"A-lining" With Israel

You are about to embark on an astounding journey that has profound prophetic implications. I take no credit for these findings but humbly thank God for the privilege of being shown these things through the infilling, controlling, and empowering of His Spirit. The Journey begins...

Recently it was brought to my attention by Ultraguy in his post "As the Sand on the Seashore..." that there is a great circle on the sphere of the earth that goes through the White House and Independence Hall and other noteworthy locations. I extended his line and found that it also passed through Israel. I then decided to investigate the matter further and I made a few more lines. I connected the three official capitals of the United States to see where they would lead. Some very interesting things occurred.

First I connected the capital building in Washington D.C. (the third official capital of the USA) to the Federal Capital building in New York City located on Wall st. (the first official capital of the United States) and extended the line and it continued through Europe and intersected Israel at the Golan Heights as pictured below.

Next I connected the capital building in Washington D.C. (the third official capital of the USA) to Congress Hall in Philadelphia (the second official capital of the United States) and extended the line and it continued through Europe and intersected Israel at the Gaza strip as pictured below.

I find it very interesting that these lines both intersect the land of Israel, and not only just the land of Israel, but some of the land that Israel gained in the 1967 six day war and that she is being pressured by the USA and the world to give up as outlined below.

In 1979 the UN declared settlements in these areas to be illegal.

UN Security Council Resolution 446 (March 1979), declared settlements on the West Bank, Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights to be illegal. While most of the 65 Security Council and General Assembly resolutions passed against Israeli actions (and the 41 Security Council resolutions vetoed by the United States) have had near universal support in the UN (often with the United States and Israel alone among the dissenting), supporters of Israel claim that the resolutions often misconstrue International Law, that their supporters selectively apply them, and that the assemblies themselves are biased.

As you can see in the past we stood with Israel vetoing the measures but as you will see below our stance is changing. The world's effort to divide the land of Israel has continued and one of the plans that has gained widespread acceptance is the Geneva accord which would create a Palestinian state and force Israel to essentially go back to its borders before the six days war.

The Geneva agreement provides in great detail for an independent and demilitarized Palestine living alongside Israel. Borders between the states would be based on the 1967 lines with slight modifications, giving Israel the Gush Etzion settlements, Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, the Jewish quarter of the Old City and the settlement of Ma'aleh Edumim. An international religious authority would control central holy sites, with the Temple Mount officially under Palestinian sovereignty and the Western Wall and Jewish Quarter of the Old City under Israeli sovereignty. Israel would decide how many Palestinian refugees would be admitted to Israel. Other refugees would get compensation from international funds and would be accepted either into Palestine the countries in which they are currently residing or other countries.

And then we have this recent development from the Obama administration.

JERUSALEM - President Obama was expected to pressure visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into accepting the Middle East Quartet's two-year timetable for formal Palestinian statehood in 2011. Though members of Netanyahu's inner cabinet advised the Israeli leader to resist any attempt by the White House or the so-called Middle East Quartet to put a stopwatch on "final status" negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have thrown their support behind the 2011 statehood initiative. The Post reported that if PA-Israel peace negotiations are still deadlocked by 2011, Fayyad, with the encouragement of the White House, the Quartet and the Arab League, will formally announce Palestinian statehood in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem, calling on Israel to immediately withdraw to the 1949 UN armistice lines. http://www.jewishpress.com/pageroute.do/43072

And the latest; an an international summit to divide the land.

U.S. President Barack Obama has told several European leaders that if Israeli-Palestinian talks remain stalemated into September or October, he will convene an international summit on achieving Mideast peace, senior Israeli officials told Haaretz on Thursday.

The officials said the conference would be run by the Quartet of Middle East peacemakers - the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia - in a bid to forge a united global front for creating a Palestinian state. The summit, they said, would address such core issues as borders, security arrangements, Palestinian refugees and the status of Jerusalem. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-officials-obama-to-call-world-summit-if-mideast-peace-talks-fail-1.287469

So these lines that align with capitals of the United States intersect land in Israel that they gained in the six days war and are being pressured to give up. What is significant about these occurrences? I do not know for sure but I do know, as has been stated by many, that what we do to Israel God will do to us. This is called the scriptural principle of sowing and reaping. You sow a corn seed and you get back hundreds of corn seeds.

In my devotions yesterday morning as I randomly opened my Bible God brought me to the story of Haman in Esther. Most of us are familiar with the story; Haman was planning on killing all the Jews and hanging Mordecai on a gallows. But as it turned out Haman was hanged on his own gallows, what he sowed he reaped.

So what is significant about these lines and Israel and the USA? I can only speculate but based on the principal of sowing and reaping I have a sense that if we force Israel to give up her land that God might just allow satan to destroy our land that aligns with it--Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia. Or maybe He will allow the whole area from Washington, D.C. to New York to be destroyed.

After writing the above I had a sense that there was more to the story so I did a little more a-lining. What I found is astounding. I connected the Temple Mount in Jerusalem with Independence Hall in Philadelphia and continued the line to the Gulf of Mexico. The places that line hit left me awestruck to say the least. The first place it hits in the United States was in Massachusetts and believe it or not the first road it crossed was named Jerusalem Rd!

Here is the spot--Jerusalem rd.

Following the line South it goes through Washington, D.C. and intersects with an Island on the Potomac river named Daingerfield Island.

Following the line to the Gulf of Mexico the last place it hits in the United State is Chevron Rd in Lafourche Parish Louisiana.

Wow this is truly mind boggling! We have a line drawn from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem to Independence Hall and the first road it crosses in the USA is Jerusalem Rd it then hits Daingerfield Island in Washington, D.C. and then the last road it hits in the USA is Chevron Rd. in La Fourche Parish. To me this was astounding and I find it loaded with symbolism.

Here is what is says to me; First the definition of La Fourche is "Fork" as associated with "fork in the road." "The name, “Lafourche” comes from the Cajun French “Lafourche” meaning a “fork” in a river or path, he added." Houmatoday.com

A Chevron has various meanings "The chevron represents the roof of a house, derived from the French word "chevron" meaning rafter. It signifies protection. The Chevron was granted to those who had participated in some notable enterprise."House of Names

So what does this say to me? In the past the United States has been granted protection because we have supported Israel's right to her land--Chevron rd. The United States is now at a fork in the road; We have a choice to support Israel's right to her land or force her to divide it--La Fourche. The present administration is indicating that they are going to force Israel to divide her land and thus we are in great danger--Daingerfield Island.

Today the Lord brought me to this passage as I randomly opened my Bible.

Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: 3If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. 6But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. 7So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. (Ezek 33: 1-7)

In response to that I say this; Listen America you are being warned. DO NOT DIVIDE THE LAND OF ISRAEL. If you do God will do to you as you have done to her. Take her cities and He will take your cities. Split her land and He will split yours. This has been said by many.

I know that as a nation we will reap what we sow and we have sowed many seeds of destruction. My hope is that we as a nation would support Israel's right to her land and that our nation would repent of her many sins before it is too late. However I know her fate ,and it is not good.

The good news is that you can be saved from your sins and escape God's wrath. Please read our salvation page to find out how.

Learn the truth about the end times Read The Coming Epiphany Today FREE!

