The Bible reveals the rapture happens at the start of the day of the Lord.
This post is the fifth part of my previous post, “Five Proofs the Rapture Comes Before the Wrath of God.” So if you missed that post, please read it before starting this one.
If we count days as 24-hour periods, we could say the rapture occurs on the same day that the day of the Lord begins. However, if we count days as 1,000-year periods like the Lord does, the rapture marks the end of the sixth day and the end of the 6,000-year dominion of man. Then a new day begins, the seventh day, the day of the Lord (Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:10-13, Revelation 20:2-7, 21:1).
Here are eight proofs the rapture happens just moments before the start of the day of the Lord.
1. Persecution is Not the Wrath of God
Persecution includes any trouble that comes upon a believer because they are doing the will of God, which includes giving the testimony of their faith. Persecution is not caused by doing something wrong, but by doing something right.
God has promised to deliver his people from the wrath to come (Revelation 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9), but has not promised to deliver us from persecution, which comes from the wrath of men operating under the influence of Satan. In fact, just the opposite is true. He promised we would be persecuted. That might not be what we want to hear, but it is what we need to hear because it is the truth.
Jesus was persecuted for doing the will of God. It cost him his life. He warned his followers they would also be hated and persecuted.
“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants are not greater than their master. ’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. (John 15:18-20)
Fear of persecution caused Peter to initially shrink back in fear and deny his faith in the Lord, but after Jesus was raised from the dead he encouraged Peter by telling him persecution would come against him again, but his faith would hold firm and he would glorify God by his death.
Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21:18-19)
Peter was not put to death because his faith failed, as some teach. He was put to death because of a faith victory. Being persecuted is an honor in God’s kingdom, not a disgrace. Peter’s death glorified God.
The same can be said for many other disciples. Stephen was stoned to death because he boldly declared the word of the Lord (Acts 7:54-58). History tells us eleven of the twelve disciples were eventually murdered for their faith. Only John was not killed, but they tried to kill him too. He survived only because the Lord supernaturally delivered him when he was thrown into boiling hot oil.
Persecution has always been part of the life of believers. Many believers around the world are already experiencing severe persecution, especially in the Middle East, Nigeria, and China. Many have been forced to flee their homes. Others have been kidnapped, tortured, and put to death.
Not only have Christians been persecuted throughout history, but the Bible reveals even greater persecution is coming during the end-times. The antichrist will be given power over the saints for three and a half years (Daniel 7:25). He will shatter the power of the saints (Daniel 12:6-7). He will make war against the saints and will overcome them (Revelation 13:7 and Daniel 7:21-25). The saints will be beheaded (Revelation 20:4-6) and destroyed (Daniel 8:24).
For believers, persecution is part of our past, present, and future. Therefore it is foolish to think these things cannot happen to Christians in America or to believe Christians will be raptured before persecution comes. It is already here and much more is coming soon. The wise thing to do is get our lamp filled with oil and so that we are ready for whatever happens.
Persecution is not pleasant, but it is not a faith failure nor is it the wrath of God. So there is no scriptural reason to expect the rapture to deliver us from persecution. To locate the timing of the rapture in the sequence of coming events we must find out when the wrath of God is coming. Persecution has nothing to do with it.
2. Tribulation is Not the Wrath of God
The New Testament Greek word translated as tribulation is “thlipsis”. This word literally means pressure caused by pressing or pressing together, but the broader definition includes anguish, distress, burdened, persecution, tribulation, and trouble. The NASB version translates thlipsis as “affliction” about the same number of times as “tribulation.”
Tribulation is similar to persecution in that God has promised both will happen in the lives of his people. Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Like persecution, tribulation is not the wrath of God. It is also not the result of a faith failure. If either of those were true we would have to say the Apostle Paul was constantly attacked by the wrath of god and having faith failures, which is absurd. Paul not only endured much persecution, but also other forms of pressure, including distress, anguish of heart, many tears, hardships, calamities, sleepless nights, hunger from being often without food, thirst, poorly dressed, homelessness, exposure to the cold and the elements, laboring with his hands, three times he was shipwrecked, once he spent a night and day in the ocean. He endured danger from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, and dangers on the sea. (1 Corinthians 4:11-12, 2 Corinthians 2:4, 6:4-10, 11:25-27). In Asia he came under such great pressure that he despaired of life itself. Yet he reported how God used the pressure to teach him how to rely more on God and less on himself (2 Corinthians 1:8-10).
