Closing Stages

The
Prewrath
Rapture
Position
Teachers Manual
By
Michael E. Rogers
All scripture references are from the New King James Bible version unless otherwise indicated.

Reign Scent Ministries

Copyright © 2008, Reign Scent Ministries, All rights reserved.
Defining the Prewrath Rapture 1
Views of Eschatology 10
That’s Greek To Me 15
The Great Persecution 24
Cosmic Disturbance 34
The Parousia of Jesus Christ 40
The Day of the Lord 50
Matthew 24 55
Charts 60
Notes Back of Manual

are found in the back of the teacher’s manual to give the teacher a broader
understanding of the topic in discussion. These notes are not provided on the student
syllabus. The notes are not exhaustive and some self study may be required on the part of
the teacher.

Words underlined in the teacher’s manual are provided for the teacher identifying the blank
areas on the student syllabus.
 1

1
Defining The Prewrath Position

“The fact is that neither postribulationalism nor pretribulationalism is an

explicit teaching of Scripture. The Bible does not in so many words state
either.”
Dr. John F. Walvoord; Bsac V112, #448 Oct. 1955, 303

Hermeneutics

 ALLEGORICAL METHOD ~
The reader determines what Scriptures teach
 FACE VALUE METHOD ~
The reader discovers what Scriptures teach.

The authors of the Scripture (Paul, Peter etc.) knew the meaning of the Scripture when
writing it. Our job as modern interpreters is to discern i.e. discover that meaning.

KEYS TO A FACE VALUE HERMENEUTIC

1. Accept the meaning of Scripture in its most normal, natural, customary sense.

a) The text meant something at the time it was written, our job is to get to that normal,
natural meaning, i.e. what did the words mean at the time they were written?
2. Take Scripture in context.

a) What precedes and follows is the best clue to what a particular verse or word or
paragraph means.
b) Consider the impact of the context.
3. Compare Scripture with Scripture.

a) The compounding of the individual passages of Scripture dealing with the same
subject highlights our understanding on any particular subject or text.
4. Refute all Scriptural contradictions.

a) Until all apparent contradictions are dispelled, truth has not been discovered.
b) If there is a contradiction it is on the part of the interpreter not on the text. The
Word of God has no contradictions.
c) Contradictions require more time and study to discover the meaning.
 2

5. Watch for Near/Far prophetic applications in Scripture.

a) Luke 21 is an example with the destruction of the temple. 1st in 70 A.D. and then
when Christ comes again it will be on a much broader scale.

6. NEVER ASSUME: Assumption is the fault line of interpretation! Assumption leads to

insertion. Genetics can be described as a segment of DNA that is inserted into a gene
sequence, the result is cloning. A lack of understanding of any biblical text leads one to
assume, which in turn channels them to insert one’s own opinion. Injecting man’s
opinion into the Word of God only produces a mutated result.

7. NEVER SPIRITUALIZE OR ALLEGORIZE SCRIPTURE: Spiritualizing Scripture is simply

reading into the text and then adding to it something that otherwise is not there. It's
adding a spiritual meaning to the text with no biblical support. Allegorizing Scripture is
giving a symbolic representation of the text. It's painting a picture, turning the text into
a storyline, generalizing or giving a broad view by turning the text into a narrative
account instead of a face value understanding.

I. THE PREWRATH POSITION

The Parousia of Christ, which begins with the translation of the Church, and
finishes with God’s “Day of the Lord” wrath against the wicked (which
culminates at Armageddon), will be initiated sometime after the persecution
by Satan/Antichrist (which begins at the midpoint of Daniel’s Seventieth
Week).
Charles Cooper; Defining the Prewrath Rapture

1. PAROUSIA ~
a) The term parousia is a word that covers an entire event, i.e. a series of
events.
b) Parousia involves more than a single event.
1) The first parousia of Christ (2 Peter 1:16-17) involves everything from His birth
to His death, burial and resurrection and ultimate ascension into heaven.
2) The second parousia of Christ is an event made up of multiple events, it
culminates at Armageddon but it begins with the translation of the Church to
glory. It begins with the rapture of the church and ends with Christ coming with
His army to put the wicked away at Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-20)
3) There is only one parousia (coming) found in Scripture, Scripture does not
support the theory of Christ first coming for His saints, then coming with His
saints.
 3

4) Scripture teaches one parousia that has a beginning and an end with multiple
events in between.

5) *The parousia is explicitly the object of the believers expectation ~ 1

Thessalonians 2:19; 3:13; James 5:7-8; 1 John 2:28.

2. THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF PREWRATH

a) The church will experience the persecution by Satan/Antichrist.

b) Satan will empower Antichrist who will become the instrument of the persecution of
God’s elect ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:9.
c) The persecution of Satan/Antichrist will be cut short by the parousia of Christ,
translating the church to glory and thereby rendering Antichrist helpless ~ Matthew
24:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:8.

3. FOUR COMPARISIONS

A. The Prewrath Rapture View is a balanced and biblical synthesis of pre-, mid-, and
posttribulationalism with a refinement of the timing issue that brings harmony to
all the Rapture passages in question.
B. The Prewrath Rapture Position reveals that the unquestionable truths of each of the
three positions are kept while the errors that divide them are discarded.

C. All four tribulationial positions (Pre-trib, Mid-trib, Post-trib, Prewrath)

fundamentally have one common belief, that is, the Wrath of God immediately
follows the translation/rapture.

D. All Rapture positions believe that the Church is to be raptured before the Wrath of
God comes.
E. All four positions believe that the rapture is directly related to the 70th Week of
Daniel.

1. Pre-Tribulation Position ~ Truths with biblical support ~

a) The pre-trib position says they don’t know when Jesus is going to come, but
when he does everything that follows is the Wrath of God.

b) The question mark is based on Matthew 24:36a “Of that day and hour no one
knows…” Note: It is interesting that pre-tribbers will use this verse although
they say the rest of the chapter applies only to Israel ~ You can’t have it both
ways. You can’t except a portion of Scripture making it pliable to the church
while excluding the rest.
 4

c) God has promised that the church would be evacuated from the earth before
the wrath of God comes ~ 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9.

d) The Prewrath Rapture Position believes that this is an explicit teaching of

Scripture therefore it is included in the Prewrath Rapture View.

2. Mid-Tribulation Position ~ Truths with biblical support ~

a. Mid-Tribulationalist believe that there is a fundamental difference between the

Wrath of God and the wrath of Satan ~ Rev. 12:12.

b. Satan is thrown down at the mid point, empowers the antichrist, and begins the
persecution of God’s elect.

c. The Prewrath Rapture Position believes that this is an explicit teaching of

Scripture therefore it is included in the Prewrath Rapture View.

3. Post-Tribulation Position ~ Truths with biblical support ~

 5

a. Post-Tribulationalist believe that Matthew 24:29-31 is a reference to the rapture

which immediately follows the tribulation/persecution of those days.

b. The Prewrath Rapture Position believes that this is an explicit teaching of

Scripture therefore it is included in the Prewrath Rapture View.

4. Prewrath Rapture Position ~

A. The Four Legs of the Prewrath Position

1. Like the Pre-Trib view, the Prewrath position believes that the Saints will not
experience the eschatological Wrath of God.

2. Like the Mid-Trib view, the Prewrath position sees a distinction between the
Wrath of God and the wrath of Satan/Antichrist.

3. Like the Post-Trib view, the Prewrath position believes that the Wrath of God
will be evidenced only after the persecution of Antichrist is finished.

4. In addition to the previous views, the Prewrath position teaches that the
persecution of Antichrist will be cut short (Matthew 24:22) by removing the
object (the church) of his persecution.
 6

B. The Five Columns of the Prewrath Position.

1. The Rapture and Day of the Lord begin at the Same Time.
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:2; Luke 17:27,29)

2. Darkened Sun and Moon Signal’s (Sign) the Day of the Lord.
(Joel 2:31; Isaiah 13:9-11; Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12)

3. Darkened Sun and Moon Signal’s (Sign) the Gathering of the Elect.
(Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27)

4. Apostasy and Antichrist are events that precede the Rapture.

(2 Thessalonians 2:1-3)

5. Tribulation Martyrs are Part of the 1st Resurrection. (Revelation 20:4-6)

(Christ the firstfruits 1 Cor. 15:23); (Paradise saints Matt. 27:51-53); (Rapture saints at his coming
(See rapture passages); (martyred tribulation saints Rev. 20:4-6.)
 7

C. Two Conditions for the Timing of the Rapture.

A. Before the wrath of God comes.

B. After the persecution by Satan/Antichrist begins.

1. There is a fundamental difference between the Wrath of God and the wrath of
Satan.

2. In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10 these two biblical conditions are indicated.

3. The Wrath of God is the explicit biblical reference that defines the timing of
the rapture.

4. The eschatological Wrath of God begins when the eschatological Day of the
Lord begins.

5. There are four important clearly defined elements to the coming of God’s
eschatological wrath.

a. The eschatological day of the Lord is God’s Wrath is against the wicked. 1
Thess 5:1-10

b. The eschatological day of the Lord follows the persecution by Antichrist

Matt 24:29. The great tribulation is going to be cut short because God is
going to evacuate the righteous and begin the punishment of the wicked
Matt 24:22,30-31.

c. The eschatological day of the Lord follows the beginning of the ministry of
Elijah. Malachi 4:5-6

d. The eschatological day of the Lord follows the sign in the sun, moon, and
stars. Joel 2:30-31; Matt 24:29-31; Acts 2:17-21; Revelation 6:12-17

D. Sequence of Events.

a) First the exploitation and persecution of the people of God.

b) Then the evacuation of the people of God (Rapture).
c) Then the execution of the Wrath of God against the wicked.

E. Six Scriptural factors that the Rapture will occur after the Tribulation, but
before the Day of the Lord.

b. The TIMING of “The Day of the LORD”

c. The CHRONOLOGY of Matthew 24
d. The SHORTINING of “The Great Tribulation” for the Elect (Matt. 24:22)
e. The CONDITIONS that precede “The Day of Christ” ~ 2 Thess. 2:1-3
 8

f. The HARVEST of the Righteous before the Winepress of God’s Wrath (Rev.
14:14-20)
g. The PEOPLE included in “The First Resurrection” (Rev. 20:4-6)

II. WHAT IS THE RAPTURE

A. The word “rapture” is a derivative of the Latin word “rapere”. This word occurs in the
Latin translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which translates the Greek expression
“caught up.”

B. For key passages describing this important event.

1. Matthew 24:22, 31, 40-42 ~ The Rapture is a time when Christ will deliver His Elect
saints. (The Rapture = Deliverance from Divine Wrath)

2. John 14:1-3 ~ The Rapture is a time when Christ will receive His Elect saints. (The
Rapture = Reception unto Christ)

3. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 ~ The Rapture is a time when Christ will resurrect His Elect
saints. (The Rapture = Transformation from corruptible mortality)

4. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ~ The Rapture is a time when Christ will reunite His Elect
saints. (The Rapture = Reunion with the dead in Christ)

C. Scripture teaches that believers are to:

1. Watch for His coming ~ Matthew 24:42

2. Wait for His coming ~ 1 Corinthians 1:7
3. Look for His coming ~ Titus 2:13
4. Hope for His coming ~ 1 Peter 1:13
5. Love his coming ~ 2 Timothy 4:8
6. Be faithful until His coming ~ 1 Timothy 6:14
7. Remain patient until His coming ~ James 5:7-8

Early Church Fathers.

Justin Martyr: (100-168)

The man of apostasy (Antichrist), who speaks things against the Most High,
shall venture to do unlawful deeds on the earth against us the Christians…”
(Dialogue With Trypho, 110)
 9

Irenaeus: (140-202)
And they (the ten kings who shall arise) shall lay Babylon waste, and burn her
with fire, and shall give their kingdom to the beast, and put the church to flight.
(Against Heresies, V. 26)

Tertullian: (150-220)
“The souls of the martyrs are taught to wait (Rev. 6)...that the beast Antichrist
with his false prophets may wage war on the Church of God…” (On the
Resurrection of the Flesh, 25).

Hippolytus: (160-240)
And when he has conquered all, he will prove himself a terrible and savage
tyrant, and will cause tribulation and persecution to the saints, exalting himself
against them. “And the dragon,” he says,“saw and persecuted the woman which
brought forth the man-child. And to the woman were given two wings of the
great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, where she is nourished for a
time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” 1538 That refers to
the one thousand two hundred and threescore days (the half of the week)
during which the tyrant is to reign and persecute the Church.
 10

2
Views of Eschatology

I. Terminology and Definitions of Millennial Views

1. Premillennial – Face-Value hermeneutic method of interpretation.

a) There will be a literal thousand year reign of Christ over a literal kingdom on
earth that He will establish after the events associated with His second coming.

b) Revelation chapter 20 refers no less than six times to this thousand year reign of
Christ.

c) Premillennialism holds that Christ will return to earth before (pre-) His
thousand year (millennial) reign over the earth.

d) Just prior to the thousand year reign of Christ there will be a seven-year period
of trouble (tribulation), on earth, beginning mildly and increasing in intensity as
this period progresses – Matthew 24:3-31; Daniel 11:36-12:13; Book of
Revelation.

2. Amillennial – Allegorical method of interpretation.

a) Amillennialist believe that the thousand year kingdom would be the period of
time between the first and second advents of Christ.

b) The Second Coming of Christ will be a single event. Amillennialists find no

scriptural basis for the dispensationalist division of the Second Coming into two
phases (sometimes called the parousia and the revelation), with a seven-year
period in between. Amillennialists understand Christ’s return as being a single
event.

c) The millennial kingdom is a spiritual kingdom – in the hearts of faithful men, not
an actual literal kingdom on the earth over which Christ would one day rule.

d) In the Ammillenial view the last days were no longer the last days, Israel was no
longer Israel, Jerusalem was no longer Jerusalem.

e) Almillennialism teaches that the Kingdom of God will not be physically

established on earth throughout the “millennium,” but rather:

1) That Jesus is presently reigning from heaven, seated at the right hand of God
the Father,
2) That Jesus also is and will remain with the church until the end of the world,
as he promised at the Ascension,
 11

3. That at Pentecost, the millennium began, as is shown by Peter using the

prophecies of Joel, about the coming of the kingdom, to explain what was
happening,
4. And that, therefore the church and its spread of the good news is Christ's
kingdom.

f) Under this system of interpretation, the Bible becomes a subjective patchwork

which could be made to say whatever one wanted it to say.

g) By allegorizing the Scriptures, it allows the church to become the new Israel and,
as such, acquire all of the blessings promised to the sons of Jacob while, at the
same time, allocating to literal Israel all the divine cursings.

h) There are two conflicting views within the Amillennial camp concerning the
believers’ 1000-year reign with Christ spoken of in Revelation 20:4-6.

1. One group sees this as speaking of the intermediate state of believers

between death and resurrection. It refers to “the reign of the souls of the
blessed dead with Christ in the intermediate state.

2. The second group holds that the entire church age, from the first coming of
Christ until His second coming, is to be equated with the Millennium and that
“the church militant on earth… is now reigning with Christ in the sense that
we are now living in the midst of the millennium

5. Postmillennial – Allegorical hermeneutic method of interpretation.

a) Postmillennialist are convinced that the gospel, like leaven (yeast), would
permeate the entire world.

b) As the gospel has its purifying effects on men’s hearts, things will get better.

c) The effect of the gospel, will bring in the millennial kingdom, then when
everything was right, after a thousand years of man’s progressive improvement,
Christ would return.

d) Man will bring in the Kingdom through the spread of the gospel, Christ will
return after (post) its universal acceptance to sit upon His throne.
12
 13

II. Terminology and Definitions of Tribulation Views

1. Pretribulation Rapture
a) Christ will come for His church before the seven-year tribulation period begins.

b) The church will not experience the persecution by Antichrist during the Great
Tribulation.

c) The rapture of the church can occur at any moment – what is referred to as
imminency.

d) The pretribulationial school of thought is that the “Antichrist” cannot be

revealed until the church is raptured, then he appears on the world scene
initiating the seven year tribulation by establishing a covenant with Israel.

2. Midtribulation Rapture
a) Christ will rapture the church in the middle of the tribulation period.
b) The church will experience the less severe problems associated with the first
half of the tribulation period.

c) The church will be raptured immediately prior to the Great Tribulation and
escape the persecution of the Antichrist.

d) The wrath of God is associated only with the Great Tribulation and God’s Wrath
will be triggered by the opening of the seventh trumpet judgment (Rev 11).

