.
What happened in the previous trumps because this will help us understand what we will see, and the timing, before the Last Trump?
Trumpet 1 – Third part of trees burnt up by hail and fire
Trumpet 2 – Mountain cast into the sea and third part of sea life died
Trumpet 3 – Star falls poisoning third part of rivers
Trumpet 4 – Sun, moon, and stars struck and darkened by one-third
Trumpet 5 – Locusts attack men who have not the seal of God
Trumpet 6 – Four angels in the Euphrates loosed to kill 1/3 of men
What happens at the Seventh Trumpet? The Resurrection/Rapture and Woe Three – the wrath of God. Again, we see clearly that the Resurrection/Rapture takes place at the Seventh Trumpet which happens to be the same as the Seventh Seal.
The Rapture is After the Abomination of Desolation
Matthew 24:15 KJV 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:)
Verse 15 obviously comes before verses 29- 31, where we started this article talking about the Sixth Seal asteroid strike and the Seventh Seal Rapture. So also, the Abomination of Desolation comes before Rapture. But when is the Abomination of Desolation? Is it in the middle of the final seven years? It could be but it may not be in the exact middle as some teach.
Jesus goes on after Matthew 24:15 to comment on the hard times, “great tribulation,” after the Abomination of Desolation in verses 16-26. This coincides with the Battle of Armageddon. Because the nations of the world will be gathered together again Israel, many Jews will flee Jerusalem. Some will stay and 2/3 will be slaughtered. This is the time of the Seventh Seal, the Seventh Trumpet, and right before the Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath are poured out.
Revelation 15:1-3 KJV And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. (2) And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. (3) And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Revelation describes the wrath of God about to be poured out. But notice at this time the saints are in Heaven at God’s Throne which is where the sea of glass is! We have been raptured BEFORE the Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath are poured out on those armies of Armageddon. So after the Abomination of Desolation but before the Wrath of God, the Rapture/Resurrection will take place.
When you line these events up, they give you the following chart (regardless of what is traditionally taught):
Rapture and asteroid timing mini chart graphic
I find it interesting how Eschatology teachers determine the timing of the Rapture in relation to the “Great Tribulation” rather than the other events, like the Seals or Trumpets or Bowls of God’s Wrath? Hence the names “pre-trib,” “mid-trib,” and “post-trib.” It seems like they do this because they do not want to go through the “Great Tribulation.” That is what is foremost on their mind rather than the other events mentioned. However, the “Great Tribulation” should not be our concern. God’s Wrath is far more severe than that! It is most encouraging to know we will not go through the Wrath of God. This is why Paul said we could comfort one another with these words (1Thessalonians 4:18).
There is strong evidence in just the “Testimony of the Martyrs of Revelation” alone that proves the Pre-trib rapture has not happened by the 5th and 6th seal. Please read below and share with every bible believing Christian that you can, even you may very well know, that the season is at hand. If we can prevent even just “1” in Christ from being deceived, it will be worth it. Please forward and share the below message as you are led to do. Thank you so much, God bless the work of your hands and all that you do for His kingdom.
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The comfort (1 Thes 4:18) is in the fact that the dead in Christ would rise also, would resurrect and meet us in the air. The letter was to those who had other Christian church members that had already died and they did not know how that would work since they had already died. They were to take comfort in the fact that the dead in Christ would be there with us also and be resurrected while we, the living, are raptured. (1 Thes 4:13-18)
“IT” is the SAME event, the Lords 2nd coming and the rapture & resurrection are the SAME event. Do not be deceived by any teaching of a SECRET, SILENT, or INVISIBLE rapture! We aren’t to take heed to lies of “SECRET” things and “SECRET” meetings with Jesus in “SECRET” places. Jesus comes at the 2nd coming.
There is not a SECRET, SILENT, or INVISIBLE 2nd-2nd coming when His feet do not touch the ground. Jesus comes before G-d pours out His wrath. Do not be deceived that Jesus is here, or Jesus is there in the SECRET place! (Mathew 24:26)
The “tribulation” is everything up to the “great tribulation” (Mathew 24:21), (Rev 7:14), (Jeremiah 30:7) when G-d pours out His wrath, the Wrath of The lamb, and that is come at (Revelation 6:17), and we are not appointed to G-d’s wrath (1 Thes 5:9), but we may experience tribulation and persecution (John 16:33) Jesus said no one is greater than their master. (John 13:16), (John 15:20) The seals are NOT the wrath of G-d they are only the beginning of sorrows (Mathew 24:8). The trumpets and vials are the wrath of G-d, and the wrath of G-d, is the “great tribulation” it’s easy to remember, only G-d is “Great”(2 Samuel 7:22). Jesus comes after the abomination of desolation. Jesus comes after the great falling away otherwise the rebellious stand. (2 Thes 2:3)
We that are alive and remain UNTO the coming of the Lord.
