The Tribulation and the Rapture
  In some of his last words of the 1st Epistle to the
Thessalonians,(5:23) the apostle Paul prays, "And may the God of peace sanctify you
completely, and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved
blameless unto the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." His teaching of the
coming of Christ was imminent as he taught the church to be blameless in
their body as well as the spirit anticipating his appearance.
  In 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 Paul gave a contrast of believers and
non-believers natures (v. 5). The unsaved have a nature of darkness
(they are of the night and darkness) they walk in darkness. Church saints
have the nature of light (we are sons of the light, of the day) Christ
and the Word is our light, so when we obey we are walking in the light.
So we should not sleep as they do. Paul exhorts the believers to put on
the breastplate of faith and love to live through the hard times. Also
(v. 8) "as a helmet, the hope of salvation." The reason for this hope
he explains is God has not appointed us "the Church" to wrath (v. 9). He
has already explained the resurrection in chapter 4 the teaching is now
about the Day of the Lord (judgment). God has not appointed the Church
to the Lords wrath. Instead the Church is appointed to obtain
salvation, deliverance from that wrath (the tribulation) that is coming on the
world culminating in Christ coming.
  At the time of Y2K looming there were many prophecy watchers that
thought this would be the downfall of Babylon (America?) that is destroyed
in one hour in Rev.18. Yet they also said that the Anti Christ will be
known afterward. Clearly the anti-Christ is revealed earlier as the
mark of the beast is issued (Rev.13), Revelation, as well as Mt. 24 is
basically sequential. To say Rev.18 will take place in approximately the
year 2000 would have put us right in the middle of the great tribulation
now. I guess it wasn’t as disastrous as the Bible made it out to be. As
we’ll see this can’t be accurate if we look at the judgments. In Rev.16
the Mt.'s are removed as well as the Islands. Being in Hawaii now we
shouldn't be here for long. Well Y2k came and went without a tremor. Then
it was the 9-11 terrorism that struck America’s shores and again those
who think they know prophecy said this was Babylon that fell in day.
Once again wearing egg on the face because they ran ahead of
any true fulfillment. So many want to now fit 9-11 into some specific
prophetic event.
  Rom.1:18-19 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for
God has shown it to them." Because of unbeliever’s nature and
relationship to the kingdom of darkness, they will experience the darkness and
wrath of the Day of the Lord. By contrast, because of the believer’s
nature and relationship to the kingdom of light, the Church will experience
the coming hope, the blessed hope. The darkness and wrath period covers
the entire 70th week that is withheld for the finale of mans
government. The Church will be removed from earth before or around the 70th week
beginning. It is the righteous that are taken, the Bride of Christ may
have to endure some but not the full impact of the Wrath of God...God’s
wrath are for those who do not repent, not the repentant.
  The Biblical principle is that God will not judge the righteous with
the unrighteous. He did it with Noah, he took out Lot out of Sodom, and
He will do it for us.
  In 1 Thess.5:4 Paul writes that the Church is removed before the day
of darkness so that the Day of the Lord will not overtake them like a
thief in the night. Since it initiates the judgment, God will remove the
Church from the darkness not keep them through it.
  The Thessalonians already had an understanding concerning the future
Day of the Lord before Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians to them (v. 2), but
they were ignorant concerning the Rapture of the Church before receiving
this letter (4:13-18). This indicates that the Rapture was not part of
the subject of the Day of the Lord and therefore will be a different
event from the Day of the Lord.
  After Paul left Thessalonica some false teachers came in teaching a
post-tribulational doctrine and stated that believers were now in the
tribulation. That the day of God's wrath was upon them, that they had
missed the rapture, but Paul corrects this with the 2nd letter. If this
were true certain signs would be present. The Thessalonians mistook their
persecution as a sign of the tribulation, something we still make the
mistake of doing today. Obviously Paul had taught the Thessalonians that
the Rapture came first. Because if the day of the Lord had come they
would be "shaken and troubled" this would come from either they being
left behind or they misunderstood Paul. Instead they would have welcomed
the Great Tribulation as a necessary component prior to the second
coming. We can only conclude from this that Paul had taught a
pre-tribulation rapture.
