THE TRIBULATION & THE WRATH OF GOD
Understanding what really happens during the last 7 years of this Age.
The 7 years that are left on the prophetic clock, as spoken of in Daniel chapter 9, have been called the 7 years of tribulation by many. This terminology truly means different things to different people. To this author, it is truly 7 years set aside by the Lord and not really with 7 years of tribulation alone, but 3 ½ years of great tribulation followed by 3 ½ years of God's wrath with the rapture being in the middle. But for most pre-tribulationists, they call it the 7 years of tribulation and then say that the rapture has to be at the very beginning because “God does not pour out His wrath on His children” so that what they are really saying is that the last week of years or what is commonly called the “7 years of tribulation” is really 7 years of God's wrath. Which is not true, in that it is not 7 years of God's wrath!
It is conceivable that to be on the receiving end of God's wrath is tribulation. However, in no way is “tribulation” only or always a result of God's wrath. Tribulation means hard times resulting from any kind of pressure, aggravation, etc for both believers and non-believers. God's wrath is specifically for the “sons of disobedience” (non-believers).
For anyone to say that this “last week of years” is “completely a time of God's wrath” is completely erroneous. It is beyond the shadow of doubt that: these 7 years are divided into two vastly different segments with the first half having Christians present and living through great tribulation just as Jesus foretold, with the rapture in the middle followed by a second half when God's wrath will be poured out just as John foretold in the book of Revelation. This will be clearly shown in this message. For the sealed 144,000 Jews, one could certainly call it a time of great tribulation for them also. But God's wrath is specifically for the wicked who are left after the rapture and the term of His wrath is one half of this last week of years which is 3 ½ years! Seven years minus the terms of Antichrist and Two Witnesses, which are simultaneous for 42 months (also called a time, times and half a time,1260 days or 3 ½ years), leaves 3 ½ years left for 7 trumpets, 7 bowls & Armageddon.
Let's look at what the Bible says.
First, the two points most of us agree on:
1- There is a last week of years, the last 7 years of this Age.
From Daniel 9 we know Father God has the last seven years set aside. For a breakdown of this prophecy, see the message: The Mystery of the Seventy Weeks.
2- God's wrath is not for His children:
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”
So does this mean that Christians never suffer?
No way. In fact, all true Christians face some measure of suffering and persecution for their faith.
2 Timothy 3:12 "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
Jesus, the son of God Himself, was falsely accused, viciously beaten and crucified, Paul the Apostle was: “in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness” (2 Corinthians 11:22-29). James, the half brother of Jesus, was one the first martyrs of the early church; additionally, the apostle Stephen, also one of the first martyrs, was stoned to death and almost all of the first eleven true disciples were killed for their faith. From the very beginning Christians have suffered and died for the love and name of Jesus. Christians have been tortured, imprisoned, enslaved, persecuted, burned alive, fed to lions and alligators, boiled, beheaded and even crucified.
So, while Christians are saved from the wrath of God, thanks to Jesus taking our place, there are times when Christians suffer and are persecuted, even to death for their faith.
What else do we know for certain about this last 7 years, according to God's Word?
We know there are certain elements of this time period that must be fulfilled and in one order, that being the God's order. The Lord gives us bits and pieces and it is our job to learn what He is showing us by seeking out the truth.
Here are some facts:
There are 7 seals (not wrath), 7 trumpets and 7 bowls of wrath and they all are intrinsic to this last week of years, the final 7 years of this Age.
From the 7 seals, we see in the very first seal, the antichrist is “given” his crown and authority (Revelation 6:1).
Revelation 6:1-2 “Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”
What does the evil one do with his authority?
He goes against God and all true Christians.
Revelation 13:5-7 “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”
Do we know how long he goes against the saints?
The enemy makes war with the saints and will eventually be overcome by him. This process takes 42 months:
Revelation 13:4-7 “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” (42 months is 3 ½ years)
Revelation 11:2 “But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.”