3. Posttribulation Rapture
a) The rapture of the saints will not occur until the very end of the 70th week of
Daniel.
b) The church will undergo persecution at the hands of Antichrist.
c) The wrath of God will begin very near the end of the tribulation period and will
include the bowl judgments and the battle of Armageddon.
d) The Rapture is a translation of the saints to meet Christ in the air and then
immediately return with Him to the earth.
 14

4. Prewrath Rapture
a) The Rapture of the church will occur immediately prior to the beginning of the
Day of the Lord.

b) The Day of the Lord commences sometime within the second half of the
seventieth week of Daniel (tribulation period).

c) The Celestial Cataclysm associated with the sixth seal will signal the approach of
the Day of the Lord.

d) The Day of the Lord will begin with the opening of the seventh seal (Rev. 8:1).
e) The church will suffer at the hands of the antichrist’s persecution which is the
Great Tribulation Period – “but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” –
Matthew 24:22.
 15

3
That’s Greek to Me
Understanding Greek Terms

I. Words associated with Christ’s Coming

1. The Parousia of Christ.

The Greek word “Parousia” (par-oo-see-a) is an essential word to understand when

studying end time prophecy, largely because the word appears in every key passage of
Scripture pertaining to the rapture of the Church. The Greek word parousia is
translated “coming” in our English Bibles and is the technical term signifying the second
advent (coming) of Jesus Christ. An “advent” can be described as the arrival of
something or someone important or expected. For example, the coming of Christmas
can be described as an advent because it involves more than just Christmas day but
includes the four week period leading up to Christmas, which is way we call it the
Christmas season. Jesus described His second coming with the parable of the fig tree,
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree. When its branch has already become tender
and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these
things, know that it is near, at the doors!” ~ Matt. 24:32-33. We know that Christmas is
near when we see people putting Christmas lights on their houses and trees in their
windows. For weeks we see people shopping for gifts, wrapping them and putting them
under the Christmas tree, all in anticipation of the arrival of Christmas day. In the same
manner, the events described by Jesus in Matthew 24:3-31 will be signs, much like the
fig tree putting forth its leaves of Jesus’ parousia (Second Coming). When the events
described by Jesus in Matthew 24 begin to happen and we witness them first hand, then
we will know that His coming is near, at the door.
The Greek word parousia was also the official term used to describe the arrival of a
person of high rank, especially a king. It was an arrival that included a permanent
presence from that coming onward. Peter uses this word when describing his
experience on the Mount of Transfiguration.

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you
the power and coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye
witnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and
glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory; “This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” ~ 2 Peter 1:16-17
The first advent or (coming) of Jesus Christ was with power as He was born King and
Savior. He was salvation prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring
revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of the people Israel ~ Luke 2:10-11, 29-32;
Matthew 2:1-6. Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection is in the context of the Greek
 16

word parousia and His presence as Immanuel (God with us) changed the course of
history. The light of Salvation provided by His substitutionary death still burns on
through the Gospel message and the existence of the Church until He returns.
Upon the Second Advent of Jesus Christ, the world will be met by the continued
presence of Jesus Christ as He first raptures the church and then sets in motion the Day
of the Lord, or Day of God’s wrath. Parousia is a noun, which carries the sense of an
active presence; it is not a verb like the Greek word erchomai (coming) which will be
discussed later. The Greek noun parousia refers to Christ’s second coming as an event,
not as an activity.
The prewrath rapture position only sees one (single) parousia of Christ in the New
Testament that includes different activities occurring after the rapture of Christ’s Elect,
i.e. the Wrath of God upon the wicked who remain after the rapture, the final battle of
Armageddon, the salvation of Israel, and the establishment of the Millenial kingdom of
Christ. The Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon describes the parousia of Christ as “the future
visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up
formally and gloriously the kingdom of God.” Parousia marks the end of the age
(Matthew 24:3) and gives prominence to the beginning of a new era, the Day of the
Lord, including Christ’s 1,000 year reign on earth. The parousia of Christ is the pivot
point between the conclusion of the Church age, that is, the age of Grace and the Day of
the Lord’s Wrath when God punishes the wicked with His fiery judgment.

2. Erchomai

Erchomai is a verb translated (coming or comes) and is always used of persons

either coming or going from one point to another. It means to make one’s appearance,
to come before the public. For example, parousia is a noun and describes an event
while erchomai is a verb describing the appearance and movement one makes while the
event is transpiring. Let’s say your favorite musical artist is scheduled to come to your
town. You buy tickets in the anticipation of attending the concert, their coming would
be in the context of parousia, the concert is an event you are going to attend. It’s on the
day of their arrival that they make there appearance as they come before the public to
perform, this would be in the context of erchomai. A verb is a word that denotes action,
the artist’s coming is seen by their appearance on stage and by their performance.
Simply put, the word parousia would be the event while erchomai demonstrates the
actions taken once the event takes place.
Parousia and erchomai include the entire series of events of the second coming
of Christ. Erchomai emphasizes Christ’s movement during those separate by related
events. What is substantially important is that erchomai, which always relates to
movement, is so often mentioned with Christ’s coming “in” or “with” the clouds as He
descends from heaven. (Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27; Rev.
1:7.)1 Erchomai marks the purpose of ones arrival and the action taken by the
individual, it signifies the act rather than the arrival. The primary distinction between

1
Robert Van Kampen, The Rapture Question Answered Plain and Simple; Fleming H. Revel, a division of Baker
Book House Company.
 17

parousia and erchomai is that generally, parousia will refer to the event and erchomai
to someone’s movement within the event. While parousia is directly related to the
event of the Rapture of the church, it is the world collectively that witnesses his
erchomai (coming), as Christ descends from heaven with power and great glory. A
classic example is found in Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, His is coming – (erchomai) with
clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the
earth will mourn because of Him. Even so Amen.” A further study reveals that this occurs
some time between the sixth and seventh seals mentioned in Revelation 6:15-17—“the
kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every
slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
and said to the mountains and rocks, “fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits
on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb” For the great day of His wrath has come
(erchomai), and who is able to stand?” What is ascribed to erchomai is the purpose of
Christ’s coming, first to rapture the church – Matthew 24:30-31, secondly to initiate the
Day of the Lord’s Wrath – 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10, and
thirdly, to establish His Millennial Kingdom – Matthew 25:31.

3. Tribulation

The Greek word translated “tribulation” is thlipsis, and is described as pressure,

oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, and straits. It is the same word used in both
Matthew 24:9,21,29 and in Revelation 7:14 referring to the great tribulation of God’s
elect that will occur in the last days by the hand of the Antichrist. Another word which
is used interchangeably is “persecution” as is done in Acts 11:19 – “Now those who were
scattered after the persecution-(thlipsis) that arose over Stephen traveled as far as
Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.” This
being the case, it is not a violation to the Word of God to identify the “great tribulation”
as the “great persecution” considering how the word thlipsis is used and it’s association
to the context of Matthew chapter 24.
The hour of testing – (peiramos: Rev. 3:10; 2 Peter 2:9) which is about to come upon
the whole world can be identified as the Great Tribulation when studied in the context
of Rev. 2:10 in the letter to the church of Smyrna.

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed the devil
is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested (peiramos),
and you will have tribulation – (thlipsis) ten days. Be faithful until death, and
I will give you the crown of life.

John was recording both present and future events, future events that would climax
this present age. The seven churches of Revelation chapters 2-3 are representative of
all churches of that time, as well as churches in all subsequent generations. The letters
to the seven churches gives insight as to where they stand spiritually before the Lord. A
prophetic application is given to the letters, the seven churches presented in John’s day
describe the church age culminating with the end as described in Matthew chapter 24.
The time of tribulation is not a persecution against the world in general, but a time of
 18

persecution targeted specifically against the Nation of Israel, the elect of God (church),
and any others who refuse to worship the Antichrist and receive his mark.
The seven year tribulation period is a generic term that pretribulationist use to
describe what the Word of God calls “the seventieth week” – Daniel 9:24-27. To call the
entire seventieth week of Daniel “the tribulation period” is unwarranted and unbiblical.
The seventieth week of Daniel is broken down into three parts – The first three and one
half years is noted in Matthew 24:4-8 as the beginning of sorrows. It is initiated when
Antichrist signs a covenant to protect Israel – Daniel 9:27. What marks the first half of
Daniels seventieth week is the first three seals of Revelation 6:1-6. In the middle of the
seventieth week of Daniel, Antichrist brake’s the covenant with Israel which initiates a
period of severe persecution. It is the event known as the abomination of desolation –
Daniel 9:27; 11:31; Matthew 24:15.
The second part should be identified as the “great persecution” – (tribulation) played
out by the opening of the forth and fifth seals of Revelation 6:7-11. This persecution
will be unparallel to any in the history of the world. It will be of epic proportion for the
Great Tribulation will be a global event. Matthew 24:9 – “Then they will deliver you up
to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” I
want you to get this, it’s important, after the beginning of sorrows mentioned in verse 8,
“they will deliver you up to “TRIBULATION/ PERSECUTION”. You will be hated by ALL
NATIONS, it doesn’t say some nations but all nations, the question is, why? The answer;
“for my name’s sake.” Anyone claiming the name of Jesus will be marked for death,
world wide. This brings up another question, who is it that professes the name of
Jesus? It is the church, not Israel, who adheres to the name of Jesus. Point taken! One
more point, to exclude the church as the “elect of God” – Matthew 24:21-22 and apply
the Olivet Discourse to Israel only is just bad theology. But don’t just take my word for
it, study Romans chapter 11 out.
The third part of Daniels seventieth week is identified by scripture as the “Day of the
Lord.” After the tribulation, signs in the sun, moon and stars will be manifest initiating
the parousia (coming) of Christ to deliver/rapture his church. This is seen in the
opening of the sixth seal of Revelation 6:12-17. This event cuts short the great
tribulation by his appearing – Matthew 24:22 leading right into the day of the Lord. The
Day of the Lord is the final execution of God’s wrath beginning with the opening of the
seventh seal of Revelation 8:1.

4. The Rapture

The English word rapture comes from the Latin word raptus which in the Latin Bible is
a translation of the Greek word harpazo. Our English Bibles translates the Greek word
harpazo as “caught up.” So again, we use a generic term “rapture” to describe the Greek
word “harpazo” translated as “caught up.” Harpazo means, “to snatch or catch away” and is
used in Acts 8:39 when “the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away…But Philip was found at
Azotus.” Another example given us in scripture is when Paul was “caught up” to paradise,
into the third heaven - 2 Cor. 12:2, 4. Considering both texts just quoted, when Christ
raptures the church it will be more than just a snatching away, it will be a transferring from
one place to another. The model text used in the Bible is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.
 19

“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. For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep
in Jesus. 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. 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. 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.”

As Philip was translated or snatched away by the Spirit and moved to Azotus, and as
Paul was caught up into the third heaven, the church will be snatched from the earth and
translated into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. In the line of reasoning, and for the
sake of argument, it is important to look at the central theme of this passage. In the heart of
our rapture passage is the parousia of Christ in Vs. 15. Parousia is the keystone on which
all rapture passages are built upon. In Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians he
summarize the parousia of Christ and its correlation to the rapture of the Church.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
Now brethren, concerning the coming – “parousia” of our Lord Jesus Christ and
our gathering together – “episynagoge” to Him, we ask you, not to be soon
shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us,
as though the day of Christ had come.

This is a critical passage to understand as it parallels Matthew 24:31 and uses the exact
same language to describe Christ’s second coming to gather together His elect from one end
of heaven to the other. The Greek word episynagoge “gathering together” is from the root
of episunago. Both refer to an assembly, to gather together besides ones self, to bring
together to others already assembled. What is important about these two words is the
Greek preposition “epi” that comes before synagoge and sunago. The preposition “epi”
gives direction to the assembly for “epi” means “on or upon” just as epidermis refers to the
top layer of one’s skin. When this preposition is added to the verb sunago or to the noun
synagoge, it gives an upward direction to the gathering. 2
When both Jesus and Paul used these words they were referring to the rapture of the
church, “a gathering together in an upward direction,” that is “a taking up and assembling
together in one place.” Paul built upon what he had written to the Thessalonians in his first
letter concerning the Coming of Jesus Christ to remove the church by way of rapture. In his
second letter he gives more of a background as to what will be happening when Christ
returns. Paul expounded that Christ’s Coming to gather the church to Himself would not
materialize until certain events came to pass, that is, first there would be “the falling away”

2
Robert Van Kampen, The Rapture Question Answered Plain and Simple; Fleming H. Revel, a division of Baker
Book House Company.
 20

– 2 Thess. 2:3, and secondly the man of sin (antichrist) would be revealed which is
indicated by the Abomination of Desolation – 2 Thess. 2:4.
This is exactly what Jesus told his disciples in the Olivet Discourse when they would
see the Abomination of Desolation standing in the holy place. – Matthew 24:15. It is this
event, “the Abomination of Desolation” that ignites the Great Persecution of both Israel and
the Church as Antichrist blasphemies’ God, erects his image in the temple, declares himself
God, demands the worship of the world, and persecutes God’s elect. – Matthew 24:15-22;
Revelaton 7:13-14; 12:12-17; 13:4-9; 17:6; Daniel 7:21-22,25. If you follow Jesus’ thought
in Matthew 24, the great persecution will be amputated (cut short) by the parousia of
Christ to deliver the elect out from the midst of persecution, at which time Christ will send
His angels upon his decent from heaven to gather together His elect from one end of
heaven to the other – Matthew 24:22-31.
Below is a chart with all the corresponding words and verses in the New Testament
that are associated with the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. Four words referring to the
same event are listed, Revelation, Presence, Appearing, and Coming. However, there are
two Greek words correlating the Coming of Jesus Christ, parousia a Greek noun and
erchomai a Greek verb. The Second Advent of Jesus Christ will occur at the end of this
present age with the physical return of Jesus Christ having the specific purpose of removing
the church from the earth. The Day of the Lord’s Wrath upon the world will be inaugurated
by the removal of the Church from the earth ending with the battle of Armageddon, the
salvation of Israel and the beginning of the Millennial Reign of Christ.
21
 22

4
The Great Persecution

I. TRIBULATION

A. The Greek word translated “tribulation” is thlipsis, and is described as pressure,

oppression, affliction, trouble, persecution, distress, and dire straits. It is the same
word used in both Matthew 24:9,21,29 and in Revelation 2:22; 7:14 referring to the
great tribulation.

Lamentations 1:3
Judah has gone into captivity, Under affliction and hard servitude; She dwells
among the nations, She finds no rest; All her persecutors overtake her in dire
straits.

B. The Hebrew word most commonly translated as tribulation in the Eng. Bible is ṣārā.
The root meaning is ‘narrow’ or ‘compressed’ from which arises the figurative sense of
straitened circumstances. The Septuagint (Gk. Version of OT) uses thlipsis to translate
all the Hebrew terms within this area of meaning. The basic idea here is ‘severe
constriction’, ‘narrowing’ or ‘pressing together’ (as of grapes) 3

1. The greatest bulk of biblical passages dealing with tribulation are to sufferings
endured by the people of God.
Acts 14:21-22
And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made
many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to
continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many
tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
2. The tribulation of Christ is the pattern and norm for the experience of the Christian
community. Tribulation is therefore inevitable and to be anticipated: (Mt. 13:21 ; Jn.
16:33 ; Acts 14:22 ; Rom. 8:35 ; 12:12 ; 1 Thes. 3:3; 2 Thes. 1:4 ; Rev. 1:9).

3. The tribulations of the people of God are a participation in the sufferings of Christ
~(Col. 1:24 ; 2 Cor. 1:5; 4:10; Phil. 3:10; 1 Pet. 4:13 ).

Eng. English
3
Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. 1996. New Bible dictionary (3rd ed. /) . InterVarsity Press: Leicester,
England; Downers Grove, Ill.
 23

4. The tribulations of the people of God are active in promoting their moral
transformation into the likeness of Christ ~ (Rom. 5:3; 2 Cor. 3:18 with 4:8–12,16).

5. The tribulations of the people of God are eschatological, it is a specific period of time
pertaining to the Wrath of Satan/Man ~(Matt. 24:9-14; Rev. 1:9; 7:14).

6. An intensification of this tribulation precedes the return of Christ ~ (Matt. 24:21,27-

31; Mark 13:19,24-27; 2 Thess. 1:5-6; 2 Tim. 3:1).

C. A word used interchangeably to describe tribulation is “persecution” as is done in Acts

11:19.
Now those who were scattered after the persecution (thlipsis) that arose over
Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word
to no one but the Jews only.

1. Considering how the word thlipsis is used and its association to the context of
Matthew chapter 24, it is not a violation to the Word of God to identify the “great
tribulation” as the “great persecution.”

a) Matthew 24:9 ~ Christians will be handed over to the authorities and be

(thlipsis) persecuted and hated for Jesus’ name sake.
b) Matthew 24:10 ~ The “many” who will be offended are so because of the name
of Jesus vs. 9. These are those professing faith in Christ but are deceived vs.11,
their professed love will diminish. The presence of false prophets and the fading
away of the agape love of God place’s this betrayal within the religious
community, the church.

2. Tribulation/persecution is a major theme in the Olivet Discourse vs. 9,21,29, having

a beginning vs.9, intensifying with the Abomination of Desolation vs. 15,21, and an
abrupt end vs. 22 as a Celestial Cataclysmic sign is given announcing the return of
Jesus Christ vs. 29-30.

3. The time of great tribulation is not a time of persecution against the world in
general, but a time of persecution targeted specifically against the elect (church) of
God.

a) Those betrayed because of the name of Jesus are admonished to endure to the
end with the promise of deliverance ~ Matthew 24:13,29-31; Rev. 12:9-13:10.

b) The outline Jesus gives His disciples of this intense time is “beginning birth
pangs” vs. 4-8, the “hard labor” that follows (persecution) vs. 9-12, followed by
“deliverance” (Rapture) vs. 13-14.

1) For Israel this time of intense suffering is referred to by Jeremiah as “Jacob’s

trouble” ~ (Jer. 30:7)
 24

2) For the Elect of God (the church), this time of intense suffering is referred to
by Jesus as “Great Tribulation/Persecution” ~ Matt. 24:9,21,29.
3) The “Elect” of God are faced with betrayal, hate, deception, death,
imprisonment, and persecution.

 The time of Great Persecution against the elect of God is described by

John in the Revelation as “the patience and the faith of saints” ~ Rev.
13:7,10; 14:9-10,12.
 This time of Great Persecution is also identified by John as the “hour of
trial/test” ~ Rev. 2:10; 3:10. (See also 2 Peter 2:9)
 The source of the believers endurance and victory in this time of Great
Persecution/tribulation is:

1. The blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony ~ Rev. 12:11
2. The keeping of God’s commandments and possession of the testimony
of Jesus Christ ~ Rev. 12:17 (See Rev. 6:9)

4. In the verses above, the “word of Christ’s perseverance” (3:10) is directly associated
with the “perseverance of the saints” (13:10 and 14:12) during the persecution at the
hands of Antichrist (13:7 and 14:9).

