A Brief Comparison of Prospective Timelines of Three Differing Rapture Theories:
1.) Between now and the beginning of the peace (70th week), foretold in scriptures:
Pre-Trib--Jesus could come back at any instant, leaving the world he loves in utter chaos.
Pre-Wrath--Jesus probably won't come back yet, and life will go on 'business as usual.'
Peri-Wrath--see post, "Chronology of Future Events Based on Peri-Wrath Rapture Theory".
2.) The first three and a half years of peace:
Pre-Trib--this is really a "false peace" because the Devil is running the show. All sorts of trouble afflict the people of the world.
Pre-Wrath--Jesus probably won't come back yet, and life will go on 'business as usual.'
Peri-Wrath--see post, "Chronology of Future Events Based on Peri-Wrath Rapture Theory".
3.) The removal of the daily sacrifice:
Pre-Trib--this event doesn't matter much to us since we should be long gone by now, but for those "left behind" things are just getting worse and worse as all the plagues and troubles foretold in Revelation come to pass.
Pre-Wrath--this is when things go terribly awry and the Abomination of Desolation is set up at this same time, which brings about a long drawn out period of Great Tribulation.
Peri-Wrath--see post, "Chronology of Future Events Based on Peri-Wrath Rapture Theory".
4.) The second half of the prophecied seven years:
Pre-Trib--the world is a living Hell, with the exception of a few people that have managed to get their hands on a "How to Survive the Tribulation" movie or book and have come to know Jesus as a result.
Pre-Wrath--Jesus will take up his people at some point, thereby leaving the unsaved to struggle through the remainder of time leading up 'til all can be accomplished that must come before the Millenial Reign begins. It is unclear how long Jesus and his people will wait in the atmosphere while terrible trouble is unleashed onto the inhabitants of the earth, but they should be able to remain aloof indefinitely.
Peri-Wrath--see post, "Chronology of Future Events Based on Peri-Wrath Rapture Theory".
5.) The conclusion of the seven years:
Pre-Trib--It is time for the chaos to come to an end, which will require Divine intervention in the affairs of the world.
Pre-Wrath--It is time for the chaos to come to an end, which will require Divine intervention in the affairs of the world.
Peri-Wrath--See post, "Chronology of Future Events Based on Peri-Wrath Rapture Theory". (Also, note that the other two theories have already gone through the Great Tribulation, so we will skip right to the Millenial Reign for this comparison.)
6.) The Millenial Reign
Pre-Trib--1000 years of peace with Christ.
Pre-Wrath--1000 years of peace with Christ.
Peri-Wrath--" " Wow! We can all agree on something.
7.) End of the Millenial Reign
Pre-Trib--the end.
Pre-Wrath--the end.
Peri-Wrath--see post, "Chronology of Future Events Based on Peri-Wrath Rapture Theory". In my opinion, it is worth noting at this time how the seventh seal and the seven final trumpets ( ) occur after the beast and his armies are long gone. The sorts of trouble that are foretold by the seven trumpets are often confused with belonging to the Great Tribulation, which misunderstanding compels a lot of theorists to project that the Lord's faithful will not have to experience that time. This is in part true, but it foregoes the conclusion that we may be here for the bulk of the Great Tribulation, and that is a dangerous misunderstanding. The simple fact is that there may be a slight pause of approximately 1000 years between the sixth and seventh seals and likewise between the Great Tribulation and the seven final trumpets ( ). Confused? Don't worry; you are not alone.
Looking at the final seven trumpets (see below), that come with the opening of the seventh seal, there is not one single mention of the beast or his armies, for they were dealt with around the time of the opening of the sixth seal. What we have is a world repopulated of the descendants of those who were 'left behind' ( ) at the end of the Great Tribulation, and they are now once again, 1000 years later, subject to Satan's deceptions. We do not have to worry about the troubles of the seven trumpets because: either (A), we will have been caught up in the first resurrection and/or rapture toward the end of the Great Tribulation and are therefore now enjoying our new and immortal bodies, some or all of us under the shadow of his wing in Jerusalem ; or (B), we will be "sleeping" and awaiting judgment day at the the second resurrection; or (C), as children of the 'left behind' some of us have come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and are for that reason invited to come under his divine protection in Jerusalem.