  Notice that Paul states in no uncertain terms in v.3" let no one
deceive you by ANY MEANS; for that day will not come first unless the
falling away (apostasy) comes first and the man of sin is revealed..."This
is what he said to look for as just one of many signs to know when the
day of Christ (resurrection) is near. "He who restraineth" is taken out
of the way and then the wicked one (false Messiah) is revealed along
with his false kingdom which brings the tribulation, "God’s wrath" on a
Christ rejecting world.
  The tribulation we as Christians are currently experience comes from
a fallen world under the governing of Satan. The Tribulation that is
coming is a test on the whole world at the end of the age, that will come
from God’s hand against sin.
  Why is this Great Tribulation coming? The Scripture states several
purposes, to test all who dwell upon the earth (Rev. 3:10) that God might
pour His wrath out upon the wicked (Rev. 15:7), to make an end to
wickedness and the wicked ones Isa.13:9; Isa.24:19-20 this include both Jews
and gentiles. Many seem to overlook that God is the source of judgment
for the great tribulation on an unrepentant world not Satan.
  To destroy those who destroyed the earth (Rev.11:18). After all this
takes place God will resume reversing the affects of the destruction’s
in the Millennium which will be a time where He will be present on the
earth to rule and reign. For Israel, it is to break the will of the
holy people and bring them to faith Rom.11.The Bible teaches that the
tribulation is to prepare Israel for her restoration and conversion.
  Not one Old Testament passage on the tribulation refers to the church
(Deut. 4:29-30; Jer. 30:4-11; Dan. 8:24-27; 12:1-2), the New Testament
never speaks of the church in relation to the tribulation only Israel.
This is why it is stated they keep the commandments and the testimony
of Jesus . Rev 12:17 "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he
went to make war with the rest of her offspring (Israel), who keep the
commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Matt.
13:30, 39-42, 48-50; 24:15-31; Rev. 4-18). Those Jew’s saved in the
tribulation will be Torah observant ones that came to the knowledge of Christ
being the messiah.
  The Church is clearly mentioned and addressed in the book of
Revelation prior to the tribulation (chapter 1-3). Jesus addresses the then
current churches in Asia specifically, having them representative of all
the churches throughout the ages. Immediately the next chapter (4)
switches to the a door standing open a voice like a trumpet and the lord
saying to John the apostle " come up here "and I will show you things
which must take place after this. The message of Jesus to the Philadelphia
church, who are the faithful and true remnant in the last days will be
kept from the hour of trial coming upon the whole earth. He said, ' and
I have set before you an open door which no man can shut." Now this
door is opened in Heaven, and the voice is as a trumpet, "Come up here. "
This appears to be the Rapture of the Church in the Book of Revelation
or at least in type. The trumpet in I Corinthians 15:52 also gives the
last call to the Church also saying, "Come up here." I’m not
saying this is definitely it, but very well could be.
  After the tribulation runs its course the Church is mentioned again
in chapters 19-22. But through chapters 6-18, which describe the
tribulation period, the Church is not even mentioned once, as if she does not
any longer exist. This begs an answer of where is the Church? Since in
the chapters dealing with events prior to and after the tribulation she
is mentioned and addressed. Outside the book of Revelation the
scripture shows that any passage dealing with the tribulation the church is not
mentioned. Those who find the church as a participant in the
tribulation can only argue from silence. The book of Revelation shows Israel and
the saints outside the church as participants in the judgments on
earth. it is impossible for anyone to find a tribulation passage and to show
that the church is a present along with Israel. Nowhere does the Book
of Revelation speak about any divine preservation for the Church. The
only divine preservation is for Israel and the 144,000 who are
sealed with a mission. The saints mentioned are not church saints.
  However there is a Church mentioned that does go through the
tribulation. In Revelation 3:14-22 Jesus addresses the church in Laodicea. This
church is rejected by the Lord and vomited out of His mouth because of
their luke-warmness. This church goes into the entire 70th week because
they think they are rich and have need of nothing, not even the Lord.
The Laodicean church is not the true church but one that does not
possess a true profession of faith. They are rejected by the Lord, and
vomited out into the seventieth week. Yet the Lord calls individuals out of
her.