In order to try to make “bad theology” fit, the pre-tribulationists try to say that people “get saved” after the rapture (even though they insist that the Holy Spirit is removed at the rapture and any Bible-reading Christian knows that no one can ever be saved without the conviction and redemptive power of the Holy Spirit; John 6:4, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” - John 16:8, “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment”); when in fact, what happens after the rapture is the outpouring of God's wrath on all who rejected the real Jesus Christ and the message of the Gospel by 2 Witnesses (whose term is: 3 ½ years, simultaneous to the Antichrist, who kills them just before the rapture and when they are raised, so are the rest of the saints who are alive, along with the dead who are raised first.)
Revelation 11:3 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth”
Revelation 11:7 “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.”
Revelation 11:11-12 “Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.”
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
Everyone will have been forced to worship the beast or be sought out to be killed just prior to the rapture. Only Christians with the power of God, could escape it and except the Lord cut the devil off, none would make it.
Mark 13:19-20 “For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.”
How do we know what happens to the lost after the rapture?
Those that will worship the beast and his image and take his mark will have to drink the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.
Revelation 13:15-17 “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
Revelation 14:9-10a “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.”
All who are left after the rapture are the lost, the doomed for choosing evil with the devil and company and rejected the goodness of Jesus Christ who sent His message through His Word, His people and even the Two Witnesses. At some point at or near the rapture, the 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each tribe, will be sealed for protection during this last 3 ½ years.
Four angels are held back while the Lord seals the 144,000 Jews to be protected during this time:
Revelation 7:1-8 “After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.”
All 7 seals are for the first half of the 7 years concluding at the rapture at the middle or middle plus 3 ½ days. The first seal is the beginning of the rise of the Antichrist when he is given his authority (Revelation 6:1-2), followed by 6 more. The last 2 seals are the rapture. So by this we can be sure that the seven seals are for the first 3 ½ years ending with the 7th being the rapture (Revelation 8:1).
The 5th seal shows the result of the beginning of the enemy trying to wipe out all Christians from the face of the earth:
Revelation 6:9-11 “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been 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, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”
The 6th and 7th seals clearly show the rapture and correlate with Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27 and Luke 21:25-28.
Revelation 6:12-17 “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Revelation 8:1 “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”
This is part of the rapture but it will get mighty loud when Jesus returns with the saints!
Revelation 7:9-17 “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 19:1-9 “After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!" And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!" Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”
Back to showing how Matthew, Mark and Luke are totally cohesive with the 6th and 7th seals being the rapture:
Matthew 24:29-31 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
Mark 13:24-27 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.”
Luke 21:25-28 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." (If Christians were not present, who would be being gathered and getting their redemption?)
How do the 7 trumpets and 7 bowls of wrath fit into the 7 years?
The 7 trumpets and 7 bowls are for after the rapture, when God's wrath is poured out.
And after the rapture, 7 trumpets are specifically set aside for the judgment and wrath of the Lord on the lost left on earth.
Revelation 8:2 “And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.”
Revelation 8:4-5 “Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.”
The first is hail and fire mingled with blood; the second is something like a great mountain of fire will be cast down into the sea; the third a great star called Wormwood is also cast into the the rivers and springs; the fourth the sun, moon and stars are struck to bring 1/3 darkness; the fifth are demons like locusts were loosed out of the bottomless pit to sting and torture but no one will be able to die yet; the sixth is four angels are loosed to empower a 200 million man army to wipe out a third of mankind and lastly, the seventh trumpet, is the final destruction of all the lost (condensed from Revelation 8, 9 and 11).
The 7 bowls are even called “the bowls of the wrath of God”
Revelation 16:1 “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth."