Conclusion:
The Pre-Trib theory is scripturally invalid; although it bases its premise on a powerful faith in the Lord's desire and ability to protect his people, it often focuses primarily on physical protection without highlighting the importance of spiritual protection through trials and tribulations. The Pre-Wrath theory is more plausible, but there remain huge holes in the flow of its timelines that few or none care to explain; nonetheless, great numbers of people have adopted this theory, which makes me hopeful that they might someday be able to come around to considering some of the points of the Peri-Wrath theory. They are very similar theories, and even their spelling is similar with the most noticeable difference being a reordering of a couple of letters and the addition of one letter--I. With the addition of "I", one might come to a greater understanding of the last days through a willingness to put more of themselves into it: I will be better off if I prepare and equip for the foretold Great Tribulation than if I do nothing to prepare and equip; I will depend less on other men's conclusions and dedicate more of my personal time in the word to understanding the timelines that have been given in scriptures and to understanding what sorts of works the Lord would have me do as the world heads towards those days; I realize that most of the plagues of wrath are targeted at the beast and those with his mark, so I do not have to worry about most of them; also, I can do something to prepare for the couple of plagues that are more likely to affect me and those like me; And, I shall continue to put my faith and trust in the Lord, that no matter what I face physically, he can protect and deliver my soul, insomuch that not one hair of my everlasting head will be singed.
A brief look at the seven trumpets that will occur at the end of the 1000 years:
Trumpet 1--Revelation 8:7--Hail and fire mingled with blood; one-third of trees burn and all grass burns up.
None of these seven trumpets will be something we have to deal with in the Great Tribulation, but there may be some similarities to the plagues that occur during the Great Tribulation. For example, during the plague of great heat ( ), there may in all probability be some major fires going on in some parts of the world.
Trumpet 2--Revelation 8:8,9--mountain of fire cast into sea; one third of sea becomes blood; one third of life dies; and one-third of ships destroyed.
Wait a minute. Didn't all life in the sea die during plague 2 ( )? While this is a true prediction, it does not mean that the seas can never again hold life. It is probable that the oceans will be made clean in the early years of the Millenial Reign, and even if the only stock to go back into the oceans and seas come from aquariums, it still leaves 1000 years of being fruitful and multiplying, which can make a tremendous impact. Remember that Satan is going to be locked up for the greater part of that 1000 years ( ), which means the nations will not be following his destructive ways; therefore, the world and the creatures in it will experience very fruitful and productive growths.
Trumpet 3--Revelation 8:10,11--the falling star Wormwood effects the drinkability of one-third of the world's fresh water supplies.
This closely resembles the third plague ( ) where the fountains and rivers of waters become blood. Notice also this interesting trend of the effects of these trumpets only going after one-third of their intended targets. There must be some reason for this, but we could only speculate at this point.
Trumpet 4--Revelation 8:12--Sun, moon, and stars all diminished by one-third of their brightness, or they will shine one-third less than normal.
By now it should be apparent that something big is going on; these trends are too persistent to be considered coincidences by any rational person of the day. By all accounts, it stands to reason that Satan--the one who took with him one out of every three angels at the time he was expelled from heaven ( )--is once again loosed to pull the strings in worldy affairs, and for this reason God is sending these trumpets as signs and wonders to warn the people of the earth to refrain from following his deceptive ways. Upon the conclusion of this trumpet, there is a warning to the inhabitants of the earth that there are three more trumpets to sound ( ), and it isn't going to be pretty.
Trumpet 5--Revelation 9:1-11--An angel with the key of the bottemless pit releases terrible little creatures that afflict men with terrible pain for five months.
These creatures cannot hurt grass, trees, or the Lord's 144,000 chosen ambassadors ( ) during these last days. Any other human alive wishing to be spared the pain of this trumpet won't stand a chance outside of Jerusalem where the Lord will be able to protect those who serve him and have dedicated their lives to him.
Trumpet 6--Revelation 9:13-21--Four angels are released from the Euphrates for a set time to kill one-third of all men.
It appears that these angels might lead an army of 200 million special horsemen. It is rather difficult at this time to understand what John saw and how it will come to be, but as with the creatures from the bottomless pit, it is not out of the question that they may portray some supernatural appearances and abilities that are difficult to imagine.
Trumpet 7--Revelation 11:14-19--A trumpet of closure.
