|
THE GREAT TRIBULATIONIn Matthew 24:21 Jesus tells us that there is coming a time when there shall be GREAT TRIBULATION upon the earth such has not been since the beginning, nor shall ever be again. And this time of GREAT TRIBULATION will occur or take place AFTER the ABOMINATION of DESOLATION spoken of by Daniel the prophet.
Jesus tells us about the abomination of desolation in verse 15, then in verse 21 says,
"For THEN (AFTER the ABOMINATION of DESOLATION) shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was NOT since the beginning of the world (since the time man has been on the earth) to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
The details describing this period of great tribulation are found in many passages of scripture throughout the Bible, but due to the vast number of these references, and there length, I have chosen to refer to only one more found in the book of Daniel in order to lay a Biblical foundation on which to build.
Here is what Daniel 12:1 tells us, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your 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 your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” The question of whether or not there will be a time or period of GREAT TRIBULATION has never been an issue or topic of debate. However, there is much controversy among Christians as to whether or not the church will go through the GREAT TRIBULATION period. There are some that believe that the church will escape this time of great tribulation by being taken out of the earth right before it begins. This deliverance from this time of great tribulation, described as “being taken out of the earth”, has come to be called the pre-tribulation RAPTURE of the church. Now the "word" RAPTURE does not actually appear anywhere in the Bible, but the meaning of the word does describe an event, which the Bible teaches us that will actually take place. The word “rapture” simply means to be caught up. Probably the most referred to passage of scripture which describes this event of being caught up is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. However, it is not the purpose of this study to merely show that this event of being caught up and taken up from the earth is going to take place without a doubt, but actually to teach WHEN this event will occur. Again, there is no denial of the fact that this event, which many believers call the RAPTURE of the church, will take place, but the controversary lies in WHEN the rapture of the church will take place. Some Christians believe that the rapture will happen just prior to the beginning of the great tribulation period; hence this belief is called the PRE-tribulation view of the rapture. Others believe that the rapture will take place in the middle of the great tribulation period; thus this belief is called the MID-tribulation view of the rapture. Still other Christians believe that the rapture will not occur until after the great tribulation period, which is where the word POST-tribulation comes. So which view is correct?
In order to answer this highly controversial question of WHEN the rapture of the Church will occur with a BIBLICALLY SOUND foundation we need only to look at a few key scriptures. Let’s begin by looking at the scripture which I mentioned earlier. The Bible tells us in this, in the passage of scripture found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, CONCERNING them which are ASLEEP, that you 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.”
From this passage of scripture I want to draw your attention to three specific truths. There are many more truths in this passage of scripture, but for now I only want to focus upon these three.
Now let’s look at the passage of scripture to see exactly how I have arrived at these truths from the word of God.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:16 we read the phrase,
“... the dead in Christ shall RISE…”,
This phrase is a definite statement of fact that there is going to be a RESURRECTION of the dead in Christ. There is NO other way to interpret this verse any other way. There is definately, without a doubt going to be a resurrection of the dead in Christ. In verse 14 we are told that the spirits of those who sleep or who have died in Jesus (the dead in Christ) God will bring with him.
We are also told in 2 Corinthians 5:6 that when we are absent from the body, then we are present with the Lord. The Bible teaches us that we are a triune being. What this means is that the real you is a spirit being which lives in a fleshly body and the two together become a living soul. The soul is the part of man the connects the spirit to the body and is where the mind will and emotions come into being. So when a Christians dies, the inner man or spirit leaves the body and goes to be present with the Lord to await the time of his or her change. This time of change is when God will give us new glorified spiritual bodies that will not die. 1 Corinthians 15:42-52 gives us a great deal of insight on this subject as well as to the time that this change will occur.
Here is what verses 51 and 52 of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 have to say.
“Behold I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (that is die, in other words some of us will remain and be alive), 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.”
Now let’s compare these two verses with the passage of scripture that we have been looking at found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
Both passages talk about a RESURRECTION of the dead in Christ, because ONLY those who are RIGHTEOUS will be raised INCORRUPTIBLE. Also both refer to those who sleep in Christ, because of the preposyion WE; and those who are alive and remaining at the coming of the Lord, because WE shall not ALL SLEEP od die. So we can conclude that our change will come at the time of the RAPTURE. And we can also conclude that the rapture will occur at the time of the sounding of the LAST TRUMPET, what ever this last trump may be. But before I get too far ahead of myself let’s go back and finish laying the foundation of the three truths which I stated earlier.
In verse 15 of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 we see the phrase,
“… we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall NOT PREVENT them which are asleep.”
The word “prevent” here literally means to precede or go before. Now precede means to go before in time, or occur prior to, or to go in advance of. In other words this verse is saying we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord are NOT going to be RAPTURED (caught up) BEFORE the dead in Christ are resurrected from the dead. Plain and simple there is not going to be a rapture or CATCHING UP, until there is FIRST a resurrection of the dead in Christ.
Look at this next phrase in verse 16,
“…and the dead in Christ shall rise FIRST.”
Those who sleep in Jesus, the dead in Christ are resurrected FIRST. Now read verves 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.”
