There are several Scriptures that people use for the rapture. One is 'no one knows the day or hour'. 'We are not appointed to wrath, but salvation.' But Scriptures taken out of context are misleading.
When one considers the appointed times of God - His seven (everlasting) feasts, note that His arrival in Bethlehem as babe set His own schedule in motion. The conclusion of his earthly ministry at that time declared:
14 Nisan: Passover: Mashiach Yeshua / Jesus Christ crucified
15 Nisan: Unleavened Bread: Jesus in grave
17 Nisan: Firstfruits: Jesus risen from the dead
6 Sivan: Shavuot: The Holy Spirit given [Acts 2]
Acts 3
17 Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets,
that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
20 and that He may send Jesus Christ,
who was preached to you before,
21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things,
which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you
a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things,
whatever He says to you.
23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet
shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken,
have also foretold these days.
25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers,
saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you,
in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
God is longsuffering, abundant in mercy, that none should perish and all come to repentance (2Peter 3). And through the tribulation period this Scripture proves out God's longsuffering and mercy for men to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3
7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word,
are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years,
and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens
will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat;
both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons
ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which
the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.
Jesus Christ is returning, as He came, according to the appointed feasts. The last 3 of the seven feasts are:
1-2 Tishrei Rosh ha Shanah: essentially translated 'New Year' is also
"Yom Teruah': Day of Trumpets (the Tribulation period) of which the
Book of Revelation is a complete outline. Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21
also detail this time period, but John gives specifics.
10 Tishrei: Yom Kippur - the 'Day of Atonement' for the land of Israel. Atonement was provided
in the cross - - for sin on the Day of Passover - -
for the 'land of Israel' on this feast day.
15 Tishrei: Sukkot - the Feast of Tabernacles -
when Christ will dwell with men and reign 1000 years.
So WHEN is Christ coming back - and WHEN is the RAPTURE?
When considering this, note Matthew 27:52 as an example:
Matthew 27
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;
and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
52 and the graves were opened; and many BODIES of the saints
who had fallen asleep were raised;
53 and coming out of the graves AFTER His resurrection,
they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake
and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Now consider 1 Corinthians 15:
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits,
AFTERWARD those who are Christ’s AT HIS COMING.
24 THEN comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father,
when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,
and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
And now 1 Thessalonians 4
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning those who have fallen asleep,
lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive and remain UNTIL THE COMING OF THE LORD
will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 THEN we who are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
THE RAPTURE OCCURS:
1. At the coming of the Lord
2. The dead in Christ RISE FIRST
3. THEN we who are ALIVE and REMAIN - are raptured.
Note: Jesus is still announcing His coming at the 6th BOWL judgment.
When looking at the book of Revelation, which is a chronicle of the 'Day of the Lord' / 'Day of Christ' (Second Coming), it is a narrative of the last three remaining feasts that the Lord Himself will fulfill.
On the feast of Rosh ha Shanah / Trumpets - the celebration could not begin until 'two witnesses' ascended the mountain and waited for the 'New Moon' to appear. Yom Teruah is determined by the 'sighting of the New Moon'. On 1 Tishrei, two witnesses waited for the sighting and when seen BLEW THE TRUMPET to awaken those sleeping in the city, and signal the beginning of the feast. The 'two day feast' was considered 'one long day'. This day is known for a series of '100 blasts', the 100th blast - -the 'last trump' of this season. Rosh ha Shanah is known as the 'ten days of awe' or 'ten days of repentance'. Remember (Rev 2) the church of Smyrna (martyrs): you will have tribulation 'ten days' - be faithful unto death.
Then on 10 Tishrei - the Day of Atonement / Yom Kippur has arrived. This feast also has a trumpet blast - called 'The GREAT trump'. Also 'the last trump'. This is the timeframe of expected return. The 'season is known' to the believer, the specific timing is not. When does Scripture relate this happening? At the end of the SIXTH BOWL JUDGMENT [Rev 16].
But what about 'no one knows the day or hour'?
1Thessalonians 5
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren,
you have no need that I should write to you.
2 For YOU YOURSELVES KNOW PERFECTLY that the DAY OF THE LORD
so comes as a THIEF IN THE NIGHT.
3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them,
as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
NOTE: Believers are 'safe in Christ' - - not necessarily 'safe from wicked men on earth, as witnessed by Christ and his apostles and martyrs. Men who meet God's wrath, less they repent, are doomed to hell.
Job 21:30
For the wicked are reserved for the DAY OF DOOM;
They shall be brought out on the DAY OF WRATH.
Psalm 110:5
The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the DAY OF HIS WRATH.
Proverbs 11:4
Riches do not profit in the DAY OF WRATH, But righteousness delivers from death.
Isa 13:9
Behold, the DAY OF THE LORD comes, cruel, with both WRATH and fierce anger,
To lay the LAND desolate; and He will DESTROY ITS SINNERS from it.
Isaiah 13:13
Therefore I WILL SHAKE THE HEAVENS, and the EARTH WILL MOVE OUT OF HER PLACE,
In the WRATH OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, and in the DAY OF HIS FIERCE ANGER.