As far as woe goes to the inhabitants of the earth, closure in this case means fiery destruction; otherwise, this trumpet will coincide with some spectacular occasions. It's almost too overwhelming to really discourse on all that is involved with bringing an end to the elements of this creation ( ). There is an interesting transitional element into the exposition of John's vision that comes between the sixth and seventh trumpets, and we have one and a half chapters taking us on a bit of a long route around the greatness of the seventh trumpet. A part of that detour specifically denotes that he should not write down what he sees (chapter 10). The other part, Revelation 11:1-13, which tells of the two witnesses is a bit of a retrospective that involves events related back to the period of time leading up to the Great Tribulation. Maybe this looking back is to highlight the incredible parallels between the events that will mark the beginning and ending of the Millenial Reign. Or perhaps it serves to point out that Revelation cannot be written in a precisely chronological fashion; there are bound to be some tangents, some intersecting of events, and some proverbial wheels within wheels. Despite the pause in the telling of the events, it is worth pointing out that there is actually little or no pause between the sixth and seventh trumpets, for it is written: "The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly." Revelation 11:14
The second woe in this context relates to the 6th trumpet, and the third woe relates to the seventh. Based on the fact that the seventh trumpet follows quickly after the sixth, this more or less rules out the notion that the ministry of the two witnesses, which will last for 1,260 days, and which will preceed the Great Tribulation and then the Millenial Reign, is in some way occurring within the events of the seven trumpets, especially since the seventh trumpet coincides with the end of time ( ) as we know it.
There are some truly remarkable parallels between the beginning and ending of the Millenial Kingdom, and in some contexts they could be mistaken for one another. Around the beginning of the Millenial Reign:
1) The Son of God brings about the first resurrection from the dead, and he takes up those who believe in him, first the martyrs of the Great Tribulation and then his servants who managed to survive without taking the mark; 2) Around the same time, the Son of God brings fiery destruction ( ) to his enemies, who are bringing all the armies of the world to a fight at Armaggedon in the Holy Land. Then at the end of the Millenial Reign: 1) God the Father brings fiery destruction to his enemies that have come up to surround Jerusalem ( ), but also consumes all of heaven and earth with fire ( ), and in so doing makes way for a new heaven and a new earth ( ); 2) God the Father brings about the second resurrection and judgment day ( ), to reward those who did righteousness and to punish the workers of iniquity. Both the beginning and the ending of the Millenial Reign occur with a fiery destruction and a resurrection from the dead.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Chronology of Future Events Based on Peri-Wrath Rapture Theory
A General Chronology of Future Events Based on the Peri-Wrath Rapture Theory
1.) From the present to the beginning of the foretold peace confirmed by many ( )...
The Global War on Terror increases in intensity, probably to become known as WWIII. One aspect of this increased intensity will be an attempt by the terrorists to dishearten the West by striking it a major blow, and they will then make a concentrated effort to gang up on and defeat the nation of Israel. Israel will come out victorious though, and she will reclaim the Temple Mount with little or no political resistance from the West, who will agree that Islam's loss of the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosque are but a small price to pay for the trouble that the extremists have brought about in the name of their religion.
2.) The first three and a half years of peace...
The appearance of peace, lasting peace, and Middle East peace is a welcome change from the darkness that the world knew during the night of the War on Terror. Israel wastes little time in getting their temple established, and the hearts and prayers of millions turn towards Jerusalem as a place where the name of the Lord dwells ( ). It is quite possible that this attention and focus may by faith result in a period of abundant rain ( ) for the land of Israel. Efforts to harvest said rain for future use ( ) would be worth more than a little consideration as there exists the potential to greatly further research and development in this field of interest.
3.) A day of adversity...
At some point in period 2, animal sacrifices will begin to occur on the Temple Mount, but this practise will soon receive criticism from political activists, who will claim this is too cruel. 'The International Authority', (from now on referred to as the Beast), in one unanimous voice, will eventually agree to put a stop to it and they will impose their combined authority over the activities that occur there, and in so doing put an end to the animal sacrifices.
4.) A window of time that is rich with prophetic implications and is greatly misunderstood...
Within this window of time, there will be a related project to the harvesting of rainwater that began in period 2. In this period of time, great efforts will be made to feed the land, (plant), a variety of trees in the wilderness and desert ( ). Meanwhile, the Beast will make and enforce new laws meant to deprive certain peoples ( ), and to strip the faithful and godly of their powers ( ) and positions in society; the complexities of this campaign will require it to continue for forty-two months before it reaches their desired effect.
Also in this window of time, the Gentiles (non-Jewish folk) will tread on the temple court and the city for forty two months ( ).
This insult to the sanctity of Jerusalem and the Temple courts will very nearly coincide with the 1,260 day ministry of the two witnesses ( ). Only one man is capable of putting an end to these two witnesses and their plagues, and in so doing he will gain international renown and popularity; he will become the figurehead for all the power and authority that has been given to the Beast.
5.) Precisely 1,290 days after the removal of the daily sacrifice ( ) that occured at point 3...
The Beast, now embodied within that one man, will set himself up on a wing of the temple, proclaiming that he is himself God ( ). He will demand worship and submission, and the punishment for those who refuse will be severe. At the point that he sets himself up in the temple and receives worship, this is known as the Abomination of Desolation ( ). It is a point in time that indicates the need to hastily flee ( ) from "civilization" and attempt to survive off the land. The only other choice that relates to some form of survival is to accept martyrdom because those who submit to the beast's demands shall never again know peace ( ).