The Story continues...

"3 Lines"

There are three lines; 2 are for death and one is for life. What will you choose America? What will you choose Israel? Here is the rest of the story...

The other night as I was reading my Bible for my nightly devotions I randomly turned to 2 Samuel 8. The second verse hit me like a ton of bricks.

And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. (2Samuel 8:1,2)

Let's investigate the passage and see what it means. The phrase "with a line" only occurs once in the KJV. Strong's defines the word like this.

Strong's H2256 - chebel

1) a cord, rope, territory, band, company

a) a rope, cord
b) a measuring-cord or line
c) a measured portion, lot, part, region
d) a band or company

2) pain, sorrow, travail, pang

a) pains of travail
b) pains, pangs, sorrows

3) union

4) destruction
Matthew Henry comments on the passage;

God had given David rest from all his enemies that opposed him and made head against him; and he having made a good use of that rest, has now commission given him to make war upon them, and to act offensively for the avenging of Israel’s quarrels and the recovery of their rights; for as yet they were not in full possession of that country to which by the promise of God they were entitled...

He smote the Moabites, and made them tributaries to Israel, v. 2. He divided the country into three parts, two of which he destroyed, casting down the strong-holds, and putting all to the sword; the third part he spared, to till the ground and be servants to Israel. Dr. Lightfoot says, "He laid them on the ground and measured them with a cord, who should be slain and who should live;’’ and this is called meting out the valley of Succoth, Ps. 60:6. The Jews say he used this severity with the Moabites because they had slain his parents and brethren, whom he put under the protection of the king of Moab during his exile, 1 Sa. 22:3, 4. He did it in justice, because they had been dangerous enemies to the Israel of God; and in policy, because, if left in their strength, they still would have been so. But observe, Though it was necessary that two-thirds should be cut off, yet the line that was to keep alive, though it was but one, is ordered to be a full line. Be sure to give that length enough; let the line of mercy be stretched to the utmost in favorem vitae—so as to favour life. Matthew Henry Commentary

In the post "A-lining" With Israel it was shown that there are three lines that align with prominent locations in the United States and Israel. One that goes through the capital in Washington D.C., the first capital in New York, and the Golan Heights. The second goes through the capital in Washington D.C., the second capital in Philadelphia, and the Gaza Strip. The third goes through Independence Hall and the Temple Mount and aligns with "interesting" locations in the USA. It was also shown that these lines have profound prophetic implications.

So we have 3 prominent lines between the USA and Israel and 2 days after the study was posted as I randomly open my Bible God brings me to the only passage in scripture that contains the phrase "with a line," and a passage that references three lines! I find this highly significant and beyond coincidence.

Here are the implications as I see it. First; I take this occurrence as a confirmation from God for the information in the "A-lining" With Israel post. Secondly; I believe that the 2 lines of death are the lines that point to the Golan Heights and the Gaza Strip, and that if we force Israel to divide her land and give back these territories as is being promoted by many, that God will allow satan to destroy our land. I also believe that it is highly possible that just as David divided the land of the Moabites and killed those who lived within certain boundaries divided by the lines that God will allow satan to destroy portions of our land divided by those lines--possibly New York, Washington, Philadelphia or even the areas between them. Third our line of life is our supporting Israel's right to her land, our "chevron" of protection. We are in "dainger" if we choose to force her to divide it.

God brought another thought to my mind; check where Katrina made landfall.


Look how close the line between the Temple Mount and Independence Hall is to where Katrina made land fall. As a matter of fact all three lines come close to this area.


Look at the proximity of the line to what counties were declared Federal disaster areas.


Many think that Katrina was a direct result of the USA pressuring Israel to remove settlers from the Gaza Strip as outlined in this article by World Net Daily.

JERUSALEM – While most religious authorities seem to agree one cannot discern the intentions of God, there has been talk in some circles here and on the Internet that the storm that turned parts of the Gulf Coast into a disaster zone, prompting hundreds of thousands to evacuate their homes and possibly causing upwards of 10,000 deaths, was thrust upon the U.S. for its support of the Gaza evacuation.

"Katrina is a consequence of the destruction of [Gaza's] Gush Katif [slate of Jewish communities] with America's urging and encouragement," Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Lewin, executive director of the Rabbinic Congress for Peace, told WND. "The U.S. should have discouraged Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from implementing the Gaza evacuation rather than pushing for it and pressuring Israel into concessions..."

The article goes on to describe similarities between the two events. This all brings me to repeat what I said before in the "A-lining With Israel" post; AMERICA DO NOT DIVIDE THE LAND OF ISRAEL!

Today in my devotions the Lord brought me to a passage which I believe is a message for Israel, who is not innocent in her dealings.

1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. 3Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. 4Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. 5For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; 6If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: 7Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. Jeremiah 7:1-7

Do you, O Israel, want to dwell securely and peacefully in your land and prosper? Then turn to Jesus and accept Him as your Messiah. One day after you have been deceived and ravaged by the antichrist one third of you, O Israel, will and you will be saved and dwell in the land peacefully and you will prosper.

And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zech 13:8–9)

7Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. 8For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. 10Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. 11For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished. Jeremiah 30:7-11.

There are three lines; 2 are for death and one is for life. What will you choose America? What will you choose Israel?

God's day of wrath is coming. He offers all a life-line in the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you saved from your sins? Read here to find out how.

Learn the truth about the end times, read The Coming Epiphany today for FREE!

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6
The Great Day of His Wrath is Come

The Day of the Lord has begun! Christians, having been rescued from the wrath to come via the rapture, are with God in heaven. The peoples of the world, after realizing their error in following the antichrist, will be in a fear stricken panic. They have seen Christ in the clouds, and they have had an epiphany and are scared to death. The big question is what will happen next?

After the rapture occurs, many other catastrophic events—all part of the Day of the Lord—will occur during this time. These events are succinctly listed in Revelation and will encompass the seventh seal and the trumpet and vial (or bowl) judgments. We will examine these events individually, so we can get a feel for what this time will be like.

The Seventh Seal

The first judgment of the Day of the Lord is the seventh seal:

And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. (Rev. 8:1-6)

When the seventh seal is opened, the first thing that we notice is that there is a time of silence in heaven. This silence indicates to me that something very important and sobering is about to occur. It is plausible to theorize that there may also be a great silence in the hearts and minds of the people left on earth after the rapture, after having just seen Christ in the clouds and witnessing the disappearance of millions of people. I am sure that they will be pondering the events that just took place and the events that are about to unfold. The next thing we see is that fire is cast to the earth. This may indicate a meteor shower or horrific lightning storms. There is another earthquake and the seven trumpet judgments are permitted to begin.

Scripture tells us that this pouring out of wrath is the result of the prayers of the saints in connection with the persecution they have suffered at the hands of the antichrist and his followers (Rev. 6:10-11). God’s vengeance is a just recompense for the wickedness that the world has committed. So the seventh seal consists of “fire” cast to the earth, a great earthquake, and seven more judgments known as the trumpet judgments.