It was not the will of God nor the wrath of God that these things happened to Paul. Neither was it because his faith was weak. All sorts of pressure comes into our lives because we live in a fallen world where most people are not doing the will of God. Their disobedience causes trouble not only for themselves but also for others around them. This is the source of all the trouble in the world. God often gets blamed for it, but it was never his will, nor was it his fault. He does not want trouble for his children any more than we would want trouble for our own children.
Jesus gave us the solution when he instructed us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). If everyone on earth would obey the Lord we would have heaven on earth. Since that is not going to happen in this age, tribulation (pressure) is part of our life. It has been here since the fall of Adam and Eve and is going to increase as we get closer to the end.
Since tribulation is not the wrath of God, we have no scriptural reason to expect the rapture to deliver us from tribulation now or during the coming tribulation period. Therefore the coming tribulation has nothing to do with the timing of the rapture. Like Paul, we must endure tribulation and believe by faith that God will cause all things to work together for good (Romans 8:28).
3. Jesus Said the Rapture Happens on the Day of the Lord
Jesus gave us two examples of how God delivered his people and destroyed their enemies on the same day. First, he pointed out how Noah and his family entered the ark on the same day the floods came and destroyed the unbelievers (Luke 17:27).
Second, he pointed out how Lot escaped from Sodom the same day fire destroyed everyone in the city.
Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot. They were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them. It will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17:28-30)
Jesus concluded by saying the same thing is going to happen again on the day of the Lord, which he referred to as “the day that the Son of Man is revealed.”
On another occasion, the disciples asked Jesus about the end-times. He answered by identifying the major events that would come at the end. He broke the events down into three groups, including birth-pangs, tribulation, and great tribulation.
He said the birth-pangs would include the rise of false messiahs, wars, rumors of wars, pestilences, terrors, famines, and earthquakes (Matthew 24:4-8). He called these birth pangs because they are warning signs leading up to the end, but they are not the end.
After the birth-pangs, Jesus said there would be a time of tribulation.
“They shall lay hands on you and persecute you and deliver you up to tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name’s sake” (Luke 21:12-19 and Matthew 24:9).
In addition to martyrdom, he said the tribulation events would include apostasy, more false prophets, lawlessness, and the love of many people would grow cold (Matthew 24:9-13). After that the man of lawlessness enters the temple and stands in the holy place, which is the catalyst that triggers the start of the day of the Lord (Matthew 24:15-31).
None of the events identified by Jesus during the birth-pangs or the tribulation had anything to do with the wrath of God. All of those events are caused by persecution and tribulation (pressure). Since God has not promised to deliver us from either of those and has only promised to deliver us from the wrath to come, there is no reason to expect him to deliver us from either the birth-pangs or the tribulation and no reason to expect the rapture must happen prior to the birth-pangs or the tribulation.
4. John Saw the Rapture Happens on the Day of the Lord
John’s vision of the end-times reveals the same birth-pang events that Jesus saw. John even listed them in the same sequence as Jesus did. So we can conclude they were both referring to the same events. John’s vision reveals these birth-pang events are released when the first four seals of the book of life are broken in Revelation 6. The following list compares the events he saw to what Jesus saw.
- First Seal – A rider on a white horse is the antichrist (Revelation 6:2). He is the one who comes claiming to be God. Jesus said, “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray” (Luke 21:8 and Matthew 24:5).
- Second Seal – A rider on a red horse brings war (Revelation 6:3-4). Jesus said, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet” (Luke 21:9 and Matthew 24:6-7).
- Third Seal – A rider on a black horse brings a scarcity of food (Revelation 6:5-6). Jesus said there will be famines in various places (Luke 21:11 and Matthew 24:7).
- Fourth Seal – A rider on a pale horse brings death to a fourth of the earth with the sword, famine, death, and wild beasts (Revelation 6:7-8). Jesus said there will be pestilences, terrors, and earthquakes in various places. (Luke 21:11 and Matthew 24:7)
After the first four seals are broken, the next event John sees is again the same as Jesus, the mass murder of believers. When the fifth seal is broken, John sees under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and because of their testimony (Revelation 6:9). Jesus calls this the tribulation (Luke 21:12-19 and Matthew 24:9).
