10/05/2026
*I have significantly revised this compared to the last write up. The main change is that scripture supports the 7th Trumpet, Resurrection, Rapture, Jesus’ Second Coming, Battle of Armageddon, and the 7th Bowl, all come together on “The Day of the Lord”, which is the conclusion of the 7 Year Tribulation.*
What does the Bible say about the timing of Jesus’ return to rapture Believers?
I have spent countless hours going through End Times scripture to understand the events and how they will be laid out during the 7 Year Tribulation. I gathered insight from many individuals that have proven they are biblically sound, but I always went back to scripture to verify. I prayed for understanding through it all.
I always believed in a pre-tribulation rapture, because that is what is taught by mainstream churches. But after deep diving into prophecy scripture (eschatology), I learned there is little to no biblical support for a
pre-tribulation rapture. On the other hand, a post-tribulation rapture has an overwhelming amount of biblical scripture to support it.
I wanted to keep believing in the Pre-Trib rapture like most, because it offers comfort, an escape, but the Bible makes it clear, following Jesus was not meant to be done in comfort. Pre-tribulation rapture believers AKA “Pre-Tribbers” will say, “Jesus wouldn’t put His bride through the tribulation to be persecuted and / or martyred.” Tell that to the Christians that have been getting slaughtered in big numbers in other countries like Nigeria. Remember, most of the disciples and prophets were martyred. Us Americans have it so easy being a Christian that we can’t wrap our mind around suffering for the name of Jesus.
There will be a great falling away from the faith (apostasy) during the Tribulation, also noted in Matthew 24:10. Most likely from when so many professed Christians realize there was no pre-trib rapture they were promised by their church doctrine, and they are faced with severe persecution. And / or they will have deep anger and resentment towards God for making them go through this. This will make them turn from the faith.
Jesus’ Words: “And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.” Matthew 10:38-39
“Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4
Jesus’ Words:
““Look, I am coming soon!”
“Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
“Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work.” “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.” Revelation 22:7, 12, 14
Jesus’ Words:
““Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is alert…”
Revelation 16:15
“For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.”
“But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4-6
**From here on, when “Rapture” is used, it is the same thing as living Believers being gathered up / caught up into the clouds with Jesus as He is descending down from Heaven, to Earth.
HOW TO READ REVELATION:
**When reading Revelation, it CANNOT be read like a novel, in chronological order. Numerous times throughout Revelation, it recapitulates. It goes back into the past, then goes forward from a different vantage point. For example, some movies do this. They start at one scene, then go back in time, then go forward to bring you back to that initial scene and beyond. Keep in mind, John is seeing many visions, but this does not mean that all events he sees were in order on a timeline.
You can read chapters 1-6 chronologically. Take note, that Seals 1-6 are an overview of what to expect at some point throughout the 7 Year Tribulation, many of which will occur during the last 3.5 years. The 6th Seal is the end.
Chapter 7, it goes back in time. It will lay out how the 144,000 came to be as well as it gives us a futuristic view of the end result of the tribulation in regard to the martyrs.
Chapters 8-11, focuses on the Trumpet judgements being executed during the last 3.5 years of the tribulation. The first half of Chapter 11 lays out the plan for the “2 Witnesses” during the last 3.5 years.
Chapters 12-13, it goes back in time from a “zoomed out” angle setting the scene of Satan’s fury towards Israel, Jesus, and Jesus’ followers. It details how Satan will give power to the Antichrist.
Chapter 14, it lays out the plan for the 144,000 who will be the “firstfruits”, leading us to believe they will be martyred. Ch 14 gives us the strict warning of the consequences of taking the Mark of the Beast and worshipping the Beast. Ch 14 concludes with Jesus’ rapture then immediately His grand finale wrath is poured out to end the tribulation.
Chapters 15-16, it goes back in time and lays out how the 7 Bowl/Vile judgments will be poured out over the last 3.5 years. They will run parallel with the 7 Trumpet judgements.
Chapters 17-18, it zooms out and uses symbolism. It talks about the rise of the Antichrist and Babylon.