II. SATAN’S WRATH

1. The time of testing refers specifically to that time associated with Antichrist’s
persecution; the time of Satan’s wrath is distinctive in its self and should never be
confused with the Wrath of God.
2. The wrath of Satan will be against the righteous children of God, when his minion,
Antichrist, “exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he
takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God” ~ 2 Thess. 2:4
3. Antichrist’s persecution will be against the elect of God (Matt 24:21-22), against His
saints (Rev. 13:7), against those “who keep the commandments of God and hold to
the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 12:17).
a) In reference to Satan’s wrath (Rev. 12:12) he comes having great wrath followed
by persecution (Rev. 12:13-17).
b) In reference to Antichrist, who’s coming is according to the working of Satan (2
Thess. 2:9), his coming is followed by the persecution of the saints of God (Rev.
13:7 and 14:9,12-13).

c) Revelation 3:10 ~ Test (peirasmos) means “a putting to the proof,” either for
good or for evil.
 25

d) When compared to other biblical passages the “hour of testing” cannot refer to
the wrath of God but to the wrath of Satan.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot
be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt any one. ~ James 1:13

1) The Greek word for “tempted” is peirazo and comes from the same root peira,
as does the noun peirasmos, translated “testing” in Rev. 3:10.
2) If God does not tempt (peirazo), the “hour of testing” (peirasmos) cannot be
the wrath of God.
3) It is established by Scripture that “testing” (peirasmos) originates from Satan.

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the
devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested
(peirazo), and you will have tribulation ten days. ~ Rev. 2:10

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith,
lest by some means the tempter had tempted (peirazo) you, and our labor
might be in vain. ~ 1 Thess. 3:5

Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may
give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan
does not tempt (peirazo) you because of your lack of self-control.
~ 1 Cor. 7:5

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted
(peirazo) by the devil. ~ Matthew 4:1
4) Every form of the word tempt in the verses above comes from the root
peirazo, which is derived from the same root word as peirasmos.
5) The wrath of Satan occurs when Satan gives his authority and power to
Antichrist at the midpoint of the seventieth week of Daniel, at which time the
world will be made to choose whom they will serve (the test). ~ Rev. 12:12;
13:4,5,74

4. “Will keep you from” (Rev. 3:10) translates a form of the verb tereo, which is
translated “keep you” meaning “to watch over, guard, or keep.” It carries the idea of
protecting someone within the sphere of danger, not that of keeping him away from
danger.
5. The Greek preposition ek is translated “from” speaking of deliverance out from
within this sphere of danger.

4
Robert Van Kampen, The Rapture Question Answerd Plain and Simple 1997 pp.175
 26

“epi”
The line representing upon “apo” means “kept out
the preposition ek side of, or away from”
begins inside the “apo”
circle and comes out Out side The line on the chart
of it, representing
“ ek” of describing apo is
out from
something that comes alongside the circle but
“out from the midst never enters it.
of.” “eis”
into If something is to be
If something is to “en”
kept from something
come out of inside else, apo is normally
something, ek is the the Greek preposition
Greek preposition used.
normally used. 1 Thess. 1:10
Rev. 3:10

Each line represents a Greek preposition and how it is related to the Greek noun

“Because you have kept My “And to wait for His Son from heaven,
commandment to persevere, I also will whom He raised from the dead, even
keep you from (ek) the hour of trial Jesus who delivers us from (apo) the
which shall come upon the whole wrath to come.”
world, to test those who dwell on the
earth.” Revelation 3:10 1 Thessalonians 1:10

If the circle represents God’s wrath the believer is kept from (apo), that is kept away or out side of
God’s wrath. If the circle represents trial as in Rev. 3:10 the believer is then (tereo ek), guarded and
protected while within the sphere of danger, then brought safely out from the midst of that danger.

III. The Woman, her Child and her offspring.

A. The episode here in Revelation 12 & 13 describes the persecution of the Nation
Israel and the elect Church by Satan and the beast (Antichrist).
B. Genesis 37:9 implies that the woman represents the Nation of Israel. Rev. 12:5
informs us that the woman gives birth to Christ, and this symbolism points again to
Israel ( Rom. 1:3 ; 9:4–5 ).
C. The symbolism depicted in chapter twelve is interpreted for us by the context.

1. The Woman ~ symbolizes the remnant of Old Covenant Israel through whom
the Messiah came forth (Gen. 37:9; Isa. 7:14; 26:17-18; 49:1-13; 66:7; Rev. 12:4-
5)
 27

a) The sun, moon and stars represent the twelve tribes of Israel ~ Gen. 37:9.
b) The labor pains pictures Israel’s agony throughout history and her birthing
Jesus Christ.
c) There is a gap of at least 33 years between the first and second sentence of
verse 5. Verse five centers on the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ
climaxing with his ascension to the right hand of God.
d) Between the fifth and sixth verse we have the entire church age up to the
Great Tribulation.
e) Resuming from verse 6, verses 13-17 portrays the women (Israel) fleeing
persecution where she finds help and protection for the last 3 ½ years of
Daniels Seventieth week. Ezek. 20:34-35; Isa. 16:1-4; Obad. 12-15

2. The Child ~ The Child is Christ who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron (Ps.
2:9; Rev. 19:15). The Child was caught up to God and His throne 12:4-5.
a) We are enabled to see the reality and meaning of the events described in
chapter twelve in our historical experience, such as the birth of the Messiah,
together with Satan’s continuous attempts to destroy Him before He
completed His redemptive work, and His exaltation. ~ Rev. 12:4-5; Matthew
2:1-18; Luke 4:1-13.
b) Jesus Christ was sent to shepherd with a rod of iron, a symbol of firmness, by
not cruelty ~ Psalms 2:7-9; Dan. 7:13-14; Rev. 11:15; 12:5,10; 19:15.

3. The Dragon ~ of verse 3 is identified in verse 9 as “that serpent of old, called the
Devil and Satan.

a) The expulsion of Satan and his angels from heaven provides the timing this
event, placing it in the middle of Daniels Seventieth Week by the presence of
Michael the archangel ~ Revelation 12:7-12; Dan. 12:1; 2 Thess. 2:6-7.
b) The color red is associated with death (Rev. 6:4) and Satan is a murderer
(John 8:44). The heads, horns, and crowns will appear again in Revelation
13:1 and 17:3. The heads represent mountains (Rev. 17:9), and the horns
represent kings (Rev. 17:12).5

c) Michael has a unique place in the destiny of national Israel, he is known as

the chief prince who guards and protects God’s people ~ Dan. 10:10-14; 12:1.

d) When comparing Revelation 12: 7 with Daniel 12:1 and 2 Thess. 2:6-7 it is
evident that Michael is the restrainer who removes his protection allowing

5
Wiersbe, W. W. 1996, c1989. The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament
comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. Victor Books: Wheaton, Ill.
 28

Satan and his minion antichrist unhindered access to God’s people to test
them through persecution, thus, the beginning of the Great Tribulation.

4. The offspring ~ of verse 17 can only be identified as the Church, the body of
Christ, who keeps the commandments of God and has the testimony of Jesus
Christ.
a) The offspring of Israel (the remnant of her seed KJV) is distinct from the
women herself and cannot be Israel, but is an offshoot identified by Scripture
as the church (elect/saints) of God, both Jew and Gentile.
b) When the women (Israel) escapes into the wilderness, Satan rages (12:17)
with a desire for revenge. The focus then shifts from Israel to her offspring
executed by the antichrist as he makes war with the saints ~ Rev. 12:17-
13:10.

Daniel 7:21-22
I was watching; and the same horn was making war against
the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of
Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of
the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the
kingdom.

D. The remnant of her seed/Offspring, can be established by Scripture as “Spiritual

Israel, or, the Israel of God ~ Galatians 6:14-16.
1. Not all who draw their bodily descent from Israel are true Israelites, the true Jew
are those whom God pronounces to be Israelites and has chosen to salvation.

Old Covenant
Romans 2:28-29
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that
which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one
inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not
in the letter whose praise is not from men but from God.

New Covenant
Romans 4:16
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that
the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who
are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of us all.

Romans 9:6-8
 29

But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they
are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children
because they are the seed of Abraham; but “In Issac your seed
shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh,
these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise
are counted as the seed.

Galatians 3:16,29
Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does
not say, and to seeds, as of many, but as of one, “And to your
Seed,” who is Christ…And if you are Christ’s, then you are
Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

2. All true believers in Christ are the Israel of God, offspring of the Natural through
whom the promises came.
3. Because Scripture uses the language “the remnant of her seed/rest of her
offspring” is because at this point in time of the Great Tribulation the Church in
general has experienced “the Apostasy” leaving only the true bond servants of
Christ constituting the true Church ~ Matt. 24:9-12; 2 Thess. 2:3.

IV. The Natural and Wild Olive Tree.

A. The Greek word for “remnant” in Revelation 12:17 is loipoy meaning “remaining,
or, ‘the rest’.” In Romans 11:5 dealing with the “remnant according to the election of
grace” the Greek word is leimma (lime-mah) meaning “a remnant.” Both Greek
words are from the root of leipo meaning to leave behind.
1. Concerning the word "remnant," the subsidiary reference says "offspring." This
is being used in the same sense as the woman giving birth to the Christ child. As
Christ is born of Israel and is her offspring, so too, is the Church.

B. The connection between these two words strongly suggest that Revelation 12:17
and Romans 11:5 are referring to the same people. Revelation 12:17 identifies them
as those who “keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Romans 11:5 identifies them as those who are the “election of grace.” The word “of”
is a function word to indicate their origin such as, “a man of noble birth.” There
origin is from grace, not the works of the law vs.6. It is unmistakable that these
Jews mentioned in Romans 11:5 constitutes the church ~ Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 1:16.

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power
of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first
and also for the Greek.
 30

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should
boast.

C. The natural Olive Tree in Romans 11 is a representation of the Nation of Israel. That
Israel rejected her Messiah the nation has been left partially blinded ~ Rom 11:7,25;
2 Cor. 13:13-16.

D. Any Jew or Gentile who receives Jesus Christ by faith is “the remnant according to
the election of grace.” ~ Romans 11:11-16.

E. Observing the Olive Tree, the “part” that is in blindness has been “broken off, and you
(The Gentile Believer) being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them
became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree” ~ Romans 11:17-19.

1. The New Testament Church has been “birthed” from Israel. Israel is the national
avenue by which the messianic blessing has come to mankind ~ Romans 9:4-5;
11:17

F. The Olive Tree consisting of both the natural and wild olive branches constitutes the
CHURCH and ELECT of God.

1. The purpose and program of God in this dispensation is the calling out from
among Jew and Gentile a people for His name, the New Testament Church ~ Eph.
1:22-23; Acts 15:14.

G. National Israel, “the part which was broken off” will again be grafted in completing
the kingdom of God at the end of Daniels Seventieth Week, after the fullness of the
Gentiles has come in ~ Romans 11:25-27.
31
 32

5
Cosmic Disturbance

I. Defining The Cosmic Disturbance

A. The cosmic disturbance described by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse is essential to the
Great Tribulation and the parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ ~ Matt 24:29-30.

B. The cosmic disturbance stands as the water shed between the Great Tribulation and
the return of Jesus Christ to rapture the church.

C. The cosmic disturbance serves as an announcement to the world that God's Day of
Wrath has come.

D. The cosmic disturbance is a motif, a recurring theme in both the Old and New
Testaments which provides valuable information regarding the Day of the Lord's
wrath and the timing of the Rapture.

E. Sequential information is given when tracing key cosmic disturbance text, giving a
clear picture of the end of the age, the return of Christ to deliver the elect, and the
Day of the Lord.

II. Describing The Cosmic Disturbance

1. The Cosmic Disturbance precedes the Day of the Lord.

Joel 2:30-31

"And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood and fire and
pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into
blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD."

a) Our texts above place the cosmic disturbance BEFORE the Day of the Lord's
Wrath.

b) The word “before” is a spatial extension, a “marker,” it is the means by which

one event makes another event possible.

c) In this case, the eschatological Day of the Lord is contingent upon the cosmic
disturbance.

d) The word "before" represents the “front side” of God's approaching judgment,
but the cosmic disturbance itself is not part of the eschatological Wrath of God.
 33

e) A “marker” serves as a sign that indicates the position or presence of something.

Thus, the cosmic disturbance is the sign of God’s approaching wrath.

2. The Cosmic Disturbance is Post-Tribulational

Matthew 24:29
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven, and the
powers of the heavens will be shaken."
a) That the cosmic disturbance occurs after the tribulation does not imply nor does
it place this event at the end of the 70th week of Daniel.

b) Matthew 24:21-22 reveals that the persecution at the hand of Antichrist is “cut
short,” by the appearing of Christ’s parousia (vs. 27-28, 30-31). It is the great
tribulation which is cut short, not the 70th week.

c) The word "after" is a marker of association, again, the cosmic disturbance is a

sign associated with (1) the parousia of Christ to rapture the church (Matt 24:29-
31), and (2) the initiation of the eschatological Day of the Lord (Matt 24:37-39).

d) The Greek word for “then” ~ Vs. 30” is tote, which is a demonstrative adverb of
time, meaning “at that time,” and is used of consequent events. The sign of the
Son of Man appearing in heaven is the result or effect of the event which
precedes it, in this case, the cosmic disturbance.

e) The parousia of Christ (when Jesus comes to deliver the righteous and judge the
wicked in the Day of the Lord), is contingent upon the cosmic disturbance.

3. The Timing of The Cosmic Disturbance

Revelation 6:12-17
"I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great
earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the
moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a
fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the
sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and
island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great
men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and
every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the
mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us
from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the
Lamb? For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to
stand?"
 34

A. When the sixth seal is opened several climatic events take place.

1. There is a "great earthquake," so large that every mountain and island is moved out
of its place. This is a great shaking, not of a continent but of the entire earth.
2. The sun becomes blackened.
3. The moon becomes like blood.
4. The stars fall to the earth (possibly meteors or asteroids).
5. The sky recedes like a scroll. (Some contest this is nuclear).
6. Notice what the world will do as a response to this climatic event. They hid
themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, why? For the great day of
His (God's) wrath has come.

B. As it has been already established, the eschatological Day of the Lord does not occur
until after the cosmic disturbance, the sixth seal provides the timing to the Day of Lord’s
Wrath placing it after the tribulation seen in the forth and fifth seals.

C. The response of the world in relationship to the cosmic disturbance is described in

several other cosmic disturbance texts.

Revelation 1:7
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who
pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even
so, Amen.
Matthew 24:30
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes
of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds
of heaven with power and great glory.
Luke 21:25-28
And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, and on the
earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring,
men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which
are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then
they will see the Son of Man coming in the cloud with power and great glory.
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up you heads, because
your redemption draws near.

D. The cosmic disturbance is distinct and undeniable in itself. It will be strong enough,
large enough, and definitive enough to be noticed by the entire world.

E. There are seven passages of Scripture that converge on common ground that the cosmic
disturbance is the precursor to the Day of the Lord and conforms seamlessly with the
chronology of Matthew 24—Isa. 13:10; Exek. 32:7-8; Joel 2:31; Matt. 24:29; Mark
13:24-25; Luke 21:25; Acts 2:16-20.
 35

III. Evidence That Demands The Verdict

A. The first three seals of Revelation 6 illustrates the rise of Antichrist to world
domination.
1. The first seal depicts antichrist as a conqueror through political and religious
alliances. Here he makes his appearance on the world scene as deceiver ~ Rev. 6:1-
6; 17:3-13
2. The second seal depicts antichrist as a military strategist through his ten nation
alliance taking peace from the earth. Here he becomes a destroyer ~ Rev. 6:3-4.
3. The third seal depicts antichrist as an economic power where he is either in control
of the world economy, disrupts it, or both ~ Rev. 6:5-6.

B. The forth seals marks the middle of the 70th week of Daniel, the rise of antichrist
climax’s as he usurps authority over the nations, exalts himself in the place of God, is
empowered by Satan, and begins his persecution of the elect/saints of God. Here he
becomes a dictator ~ Rev. 6:7-8; 12:17; 13:5-10; 2 Thess. 2:3-4; Matt. 24:9,15,21-22.

C. The fifth seal initiates a series of seals that are unlike the first four.
 36

1. The relationship between the fifth, sixth, and seventh seal’s is the wrath of God:
a) The fifth seal demands it; the sixth seal announces it; and the seventh seal
depicts it.6
2. The timing and the nature of the fifth and sixth seal agree perfectly with our Lord's
teaching: the persecution and martyrdom of believers will be followed by the
Cosmic Disturbances.
3. In the fifth seal the martyred saints still see the wrath of God as future. In fact, they
are told to wait a little longer because more persecution of believers is yet to come.
4. In the sixth seal the response of the ungodly unmistakably indicates that the wrath
of God is impending with the precursor of his wrath being the Cosmic Disturbance.

D. Before the seventh seal is broken that contains the systematic wrath of God, Revelation
7 provides us with an interlude between the sixth and seventh seal being broken.

1. In this interlude there are two groups of people in view: a group of 144,000 Jews
who are sealed on earth (Rev. 7:1-8), and the second group are a multitude of
believers in heaven who are from every nation and have come out of the Great
Tribulation (Rev. 7:9-17).
2. The statement, "these are they who have come out of the great tribulation" (vs. 14) is
consistent with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 24 in which the deliverance of the saints
from the Great Tribulation will take place at the Cosmic Disturbances when our Lord
returns.
3. There has been some question to whether the rapture saints are in view here or the
resurrected dead in Christ, or both. This does not present a problem given that both
the resurrection and the rapture occur back-to-back at his Coming (1Thess. 4:16-17;
1 Cor. 15:51-52).