So John’s testimony agrees with Jesus and provides further evidence that all of the events coming during the birth-pangs and tribulation come from persecution and pressure, but not from the wrath of God. Neither of them make any mention of the wrath of God during either of these periods. So once again, there is no scriptural reason to believe the rapture happens during either of these periods.
Based on John’s vision, it makes sense the wrath of God could not begin to be poured out until after all of the seven seals are broken because the book of life could not be opened until then. The book contains the names of every person who has received eternal life. So the judgment of God could not begin and the wrath of God could not be poured out until after the final two seals are broken.
After the sixth seal is broken John sees a great earthquake, the sun becomes black as sackcloth, the moon becomes like blood, the stars of the sky fall to the earth, and the sky is split apart like a scroll. (Revelation 6:12-14). These are the same events Jesus calls “a great tribulation”.
For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. (Matthew 24:21)
Joel saw these same events would mark the coming of the day of the Lord.
“I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” (Joel 3:30-31)
These terrible events are not the wrath of God, but they are enough to convince the world the wrath is coming soon. John saw all the people of the earth would see these things and would know the day of the Lord has arrived. He heard them call it “the great day of their wrath.”
Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand. (Revelation 6:15-17)
This is the first time the wrath of God is mentioned in all of these events. So now we can expect the rapture must be coming even soon. That is exactly what happens. Both Jesus and John identified the rapture happens immediately after these shakings (Matthew 24:30-31 and Revelation 6:12-17 and 7:9-17).
5. Paul Called the Rapture and the Day of the Lord the Same Event
The Apostle Paul also revealed the rapture and the day of the Lord happen at the same time by referring to them as the same event.
As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. (2 Thessalonians 2:1)
In this passage, Paul used three names interchangeably for the same event;
- the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
- our being gathered together to him
- the day of the Lord
Since Paul saw all of these things happening at the same time the rapture must happen on the day of the Lord.
6. Both the Rapture and the Day of the Lord are Administered by Angels
None of the events happening during the birth pangs or the tribulation mentioned anything about angels causing them. However, both the rapture and the day of the Lord are administered by angels.
Jesus identifies the rapture is administered by angels:
He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other (Matthew 24:31).
John saw the day of the Lord is administered by angels. After the seventh seal is broken, seven angels are given seven trumpets. The wrath of God is then released as each angel blows their trumpet (Revelation 8-11).
The significance of angels administering the events reveals these things are being done by the will of God because the angels of the Lord only do the will of God. The absence of angels during the birth-pangs and tribulation reveal these things are not the will of God or the wrath of God. On the other hand, the terrible events released by the seven angels blowing their trumpets on the day of the Lord must be the will of God and the wrath of God.
This is further evidence the rapture and the day of the Lord happen together, both by the will of God, and both on the day of the Lord. It is the day when God intervenes to stop the actions of evil people and takes action to do his will.
7. Both the Rapture and the Day of the Lord are Announced by Trumpets
None of the events during the birth pangs or the tribulation were announced by blowing trumpets. However, the rapture, the day of the Lord, and the wrath of God poured out on the day of the Lord are all announced by blowing trumpets.
Jesus identifies the rapture begins with a trumpet blast:
He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other (Matthew 24:31).
The prophet Joel reveals the day of the Lord begins with a trumpet blast:
Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. Surely it is near. (Joel 2:1)
John saw each of the terrible events caused by the wrath of God are announced by seven angels blowing seven trumpets (Revelation 8-11).
The prophet Zephaniah referred to the day of the Lord as “a day of trumpet and battle cry” (Zephaniah 1:16).
Since the rapture and the events of the day of the Lord are all announced by trumpets, we have more evidence that these events go together, all happening at about the same time.
8. The Wrath of God Comes on the Day of the Lord
The ominous shakings and dark clouds that appear after the sixth seal is broken set the stage, letting everyone know the wrath is soon to come, but these events are still not the wrath of God. So there is no reason to expect the rapture must happen prior to them. So during these shakings God’s people are still on earth waiting to be delivered.
However, the rapture must happen soon afterwards because of God’s promise to deliver his people. According to Jesus, that is exactly when it happens.