The First Trumpet
The first trumpet judgment is found in Rev. 8:7:

The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

Several interpretations have been offered as to what this judgment entails, including a meteor shower, fire and brimstone literally falling from heaven, and severe thunderstorms with huge hail and catastrophic lightning. Although we cannot be sure, I feel that the language of the text lends itself to the latter interpretation. That is, the judgment consists of horrific thunderstorms with devastating hail and fire. One of the main reasons leading me to this conclusion is that the language in the passage is very similar to the language in Ex 9:22–23:

And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

We see here a local judgment on the land of Egypt consisting of horrific thunderstorms with devastating hail and fire. It is interesting to note that the hail caused fire to run upon the ground. This may be what is known as ball lightning, which has been observed frequently in modern times. This phenomena is caused by the air being super-charged with static electricity. I remember as a boy at scout camp a thunderstorm came across the bay toward where we were standing. As it approached, ball lightning eerily sizzled as it moved erratically about fifteen feet above our heads. It could have just as easily occurred on the ground. Another possible cause is electrically charged hail lying on the ground. While I feel the most likely scenario is horrific thunderstorms with hail, whatever this judgment is, it will result in one-third of all the trees on the earth being burnt up and all the grass being burnt up.

The Second Trumpet...

 

Chapter 5

Chapter 5
Why Does It Matter?

Why does it matter what you believe? Why be concerned with when the rapture will occur? Furthermore why should I risk my reputation in promoting this idea about the rapture after the sixth seal? In fact because I do not believe in a pre-trib rapture, some may consider me to be denying the faith, deceived by the devil, and even some of you may consider me to be a heretic. Let me share a little of my background with you. I became a Christian, by grace through faith, about 29 years ago. And for about 23 of those years, I was taught and believed in the pre-trib rapture theory. I have sat under some very influential and famous preachers and teachers, have read many pre-trib books, and have a Master of Divinity degree from a well-known conservative fundamental Christian university that teaches the pre-trib view. I have been a Bible teacher for 20 years and I have personally preached and taught the pre-trib theory for many years. I may also lose all of my current ministry positions for not believing the pre-trib view and for writing this book. The point is that, even though I have been taught this view for many years, and even taught it myself for many years, and could suffer in loss of finances and relationships because I do not hold this view anymore, I count it but loss for the cause of Christ because I want to be pleasing to God and adhere to what the scriptures alone teach and not what a theological system dictates. And the scriptures show that the rapture will not occur until after the sixth seal is opened.

Another reason I am writing this book is that, since many Christians adhere to the pre-trib view, which is wrong, they are in grave danger of being caught off-guard to the coming sorrows of the 70th Week. I pray that this book would be used to awaken God’s children to these truths so that they can be prepared for what lies ahead. It is not important what man-made theological position you hold. What is important is what the Word of God says. And the scriptures clearly tell us that the rapture occurs after the sixth seal is opened.

Here is a summary of the pertinent facts that lead us to that conclusion:

1. The rapture occurs at the Day of the Lord event (1 Thess. 4:15-5:2, 2 Thess. 2:1–2).

2. The moon must be turned to blood before the Day of the Lord occurs (Joel 3:30).

3. The moon is turned to blood at the sixth seal (Rev. 6:12).

These are three undisputable scriptural facts that can only lead to one conclusion—the rapture occurs at the Day of the Lord after the sixth seal is opened.

This rapture view has been termed the “pre-wrath” rapture view. It is the only view that agrees with all of the prophetic scriptures. In contrast, the pre-trib view contradicts some very critical prophetic scriptures, such as the moon must be turned to blood, the antichrist revealed, and the great falling away all must occur before the Day of the Lord/rapture event. It has been shown that these events all occur during the 70th Week of Daniel and not before. Thus, the pre-trib rapture view does not agree with all of scripture.

Even Walvoord, a strong pre-trib promoter, says this about the pre-trib theory: “The fact is that neither posttribulationism nor pretribulationism is an explicit teaching of the Scriptures. The Bible does not, in so many words, state either.”[1] So Walvoord himself admits that the pre-trib rapture view is not an explicit teaching of scripture.

In fact, if you study the writings of the early church fathers, there is overwhelming evidence to show that the vast majority believed that Christians would not be raptured until after the persecution of the antichrist, which we know would place the rapture after the Abomination of Desolation. H. L. Nigro, in Before God’s Wrath: The Bible’s Answer to the Timing of the Rapture, has an appendix devoted to key passages from the early church writings.

Here are just four of the earliest quotes:

O unreasoning men! understanding not what has been proved by all these passages, that two advents of Christ have been announced: the one, in which He is set forth as suffering, inglorious, dishonored, and crucified; but the other, in which He shall come from heaven with glory, when the man of apostasy, who speaks strange things against the Most High, shall venture to do unlawful deeds on the earth against us the Christians, who, having learned the true worship of God from the law, and the word which went forth from Jerusalem by means of the apostles of Jesus, have fled for safety to the God of Jacob and God of Israel….
—Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho
[150-165 AD]

Those, therefore, who continue steadfast, and are put through the fire, will be purified by means of it. For as gold casts away its dross, so also will ye cast away all sadness and straitness, and will be made pure so as to fit into the building of the tower. But the white part is the age that is to come, in which the elect of God will dwell, since those elected by God to eternal life will be spotless and pure. Wherefore cease not speaking these things into the ears of the saints. This then is the type of the great tribulation that is to come.
—The Pastor of Hermas [160 AD]

It therefore behooves us, who inquire much concerning events at hand, to search diligently into those things which are able to save us. Let us then utterly flee from all the works of iniquity, lest these should take hold of us; and let us hate the error of the present time, that we may set our love on the world to come: let us not give loose reins to our soul, that it should have power to run with sinners and the wicked, lest we become like them. The final stumbling block (or source of danger) approaches.… We take earnest heed in these last days; for the whole [past] time of your faith will profit you nothing, unless now in this wicked time we also withstand coming sources of danger, as becometh the sons of God. That the Black One may find no means of entrance, let us flee from every vanity, let us utterly hate the works of the way of wickedness. Take heed, lest resting at our ease, as those who are the called [of God], we should fall asleep in our sins, and the wicked prince, acquiring power over us, should thrust us away from the kingdom of the Lord.
—The Epistle of Barnabas
[100-120 AD]

Watch for your life’s sake. Let not your lamps be quenched, nor your loins unloosed; but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh. But often shall ye come together, seeking the things which are befitting to your souls: for the whole time of your faith will not profit you, if ye be not made perfect in the last time. For in the last days false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate; for when lawlessness increaseth, they shall hate and persecute and betray one another, and then shall appear the world-deceiver as Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands, and he shall do iniquitous things which have never yet come to pass since the beginning. Then shall the creation of men come into the fire of trial, and many shall be made to stumble and shall perish; but they that endure in their faith shall be saved from under the curse itself. And then shall appear the signs of the truth; first, the sign of an out-spreading in heaven; then the sign of the sound of the trumpet; and the third, the resurrection of the dead; yet not of all, but as it is said: The Lord shall come and all His saints with Him. Then shall the world see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.

—The Didache (The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) [100-120 AD]

Thus, it is apparent that the early Church fathers expected the Church to be persecuted by the antichrist during the end-times and then rescued via the rapture from the persecution they would undergo. This is what the pre-wrath view also states—that the church will be raptured after the opening of the sixth seal out of the great tribulation, which will be instilled at the hands of the antichrist.

