|
Original Message
|
Pre- or Post-Tribulation: Which is Correct?
Post-Trib Rapture is Correct, 2595 days after beginning of tribulation
o 1 Cor 15:51-52 - Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not 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.
We see here that there is no one left unchanged or changed previously. All are changed in a single moment. When is that moment?
o 1 Thes 4:15-17 - For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming (Greek: Parousia 3952 – to be near, physically, coming, physical presence) of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. For the Lord himself (Note: This phrase “the Lord Himself” is only used once in the New Testament. Why using the emphatic here? Because this is a distinction to make sure that people know that this is Jesus bodily coming to the earth as opposed to His indwelling of His spirit in the first fruits man-child people at the start of the tribulation period) 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 that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up (Greek: Harpazo 726 – to take by force, seize, catch up, catch away, pluck, pull) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
We see from this set of verses that the Rapture occurs at same time of first resurrection at the time of Jesus bodily coming to the earth. The key signs here are the trumpet sounding and the shout. The allegory of Jericho has 7 trumpets blow and at the last trump sounded AFTER going around the city 7 times, then they let out a shout.
o 1 Cor 15:22-26 - For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first-fruits (1st - Jesus resurrection) then they that are Christ's (resurrection of 1 Thess 4:16-17, Rev 20:5), at his coming (Greek: Parousia 3952 – to be near, physically, coming, physical presence, bodily coming). Then cometh the end (so this is after the 7 year tribulation), when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God (Rev 11:15), even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign (in heaven at the right hand of the father - Mk 12:36, Lk 20:42-43, Acts 2:35, Heb 1:13, 10:13), till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. Many verses confirm that He does not leave bodily that position of seated at the right hand of the Father until all things have been put in submission under His feet (the saints) (Ps 110:1, Mt 22:44, 26:64, Mk 12:36, 14:62, Lk 20:42-43, Acts 2:34-35, Eph 1:20, Heb 1:13). The simplest discussion is that, as in Isaiah 66:1 says, Heaven is His throne and the earth is His footstool. What part of the corporate body of Christ is still on the earth? His feet – we are the feet. The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. How is death defeated except by the resurrection of the dead?
We see here that Jesus does not leave Heaven bodily to come to the earth until after all enemies are defeated, including death at the resurrection of the dead. There are only two resurrections described in 1 Cor 15: 22-26.
1. Jesus the first fruits
2. The righteous dead at Jesus Parousia, bodily coming at the end of the tribulation.
The resurrection of the righteous dead must be resurrected after the tribulation or the righteous saints who die during the tribulation could never be resurrected since there is no other resurrection of the righteous.
David himself said in the Holy Spirit, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet. (Mk 12:36)
42 For David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,43 Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet. (Lk 20:42-43)
34 For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet. (Acts 2:34-35)
But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet? (Heb 1:13)
12 but he (Jesus), when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 henceforth expecting (Greek: ekdechomai 1551 – awaiting, expecting, looking for, waiting for) till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet. (Heb 10:13)
Look at how many times this quote is repeated throughout the New Testament. There is an important message about the timing of the Lord’s bodily return here.
o Rev. 20:4-5 - Souls of those beheaded - first resurrection
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first (Greek: Protos 4413 – foremost (in time, place, order, or importance), before, beginning, best, chief, first (of all), former) resurrection Resurrection (Greek: Anastasis 386 – resurrection, rise from the dead, etc.) (Rev 20:4-5)
After great martyrdom in second half of tribulation. This is the resurrection after the tribulation and the foremost resurrection – of a great and vast multitude of saints at once.
o Matthew 24 – in verse 3, the disciples ask what is the sign of the end of the world (Greek: Aion 165 – more correctly, age) (not 7 years before the end) and of his coming (Greek: Parousia 3952 – to be near, physically, coming, physical presence, bodily coming). This is the question that Jesus sets about answering for the remainder of this chapter. The summary is:
Vs 5 – apostasy first, (See also Mk 13:6)
Vs 6 – war - 2nd seal, (See also Mk 13:7)
Vs 7 – famine - 3rd seal. (See also Mk 13:8)
Vs 8 -he says these are the beginning (1st half of tribulation period) of travail (Greek: Odin 5604 – pain, sorrow, throes especially as of childbirth). (See also Mk 13:8)
Vs 9 – deliver us up to martyrdom and persecution – 5th seal. (See also Mk 13:9)
Vs 10 – a great falling away occurs (as in 2 Thess 2) – these are those Christians reprobated for taking the mark of the Beast (described and demonstrated in this document).
Vs 14- describes the saints preaching the gospel to all nations (2nd half of tribulation as two witness groups are spread out all over the world). (See also Mk 13:10)
Vs 15-20 – describe the setting up of the abomination that makes desolate (Christians taking the mark of the beast and being reprobated by God) (see also Mk 13:14-18)
Vs 21 – great tribulation starts for 2nd half of tribulation period. (See also Mk 13:9-13)
Vs 22 – days shortened for Elect’s sake – they were not raptured out beforehand. See also Dan 11:31-34 where the people who know their God in this time do great exploits.