6.) The Great Tribulation...
Imagine the fury of Hurricane Katrina on a global scale. Only instead of weather causing the trouble, it is men and authorities that follow the Beast. For those intending to make a go of it in the wild, it would be wise to plan on hiding for at least 45 days ( ). Within the days and weeks that follow point 5, the world will begin to experience the seven plagues of God's wrath. Survivors can combat the plagues that might affect them by making certain preparations and efforts to find adequate shelter, but for the most part the plagues more directly effect the followers of the beast. Here is a brief look at the seven plagues that will occur during the Great Tribulation:
Plague 1--Revelation 16:2--Painful and ugly sores on those with the mark...
No worries for those without the mark.
Plague 2--Revelation 16:3--The sea becomes like blood and everything in it dies...
Might want to reconsider plans if considering spending the Great Tribulation on a private sailboat or yacht; but if you do go this route, don't develop your menu solely on food caught from the sea. Keep in mind also that whatever it is that kills the sea life might also have an adverse effect on a ship's hull.
Plague 3--Revelation 16:4--Rivers and fountains become blood...
Have an adequate supply of water or equivalent fluid that does not rely on rivers and fountains as the source; pray to the Lord that the angel of the waters (verse 5 and 6) spares the fresh water supplies of those without the mark.
Plague 4--Revelation 16:9--Great heat...
Find or make an adequate shelter to get out of the sun as much as possible. This is one that will more directly affect survivors in the great tribulation. Pray for strength to resist temptation to return to "society" to partake of the costly luxuries of ice and air conditioning. If you are on a private boat (see Plague 2), you might want to consider sailing far north or south, even though there is a lot of risk involved with such a move--just a thought.
Plague 5--Revelation 16:10--Darkness and pain for those with the mark...
Just as with plague 1, this has no direct impact on those without the mark; it may in fact turn into an advantage as survivors find a window of opportunity to come out of hiding a little bit and procure some necessary provisions.
Plague 6--Revelation 16:12-16--Water of Euphrates is dried up; three spirits of devils gather armies of world together for the battle of Armageddon...
The end is very close: in fact we have an indication that this is the watch of the night in which we can expect the Lord to return like a thief (verse 15). We cannot know the day and the hour ( ), but we have an approximate season in which we can expect him to appear in the clouds to destroy his enemies ( ) and receive to himself his followers, not necessarily in that order.
Plague 7--Revelation 16:17-21--Heavenly voices, thunders and lightnings; a great earthquake and gigantic hailstones.
This will certainly be a bad final hour for the followers of the beast. Also may be a problem for survivors without the mark, at least those of the 'left behind' crowd as the others may already be gone; nonetheless, as with the plague of great heat, a solid shelter and some forethought into preparation will make a difference into the survivability of this final plague.
7.) The Millenial Reign...
This will be 1000 years of ideal peace with the Lord ruling out of Jerusalem, and with him will be those who were martyred for not bowing to the beast or taking his mark ( ). He will heal the earth and the seas, and the Devil will be locked up in chains ( ). When Christ returns, those who are mercifully 'left behind' ( ) and retain their humanity will be the first generation of the people that will make up the nations that will exist during and at the end of the 1000 years. The fact that their numbers will become as the sand of the sea ( ) offers some hope that surviving the Great Tribulation is not only a possibility but it is an absolute necessity for many.
8.) The end of the Millenial Reign...
At some point, the Devil is let loose for a short season to once again deceive the nations of the world ( ). The seven trumpets ( ) of the seventh seal are sounded. God destroys his enemies, who come to surround Jerusalem ( ), and heaven and earth also are consumed with fire ( ). The second resurrection and Judgment Day take place.
1.) From the present to the beginning of the foretold peace confirmed by many ( )...
The Global War on Terror increases in intensity, probably to become known as WWIII. One aspect of this increased intensity will be an attempt by the terrorists to dishearten the West by striking it a major blow, and they will then make a concentrated effort to gang up on and defeat the nation of Israel. Israel will come out victorious though, and she will reclaim the Temple Mount with little or no political resistance from the West, who will agree that Islam's loss of the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosque are but a small price to pay for the trouble that the extremists have brought about in the name of their religion.
2.) The first three and a half years of peace...
The appearance of peace, lasting peace, and Middle East peace is a welcome change from the darkness that the world knew during the night of the War on Terror. Israel wastes little time in getting their temple established, and the hearts and prayers of millions turn towards Jerusalem as a place where the name of the Lord dwells ( ). It is quite possible that this attention and focus may by faith result in a period of abundant rain ( ) for the land of Israel. Efforts to harvest said rain for future use ( ) would be worth more than a little consideration as there exists the potential to greatly further research and development in this field of interest.
