There have been many letters telling us that we are already IN the 70th week of Daniel.
For example, a quote from Gerry Almond (18 June 2011)
"Those Rapture Positions that have confused"
"Many of us have been surprised that we can be so far into the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy. We are also wondering why the majority of tv guys still hold to the position that the 70th week has NOT begun, when it is very evident that we are seeing tribulation all around us. How much more do you want to see? I'll say I have seen enough. The attached is my take on the rapture position."
Does this theory stand up to scripture?
No, absolutely not! What then, is the TRUTH? It can be found clearly in the word of God. There is no need for further confusion!
Let's not quit reading at Paul's classic rapture verses, as found in 1 Thes. 4:17.
16For 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:
17Then 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.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Notice that it is only three verses after the catching up, that Paul mentions the Day of the Lord coming as a thief in the night. Please keep in mind, Paul did not create the different chapters. there should be no division between 4:17 and 5:2, for Paul has not left the subject of the rapture, but is giving us the TIMING.
In chapter 5, after mentioning the Day of the Lord, Paul then goes into a very interesting paradigm: comparing two groups of people and two different outcomes from these groups, at a SUDDEN EVENT.
Paul is very clear: those living in darkness, get "sudden destruction." But those living in the light (born again people) get "salvation" and get to "live together with Him."
9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Now, compare this last phrase, "we should live together with him, with:
4:17... and so shall we ever be with the Lord
Really, these to phrases are telling us the same thing: in verse 10, the rapture has taken place, ad we shall at that time, live together forever with Him.
So Paul never left the subject of the rapture, but rather tells us that at some sudden event, those in darkness will be faced with "sudden destruction," while we get raptured. Therefore, this sudden event is the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH. And more, the rapture is the TRIGGER for the earthquake - this sign - that the Day of the Lord is imminent.
You can study this out on your own, but when the dead in Christ rise from the dead, there will be a WORLDWIDE EARTHQUAKE. (See Matt. 27: "the earth did quake...and the graves were opened.) When Jesus died and rose, the elders of the Old Testament were raised from the dead, and it caused a tremendous earthquake. Therefore, when the dead in Christ rise, this too will cause a tremendous earthquake, but since the dead in Christ are around the world, this earthquake will be a world wide earthquake.
But since those that are alive and remain on the earth will be caught up an instant after the dead in Christ are caught up, the earthquake will not affect us at all - but it will be SUDDEN DESTRUCTION to those left behind. And remember, Paul calls this the beginning of the Day of the Lord! It will indeed come SUDDENLY, as a thief in the night. And it will come at a time of peace and safety - a day just like TODAY.
This earthquake, is also seen here:
Why is this the same earthquake? Joel tells us that the Sun will turn dark and the moon into blood before that great and dreadful day of the Lord. Notice that following the earthquake, the sun will turn dark, and the moon into blood. Since Paul tied the Day of the Lord to the rapture, as back to back events, one being the trigger for the other, then this must be the same earthquake, for notice verse 17, "the day of His wrath has come." If you study Joel 2 and Isaiah 2, both these prophecies are fulfilled at the 6th seal, proving that the day of the Lord has begun. These people speaking in verse 17 recognize the signs, and they KNOW the day of the Lord has come.Rev 6:12And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Therefore, the rapture is the very first event of the 6th seal, but not shown by John because He did not see it. We find further proof of this at the 5th seal, the seal for the martyrs of the church age. They are told that they will have a long wait, until the last martyr killed as they were - as a martyr of the church age, is killed. So what will make some certain martyr the FINAL martyr of the church age? Of course, the END of the church age. It will end at the rapture of the church. What event follows the 5th seal in Revelation? Of course the 6th seal. So those martyrs at the 5th seal must wait for the 6th seal to be broken. They have been waiting almost 2000 years.