  The true church could not be present through the persecutions of the
seventieth week and be lukewarm. The true church seems to be concluded
with the Philadelphia church, which is removed from the earth before
the tribulation begins according to the promise of Revelation 3:10.The
false church which is left behind will become part of the one world
religious system she is separated by the rapture.
  1 Thess.1:9 mentions the wrath to come in the future. The believers
are delivered from the future wrath against the world, just as in Noah's
day.
  Jesus promises assurance to the church of Revelation 3:10: "Because
you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the
hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world,
to test those who dwell upon the earth. This testing will include "all
power" and lying signs, wonders and miracles to deceive all who dwell
on the earth.
  There are " false Christ's" that are found working in the tribulation
(Mt. 24:24; Mark 13:22). The false Christ does not deny the existence
of Christ but affirm that they are Christ; a substitute. They claim his
authority his anointing as Christ and go around doing miracles. Their
ministry is specifically to deceive the elect (if possible).
  There are approximately 8 mysteries in the New Testament. A mystery
is something that was totally unrevealed in the Old Testament, which is
now to be revealed in the New Testament. For something to really
qualify as a New Testament mystery, it must be something that has not been
revealed anywhere in the Old Testament.
  When the disciples on the mount of Olives asked the Lord about His
coming and the end of the age they knew nothing of the church age, it was
still a mystery to be revealed (Eph.3:5). This would be revealed after
the Holy Spirit was given and the church was officially started.
  Col.1:26 speaks of a present mystery has now has been manifested to
his saints. that it was unrevealed in the Old Testament and revealed for
the first time in the New Testament of Christ being in the believer.
  There is another New Testament mystery, the revelation of God in
Christ, There is another New Testament mystery, the revelation of God in
Christ, 1 Tim. 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by
angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received
up in glory. This is the same word used for Paul when he says "behold I
will tell you a mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall be changed"
(Cor.15:51) by the sound of the last trumpet. This he is speaking of
the rapture and resurrection as simultaneous events. In the same manner
as Christ was received up in glory so will the believers.
  As the world suffers these horrible judgments things life will no
longer be as we know it on earth. God's wrath will literally consume the
earth. As Jesus said Luke 12:49 "I came to send fire on the earth, and
how I wish it were already kindled." People will convert paganism,
calling on nature for their deliverance, mother earth have mercy. They will
end up cursing God who controls nature and can be the only one to
deliver them from its wrath.
  The judgments are sequential and they increase in power until the
end. In all these judgments they have the side of mercy, in that God calls
out for the people to repent and be spared.
  The Seal judgments
  Rev.6:1-1st Seal the rider on the White horse rides to conquer.
Contrary to those who see this rider as Christ in victory, He comes much
later on a white horse later at his 2nd coming, at the end of the
judgments to slay all the wicked. This rider is a counterfeit because it is
linked to judgment as with all the riders. The prince that shall come the
Antichrist will come on a white horse, promising peace, copying Christ,
but his ultimate goal will be to conquer through deception. He will
sign a covenant of peace with Israel and the people of the world will say
along with them "peace and safety" (1 Thess.5). Isa.28:14-15 This
covenant Is made to guarantee their security but is called by God a covenant
of hell.Dan.9:24-26 it is signed by the anti-Christ "the prince that
shall come." Mt.24:4 -5 gives the same type of warning about deception at
the beginning of the Tribulation period. As Donald Barnhouse comments,
"The one whose name is the word of God (Rev.19:11, 16) has on
his heads many crowns. The horseman of the first seal wears no diadem.
The false crown is the stephanos…the weapon of this rider is the bow.