3.) A day of adversity...
At some point in period 2, animal sacrifices will begin to occur on the Temple Mount, but this practise will soon receive criticism from political activists, who will claim this is too cruel. 'The International Authority', (from now on referred to as the Beast), in one unanimous voice, will eventually agree to put a stop to it and they will impose their combined authority over the activities that occur there, and in so doing put an end to the animal sacrifices.
4.) A window of time that is rich with prophetic implications and is greatly misunderstood...
Within this window of time, there will be a related project to the harvesting of rainwater that began in period 2. In this period of time, great efforts will be made to feed the land, (plant), a variety of trees in the wilderness and desert ( ). Meanwhile, the Beast will make and enforce new laws meant to deprive certain peoples ( ), and to strip the faithful and godly of their powers ( ) and positions in society; the complexities of this campaign will require it to continue for forty-two months before it reaches their desired effect.
Also in this window of time, the Gentiles (non-Jewish folk) will tread on the temple court and the city for forty two months ( ).
This insult to the sanctity of Jerusalem and the Temple courts will very nearly coincide with the 1,260 day ministry of the two witnesses ( ). Only one man is capable of putting an end to these two witnesses and their plagues, and in so doing he will gain international renown and popularity; he will become the figurehead for all the power and authority that has been given to the Beast.
5.) Precisely 1,290 days after the removal of the daily sacrifice ( ) that occured at point 3...
The Beast, now embodied within that one man, will set himself up on a wing of the temple, proclaiming that he is himself God ( ). He will demand worship and submission, and the punishment for those who refuse will be severe. At the point that he sets himself up in the temple and receives worship, this is known as the Abomination of Desolation ( ). It is a point in time that indicates the need to hastily flee ( ) from "civilization" and attempt to survive off the land. The only other choice that relates to some form of survival is to accept martyrdom because those who submit to the beast's demands shall never again know peace ( ).
6.) The Great Tribulation...
Imagine the fury of Hurricane Katrina on a global scale. Only instead of weather causing the trouble, it is men and authorities that follow the Beast. For those intending to make a go of it in the wild, it would be wise to plan on hiding for at least 45 days ( ). Within the days and weeks that follow point 5, the world will begin to experience the seven plagues of God's wrath. Survivors can combat the plagues that might affect them by making certain preparations and efforts to find adequate shelter, but for the most part the plagues more directly effect the followers of the beast. Here is a brief look at the seven plagues that will occur during the Great Tribulation:
Plague 1--Revelation 16:2--Painful and ugly sores on those with the mark...
No worries for those without the mark.
Plague 2--Revelation 16:3--The sea becomes like blood and everything in it dies...
Might want to reconsider plans if considering spending the Great Tribulation on a private sailboat or yacht; but if you do go this route, don't develop your menu solely on food caught from the sea. Keep in mind also that whatever it is that kills the sea life might also have an adverse effect on a ship's hull.
Plague 3--Revelation 16:4--Rivers and fountains become blood...
Have an adequate supply of water or equivalent fluid that does not rely on rivers and fountains as the source; pray to the Lord that the angel of the waters (verse 5 and 6) spares the fresh water supplies of those without the mark.
Plague 4--Revelation 16:9--Great heat...
Find or make an adequate shelter to get out of the sun as much as possible. This is one that will more directly affect survivors in the great tribulation. Pray for strength to resist temptation to return to "society" to partake of the costly luxuries of ice and air conditioning. If you are on a private boat (see Plague 2), you might want to consider sailing far north or south, even though there is a lot of risk involved with such a move--just a thought.
Plague 5--Revelation 16:10--Darkness and pain for those with the mark...
Just as with plague 1, this has no direct impact on those without the mark; it may in fact turn into an advantage as survivors find a window of opportunity to come out of hiding a little bit and procure some necessary provisions.
Plague 6--Revelation 16:12-16--Water of Euphrates is dried up; three spirits of devils gather armies of world together for the battle of Armageddon...
The end is very close: in fact we have an indication that this is the watch of the night in which we can expect the Lord to return like a thief (verse 15). We cannot know the day and the hour ( ), but we have an approximate season in which we can expect him to appear in the clouds to destroy his enemies ( ) and receive to himself his followers, not necessarily in that order.
Plague 7--Revelation 16:17-21--Heavenly voices, thunders and lightnings; a great earthquake and gigantic hailstones.