E. The first six seals are not God's wrath but forerunners to the Day of the Lord.

1. The Cosmic Disturbances of the sixth seal announce God's wrath upon the ungodly,
"The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the
great and dreadful day of the LORD." (Joel 2:31)

2. Both the responses from the martyrs in the fifth seal and the ungodly in the sixth
seal reveal that God's wrath is soon to come--they have not viewed it already in the
past, but future.

3. The fact that there are two groups of people, one group being sealed and the other
delivered, just before the seventh seal suggests strongly that they are being sealed
and delivered from something looming that will come upon the whole world.

6
(Sola Scriptura, Revelation Commentary).
 37

4. The nature of the events in the first four seals are "natural" (but intense)
catastrophes (wars, famines, etc.) carried out by "horsemen." This is in contrast to
when the seventh seal (supernatural contents) is opened up and the unmistakable
wrath of God is mediated directly by angels via the trumpet and bowl judgments
against the ungodly.

5. The fifth seal is not God's wrath because it specifically speaks of the martyrdom of
believers. And since believers are promised protection from the Day of the Lord's
wrath, to argue that the fifth seal is God's wrath is contradictory.

6. When the seventh seal is opened, immediately it says that there was silence in
heaven for about a half an hour. The most plausible explanation for this silence is for
all the members of the heavenly court to observe the grave and profound
significance of the event that is to follow: The Eschatological Day of the Lord's
wrath. Immediately after this silence it says,

"Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and
hurled it on the earth; and there came pearls of thunder, rumblings,
flashes of lightning and an earthquake."7

7
The majority of the outline in this chapter is from articles written by Alan Kurschner with written permission.
For more info visit www.prewrath rapture Dot Com
 38

6
The Parousia of Christ
I. Defining the parousia of Christ

“The parousia of Christ is the future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to
raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously
the kingdom of God.”8

A. The Greek noun parousia (translated “coming”) has the primary meaning of
‘presence,’ and often the derived connotations ‘coming or advent’—that is, of
becoming present by ones arrival or appearance.

B. The Greek noun parousia is used twenty four times in the New Testament.

1. Out of the twenty four times it is used, sixteen times the word is used as a direct
reference to the Second Coming (Advent) of Jesus Christ.

a) Six times parousia is explicitly the object of the believers expectation ~ 1

Thessalonians 2:19; 3:13; 5:25; James 5:7-8; 1 John 2:28.
b) Ten times parousia refers to the Second Advent of Christ and the events
surrounding his coming i.e., to deliver the elect and judge the wicked ~ Matt.
24:3,27,37,39; 1 Cor. 15:23; 1 Thess. 4:13; 2 Thess. 2:1,8; 2 Peter 3:4,12
c) Six times parousia is used and is unrelated to eschatology ~ 1 Cor. 16:17; 2
Cor. 7:6,7; 10:10; Phil 1:26; 2:12.
d) Once parousia is used of the First Advent of Christ, His birth, ministry/life,
death, resurrection and ascension ~ 1 Peter 1:16.
e) Once parousia is used of the presence of Antichrist ~ 2 Thess. 2:9.

C. The "rapture" of the church and the second "advent" of Christ are not two different
and unrelated events, but is one event covering a series of events.

D. The parousia (coming) is a biblically precise (technical) term that in each and every
usage concerning Christ's return, is referring to a general time span that is initiated
by the rapture of the church, through to and including the final event of Christ's
coming, the battle of Armageddon.

8
The Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon
 39

1. The Parousia of the Lord Jesus is a period with a beginning (rapture), a course
(Day of the Lord), and a conclusion (Armageddon).9

2. As a technical term, parousia would represent a multifaceted event each time

beginning with the rapture of the church. Each passage containing the word
“parousia” must be evaluated in light of this context.

E. The New Testament writers including Jesus understood that the "Day of the Lord"
and the "Coming" (Parousia) denoted the same events at Christ's Return
9
Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W. 1996. Vine's complete expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words . T. Nelson: Nashville
 40

(deliverance of the godly and judgment of the ungodly.) The two terms often
emphasize different aspects of Christ's Return -- "Coming" with deliverance, and
"Day of the Lord" with the judgment aspect.10

1. Peter provides us with an excellent example in which he freely interchanges

these two terms denoting the same event of the conflagration of creation:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will
pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense
heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these
things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to
be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming
(parousia) of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be
destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat. -
2Pet 3:10-12

II. Evidence That Demands The Verdict

A. The Prewrath Rapture Position maintains that the Parousia of Christ begins with the
translation of the righteous and is followed by the judgment of the wicked.

B. Since Parousia is an event covering a period of time, having a beginning, a course, and
an end, each passage dealing with “parousia” must be evaluated in light of this
perspective.

1. Rapture Then Wrath

1st) 1 Corinthians 15:23

Next phase of the first resurrection, Christ the firstfruits, afterward those
who are Christ’s at His coming (parousia). RAPTURE

1 Corinthians 15:24-28
“Then comes the end,” Christ puts an end to all rule and all authority and
power. His last enemy to be destroyed is death. WRATH

2nd) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

This is the classic rapture passage detailing the resurrection of the dead and
translation of the living. RAPTURE

10
Alan Kurschner: Prewrath Rapture Dot Com
 41

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3,9
The Day of the Lord comes upon the wicked remaining suddenly and
unexpected. WRATH

3rd) 2 Thessalonians 1:7

The believer is promised rest when Christ is “revealed from heaven with His
mighty angels.” RAPTURE

2 Thessalonians 1:8-10
The vengeance of Christ follows with flaming fire against those who do not
know God nor obeys the gospel message. WRATH

4th) 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

The believer is gathered together to Christ at His parousia. RAPTURE

2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 ~
The “Day of Christ” will not come unless 1. The Apostasy (of the church in
general) comes first and 2. The revealing of Antichrist, this occurs in the
middle of the 70th week placing the parousia vs. 8 after the Abomination of
Desolation. WRATH

5th) 2 Peter 2:9

The contrast of deliverance of the godly and punishment for the day of
judgment of the wicked again flows with the theme. RAPTURE THEN WRATH.

6th) 2 Peter 3:10-12 ~

The text strongly suggest that the believer is present up to the day of the
Lord but removed prior to it, “looking for and hastening the coming
(parousia) of the day of God. RAPTURE THEN WRATH

7th) Matthew 24:27-31

In verse 27 & 28 Jesus describes His parousia first as lightning flashing from
east to west, then secondly, a “gathering together” as eagles are gather to the
corpse of a dead animal. Verses 29-31 give a chronological description of 1.
the end of the great tribulation (cut short vs. 22), 2. of the cosmic disturbance
announcing the approaching Wrath of God, 3. the coming of Christ to
deliver/rapture the church. RAPTURE
 42

Matthew 24:37-39
Here Jesus describes His parousia as sudden and unexpected, with judgment,
as in the days of Noah, as in the days before the flood. Because the parousia
of Christ begins with the rapture, what we see here is the course (the
progression and development of his parousia after the rapture) the Day of
the Lord’s Wrath.
2 Peter 2:4-9 describes the same detailed sequence.

2. Sufficient ground of Parousia

Source of the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:22-23 (written A.D. 56)

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But
each one in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, afterward those
who are Christ’s at His coming (parousia).

A. Paul gives the infallible proof of Christ’s resurrection by the fact he had been seen
by Cephas, the twelve disciples, over five hundred brethren, by James, by all the
apostles, and by Paul himself ~ 1 Corinthians 15:1-11.

a) Paul lays a foundation by reiterating the role of the bodily resurrection of Jesus
Christ in the gospel message and in his own conversion ~ vs. 3-4.
b) The gospel is more than just the forgiveness of sin, it includes Christ’s
resurrection as the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” ~ vs. 20,23.
c) The resurrection is a present possession rather than a future hope ~ Eph. 1:13.
d) The resurrection of the dead and living at Christ’s return is consistent with
Christ’s resurrection, it is an assurance to the believer which emerges out of
His resurrection.

B. Christ is the “firstfruits” of the resurrection which will bring about a sequence of
resurrections, with the last and final resurrection abolishing death ~ vs. 26.

a) Scripture validates that the “resurrection of life” involves several stages

(identified as the first resurrection Rev. 20:4-5), to the general resurrection of
all believers “unto life.”

1) First Stage: associated with the “firstfruits” of Christ’s resurrection

includes the resurrection of the Old Testament Saints who were given
physical bodies ~ Matt. 27:50-53; Eph. 4:8.
 43

2) Second Stage: At the “parousia” all believers (dead and alive) will be
resurrected and translated. This includes the tribulation saints with the
exception of those martyred ~ vs. 23,50-54.

3) Third Stage: Those martyred by antichrist will be resurrected on the first

day of the Millnnium ~ Revelation 20:4-5.
b) Christ’s resurrection becomes both the sample and the surety of the future
resurrections.

C. The timing of the resurrection and translation of believers is placed at the parousia
(coming) of Christ, not before, not after, but immediately upon Christ’s coming ~ 1
Thessalonians 2:19; 3:13; 1 John 2:28.

D. Immediately following the rapture, Christ puts an end to “all rule and all authority
and power.” Satan’s dominion over the economic, political, cultural, social and
religious systems of this world will come to an end ~ vs. 24-28.

The Classic Rapture Passage (written A.D. 50)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
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. For if we believer that Jesus did and rose again, even so God
will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you
by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until to
coming (parousia) of the Lord will by no means precede those
who are asleep. 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. 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.

A. The theme of this passage is the general resurrection and translation of all
believers in this present dispensation: (God’s ordering and management of events
relevant to the church in this age.)

B. The topic of this passage is the parousia (coming) of Jesus Christ, the event which
has special significance to the rapture issue, found at the heart of this episode. Vs.
15.

C. The timing of this event is found when compared to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 which
gives in sequence, the great apostasy and the emergence of the antichrist
preceding the return of Christ.
 44

D. The target or objective of this passage is the “catching away” to heaven of

believers, dead and living, who have trusted in Christ and await His return.

New Testament Writers

A. The Apostle Paul

1. The end of each chapter in first Thessalonians ends with a reference to the
Lord's return, four times the term “parousia is used ~ 1:9-10, 2:19, 3:13, 4:15,
5:23.

a) The first example of the term parousia is in I Thessalonians 2:19, Paul

informs the Thessalonians that they are his hope and joy in the presence of
Christ at His parousia.
b) Paul adds a prayer that Jesus will cause love to grow among the
Thessalonians, "so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness
before our God and Father at the coming [parousia] of our Lord Jesus with all
His saints," (I Thess. 3:12-13).
c) Paul is emphasizing the beginning of Christ's parousia, the preposition en,
translated "in" denotes "the point of time when something occurs."

d) The third example of the term parousia occurs in I Thess. 4:15. Paul
instructs the Thessalonians that those who survive until the time of Christ's
parousia will be taken to be with the Lord when He comes from heaven.
e) The fourth example occurs in I Thess. 5:23. Paul prays that the Lord will
preserve the Thessalonians blameless until the parousia of Christ. Again,
Paul emphasizes an action connected with the beginning of Christ's
parousia.

2. The fifth example is found in II Thess. 2:1 and it reads, "Now brethren, concerning
the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
we ask you. . . “What Paul alludes to in I Thess. 4:15-17 in detail, he summarizes
here. They will be gathered together at the parousia of Christ. Consistent with
Paul's references in I Thessalonians, the emphasis is on the beginning of the
event.

a) After summarizing the parousia Paul gives a detailed sequence describing

events that would precede the parousia of Christ ~ 1 Thess. 2:3-8.

i. “For that Day (day of Christ’s parousia to rapture then judge {Day of the Lord}
will not come UNLESS…”
 45

1st) …the falling away comes first (Apostasy) vs. 3

2nd) …AND the man of sin is revealed (Abomination of Desolation) vs. 3-4
3rd) …whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and
destroy with the brightness of His coming (parousia) vs. 8

3. The sixth occurrence of parousia in the Thessalonian Letters is in 2 Thess. 2:8.

Paul acknowledges that Jesus will slay the lawless one "with the breath of His
mouth" and will destroy him "with the brightness of His coming," (parousia).

a) The verb "consume" does not have its usual literal meaning. Rather, "the
verb is frequently used to designate murder; the end of the lawless one will
be as decisive as that of a man who is murdered." The literal translation is
“to expend” or “to exhaust.”

b) The verb “destroy” refers to the robbing of the Man of Lawlessness of all
significance, rather than to his destruction, it renders him “useless.”

c) This makes sense considering that at the beginning of Christ’s parousia He

removes the objects of Antichrist’s persecution (the church), rendering him
useless.

d) A literal translation of Paul's intended meaning in II Thess. 2:8 would be,

"And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will overthrow
with the breath of His mouth and render insignificant by the appearance of
His coming. . .”

4. The fifth occurrence where the term parousia occurs in found in 1 Cor. 15:23.
Paul informs the Corinthians that the next phase of the resurrection will occur at
the parousia of Christ.

B. James usage of parousia.

1. The book of James is specifically addressed "to the twelve tribes which are
scattered abroad. . .1:1 " These Jewish Christians (the righteous remnant of
Israel) are urged to exercise patience until the parousia of Christ ~ 5:7-8.

2. James is emphasizing the beginning of Christ's parousia as he comforts the

suffering Jewish Christians with the knowledge that Jesus, "the Judge is
standing at the door," (James 5:9).

3. James uses the Greek preposition heos which is translated "until" which in this
context basically refers to the “period up to,” the parousia.
 46

4. The very beginning of Christ's parousia spells relief for God's people because
when Christ comes, the parousia referred to in this passage, will be initiated
by the rapture of the church.

5. While verses 7-8 refers to the deliverance/rapture, verse 9 reveals the intent
of Christ’s coming, at which time God will fulfill His function as judge to
reward the righteous and punish the wicked.

a) The test of faith produces patience (the ability to endure), which is the
hallmark of the mature believer.

b) Only under the pressure of trials can the believer test the true depth of his
faith in God. The established heart will not waver, but will rejoice in the
knowledge of the goodness of God.11

c) In this context, the believer is promised deliverance from the test/trial of the
persecution by Antichrist. All the believer is exhorted to do is to exercise
patience/endure until the parousia of the Lord. (SEE Matt. 24:14)

C. Peters usage of parousia

1. 1 Peter 1:16-19 contributes the parousia of Christ as the “prophetic word

confirmed” foreshadowed in the Transfiguration. (Matthew 17:1-8)

a) "The double terms (power and coming/parousia) have but one article: "the
power of our Lord Jesus Christ and parousia," so that "power and Parousia"
constitute one idea, "power" bringing out the thought of the omnipotent
might involved in the Lord's second coming.” 12

b) Though 1 Peter 1:16 credits “parousia” to the first coming of Christ, it

alludes to the Day of the Lord, speaking to the end result of the Day of the
Lord, rather than emphasizing the beginning or the course of the Lord's
parousia.

2. Peter’s second reference to parousia is 2 Peter 3:3-4, stating that "scoffers will
come in the last days. . . saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming
(parousia)?'"

3. Peter's final reference occurs in 2 Peter 3:12. In this verse, it is "the day of God"
that is coming (parousia).

11
Spirit Life Bible; Jack W. Hayford, Truth in Action pp.1903 #1. Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville
12
R.C.H. Lenski, The Epistles of St. Peter, St. John and St. Jude, (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1945), 285. See also Mare, "A
Study of the New Testament Concept of the Parousia," 339.
 47

a) The fact that Peter refers to the Day of the Lord in 3:10 with the same
results as the day of God in 3:12, supports the conclusion that they are one
and the same.

b) Here we find a reference to events that will transpire during the course of
our Lord's parousia.

c) The divine wrath that will destroy the created order follows the removal of
the church at the beginning of Christ's parousia.

The examples that Matthew 24 contain of the Parousia of Christ which describes the
overall event of Christ's coming will be examined in the chapter outlining the Olivet
Discourse.
 48

7
The Day of the Lord

I. What is the Day of the Lord?

A. The phrase "the Day of the Lord" appears about twenty-one times in the Old
Testament and six times in the New Testament.

B. Adding together all the synonymous phrases such as "that day," "the Day of Christ,"
and "the Day of God," there are over 100 references that refer to a future time when
God will intervene in history.

C. Every reference to the Day of the Lord describes unparalleled terror, panic and
judgment, not concurring with a major portion of the early stages of Daniels 70 th
week.

D. In the O.T. the Day of the Lord will be:

1. A day when only the Lord will be exalted (not the Antichrist) ~ Isa. 2:17.
2. A day of desperation ~ Isa. 2:19
3. A day when God shakes the earth ~ Isa. 2:21
4. A day of fainting hands and melting hearts ~ Isa. 13:7
5. A day of shocking pain ~ Isa. 13:8
6. A day of signs in the sky ~ Isa. 13:10
7. A day of no deliverance ~ Ezek. 7:19
8. A day of destruction ~ Joel 1:15
9. A day of torment ~ Joel 2:1-6
10. A day of no escape ~ Amos 5:18-19
11. A day of darkness ~ Amos 5:20
12. A day of judgment on the wicked ~ Obad. 15
13. A day of wrath ~ Zeph. 1:15
14. A day of no hope ~ Zeph. 1:17
15. A day of cosmic disturbances ~ Zech. 14:6-7

E. In the N.T. the Day of the Lord will be:

 49

1. A day the world will not expect ~ 2 Thess. 5:1-3a

2. A day the world will not escape ~ 2 Thess. 5:3b
3. A day true believers will expect ~ 2 Thess. 5:4-7
4. A day true believers will escape ~ 2 Thess. 5:8-11
5. A day when the wicked will expire ~ 2 Peter 3:3-7
6. A day of the destruction of the earth ~ 2 Peter 3:10
7. A day of fire and destruction of the elements ~ 2 Peter 3:12

F. The Day of the LORD for the believer is a day of deliverance.

1. Believers have the promise to be delivered from the wrath to come ( Romans
5:9; 1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9).
2. Deliverance for the believer will come just as deliverance came to Noah and Lot
~ Luke 17 26-30.

a) God cannot do anything in the way of judgment until His people are secured
from his wrath.