The lord of glory is quite differently armed. He carries "a sharp sword,
that with it he should smite the nations " (Revelation. D.G Barnhouse
pp.121-122) (contrary to the horsemen in Zech.1:7-17, 6:1-8)
  Rev. 6:3-4 2nd Seal Wars on earth. Peace will be removed from the
earth when the second seal is broken. Revelation 6-19 teaches there will
be no peace or safety for the unsaved from the time of the second seal
until after the Second Coming of Christ. Paul’s teaches in 1 Thess. 5
states that the Day of the Lord will begin when the world claims to have
peace and safety. So the Day of the Lord must begin before the second
seal is broken for the period of false peace and security that existed
before the tribulation is then removed. The Antichrist comes promoting
peace by deception but then "conquering and to conquer", the tribulation
in its beginnings has a war. There are three at least major wars during
the period of the tribulation, and the second seal is the first of
these three wars. The second war is more toward the middle of the
tribulation and the third is Armageddon at the end of the tribulation which is
the end of all wars.
  The Prophet Amos described this period "As if a man did flee from a
lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on
the wall, and a serpent bit him" (Amos 5:19). Inescapable disasters
will escalate in intensity throughout the seven-year Tribulation period.
  Rev.6:5-The 3rd Seal brings a world-wide famine which often comes as
a consequence of war Worldwide economic troubles. V. 6 And I heard a
voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat
for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not
harm the oil and the wine." This shows that we will still be using oil
for an energy source. Since no one would be able to buy or sell without
the mark there is need to have commerce continue. With all the pursuits
of new energy sources the Bible shows oil will be valuable. This means
that what we see today despite the conflicts on prices it will still be
available. It also means that it will be within a nearer time period
than we may think since oil is still the energy source we use. Some say
the oil reserves can be used up in 40 years, this excludes finding new
oil drills.
  Rev.6:7-The 4th Seal brings Death is released. One fourth of the
world's population dies. The population is destroyed by the sword, (war)
famine, (death by starvation) pestilence, (death by diseases) and, death
by wild animals. Once food becomes rare, wild animals will come out to
attack man for food or have them as food. (no pun included)
  Rev.6:9- The 5th Seal brings Persecution and mass killing of God's
people worldwide. These are Christian martyrs of the first half of he
tribulation. This certainly can’t be the church since where is the blessed
hope, not any if we are all martyred.
  Rev.6:12 The 6th Seal brings a Massive earthquake -judgments ends
with convulsions of nature, five blackouts occur during the end times, and
this is the second blackout
  Rev.7:2-The 7th Seal is the sealing of the 144,000 Jews are called
for world wide evangelism. This is not just a number being representative
of the Church or Israel. It is specific as it states there are 12,000
from each tribe, they are men and they are virgins (not married nor
partook in sexual misconduct). Then there is Silence in heaven for a short
while as the 7 trumpet judgments are given to the 7 angels
  The Trumpet judgments
  Each judgment will come with increased severity and increased
rapidity as they close to the time just before the Second Coming." The
trumpets will sound judgment upon the earth (Rev. 8:7), the sea (Rev. 8:8-9),
the waters (Rev. 8:10-11), the heavens (Rev. 8:12-13), and mankind
(Rev. 9:1-21). These judgments are severe but limited in scope.
  Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them
were given seven trumpets. Each angel releases judgment as the trumpet
is blown.
  Rev.8:7-1st Trumpet Hail, fire, and blood come upon the earth. 1/3
all grass and trees burned up.
  Rev.8:8 -2nd Trumpet A Great mountain hits sea. 1/3 all ocean becomes
blood. 1/3 all sea life dies and 1/3 all ships destroyed.
  Rev.8:10-3rd Trumpet the star called Wormwood hits earth. 1/3 of all
the freshwater is poisoned.
  Rev.8:12- 4th Trumpet 1/3 of sun and moon darkened which affects a
third of the daylight.
  Rev.9:1.-5th Trumpet locusts hat sting and torment men are loosed
from the pit
  Rev.9:13-6th Trumpet demons released an army of 200 million which
kills 1/3 of the world's population which appear to be demonic not human.
  Those who are Amillennialists, and Preterists say the Millennium has
occurred or is now taking place. Can anyone have any credibility say
that these judgments have occurred or that we are currently experiencing
them. Not unless they want to be part of what Paul addressed as
deception in 2 Thess.2:1-2
  In Gen. 15:18 .. the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To
your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the
great river, the River Euphrates-(Deut. 1:7,11:24) The land covenant has
always had spiritual conflicts throughout history and culminates with
this final conflict. This is the separation of the promise land and
Babylon, it is also the boundary of the old Roman Empire which is to be
restored under the anti Christ.