This will certainly be a bad final hour for the followers of the beast. Also may be a problem for survivors without the mark, at least those of the 'left behind' crowd as the others may already be gone; nonetheless, as with the plague of great heat, a solid shelter and some forethought into preparation will make a difference into the survivability of this final plague.
7.) The Millenial Reign...
This will be 1000 years of ideal peace with the Lord ruling out of Jerusalem, and with him will be those who were martyred for not bowing to the beast or taking his mark ( ). He will heal the earth and the seas, and the Devil will be locked up in chains ( ). When Christ returns, those who are mercifully 'left behind' ( ) and retain their humanity will be the first generation of the people that will make up the nations that will exist during and at the end of the 1000 years. The fact that their numbers will become as the sand of the sea ( ) offers some hope that surviving the Great Tribulation is not only a possibility but it is an absolute necessity for many.
8.) The end of the Millenial Reign...
At some point, the Devil is let loose for a short season to once again deceive the nations of the world ( ). The seven trumpets ( ) of the seventh seal are sounded. God destroys his enemies, who come to surround Jerusalem ( ), and heaven and earth also are consumed with fire ( ). The second resurrection and Judgment Day take place.
Monday, June 15, 2009
The Peri-Wrath Rapture Theory
The Peri-Wrath Rapture Theory
I am personally developing this one, and I try to be thorough, original, and concise. I am practically going it alone though, which makes the development of this theory rather difficult or impossible. Rather than making it a priority to further discredit the Pre-trib rapture theory or attempt to explain why I think Pre-wrath theories have weak timelines, my focus will be to try and explain what I think are valid points on the Peri-wrath rapture theory.
The Peri-Wrath Rapture theory submits that the Lord's faithful, (first the martyred of the Great Tribulation and then the survivors of the same), will meet Jesus in the air around the time that he comes to cut short the terrible reign of the beast, his armies, and those who took the mark of the beast. These events will occur very soon after the completion of the final seven years, (the 70th week), of Daniel's prophecies. Although the Great Tribulation is going to be worse than any other time in human history, it will be condensed into a relatively short period of time.
For the first several years of the seven year peace, everything will be a superb improvement over the years preceeding it. Israel will be a major victor of the Global War on Terrorism, (I am taking the liberty to continue using that terminology), and one of her spoils of victory will be the right to have a new temple; the threats of terrorism will be thoroughly squashed, in order that the temple be constructed without delay or hindrance from enemies. The last time they built a temple, it was in the face of opposition and for that reason it took almost half a century to complete it, but the next temple must come to near completion in a handful of years. Men will bask in the glow of this new era, and it will be a time of tremendous change and growth. Those who like to call it "false peace" may want to reconsider their position. We cannot go from peace and prosperity in the first half of the seven years into instant Great Tribulation in the second half. The noteable falling away foretold by the apostle Paul ( ) will occur on a slippery slope.
There is a widely accepted unwritten pause between the 69th and 70th weeks of Daniel, yet there is a precise written pause ( ) between the removal of the daily sacrifice and the setting up of the abomination of desolation (AoD), which is unfortunately not accepted. During this pause in the second half of the seven years, the beast, in the form of an organized world government, will conduct a 42 month campaign of persecution and oppression to strip people of certain faiths of their powers ( ); although it will be troublesome to some, it will yet for the world remain a period of growth and peace. At the end of the 42 months though, which will coincide with the end of the seven years, the beast will become embodied within one charismatic leader, at which time he will require a higher form of worship ( ). Now the seven years of peace are over as the entire human race is faced with a terrible dilemma, for they will perceive the cost of continuing on with their business as usual lives, and their peace of mind will utterly vanish; society itself will become an entirely desolate place as far as inner peace is concerned. Those who refuse to worship the beast will either be martyred ( ), or they will flee to the wilderness to escape ( ).
Most of the seven plagues of God's wrath ( ) are reserved solely for those who take the mark of the beast. These plagues can occur rapidly and in quick succession to one another. The two or three plagues that might effect survivors in the wilderness could be somewhat lessened with adequate shelter and preparation. After spending a little time in the wilderness, men will scarcely be able to look up to heaven anymore for the struggle to survive will require so much attention. Yet people of faith will find deliverance when the Lord comes to destroy the beast, his armies, and those who took his mark ( ). Around the time that the Lord comes to destroy his enemies, ( ) he will resurrect those martyred in this time period ( ), and he will then catch-up those who remain and were faithful to him ( ). Also, he will mercifully spare those who survived without taking the mark, even though they did not recognize him as their Lord and Savior. These "left-behind" will be the first generation of the nations that repopulate the earth during the Millenial Reign; their families will be required to come up to Jerusalem year by year to honor him with the Feast of Tabernacles: to bring to remembrance how he kept them alive in the wilderness, but those families who do not come up will experience drought ( ).
