There
is a verse in the Bible that is vitally important to a proper understanding of an
essential end times doctrine. The verse clearly states an end times fact that
if heeded, would drastically change the theology of many.
Let
me explain; I recently had occasion to listen to a message about 1st
Thessalonians by a pastor from a fundamental
Bible believing independent Baptist church. His message was representative of
what the vast majority of pastors and Christians believe.
In
his message he affirmed the following point: That the rapture occurs during the
Day of the Lord period of time. He supported this assertion with the following
verses.
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that
I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh
as a thief in the night. 1
Thes 5:1,2
He
reasoned that the event that occurs as a thief in the night is the rapture and
that it occurs as the first event in the period of time known as the Day of the
Lord.
I
agree with his interpretation—the rapture is the first event of the Day of the
Lord period of time.
Another
end times truth that he brought forth was that Christians will not be subject
to God’s wrath. He supported this assertion from 1 Thes 5:9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation
by our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thes 5:9
I
agree with his interpretation—Christians will not be subject to God’s wrath.
Based
on those two truths he and many thousands of pastors and Christians falsely
reason that since the last 7 years is God’s wrath, that the rapture has to
occur before the last 7 years begins.
First
off, the last 7 years is not entirely God’s wrath, which we will discuss later,
but their logic fails to take into account what I call the most neglected end
times verse in the Bible—Acts 2:20.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before the great and notable day of the Lord come: Acts 2:20
That
verse clearly establishes when the Day of the Lord begins, and the rapture
occurs. That verse tells us that the Day of the Lord and rapture occurs after
the sun is darkened and the moon is turned to blood. That end times truth is
also given to us in the Old Testament.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. Joel 2:31
Revelation
6 tells us that the sun is darkened, and the moon is turned to blood after the
opening of Seal Six.
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there
was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the
moon became as blood; Rev
6:12
Thus, the Day of the
Lord and the rapture has to occur after Seal Six is opened.
Sound
logic demands this, yet most pastors and Christians fail to incorporate the essential
end times truth of Acts 2:20 into their rapture doctrine—thus the most
neglected end times verse in the Bible IMHO is Acts 2:20.
The
end times truth that the Day of the Lord and the rapture occurs after the
opening of Seal Six is even confirmed in the Seal 6 Passage.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich
men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every
free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us
from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the
Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able
to stand?
What
do those verses tell us is the reason why men hide? They hide because they see
Jesus in the sky. This is what happens at the rapture, Jesus appears in the sky
and the saints are caught up to meet the Lord in the air?
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be
with the Lord. 1
Thes 4:17
Earlier
in this post I explained how the pastor incorrectly reasoned that the rapture
occurred at the beginning of the last 7 years because he believed that all of
the last 7 years consisted of God’s wrath. However, the passage above clearly
states when God wrath begins—after the opening of Seal Six.
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to
stand? Rev
6:17
The last 7 years is not all wrath, there is tribulation (Seals 1 to 4), Great tribulation (Seal 5), and God's wrath (Seal 6 to Armageddon.)
Conclusion:
1.
The rapture occurs as the first event of the Day of the Lord time period. (1
Thes 5:1,2)
2.
Christians will not be subject to God’s wrath. (1 Thes 5:9)
3.
The Day of the Lord occurs after the sun is darkened and the moon is turned to
blood. (Acts 2:20)
4.
The Sun is darkened, and the Moon is turned to blood after the opening of Seal
Six. (Rev 6:12)
5. Therefore, the Day
of the Lord and the rapture occurs after the opening of Seal Six.
6.
This fact is confirmed by the appearance of Jesus in the sky and the beginning
of God’s wrath after the opening of Seal Six. (Rev 6:15-17)
Why
do Christians choose not to believe this?
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before
the Son of man. Luke 21:36
Not
sure that you will go to heaven? The end times are knocking on the door and so
is Jesus. He wants to save you; will you let him? Find out what you
must do to be saved, click
here.
Have
you had your epiphany? You need to be prepared for the end times! Read The Coming Epiphany;—Your Guide to
Understanding End Times Bible Prophecy (eBook $4.99).