Genesis 19:22-24
“Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive
there.” The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.
Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and
Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.

b) We will be rescued in what we call the rapture, and then the day of the
Lord's wrath will be poured out on this old world.

"The most prophesied event in the Old Testament concerning the last
days, the Day of the Lord is marked by God’s fiery, judgmental wrath
against the earth’s wicked. Also called the “end of the age,” the “final
harvest,” and the “seventh seal.” The Day of the Lord will be initiated
by the second coming of Christ to rescue the faithful, after which the
wicked who remain (Satan’s kingdom of darkness) will be destroyed
by God’s Day-of-the-Lord’s wrath. This time of great judgment will
begin with the seventh seal, will include the seven trumpet judgments
and the seven bowl judgments, culminating in the final Battle of
Armageddon. This time of great wrath will be immediately preceded
by a sign divinely displayed in the heavens, in the sun, moon, and
stars, after which the entire world will see the sign of Christ’s second
coming, and the deliverance of God’s elect.”13

13
Robert Van Kampen; THE SIGN: Glossary (Day of the Lord) pp.491
 50

c) A secondary purpose of the day of the Lord will be to refine the third part of
the nation of Israel who will survive the great tribulation by Antichrist, in
preparation for the salvation of the surviving remnant of the nation.

II. When Will the Day of the LORD Be?

A. The timing of “The Day of the LORD”

1. Every reference to the Day of the Lord points to a time period occurring in the
latter half of Daniels 70th week.
[Is. 2:12, 13:6, 9; Ezek. 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1, 11, 3:14; Amos 5:18, 20;
Obadiah 1:15; Zeph. 1:7, 14; Zech. 14:1; Jer. 46:10; Mal. 4:5; Acts 2:20; II Pet.
3:10; cp. Zeph. 1:18, 2:2, 3]

2. The Bible teaches that Elijah must appear before "The Day of the LORD" (Mal.
4:5).

3. The Bible teaches that signs in the sky will occur just before (prior to) the
beginning of "The Day of the LORD" (Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20; Rev. 6:17).

4. The Bible identifies the beginning signs of "The Day of the LORD" with the
opening of the sixth seal (Rev 6:12-17).

B. The conditions that precede the Day of the Lord, it comes:

1. AFTER the apostasy and revealing of the man of lawlessness.

2. AFTER the persecution of Antichrist (Great Tribulation).
3. AFTER the opening of the 6th Seal.
4. AFTER the rapture of the Church.
5. AFTER the “last trump” the “trump of God” is blown.
6. AFTER the coming of Elijah.

III. Two Fold Judgment

A. In the Revelation the number seven is the predomination number, not only used as a
numeral, but in the occurrences of important words.

1. “Jesus” occurs 14 times (2x7), seven times alone, and seven times as “Jesus
Christ.”
2. “Spirit” is used 14 times (2x7)
 51

3. “Blessed” is used seven times.

4. “Wrath” (thumos) {God’s Wrath} is used seven times ~ Rev. 14:10, 19; 15:1,7;
16:1, 19; 19:15.

B. The first is the series of God's trumpet judgments against the earth's wicked, seven
in all, the second part is the series of bowl judgments, seven in all, "which are the
last, because in them the wrath of God is finished." (Revelation 16:17)

1. Fourteen is a multiple of seven (2x7) = 14, meaning a “double measure.”

2. The number two with which the number seven is combined (2x7) brings its own
significance into its meaning to the “Wrath of God” in the apocalypse.

a) The number 2 is associated with “incarnation,” for example; Matthew 1 gives

the genealogy of Jesus and is divided up and given in sets of 14 (2x7)
generations.

b) The number seven is a number associated with “perfection” and/or

“completion.”

c) Coupled to the Wrath of God are the seven trumpet and seven bowls which
are a “double measure” of His Wrath poured out upon the wicked.
 52

8
Matthew 24

I. Four Critical Passages

1. Daniel Chapter 9 & 12 ~ Jewish, gives the timeline of the 70th week.
2. Matthew 24 ~ The four Gospels are transitional ~ Gives a grand overview of end time
events.
3. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 & 5; 2 Thessalonians 1 & 2 ~ Instruction to the Church.
A. The two letters to the Thessalonians teaches there are two parts to the Second
Coming of Christ.
1)Christ’s coming is to rapture the church.
2)Christ’s coming is to initiate the Day of the Lord.
B. The one event (the parousia of Christ to Rapture the Church) will initiate the other
(the Day of the Lord.)
4. The book of Revelation ~ Gives the details concerning the 70 th week of Daniel.
A. The Old and New Testaments are pulled together and the Revelation concludes
everything.
1. God’s dealings with the Jews (Israel) are concluded.
2. God’s dealings with the Church are concluded.
3. God’s dealings with mankind (this world system) are concluded.
4. God’s dealings with Satan/Antichrist are concluded.

II. The Chronology of Matthew 24

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?” ~
Matthew 24:3

 In Matthew 24:4-14 Jesus uses the metaphor of a woman in the last stages of
pregnancy to describe the events which signal the end times.

 Matthew 24:8 ~ “Beginning of Sorrows” is a term meaning, “labor pains,” which

were expected to precede the end, marking the transition from this age to the
Age to Come. The severe “labor pains” followed by delivery are also a signpost of
the end and of the joy at the time of “delivery.”
 53

 Matthew 24:4-8 describe the beginning “birth pains,” which are mild in
comparison to the “hard labor” which follows ~ Matthew 24:9-28. Vs.9-12 detail
the great tribulation when Antichrist persecutes God’s Elect. Vs.13,30-31
portrays the “delivery” when Christ evacuates the church from the earth. Vs.
14,37-39 describes the end of the age as the Day of the Lord begins.

Vs. 4-8 ~ “Beginning Birth Pains” (first 3 ½ years of Daniels 70th week).
Vs. 9-28 ~ “Hard Labor”: Tribulation and Persecution of Antichrist.
Vs. 13,27-31 ~ “Delivery”/Rapture of the Church.
Vs. 14,37-39 ~ “Wrath” Day of the Lord.

1. The disciples question (concern Christ’s coming and the end of the age) ties the two
events (His coming and His judgment) together. They were asking:

a) What will be the sign of your coming? {parousia} ~ (Rapture/Deliverance)

b) What will be the sign of the end of the age? ~ (Judgment/Day of the Lord)

2. The disciples question is answered in the Olivet Discourse by Jesus in the reverse
order asked, providing the order and sequence in which the events will occur. First
the sign of the end of the age vs.29 will be given (sun, moon & stars), followed by the
sign of Christ’s coming vs. 27,30-31.

a) “T
THE SIGN” ~ The sign of Christ’s coming is given in vv. 29-30. This sign, which
occurs when the sixth seal is loosed in Rev. 6:12, will fulfill Joel 2:31, which
foretold that the “sign” in the sun, moon & stars will come immediately before
the Day of the LORD.

YOUR COMING” ~ The parousia of Christ seen in vv.27-28 & 30-31 will follow
b) “Y
the sign in the sun, moon, & stars as Christ appears in heaven and is seen on the
clouds to gather together his Elect (the church).

c) “T
THE END OF THE AGE” ~ The end of the age is not the end of the world but
rather the completion of the age. The end of the age will end the age of “man”
and will commence the Day of the Lord.

1) The term, "eend of the age," is used 4 times in the New Testament besides
here in Matthew 24. All of the references are in Matthew's gospel.
Matt. 13:39,40,49; 24:3; 28:20.

(1) The term “the end” is used three times in the Olivet Discourse.

Matthew 24:6 “but the end is not yet”

Matthew 24:13 “But he who endures to the end shall be saved”
Matthew 24:14 “and then the end will come”
 54

(2) The Greek word for “end” is telos meaning the limit at which a thing
ceases to be and is always speaking of the end of some act or state.

(3) The End of the Age: synteleia signifies a bringing to completion of the
age. The word end here does not denote a termination, but the heading
up of events to the appointed climax.

The present church age, identified as the “dispensation of grace” (Eph.

3:2) will end the moment Christ returns to rapture the church. It is this
single event which ushers in the end of the age.

2) In the parable of the wheat and tares the end of the age is the time of the
final harvest. The righteous (wheat) and wicked (tares) will be separated;
the wheat goes into the barns and the tares are bundled for burning.

And He said, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of
Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these
are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the
evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the
harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. So
just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall
it be at the end of the age" (Matt 13:37-40).

a) The reaping of the Earth’s Harvest is described in Revelation 14:14-20.

b) The harvest of the righteous is reaped by the Son of Man~ Rev.14:14-16
(Rapture)
3) Evidence of the Rapture
 “White Cloud” ~ Corresponds to the Rapture (Matthew 24:30;
1 Thess 4:17)
 “Son of Man” ~ Jesus Christ (cp. Rev. 1:13)

 “A golden Crown” ~ (Greek stephanon”— Singular) (Rev. 19:12)

 “Angel…loud voice” ~ Evidently the “shout”…”the voice of the

archangel” of the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:16)

 The harvest of the wicked is reaped by the Angels ~ Rev. 14:17-20.

 This gathering is describing a gathering of the world’s armies to Israel for

the Battle of Armageddon, not a removal from the earth ~ Zech. 14:1; Joel
3:1-3,13; Isa. 63:1-6; Rev. 19:11-16.
4) In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus told His disciples that He will be with them until
the end of the age. That is, the worldwide ministry of evangelism and
 55

discipleship will continue until the end of the age. Thus the end of the age
includes the time when Christ returns to rapture His bride, and begin His
judgment of the wicked.

3. The context within the verses 9-29 require that the tribulation of verse 21 is the
same tribulation of verse 9, and that it begins at the midpoint of the 70th week.

a) In the verses following v. 9, Jesus explains the nature of the tribulation. At v. 15,
the word "therefore," must be taken in connection with the tribulation of v. 9.
And then at v. 21, the word "for," must be taken as an amplification of v.15-20.
Thus, the whole section from v.9 through 29 is referring to the same period of
time.

b) In v. 9, it is called tribulation (or "a"), in v. 21, it is called great (or a great)

tribulation, and in v. 29, it is called, THE tribulation of those days.

c) At v.15, the period of tribulation is identified as beginning with the abomination

of desolation, which we already know to take place at the mid-point of Daniel's
70th week (Dan. 9:27 and 12:11).

d) According to Jesus, the tribulation period is not 7 years in length but begins in
the middle of the 70th week and according to v. 22, shall be “cut short” so that it
does not even last for the remaining 3 1/2 years of the week.

III. Detailed description of events prior to the parousia.

a. Matthew 24:4-31 parallels the six seals of Revelation 6, while vv.4-14 is a general
overview vv. 15-31 gives the narrative of the second half.

THE HARMONY OF MATTHEW 24 & REVELATION 6

Matthew 24 Revelation 6
v.4-5 Deception
v.6-7a War
v.7b Famine
v.7 Death & Destruction
v.8 Beginning of Sorrows
Abomination of Desolation
v.9-22 Persecution (Innocent Bloodshed)
v.29 Cosmic Signs (Sun & Moon Altered)
v.30-31 Second Coming (Rapture)
v.36-39 Day of the Lord/Descriptive by flood
Seal # 1 Deception
Seal # 2 War
Seal # 3 Famine
Seal # 4 Death & Destruction
Begins with 4th Seal through 5th Seal
Seal # 5 Persecution (Innocent Bloodshed)
Seal # 6 Cosmic Signs (Sun & Moon altered)
Interlude: Between 6th & 7th Seals: Church in heaven
Seal # 7 Trumpet & Bowl Judgments

b. Daniel 9:27 tells us of a future 7 year period divided into two 3 ½ year periods.
The event that divides this time period is described as follows by the angel
 56

Gabriel: "…but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain
offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate…"

i. This event Jesus calls the "abomination of desolation" in Matthew 24:15.

ii. The apostle Paul refers to this same event in his second letter to the
Thessalonians. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)
iii. The apostle John refers to this same event in the Revelation (Rev. 13:6-10).

c. This 3-1/2 year period of tribulation is referred to in the Bible as "time, times and
half a time", "1260 days", and "42 months." All of these references refer to the
second half of Daniel's Seventieth Week.

d. There are several events that happen at or near the midpoint of Daniel's Seventieth
Week. Here is a listing of the events with the corresponding Scriptures:

1) The Restrainer is removed ~ 2 Thess. 2:6-8; Daniel 12:1.

2) War in Heaven and the expulsion of Satan ~ Revelation 12:7-12.

3) Abomination of Desolation ~ Daniel 9:27; Matt. 24:15,21.

4) Beginning of the Great Tribulation ~ Revelation 13:3-7.

5) Woman (faithful Israel) is hidden in wilderness ~ Rev. 12:1, 6, 14.

6) The Remnant of her seed/Offspring (the Church) is persecuted ~ Rev.

12:17; 13:7-10.

7) The Apostasy ~ Matt 24:9-10; 2 Thess. 2:3-4.

e. Proofs that the coming of Christ described in Matt 24:31-42 is the Rapture.

i. The trumpet sounds (v. 31; cp. I Cor. 15:52; I Thes. 4:16)
ii. The elect are gathered (v. 31; cp. v. 22)
iii. The day and hour is unknown (v. 36, 42, 44)
(if the timing of those taken away referred to the end of the Tribulation [as
pretribulationists suggest], the timing would be known)
iv. Certain individuals are seized away (v. 40-41)
("taken" = “paralambano” - to receive unto oneself, to take along with - This
same word is used in John 14:3- “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you (“paralambano”) unto myself; that where I am,
there ye may be also.”
 57

v. Those gathered are taken to the wedding (context: Mt.25:10; cp. Rev. 19:7-9)
vi. The "peaceful" conditions on the earth (v. 36-39) experienced by the unsaved
prior to the "coming of the Son of man" unquestionably point to the Rapture.
vii. The phrases that link this context together, joining it to verses 30-31:

V. 33 - "It is near" (referring to the Lord's coming in v. 30-31)

V. 36 - "That day" (referring to the Lord's coming in v. 30-31)
V. 40 - "Then shall (referring immediately to the days like Noah's day
[v. 36-39] and ultimately to the Lord's coming [v. 30-31]
 The Prewrath Rapture Position Charts

Overview & comparison of the signs of the end of the age

MATTHEW 24 REVELATION 6 LUKE 17 LUKE 21
False Christ’s (v.4-5) Rise of Antichrist False Christ’s
(v.2) (v.8)
Wars & Rumors of Wars (v.6-7a) Wars & Bloodshed (v.5-8) Wars & Commotions (v.9-
10)
Famine, Disease, Earthquakes (v.7b-8) Famine, Death Earthquakes, Famines,
(v.5-8) pestilences (v.11)
Persecution of God’s people & Persecution of God’s
Deception (v.9-28) people (v.12-24)
God’s people – hated (v.9) God’s people betrayed
God’s people – betrayed (v.10) Trouble that will cause God’s (v.16)
Martyrdom of God’s people to long for Christ’s God’s people hated (v.17)
Abomination of Desolation by people Return & Deception (v.22-23) Abomination of Desolation
Antichrist (v.15) by Antichrist (v.20)
1. Sever persecution
(v.16-22)
2. False signs & wonders
to deceive (v.24)
Cosmic Disturbance (v.29-30) Cosmic Disturbances Cosmic Disturbances
(v.12-14) (v.25-26)
Second Coming of Christ (v.30-44 The Second Coming of Christ
 Some taken ~ Rapture The Wrath of the Lamb (v.24-37) Second Coming of Christ
 Some left ~ Wrath (v.15-17)  Some taken – Rapture (v.27-36)
 Some left – Immediate Wrath
THE DAY OF THE LORD
Trumpet Judgments (Rev. 8-9, 11:15-19)
Bowl Judgments (Rev. 15:15-16
The Prewrath Rapture Position Charts

Sequence of Matthew 24

1. The Warning: “See to it that no one misleads you” (v.4)

2. False Christ’s: “many will come in My name, saying I am the Christ” (v.5)
3. Wars: “there will be wars and rumors of wars,” but that is not yet the end of the age. (v.6)
4. Famines and earthquakes: “but all these are merely the beginning of birth pangs (vv. 7-8)
5. The Abomination of Desolation will be seen “standing in the holy place” (v. 15)
6. Great Tribulation: (vv. 9,21)
7. Then they will “kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name” (vv.
10-12)
8. Apostasy: “many will fall away…most people’s love will grow cold” (vv. 10-12)
9. Deliverance: “the one who endures to the end…shall be saved (delivered)” (v.13)
10. But not before the “gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a
witness to all the nations” (v. 14)
11. The End: “Then the end shall come” (vs. 14), the day of God’s great wrath.