45 days ( ) from the time the man sets himself up in the temple ( ) is ample time to bring about the climax of the worst trouble that the human race has ever seen. Consider Hurricane Katrina, how it took only a few days for those trapped in the stadium in New Orleans to feel that their lives had become a living hell. In the Great Tribulation, it will be like that terrible storm on a global scale, only instead of a hurricane, it will be men and armies at the beck and call of evil that will be causing the catastrophe. The loyalty and dedication of these men and armies to the beast does not come about overnight. It takes years and years of purging and pruning, times that will not be easy, and we should remember to pray always for those in authority ( ) as long as there might be the slightest hope that they can make the right decisions; and we ought to be standing by to accept those who fall ( ) for listening to their consciences.
Further points to consider in developing a rapture theory:
Deduction #1:
It is a scriptural fact that there is no rapture before there is a resurrection from the dead ( ).
It is scripturally accurate to say that the first resurrection from the dead is for those martyred in the Great Tribulation ( ).
Therefore, it is in line with scriptures to conclude that there is no rapture before the Great Tribulation.
Induction #1
We have a promise that the days of the Great Tribulation will be cut short ( ). But:
The seven year peace (the 70th week) cannot be cut short;
The 1,290 days ( ) between the removal of the sacrifice and the setting up of the AoD cannot be cut short;
The 1,260 day ministry of the two witnesses in Jerusalem ( ) cannot be cut short;
The 1,260 day feeding of the land of Israel ( ) cannot be cut short;
The 42 month campaign against people of faith ( ) cannot be cut short;
There is reason to believe that the first 45 days of the Great Tribulation ( ) may not be cut short; it would at least make sense to prepare for this length of time if one intends to make a go of it in the wild.
With these points in mind, it makes perfect sense that the Great Tribulation cannot occur before the end of the seven years.
The fact that there is no rapture before the Great Tribulation and that this Great Tribulation does not come before the end of the seven years should be to a large degree comforting ( ). First of all, it gives us more opportunity to partake in the blessing that comes from being a part of the going forth of the gospel, which is a major aspect of the last days ( ); it can take the edge off of a daily existence that comes from the expectation that Jesus could come at any second now. Also, it gives us the sense that we have more time to prepare and equip--both physically and spiritually--for the time of trouble; we do not have to fear being suddenly caught up or taken by surprise from a period of peace that the world is desperately seeking, for in both phases of that prophecied peace, we can strategically maneuver and do exploits ( ) for the furtherance of God's kingdom. Granted, the second half or phase may prove a bit more challenging, and it is not too soon to begin making a strategy and a plan right now. Finally, it gives a specific season in which to watch for our Lord's return; we cannot know the day or the hour, but we can know in what watch of the night the proverbial thief will come ( ), and in knowing that, we are much more apt to be ready for ourselves and for those who have been put under the care of our watch.
I am personally developing this one, and I try to be thorough, original, and concise. I am practically going it alone though, which makes the development of this theory rather difficult or impossible. Rather than making it a priority to further discredit the Pre-trib rapture theory or attempt to explain why I think Pre-wrath theories have weak timelines, my focus will be to try and explain what I think are valid points on the Peri-wrath rapture theory.
The Peri-Wrath Rapture theory submits that the Lord's faithful, (first the martyred of the Great Tribulation and then the survivors of the same), will meet Jesus in the air around the time that he comes to cut short the terrible reign of the beast, his armies, and those who took the mark of the beast. These events will occur very soon after the completion of the final seven years, (the 70th week), of Daniel's prophecies. Although the Great Tribulation is going to be worse than any other time in human history, it will be condensed into a relatively short period of time.
For the first several years of the seven year peace, everything will be a superb improvement over the years preceeding it. Israel will be a major victor of the Global War on Terrorism, (I am taking the liberty to continue using that terminology), and one of her spoils of victory will be the right to have a new temple; the threats of terrorism will be thoroughly squashed, in order that the temple be constructed without delay or hindrance from enemies. The last time they built a temple, it was in the face of opposition and for that reason it took almost half a century to complete it, but the next temple must come to near completion in a handful of years. Men will bask in the glow of this new era, and it will be a time of tremendous change and growth. Those who like to call it "false peace" may want to reconsider their position. We cannot go from peace and prosperity in the first half of the seven years into instant Great Tribulation in the second half. The noteable falling away foretold by the apostle Paul ( ) will occur on a slippery slope.