Chapters 19, it fast-forwards to the end for Jesus’ Second Coming and the Battle of Armageddon.
Chapter 20, it lays out the plan for Satan pre and post Millennial Reign.
Chapter 21, it goes back in time to the beginning of the Millennial Reign. It describes the New Jerusalem. There are many scriptures in other books that lead us to believe the New Jerusalem happens
pre-millennial reign, not post-millennial reign. Christians with their glorified bodies will reign with Jesus there.
Chapter 22 concludes Revelation.
TIMING OF THE RAPTURE:
The timing of the rapture of believers unto Jesus, in relation to the 7 Year Tribulation, is the question.
“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him…” ”For that day will not come unless the apostasy (falling away from the faith) comes first and the man of lawlessness (Antichrist) is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 3. *Notice: Jesus will NOT come before the Antichrist is revealed. This alone debunks a pre-trib rapture.
Below, I have made the case that the First Resurrection, the Rapture, the 7th Trumpet, the Second Coming, the Battle of Armageddon, and the 7th Bowl/Vile, in that order, ALL come together on “The Day of the Lord” that is spoken about numerous times by Old Testament prophets as well as in the New Testament. Take notice of the similarities in the descriptions of these events. All of these events are coming together at one point on the prophetic timeline.
In Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, they all document the disciples asking when Jesus will return and Jesus describes the signs that will occur at His return / the rapture, Jesus’ Words:
““Immediately after the distress [tribulation] of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn; and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect [us Christians], from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31. Similar wording is used in Mark 13.
Let’s compare to Luke 21:25, 27-28 :
Jesus’ Words:
““Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near.”
Let’s compare to Revelation 6:12-13 (Sixth Seal): “Then I saw him open the Sixth Seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair; the entire moon became like blood; the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind;”
Let’s compare to Joel 2:1-2, 10 (The Day of the Lord) : “…for the day of the Lord is coming; in fact, it is near — a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and total darkness, like the dawn spreading over the mountains; a great and strong people appears, such as never existed in ages past and never will again in all the generations to come.” “The earth quakes before them; the sky shakes. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars cease their shining.”
Let’s compare to Amos 5:18 (The Day of the Lord): “Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! What will the day of the Lord be for you? It will be darkness and not light.”
Let’s compare to Zephaniah 1:14-15
(The Day of the Lord) :
“The great day of the Lord is near, near and rapidly approaching. Listen, the day of the Lord — then the warrior’s cry is bitter. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and total darkness, ”
Let’s compare to Isaiah 13:9-10
(Day of the Lord):
“Look, the day of the Lord is coming — cruel, with fury and burning anger — to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners. Indeed, the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will not shine.”
Let’s compare to Zechariah 14:6-7
(Second Coming): “On that day there will be no light; the sunlight and moonlight will diminish. It will be a unique day known only to the Lord, without day or night, but there will be light at evening.”
Above, we have linked Jesus’ sign of His return and the rapture spoken of in the gospels to: the 6th Seal, “The Day of the Lord”, and “The Second Coming” by the description of the sun and moon darkening and cosmic disturbances.
Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, Jesus also tells us, when we see those signs in the sky, every living person will see Him on the clouds. He will sound the trumpet, and His angels will rapture all of His followers to Himself.
Revelation 14:14-16: “Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and one like the Son of Man (Jesus), was seated on the cloud, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one who was seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.”
Let’s compare to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” *Notice: “Those who are alive, who are left” wording in that verse. Many Christians will have been martyred by this point. *Notice: Believers that have died will be gathered before the living Believers.
Let’s compare to 1 Corinthians 15:51-52: “Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep (die), but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.” *Notice: “We will not all die” leading up to the rapture. *Notice: “At the LAST Trumpet”.
Let’s compare to Revelation 10:7 :
“but in the days when the seventh angel will blow his trumpet, then the mystery of God will be completed, as he announced to his servants the prophets.” *Notice: SEVENTH Angel blowing his trumpet. *Notice: “Mystery” is used like 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 to describe the resurrection and rapture.