“But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” (Matthew 24:29-31)
John’s testimony agrees. After the sixth seal releases the ominous shakings, he sees a great multitude standing before the throne of God in heaven. He is told these people all came out of the great tribulation (not the tribulation). They are the raptured saints (Revelation 6:12-17, 7:9-17).
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:13-14)
It might appear the Lord is cutting it too close by waiting until the very last second to deliver his people. However, the close proximity of the rapture with the wrath is not a problem because the rapture happens very fast, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). As fast as we can blink our eyes we will be out of here! A great trumpet will sound and the Lord will gather his people together in the air. Once his people are safely out of harm’s way, the wrath comes.
Just as Jesus said, the day of the Lord has two purposes. It is a time of deliverance for God’s people and terrible destruction for those left behind (Luke 17:27-30).
So the rapture happens soon after the ominous shakings, just prior to the wrath. Then the wrath of God is released by seven angels blowing seven trumpets. There are many scriptures proving the wrath of God is poured out on the day of the Lord. Here are some of them.
- Jehovah comes cruel, with wrath, and fierce anger. (Isaiah 13:9)
- Jehovah comes to make the land a desolation. (Isaiah 13:9)
- Jehovah comes to destroy the sinners out of the land. (Isaiah 13:9)
- God will make man more rare than fine gold. (Isaiah 13:12)
- God in His wrath will make the heavens tremble. (Isaiah 13:13)
- God in His fierce anger will cause the earth to be shaken out of its place. (Isaiah 13:13)
- All the tribes of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky. (Matthew 24:30)
- Unbelievers will not understand what is happening until it is too late (Matthew 24:37-39)
- The day of the Lord will come upon unbelievers like a thief in the night, bringing sudden destruction. (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3)
- The Lord will slay the evil one with the breath of His mouth. (2 Thessalonians 2:8)
- He is coming to judge and wage war. (Revelation 19:11)
- His eyes will be a flame of fire. (Revelation 19:12)
- He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood. (Revelation 19:13)
- Armies follow him from heaven. Armies are for waging war. (Revelation 19:14)
- He has a sharp sword so He may strike down the nations. (Revelation 19:15)
- He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God. (Revelation 19:16)
- He will destroy the beast and the kings of the earth. (Revelation 19:19-20)
- He kills the rest of the people with the sword, which comes from His mouth. (Revelation 19:21)
The wrath of God will not all be poured out in a 24-hour period. We know this because the fifth trumpet releases locusts, which are instructed to harm people for five months (Revelation 9:5). However, the wrath of God is poured out on the day of the Lord so we can expect the rapture also happens on the day of the Lord.
Conclusion
Based on the testimonies of John and Jesus, the rapture happens after the start of the day of the Lord. Since the wrath of God is poured out on the day of the Lord and the Lord promised to deliver his people from his wrath he is obligated to deliver them on the day of the Lord. If he waited any longer they would perish. However, his promise does not obligate him to rescue them prior to the day of the Lord. So we can conclude the rapture happens on the day of the Lord.
The American church today is heavily indoctrinated with the false teaching that the rapture happens before the final seven-year period, which conveniently allows believers to avoid the persecution that is coming. This false teaching has become popular for obvious reasons, but it contradicts many scriptures, which are documented in this post and in my previous post Ten Things that Must Happen Before the Rapture.
The pre-tribulation teaching is dangerous because it will cause believers to abandon their faith when the tribulation comes and they are surprised to see they are still here. This confusion will contribute to the coming apostasy, the great falling away of believers, which is coming during the tribulation period.
God’s people can take comfort in knowing the tribulation will be cut short when the Lord interrupts it with the day of the Lord. On that day he will gather His people in the clouds and execute His wrath on unrepentant sinners.
If you are not yet ready for the rapture, find out how you can get ready today.
See more End-Time Bible study topics.
Author: James Bailey
James Bailey is a blogger, business owner, husband and father of two grown children. In 1982, he surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. In 2012, he founded Z3news.com to broadcast the message of salvation by reporting end time news before it happens.
But if it says that the antichrist will overcome and destroy the saints and who will be there to rescue? Who will there be to rapture out?
The surviving remnant.