Many modern-day “church fathers” have also believed that the church would be subject to persecution at the hands of the antichrist. One famous one was Spurgeon:

In a recent article published by Dennis M. Swanson entitled “The Millenial Position of Spurgeon,” he concludes that ‘despite claims to the contrary, his [Spurgeon’s] position was most closely identifiable with that of historic premillennialism in teaching the church would experience the tribulation, the Millennial Kingdom would be the culmination of God’s program.’ Later in the text, Swanson goes on to state that the ‘Key features of historic premillennialism are twofold: (1) the kingdom will be the culmination of the church age and (2) the “rapture” will follow the tribulation, with the church going through the tribulation under the protection of God….Spurgeon fits most consistently in the “historic or covenantal premillennial system.’ In other words, Spurgeon too, by definition, ignore [d] the doctrine of imminency of Jesus’ return, seeing the church facing the persecution of antichrist before the return of Christ. In doing this he also ‘rejects the pretribulation rapture of the church.[2]

So if the early church fathers—and even more modern-day “fathers”—did not believe in a pre-trib rapture, when did the pre-trib belief arise? There are three candidates to whom are credited with the origin of the pre-trib rapture theory: John Darby (one of the founders of the Plymouth Brethren movement), Edward Irving (thrown out of the Presbyterian Church and started the Apostolic Catholic Church), and finally Margaret MacDonald (a 15-year-old Catholic girl who was supposedly miraculously healed and given a vision of the “secret” rapture so popular with today’s pretribulation rapture teachers.)

In summarizing the development of the pretrib doctrine, H. L. Nigro says this:

The development of the pretribulation rapture is generally attributed to John Darby of the Plymouth Brethren, who formalized the theory around 1830. Prior to this time, the return of Christ was seen as a singular event. Jesus would return to earth once, to rapture His Church, to redeem lost Israel, and to judge the wicked and rebellious world, and this was seen either as a midtribulational or posttribulational event. Darby was the first to formally theorize that Jesus would return in two stages: first in spiritual form to rapture the Church, then in bodily form seven years later to judge the world. This allowed Jesus to return triumphantly at Armageddon while keeping the Church out of the 70th Week..[3]

So it is Darby to whom most attribute the pre-trib position. Another founder of the Plymouth Brethren had this to say about the teachings of Darby as elaborated on by Van Kampen:

It should be noted, however, that Dr. Samuel P. Tregelles, the renowned conservative Greek scholar of the nineteenth century (the author of six separate works on translation), considered one of the founding fathers of the Plymouth Brethren Church, strongly disagreed with John Nelson Darby on the position when it first appeared in England. Dr. Tregelles believed in a face-value hermeneutic, and he knew the original languages like few others of his time. In his book The Hope of Christ’s Second Coming (pp. 74-82), first published in 1864, he denounced the pre-tribulation Rapture position as being sentimental and emotional and without a thread of biblical support. He stated boldly that the pre-tribulation “doctrine of the coming of Christ [is] not taught in the Word of God….This whole system stands in distinct contradiction of what the Scripture reveals” (p. 32).[4]

At the best the pre-trib rapture theory had a dubious beginning and most likely gained in popularity because it was “easy believism” and a lot more pleasant to think about than enduring the sorrows and persecutions of the first five seals.

Even though the pre-trib position is a relatively new teaching and the early church fathers clearly expected the Church to enter the 70th Week and endure the persecution of the antichrist, and even though the pre-trib position is not an explicit teaching of scripture as admitted by Walvoord, and even though the pre-trib position contradicts some of scripture, some will still want to hold onto it. If that is the case with you, I ask you to go back over the scriptures and logic that have been presented. Here are the essential facts we need to keep in mind; Thessalonians equates the rapture with the Day of the Lord event. Joel and Acts says that the moon must be turned to blood before the Day of the Lord. In Revelation 6 we see the moon turned to blood after the sixth seal is opened. These are scriptural facts. If you do not deny any of them, then sound logic dictates that the rapture must occur after the sixth seal is opened. Any other conclusion would be a denial of sound logic and create a contradiction to truth. I encourage you to adhere to what scripture and scripture alone says. We must be faithful and loyal to the Word of God above our alma mater or church. Adhere to what scripture teaches and scripture alone! To make it easier for you to understand these concepts I have summarized, compared, and analyzed the teachings of the various rapture theories and put them into a chart entitled “A Comparison of the Rapture Theories”.

Your Rapture Theology Matters
I am writing this book, not only because I want the truth to be known, but also because it is very dangerous to not have a correct view about the timing of the rapture. Since the rapture does not occur until the sixth seal, then a Christian must prepare for the first five seals. Without proper preparation, one could find themselves and their family in pretty desperate situations. As Jesus said “Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” (Mark 13:36-37) How to properly prepare for the first five seals will be the subject of a later chapter. Furthermore, since the rapture will not occur until the sixth seal and the antichrist is revealed and comes to power before the rapture, then all alive at the time will most likely have to decide whether or not to take the mark. And if a person is deceived as a result of not knowing the truth about the prophetic time in which they are living, they will be more easily deceived during the 70th Week.

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Rev. 13:16–17)

Could You Be Deceived into Taking the Mark?

The decision of whether or not to take the mark of the beast will most likely come about after the Abomination of Desolation and shortly after the antichrist takes control of the world. This “mark” will most likely be a small computer chip implanted in the hand or forehead or an invisible tattoo made with RFID ink.[5] Such technology already exists and is being tested in humans now and is available for use now. The World Net Daily has pictures of chips, and even the process of implanting them, and explains how these implantable chips will be used for a cashless society.[6] Mexico has just recently announced that they are going to start implanting chips in children, and the military. Prince Charles is “chipped.” The Department of Defense has just announced that all products sold to them must be “chipped.” It is reported that half of all products sold in the U.S will be “chipped” by the end of 2004. Coke even had a promotion running in the summer of 2004 where they “chipped” some cans of soda and then would find them by satellite and the lucky winners would win a prize. The motto of this promotion was “You can win, but you can’t hide.”

The mechanics and technology of chipping or “taking the mark” are already in place. They even have chip mobiles ready to come to your neighborhood! Having to decide whether or not to take the mark is not a good situation to be in if you do not recognize that you are actually in the 70th Week of Daniel or are not properly prepared for it. You will not be able to buy or sell without the mark, and if you do not realize that you are in the 70th Week because you falsely believe in a pre-trib rapture view, one could easily go along with what the government tells them and be deceived into following the antichrist and taking the mark and ending up in Hell. Of course no true Christian would take the mark.

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Rev. 14:9-11)

More Dangers of False Teaching
Another reason any false prophetic teaching, including pre-trib, is harmful is that, when the teaching proves to be erroneous, those under that teaching may lose their respect for the things of the Lord and fall away from Him. We know that before the rapture there will be a great falling away, as was discussed earlier. No doubt, the false teaching about the pre-trib rapture probably will, along with other things, be part of why people will fall away from the faith.