Christ gives specific information concerning the sequence of events that will “cut
short” the days of Antichrist’s great persecution against the elect of God (vv. 22,29)

1. Cosmic Disturbance: “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and
the stars will fall from the sky” (v. 29)
2. Sign of Christ’s Coming: “the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky” (v. 30), “as
lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west” (v. 27)
3. Visible Appearance: “you will “see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with
power and great glory” (v. 30)
4. Visible Rapture: Christ’s angels will “gather together His elect from the four winds, from
one end of the sky to the other” (v.31; cf. v.13) Thus removing the target of Antichrist’s
Satanic-inspired wrath against God’s elect abruptly ending his persecution.
5. T he Day of the Lord: Finally, the day of God’s wrath—the end of the age—will
come (vv.14,37-39)
The Prewrath Rapture Position Charts

Sequence of Matthew 24 & Thessalonians

1. Both accounts give the direct instruction of Christ (Matt.24:3-4a; cf. 1 Thess. 4:15)

2. Both accounts begin with a severe warning to Christians about what is being taught
(Matt. 24:4; cf. 2 Thess. 2:3)

3. Both accounts refer to the coming (parousia) of Christ (Matt. 24:3,27,37,39; cf. 1
Thess. 4:15; 2 Thess. 2:1,8)

4. Both accounts connect the Day of the Lord with the coming of Christ (Matt. 24:3,
29-30, 37-39; cf. 1 Thess. 4:15-5:2; 2 Thess. 2:1-2)

5. Both accounts refer to the revealing of Antichrist, which will occur in the temple, in
the holy place (Matt. 24:15; cf. 2 Thess. 2:4)

6. Both accounts make reference to the apostasy, the specific falling away that occurs
when Antichrist is revealed, demanding the worship of the world (Matt. 24:9-12; cf.
2 Thess. 2:3-4)

7. Both accounts teach that at Christ’s coming (parousia) He will “cut short” or “bring
to an end”—render useless—the hostile activities of Antichrist (Matt. 24:22; cf. 2
Thess. 2:8)

8. Both accounts teach that at Christ’s coming (parousia) the day of the Lord’s wrath
will begin (Matt. 24:29-30, 36-39; cf. 1 Thess. 5:1-2; 2 Thess. 2:1-2; cf. v.8)

9. Both accounts teach that when the Day of the Lord begins, God’s elect, His saints,
will be gathered together (Matt. 24:31; cf. 1 Thess. 4:17-5:2; 2 Thess. 2:1-2)
The Prewrath Rapture Position Charts

SEQUENCE OF END TIME EVENTS

COMPARISON
The Prewrath Rapture Position Charts

SEQUENCE OF END TIME EVENTS

COMPARISON
 Sequence of Matthew 24 & Revelation

1. Both accounts are given in the context of Christ’s specific warning that what is
revealed in those passages must be taken seriously by His followers (Matt. 24:4; cf.
Rev. 22:19)

2. Both accounts begin their descriptions of the last days with a reference to false
Christ’s—The First Seal (Matt. 24:5; cf. Rev. 6:1-2)

3. Both accounts warn of wars and rumors of wars—The Second Seal (Matt. 24:7; cf.
Rev. 6:3-4)

4. Both accounts warn of a great time of famine—The Third Seal (Matt. 24:7; cf. Rev.
6:5-6)

5. Both accounts warn of a time of intense persecution of God’s elect—The Fourth Seal
(Matt. 24:9,21; cf. Rev. 6:7-8)

6. Both accounts make reference to the martyrdom of the elect, God’s saints—The Fifth
Seal (Matt. 24:9,22; cf. Rev. 6:9)

7. Both accounts show that Antichrist’s persecution will be limited—The Fifth Seal
(Matt. 24:22; cf. Rev. 6:11)

8. Both accounts show that sometime during Antichrist’s persecution of God’s elect, a
sign will be given in the sun, moon, and stars, announcing the Day of the Lord’s
wrath—The Sixth Seal (Matt. 24:29; cf. Rev. 6:12-17)

9. Both accounts show the rapture—deliverance—of God’s elect from out of the midst
of the “great tribulation,” abruptly terminating Antichrist’s persecution of God’s
elect just before the wrath of God begins—The Interlude between the sixth and
seventh seal (Matt. 24:29-31; cf. Rev. 7:9-14)

10. Both accounts show the commencement of God’s wrath, the Day of the Lord—The
Seventh Seal (Matt. 24:37-39; cf. Rev. 8:1-7)
BIBLIOGRAPHY

VanKampen, Robert. The Prewrath Rapture Position Explained Plain & Simple. Grand Haven,
MI: Sola Scriptura, 1999.

VanKampen, Robert. The Sign. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1992.

Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. 1996. New Bible dictionary (3rd ed. /) . InterVarsity
Press: Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.

Wiersbe, W. W. 1996, c1989. The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New
Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. Victor Books: Wheaton, Ill.

(Sola Scriptura, Revelation Commentary).

Articles written by Alan Kurschner with written permission; www.prewrath rapture

Dot Com

The Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon

Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W. 1996. Vine's complete expository dictionary of Old
and New Testament words . T. Nelson: Nashville

Spirit Life Bible; Jack W. Hayford, Truth in Action pp.1903 #1. Thomas Nelson
Publishers, Nashville

R.C.H. Lenski, The Epistles of St. Peter, St. John and St. Jude, (Minneapolis: Augsburg
Publishing House, 1945), 285. See also Mare, "A Study of the New Testament Concept
of the Parousia," 339.

WHAT IS THE PRE-WRATH RAPTURE? And can a Fundamentalist believe it?

Vincent Sawyer, Pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Corona, NY

Wikipedia; Free Encyclopedia

 NOTES
TEACHER’S NOTES

Allegorical: used in or characteristic of or containing allegory; “allegorical stories.”

Symbolic: Standing for something else; “the bald eagle is representative of the
United States”

Allegorizing: Searching for a hidden or secret meaning underlying but remote from
and unrelated in reality to the more obvious meaning of a text. In other
words the literal reading is a sort of code, which needs to be deciphered
to determine the more significant and hidden meaning. In this approach
the literal is superficial; the allegorical is the true meaning.

Example: Revelation 4:1

After these thing I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And
the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying,
“Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

Allegorically this verse is interpreted by pre-tribulationalist as a type, or

picture of the Rapture of the Church. There reasoning is that because the
word “church” is not used after Rev. 4:1 it is symbolic of the Rapture.

~ FAVE VALUE HERMENEUTIC

One’s hermeneutic refers to how one understands something that is written or

spoken. The normal method we use every day is what is referred to as “face-value
hermeneutic”. We understand what we read or hear by taking what is said to us at face
value—or, by taking it literally, in its most natural, normal, customary sense. “Face
value” is simply an interpretation based on the exact wording of something written.
That does not mean that we are to ignore the many obvious figures of speech and
expressions that are found in Scripture, but it does eliminate:
 1. Spiritualization (substituting the literal sense for a deeper, spiritual meaning).
2. Allegorization (abandoning the literal sense for what the reader considers to be a more
meaningful understanding).
3. Culturalization (limiting unnecessaritly the literal sense to the culture of the day in
which it was written).

Example: Revelation 4:1 ~ The door standing open in heaven is the door of prophetic
revelation. The Lord summoned John to “come up here” in
order that he might receive the “Revelation” and get a
heavenly perspective of things which must take place on
Earth, (Come up here, and I will show you things which must
take place after this).

Use some metaphors to bring out the concept of the one “single” parousia.

The Parousia of Jesus Christ is a period with a beginning

(rapture), a course (Day of the Lord), and a conclusion
(Armageddon). A hurtle race is a good example to bring this truth
out. The runner is Jesus; the start of the race begins with the
Rapture. Between the start line and the finish line are several
hurtles representing the Day of the Lord. Each hurtle represents a
part of the series of events played out during the Day of the Lord.
For Example, there are seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments.
There is also God’s dealing with the Nation of Israel and her restoration to favor
becoming God’s primary Nation. The Salvation of Israel at the end of Daniels 70th
week is seen in Romans 11:25-27. The finish line represents the Battle of Armageddon,
when Jesus captures the Beast and False Prophet casting them into the lake of fire, and
destroys the armies who have assembled against Him in Jerusalem.
Another fact concerning the parousia is that in Matthew 24:30-31, Jesus is seen coming
on the clouds to gather His elect (the church) unto Himself. This is the beginning of His
parousia. The end (Armageddon) is described in Revelation 19:11-20. These are not
two comings, but one coming, just as a hurtle race has a beginning, a course, and a
finish, Christ’s parousia is a single event made up of multiple events.

~ The Pre-Tribulation Rapture View:

 Originated by the writings of J.N. Darby (1830)

 Popularized by the footnotes in the Scofield Bible
 Systematized by the faculty of Dallas Seminary
(Charles C. Ryrie, John F. Walvoord, Dwight Pentecost
 Dave MacPherson in “The Incredible Cover-up” and “Rapture?” strongly contends
that the Pretribulation view actually started by a “revelation” in 1830 to a Scottish
woman named Margaret Mac Donald. He argues that prior to 1830 on one in church
history held to a Pretribulationial rapture.
 A key proof text for the pretribulational view is: Rev. 3:10 “Because thou hast kept the
word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come
upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
(Prewrath Response to Rev.3:10: “Keep” does not mean removal from the hour of
trial by means of rapture but protection through that hour)

The Lord Jesus makes a deliberate point by using the same Greek word “Kept” two
times in one verse. Therefore, the way in which one interprets the word “kept” in the
first part of Revelation 3:10 must be the way in which God wanted that same word to be
understood in the second part of that verse. The Lord Jesus said: “Because thou hast
kept (tereo) the word of my patience, I also will keep (tereo) thee from the hour of
temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the
earth.” Jesus’ deliberate point is this: “Because you guarded my word,… I will guard
you” He certainly didn’t intend to mean: “Because you removed my word, …I will
remove you.” J.H. Thayer (1828-1901) in commenting on Rev. 3:10 understood the word
“Keep” to mean “by guarding” (A Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T., p. 622). Matthew
Henry (1662-1714) observed that “those who keep the gospel in a time of peace shall be
kept by Christ in an hour of temptation [Revelation 3:10]” (Commentary, VI, p. 1134).
The only other time the Greek construction – tereo …ek (“Keep…from”) occurs in the
N.T. is John 17:15 in which Jesus said “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of
the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” (Here Jesus obviously did
not have special removal in mind, but spiritual protection.)

(Above Notes taken form “What is the prewrath rapture and can a Fundamentalist believe”
it.)
by Vincent Sawyer, Pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Corona N.Y

~ The Mid-Tribulation Rapture View

The Proponents of the Mid-Tribulation View are:

J. Oliver Buswell Jr.—Author of A Systematic Theology of the Christian Religion.

Gleason L. Archer

~ The Post-Tribulation Rapture View

The proponents of the Post-Tribulation Rapture are:

Dr. Robert Gundry—Author of First, The Antichrist
W.E. Blackstone—Author of Jesus Is Coming
George E. Ladd
Alexander Reese
Roland Rasmussen—Author of The Post-Trib, Prewrath Rapture

The Post Trib. Believe the Rapture and Second Coming are not distinguished in
Scripture (the words "parousia" [coming or presence - I Th. 4:15; Mt. 24:27] and
"apokalupsis" [revealing - I Cor. 1:7; I Pet. 1:7, 4:13] -- both are used to describe the same
event.

The Problems; Prewrath Response:

 This view would contradict Jesus' statement that no man can know the exact day and
hour (Mt. 24:42, 25:13). This view would pinpoint the timing of Christ’s Return.

 If the Rapture occurs at the end of the Tribulation, the Trumpet & Bowl Judgments
would extend past the 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation. The judgments would also
extend beyond the 1,335 days of Daniel 12:11-13. The 1,335 days start their
countdown at the middle of the 70 week.

 This view does not allow for the days of the Tribulation to be "cut short" for the Elect
as Jesus stated in Matthew 24.

~ The Prewrath Rapture Position

Although some minor details of this view were not spelled out, the basic arguments for
the fact that the church would have to face the Antichrist in the Tribulation and the fact
that the Rapture would take place before the Wrath of God was poured out was held by
such men as: J.C. Ryle; C.H. Spurgeon (A continuation of Spurgeon's viewpoints are
being published by Banner Ministries Box 23, Belpur, Derbys DE561QR UK. They
recently published an article titled: "A Fearless Look at the Rapture Debate," which
shows that Spurgeon held to many tenants of the Pre-wrath view).
This view has been largely systematized by Marvin J. Rosenthal (Author of the Book -
The Pre-wrath Rapture of the Church Nelson Pub.) Other contemporary proponents of this
view include: Robert VanKampen – Author of The Sign and The Prewrath Rapture
Position Examined; H. L. Nigro – Author of Before God’s Wrath; and Charles Cooper –
Author of God’s Elect and the Great Tribulation.

Use a Chair as a metaphor when describing the truths of the four rapture
views. Show how the Prewrath View adds the fourth leg.
 The view that the true Church will be raptured during the great
tribulation (persecution) of Antichrist, that this persecution of God’s elect
that begins at the midpoint of the seventieth week of Daniel is the wrath
of Satan, not the wrath of God, that this time of persecution will be cut
short at Christ’s second coming, the rapture of the faithful initiating the
wrath of God (the Day of the Lord) against the wicked who remain. This
event will occur following the sixth seal and before the seventh seal of
Revelation. ~ Robert Van Kampen; The SIGN, Glossary pp.505

The Prewrath Rapture Position is supported by a face value method of interpretation,

accepting the meaning of Scripture in its most normal, natural, customary sense. Some
of the reasons are as follows:

 ALL Old Testament prophecy dealing with the birth, life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ was fulfilled precisely as predicted by the prophets.
 God providently fulfilled ALL Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ ~
Matthew 1:22-23; Acts 13:29;
 Jesus intentionally and carefully fulfilled Old Testament prophecy exactly as it
was written ~ Matthew 3:13-15; *5:17-18; Luke 4:16-21; 18:31; John 5:39
 John the Baptist fulfilled Old Testament prophecy concerning Christ exactly as
the prophets said. ~ Matthew 3:3; Luke 24:27; John 1:22-23; 7:42;
 Paul taught that the Scriptures are the basic historical facts on which the Gospel
stands, and which the Scripture, pertaining to the sacrificial system in the Old
Testament pointed to the sacrifice of Christ as our substitute. The reality of
Christ’s sacrifice was verified by the Scriptures ~ (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ps. 16:10;
Isa. 53:8-10).

~ Rapture and Wrath, Same Day!

1. In every passage dealing with the timing of the Rapture and God’s Wrath, these
events are found to be tied together.
2. The Disciples question, “What will be the Sign of your coming and of the end of the age”
itself connects the Rapture and God’s wrath together when one understands that
first, Christ’s coming is to rapture the church v.30-31 and second, the “end of the
age” is a reference to the Day of the Lord v.36-39.
3. Christ taught that these two back-to-back events would occur on the same day ~
Luke 17:22,26-30; Matthew 24:36-39.
4. It is an explicit teaching of Scripture that the “Great Tribulation (Matt 24:9-12; 15-
22)” will be “cut short (Matt 24:22)” when Christ returns to rapture the church (Matt
24:30-31), thus, ending the tribulation(Matt 24:29), the rapture initiating the Day of
the Lord (Matt 24:36-39).

Four clear necessary events that must happen before the Coming of Christ and the
Day of the Lord.

1. Joel 2:31 "The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the
coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD."
2. Mal. 4:5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day
of the LORD comes."
3. Israel must be a nation and thus back in its land since much of the Day of the Lord's
wrath is in the context of national Israel and the nations who oppose Israel. As well,
some temple-like complex must be built.
4. (1) A specific apostasy must occur, and (2) the man of lawlessness (Antichrist) must
be revealed. 2Th 2:1-3.

There is no gap between the deliverance of the righteous in the rapture, and the
judgment of the ungodly in the Day of the Lord—they are back-to-back events. Luke
17:22-27 compare Genesis 7:11-13; Luke 17:28-35 compare to Genesis 19:22-28.

Premillennialism in Christian eschatology is the belief that Christ will literally

reign on the earth for 1,000 years at his second coming. The doctrine is called
premillennialism because it views the current age as prior to Christ’s kingdom. It is
distinct from the other forms of Christian eschatology such as amillennialism or
postmillennialism, which view the millennial rule as either figurative and non-
temporal, or as occurring prior to the second coming. Premillennialism is largely based
upon a literal interpretation of Revelation 20:1-6 in the New Testament which describes
Christ’s coming to the earth and subsequent reign at the end of an apocalyptic period of
tribulation. It views this future age as a time of fulfillment for the prophetic hope of
God’s people as given in the Old Testament.
The concept of a temporary earthly messianic kingdom at the Messiah's coming was
not an invention of Christianity. Instead it was a theological interpretation developed
within the apocalyptic literature of early Judaism.[2] In intertestamental Judaism there
was a basic distinction between the current age and the “age to come.” The “age to
come” was commonly viewed as a nationalistic golden age in which the hopes of the
prophets would become a reality for the nation of Israel.
 Amillennialism (Latin: a- "not" + mille "thousand" + annum "year") is a view in
Christian eschatology named for its denial of a future, thousand-year, physical reign of
Jesus Christ on the earth, as espoused in the premillennial and some postmillennial
views of the Book of Revelation, chapter 20. By contrast, the amillennial view holds that
the number of years in Revelation 20 is a symbolic number, not a literal description; that
the millennium has already begun and is identical with the church age (or more rarely,
that it ended with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70; and that while Christ's reign is
spiritual in nature during the millennium, at the end of the church age, Christ will
return in final judgment and establish permanent physical reign.