Jesus also said Watch and pray always that you be found worthy to ESCAPE all these things and stand before the Son of God. Matt. 24:44 I choose that option. Also Re. 3:10 Because you have kept the word of my patience I will keep you from the hour of temptation that shall come on the whole world to try them that dwell upon the earth. The seven-year tribulation is Daniels 70th week. The Church id not here. That is the wrath. Rev.6:17. Love you Bro Maranatha V
I agree we will be rescued from the wrath to come because He promised that. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
If we all die during the tribulation, why does he need to rescue us from his terrible day of wrath?
#QuestionsYouCantAnswer
Nowhere in the Bible does it say we all die during the tribulation, so the premise of your question is flawed. He has promised to deliver His people from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). He has also promised to seal His bondservants with His seal of protection (Revelation 7:1-8).
Hey James,
When I did my study on the Day of the Lord, I too noticed that it is when Christ comes back as a Thief in the Night. You referenced one verse, another is 2 Peter 3:10 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Did you ever notice in Revelations where Jesus Said “Behold, I come as a Thief”?
Another interesting passage is:
New International Version reads:
Zec 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming,… 4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 …Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. 6 On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. 7 It will be a unique day—a day known only to the LORD—with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.
That I believe would be a pretty massive Earth Quake. But it does say that When Christ comes back during the Day of the Lord, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, not just pass on by.
You also have an interesting parable in Luke 12:36-40, where it talks about the Master going away for a wedding and those that are watching for Him to return are called Blessed. They wait and watch for their master’s return, his return is expected but not known exactly when. Then the parable references if the Master of the house had known when the thief would come, He would have watched, and tells the people listening to the parable to be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Luk 12:36 “and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 “And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Note we are to watch for His return and those watching are called blessed.
There are a couple of more versus that say we are to watch for the Master’s return.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Mar 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
Another interesting reference, is that Jesus said He would raise all those given to Him ‘at the Last Day’. John 6:39, 40, 44, and 54. Martha also understood this concerning Lazarus, John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Jumping to Revelations:
So the fifth Vial is darkness upon the anti-Christ kingdom. Note, during Moses day, the darkness lasted for 3 days and the darkness was not on the Children of Israel.
6th Vial, Euphrates river dries up to make way for Armegaddon.
Then – BEHOLD!!! I COME AS A THIEF!!
Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Then you have the seventh vial, in which case if you add the darkness from the fifth (IMO, it’s still going per precedent concerning Eqypt) you have an accurate description of the Day of the Lord with His Wrath Verse 19.
I believe there is a distinction between being delievered from the wrath to come, as in the wrath of those who died that rejected Christ, versus, the Day of the Lord and God’s Wrath. (He didn’t appoint us to wrath but to obtain salvation whether we are awake or asleep we shall live together with Him 1 thes 5:9 and 1 thes 1:10)
We are not ‘appointed’ to God’s Wrath, but we can go thru it since the Wrath of God is for the Children of disobedience Col 3:6, it is for the Sinners Isa 13:9, it is for the Proud and the Lofty, Isa 2:11-12, and God will pour out His wrath on His adversaries Jer 46:10.
However, Believers’ are to seek meekness and seek righteous in the day of the Lord’s wrath so that we may be hid and to watch for His return.
Zep 2:2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you. 3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.
Also, you have Joel, calling for priest and elders calling for a sacred assembly during the Day of the Lord.
Joe 1:13 Gird yourselves and lament, you priests; Wail, you who minister before the altar; Come, lie all night in sackcloth, You who minister to my God; For the grain offering and the drink offering Are withheld from the house of your God. 14 Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD. 15 Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty.
Joel 2:11-17 and Joel 3:11-16 …16 …But the LORD will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel.
Don’t forget, we are grafted in, not a separate set of followers.
In case you are wanting a New Testament scripture, though it reference the Old Testament.
Act 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
So, those watching for Christ return is called Blessed, Christ return happens at the last day of God’s wrath and we are to seek Him during that time so that we may be hid from His Wrath.
Ergo, the Day of the Lord is not only the sixth seal, it is also the seventh vial. and if you read the seventh trumpet and the seventh vial side by side, they are identical.
Hope that clears up the view point I’m trying to express,
Thanks and God Bless,
Creed
The day of the Lord only comes like a thief to those who do not know the Lord. For the righteous, it does not come like a thief, as shown here.
1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.