UNTIL THE COMING OF THE LORD.
UNTIL THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD. (1 Thes 4:15)
We are raptured when Jesus comes.
We are raptured at the 2nd coming.
We are raptured after ALL of the dead in Christ rise first. (1 Thes 4:16)
The rapture occurs when Jesus descends and then following His feet touch the ground on the Mount of Olives (Zec 14:4) on that “great day” of His “2nd coming” the “day of the Lord” and we are raptured, “caught up”, “harpatzo” (1 Thes 4:17), to go out to meet Him, “apantésis”, at His arrival, “parousia”, to escort Him on His way down. It was a tradition of old to go out like a large procession, to go out of the city to escort an arriving official or distinguished guest and to enter into the city with them…after…ALL of the dead in Christ are resurrected first, so we are raptured to meet them and Jesus in the air, on His way down. The church is raptured after the sixth seal, you will read about the multitudes in (Revelation 7:9).
That also means that the rapture includes the tribulation saints because …a rapture at any other time before or prior to the “tribulation of that day”, would be “Preceding” ALL of the dead in Christ, that will die in Christ.
(1 Thes 4:15)
This sequence (Rev 6:9-11) now makes even more sense to me, the martyrs wait for #1.)G-d’s perfect justice, #2.)Their glorified bodies #3.)Their fellow servants and brethren that should be killed as they were, to be fulfilled, to be gathered. This must include the tribulation saints because they are told to wait a short season while Jesus gathers ALL of the dead martyrs in Christ and all that will die for Him when He comes at the end, right before G-d pours out His wrath. This means that the rapture has not occurred yet either, at least up until the 5th seal is opened as proven in (Rev 6:9-11).
…Just please consider…why would the martyrs below the alter be told to “wait” some more, otherwise to “wait” for a “little season” to “WAIT LONGER” in (Rev 6:9-11) if they should have supposedly already been raptured first (the dead rise first) and “SHOULD HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED” their glorified body during the pre-tribulation rapture as we are all taught???
The scriptures even state that it is the “souls” of the dead, those that have been slain for the word of God and their testimony, this includes ALL MARTYRS! ALL MARTYRS and they should have their glorified bodies already (at least ALL of the Martyrs from before the persecution of the new tribulation saints already) if the Pre-tribulation rapture was true!!!
Otherwise, if you say they are only the souls of tribulation saints, which they are not, they represent ALL martyrs of the Lord, EVER, and ALL martyrs that will EVER BE. Up until that point in time when the last one is martyred and then the Lord comes! Which is why they are still waiting for justice, and is why they are told to “WAIT” longer. So 7yrs to 3-1/2yrs or 1,260 days (Daniel 7:25), (Daniel 12:7), (Revelation 12:14) wouldn’t be very long to wait at all, but now it also requires the fabrication of another resurrection and rapture to gather the rest of them if the pre-trib rapture were true.
The white robes they are given, they are not their glorified bodies, or are they? They are told to wait until their fellow servants and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled to be resurrected on the day of the Lord, at the Lords 2nd coming. (Rev 6:9-11)
If you claim that the white robe IS an indication of the receipt of their glorified bodies, you are admitting that the rapture and resurrection occurs for the martyrs at least, at the 5th seal. (Rev 6:9&11)
Conversely, if you claim that the white robe IS NOT indication of the receipt of their glorified bodies at that time, you are admitting that the pre-tribulation rapture has not occurred by the 5th seal.
Because it does not specifically state that they do, or do not, have their glorified bodies, just by virtue of the fact that they are now just receiving their white robe, which many state is the “peace of Christ”, indicates that they yet still, do not have their glorified bodies, they are only “souls”, even up to this point in scripture and must also continue to wait for their glorified bodies as well.
The scriptures about the martyrs having to wait longer never made any sense to me when applying the pre-trib belief as we are taught our entire Christian lives. If the martyrs had already received their glorified bodies at the Pre-trib rapture they should be rejoicing in Christ’s peace just like the multitudes, knowing that vengeance is the Lord’s (Rom 12:19). However, in (Rev 6:10) why are they crying and lamenting in heaven?