The first bowl is foul and loathsome sores will be upon everyone who takes the mark of the beast and those who worship his image; the second is where all the living creatures of the sea die; the third will completely wipe out all rivers and springs by turning them to blood; the fourth will scorch the people left with fire; the fifth is on the beast's throne and kingdom and in darkness, people are in so much pain the gnaw their tongues; the sixth one dries up what is left of the Euphrates river and makes way for Armageddon and lastly, like the last trumpet, is completion. Armageddon is done and all is finished. (condensed from Revelation 16:1-17)
While we do not have all the answers, the basics are clear as you can see by the chart below and you can read more about in detail of the various aspects on this website (or book if you have the download). Even if one were to still consider this last week of years, all tribulation, it would be closer to being correct than to say it is 7 years of wrath. The Lord's wrath is for the wicked only and it will only come upon them, after His children are raptured up and the 144,000 Jews are sealed. Eventually, at the conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon, all of the evil people who are still alive, will be eradicated. We all need to be right with God and see as many people be right with God also. All that has been prophesied by the Lord, what we understand and we do not, will still happen.
It is conceivable that to be on the receiving end of God's wrath is tribulation. However, in no way is “tribulation” only or always a result of God's wrath. Tribulation means hard times resulting from any kind of pressure, aggravation, etc for both believers and non-believers. God's wrath is specifically for the “sons of disobedience” (non-believers).
For anyone to say that this “last week of years” is “completely a time of God's wrath” is completely erroneous. It is beyond the shadow of doubt that: these 7 years are divided into two vastly different segments with the first half having Christians present and living through great tribulation just as Jesus foretold, with the rapture in the middle followed by a second half when God's wrath will be poured out just as John foretold in the book of Revelation. This will be clearly shown in this message. For the sealed 144,000 Jews, one could certainly call it a time of great tribulation for them also. But God's wrath is specifically for the wicked who are left after the rapture and the term of His wrath is one half of this last week of years which is 3 ½ years! Seven years minus the terms of Antichrist and Two Witnesses, which are simultaneous for 42 months (also called a time, times and half a time,1260 days or 3 ½ years), leaves 3 ½ years left for 7 trumpets, 7 bowls & Armageddon.
Let's look at what the Bible says.
First, the two points most of us agree on:
1- There is a last week of years, the last 7 years of this Age.
From Daniel 9 we know Father God has the last seven years set aside. For a breakdown of this prophecy, see the message: The Mystery of the Seventy Weeks.
2- God's wrath is not for His children:
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”
So does this mean that Christians never suffer?
No way. In fact, all true Christians face some measure of suffering and persecution for their faith.
2 Timothy 3:12 "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
Jesus, the son of God Himself, was falsely accused, viciously beaten and crucified, Paul the Apostle was: “in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness” (2 Corinthians 11:22-29). James, the half brother of Jesus, was one the first martyrs of the early church; additionally, the apostle Stephen, also one of the first martyrs, was stoned to death and almost all of the first eleven true disciples were killed for their faith. From the very beginning Christians have suffered and died for the love and name of Jesus. Christians have been tortured, imprisoned, enslaved, persecuted, burned alive, fed to lions and alligators, boiled, beheaded and even crucified.
So, while Christians are saved from the wrath of God, thanks to Jesus taking our place, there are times when Christians suffer and are persecuted, even to death for their faith.
What else do we know for certain about this last 7 years, according to God's Word?
We know there are certain elements of this time period that must be fulfilled and in one order, that being the God's order. The Lord gives us bits and pieces and it is our job to learn what He is showing us by seeking out the truth.
Here are some facts:
There are 7 seals (not wrath), 7 trumpets and 7 bowls of wrath and they all are intrinsic to this last week of years, the final 7 years of this Age.
From the 7 seals, we see in the very first seal, the antichrist is “given” his crown and authority (Revelation 6:1).
Revelation 6:1-2 “Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”
What does the evil one do with his authority?
He goes against God and all true Christians.
Revelation 13:5-7 “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”
Do we know how long he goes against the saints?
The enemy makes war with the saints and will eventually be overcome by him. This process takes 42 months:
Revelation 13:4-7 “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” (42 months is 3 ½ years)
Revelation 11:2 “But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.”