Let’s compare to Revelation 11:15 (7th / Last Trumpet): “The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.” *Notice: The transfer of Believers from the earth to Jesus, (resurrection & rapture), has occurred at the 7th Trumpet.
We have now established the details of this rapture event: 7th / Last Trumpet sounds off, Resurrection of all Believers that have died, then, rapturing all Believers that are still alive, in that order. From now on, when you hear of resurrection, know that rapture goes with it - they’re connected as one.
A 7th Trumpet resurrection and rapture of all Believers means this is a post-tribulation rapture. There cannot be two large scale resurrections and raptures, one on both sides of the Tribulation. How do we know this?
Revelation 6:9-11 (The 5th Seal):
“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given. They cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, the one who is holy and true, how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” So they were each given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been.”
*Notice: They are still “souls” and the First Resurrection to get their glorified bodies has not happened yet and the martyrdom isn’t complete yet. Remember, the resurrection and rapture happen at the 6th Seal.) :
Revelation 20:4-6 (Explanation of the FIRST Resurrection of 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 AFTER the Tribulation being over.) :
“Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the *first resurrection*. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the *first resurrection*! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” *Notice: After all of the persecution and martyrdom of the Tribulation, then, you see the transformation from souls to glorified bodies. *Notice: John says this is the FIRST Resurrection.
Let’s compare to 1 Corinthians 15:22-24 :
“For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power.” *Notice: “At His coming, then all Believers get their glorified bodies, then comes the end - in that order. Not: We get our glorified bodies, then the Tribulation, like Pre-Tribbers teach.
Let’s compare to John 6:40 :
“For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” *Notice: The First Resurrection happens on the LAST day.
Let’s compare to Daniel 7:21-22 :
“As I was watching, this horn [Antichrist] waged war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them until the Ancient of Days [Jesus] arrived and a judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.” *Notice the order: Antichrist persecutes Christians, Jesus shows up to rescue, then Christians reign with Jesus in the Millennial Reign.
Based on the sequence of the Bowl judgments, the resurrection and rapture will occur just before the 7th Bowl. The 7th Bowl is the grand finale of God’s wrath. At the 6th Bowl, Jesus is (still) warning of His coming being like a thief: ““Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is alert and remains clothed, so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame.” So they assembled the kings at the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.”
Revelation 16:15-16
We are now going to link the: Second Coming of Jesus physically setting His feet to the earth, the Battle of Armageddon, and the 7th Bowl / Vile. Also, we will reiterate / further confirm the link to the 6th Seal and the 7th Trumpet. *Notice: In the below passages, the same cosmic disturbances, earthquakes, etc.
Revelation 19:11-15 (The Second Coming):
“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the w**epress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty.” *Notice: “Heaven opened” upon His return.
Let’s compare to Revelation 6:12-14
(6th Seal):
“Then I saw him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair; the entire moon became like blood; the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind; the sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place.” *Notice: “sky was split apart…being rolled up.”
Let’s compare to Revelation 11:19
(7th Trumpet) :
“Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant appeared in his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and severe hail.”
*Notice: “…heaven was opened.”
Let’s compare to Revelation 16:17-21
(7th Bowl/Vile) :
“Then the seventh [angel] poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done! ” There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. And a severe earthquake occurred like no other since people have been on the earth, so great was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the Great was remembered in God’s presence; he gave her the cup filled with the w**e of his fierce anger. Every island fled, and the mountains disappeared. Enormous hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell from the sky on people, and they blasphemed God for the plague of hail because that plague was extremely severe.”
*Notice: The worst earthquake ever. The grand finale of God’s wrath.
Let’s compare to Zechariah 14:3-4, 6-7 (Christ’s Second Coming & Battle of Armageddon):
“Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations as he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. The Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, forming a huge valley, so that half the mountain will move to the north and half to the south.”
“On that day there will be no light; the sunlight and moonlight will diminish. It will be a unique day known only to the Lord, without day or night, but there will be light at evening.”