2Peter 3
The Day of the Lord
10 But the DAY OF THE LORD will come as a THIEF IN THE NIGHT
in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise,
and the elements will melt with fervent heat;
BOTH THE EARTH AND THE WORKS THAT ARE IN IT WILL BE BURNED UP.
11 Therefore, SINCE ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE DISSOLVED, what manner of persons
ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the DAY OF GOD, BECAUSE OF WHICH
the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according His promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells
Revelation 6 relates a period of persecution / tribulation of believers (seal 5) and then the 6th seal warns of the WRATH OF THE LAMB that 'is come'. But first, in Revelation 7, 144,000 Jews are sealed and John witnesses a GREAT MULTITUDE who will come out of the coming tribulation.
Revelation 8 opens with the 7th seal being opened and 7 angels preparing to sound their trumpets. There will be 7 trumpet blasts. Revelation 11 reveals that 'two witnesses' have 3 1/2 years to prophesy God's message to repent, calling down judgments as they deem necessary. Since their testimony ends with the 6th trumpet finishing - - their time of prophesying coincides with the beginning of the trumpet judgments. The trumpet judgments (Rev 8) begin the first half of the tribulation period.
The 7th trumpet is blown, the time of the 'dead to be judged' [church of Sardis]. In Revelation 12 - - the 'moon is seen', the signal of 'Rosh ha Shanah', and the woman ready to 'give birth', the devil waiting to devour her child as soon as it is born. She bears a 'male child' (determining the time of her purification for uncleanness). This child is the witness of the church of Thyatira, who has endured tribulation and the unrepentant were warned that they would be thrown into 'great tribulation'. That 'he will rule with a rod of iron, was the promise given to the church of Thyatira and now witnesses testify 'they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and did not love their lives to the death. The DEVIL is now 'cast of out of heaven ' coming down to you with GREAT WRATH - pursuing the 'offspring of the woman' (Jews) and 'those who have the testimony of Christ [all believers]. This begins the last 3 1/2 years of GREAT TRIBULATION.
Revelation 13 reveals the anti-christ and false prophet. The mark of the beast is mandated and ALL WHO DO NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST are ordered killed. Yet God is longsuffering that men repent and none perish [suffer hell]. Those of Sardis who overcome - will be clothed in white as Rev 7 prophesied. Those who do not overcome will have their names blotted from the Book of Life.
Revelation 14 sets the theme of Rev 15-19, 144,000 now seen in heaven and the fall of Babylon in progress which culminates in Rev 18.
9 “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark
on his forehead or on his hand,
10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.
Revelation 15 is now the prelude to the 7 BOWL judgments and 'seven angels having the seven golden bowls full of the WRATH OF GOD who lives forever and ever.
Revelation 16 begins:
FIRST BOWL: LOATHSOME SORES
2 a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast
and those who worshiped his image.
SECOND BOWL: SEA TURNS TO BLOOD
3 ... the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.
THIRD BOWL: WATERS TURN TO BLOOD
4 ... bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.
[song of Moses]
FOURTH BOWL: MEN SCORCHED
8 ... fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire.
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God
who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
FIFTH BOWL: DARKNESS and PAIN
10 bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness;
and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.
11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores,
and did not repent of their deeds.
SIXTH BOWL: RIVER EUPHRATES [fruitfulness] DRIES UP
12 THEN the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,
and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon,
out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth
and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 “BEHOLD, I AM COMING AS A THIEF. Blessed is he who watches,
and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
NOTE: The 'church of Philadelphia' is promised that they will be kept 'from the hour of trial'
[Rev 18:10] - Babylon's judgment.
Psalm 110:5 The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the DAY OF HIS WRATH.
Rev 19:
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice,
saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven,
“Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,
18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men,
the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people,
free and slave, both small and great.”
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies,
gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs
in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast
and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire
burning with brimstone.
21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him
who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
At the 6th BOWL judgment [Rev 16] - -CHRIST HAS NOT YET COME and declares that he is 'COMING AS A THIEF' to a people that fit the description of the seventh and last church of LAODICEA [justice of the people], who, those who overcome, will be 'as the thief on the cross' - - God's longsuffering for 'repentance'.
Rev 16
16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, ARMAGEDDON.
[the hill - place of crowds]
SEVENTH BOWL: THE EARTH UTTERLY SHAKEN
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out
of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake,
such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.
19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.
And great Babylon was remembered before God,
TO GIVE HER THE CUP OF THE WINE OF THE FIERCENESS OF HIS WRATH.
20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent.
Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail,
since that plague was exceedingly great.
The DAY OF THE LORD will not catch 'Godly men' unwares [1Th 5], but it will catch ungodly men, such as in the 'days of Noah', unaware.
Matthew 24
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Rev
No One Knows the Day or Hour
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,but My Father only.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying
and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away,
so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Since the Word expresses that 'for the elect's sake', those days will be shortened less no flesh be saved, and that the feasts are 'cyclic' - - which Yom Kippur / which year will He come to make atonement for the land - -in the 3 1/2 year cycle?
But - -as for the RAPTURE - - according to the Scriptures - - Jesus comes back, the dead in Christ rise FIRST - -then we who are alive and remain - - - are caught up.
To be continued
Selah
Shalom
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