Doves, I wanted to share with you a belief presented to me that the Book of Revelation has FOUR accounts that John the Apostle witnessed of the Great Tribulation..all occurring simultaneously, but John was allowed to witness them individually.

If this is indeed the case, then it should change the way we view the unfolding events as they would occur, and not try to place the Rapture ANYWHERE within the Book of Revelation.

Rev. ch.1 -3 :

Obviously occurring after the Rapture. The Lord is rebuking and admonishing the church(s) of the tribulation..not to be confused with the Church, the Body of Christ, in this Dispensation of Grace. Works are mentioned. and overcoming (Rev.2:2-11)

² I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

³ And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

⁴ Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

⁵ Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

⁶ But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

⁷ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

⁸ And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

⁹ I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.

¹⁰ Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

¹¹ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

See the contrast in  Paul's instruction to us :

Ro. 8 : 8-11

⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

¹⁰ And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.

¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

 

Rev. Ch. 4 :  John's entrance and initiation into the events.

Rev. Ch. 5-6 : Tribulation Account # 1 ( The 7 Seals )

Rev. Ch. 7  : intermittent  ( sealing of the 144, 000 ) 

Rev. Ch. 8-11 : Tribulation account # 2  ( The 7 Trumpets ) Chapter 10 is intermittent

Rev. Ch. 12-14 : Tribulation account # 3  ( reign of anti -Christ )

Rev. Ch. 15 -20 : 3   : Tribulation account  # 4  ( The 7 Vials ) and the destruction of Babylon the great

Rev. Ch. 20 : 4 :  Millennial Reign of Christ

Rev. 20 : 5 - 15  : Final War and White thrown judgement

Rev. Ch. 21 - 22 : 5  Dispensation of the Fulness of Times ... New heaven and new earth..New Jerusalem

Rev. Ch.  22 : 6 - 21 retrospect and instruction