  In between the last trumpet is Rev 10:4 "Now when the seven thunders
uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from
heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders
uttered, and do not write them." These are another series of judgment which
are unknown to what respect they have on mankind. So if someone says they
know what the 7 thunders are they are attempting to do what God had
John not to do. This was for John’s ears only. If the Word is not giving
any information we should be silent also. While the lord has given much
revelation there are secrets not fit for all the church but only for
the apostle.
  Rev.11:15-7th Trumpet the 7th angel Cries from heaven before 7 bowl
judgments are about to be released on earth . It is this trumpet that is
used by some who claim the Church will go through some of the
tribulation.
  There are 7 feasts given to Israel as a memorial (Lev.23)
  As with all the Old Testament types these feasts teach us about
Christ, they have prophetic and spiritual meanings, they illustrate
doctrine. The feasts are sequential as Christ fulfilled them in order. Christ
fulfilled 4 of them in his first coming as they are spring feasts. In
between these feasts are what is the summer season. This corresponding to
the church age we now are in (Jn.4:35 Jesus tell us their is still 4
months to harvest , fall season but the fields are already white for
harvest). The other 4 are the fall feasts in relation to the Latter Rain to
be poured out on the nation Israel at the end of the age so they might
be saved.
  The last 3 feasts The last 3 feasts are the fall holy days.
  Day of TrumpetsDay of Trumpets= represents regathering, and the
resurrection.
  Day of Atonement = represents peace made with God, reconciliation.
  Feast of Tabernacles Feast of Tabernacles = represents Israel
rejoicing over the harvest that took place. God is with us on earth, it is the
Consummation of the ages.
  These holy days are celebrated by the Jewish people all over the
world today, especially the Orthodox.
  All are fulfilled by the person of Christ. 4 are already fulfilled, 3
to go , which are completed by the rapture, the tribulation and 2nd
coming.
  The feast of trumpets is called Yom Truah - "Day of the Blowing of
Trumpets" - Lev. 23 all Jews were called to remember their sins on this
feast.
  Zicharon Truah - "Memorial of Triumph" or "Shouting of Joy" -
  In Judaism The Blowing of the Shofar is linked to the sacrifice of
Isaac because a ram was used in his stead. It is representative of
repentance because it is curved.
  Trumpets were used in numerous ways: When the law was given on
Mt.Sinai. Israel conquered Jericho with 7 shofar blasts on the 7th circle
around (Joshua 6:20). The shofar was blown for war Judges 3:27, 2 Sam.20:1
The watchman stood on the wall of the city and blew the shofar to warn
the people of danger coming Amos 3:6, Jer.6:1, Ez.33:6 It was blown to
announce the Jubilee year, Lev.25:9 slaves would listen to its sound it
would signal their freedom. It was blown to announce a new king to the
throne 1 Kings 34:39. At the Feasts of Trumpets it was blown to gather
the people for a Sabbath rest and they would present special burnt
offerings to the Lord.
  Israel will be advised of the 2nd advent of their Messiah with the
blowing of the shofar. Zechariah prophesies in 9:14 "Then the LORD will
be seen over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord
GOD will blow the trumpet, and go with whirlwinds from the south."
  The Trumpet Blasts consist of 100 notes sounded, 4 different types of
notes are sounded.
  Tekiah'= one long, single blast; its straight, plain, smooth, a
continuous note. It is a Symbol of joy and contentment.
  Shevarim = 3 short blasts; 3 broken notes, it is a symbol of sobbing.
  Truah = extremely short, 9 in a row; trills, it is a symbol of
trepidation, fear, and sorrow. The first 99 notes, are a mixture of 3 types
of notes.
  Tekiah Gedolah = The "Great Trump" or what is known as the "Last
Trump" is the 100th note blown. It is as long as blower can hold his
breath. It is a symbol of redemption, resurrection, and restoration of
Israel. This is not to be confused with the trumpets of judgement in
rvelation.
