Dear brother/sister,

Please excuse my lack of practice in writing English.

I recently brought to your consideration a sketch of the seven comings
of the Lord Jesus. Our expectation is for the Third Coming, His
manifestation on the Day of Christ, after the Tribulation and before
the Great Tribulation. That Day is the axis of eras, and we wait for
that moment "the blessed hope and manifestation of the glory of our
great God and Savior Jesus Christ".

Perhaps you would wonder, asking yourself: will there really be more
than one tribulation period?

By no means would I intend to be dogmatic, but, in fact, it appears
that prophecies point out three phases of tribulation for the people
of God, in the future.

First, the beginning of birth-pangs (Mt 24:8 & Mk 13:8), when, for ten
days, the disciples will suffer tribulation (Rev 2:10), and that could
be the same as the sufferings of our Mother (our body is mother's
body), the Jerusalem from above (Gl 4:26), undergoes the birth-pangs
until she gives birth to the man child (Rev 12:2). Mother is heavenly,
but she bears child on earth. As the birth comes, so comes the
departure, straight and immediately to the throne of God. The same
privileged people who have the experience of their birth have the
experience of the Bride in transference. We all, as one, are feminine
to heaven, where only God is masculine. It's not yet the end, but next
comes the Day of Christ, the last day and the end of this era.

Second, before the last day comes about, the disciples will be
delivered to tribulation - for 1260 days (?) - (Mt 24:9). At that
time, many of this people will be deceived by false prophets, but it's
the time when the Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached through all
earth inhabited, for testimony to all people. Then comes the end, with
the rapture (1Co 15:51-52 & 1Thess 4:17), which corresponds to birth
of second child, and is completed the number of the elect. We, the
chosen ones, and also the others that were called before the time of
eras, were begotten as children of the Most High on the day of the
Lord's resurrection, but have not yet been born from on high (of
Jerusalem from above). We shall be born on the day of departure (after
the beginning of pangs and before the tribulation) or on the day of
rapture (after the tribulation and before the great tribulation - day
of wrath), if we are found faithful. The elect are the faithful. If we
are faithful in seeking the Lord and His truth, we should know that we
are among the chosen. The elect that are sleeping will have their part
in resurrection of life and in glory. The rest of the called ones will
be raised in resurrection of judgement, and will be waiting for a
long, long time before they find open the door of heaven.

Third, when the end comes, the sun is darkened, announcing the great
tribulation and the day of wrath (Rev 6:12-16). This and other events
come about soon after the tribulation of those days (Mt 24:20 & Mk
13:24), before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes (Jl 2:31).
"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from
the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be" (Mt 24:21
& Mk 13:19).

"And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be
saved" (Acts 2:21).

FMacedo