Let’s compare to Isaiah 13:9-10, 13
(The Day of the Lord) :
“Look, the day of the Lord is coming — cruel, with fury and burning anger — to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners. Indeed, the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will not shine.”
“Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will shake from its foundations at the wrath of the Lord of Armies, on the day of his burning anger.”
Let’s compare to 2 Peter 3:10
(The Day of the Lord) :
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.” *Notice: Jesus comes, then the end of the tribulation.
Below is another link from Jesus’ rapture to the Day of the Lord and the Battle of Armageddon. *Notice the common references to vultures being gathered to eat those that suffered God’s wrath.
Matthew 24:27-28
“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.”
Let’s compare to Revelation 19:17-18, 21
(Battle of Armageddon):
“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military commanders, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.”
“The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh.”
Let’s compare to Ezekiel 39:17 :
““Son of man, this is what the Lord God says: Tell every kind of bird and all the wild animals, ‘Assemble and come! Gather from all around to my sacrificial feast that I am slaughtering for you, a great feast on the mountains of Israel; you will eat flesh and drink blood.”
Let’s compare to Ezekiel 32:4-8 :
“I [The Lord] will abandon you on the land and throw you onto the open field. I will cause all the birds of the sky to settle on you and let the wild creatures of the entire earth eat their fill of you. I will put your flesh on the mountains and fill the valleys with your carcass. I will drench the land with the flow of your blood, even to the mountains; the ravines will be filled with your gore. “ ‘When I s***f you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. I will darken all the shining lights in the heavens over you, and will bring darkness on your land. This is the declaration of the Lord God.”
We have completed linking the First Resurrection, the Rapture, the 7th Trumpet, the Second Coming, the Battle of Armageddon, and the 7th Bowl/Vile, ALL coming together on “The Day of the Lord”.
At “The Day of the Lord”, we’ve already been through the famines of the 3rd Seal, the rise of the Antichrist in the 1st Seal, the Antichrist breaking the peace treaty at the 3.5 year mark of the 7 Year Tribulation (Daniel 9:27), the Antichrist waging war on Christians (Revelation 13:7), the Christians being faced with the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13), the 7 Trumpet Judgments, and the 7 Bowl Judgements, etc.
At Jesus’ Coming, in the clouds, the First Resurrection happens, those Christians still alive on earth will be raptured, then we follow Jesus back down with our glorified bodies to the Battle of Armageddon and to setup for the Millennial Reign.
PERSECUTION:
Pre-Tribbers will say the Tribulation is only for Israel and the Unbelievers. It’s not only describing Israel below:
Here’s the setup of Christians being persecuted because Satan couldn’t defeat God’s chosen people (the Jews) because of God’s protection: “So the dragon [Satan] was furious with the woman [Israel] and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring [Christians] , — those who keep the commands of God and hold firmly to the testimony about Jesus.” Revelation 12:17
“As I was watching, this horn [Antichrist] waged war against the holy ones and was prevailing over them until the Ancient of Days [Jesus] arrived and a judgment was given in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.” Daniel 7:21-22
Those that wear white robes in this passage are those that have been martyred. “After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands…” “…Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people in white robes, and where did they come from? ” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” Then he told me: These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9, 13-14
Jesus’ Words: “For at that time there will be great distress, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again. Unless those days were cut short, no one would be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect [Christians]. ” Matthew 24:21-22
Jesus’ Words: “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name.” Matthew 24:9.
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4.
“And he [False Prophet / Second Beast] had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” Revelation 13:15.
“For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.” Revelation 16:6
(The 5th Seal): “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given. They cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, the one who is holy and true, how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” So they were each given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been.” Revelation 6:9-11
“And it [Antichrist/Beast] was permitted to wage war against the saints [Christians] and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All those who live on the earth will worship it, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.” Revelation 13:7-8
THE CALL FOR ENDURANCE:
The tribulation is to test our faith in Jesus. Not all Christians will be martyred because there would be no need for a rapture then. We will have to endure the various forms of persecution stemming from the Antichrist.
