Mid-Trib Rapture?Utterly Ridiculous!  
                                                                   By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                   November 1, 2019
     "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."
                                                                         Revelation 12:10
Introduction
    A little over a month ago, I was asked about the statement made in this Scripture text.  The statement and question.......
    "In Revelation 12:10, God uses the wording, Now is come salvation.  My question is who has salvation come to?  According to verse 9, salvation comes right after Michael cast Satan out of heaven, do you agree?"  
     I do not know whether the brother asking the question, was implying that the salvation being talked about is a mid-tribulation rapture.  However, I do know that some today are teaching a mid-trib rapture based on this very Scripture.  Therefore, I felt led of the Lord to answer the question, for the benefit of all readers who have been confronted with the claim of a mid-tribulation rapture based on this Scripture.  Read on......
The Benefits and Blessings of Bible Study
     I truly wish there was not so much Biblical illiteracy among God's people today.  The fact that there is, is an indication that very few Christian believers today, are SERIOUSLY studying God's Word. Most Christian believers today are not familiar   enough with their Bible to know what truths are set forth in the various books of the Bible, and how the whole Bible is  in perfect  harmony.  As a true believer studies the Word of God [Genesis through Revelation], the inspired living words are  impressed upon their mind, heart, and soul  by the Holy Spirit of God, and can then be recalled as needed.  Reading completely through the Bible; every book, chapter, and verse, will familiarize the reader with what is actually  stated in the Scriptures, and what is not stated.  
     Some things being taught as Bible truth today, are not even stated in the Bible, but rather are the ideas, opinions, and theories of men.  But how can one know what is Biblical truth, and what is man-made fiction?  STUDY GOD'S WORD!  
The Rapture in the Book of Revelation
     The SOON coming rapture is prophesied in the Book of Revelation,  occurring exactly where the Lord Jesus Christ, who was giving this vision to John, placed it.  The Lord Jesus placed the rapture exactly at the end of the church age, and the beginning of the seven year Tribulation.  That place is Revelation 4:1-2.  The "door" opening ""in heaven," and the "voice" calling John to "come up hither" sets forth a prophetic type of the rapture  of all true believers saved in this present Dispensation of Grace.   
     I am well aware that some today are teaching the rapture as occurring in the Book of Revelation in chapters 6, 7, 11, 12, or 13, and the Lord only knows where else. Such disagreement and confusion IS NOT coming from God, 1 Cor. 14:33.   
     Further, there is not in any of these chapters, a thing said, or even suggested, about a rapture occurring. Nothing! I have never developed the "fine art" [Sic!] of reading into the Scriptures something that they just DO NOT say.  
 It is Right Division Which Gives Verification  
     2 Timothy 2:15 is still in the Bible, just in case some have forgotten or overlooked it.    
     When John is raptured in Rev. 4:1-2, he is immediately shown a number of different scenes in Heaven.  One of the scenes John was shown was that of the "24 elders" seated on thrones [Greek text] around the throne of God.  Now who are these "24 elders?"
      The inspired description given of them.......
      They are seated on thrones around the throne of God.  They are clothed in "white raiment."  They have on their heads "crowns of gold."
     Further, these "24 elders" leave their thrones, and bow down before the throne of God, and worship "Him who liveth for ever and ever."  As they bow and worship, they remove their "crowns" and cast them before the throne of God, showing their submission to His will for them.  
     Everything about this description clearly suggests that the "24 elders" are kings, Rev. 4:4.  
    Now who is it in God's Word that was promised to receive a "crown" for their faithfulness to the Lord and to His Word? It WAS NOT the angels!  In fact, the inspired Word just clearly states that the angels HAVE NOT been placed in charge of "the world to come," Hebrews 2:5.  Since it was not the angels who were  promised  "crowns,"  then  who  is  it?   Read  1 Cor. 9:25,
2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, Rev. 2:10, and Rev. 3:11.  These Scriptures make it glaringly obvious that it is the Lord's Church that is promised "crowns" for their faithfulness.  
      So these "24 elders" obviously represent the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.     
     Then when the seven sealed book is introduced into the prophetic picture, the "24 elders" ascribe greatness to "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,," Rev. 5:5.  This praise and worship continues in Rev. 5:8-10, where the "24 elders" themselves clearly state to "the Lamb," ".....for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
     How could it be made any more clear that these "24 elders" represent the church of the Lord Jesus Christ?  