Do not be deceived the rapture will not occur before the final 7 years, the 70th Week, but will occur after the sixth seal is opened between the Abomination of Desolation and the end of the 70th Week. The rapture will be a time of great deliverance from the persecution of the antichrist and his followers. The Lord will descend to the clouds and will blow the trump of God and the dead in Christ will rise first and then those who are still alive at his coming will be caught up to the clouds with Him.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thess. 4:16-18)

Oh what a glorious occasion that will be for all the saints who have been awaiting His return! “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). The entire world will see him. “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen” (Rev. 1:7). After the world is darkened at the sixth seal, the entire world will be able to see the Lord Jesus Christ shining brighter than the sun as He comes to rescue His children.

In heart-wrenching contrast, those not raptured will at least temporarily recognize their plight and flee from His presence for they will know that the wrath of God is about to be poured out upon the world:

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. 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. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Rev. 6:15-17)

That is when they will have their epiphany concerning Christ. But it will be too late then. The view you hold concerning the rapture matters. An epiphany will come to all. The sooner you have yours the better.

[1] Walvoord, John F. The Rapture Question, 1st ed. Findlay, OH, 1957, p.148.
[2]Van Kampen, Robert. The Rapture Question Answered Plain & Simple. P. 201–2
[3] H. L. Nigro, Before God’s Wrath: The Bible’s Answer to the Timing of the Rapture. p. 122.
[4] Van Kampen, Robert. The Rapture Question Answered Plain & Simple. P. 193,4
[5] http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml;?articleID=196802844
[6] http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35766

Rapture; Who's Right?

“If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth...” Sherlock Holmes

There are many end times theories floating around out there; pretribulation, midtribulation, prewrath, posttribulation, etc. How do you know which theory to believe? The advocates of these various theories all seem to have scriptures to back up the theory they feel is right. So which one is right? The simple answer is; the theory that agrees with ALL of God's holy Word the Bible is right. If any theory fails to agree with all of scripture then that theory cannot be correct.

So all we need to do to find out which theory is correct is to compare all of the theories with all of scripture to see if that theory contradicts scripture. If it does then that theory would be false.

To begin we will list several end times truths that are clearly taught in scripture and then compare each theory with all of these truths to see if it contradicts any of them.

End Times Scriptural Truths

1. A Christian will not be subject to God’s wrath. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9

2. No one knows the day of Christ’s return. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Mt 25:13

3. The rapture occurs at the Day of the Lord after the moon is turned to blood after the sixth seal is opened. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 2 Thes 2:1,2. 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. 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.

4. The rapture occurs after the antichrist is revealed and performs the Abomination of Desolation. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 2 Thessalonians 2:4

5. The rapture is not imminent until all the prerequisites are fulfilled. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. 2 Thes 2:1-3

6. Christians will be subject to sorrows and tribulations. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. Mk 13:18

7. Jews and Christians are persecuted by the antichrist. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. Rev 11:7 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev 12:17

8. Christians are removed/rescued out of the midst of the great tribulation. 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. Rev 3:10

9. Jesus will return to the clouds at the rapture. 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

So here are 9 scriptural truths regarding the end times. We will now compare each theory against each scriptural truth to see if it agrees with it. If a theory contradicts any of the truths then that theory cannot be correct.

The pretrib theory contradicts #3,4,5,6,7, and 8. The pretrib theory contradicts #3 in that it asserts that the rapture occurs before seal 1 not after the moon is turned to blood at seal 6. It contradicts #4 because it asserts that the rapture is before the A of D, not after it. It contradicts #5 because it asserts that the rapture could occur at any time. It contradicts #6 because it asserts that Christians will not be subject to the sorrows and tribulations of the first 5 seals. It contradicts #7 because it asserts that only those saved after the rapture will be persecuted by the antichrist. It contradicts #8 because it asserts we will be removed before the great tribulation not out of the midst of it.

The midtrib theory contradicts #2,3,7, and 8. The midtrib theory contradicts #2 because after the start of the 70th week you would know a day for the rapture and no one knows the day or hour. It contradicts #3 because it asserts that the rapture is at the beginning of the great tribulation. It contradicts #7 because it asserts that we will be raptured at the beginning of the reign of the antichrist. It contradicts #8 because it asserts that we will be raptured before the great tribulation and not out of the midst of it.

The posttrib theory contradicts #1,2,8, and 9. The posttrib theory contradicts #1 because it asserts that a Christian will live through the period when God's wrath is poured out. It contradicts #2 because after the start of the 70th week you would know a day for the rapture and no one knows the day or hour. It contradicts #8 because it asserts that we will be raptured after the great tribulation is over. It contradicts #9 because it asserts that Christians will not be raptured until Jesus returns to the earth.

Here is a chart summarizing this information.





The prewrath theory agrees with all of the scriptural truths and disagrees with none. The prewrath theory asserts that a Christian will be raptured before God's wrath is poured out and that the rapture is at an undisclosed time between the abomination of desolation and Armageddon. It asserts the rapture occurs at the beginning of the Day of the Lord after the sixth seal is opened and the moon is turned to blood. It asserts that the rapture occurs sometime after the antichrist performs the abomination of desolation. It asserts that the rapture is not imminent until after the prerequisites are fulfilled. It asserts that Christians will be subject to the sorrows and tribulations of the first 5 seals. It asserts that Christians will be persecuted by the antichrist. It asserts that Christians will be rescued out of the midst of the great tribulation. It asserts that Jesus will return to the clouds at the rapture.

If you agree with the 9 scriptural end times principals listed above then there is only one theory that agrees with them all and that is the prewrath theory.

“If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth...” Sherlock Holmes.

Think about it. The time is very short. You need to prepare. "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." Luke 21:34.

Note: there is another theory gaining prominence which states that the rapture occurs at the sixth seal but that it starts the 70th week. This theory contradicts #4,7, and 8. It contradicts #4 because it asserts that the rapture occurs before the revealing of the antichrist and the abomination of desolation. It contradicts #7 because it does not assert that Christians are persecuted by the antichrist. It contradicts #8 because it asserts that Christians are raptured before the great tribulation and not rescued out of the midst of it. I am not going to even discuss the various other theories because they are based on symbolic interpretations and not literal interpretations of scripture. For once you turn the Bible into a symbolic message you can make it say whatever you want.

Chapter 4

Chapter 4
Who’s Right?

“Hopefully we will be raptured before . . . “ Have you ever heard anyone talk that way? Back in college, I remember we used to wish the rapture would come so we would not have to take our finals. Many people are looking for and believe that the Lord will return and that the rapture will occur before the tribulation, or 70th Week of Daniel. This is commonly known as the “pre-trib rapture” theory. This theory teaches that the rapture could occur at any moment—imminence—which will be followed by the revealing of the antichrist, signing of the peace treaty, and the other events of the seven-year, so-called “tribulation period.” In the last chapter, we showed why the rapture will not occur until after the sixth seal is opened. In this chapter, we will show why the pre-trib rapture belief cannot be correct.

