Yesterday I pointed out the transition between the third chapter of Revelation and the fourth chapter. I also pointed out that after the third chapter the last book of the Bible the word “church” is not mentioned again until 22:16. This showed that the church is a non-entity within Revelation and the focus of the book is where it belongs. Not on humanity, but on Christ.
There are those that wish to state though that the true Rapture does not occur before the Tribulation begins, but during in two possible points and after. Well let’s go to the next way point that is the theoretical Rapture point. The mid-Tribulation Rapture.
Now in all honesty I do belief there is A Rapture here, but I do not see it as the Rapture the of the Church, because to me as was shown yesterday the church is not mentioned after Revelation chapter three. Now there are people that do appear before the throne of God and their number is uncountable. Before they are mentioned standing before God they are mentioned under the altar and are mentioned as “souls” so during the martyrdom period they are not resurrected till this time is complete. This is why I say there is A Rapture, but these are what is call the Tribulation Saints. Those that came to know God during this first part of the Tribulation and had to demonstrate their belief in Christ through works since they did not perform these actions before they truly knew that Christ was real.
What takes place between the end of chapter three and the ninth verse of chapter seven is a tale that needs to be seen. If not fully, at least enough to get a grasp of just how tragic this time will be. There are many opposing views as to the true order of events that transpire during the seven years of the tribulation period. The scroll with the seven seals is the main document that controls all that occurs during this seven year period.
In Matthew 24 and Revelation 6 five aspects of human interaction comes into the light. The first will be the rise of false prophets who will lead many into apostasy then the anti-Christ shall rise to power. Then there will be war followed by famine and plagues. During this time those that come to the truth of God and truly accept Jesus as their Savior will be persecuted and martyred.
The key point of change here is when the 144,000 are marked by God and taken to safety, this will occur when the anti-Christ breaks his treaty with Israel at the mid-point of the Tribulation period. The 144,000 all agree are Israelites for they are those chosen to fulfil God promise to Abraham. My personal view is that beyond the rapture of the tribulation saint, which occurs at the mid-point, that no others will accept Christ beyond this point. For not only are the 144,000 sealed here and taken into the God’s protection but this is also at which point the two witnesses are to appear and stand in judgement over all that remains upon the earth. Because for any judgement there must be two witnesses. Form all indication the time period that the 144,000 are protected and ministry of the two witnesses lasts is the same and both are the last three and a half years of the tribulation period. This is signaled when the anti-Christ takes over Jerusalem and the new temple, again at the mid-point of the tribulation.
Now many think that this is also the point of the Rapture of the church. Now as we are witnessing there is already persecution of the church but as of yet the rise of the anti-Christ has not occurred, but we are overwhelmed by false prophets. Now Christ does warn us that Christendom will face persecution, but it is not promised to all or most as would be required by those that stand for God in the first three and a half years of the Tribulation period. I just cannot see God placing that much upon those that have placed their faith and belief in Him through faith which is witnessed by their works. However, that is the standing point of those that state the Rapture is at the mid-point of the Tribulation.
Now that being said I do understand that many are facing some degree of persecution, throughout the world, and especially in the Middle East at this time. However, there needs to be a trigger that causes the persecution to escalate to such a degree that to cause global martyrdom and also this would require more works than faith by those that do profess to be Christian. Now if Jesus had made His presents more tangible then He has in the last two thousand years I do not see the requirement for more works to be needed. The only way to cause this type of requirement by true believers would be to have something grand trigger this factor beyond the rise of the anti-Christ. The only thing that fits this is a pre-Tribulation Rapture.