Hebrews 11:39,40 says it like this,
“And these all (referring to the dead in Christ) having obtained a good report through faith, RECEIVED NOT the promise (as yet). God having provided some better thing for us, that they (again speaking of the dead in Christ) WITHOUT us should NOT be made perfect. (that is changed or given eternal glorified spiritual bodies)”
In other words we don’t get caught up or raptured UNTIL the dead in Christ are resurrected, and the dead in Christ don’t receive there immortal bodies or change, UNTIL we who are alive and remain receive our change. Plain and simple, we ALL receive our change TOGETHER at the SAME time, which we have now learned is at the time of the RAPTURE of the CHURCH. These verses of scriptures cannot be interpreted any otherway.
So this leaves us with the undeniable TRUTH that there can absolutely be NO rapture UNTIL there is FIRST a resurrection of the dead in Christ, and that those of us who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord will be raptured or caught up TOGETHER with the resurrected dead in Christ. In other words we don’t go up until the dead in Christ are resurrected, and then we will all be changed in a twinkling of an eye and caught up TOGETHER. Fix this TRUTH into your mind and in your heart, so that you will not be deceived.
Now that a solid Biblical foundation has been laid let’s begin building a sound unshakable doctrine of WHEN the RAPTURE will take place. Sometimes the easiest way to explain something clearly is to draw a picture to illustrate the truth you are trying to make. The following diagram is a common illustration of the PRE-tribulation view of the rapture.
caught up into heaven for 7 years age of grace . great tribulation period . 1000 year reign . ages to come
church age RAPTURE 2nd coming end
of 1000 years
Now since we have clearly shown that the word of God without a doubt teaches the there WILL DEFINITELY be a resurrection at the time of the rapture, then it is needful that we include this vital truth to the drawing. So let’s place the word “resurrection” directly under the word rapture on the illustration of the PRE-tribulation illustration.
caught up into heaven for 7 years
age of grace . great tribulation period . 1000 year reign . ages to come
church age RAPTURE 2nd coming end
RESURRECTION 1000 years
Now let’s go to Revelation 20:4-6 which says,
“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.
5. But the REST of the dead lived not again UNTIL the thousand years were finished. This is the FIRST RESURECTION.
6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the FIRST resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priest of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
There are two keys that I want you to see found in this passage of scripture that will settle in your heart forever the time that the rapture will occur. That is of course IF you truly desire to know the sincere undefiled TRUTH of God’s word, the WHOLE word of God. Both of these keys that unlock the truth are found in verse 5 of Revelation chapter 20.
“…the FIRST RESURRECTION.”
“…the REST of the dead lived NOT again UNTIL the thousand years were
FINISHED.”
The word “FIRST” means coming BEFORE all others. Consequently this means that the resurrection described here in these verses in chapter 20 of the book of Revelation by simple definition HAS TO BE the resurrection that occurs prior to, or BEFORE any other resurrection.
In other words this is the very FIRST resurrection to take place. Therefore since the resurrection that takes place at the time of the RAPTURE will also be the FIRST resurrection to occur since the time of Jesus.
So consequently, this makes both of these references to a resurrection, to be ONE and the SAME resurrection. In other words, the resurrection described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is the exact SAME resurrection described in Revelation 20:4-6. There is no getting around this undeniable truth that they are ONE and the SAME resurrection, because there can only be ONE FIRST RESURRECT.
So now we must also add this vital truth to the PRE-tribulation drawing by placing the word FIRST before the word RESURRECTION that is directly under the word rapture to clearly illustrate this undeniable truth that the FIRST RESURRECTION will occur at the time of the rapture of the church.
caught up into heaven for 7 years church age RAPTURE 2nd coming end
FIRST RESURRESCTION 1000 years
Now let’s look at the second key. The word “REST” is defined as meaning ALL that remain, or ALL those who are left. That means that this resurrection of the REST of the dead is the ONLY other resurrection left to take place.
Let me explain. If there were 8 apples on a table and I came and took 5 of these apples FIRST, before anyone else could come and take any, and would say to you, “I will return after the day is finished to take the REST,” how many apples would I take at the end of the day? Obviously the answer would be the REMAINING three, or ALL that is left.
So consequently the phases “FIRST resurrection”, and “the REST of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished” do more than just imply that that there are TWO resurrections; they emphatically state that there are TWO and ONLY TWO resurrections that are going to take place. The FIRST resurrection as we have already clearly shown will take place at the time of the RAPTURE. This we have already shown to be an undeniable TRUTH of God's word. And Revelation 20:5 tells us that the second and FINAL resurrection, the ONLY other resurrection to take place will not take place UNTIL the thousand years reign of Jesus is finished, or at the END of the 1000 years. Now with this TRUTH soundly established let’s put the final touches on the PRE-tribulation illustration of the rapture by writing the words “Second resurrection where the REST of the dead are raised” at the end of the thousand years reign.
caught up into heaven for 7 years
age of grace . great tribulation period . 1000 years reign . ages to come
church age RAPTURE 2nd coming end of 1000 years
FIRST RESURRECTION 2nd resurrection where the
REST of the dead are raised
Now read Revelation 20:4 again with this illustration FIXED in your mind.
