CHAPTER 1
THE RAPTURE OCCURS AT THE “END” OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION
Many books have been written about the pre-tribulation rapture and it is the doctrine most of us were taught by Christian writers and our spiritual mentors. The pre-tribulation rapture doctrine teaches that the Church will be taken out of the world prior to the Great Tribulation. I may not be able to convince you otherwise, and you may discard this book without even reading it, but if you will keep an open mind perhaps I can convince you that these Christian pre-tribulation rapture writers and teachers are wrong. This is a tall order but if you will give me the benefit of the doubt, I will attempt to do just that in this first chapter using verses from the Bible.
Even if I cannot convince you that the pre-tribulation rapture is wrong, I am praying you will read the rest of this book and perhaps be able to determine for yourself whether the Bible teaches that the Church will be present during the great tribulation and how the Church will overcome Satan during the great tribulation.
Most people who teach the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture were also taught the doctrine by somebody they loved and respected. Therefore, it is deeply ingrained in most modern day born again Christian’s beliefs concerning the last days. I am going to explore the doctrine of the rapture verse by verse. I do believe there is a rapture of the church but I also believe the Bible plainly teaches that the rapture will occur towards the END of the Great Tribulation. The main scripture verse dealing with the rapture doctrine is located in I Thessalonians:
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For 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:
1Th 4:17 Then 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.
It is obvious by reading this scripture that: “the dead in Christ shall rise FIRST (emphasis added): Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.”
The dead IN CHRIST RISE FIRST! This is definitely a scripture referring to the second coming of the LORD. The resurrection of the dead occurs FIRST and then the rapture. Let me say it again with emphasis. The RESURRECTION of the dead in Christ occurs FIRST and then the RAPTURE of the living! This is the Church’s blessed hope. Now let us explore the time frame of the resurrection.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Did you get that? Let us look again at the description of the saints taking part in the FIRST resurrection:
It is written in the Book of Revelation that the saints that take part in the FIRST (primary) resurrection have been persecuted and murdered by the beast. If the FIRST resurrection will include the tribulation saints, who are killed by the Beast, how can there be a resurrection and rapture BEFORE the great tribulation? I believe there will be a great awakening of the Church when the abomination of desolation stands in the Holy Place. Even the most unlearned of Christians should realize who the man of sin is when he demands that the world worship him as God.
THE CHURCH IN TRIBULATION
There are people who say that the Church cannot suffer the wrath of God. I agree that true believers who make up the true body of Jesus Christ will not suffer God’s wrath. However, I find it hard to believe that a tomahawk missile can be aimed down a chimney but God can’t pour out his wrath on the world without hurting Christians. God was able to separate sinners from saints when he poured out his wrath during the times of Noah, Lot, and Moses; God was able to deliver the three Hebrew children through the fiery furnace; I believe he can still do the same today. God does NOT cause collateral damage. Jesus Christ has already suffered the wrath of God on behalf of the Church. However, there is nothing in the Bible that says believers will not suffer tribulation. The LORD actually states that his followers will suffer tribulation in the world:
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
History proves the Church has already suffered much tribulation. How many millions of Christians have been persecuted and murdered for their faith? All you need to do is read church history and it will confirm the words of Jesus. Believers can boldly face persecution and tribulation because we know that Jesus Christ, by his death and resurrection, has already suffered the wrath of God and won the victory on behalf of the Church. However, the saints of God will suffer from the wrath of Satan and from persecution from the world. If a Christian is murdered for the name of Jesus Christ there is a crown of life waiting for them in heaven.
Jesus specifically warns Christians that they will go through tribulation before his second coming. His disciples specifically ask him for the sign preceding his second coming in the Book of Matthew.
Mat 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
Jesus’ warning is to all believers, not just Jewish believers. He specifically mentions the Holy Place because it is the epicenter of end time prophecy but it does not exclude the rest of the world. As a matter of fact, Jesus includes ALL nations in the signs of the times.
Mat 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by ALL (emphasis added) nations for My name's sake.
Did you see that? “you will be hated by ALL nations for MY NAME”S SAKE”. This scripture is NOT only for Israel. How many non-believing Jews are hated for the name of Jesus? Jesus is talking to people who claim the name of JESUS. The Church will suffer tribulation in ALL nations for the name of JESUS. All nations must include all nominal “Christian nations”. Tribulation is already occurring in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, it will also occur, and increase in intensity, in Europe, North America, Australia, and South America. He is not saying that the tribulation will occur to only the secular or religious Jews in Israel! There are Messianic Christian Jews who will definitely suffer tribulation in Israel but they won’t be alone. ALL nations will hate true believers at the end of the age.