     So dear readers, if the rapture does not take place until sometime in chapters 6, 7, 11, 12, or 13, as some are teaching today, then why is the Lord's church in Heaven before the throne of God in chapters 4 and 5?  Well.....??  
      So what group of redeemed people living today have the glorious promise of ruling and reigning with Christ in His Kingdom?  No other people were given such a promise, other than those in  THE CHURCH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.  These "24 elders" represent the Lord's Church.   
     So right here in Rev. 4 - 5, the Lord's church is in heaven, even before the prophecies of the Tribulation judgments to come upon those LEFT BEHIND on the earth when the rapture occurs.  
     Now since the Lord's Church and New Testament believers have already been "caught up"  into  Heaven in chapters 4 and 5, just why would they then be raptured again in Rev. 6, 7, 11, 12, or 13?  Perhaps some of these "super smart" prophecy teachers would like to explain this.  I'm breathlessly waiting to hear their explanation.  .    
     Some boasted "prophecy teachers" today ought to STUDY more, and seek to display their "brilliant" knowledge of Bible prophecy  less.  James 4:6 is still in the Bible too!      
The Salvation of 12:10
     The wording and context of this entire chapter reveals that the chapter is primarily dealing with the nation and people of Israel, whom Satan seeks to destroy.  
     The Scriptures preceding this verse tell us about the woman; Israel, giving birth to the Lord Jesus Christ, and His being "caught up" to Heaven, Rev. 12:1-5.
      Those readers who carefully study Bible chronology, should
have no problem understanding that there is a time period of 2,000 years between 9:5 and 9:6.   
     Then in 12:6 we are told that the woman [Israel] flees into the wilderness into a place "prepared of God," obviously for her protection, and is fed there for 1,260 days [the last half of the Tribulation]..  Her flight into the wilderness is also prophesied in 9:14.  Notice that both of these Scriptures are very specific about her fleeing "into the wilderness," and also about the length of time she will be there, "a time,  and  times, and half a time [1,260 days; last half of the Tribulation].  
       Why should she flee exactly at the middle of the Tribulation period?  Because that is when Satan will be cast down to the earth, as stated in 12:7-9.  Satan hates Israel, particularly because the Lord Jesus Christ came forth out of Israel.  Satan knows that Christ is destined to crush his head, Genesis 3:15.  Therefore Satan hates Israel and Christ vehemently.  
     The "salvation" then spoken of in 12:10 is the "deliverance" of Israel and the Jewish people out of their land, and from the evil and wickedness of Satan and his angels.
     I used here the word, "deliverance," as a substitute for the word, "salvation."  These two words are interchangable in the Scriptures.  Proof?  Gladly!  
     In 1 Thessalonians 5:9, the Apostle Paul was inspired of God to write, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."  
     Dear readers, Paul was writing to the Lord's church, which was composed of people who had already been saved, by  placing  their faith in Christ.  They didn't need "salvation" from sin and death anymore.  What they needed, and what Paul assured them of, was "deliverance" from God's "wrath," which is to come on the unbelieving wicked during the coming Tribulation period.  And are we believers to have such "deliverance?"  Read it for yourself in Galations 1:4.  Glory to God!  Praise the Lord!  
Rev. 12:10 Applies to Israel
     It was the nation and people of Israel, whom the Lord Jesus gave a warning to in Matthew 24:15-16.  When the anti-christ erects his "abomination" in the courtyard of the Tribulation Temple, then the Jews are to flee for their lives, Matthew 24:15-22.  It is more than "coincidence" that they will be fleeing into the very same "wilderness" that they wandered in when they were delivered out of Egypt 3,500 years ago.  Why?  
     Because in that "wilderness" is the location of the great rose red "rock" city of Petra.  This is a gigantic sandstone mountain, in which thousands of dwelling places were carved out, in the  cliffsides of the mountain some 4,000 years ago by the Edomites; the descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob.  
     A careful reading of Biblical history, will reveal that these two brothers parted company, and them and their descendants  became bitter enemies.  Isn't it ironic that God used the bitter enemies of Israel, thousands of years ago, to "prepare" a place of safety for His chosen people living today?  Oh, glory!  What a mighty God we believers love and serve!  