One of the main arguments cited in defense of the pre-trib view reasons that since God has promised to not allow the Christian to be subject to His wrath; and since His wrath starts at the first seal, thus Christians will be removed before the 70th Week begins. It is true that God will not allow the righteous to be subject to His wrath. Verses that clearly bring out this principle are 1 Thessalonians 1:10: “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come”; and 1 Thessalonians 5:9: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” We also see it in Romans 5:9: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

The reasoning that God will not allow a Christian or any righteous person to be subject to His wrath is correct. This principle is illustrated in God’s actions with Noah, Lot, the Israelites in Egypt, and others, and applies to Christians alive today. However, this does not mean that Christians will not go through trials and sorrows like those that occur during the first part of the 70th Week. The wrath of God does not start until the Day of the Lord, which occurs after the opening of the sixth seal. We have already defined the Day of the Lord as a time of wrath (Amos 1:14–15, Rev. 6:16–17). Therefore, the period before the Day of the Lord precedes God’s wrath. Jesus Himself only called the first part of the 70th Week “sorrows” (Matt. 24:8).

We have already listed what will most likely occur during the first five seals:

First seal (white horse): Establishment of a world religion and or government through deception.

Second seal (red horse): War and/or anarchy on the earth.

Third seal (black horse): Famine due to crop failures and/or a worldwide economic collapse.

Fourth seal (pale horse): Death of one-quarter of world’s population by various means, possibly culminating from the first four seals.

Fifth seal: Persecution and martyrdom of saints.

If you consider these events, you will realize that there have been localized instances of these things occurring throughout history. There have been conquering powers, famines, pestilence, persecution, financial collapse, and martyrdom. And yes, some Christians and saints of God have gone through all of them, and some are going through them now. Since these sorrows are not part of God’s wrath and since God’s people have gone through these types of sorrows before, why shouldn’t they go through them during the 70th Week? Even the Israelites were subject to the first three plagues in Egypt. They were only protected from the last seven.
From the sixth seal on, after the Christians are raptured, only then is God’s wrath poured out. The first five seals are not described as being God’s Wrath, just as sorrows.

When Is God’s Wrath?
Some disagree, believing that the first six seals are part of God’s wrath. However, this is impossible because we know that God’s wrath does not include persecution and martyrdom of Christians. Martyrdom and persecution is an action of satan and men. God allows it, but it is an action of satan, not God. The story of Job is a clear example. The persecution, sorrows, and tribulations that Job experienced were allowed by God, but were caused by satan. When Saul was persecuting the early church, God allowed it, but satan was behind it. It would make no sense for Jesus to appear to Saul and ask why Saul was persecuting Him if God was the one responsible for it. “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:4–5).

How does this principle that persecution and martyrdom of believers is an action of satan and not of God apply to the 70th Week? The fifth seal is the persecution and martyrdom of believers:

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (Rev. 6:9–11).

Jesus also spoke about this persecution, as recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Mark: Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (Matt. 24:9–10).

But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost” (Mark 13:9–11).

Since the fifth seal is the persecution and martyrdom of believers, it cannot be part of God’s wrath. God’s wrath starts during the Day of the Lord, which starts with the rapture after the sixth seal is opened. That is why men cry out and say, “hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne,” because the rapture has just occurred and men have seen Christ and go into hiding. That is also why they say, “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” It is at this time that God’s wrath has begun.

This verse tells us precisely that God’s wrath does not start until after the sixth seal is opened and the rapture occurs. To say that the wrath of God starts at the first seal would require God to be the one persecuting and martyring Christians, which is impossible. God would never pour out His wrath on His children. Therefore, we must conclude that God’s wrath—at the very least—cannot start until after the fifth seal, and that is exactly what we see. It starts at the sixth seal after the rapture. Thus scripture confirms that the Christian will be subject to the sorrows and tribulations of the first five seals and be raptured out of the great tribulation before God’s wrath is poured out.

The belief that Christians will not be subject to God’s wrath in no way necessitates a “pre-trib” rapture, because the seals are not part of God’s wrath. It does, however necessitate the rapture occurring before the wrath of God is poured out, which occurs after the start of the sixth seal.

What About Revelation 3:10?
Some pre-trib adherents make further claims, citing Revelation 3:10 as evidence that God will not only keep the Christian from His wrath, but will also keep them from the hour of temptation—that is, the entire 70th Week: “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.” However, a careful examination of the Greek used in this passage actually shows that the passage supports the view that believes that the rapture will occur at the sixth seal.

Robert Van Kampen, in The Rapture Question Answered Plain & Simple, has made a thorough analysis of this verse. Let us examine a few excerpts from that section.

When the underlying Greek text is studied carefully, comparing Scripture with Scripture, we will discover that the “hour of testing” refers specifically to that time associated with antichrist’s persecution. . . . More importantly we will see that the Greek words underlying our English translations argue that this terrible time of testing cannot be the wrath of God, but must be the wrath of satan. . . . If the Greek word peirasmos, as used in the Revelation 3:10 passage, is compared to its use in other New Testament passages, we will see that the “hour of testing” cannot refer to the wrath of God but, quite the opposite, to the wrath of satan. . . . They all say the same thing: satan is the source of all peirazo, not God. Like the logical argument, the biblical argument from scripture demonstrates that the “hour of testing” in Rev. 3:10 cannot refer to the wrath of God but, by definition, must be the wrath of satan.[1]

Another phrase in Revelation 3:10 that we need to consider is “will keep thee from.” The Greek phrase used here is tereo ek. Van Kampen has this to say about that phrase:

Tereo ek, is 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. Thus the meaning of the text is clear. Tereo ek should be translated, “a watchful protection within the sphere of danger, with a safe deliverance out from the midst of it.[2]

Combining the analysis of the Greek into a translation of Revelation 3:10 yields a rendering that shows that the Christian will not be spared from the great tribulation, but will be rescued out of it:

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will rescue you out of the midst of the hour of satan’s temptation, the great tribulation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

So the analysis of the Greek in Revelation 3:10 does not support a pre-trib view, but supports a pre-wrath view of the rapture.

Revealing of the antichrist
Another argument presented by pre-trib adherents against the rapture occurring during the 70th Week is that they assert that the rapture occurs at the same time or immediately following the revealing of the antichrist. They reason further that since the antichrist is revealed at the signing of the peace treaty (the event that starts the 70th Week), the rapture must occur at the beginning of the 70th Week.

Proponents of the pre-trib rapture formulate this belief from two passages:

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. (2 Thess. 2:3)

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Dan. 9:27)

2 Thessalonians 2:3 does, indeed, tell us that the antichrist is revealed before the rapture will take place, but Daniel 9:27 does not necessitate that the antichrist be involved in the initial signing of the peace treaty. When you examine the Hebrew, the true meaning becomes clearly evident. Roy Reinhold, author of The Day of the Lord and an expert in Hebrew, has this to say about the verse:

The “he” is the same person throughout the verse. Higbir is a hifil 3ms perfect verb, and the Qal root verb is gavar meaning “to be strong, to conquer.” A Hifil is “causative,” and so in this case the usage is “and he caused to be made strong” a covenant for the many for one period of seven. In no way does this imply that the “he” the antichrist originates the peace treaty. What it clearly shows is that the antichrist comes along after the peace treaty is in effect and he agrees with it and enforces its provisions.[3]

So an analysis of the Hebrew brings out the fact that, when the antichrist is revealed and comes to power in the midst of the 70th Week, the peace treaty will already be in effect and “he,” the antichrist, will merely confirm and or strengthen it. Thus, a more accurate translation of the verse would read: “And he will strengthen the covenant that was made with many for a week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.”