“If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen. If anyone is to be taken captive, into captivity he goes. If anyone is to be killed with a sword, with a sword he will be killed. This calls for endurance and faithfulness from the saints.”
Revelation 13:9-10.
“…There is no rest, day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or anyone who receives the mark of its name. This calls for endurance from the saints, who keep God’s commands and their faith in Jesus.” Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they will rest from their labors, since their works follow them.”” Revelation 14:11-13.
In Matthew 24:13, Jesus says, “If you endure to the end, you will be saved.” Jesus could mean if you “endure”, you’ll make it till the rapture, or it could mean if you don’t give into the Beast / Antichrist, you will inherit eternal life.
Jesus words: “But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36. *My take away on that verse is we should be praying heavily during the tribulation that God makes a way for us to escape the persecution to make it till the rapture.
Jesus speaking to the church of Philadelphia, in regards to going through the tribulation: “Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown.” Revelation 3:10-11. *This passage points to some will be given protection in a sense, during the Tribulation, as a reward, to escape the persecution. All Christians are not considered the church of Philadelphia, therefore, Jesus is saying the Tribulation is a time of testing.
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:12-13, 17
“I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:14-15
“For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.”
Hebrews 10:36-37
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4
“Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12
Jesus’ Words:
“The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39
Jesus’ Words:
“You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will kill some of you. You will be hated by everyone because of my name.” “By your endurance, gain your lives.” Luke 21:16-17, 19
“Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20-23
GOD’S WRATH:
We are not appointed to wrath. Tribulation and Wrath are two separate things. Tribulation is what the Antichrist does to those that don’t accept The Mark of the Beast. Wrath is what God does to those who accept the Mark of the Beast. Believers will be here during the first 6 Trumpets and 6 Bowl judgements. Those that did not receive the Mark of the Beast, will be protected from these judgements. Just like the Israelites were protected when God delivered plagues onto Pharaoh and the Egyptians in Exodus.
“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake [alive] or asleep [died], we may live together with him.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10. This was written as part of the passage “The Day of Our Lord”, describing the Tribulation. This is saying, whether we make it alive to the rapture or die beforehand, we will all eventually be together with Jesus. This ties into 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.
We will be raptured right before God’s 7th Bowl wrath. Revelation 6:15-17 reiterates the wrath coming just after the rapture: “Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?””
Revelation 14:14-16 paints a picture of Jesus rapturing His followers. Immediately after, Revelation 14:19-20 paints a picture of an angel pouring out God’s wrath on the earth. “So the angel swung his sickle at the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, and he threw them into the great w**epress of God’s wrath. Then the press was trampled outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press up to the horses’ bridles for about 180 miles.”
MARRIAGE SUPPER:
Pre-Tribbers will say Believers will be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb during the 7 Year Tribulation. “Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb! ” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.” ” Revelation 19:7, 9. *Notice that the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is not being described until the end of Revelation. Just a couple verses following the Marriage Supper brief description in Revelation 19:11, the Holy Ones are on white horses to follow Jesus back to earth for the Second Coming and to be there for the Battle of Armageddon. The Bible doesn’t tell us the duration of the Marriage Supper. The Bible doesn’t say we’ll be raptured up to Heaven for the Marriage Supper. Isaiah 25:6-10 leads us to believe the Marriage Supper will occur on earth at the beginning of the Millennial Reign, and will likely take place in the New Jerusalem.
Jesus’ Words:
“Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
Jesus’ Words:
“Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you.”
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:20-22, 33
I welcome you to go to scripture and verify all these things. I just wanted to share my new-to-me “revelation”. I’ve prayed for truth to be given to me regarding this heavy topic of Eschatology. I believe God has answered that prayer for me by leading me to sources of information and wisdom and giving me understanding He wants me to have in this present time.
How appropriate is the passage below for the rampant false doctrine of our day. This includes the “prosperity gospel”, “Once Saved Always Saved”, and the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Do you notice those three examples are “feel good” messages?
“I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:1-5
Disclaimer: There may be some missing pieces, maybe even some pieces out of place to the timeline, to this jigsaw puzzle called Eschatology.