     The rose red rock city of Petra is located in the southern part of the nation of  Jordan today.   It was once one of the capitol cities of the ancient Edomites, but has been abandoned for hundreds of years.   It is estimated by archaeoligists that this abandoned city is capable of providing shelter for some three to four million people.  And this is the city the Jewish people will flee to at the middle of the Tribulation period.  There is only one entrance into and out of that city; a "cleft in the rock" about a mile and a half long.  The cleft is only 12 feet wide at it's widest places, and the cliffs rise straight up hundreds of feet on both sides.  Just a few armed men could prevent an entire army from entering into that narrow "cleft" leading into Petra.  
      This is the place "prepared of God" as a place of safety for His chosen people during the last half of the Tribulation period.  Now to appreciate this even more, turn and read Malachi 1:1-5.  
The "Salvation" of Israel
     Yes, Rev. 12:10 does use the word, "salvation," when speaking of the "deliverance" of the Jewish people as they flee into the wilderness. And their "salvation" is the subject under consideration in Rev. 12:10.  This Scripture has nothing at all to do with the PRE-TRIBULATIONAL rapture of New Covenant believers, and certainly DOES NOT teach a mid-tribulation rapture.  
     The flight of the Jewish people will "deliver" them out of the hands of Satan and the anti-christ, and their followers,  but it will also begin the process leading to the salvation of Israel.
     During the last half of the Tribulation, the angels of God will bodily transport every living Jew on earth back to the holy land, and to the city of Petra.   Not one of them will be left in a Gentile nation.  Not one!  Read it for yourself in Psalm 107:1-3, Isaiah 27:12-13,  Ezekiel 39:27-29.
     When every living Jew on earth at that time, has been gathered, and brought back to Petra, then the Lord Jesus Himself will suddenly appear in the midst of that city.  Then just like the Lord showed "doubting Thomas" in John 20:24-28, the Lord Jesus will show all of the assembled Jewish people in Petra, His hands and His side; the scars of His crucifixion. He will then, "plead" with  Israel "face to face" to believe and receive Him as their Messiah and Savior, Ezekiel 20:33-36.   And right there and then every living Jew on earth will receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior.  They will also recognize Him as the "prophet" whom God promised would be sent to them, Deuteronomy 18:18, and they will hear and follow Him.  
     "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
     For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins," Romans 11:26-27.  
     Glory to God!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  
The Aftermath of Their Salvation
     Dear readers, this is the "salvation" being referred to in Rev. 12:10; the glorious salvation of the Jewish people.  Then following their salvation in Petra, the Lord Jesus Himself will lead them out of Petra, and back home to Jerusalem and their "promised land."  Read Micah 2:12-13.  
     When the Lord Jesus, King David, and the Jews step out of the entrance way into Petra, the battle with the anti-christ and his forces gathered in the desert will begin.  The Lord Jesus will destroy and trample His, and Israel's,  enemies under His feet all the way back into Jerusalem.  Read the account for yourself in Zechariah 14.  The battle will proceed all the way north to the plain of Megiddo [Armageddon], and there on the plain of Megiddo,  the last war ever fought by mankind will come to an end.  Truly, Luke 2:14 will finally be fulfilled.......
     "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, Good will toward men," Luke 2:14.   
     "Even so, come, Lord Jesus," Revelation 22:20.  
Conclusion
     Dear readers, we are so close to the resurrection and rapture of God's people [true believers] that I "watch" for the coming of our Lord day by day.  My prayer is that every reader of this study will be ready [saved; spiritually prepared] when our Lord does come, exactly as prophesied in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  
     Any reader who has the slightest doubt about their salvation needs to make their "calling and election sure" right now, 2 Peter 1:10-11.  Read John 3:16-18, 3:36, 5:24, and Romans 10:13, believe what they say, and act upon them.  Meet me in Heaven.  
     Now may our gracious God add His grace and blessing to this study is my prayer.  
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     In the last several studies sent out, I did not list my address and phone number in those studies.  I have had some inquires about this, so once again here is my personal contact information:
POSTAL.....Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, MO 65401
EMAIL.....francismriley34@gmail.com
PHONE.....573.202-6493
     Thank you dear brothers and sisters in Christ for your kindness towards this old preacher, and your gifts to help with the ministry of the Word.  Everything is deeply appreciated.  
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