“I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to 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.”
Remember the first rule of interpreting the Bible is to keep the verse of scripture that is in question in the context from which it is found. This verse is describing those who take part in the FIRST resurrection, which we now know without a doubt takes place at the time of the RAPTURE. Remember that the FIRST resurrection and the resurrection at the time of the RAPTURE are ONE and the SAME resurrection. There is NO getting around this UNDENIABLE TRUTH.
Now if you haven’t already, I want you to notice that those who are being resurrected here in this FIRST resurrection at the time of the RAPTURE have gone through the entire GREAT TRIBULATION period.
How do we know this? Well Revelation 20:4 gives us a detailed description of who is going to take part in the FIRST resurrection, and therefore leaves NO DOUBT for those who truly desire to know the TRUTH of God’s word, and are willing to receive and endure SOUND doctrine. Notice that:
The Bible clearly teaches that all these things that these beloved of Christ went through here is verse 4, which was prior or BEFORE the FIRST resurrection, took place DURING the time of GREAT TRIBULATION. So what does all this mean? Take one more CLOSE look at the illustration of the PRE-tribulation view. caught up into heaven for 7 years
age of grace . great tribulation period . 1000 years reign . ages to come
church age RAPTURE 2nd coming end of 1000 years
FIRST RESURRECTION 2nd and ONLY other resurrection
where the REST of the dead are raised
Now I want you to notice that there is a MAJOR problem with the illustration of the PRE-tribulation doctrine. Remember, the PRE-tribulation view teaches that the church will be raptured BEFORE the GREAT TRIBULATION period.
However, as you can clearly see, by their very own drawing, that this simply cannot be the case. You can plainly see by this illustration of the PRE-tribulation view that the Bible clearly shows that a PRE-tribulation rapture is NOT POSSIBLE.
Let me explain. If the RAPTURE were to take place BEFORE the time of great tribulation, as the PRE-tribulation doctrine teaches, then that means that the FIRST resurrection has to ALSO take place BEFORE the great tribulation period. And why is this? Remember the firm BIBLICAL foundation that we laid earlier that there must be a resurrection at the time of the rapture. Now here is the dilemma:
If the rapture of the church were to take place BEFORE the great tribulation, and the ONLY other resurrection to occur does not take place until the thousand years is FINISHED, then how will those Christians who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and the word of God DURING the great tribulation period be resurrected in order to LIVE and reign with Christ for a thousand years?
It is NOT possible with the PRE-tribulation teaching, nor is it possible with the MID-tribulation view. The ONLY BIBLICAL solution is to move the time that the rapture is to occur to immediately AFTER the great tribulation period. The Bible clearly teaches that the rapture of the church will in fact take place immediately AFTER the time of great tribulation.
Now you are faced with a CHOICE of either to accept the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God that clearly teaches that the church, believers in Christ WILL go THROUGH the entire great tribulation period and will NOT be raptured until IMMEDIATELY AFTER the tribulation of those days, OR you can REJECT God's word. The choice is yours. I pray that you will make the right one, so that you can PREPARE for the days ahead.
Please read the study entitled "HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE GREAT TRIBULATION"
But for now let's continue with more Biblicle support of this UNDENIABLE TRUTH of the POST-TRIBULATION rapture of the CHURCH, God's ELECT. Please look at Matthew 24:29-31, which says,
“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 coming in clouds of heaven with power and great gory. 31. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a TRUMPET (or with a trumpet and a great voice; compare this to 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17), and they shall GATHER TOGETHER his elect (the CHURCH) from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” This passage of scripture is only one of many that teach of the rapture of the church occurring AFTER the period of great tribulation. Again notice that verse 29 clearly states that this event that has come to be known as the rapture of the church takes place immediately AFTER the TRIBULATION of those days. Now the tribulation of those days is referring back to verse 21 in Matthew chapter 24, which says,
“For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
There is much more scriptural evidence that supports and reinforces the POST-tribulation rapture of the church TRUTH, which I have dealt with at some length in the study I have entitled “THE THIRD DAY”. However, the main purpose of this study is to focus on the attitude of God. The Bible is very clear in conveying to us that God’s attitude towards us is to save and protect us from our adversary, the devil. The coming of the Lord is very near, and Satan knows that his time is growing short. Therefore the wrath of the enemy will increase as the day of the Lord draws closer. The Bible without a doubt clearly teaches that the church WILL go THROUGH the entire period of GREAT TRIBULATION, but God desires his people to be PREPARED for the days ahead.
I have a study on "HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE GREAT TRIBULATION" in which I will share with you on how to build your “ARK OF SECURITY”, so that you might be delivered and protected during the great tribulation period, and not cast away your confidence in the Lord. You may click on the highlighted blue title, which will link or open a new window to this study or you may scroll back up and choose another study. Thanks for reading and may the Holy Spirit of the living God our Father lead and guide you into all TRUTH. Search the word daily to prove to yourself that the things you are taught are in fact the TRUTH of God's Holy word, the WHOLE word of God.
Always and forever, Yours in Jesus Christ, Mark . |