So if the antichrist will not be the one to make the peace treaty, who is? The Hebrew rendering of this verse tells us the peace treaty will be made with “the many.” This suggests that the treaty will probably be the result of an effort by many nations—like we see now with the “Road Map”—to bring peace to the tumultuous Middle East situation.

Scripture tells us that the antichrist does not come to power and reign until the last 3.5 years of the 70th Week of Daniel after the Abomination of Desolation has occurred. In reference to the antichrist, Revelation 13:5 says, “and there was given unto him a mouth speaking great blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” His reign starts shortly after the occurrence of the Abomination of Desolation in which he deceives the world into thinking that he is God and his reign continues until he is thrown in the lake of fire at the conclusion to the battle of Armageddon.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 confirms when the revealing takes place:

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

That verse tells us that the man of sin will not be revealed until he sets himself up as God, and he does that at the Abomination of Desolation: “and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition . . . so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” The verse further tells us “that day shall not come,” in reference to the Day of the Lord and the rapture, until after the antichrist sets himself up as God. As we have just pointed out, that does not happen until after the Abomination of Desolation.

Daniel 7:24 further confirms that the antichrist does not arise until after the peace treaty is signed, showing us that the antichrist (little horn) comes after the New World Order (NWO)—the “ten horns”—is established. “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” The establishment of the NWO does not begin until after the first seal is opened, which we will discuss in detail in another chapter. Thus, Daniel 7:24 confirms that the antichrist arises after the establishment of the NWO, which comes after the peace treaty is signed.

Therefore, to say that the antichrist will be revealed before the rapture is correct, but to say that he will be revealed before the 70th Week, or that the rapture occurs before or at the same time that he is revealed, has no scriptural support. In fact, the scriptures make it clear that the Day of Christ will not come until after he is revealed at the Abomination of Desolation.

‘No One Knows the Day or the Hour’
Another argument pre-trib adherents put forth to support their view is that they say if the rapture does not occur before the 70th Week of Daniel, then you will know the time of Christ’s return, and as Jesus said, “no one knows the day or hour.” Believing that the rapture occurs during the 70th Week after the opening of the sixth seal does not mean that one knows the “day and hour” of His return. Even though I know that the rapture will not take place until after the sixth seal is opened, I still do not know the “day or hour” because I do not know exactly when the sixth seal will be opened and I do not know how long after the opening of the sixth seal that the rapture will occur. We know the name of that day as the Day of the Lord, but no one can give you an exact date for when that will occur. We only know that it will begin sometime between the Abomination of Desolation and Armageddon, but that’s a very broad period of time.

Only after the 70th Week starts and we see the signs will those who have not been deceived by the devil be able to recognize and believe that the day is iminent—but they will still not know the exact time. Christians are to watch for that day and should be able to sense that the day is near so that the day will not overtake them as a thief:

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. (1 Thess. 5:2–4)

Thus, the Day of the Lord will only overcome the unbelieving as a thief, not the saved. Christians who know their scriptures will be able to recognize the signs and realize that it is very near. So the argument that “if the rapture does not occur before the 70th Week of Daniel, you will know the time of the rapture” is invalid.

What About Imminence?
Yet another argument put forth by pre-trib adherents is their belief in the doctrine of the imminent return of Christ. They reason that since the apostles were awaiting the return of Christ with great expectancy—and that they may even have believed that Christ could return and the rapture could occur at any time—that nothing has to occur prophetically before the rapture can take place. This includes the peace treaty or any parts of the 70th Week of Daniel.

This is a doctrine that was shown to be false by the apostle Paul himself. In 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3, Paul had to address the Thessalonians concerning a doctrinal problem they had regarding the timing of the Second Coming:

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.

The Thessalonians falsely believed that the Day of the Lord and the rapture were ready to occur (or had already occurred) and that they missed it and were in the Day of the Lord period. Paul told them that they did not miss it. He also told them about two signs that must occur beforehand, namely the great falling away and the revealing of the antichrist.[4] We have also elaborated on three other signs that need to occur before the Day of the Lord or the Day of Christ: the moon being turned to blood, the sun being darkened, and the prophet Elijah returning to earth. Therefore, since God has made it clear that certain things must occur before the rapture occurs at the Day of the Lord, and since those things have not happened yet, there can be no doctrine of imminence. Christ’s return will not be imminent until the signs mentioned above have first occurred. Van Kampen elaborates on this point:

The return of Christ has never been truly imminent and will never be imminent until the great tribulation of antichrist begins and the surrounding Gentile nations come together against Jerusalem in the valley of Jehoshaphat. Only then are the elect of God told to look for the sign of Christ’s coming which will be seen in the heavens, but only after the earth is first plunged into darkness by the sign of the end of the age.[5]

So while the first-century church, as recorded in the New Testament writings, showed a great expectation and anticipation of the return of Christ, the scriptures themselves tell us that the rapture cannot occur at any time, but only after the signs are fulfilled.

Identifying the Restrainer
Yet another argument put forth by pre-trib adherents is that they say that the Holy Spirit is removed before the antichrist is revealed; and since the Holy Spirit indwells Christians, they will be removed also. They draw this conclusion from 2 Thessalonians 2:6­–7: “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” They have made the assumption that it is the Holy Spirit who is the restrainer and that when He is removed—and Christians with Him—the antichrist will be revealed.

This is an incorrect assumption, for the Holy Spirit is recorded as still being on the earth indwelling believers during the last days of the 70th Week. This is clearly evident in Joel 2:

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew 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 great and the terrible day of the Lord come. (Joel 2:28–31)

To those of you that think the restrainer is the Holy Spirit, I would like for you to ponder a couple of questions. How can the Holy Spirit still be on earth during the 70th Week if the verse says the restrainer (Holy Spirit) is removed? And if He is removed, will He leave and come back? One individual told me that the Holy Spirit is not really removed, but just His restraining power; and after His restraining power is removed, that is when the rapture occurs and the Holy Spirit reverts back to His Old Testament mode. In responding to this, I would like to call your attention to Acts 2:16–21:

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

After Pentecost, the apostles were indwelt with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in foreign languages. Peter likened this to what the prophet Joel said would happen during the 70th Week. Therefore, Peter establishes the fact that believers will be indwelt with the Holy Spirit during the 70th Week in the same way that they were after Pentecost. Thus, we can conclude that the Holy Spirit will be on the earth during the 70th Week and will indwell believers in the same way that the apostles were indwelt. In fact, the scripture passages above indicate that not only will the Holy Spirit be here and indwell believers, but He will manifest His power in a greater way than He is being manifested today, working signs, wonders, and miracles through believers.

So who is the restrainer that is removed before the antichrist is revealed? I suggest that the restrainer is the Archangel Michael. Consider these two passages:

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Rev. 12:7–14)

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. (Dan. 12:1)

After the war in heaven, satan will be thrown down to earth and will indwell the antichrist and begin persecuting the saints during the great tribulation. This is when the restraining power of Michael the archangel will be removed. Marvin Rosenthal describes it like this:

Speaking of the one who will hinder the antichrist, Paul said, “only he who now hindereth will continue to hinder until he be taken out of the way” (2 Thess. 2:7). The word hindereth means to hold down, and the phrase taken out of the way means to step aside. Therefore, the one who had the job of hindering the antichrist will step aside; that is, he will no longer be a restraint between the antichrist and those the antichrist is persecuting.