2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;
5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-8)
It is not the sixth seal, but it does begin there. It is not a 24 hour day, as revealed by many scriptures. For example, the locusts are instructed to harm the unrighteous for five months. (Revelation 9:5) Also, Peter explains it includes events that happen at the end of the millenial reign, so it lasts one thousand years. It is the seventh day, following six days of man’s dominion.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (2 Peter 3:8-10)
I believe the day of the lord and the day of Christ are two different events. The rapture happens on the day of Chfrist . the day of the lord is at the end of the tribulation.
Do you have any scriptures to support that? It sounds like an attempt to make the pre-trib rapture theory work, but without any scriptures to back it up.
We Christians thinks that persecution is only when a missionary goes out to other places and their been killed by the gentile nation. we thinks that is only a people that were killed by announcing their faith are only people that are been persecuted. we have forgotten that spiritual persecution and the world of darkness is also at war. When you are of God, the world of darkness know who you are. they starts to wage war right even from your immediate environment. Let me ask a question? When the persecution started in the church, John was killed by Herod while John was delivered because of the earnest prayer of the saints. Apostle Paul decided his by giving himself unto death for the sake of the gospel . John was delivered from the squadron of oil and became the last of all the apostles to die peacefully while serving a exiled term in the island of patmos.
God delivered from persecution at his own will if we stand firm and steady in his leading and direction via prayers and petition always. but most take persecution as a thing of Joy for them. Although its a requirement and it must happen to all Christians and not just ordinary believer. People go for mission trip into dangerous places without properly seeking the face and direction of God. Christ said go into all the nations. who are the nations. the nations starts from our immediate environment. Those that go on mission trips are the one that God specifically instructs them to go to such places. If God is leading you to a place he will equip you with all you need for the demonstration of his holiness and power. Before the Apostles embark on the calling they were equipped with the power of the holy spirit from on high to demonstrate the presence of Jesus Christ. most people go on mission trip without waiting patiently tom receive the power of the holy spirit before embarking on such Journey. where ever the apostles go, they preached and the power of the holy spirit comes down and they are saved as well. we go out into mission trip without having the true knowledge of what we are going there to do. it is not just to preach alone. but to be baptized with the holy spirit and not only with water.
Is the Day of the Lord on the Day of Trumpet or the Day of Atonement.
According to Isaiah, the Day of the Lord is a one year event and covers both the Trumpet and Bowl Judgments. Isaiah 34:8; Isaiah 61:2; Isaiah 63:4= Ezekiel 4:6; Num 14:34.
Joel 2 has the reference to Day of the Lord. (Joel 2:1).
Joel 2:15=Lev. 23:27-34 (Day of Atonement). Day of Atonement Trumpet is also the LAST Trumpet.
Cross References: Rev. 2:10 is ten Days of Tribulation where a Day = a year.
Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34
Day of Trumpet is the rapture. Day of Trumpet verses: Lev. 23:24-26; Zeph 1:14-16 (Day of Trumpet and Alarm for Day of the Lord); Matt 24:31–At the sound of the Trumpet; I Cor 15:52; I Thess 4:16-18; Rev. 11:15th–Last Trumpet; Rev 12:1 Day of Trumpet (2017); Giza Pyramid lineup of 2017.
Covenant cycle Matt 1:17 The Messiah came, and the promise was fulfilled in the forty-second generation from Abraham.
There is 4000 years from Creation to Yeshua but only 2000 from Abraham to Yeshua. Hypothesis is there 14 generations x2 between first and second coming if a generation is 70 or 80 according to Ps 90:10. 70 generation x 14= 980 years. 80 generation x 14 is 1120 years. So if we use 2×980=1960 +70 (Temple destruction)=2030. 29 ce (Death of Christ) +1960=1989+33=2022. 27 CE (Ministry Start of Yeshua)+1960+33 (Death of Yeshua age)=2019. 27 CE+1960=1987. 1987 CE Sabbath year (Shmita שמיטה). 27 CE +1960+30 (Age of Yeshua at the start of His ministry) = 2017.
http://www.rtforum.org/lt/lt13.html; Perry Stone on Sid Roth Tsunamis, Blood Moons and End of Times beforeitsnews.com/prophecy/2015/05/blood-moons-and-end-time-prophecy-perry-stone-with-sid-roth-radio-interview-2468942.html; bibletime.com/theory/generation
2017 shows up again. How odd.