There is a widely accepted unwritten pause between the 69th and 70th weeks of Daniel, yet there is a precise written pause ( ) between the removal of the daily sacrifice and the setting up of the abomination of desolation (AoD), which is unfortunately not accepted. During this pause in the second half of the seven years, the beast, in the form of an organized world government, will conduct a 42 month campaign of persecution and oppression to strip people of certain faiths of their powers ( ); although it will be troublesome to some, it will yet for the world remain a period of growth and peace. At the end of the 42 months though, which will coincide with the end of the seven years, the beast will become embodied within one charismatic leader, at which time he will require a higher form of worship ( ). Now the seven years of peace are over as the entire human race is faced with a terrible dilemma, for they will perceive the cost of continuing on with their business as usual lives, and their peace of mind will utterly vanish; society itself will become an entirely desolate place as far as inner peace is concerned. Those who refuse to worship the beast will either be martyred ( ), or they will flee to the wilderness to escape ( ).
Most of the seven plagues of God's wrath ( ) are reserved solely for those who take the mark of the beast. These plagues can occur rapidly and in quick succession to one another. The two or three plagues that might effect survivors in the wilderness could be somewhat lessened with adequate shelter and preparation. After spending a little time in the wilderness, men will scarcely be able to look up to heaven anymore for the struggle to survive will require so much attention. Yet people of faith will find deliverance when the Lord comes to destroy the beast, his armies, and those who took his mark ( ). Around the time that the Lord comes to destroy his enemies, ( ) he will resurrect those martyred in this time period ( ), and he will then catch-up those who remain and were faithful to him ( ). Also, he will mercifully spare those who survived without taking the mark, even though they did not recognize him as their Lord and Savior. These "left-behind" will be the first generation of the nations that repopulate the earth during the Millenial Reign; their families will be required to come up to Jerusalem year by year to honor him with the Feast of Tabernacles: to bring to remembrance how he kept them alive in the wilderness, but those families who do not come up will experience drought ( ).
45 days ( ) from the time the man sets himself up in the temple ( ) is ample time to bring about the climax of the worst trouble that the human race has ever seen. Consider Hurricane Katrina, how it took only a few days for those trapped in the stadium in New Orleans to feel that their lives had become a living hell. In the Great Tribulation, it will be like that terrible storm on a global scale, only instead of a hurricane, it will be men and armies at the beck and call of evil that will be causing the catastrophe. The loyalty and dedication of these men and armies to the beast does not come about overnight. It takes years and years of purging and pruning, times that will not be easy, and we should remember to pray always for those in authority ( ) as long as there might be the slightest hope that they can make the right decisions; and we ought to be standing by to accept those who fall ( ) for listening to their consciences.
Further points to consider in developing a rapture theory:
Deduction #1:
It is a scriptural fact that there is no rapture before there is a resurrection from the dead ( ).
It is scripturally accurate to say that the first resurrection from the dead is for those martyred in the Great Tribulation ( ).
Therefore, it is in line with scriptures to conclude that there is no rapture before the Great Tribulation.
Induction #1
We have a promise that the days of the Great Tribulation will be cut short ( ). But:
The seven year peace (the 70th week) cannot be cut short;
The 1,290 days ( ) between the removal of the sacrifice and the setting up of the AoD cannot be cut short;
The 1,260 day ministry of the two witnesses in Jerusalem ( ) cannot be cut short;
The 1,260 day feeding of the land of Israel ( ) cannot be cut short;
The 42 month campaign against people of faith ( ) cannot be cut short;
There is reason to believe that the first 45 days of the Great Tribulation ( ) may not be cut short; it would at least make sense to prepare for this length of time if one intends to make a go of it in the wild.
With these points in mind, it makes perfect sense that the Great Tribulation cannot occur before the end of the seven years.
The fact that there is no rapture before the Great Tribulation and that this Great Tribulation does not come before the end of the seven years should be to a large degree comforting ( ). First of all, it gives us more opportunity to partake in the blessing that comes from being a part of the going forth of the gospel, which is a major aspect of the last days ( ); it can take the edge off of a daily existence that comes from the expectation that Jesus could come at any second now. Also, it gives us the sense that we have more time to prepare and equip--both physically and spiritually--for the time of trouble; we do not have to fear being suddenly caught up or taken by surprise from a period of peace that the world is desperately seeking, for in both phases of that prophecied peace, we can strategically maneuver and do exploits ( ) for the furtherance of God's kingdom. Granted, the second half or phase may prove a bit more challenging, and it is not too soon to begin making a strategy and a plan right now. Finally, it gives a specific season in which to watch for our Lord's return; we cannot know the day or the hour, but we can know in what watch of the night the proverbial thief will come ( ), and in knowing that, we are much more apt to be ready for ourselves and for those who have been put under the care of our watch.
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