Furthermore, to claim that the martyrs below the alter already had their glorified bodies at the opening of the 5th seal at (Rev 6:9&11) on top of what I have already mentioned, why are the multitudes introduced in (Rev 7:9) after the opening of the 6th seal (Rev 6:12) and not “simultaneously” at the 5th seal in (Rev 6:9), since the scriptures state that we meet each other and Jesus together in the air with our glorified bodies (1 Thes 4:17) and enter “TOGETHER” as indicated by the multitudes in heaven at (Rev 7:9) (which now includes the martyrs with their glorified bodies, whose spirits/souls where under the alter)
This is just more evidence that the holy scriptures do stand as a testimony and witness that the resurrection & rapture occurs at the Lords 2nd coming, the day of the Lord, as it is written, as an event following the opening of the 6th seal stated in (Rev 6:17) and the pre-trib rapture & resurrection stated as occurring prior to the 5th or 6th seal does not fit at all. The dead rise first, but we meet together with Jesus in the air.
The timing of the rapture is also not a salvation ending detail and anyone would rather it happen pre-, but I am mentally and spiritually prepared for when Jesus returns. All that matters is that we keep looking up for our Lord’s return in the sky. Unless we know for certain, teaching differently is truly dangerous.
What if…the falling away occurs simply because a rapture does not happen when our pastors have taught us that it was supposed to happen? All of a sudden, no pre-trib rapture, and millions of Christians realize that they now may face the wrath of a lawless mankind, satan, tribulation, persecution, accepting the mark or suffering starvation and even beheadings.
We are to look for the Lord Jesus Christ Yeshua’s return in the clouds -bottom line. That is what must be taught, no matter what happens or the timing of events that we may or may not have gotten correct, look for the Lord’s return in the clouds.
I hope and pray that there is a pre-trib rapture, that all of you pre-tribbers are right, nobody wants to go through the tribulation, if we don’t have to…come on, but what motivates your beliefs? Do you believe in a pre-trib rapture simply because you don’t want to suffer the tribulation? I’m ready to see Christ but pre-trib is NOT in the scriptures unless you make-up your own assumptions. Jesus states that He will come “after the tribulation of those days”(Mathew 24:29) and we learn that we will not “PRECEDE” the dead (1 Thes 4:15). Wouldn’t a rapture before all of the dead in Christ are gathered, be “PRECEDING” the dead in Christ?
Please leave this message, there really are no plausible negative outcomes if post-trib, pre-wrath, or mid-trib do not occur, and if it does happen pre-trib, you would just ultimately be proven right and that would be the end of it, literally, it would not matter at all.
It is ironic, that even now, many are already teaching that all believers other than the pre-trib camp are evidence of the apostasy and have all “fallen away” from the faith, when this is not true at all, we are just learning more and more about the precious word of G-d.
We are all still brothers and sisters in Christ and the arguments will cease one day, but how are we “apostate heretics” if we love the Lord Jesus Christ Yeshua Hamashiach, just as you do? Please just keep looking up for the Lord…He comes with clouds!
This is the “Testimony of the Revelation Martyrs” all Martyrs that we’re, are, and will ever be. They Love the Lord unto death, and their testimony in the book of Revelation is evidence that a pre-tribulation rapture does not occur. Thank you for taking the time to read this message, in Christ -Michael
G-d bless you all, and keep you safe!
Salvation comes from our G-d who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!
Praise, Glory, and Honor to The Lord Jesus Christ Yeshua Hamashiach forever and ever!
I made you give praise to G-d and Jesus, Lol.
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I hope and pray that you can use it and share it with all.
The last truly, truly will be first and the first truly, truly are last!
(Mathew 20:16)
“Testimony of the Revelation Martyrs”
ALL MARTYRS are waiting for God’s perfect justice. All, not just the tribulation saints.
The End of the age occurs at the last day, the day of the Lord.
Point is, I seriously could never reconcile what my ministers and pastors were teaching me with the story of the Martyrs (Rev 6:9). I knew that they represented all of the martyrs, even the DISCIPLES souls that were martyred for Jesus name are still waiting with the Lord for God’s perfect justice and their glorified body if you really think about it. It just does not add up with a pre-tribulation timeline they would not have been told to wait, if it was to have supposedly already happened in the Pre-Tribulation resurrection and rapture.
Where the carcass is there the eagles are…
(Mathew 24:28) & (Luke 17:37). Have you seen the Mount of Olives today my friend? Right here, right now, as it exists today? It is a graveyard. Yep…All the eagles will gather around the carcasses alright. The resurrection and the rapture occurs at the second coming, the Lord Jesus arrives and sets His feet down on the mount of Olives. (Zec 14:4) a graveyard.
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