In order to try to make “bad theology” fit, the pre-tribulationists try to say that people “get saved” after the rapture (even though they insist that the Holy Spirit is removed at the rapture and any Bible-reading Christian knows that no one can ever be saved without the conviction and redemptive power of the Holy Spirit; John 6:4, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” - John 16:8, “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment”); when in fact, what happens after the rapture is the outpouring of God's wrath on all who rejected the real Jesus Christ and the message of the Gospel by 2 Witnesses (whose term is: 3 ½ years, simultaneous to the Antichrist, who kills them just before the rapture and when they are raised, so are the rest of the saints who are alive, along with the dead who are raised first.)
Revelation 11:3 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth”
Revelation 11:7 “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.”
Revelation 11:11-12 “Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.”
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
Everyone will have been forced to worship the beast or be sought out to be killed just prior to the rapture. Only Christians with the power of God, could escape it and except the Lord cut the devil off, none would make it.
Mark 13:19-20 “For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.”
How do we know what happens to the lost after the rapture?
Those that will worship the beast and his image and take his mark will have to drink the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.
Revelation 13:15-17 “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
Revelation 14:9-10a “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.”
All who are left after the rapture are the lost, the doomed for choosing evil with the devil and company and rejected the goodness of Jesus Christ who sent His message through His Word, His people and even the Two Witnesses. At some point at or near the rapture, the 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each tribe, will be sealed for protection during this last 3 ½ years.
Four angels are held back while the Lord seals the 144,000 Jews to be protected during this time:
Revelation 7:1-8 “After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.”
All 7 seals are for the first half of the 7 years concluding at the rapture at the middle or middle plus 3 ½ days. The first seal is the beginning of the rise of the Antichrist when he is given his authority (Revelation 6:1-2), followed by 6 more. The last 2 seals are the rapture. So by this we can be sure that the seven seals are for the first 3 ½ years ending with the 7th being the rapture (Revelation 8:1).
The 5th seal shows the result of the beginning of the enemy trying to wipe out all Christians from the face of the earth:
Revelation 6:9-11 “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been 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, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”
The 6th and 7th seals clearly show the rapture and correlate with Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27 and Luke 21:25-28.
Revelation 6:12-17 “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Revelation 8:1 “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”
This is part of the rapture but it will get mighty loud when Jesus returns with the saints!
Revelation 7:9-17 “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 19:1-9 “After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!" And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!" Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!" And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”
Back to showing how Matthew, Mark and Luke are totally cohesive with the 6th and 7th seals being the rapture:
Matthew 24:29-31 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
Mark 13:24-27 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.”
Luke 21:25-28 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." (If Christians were not present, who would be being gathered and getting their redemption?)
How do the 7 trumpets and 7 bowls of wrath fit into the 7 years?
The 7 trumpets and 7 bowls are for after the rapture, when God's wrath is poured out.
And after the rapture, 7 trumpets are specifically set aside for the judgment and wrath of the Lord on the lost left on earth.
Revelation 8:2 “And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.”
Revelation 8:4-5 “Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.”
The first is hail and fire mingled with blood; the second is something like a great mountain of fire will be cast down into the sea; the third a great star called Wormwood is also cast into the the rivers and springs; the fourth the sun, moon and stars are struck to bring 1/3 darkness; the fifth are demons like locusts were loosed out of the bottomless pit to sting and torture but no one will be able to die yet; the sixth is four angels are loosed to empower a 200 million man army to wipe out a third of mankind and lastly, the seventh trumpet, is the final destruction of all the lost (condensed from Revelation 8, 9 and 11).
The 7 bowls are even called “the bowls of the wrath of God”
Revelation 16:1 “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth."