Mat 24:13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
He who endures to the END shall be saved. NOT he who endures to the BEGINNING of the great tribulation.
THE MARK OF THE BEAST VERSES THE MARK OF GOD
Also, prophecy “experts” often emphasize Israel in end time prophecy. Israel is an important player during the end times but the main player on the stage of world events during the end times is not Israel but the Church. Israel is important because they are the last puzzle piece at the return of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul plainly teaches that ALL of Israel will be saved AFTER the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and then Jesus Christ will return to save Israel.
Rom 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "THE DELIVERER WILL COME OUT OF ZION, AND HE WILL TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB;
Rom 11:27 FOR THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."
If the fullness of the Gentiles occurs before the great tribulation, who are all the saints mentioned in Revelations chapter seven:
Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
You might say, “Oh, this is the raptured Church.” Read the rest of Chapter 7:
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
They came out of GREAT TRIBULATION. I have heard prophecy “experts” claim that the 144,000 saints mentioned in the Book of Revelation will evangelize Israel and the whole world AFTER the Church has been raptured, I beg to differ.
The 144,000 are sealed on their foreheads before the seven trumpets are sounded which foretell the judgment of God upon the world. It is obviously a mark of protection for this special body of believers. These saints are from the twelve tribes of Israel include Judah (the Jews), which is only one of the tribes. I believe there are many people who are direct descendants of the ancient Israelites and they do not yet know they will be a part of these 144,000 saints with the seal of God on their foreheads.
I also believe the 144,000 represent a type of last days Christian. They also receive a “mark” but it is a mark from God. I believe this seal is the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
2Co 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
There are three offices in the Old Testament: The King, the Priest, and the Prophet are all anointed for their office with pure olive oil. Olive oil has always represented the presence of the Holy Spirit and God’s ownership. These people were specifically God’s servants and any interference with their duties was considered defiance of Jehovah. During the great tribulation, there will be a great army of God’s anointed performing God’s work and the world system will try to stop them from accomplishing their mission. This world system will be ruled and governed by the spirit of Anti-Christ.
sphragizo¯ = sealed
sfrag-id'-zo
From G4973; to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation (literally or figuratively); by implication to keep secret, to attest: - (set a, set to) seal up, stop.
The nation of Israel was removed from the Promised Land by the Assyrians because of their wickedness but one day in the future 120,000 of their descendants will hold a special place in God’s heart. I believe these 144,000 special saints of Israel and Judah will all be mature, spirit filled, born again Christians before the great tribulation begins and they will be part of a chosen army of saints evangelizing the world one last harvest of souls before the arrival of the King of Kings.
2Ki 17:22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;
2Ki 17:23 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
The fullness of the Gentiles will only occur when every Gentile who can be saved is saved! The salvation of a vast number of Gentiles believers will occur DURING the great tribulation. Let us look at the verse again:
Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
Rev 7:10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
An elder asks John who is this great multitude which no one could number? God obviously thinks knowing who these saints are is very important, therefore, an elder answers the question for John.
Rev 7:13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"
Rev 7:14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who COME OUT OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION (emphasis added), and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The elder tells John these saints came out of GREAT TRIBULATION. They were not raptured before the great tribulation. The Apostle Paul plainly taught that the end would not come until the Gospel is preached in ALL the world and the fullness of the gentiles is come in. There will be a final harvest of gentile saints and then Jesus Christ will return to save Israel.
Mat_24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
THE WOMAN PERSECUTED BY THE BEAST IS THE CHURCH
There is another error taught by prophecy experts. They teach that the woman in Revelation chapter 12 is Israel. I do not disagree completely, but I believe the woman actually represents the end times Church including believing Jews. Now you will say, hold on, the Book of Revelation says the woman brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Isn’t the woman Israel and isn’t the man child Jesus Christ? Yes, I agree it is SPIRITUAL Israel but it is not modern day Israel. The man child is Jesus, but the man child includes “the manifest sons of God”. Let me explain.
Let us look at the definition of the “Church” in Strong’s concordance:
ekkle¯sia = Church
ek-klay-see'-ah; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.
The church is any meeting of those who have been CALLED OUT, it especially represents a congregation of believers, it can be both gentile believers AND Jewish believers. Let us read a verse in the King James version of the Book of Acts.