  Paul due to Persecution couldn't stay long enough in Thessalonica to
teach all that he would have purposed to. So he wrote letters to
respond to their question’s. In the 1st epistle he writes if a believer dies
before the raptures he doesn’t miss out on it he actually will rise
first before those who are still alive (I Thess. 4:13-15). He will then be
gathered together with them in the air
  Paul uses the terms "In Christ, or "In Jesus" or "In Him" which are
technical terms. Paul used these meaning those baptized by the Spirit
into the Body. This does not appear to include Old Testament saints, just
Christians who are in Christ. The other Old Testament saints are still
part of the 1st resurrection, as it occurs at different times taking
place before the 2nd resurrection, it is not a singular event.
  I Thess. 4:16-17- there are 7 sequential stages to the rapture:
  1. Lord shall descend from Heaven; return to Earth's atmosphere not
touching on the ground
  2.With a Shout - a military command; chief commander at a tent gives
order to his subordinate
  3.Voice of archangel- 3.Voice of archangel- an angel, Michael?
Sub-commander repeats the order he heard from Christ
  4.Trump of God - soldiers know what to do depending on sound of the
trumpet. The Feast connected here - even in Judaism, is related to
resurrection.
  5.The dead in Christ rise first out of the graves their bodies are
transformed to their promised incorruptible, eternal bodies and meet
their spirit in the air that has come back with Christ (vs.14).
  6.We who are Alive shall go to clouds (vs. 17). Note, the word
"rapture" is not used in Scripture, but the concept is . caught up. The
phrase "caught up" in I Thessalonians 4:17 is the Greek word harpazo, which
actually means "to be taken away, violently." The Latin equivalent of
harpazo is the verb rapio, "to take away by force." It is the word
rapture.
  7.We shall always be with the Lord -we return to Heaven with Him
first for the marriage then later return to earth with him at Armegeddon
and after the judgment the marriage feast. We shall always be with the
Lord -we return to Heaven with Him first for the marriage, then later
return to earth with him at Armageddon and after the judgment the marriage
feast.
  The Timing of the Rapture -Since the feasts are sequential The Day of
Atonement (symbolizes the Tribulation period) precedes After the Feast
of Trumpets (symbolizes the Rapture). So the Tribulation begins AFTER
the rapture. Jesus fulfilled the first 4 feats on their exact day, this
does not mean he will at his descent to our atmosphere, although he
may.
  The rapture (or "translation") of the church finds its theological
parallel to the "raptures" of Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:
12). Both individuals disappeared or were caught up into heaven bodily
(whether they remained there is certainly a debate). At His ascension,
our Lord Himself was "taken up" into heaven bodily (Acts 1:9). The
biblical teaching of the rapture describes both the resurrection of
deceased believers and the translation of living believers into the air to
meet the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:51- 52). Just as the Lord was
taken to the father so we too will be taken by the Lord to the house
that has been prepared (Jn.14).
  The last trump shall sound (1 Cor.15:52) the dead are resurrected,
and some living will be gathered together with him not seeing death. Paul
says The last trump is a specific trump he expects the Corinthians to
know what he's talking about, because he's already explained a good
portion of the Mosaic Law, All along in Corinthians, Paul is connecting the
Feasts with Jesus' fulfillment , I Cor. 5:7 the Passover; 5:8
Unleavened Bread; 15:20-24 First Fruits. Cor. 15:30-58 trumpets-the resurrection
and taking away of the church, the bride for their marriage in heaven.
  So the trump he’s talking about is Feast of Trumpets. This is not the
same trump as in Rev.11. Paul cannot be referring to Rev. 11, because
the book of Revelation would not be written for another 30 years, they
had no idea about this judgment.
  The trumpet that sounds at the time of the rapture/resurrection of
the Church in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 is called the "trump of God." The
trump of 1 Corinthians 15 is about an event that happens in a moment, in a
twinkling of an eye. Paul said, "I’ll show you a mystery we'll not all
sleep, but we'll be changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at
the last trump." In Revelation the seventh trumpet is the trumpet of the
seventh angel. This seventh trump covers a period of days and it is a
judgment (Revelation 10:7). One is a blessing the other is judgment.