Postmillennialism, in Christian eschatology, is an interpretation of chapter 20 of

the Book of Revelation which sees Christ's second coming as occurring after (Latin post-)
the "Millennium", a Golden Age or era of Christian prosperity and dominance. The term
subsumes several similar views of the end times, and it stands in contrast to
premillennialism and, to a lesser extent, amillennialism. Although some
postmillennialists hold to a literal millennium of 1,000 years, most postmillennialists see
the thousand years more as a figurative term for a long period of time (similar in that
respect to amillennialism). Among those holding to a non-literal "millennium" it is
usually understood to have already begun, which implies a less obvious and less
dramatic kind of millennium than that typically envisioned by premillennialists, as well
as a more unexpected return of Christ.
Postmillennialism also teaches that the forces of Satan will gradually be defeated by
the expansion of the Kingdom of God throughout history up until the second coming of
Christ. This belief that good will gradually triumph over evil has led proponents of
postmillennialism to label themselves "optimillennialists" in contrast to
"pessimillennial" premillennialists and amillennialists.
Many postmillennialists also adopt some form of preterism, which holds that many of
the end times prophecies in the Bible have already been fulfilled.

Some Pre-Tribulation proponents maintain that the earliest known extra-Biblical

reference to the "Pre-Tribulation" rapture is from a sermon falsely attributed to the
fourth-century Church Father Ephraem the Syrian, which says, "For all the saints and
Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the
Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins."
However, the interpretation of this writing, as supporting Pre-Tribulation rapture, is
debated.
There exists at least one 18th century and two 19th century Pre-Tribulation
references, in a book published in 1788, in the writings of a Catholic priest Emmanuel
Lacunza in 1812, and by John Darby himself in 1827. However, both the book
published in 1788 and the writings of Lacunza have opposing views regarding their
interpretations, as well.
The rise in belief in the "Pre-Tribulation" rapture is sometimes attributed to a 15-
year old Scottish-Irish girl named Margaret McDonald (a follower of Edward Irving),
who in 1830 had a vision that was later published in 1861.
The popularization of the term is associated with teaching of John Nelson Darby,
prominent among the Plymouth Brethren, and the rise of premillennialism and
dispensationalism in English-speaking churches at the end of the 19th century. In 1908,
the doctrine of the rapture was further popularized by an evangelist named William
Eugene Blackstone, whose book, Jesus Is Coming, sold more than one million copies. The
first known appearance of the theological use of the word "rapture" in print occurs with
the Scofield Reference Bible of 1909.
In 1957, Dr. John Walvoord, a theologian at Dallas Theological Seminary, authored
a book, "The Rapture Question," that gave theological support to the Pre-Tribulation
rapture; this book eventually sold over 65,000 copies. In 1958, J. Dwight Pentecost
authored another book supporting the Pre-Tribulation rapture, Things to Come: A Study
in Biblical Eschatology, that sold 215,000 copies.

Midtribulationists believe that the rapture of the faithful will occur halfway
through the Tribulation, but before the worst part of it occurs. The seven year period is
divided into half - the "beginning of sorrows" and the "great tribulation" proper.
In pretribulationism and midtribulationism, the rapture and the Second Coming (or
Greek, par[a]ousia) of Christ are separate events; while in post-tribulationism the two
events are identical or simultaneous. Another feature of the pre- and mid-tribulation
beliefs are the idea that after the Rapture, Christ will return still again (a third coming),
to set up his kingdom on the earth.

In Christian eschatology, the Post Tribulation Rapture doctrine is the belief in a

combined Resurrection and Rapture (eg., Resurrection-Rapture) of all believers coming
after the Great Tribulation. This doctrine holds that there is a Resurrection-Rapture of
living believers in Jesus Christ at the end of the age (or the "End times").
Posttribulationists believe that Christians won't be taken up into (the 3rd) Heaven at the
rapture, but will be gathered by the angels to meet Christ in the air, then return with
him to enter the millennium on earth. This is usually understood as being in line with
historic premillennialism. Key difference between the pre-, mid-, and post-tribulation
lines of theology is the number of times that Jesus Christ must return.

The prewrath rapture (also “pre-wrath” rapture) is one of many different views on
the timing of end-times events among evangelical Christians.
The prewrath view is that the tribulation of the church begins towards the latter
part of the seven-year period, being Daniel's 70th week, when the Antichrist is revealed
in the temple. The great Tribulation, according to this view, is of the Antichrist against
the church at this time. The duration of this tribulation is unknown, except that it begins
and ends during the second half of Daniel's 70th week. According to Jesus (in Matthew
24, Mark 13, and Luke 21), this tribulation will be cut short by the second coming of
Christ to deliver the righteous by means of rapture, which will occur after the sixth seal
is opened and the moon is turned to blood. All these events occur just before God's
wrath of trumpets and bowls (a.k.a. "the Day of the Lord") begins, hence the term
prewrath. The Day of the Lord's wrath against the ungodly will follow for the
remainder of the seven years.
Although the prewrath rapture was formally named and publicized in the 1990s,
the nature of this approach to interpreting the end-times scriptures is such that it was
held by believers long before it had a name.
A common denominator among all prewrath adherents is the belief that the end-
times scriptures are to be taken literally and by comparing end-times scriptures side by
side, the prophecies can be put together like a jig-saw puzzle. When this occurs, the
scriptures fall into a clear time-line and a logical picture of the end-times events begins
to emerge.

Primary tenets common to the prewrath view:

 In Matthew 24, Jesus gives believers a timeline for when the Second Coming and the
rapture of the Church will occur.
1. First, Jesus describes the “abomination of desolation,” when the Antichrist
reveals himself in the temple (Matthew 24:15).
2. Jesus then describes the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21),
3. the signs in the heavens that precede His return (Matthew 24:29),
4. then His return itself, along with the corresponding rapture of the Church
(Matthew 24:30-31, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52), which occurs
as part of the same event.
 Adherents to the prewrath view hold that the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments in
Revelation are chronological.
 Prewrath also holds that a side-by-side comparison of the wording of the sixth seal
(Revelation 6:12-13) and the signs in Matthew 24:29 that announce the Second
 Coming of Jesus and the rapture of the Church indicate that they are the same event.
Therefore, the rapture described in Matthew 24:29-31 can be placed after the sixth
seal of Revelation. This timing is confirmed in Revelation 6:17, when immediately
after the sixth seal, the people of the earth cry, "hide us from the face of the Lamb!”
[a scriptural reference to the Lamb of God, or Jesus Christ], indicating that they are
viewing Jesus Himself in the clouds of the heavens. This event is followed by a
description of the raptured Church in heaven (Revelation 7:1 ff.), which is stated to
have “come out of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 7:9-11).
 The seventh seal brings the trumpet and the bowl judgments, which comprise
Christ’s judgment during the Day of the Lord, which contains God’s wrath. Since
the Second Coming and the rapture of the Church occur immediately before the Day
of the Lord, they occur before God’s wrath — hence, the “prewrath rapture” of the
Church. 14

1. In the parallel account of the Olivet Discourse recorded by Mark, the believer
undergoing this time of persecution is promised help: “And when they arrest you and
deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is
given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit” Mark 13:11.
2. The personal pronoun “you” identifies those the Spirit will help during this time of
persecution, You! It becomes apparent that the beginning

3. birth pangs will affect everyone in the world, including those who profess the name
of Christ, but the time of tribulation, the hard labor, will primarily affect only those
who truly honor the name of Christ, YOU!
4. The falling away in Matthew 24:10-12 will be a very specific falling away that will
occur during the great tribulation. The Greek word behind “fall away” is skandalizo,
its original meaning was “to be ensnared, as in a trap.” The use of this word that
best fits this context is the idea of cowering away in shame. The verb is passive,
which means that the subject is caught in a position that leads to a denial of Christ.
5. The immediate context of those who “fall away” and those who’s “love will grow
cold” are those who will be threatened by persecution “on account of My name.”
Because you (who claim the name of Christ) will face hatred and death on account of
that name, many professing Christians will fall away from the faith. John calls this
time of intense persecution “the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come
upon the whole world to test those who dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10). Paul
refers to this time when “many will fall away,” as “the apostasy” (2 Thess. 2:3)

14
Wikipedia; Free Encylopedia
 A waning love is the picture given here which decreases gradually in intensity like
that of the moon which shows a decreasing illuminated surface between a full moon
and a new moon. The agape (Christian) love for Christ and each other will be reduced
to the infidelity of the faith and the absence of belief itself. It will be because of the
name of Jesus that many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one
another. A shadow of this waning love can be seen in the church today. Never before
has the church been as divided as it is today. In spite of the Bible’s teaching that there
should be no schism (division) in the body, that the members should have the same care
for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25), denominational and doctrinal lines have been
established that have partitioned the body of Christ into neat little groups all opposing
one another.

Daniel 11:39 describes the Antichrist as one who will “give great honor to those who
acknowledge him.” At the mid point of Daniels 70th week Antichrist will begin to
consolidate the remaining peoples that will comprise his empire. The institution of his
mark that “no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or his name (Rev 13:16-17)”
on there right hand or forehead will flag out the Christian community. Clearly, ALL
the world will marvel and follow the Antichrist, and the nations will give their power to
him (Rev. 13:1-4). Once he has conquered all and his demand for the world’s worship is
executed he will launch his campaign of persecution against the saints of God (Rev.
13:6-10).

The Two Fold Test

Antichrist, the first beast will be revealed as a dead man come back to life at
the midpoint of the 70th week, where he will enthrone himself in the rebuilt
temple in Jerusalem, clain to be divine, and demand the worship of the world. He will
then initiate a twofold test to identify those who do, and those who do not truly
worship him. This test will be administered by the second beast who is Antichrist’s
enforcer and “exercises all the authority of the firs beast (Rev. 13:12). The test will
consist of two specific things:

1. Everyone will be required to “worship the image of the beast or be killed (Rev.
13:15).
2. Everyone will be required to take the mark of the beast or they will be unable to buy
or sell anything.
 Satan will, use this twofold test to try to identify and kill all who refuse to submit to
his lordship, seeking to prevent Israel’s salvation as a nation, preventing the completion
of the Kingdom of God. When Satan attempts to deceive the world and Antichrist
demands it’s worship and requires everyone to take the mark, mankind will be
confronted with a monumental choice with eternal consequences—the choice between
allegiance to the only true and Holy God, at the cost of physical death, or allegiance to
Antichrist, at the cost of eternal death.

During the time of persecution by the Antichrist “the perseverance and the faith of the
saints (Rev 13:10; 14:12)” will be tested as never before in the history of the church. The
contrast between those who do not persevere, that is, “fall away,” and those who do is
made clear in Rev 14:9-12. This is why the church is instructed to “abide in Him (Jesus)
so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at
His coming” (1 John 2:28). For the true believer’s who do persevere they will be called
blessed and find eternal rest (Rev. 14:12-13)

The phrase “the time of Jacob’s trouble” is quoted by Jeremiah when the Lord was
speaking to Jeremiah about Judah and Israel (30:3-4). In 30:3 the Lord promises that in
the future He will bring Judah and Israel back to the land He had promised their
forefathers. Evidence is given when compared to other Day of the Lord verses that the
time of Jacob’s trouble is referring to the Day of the Lord.

1. Verse 5 describes a time of great fear and trembling.

2. Verse 6 describes this time in a way that pictures men going through the pains of
childbirth, again indicating a time of fear and pain.
3. There is hope for Judah and Israel, for though this is called “the time of Jacob’s
trouble,’ the Lord promises He will save Jacob (referring to Israel) out of this time of
great distress (30:7).
4. 30:10-11 describes the restoration of Israel from their exile, Israel will again have
peace and security.
5. This time is a time when God Himself will “make a full end of all nations where I
have scattered you”
6. THAT DAY (v.8) is the day when God intervenes in the affairs of men. It is when
Israel will be exalted above the other nations. THAT DAY is used in an
eschatological context.
7. Paul describes the Day of the Lord as birth pains. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 says, “For
you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For
when they say, ‘Peace and safety,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor
pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” This event follows the rapture
and removal of the Church, 4:13-18. In 5:9, Paul reemphasizes the absence of the
Church during the Day of the Lord by saying “For God has not destined us for wrath,
but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The wrath spoken of here is
God’s judgment on the unbelieving world and His discipline of Israel during the
Day of the Lord.

Election is God’s eternal decree to choose from sinners deserving condemnation

those whom He will save providing salvation through Christ. The most common New
Testament reference to election is God’s eternal election of people to salvation in Jesus
Christ. The subject is dealt with comprehensively in Ephesians 1:3-11 and Romans 8:28-
11:36.
Election is defined as “the unchangeable purpose of God, before the foundation of
the world, out of the whole human race, which had fallen by its own fault out of its
original integrity into sin and ruin, He has, according to the most free good pleasure of
His will, out of mere grace, chosen in Christ to salvation specific people, neither better
nor more worthy than another, but with them involved a common misery and need for
salvation” Ephesians 1:7.
Election is “election in Christ,” it involves rescue from sin and guilt and receiving
the gracious gifts of salvation. Election in Christ is evident in Ephesians 1:4-1,11 and
Romans 8:29. Christ is not merely a subsequent means to effectuate a decree of election,
election is completely in Christ and through Christ.
God chose the elect “to be holy and blameless in His sight…to be adopted as his
sons (Eph. 1:4-5). The elect are those whom God
“foreknew…predestined…called…justified…and glorified (Eph 1:4-5). God chose the
elect “to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and through belief in
the truth” (2 Thess. 2:13).
 As Satan is cast to the earth, “having great wrath” (Rev. 12:12), his strategy will take
two main directions:

1. Satan will, through Antichrist, initiate a “time of distress such has never occurred
since there was a nation until that time (Dan. 12:1), as he attempts to prevent the
national salvation of Israel.
2. He will try to destroy the citizens of the Kingdom of God, when “there will be a
great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until
now, nor ever shall. And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have
been saved, but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short” (Matt. 24:21-
22).
Here we see unequivocally that the great tribulation is not an expression of the
wrath of God, but of the “great wrath” of the devil and his persecution carried out
through Antichrist. It is God’s wrath that will bring Satan’s wrath to an end, when God
rescues His church from Antichrist’s persecution and then begins His destruction of the
wicked ~ SEE (Daniel 7:21-22, 23-27).
The question that needs to be asked is, “If the entire 70th week of Daniel is the wrath
of God (as the pretribulationalists insist), why are believers who are promised
exemption from the Day of the Lord’s wrath (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9 ‘ALL’ believers of any
age) present during this time?” (cf. Rev. 12:17; 13:7)

A. In Revelation 12 the reader is in an interlude that begins with chapter 12:1 and
concludes with chapter 15:4. The focus for this interlude is the midpoint of the
70th week. In Rev. 12:12, we are instructed regarding the casting out of heaven of
the devil who "has come down...having great wrath". In 12:17 and 13:7, we are
clearly told that the wrath of Satan is subsequently poured out on the "saints",
those "who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus."
In other words, during the time of Satan's wrath when Antichrist exalts himself,
he persecutes the saints. Clearly, there are two wraths spoken of (during the 70th
week of Daniel) and it's during the wrath of Satan (through Antichrist) when
believers are persecuted. Satan's wrath is depicted in the fourth and fifth seals
and prior to the Day of the Lord's wrath which begins with the breaking of the
seventh seal.

B. If the entire 70th week of Daniel is the wrath of God (as the pretribulationalists
insist), God would be responsible for the martyrdom of countless believers
within the fifth seal. Clearly, there are two wraths spoken of (during the 70th
week of Daniel).

C. It is clear by the context of Revelation 6:9-11 that God is not responsible for those
martyred. They are crying out to God saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true,
wilt thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
 They were asking when the Day of the Lord would begin, when would God’s
justice be poured out on the wicked in repayment for their affliction. Cleary the
Day of the Lord and the first six seals can not be synonymous.

3. It is unequivocally clear that the first five seals are describing events contributed to
the wrath of man/Antichrist. The Sixth Seal itself reveals that the final Day of the
Lord, the great day of His wrath “has come (Rev. 6:17).” In other words, up to this
point the wrath of God has been absent and is now beginning when the Seventh Seal
is broken (Rev. 8:1).

The Lord Jesus makes a deliberate point by using the same Greek word “Kept” two
times in one verse. Therefore, the way in which one interprets the word “kept” in the
first part of Revelation 3:10 must be the way in which God wanted that same word to be
understood in the second part of that verse. The Lord Jesus said:
“Because thou hast kept (tereo) the word of my patience, I also will keep (tereo) thee from the
hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
Jesus’ deliberate point is this: “Because you guarded my word,… I will guard you”
He certainly didn’t intend to mean: “Because you removed my word, …I will remove
you.” J.H. Thayer (1828-1901) in commenting on Rev. 3:10 understood the word “Keep”
to mean “by guarding” (A Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T., p. 622). Matthew Henry
(1662-1714) observed that “those who keep the gospel in a time of peace shall be kept by
Christ in an hour of temptation [Revelation 3:10]” (Commentary, VI, p. 1134).
The only other time the Greek construction – tereo …ek (“Keep…from”) occurs in
the N.T. is John 17:15 in which Jesus said “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the
world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” (Here Jesus obviously did not have
special removal in mind, but spiritual protection.)
Tereo carries the idea of protection someone while he is within the sphere of danger,
not that of keeping them away from the danger altogether. In Revelation 3:10, had the
writer meant that those who followed the teaching of Christ concerning perseverance
would be kept outside the hour of testing, the Greek preposition “apo” would have
been used. The Greek preposition “ek” is the only preposition that pictures deliverance,
out from within the sphere of danger, conveying the idea that “those” refers to the men
and women who persevere under Antichrist’s persecution.
Tereo ek, used in conjunction can only refer to guarding or protecting those who
persevere while they are within the sphere of danger, and then bringing them safely out
from the midst of that danger.
The same thought is found in 2 Peter 2:9, the Greek preposition ek combined with the
Greek noun peirasmos (the same Greek word used to describe the hour of testing
referred to in Rev. 3:10) are used together. Believers will not be kept away from the
hour of testing, but will be rescued “out from the midst of (ek) this time of testing.