Act 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
Act 7:38 This is he, that was in the CHURCH (emphasis added) in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
Steven said that Moses was in the CHURCH in the wilderness. The Church has always been the assembly of the saints of God. The Book of Acts says that Stephen was FULL of the Holy Ghost when he preached to the High Priest and the people. Let’s take a closer look at the woman in the Book of Revelation.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Revelation says the remnant of the woman’s seed keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. A woman’s seed should bear some resemblance to their mother. Does modern day Israel have the testimony of Jesus Christ? Modern Israel is mainly a secular society today. Although there have been some successes by Christian missions to Israel, Jewish Christians living in Israel are currently a very small minority. Actually there are many, many more Arabic Christians in Israel than Messianic Christian Jews. I believe the nation of Israel will not fully believe that Jesus is their savior until AFTER the return of Jesus Christ according to the Bible!
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
I contend that the Church has been in existence long before Pentecost because it consists of the assembly of ALL BELIEVERS though out all history, who will all join together at the resurrection/rapture to make up the spiritual body of Christ! Read what the Book of Hebrews says about the heroes of faith.
Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
The saints of the Old Testament are identified as one with the Church, they will only be made perfect when they are joined to the New Testament saints at the resurrection/ rapture, both occurring at the same time. If you do not distinguish between Israel of the flesh and spiritual Israel, then you must say the woman mentioned by the Book of Revelation in chapter 12, includes the very people who persecuted and murdered the saints of God in the Old and New Testaments. I cannot agree with that interpretation. The Apostle Paul clearly makes this distinction in the book of Galatians.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
You can only inherit the promises God made to Abraham by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Abraham inherited the promises by faith in Jehovah (Jesus Christ). How did the saints of the Old and New Testament boldly stand against wickedness and injustice under threat of torture and death? All the saints, from righteous Abel to the raptured saints at the end of the great tribulation have only one blessed hope. All the saints of God, who are represented by the woman in the Book of Revelation, believe even if their bodies are tortured and killed, even if they are persecuted and hated, they will one day be raised from the dead and joined with God (Jesus Christ), forever and ever!
I also believe the man child that will rule the world for a thousand years also includes God’s elect:
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
As I will explain later in this book, Jesus ministered for three and one-half (3 and ½) years, and the End Times Church will also minister for three and one-half (3and ½) years. Jesus was resurrected and raptured into heaven, and the End Times Church will also be resurrected and raptured into heaven.
THE MARK OF THE BEAST
I do not know if the mark of the beast will be a tattoo, a brand, a computer chip, or a combination thereof but I do believe it will be obvious to all believers.
Tatoos, marks and brands have been used for thousands of years to identify property: cattle, sheep, horses, and even people. I believe the story of Joseph is also a type of the last days Church. Joseph is a type of Christ and he provided for his brethren during one of the worst droughts in the history of the world.
Gen 47:12 And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families.
The Egyptians were not so fortunate.
Gen 47:19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.
Gen 47:20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's.
Gen 47:21 And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.
I believe a similar scenario will occur prior to the man of sin revealing himself. The four horsemen will be let loose and there will be terrible wars, droughts, starvation, plagues and billions of people perishing. Eventually the man of sin will appear as head of the beast system and promise peace, safety, prosperity, and everyone on earth will be required to take his mark and bow down to worship him, this is the final great apostasy mentioned by the Apostle Paul.
The Beast will command that all the people gather in cities, he will count them, he will mark them as his property, everything they own will be his property, and he will promise to protect them and take care of them. He will attempt to take the place of God. He will promise everything that God promises but the man of sin cannot keep his promises…only God can keep ALL of his promises. According to Paul the Apostle, the man of sin must be revealed BEFORE the day of the Lord’s return:
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The Book of II Thessalonians will confuse you unless you realize that the Thessalonians did not have the New Testament available to read and study because the two letters to the Thessalonians were the very first letters written by the Apostle Paul. Paul, who was familiar with the other apostles and Jesus' teaching, was telling them specific prophetic events must take place before the coming of the LORD. In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, Jesus specifically said he would not come back in secret, he also said the saints would be persecuted in ALL nations, he also said flee when the abomination of desolation was revealed. Paul basically expounds on the teachings of the Lord Jesus concerning the last days.
The apostasy, or falling away, is when the whole world, including many nominal Christians, worship the man of sin as God. None of these events have happened yet, the spirit of anti-Christ is definitely increasing even if the man of sin has not been revealed yet. However, the Holy Spirit is also being poured out upon the saints before the coming of our LORD. Let me recap the signs we must see before Jesus comes back:
It is very apparent that there is a spirit of antichrist becoming more and more prominent in the world. Christians are being persecuted in many nations. As this persecution increases many people who claim to be Christians will begin to turn away from Christ. This is the separation of the wheat from the tares. Eventually, the rulers of the world will give their power and authority to a specific man possessed by Satan and he will use his power and authority to persecute and kill ALL true believers throughout the whole world.