Finally, in Rev. 7, John SEES the raptured church in heaven, around the throne. Don't be led astray by two words there: this IS the church in heaven, having just been raptured. Many are throne off by the two words, "great tribulation." They assume this means that time spoken of by Jesus that will follow the abomination, when the man of sin, the Antichrist begins his massive slaughter of those that refuse the mark. But this is not at all the intent of scripture. First, John has not yet even STARTED THE 70TH WEEK - much less got to the midpoint (which is found in chapters 11-12) of the week. No, all John is telling us is that at the time of the rapture, people will be killed for their testimony around the world. Folks, that day is coming fast to the US of A.
Now lets move on, past the numbering of the 144,000 that MUST COME before God opens the 70th week. After the numbering, Rev. chapter 7, John saw the church in heaven. Then, finally in chapter 8, John saw the 7th seal being broken. This is the official beginning of the 70th week of Daniel. It is MARKED by a seven - the 7th seal. The exact midpoint is MARKED by a seven - the 7th trumpet, and the end of the week is at the 7th vial - again MARKED by a seven.
Therefore, the rapture comes BEFORE the 70th week even begins. It is true in 1 Thessalonians and it is true in Revelation. Now lets move on: in chapters 8 and 9 of Revelation, we see the first 6 trumpet judgments. They come in the FIRST HALF of the 70th week. Again, there is Old Testament prophecy of the grass being burned up, and no pasture for the animals. Search on the word "perplexed" in the Old testament: the cattle were perplexed because there was no pasture. And these verses speak of the Day of the Lord. Please compare, the very first trumpet judgment burns up the pastures of the fields. This first trumpet judgment is - with very little doubt, NUCLEAR WAR. It is the first judgment of the Day of the Lord. So the first 6 trumpet judgments will come during the FIRST HALF of the 70th week.
Now, doves, please ask yourself: has there been a WORLDWIDE earthquake? NO!!! Has there been a nuclear exchange, with many megaton bombs burning up the grass of the fields? NO!!!!
Always remember, we will KNOW when the 70th week begins, for we will be WITH HIM, when He breaks the 7th seal.
Please note, Paul also agrees with this in 2 Thes. 2. Many are confused with this scripture, but it is quite clear when you study it. There is something or someone HOLDING BACK, or RESTRAINING the revealing of the man of sin. He cannot be revealed until whoever is restraining him is TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY." But if you notice in 2 Thes. 2:3 B - the last phrase, "and the man of lawlessness is revealed" shows us CLEARLY that the revealing is PAST TENSE, having already happened. Therefore, what every we read in the first half of this verse MUST mean something is "TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY." Because part B, the revealing cannot possibly take place until the restrainer is removed or taken out of the way. Please read this verse in the Tyndale translation:
Let no man deceive you by any means, for the Lord cometh not, except there come a departing first, and that that sinful man|man of sin| be opened, the son of perdition (Tyndale)
Does "departing" carry the same thought as "taken out of the way?" I believe it does. Paul is telling us yet again that BEFORE the man of sin is revealed (He is revealed for who he really is at the abomination at the midpoint of the week) the rapture of the church MUST take place.
Therefore, we find total agreement between 1 Thes 4 & 5, 2 thes. 2, and Revelation that the rapture comes PRETRIB and PREWRATH, and pre-70th week, and pre-day of the Lord.
Where does God's wrath really begin? John tells us: the "day of His wrath" begins at the breaking of the 6th seal. And the rapture is the comes before His wrath, Just as Paul has stated, we have no appointment with His wrath. Therefore, according to Paul, this worldwide earthquake, Paul's SUDDEN DESTRUCTION IS a part of God's wrath.
CONCLUSION: We are NOT somewhere INSIDE the 70th week of Daniel.
For those of you very alert, did you notice that this is very close to the argument of 2 thes. 2, where they THOUGHT because they had heard or read, that they were INSIDE the Day of the Lord! And Paul told them, they could not possibly be INSIDE the day of the Lord, for before that could be, the rapture must take place, and the man of sin revealed.