Battle of Jerusalem 1917 (Year of Jubilee)+100 generation=2017 (Year of Jubilee); 1947 Proclamation for Israel +70 generation=2017; Sixth Day War (Year of Jubilee) +50 generation=2017 (Year of Jubilee); 1947 BC (Abraham’s Birth)+2017=70 CE (Destruction of the Temple)+1947 (Abraham’s Birth/Proclamation of Israel)=2017.
1517 CE Ottomon Turks capture Jerusalem; the Ottoman Empire exists for 400 more years until 1917.Ottoman During the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566) the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem were rebuilt. Population of the Jewish community in Jerusalem increased. Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg church on October 31,1517 which begins the German Protestant Reformation. 1517+400 generation=1917+100 generation = 2017 100 years is the limit of a generation found in the Bible (as defined by Abraham’s 4 generations of a total of 400 years (400 years divided by 4 generations = 100).
What is so significant is that there is a high probability that this is the Second Coming and Armageddon because it fits the criteria of Lev. 25:8-10.
More about 1948 and 1967.
God’s plan was not thwarted when a 2520-Year Prophecy was fulfilled in May of 1948 or when another 2520-Year cycle was fulfilled in June of 1967. Presently, we are living at the very end of a 2520-Week, Biblical cycle. This cycle began the day Israel recaptured the city of Jerusalem on June 7, 1967 and culminates on September 23, 2015, which is The Day of Atonement, and even more incredibly, The Day of Jubilee. What are the mathematical odds of a Biblical cycle beginning and ending on such historic and significant days in both Israel’s modern history and ancient calendar? Coincidence is not a kosher word.
There is another Biblical prophecy that will also be fulfilled, it relates to a period of time called the “time of Jacob’s Trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). It’s a period of time as the Babylonian Talmud says, “In the seven-year cycle at the end of which the son of David will come…at the conclusion of the septennate (a period of seven years), the Son of David will come.” (Sanhedrin, 97a p.654)
Or as Raphael Patai (Jewish historian who received his doctorate in Semitic Languages from the University of Budapest and University of Breslau) said, “The idea became entrenched that the coming of the Messiah will be preceded by greatly increased suffering…This will last for seven years. And then, unexpectedly, the Messiah will come. (The Messiah Texts, pp 95-96)
This seven-year period is based upon God’s calendar (a 360-day year), and it can be more precisely labeled the 2520-Day Period. We have witnessed the 2520-Year prophecies fulfilled twice. The 2520-Week prophecy culminates this September 23, 2015. Is the period of 2520-Days next?
Learn more of God’s calendar, for He is the “Perfect Numberer” (Daniel 8:13 -“Palmoni”) at http://www.twenty5twenty.net Shalom, Shalem…only with “The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
2015-2017 is the 50th Jubilee, 70th Jubilee, and 120th Jubilee. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC8vSm65skk
What do these years have in common? Abraham’s birth (1947 BCE) +2017 years = 70 CE Destruction of the Temple; Matt 24:1-2) + 1947 years = 2017.
6th day war 1967+50 years = 2017. Battle of Jerusalem 1917+100 years = 2017. Israel became a nation in 1948 1 to 2 days prior to Pentecost (Matt 24:32; Psalm 90:10) but the proclamation went out in 1947+70 years = 2017. Judah ben Samuel Prophecy 1517-1917, 1917-1967, 1967-2017 The Messiah comes and Armageddon. Woman clothed with the Sun in 2017 (Day of Trumpet with Virgo and Leo). Giza Pyramid Lineup of 2017 (Day of Trumpet). August 21 (4th day event) Solar Eclipse over North America (Propheciesoftheendtimes.com) in 2017. 2017 minus generations 38, 40, 50, 70, 80, 100, and 120 line up to significant events with Israel.
Miracle of the Sun (Oct. 13th, 1917) +100 years = 2017. (It was on the 7th Day of Feast of Tabernacles). Oct. 13th, 2016 is Day of Atonement and it ends on Day of Atonement 2017 with Armageddon. Could it be that the Day of the Lord begins on the Day of Atonement (Joel 2:14 or 15=Lev 23:27-34) with a global earthquake.
John Ashcraft Albuquerque, NM on Facebook.