. . . Further, Daniel has already said that Michael will stand up during “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.” The unprecedented time of trouble can only refer to the Great Tribulation. Since Daniel is told that this great trouble relates to his people—and his people are the Jews—this can only be “the time of Jacob’s Trouble” (Jer. 30:7), which is a synonym for the Great Tribulation. It is at that time that the archangel Michael will stand up.

But what does the Hebrew word for stand up (amad) mean? Rashi, one of Israel’s greatest scholars . . . understood stand up to literally mean [to] stand still. The meaning, according to one of Israel’s greatest scholars, would be to stand aside or be inactive. Michael, the guardian of Israel, had earlier fought for her (Dan. 10:13, 21), but now this one “who standeth for the children of thy people” would stand still or stand aside. He would not help; he would not restrain; he would not hold down.

The Midrash, commenting on this verse, says, “The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Michael, ‘You are silent? You do not defend my children.’”[6]

So when “the restrainer” Michael removes his restraining power, then the antichrist will be revealed and the great tribulation will begin. The great tribulation and rule of the antichrist begins after the Abomination of Desolation. Thus, 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7 does not support a pre-trib rapture, but shows that the rapture will occur after the great tribulation.

Rapture in Revelation 4?

Finally, another very weak argument put forth by pre-trib adherents is that they say that the raptured saints are clearly seen in Revelation 4 and 5: “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Rev. 5:11). The scene depicted in Revelation 4 and 5 occurs before the seals are opened. Therefore, they conclude, the rapture occurs before the 70th Week.

They also claim that Revelation 4:1 is the trumpet that sounds at the rapture and John who went up to heaven at the time is symbolic of the rapture: “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” Scripture does not support these assertions. First, scripture tells us that the voice only sounds like a trumpet, not that a trumpet is sounding. If it were a trumpet sounding, scripture would have said that. Secondly, nowhere does it mention any saints in this scene besides the 24 elders. All listed as being present in this scene are angels, beasts, and the 24 elders. That is it. One cannot assume that the 100 trillion are made up of raptured saints. God tells us who is present, and to conclude otherwise is an assumption that is not supported by the text. Therefore, scripture in no way supports the notion that raptured saints are present in Revelation 4 and 5.

The raptured saints do, however, appear in scripture in Revelation 7:

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands . . . And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. (Rev. 7:9–15) [italics mine]

These are the raptured saints, not the elders, beasts, and angels of Revelation 4 and 5.

Where Is the Church?
Another argument used by pre-trib adherents is that they say that the word “church” is not used in any of the passages in Revelation after the first seal is opened because the church has been raptured. I admit that the word “church” is not mentioned in any of the Revelation passages after the first seal is opened. But one cannot assume that because the word “church” is not mentioned that it has been raptured. 2 Timothy, Titus, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, and Jude all do not use the word “church.” But clearly, all those books were written to people who were part of the church and were not raptured. Revelation contains several references to Christians being present during the 70th Week: Rev. 8:3; 13:7,10; 14:12; 17:6; 18:24. So just because the word “church” is not used in Revelation after the opening of the first seal, you cannot assume that it is because the church has been raptured.

In fact, I believe that there is a reason that the word “church” is not used; it is because the church age has ended and the 70th Week has begun. This is the same reason that gatherings of believers were not called a “church” during the 69 weeks. During the time of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, a called-out assembly of believers followed Him. What did He call this group of believers? Did He call them or refer to them as a church? No, He called them “disciples” or “saints.” Why did He not refer to them as a church? The answer is simple: because the historical church period had not yet begun. The called-out assembly of believers was not called a church until after Pentecost.

Jesus did use the word “church” in two instances: Matthew 16:18 and 18:17; but it was in reference to the church that was soon to be. So I contend that the reason Jesus did not refer to the called-out assembly of believers that followed Him as “church” is because they were in the 69th week—the historical church period had not begun. I also contend that the reason that believers are not referred to as “church” in Revelation is because the historical church period has ended and the 70th Week has begun.

Too Many Scriptural Contradictions
A pretribulation rapture view requires that the return of Christ is imminent. As we have shown certain signs must occur before the Day of the Lord and the rapture occurs. Some of those signs will not occur until after the sixth seal has been opened during the 70th Week of Daniel; therefore, the rapture will not occur before that time and cannot occur until the signs are fulfilled during the 70th Week. Thus there is no doctrine of immanency. Since the pre-trib rapture view contradicts this scriptural fact, it cannot be correct.

The pre-trib rapture belief necessitates that the wrath of God begins with the first seal. Scripture is clear that the wrath of God does not start until after the sixth seal is opened. Again the pre-trib rapture belief contradicts this fact. An exegesis of Revelation 3:10 shows that the Christian will be rescued out of the midst of the great tribulation. The pre-trib view says that the Christian will be rescued before the 70th Week starts. Again the pre-trib view contradicts scripture.

Many of the other tenents that the pre-trib rapture view stands on such as; the antichrist will be revealed before the rapture, no one knows the day or hour, etc. do not necessitate a pre-trib view. For instance pre-trib adherents state that the rapture occurs before the antichrist is revealed. An examination of the essential scripture passages shows that the antichrist is indeed revealed before the rapture but that the rapture occurs after the Abomination of Desolation. Again, this scriptural fact does not necessitate a pre-trib rapture. Pre-trib adherents state that if the rapture does not occur before the 70th Week, then you will know the “day and hour” of Christ’s return. However, Christ can return to rapture his bride after the opening of the sixth seal during the 70th Week and you will still not know the “day and hour” of His return. Thus, in light of the discussions above, the pre-trib rapture is not necessitated by scripture, and, furthermore, contradicts some scriptures and thus cannot be correct.

The next time you hear someone say, “Hopefully we will be raptured before . . . ,” realize that the rapture cannot occur until after the sixth seal is opened and that the pre-trib view is therefore not correct. I pray that all of God’s children would be awakened to these facts.

[1] Robert Van Kampen, The Rapture Question Answered Plain & Simple, (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Revell, 2002), 173–174.
[2] Ibid., 177.
[3] Unpublished personal correspondence.
[4] Some, in their attempts to bolster the pre-trib position, have claimed that the phrase “falling away” comes from the Greek word rapturem and is better translated “rapture.” Thus, they argue that the verse says that the rapture must precede the coming of the antichrist. In my opinion, this is nothing more than an attempt to make the Word of God say something that it does not. The word used in the Greek New Testament is apostasia, or “falling away,” from which the English term “apostasy” is derived. “Falling away” means to backslide. Backslide from what? From the truth.[4] Thus, the phrase “falling away” means just that—a falling away from the truth; and the verse tells us that this must take place before the rapture and the Day of the Lord.
[5] Robert Van Kampen, The Sign (Wheaton, Il.: Crossway Books, 1992), 315.

[6] Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church, 257–258.