Who are the elect during the great tribulation
31 And forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt-offering, and they shall set up the abomination that maketh desolate. (Mark of Beast beginning great tribulation)
32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
33 And they that are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, many days.
34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves unto them with flatteries. – Dan 11:31-34
1. Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:23-25 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter)
2. Mark 13:22
for there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, the elect.
Mark 13:21-23 (in Context) Mark 13 (Whole Chapter)
1. Matthew 24:22
And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Matthew 24:21-23 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter)
Mark 13:20
And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect's sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days.
Mark 13:19-21 (in Context) Mark 13 (Whole Chapter)
Vs 23-27 - describe that Jesus has not come bodily yet at this time (but we see in 1 Cor 15:22-23, 1 Thess 4:16 that the rapture and resurrection occur at the same time at His bodily arrival – so the resurrection has not yet occurred at this time). He is in no one place to go see Him. He shines forth from His saints (2 Thess 1:10 - glorified IN His saints) everywhere. The lightning from the East to the West is a great description of the Epiphany. Remember the role of the East in Prov 4:18 – The Path of the Righteous is like the rising of the Sun (in your heart) until the perfect day (when there is no shadow).
Vs 29 – at end of tribulation, which is start of Day of the Lord, 6th Seal Rev 6:12 - Sun and Moon are darkened. This is a major signpost of the end of the tribulation and the start of the next phase. Many verses talk about the darkening of sun and moon at the start of the Day of the Lord. Isa 13 describes the Day of the Lord in, in particular, vs 10 describes the darkening of the Sun and Moon. Isa 24 is another description of the Day of the Lord and, in particular, vs 23 talks about shaming of the sun and the confounding of the moon. Ezekiel 32 is yet another description of the Day of the Lord and, in particular, vs 7 talks about the darkening of covering of the Sun and the Moon. Mark 13:24, Acts: 2:20, and Rev 6:12 talk about the sun and Moon darkening after the tribulation and before the Day of the Lord. This tells you there is an 8th year after the 7 years. That 8th year is the Day of the Lord and is His wrath upon the unrighteous.
Vs 30 – see Son of Man coming (Greek: Erchomeltho 2064 – to come or go) on the clouds of heaven. This is Jesus bodily return (as in Greek: Parousia 3952 – to be near, physically, coming, physical presence). (See also Mk 13:26) This is the time described in 1 Thess 4:16-17 where the dead in Christ rise first and then we are raptured out of here.
Vs 31 – gather the elect, literally in the Greek, “from the ends of heaven to the ends of heaven”. The same reference in Mark 13:27 says: He shall gather together (Greek: Episunago 1996 – collect in the same place, gather, gather together) His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
This is the moment of the rapture right here in vs 31. When you overlay these two references, it becomes clear that the saints enter Heaven (the place where God rules) here on earth or they don’t go there to some far off heaven. The most important point is that the gathering, ingathering, rapture happens AFTER the tribulation of those days. There is also an important implication that Earth and Heaven are not completely separate geography. If you don’t enter Heaven here, you don’t go to Heaven there at the end.
o Joshua 6 - Jericho story - flesh falls after 7 times around on 7th day. "Times" used as unit of measure for ruling duration of beast. (Dan 7:25, 12:7, Rev 12:14) Each “time” is 1 year.
And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. (Dan 7:25)
And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above 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 a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Dan 12:7)
And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Rev 12:14)
It becomes so clear from the above examples that a “time” is a year when verses are compared. After this, try searching on the words “seven times” in biblegateway.com to see many other allegories of the process of the Lord’s completion of the saints.
o Judges 6:1 – The Lord delivered the children of Israel into the hands of the Midianites took the Harvest of Israel for 7 years, in the 8th year Gideon (as Jesus in the allegory) strikes back avenging them (as in Isa 34:8 - a year of vengeance for the cause of Zion). The whole reason for delivering the Israelites into enemy hands is recorded in the cycle of disobedience, judgment, and finally deliverance in Judges 2:10-19. This is also a type of the end times where the many of the saints are taken into captivity and/or killed. But in the 8th year, the Day of the Lord (Isa 34:8) God avenges the blood of the saints. We see this same pattern again in Prov 24:16.
o Prov 24:16 - 16 For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
In other words, the people of God will die for 7 years, and then comes the resurrection and rapture, and then the wicked are destroyed in the 1-year Day of the Lord.
o Exodus 12:29,31 - Feast of Unleavened Bread last 7 days before leaving Egypt. In Rev 11:8, the great city is worldwide Babylon is also called Sodom & Egypt. Now the Lord is delivering the saints out of the world system.
|