  Another difference is the last trump of 1 Corinthians 15 and 1
Thessalonians 4 is a trumpet of glory. We are immediately changed and made
into His image and brought up to meet the Lord in the air. The 7th
trumpet of the Book of Revelation is described as a woe. In Rev. 8:13 the
angel says this at the end of the fourth trumpet, "Woe, woe, woe, to the
inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other three voices of the
trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" Three more "woes"
refer to the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets. At the end of the fifth
trumpet Rev. 9:12, and Rev. 11:15, the seventh trumpet, is the third woe
to come. It is not a blessing but judgment just like the other woes,
the seals and the bowls.
  If you think that the Church must go through the Great Tribulation,
then you're taking away from the immanency of the return of Jesus
Christ, the very reason He told us to watch. We'd would instead be watching
for the Great Tribulation and the unveiling of the Antichrist and not
Jesus' return. Nowhere does Scripture indicate this as the focus. As
Christians we are not to look for Antichrist even if he is revealed, since
the bride adores her husband and has eyes only for Him, making herself
ready for His coming. The Church would then know exactly when he’s
coming since he gave us 7 years from the time of the signing of the peace
treaty with Israel and 1260 days after the abomination of desolation in
the temple, until his coming. This is reserved for the tribulation
saints. This is why Jesus said in Mt.24 he who endures to the end will be
saved. Those in that generation that see all the signs mentioned that
occur in the same time period will have the hardest time of all to
make it to the end when He comes back.
  When the 7th angel sounds in the book of Revelation there are still
have the 7 bowl judgments to be poured out on the earth. For those who
think we go up and go back down immediately this would be bad timing.
This indicates that it is different trumpet than the one mentioned in
Corinthians and in Matthew. The one in Matthew 24:30 sounds his returning
to earth in which everyone sees Him coming in glory. But when the last
trumpet sounds in Revelation, it signals the beginning of the bowl
judgments where the worst devastation is coming still. Clearly these are
different trumpets.
  The oldest prophecy uttered by a prophet was given before the flood
of Noah and was of the Second Coming! It was given by Enoch, who begot
Methusaleh the oldest recorded living man (on record) who when he died
the flood came. Enoch was someone who would know the difference of a
rapture that he himself participated in, and the 2nd coming. He is quoted
in Jude 14-15 the Lord comes with 10,000 x 10,000 of his saints
(myriad's and myriad's). Notice 1 Thess.3:13..." at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ with all his saints." Notice he comes with ALL His saints
(not some) which would in context of other passages mean the Church that
He has already taken. These are the ones who have received their
resurrected immortal bodies to co- rule and reign with Christ for 1,000 years
on earth. These are unable to have children then and will be servants
teaching and ministering to the peoples needs as we work alongside him
promoting His kingdom.
  At Christ's Second Coming all the unsaved will be taken from the
earth in judgment (Mt.25), but the living saints that survived the
Tribulation will be left on the earth to enter the Millennium. It is in the
same order as the flood in the days of Noah. They will then repopulate the
earth.
  The ones taken from the field, the bed and the millennium
(Mt.24:40-41) appear to be the unsaved, who will be removed in judgment separating
the sheep from the goats when Christ returns after the Tribulation. The
ones left (the sheep of Mt.25) will enter the Millennial Kingdom saved.
Only saved people will enter the one thousand year reign of Christ on
earth after he separates the sheep from the goats. And so Christ will
rule on earth in a restored world like Eden until the end of the ages.
Isa.65:20-25 "No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor
an old man who has not fulfilled his days; for the child shall die one
hundred years old, but the sinner being one hundred years old shall be
accursed.. Man will be given 100 years to repent. People will live to
be 1,000 years old as they once did in Adams time. In the millennium
there will still be people born that will need to believe; those who
received their resurrected bodies will co-rule and reign with
Christ for the millennium. This is why Satan is let out at the end to
test those who have not decided and his rebellion will be immediately
crushed. This is before the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven in
Rev.21 and the new heaven and earth are made. Then we enter the eternal
kingdom of which it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have
entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for
those who love Him" (1 Cor. 2:9)
     Sorry but my computer is messing up. Hope this helps
  Agape
  Zelma