SEE also Rev. 7:14. “”are the ones who come out of (ek) the great tribulation”
Tereo ek should be translated, “a watchful protection within the sphere of danger, with
a safe deliverance out from the midst of it.”15

Each line represents a Greek preposition and how it is related to the Greek noun.
Some example texts are as follows. Revelation 2:10,22 the Greek preposition used for
“into” in these verses is (eis), in verse 10 the devil will throw “some of you INTO
prison” and you may be tested, and you will have tribulation…” In verse 22 Jesus
warns the church that if they don’t repent He will cast them along with Jezebel “INTO
Great Tribulation.” The Greek preposition “epi” is used in Matt 24:30 meaning “upon.”
When combined with the Greek word sunago as it is done in this verse it gives direction
to the gathering. “Gathering together” is the translation of “episunago,” describing the
rapture when Christ returns. It’s an upward gathering into the clouds where Jesus is
when He appears. Another word that gives this example is epidermis which is the top
layer of the skin. Understanding the Greek prepositions and how they relate to the
Greek nouns gives a clearer understanding of the verse in view when one is studying
the Word of God. The differences between “apo” and “ek” are considerable. Both are
translated from the Greek as “from” but each has a different relationship to the noun.
Some examples of the preposition “ek” can be compared with 1 Cor. 10:13; Revelation
3:10.

1. Revelation 12:15: The water spewing out of Satan’s mouth to destroy Israel can be
interpreted as peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues when compared with
Revelation 17:15.

2. A strong argument is given when comparing Scripture with Scripture that Michael
the Archangel is the restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7. When it comes to the exact
identity of the restrainer, we know only what is recorded in the Thessalonian letter.

a) The Greek noun ekklesia (church) is feminine, and “restrainer” in verse 7 is

masculine, so the restrainer cannot be the church.

15
Robert Van Kampen; The Rapture Question Answered, Plain & Simple pp.175-177, Published by Fleming H. Revell a
division of Baker Book House Company.
 b) Likewise, the restrainer cannot be the Holy Spirit, like the elect of God, the Holy
Spirit will still be on the earth after Antichrist begins his persecution of the elect
~ Mark 13:11; cf. Matt 24:21-22,31.
c) We learn from the prophet Daniel that Michael’s work is to “stand firmly
against” or “restrain” the forces of evil (Daniel 10:21), and later we are told that
Michael will “arise” or “stand still” (Daniel 12:1), just prior to the great
persecution of Antichrist. The Hebrew text is giving the idea that Michael, “who
stands guard over the sons of your people,” must remove his protection,
BEFORE “there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation
until that time” (Daniel 12:1). This passage parallels 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 and
Revelation 12:7-12 as all three Scriptural references are dealing with the same
event in the same time frame at the middle of the 70th week of Daniel. In the 2
Thessalonian passage we are told that the restrainer “is taken out of the way”
before “the lawless one’ is revealed. Only after the restrainer (Michael) removes
his protection can Antichrist have access to those who claim the name of Christ,
to test the genuineness of their faith.

1. the remnant of her seed —distinct from the woman herself. Satan’s first effort is to
root out the Nation of Israel, so that there should be no visible Nation. Foiled in this,
he wars ( Rev 11:7 ; 13:7 ) against the Church, “those who keep the commandments
of God, and have the testimony of Jesus” (A, B, and C omit “Christ”). These are “the
remnant,” or rest of her seed, distinguished from her seed, “the man-child” ( Rev 12:5
), on one hand, and from mere professors on the other. The Church, in her beauty is
now manifested, Satan directs his enmity against true Christians, the elect remnant.

2. By definition, Satan’s intense persecution—his wrath—will be directed against all

those who refuse to worship Antichrist, which will primarily be those from the
faithful line of Israel (the woman), and when this attempt is thwarted, it will be
directed against the saints (Rev. 13:7), the genuine bond-servants of the church at
large (the rest of her “Israel’s” offspring who keep the commandments of God and
hold to the testimony of Jesus.)

3. Any time one wants to reconcile a subject with Scripture, they have to do two things:
1. Compare Scripture with Scripture and 2. Find the common denominator. This
means they have to look for words or phrases and compare them to other verses that
contain the same phrase. Below is a list you can compare to that gives insight to
who the “remnant” are in Revelation 12:17.
 Revelation 12:17 “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war
with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God
and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 1:2 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show His servants
things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His
angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to
the testimony of Jesus Christ to all things that he saw.”
Revelation 6:9 “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of those who
had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they
held.”
Revelation 12:10-11 “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation and
strength, and the kingdom of or God, and the power of His Christ have
come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God
day and night has been cast down. And they overcame him by the
blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they
did not love their lives to the death.”
Revelation 11:7 “When they finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the
bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.”
Revelation 13:7 “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome
them .And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”
Revelation 14:12 “Here is the patience of the saints, here are those who keep the
commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
Revelation 19:10: “And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do
not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the
testimony of Jesus, Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the
spirit of prophecy.”
Matthew 24:9: “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be
hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”

Remnant

1. Jesus’ calling of disciples around himself to form the ‘little flock’ who were to
receive the kingdom ( Lk. 12:32 ; cf. Dn. 7:22 , 27 ) marks him out as the founder of

cf. confer (Lat.), compare

 the new Israel; he explicitly designated the twelve apostles as judges of ‘the twelve
tribes of Israel’ in the new age ( Mt. 19:28 ; Lk. 22:30 ).16

2. The ‘little flock’ was to be increased by the succession of ‘other sheep’ who had
never belonged to the Jewish fold ( Jn. 10:16 ). The reference to “other sheep”
anticipates the mission to the Gentiles after Pentecost and their full incorporation
into the one church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. The expression ‘the Israel of God’ in its one appearance in the NT ( Gal. 6:16 )
denotes believing Jews and Gentiles. Paul does not mention two groups of
Christians but all true believers in Christ are the Israel of God. While the nucleus of
this new Israel is Jewish ( Rom. 1:16; 11:18 ), God’s purpose as Paul teaches in
Romans 11 is to incorporate the wild olive branch (Gentile believer) into the natural
olive tree (believing Jews) forming one body in Christ.

4. Believing Israel within the new community is the remnant. The cutting away of
merely natural Israel displays God’s judgment, but the preservation of a remnant of
Jews among believing Gentiles displays his mercy and faithfulness. This remnant
carries a promise of the future salvation of all Israel when the fullness of the Gentiles
has come in (Romans 11:25-27). It may be small now, but it is not an unchangeable
minority. At the end it will become the totality.17

5. “A remnant,” as used in Rom. 11:5 , “there is a remnant according to the election of

grace,” i.e., there is a spiritual “remnant” saved by the gospel from the midst of
apostate Israel does not nullify the Gentiles involvement as being “grafted in”
among this remnant, and as such is part of the remnant.

And if some of the branches were broken off (apostate Israel), and YOU
(believing Gentile), being a wild olive tree, were grafted in AMONG THEM
(the remnant according to the election of grace), and WITH THEM became a
partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree ~ Romans 11:17.

The Cosmic Disturbance is in fact the “Sign of the End of the Age” when the cataclysmic
changes in the sun, moon, and stars, occurs and all natural lights of the world will be

16
Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. 1996. New Bible dictionary (3rd ed. /) . InterVarsity Press: Leicester, England;
Downers Grove, Ill.
NT New Testament
17
Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. 1995, c1985. Theological dictionary of the New Testament. Translation of:
Theologisches Worterbuch zum Neuen Testament. W.B. Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, Mich.
extinguished, plunging the earth’s atmosphere into total darkness. This sign will be
accompanied by worldwide earthquakes, most likely destroying all man-made light
sources on earth, and will occur at the opening of the sixth seal, immediately before the
sign of Christ’s second coming is seen by all the inhabitants of the world.
The Cosmic Disturbance sparks a chain of events, events that are
contingent upon the sign given in the sun, moon, and stars. First, the
Cosmic Disturbance brings the Great Persecution of Antichrist against
God’s Elect to and end, cutting it short (Matthew 24:22,29).
Secondly, the Cosmic Disturbance is directly associated with the parousia of Jesus
Christ as He visibly appears and is seen upon the clouds of the air to evacuate His Elect
(church) out of the world (Matthew 24:30-31).
Thirdly, the Cosmic Disturbance is an announcement to the Day of the Lord’s Wrath
when Jesus Christ judges the wicked. The cosmic disturbance is seen as the “front side”
of God’s approaching wrath. (Matthew 24:37-42; Rev. 6:12-17).

The effects on the sun, moon, and stars places this event in proximity to the coming of
Jesus Christ. The “sky…rolled up” can be describing the scene of the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven. The moving of every mountain and island would
cause seismic damage in excess of any recorded earthquake.
It cannot be demonstrated by Scripture that the opening of the first six seals reflect the
outpouring of God’s wrath. Only after the opening of the sixth seal, which initiates the
cosmic disturbance, does God begin to actively intervene in the affairs of men.
The narrative of Revelation 6:1-8:1 represents events prior to the outpouring of God’s
judgment. The unsealing of the scroll follows the pattern of the signs called “the
beginning of sorrows (Matt 24:8), followed by the “hard labor” of Great Tribulation (the
persecution of God’s elect) Matthew 24:9-28, followed by the deliverance of the
righteous (Rapture) when Christ appears in the clouds (Matthew 24:30-31). Only after
Revelation 8:1 does God’s Wrath become evident.
HAS COME ~ In the Greek there is a common tense called the “aorist” which we do
not have in English. The aorist tense is the least significant tense in Greek although
many make a big deal about certain words which are in the “aorist.” The aorist does
not denote “past time” as some commonly understand it. And it does not denote a
“once-for-all-action.” Some wrongly believe that it is a past tense because it can often
be in a past action context. Though it is commonly in past action, it can also be an
action in the present, future, or it can just simply be timeless. Only the context—not the
fact it is aorist—tells us what time the action occurs. The aorist is what is called the
“indefinite” or “undefined” tense. It does not tell you the type of action such as
specifying its duration, nor does it tell the time that the action takes place.
The aorist is often known as the “background” or “snapshot” or “summary” tense.
Sometimes it is thought of as the “default” tense in Greek, but that may be too much of
an understatement of its function. An author would choose the aorist tense to represent
the action of the verb as a complete whole – i.e . stating an undefined action without
giving specific information of the type of action such as focusing on the beginning or
ending of the action, its duration, or whether it is repeated or not.18

The critical phrase in Revelation 6:17 “has come,” is a translation of the Greek verb
elthein. Elthein is in the aorist tense, indicative mood of erchomai, the most common
Greek verb for “come.” The aorist tense is, generally speaking, timeless. In narration, it
can be used to describe the simple past but another common use of the aorist tense is to
describe the beginning of something. This is called the ingressive use of the aorist, and
is clearly the use in this context. (Ingressive use of the aorist is simply relating to the entry
into, or the entrance to a place). The reason “has come” is in the ingressive use of the
aorist is because the word wrath is not mentioned in the book of revelation prior to the
sixth seal, and because the signs in the sun, moon, and stars parallel the signs that will
occur announcing the day of the Lord’s wrath (Joel 2:31; Matt. 24:29-31, 37-39). It is an
event that is on the threshold of happening yet in the future. An excellent example to
compare too is the identical Greek word, elthein, used by Christ in the Garden of
Gethsemane. Like in Revelation 6:17, we see the ingressive use of the aorist, describing
an event just about to occur.19

And He came the third time, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking
your rest? It is enough; the hour has come (elthein); behold, the Son of Man is
being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going; behold the one
who betrays Me is at hand! And immediately while He was speaking, Judas, one
of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief
priests and the scribes and the elders. (Mark 14:41-43).

18
Articles written by Alan Kurschner with written permission; www.prewrath rapture Dot Com
19
Robert Van Kampen; The Rapture Question Answered, pp. 153-54
In addition to NOTE 30 on page 34, further evidence is given that at opening of the sixth
seal with the mergence of the cosmic disturbance, the mention of the four winds gives
verification of God’s approaching Wrath.

“After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth,
holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on
the sea, or on any tree…When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in
heaven for about half an hour” ~ Revelation 7:1, 8:1

In Revelation 7:1-3, we see the earth sitting on the brink of devastating judgment.
There are four angels stationed at the four corners of the earth holding the four winds of
the earth. Currently, as concerning the future of the earth, the angels stationed at the
four corners of the earth in Revelation 7:1-3, are given tremendous destructive power
that will be violently unleashed as soon as the servants of God, 144,000 Jews, are sealed
in their foreheads. Between Revelation 7:1 and 8:1 we find an interlude, 144,000 Jews
from every tribe of Israel are sealed for protection during the Day of the Lord. There is
another group of people seen in heaven standing before the throne of God. Here we see
the resurrected/raptured church standing before God worshiping.

7:1–8 7:9–17
Jews Gentiles from all nations
Numbered—144,000 Not numbered, nor could be
Sealed on earth Standing in heaven before God

What Revelation 7:1 & 8:1 describes is what I call, “The deep breath before the plunge.”
Four angels were told to withhold judgment on the earth until the servants of ... God
were sealed ( v. 3). The four angels are seen standing at the four corners of the earth,
holding back the “four winds” from blowing on the earth. At the same time the
seventh seal is opened and there is silence in heaven for about a half hour. There is a
parallel to Revelation 7:1-3 in Ezekiel 9:1-11. In Ezekiel we see a city sitting on the brink
of judgment. We see angels with slaughter weapons in their hands. We also see an
angel, clothed in linen, with a writer’s inkhorn in his hand. The angel with the inkhorn
is commanded to set a mark [of protection] in the foreheads of all the servants of God in
the city (them that sigh and cry over the sin surrounding them).
The action taken by the angels here in Rev. 7:1 is in conjunction with the Olivet
Discourse’s description of Jesus sending His angels to gather together His elect from the
“four winds,” from one end of heaven to the other ~Matthew 24:31. In Matthew 24:31
and Mark 13:27 the “four winds” stand for the four cardinal points of the compass. The
Vine’s complete expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words states that the context
signifies that this event is connected with the execution of divine judgment. At the
parousia of Christ, the angels will gather together God’s elect from the four winds,
simultaneously holding back the winds from blowing on the earth followed by silence
in heaven. An act describing the commencement of the Day of the Lord’s Wrath. In
Revelation 6:17 those left upon the earth acknowledge “the great day of His wrath has
come,” after the Rapture of the church we find the first action taken connected to the
Divine Wrath of God. The Day of the Lord then begins with Revelation 8:2, the trumpet
judgments are the beginning while the bowls are the conclusion ending with
Armageddon.

Deceiver ~The name “ANTICHRIST” means “against Christ,” he is the rival and arch
enemy of Jesus Christ. He will appear on the world scene in the future as the Christ but
will appose Him by misrepresenting Him. The name antichrist has been applied to the
“false Christ’s” spoken of by our Lord in the Olivet Discourse ~ Matthew 24:5,23,24.
His deception will be through his religious influence (Revelation 13; 17) which even
now is already a danger to the church ~ (1 John 2:18-29; 4:1-6; 2 John 1:7-11). Deceivers
are great manipulators able to undermine and overthrow the hearts and minds of
people; such will be the ability of antichrist.
Daniel 8:23-25a
“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their
fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes.
His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall
prosper and thrive, he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. Through his
cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule and he shall exalt himself in his
heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of
princes; but he shall be broken without human means.”

Daniel 8:23-25 reveals several facts of the future antichrist.

1) He will have “fierce features” meaning he will be stern and will not spare.
2) He will understand “sinister schemes” which are enigmas, riddles, parables,
signified in the Original Language as “double dealings.” These characteristics
are the mechanics behind his deception.
3) He will achieve great power by subduing others, but not by his own power (v.
24); (2 Thess 2:9-10; Rev. 13:3-4).
4) He shall seek to destroy the holy people (v.24); In Revelation 12:13-13:10 Israel
will be persecuted first but some will escape by fleeing into the wilderness.
 The offspring of Israel, (the Church) will then be the focus of his rage as he
attempts to wipe Christianity from the earth in the Great Tribulation.
5) He shall destroy many in their prosperity (v.25). He will either disrupt the
economy or gain control over it or both. His demand that all receive his mark
in Revelation 13:11-18 is strong evidence that he will control the world’s
economy.
6) He will rise to power by promising false security (v. 25).
7) He will be intelligent and believable (v. 23).
8) He will be controlled by another (v. 24), that is, Satan (2 Thess. 2:9; Rev. 13:2,4).
9) He will be the adversary of Israel and the church subjugating both to his
authority (v. 24-25).
10)He will rise up in opposition to the Prince of princes, the Lord Jesus Christ (v.
25).
11)His rule will be terminated by divine judgment (v. 25)
12)Above we see the rise of antichrist as a deceiver, destroyer, economic disruptor,
dictator, and desecrator who shall be consumed with the breath of Christ’s
mouth and destroyed with the brightness of His coming ~ 2 Thess. 2:8. It must
be understood that the word “destroy” in 2 Thess 2:8 means to render idle,
useless. At the parousia of Christ the antichrist will be rendered useless as
Jesus will remove the object of his persecution (rapture of the church) allowing
antichrist’s 42 mouth rule to continue through too Armageddon. It’s at
Armageddon we see antichrist rising against the Prince of princes being broken
without human means. Christ is the “stone cut out without hands (Dan. 2:32-
34)” who shall destroy the kingdoms of the beast/antichrist at Armageddon.