4 views of September 23, 2017
1) End of Humanity and Armageddon on the Day of Atonement (Rev 14:20ff; Rev 15 Day of Atonement Typeology; Rev 16/19 Armageddon)
2) Beginning of the Day of the Lord which is a one year event according to Isaiah and covers both the Trumpet and Bowl Judgments and ends on the Day of Atonement with Armageddon.
3) Mid point of the 7 year tribulation.
4) Beginning of the 7 year Tribulation
The problem I have with numbers 3 and 4 is that if the beginning heavenly sign begins in the 7th month such as 5 planets lining up in a row on the 7th Day of Feast of Tabernacles in 2010, then the end sign 7 years later should be on the Day of Trumpet according to Revelation 12:1 and 11 –7th Trumpet and the only one between 2017 and 2100 + is the one on Sept. 23rd, 2017.
Based on the events revealed in the Bible that must happen before the rapture, I can confidently put to rest the rumors about September 23, 2017. It is too soon to be any of the options you listed. If we just study the scriptures, we could avoid so many of the foolish theories floating around, which only undermine our faith when they fail to come to pass. That’s why I took the time to document ten things that must happen before the rapture in this post.
https://z3news.com/w/ten-things-that-must-happen-before-the-rapture/
Yes Yes Yes, so glad somebody else reads the same Bible as me!!!
The day of the Lord is a thousand year long day. The seventh day of rest, He 4:4. Peter revealed this fact in his epistle.
2 Peter 3:7-8 KJVS
[7] But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. [8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
It is a good idea to keep this in mind when reading prophetic scripture verses such as the Joel prophecy in Acts 2. The events Joel prophesied will take place during the last days of a thousand years each. The noteable day of the Lord is a thousand years long, but has a specific starting point. Likely when Jesus steps down on the Mount of Olives and it splits in two.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 KJVS
[1] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
The event Paul is writing about here, is a different event than the day of the Lord and precedes it. The seven trumpets have to sound before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him takes place. Jesus does not actually step down on earth at that time. That takes place 3 1/2 years later, Zech 14:4. Paul designates the last trump, 1 Co 15:52, as the point in time where the body of Christ are changed. Now the Joel 2:1 prophecy is hardly exact in regards to time, “the day of the Lord is coming surely it is near”, is a bit vague. The trumpet blown in this vers could very well be the seventh and last trump of 1 Co 15:52. Since time is viewed much differently by God, 2 Pe 3:8, than how we perceive it, and may in fact move much faster there than on earth. The rapture is the fulfillment and culmination of the mystery of God, which is Christ in you the hope of glory, Col 1:27.
Revelation 10:7 KJVS
[7] But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
To me the above verse firmly places the rapture at the seventh trumpet but there is also the remnant of the woman’s seed who are on the earth 3 1/2 years after the rapture.
Revelation 12:17 KJVS
[17] 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.
Keep in mind that there is a resurrection that takes place at the beginning of the day of the Lord, predicated on how the individuals involved treated those people in the body of Christ.
Matthew 25:31-33,46 KJVS
[31] When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: [32] And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: [33] And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. [46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Life eternal is a poor translation and should be life for the eon or age
There is a great deal of information given by God in the scriptures and it is extremely hard to make all the pieces of the puzzle to fit. I have more than a few off to the side that don’t seem to fit, but in time I am sure they will.
I agree the day of the Lord is one thousand years, but I believe my eight proofs show the Lord returns on that day.
One thing that complicates matters is in the 12th chapter of Revelation. The woman, Jerusalem above, Gal 4:26, who is the mother of us all. Births the man child, Re 12:5. But notice the last verse in that chapter.
Revelation 12:17 KJV
[17] 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.
Earlier in the chapter the woman flies into the wilderness for 3 1/2 years.
Revelation 12:13-14 KJV
[13] And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child . [14] 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.
We all have to go through the wilderness experience to be tried, put to the proof, He 3:8, so that are hearts are right before the Lord. So, not all of the woman’s seed was caught up to the throne of God. Saints of God are mentioned later in Re 13: 7&10, Re 14: 12, which I presume to be the remnant of her seed mentioned in Re 12:17. You point out in another of your articles, rightfully so, that tribulation, affliction and suffering is to take place in our lives.
1 Peter 4:13 KJV
[13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
This is exactly what Apostle Paul means when he wrote these words.
Philippians 3:9-11 KJV
[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; [11] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
I think we can all say amen to that