The first bowl is foul and loathsome sores will be upon everyone who takes the mark of the beast and those who worship his image; the second is where all the living creatures of the sea die; the third will completely wipe out all rivers and springs by turning them to blood; the fourth will scorch the people left with fire; the fifth is on the beast's throne and kingdom and in darkness, people are in so much pain the gnaw their tongues; the sixth one dries up what is left of the Euphrates river and makes way for Armageddon and lastly, like the last trumpet, is completion. Armageddon is done and all is finished. (condensed from Revelation 16:1-17)
While we do not have all the answers, the basics are clear as you can see by the chart below and you can read more about in detail of the various aspects on this website (or book if you have the download). Even if one were to still consider this last week of years, all tribulation, it would be closer to being correct than to say it is 7 years of wrath. The Lord's wrath is for the wicked only and it will only come upon them, after His children are raptured up and the 144,000 Jews are sealed. Eventually, at the conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon, all of the evil people who are still alive, will be eradicated. We all need to be right with God and see as many people be right with God also. All that has been prophesied by the Lord, what we understand and we do not, will still happen.
Final thoughts that obliterate pre-tribulationism: If the Holy Spirit would be removed at the beginning of the 7 years and the rapture happen because God's wrath is not for His children; and if as they say that people would still be getting saved after the rapture, and then the Lord's newly saved children going through God's wrath since the Bible really does say that God's wrath is not for His children and how could anyone be saved without the conviction and leadership of the Holy Spirit?
Answer: Bad theology does not hold water: The rapture is in the middle of the 7 years and God's wrath is then poured out on the wicked.
OTHER "BASIC RAPTURE" ARTICLES
WHAT IS THE RAPTURE?
Understanding the concept of biblical rapture.
IS THE WORD "RAPTURE" IN THE BIBLE?
Understanding "harpázō" - the word "rapture" comes from & where it's seen in the Bible.
RAPTURE VIEWS
Understanding pre, mid & post tribulation, millennial views, preterism & more.
MYSTERY OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS
A prophecy in Daniel foretold the coming of Christ & also the concept of the "last week of years" is derived; sometimes called "the 7 year tribulation."
TRIBULATION & WRATH, BIBLICAL DEFINITIONS & USAGE
A word study taking a deeper look at original context.
THE BEST BIBLICAL MINDSET FOR LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS
As shown in 1 and 2 Thessalonians.
MID TRIBULATION RAPTURE ARTICLES
MID TRIBULATION RAPTURE
Understanding how the rapture happens in the middle of the last week of years and its magnitude.
MID TRIBULATION, WHY 3 1/2 YEARS?
The Bible actually says how long the terms of the Antichrist and Two Witnesses are, which confirms what the people of earth will go through also.
MID TRIBULATION RAPTURE BIBLE VERSES
The mid tribulation rapture as shown with Bible verses listed chronologically and with commentary.
MID TRIBULATION RAPTURE TIMELINE
An easy to understand timeline with important events from the beginning of the 7 years through the Millennium.
MAIN MENU
Copyright 2014 E. Cockrell May be copied for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
WHAT IS THE RAPTURE?
Understanding the concept of biblical rapture.
IS THE WORD "RAPTURE" IN THE BIBLE?
Understanding "harpázō" - the word "rapture" comes from & where it's seen in the Bible.
RAPTURE VIEWS
Understanding pre, mid & post tribulation, millennial views, preterism & more.
MYSTERY OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS
A prophecy in Daniel foretold the coming of Christ & also the concept of the "last week of years" is derived; sometimes called "the 7 year tribulation."
TRIBULATION & WRATH, BIBLICAL DEFINITIONS & USAGE
A word study taking a deeper look at original context.
THE BEST BIBLICAL MINDSET FOR LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS
As shown in 1 and 2 Thessalonians.
MID TRIBULATION RAPTURE ARTICLES
MID TRIBULATION RAPTURE
Understanding how the rapture happens in the middle of the last week of years and its magnitude.
MID TRIBULATION, WHY 3 1/2 YEARS?
The Bible actually says how long the terms of the Antichrist and Two Witnesses are, which confirms what the people of earth will go through also.
MID TRIBULATION RAPTURE BIBLE VERSES
The mid tribulation rapture as shown with Bible verses listed chronologically and with commentary.
MID TRIBULATION RAPTURE TIMELINE
An easy to understand timeline with important events from the beginning of the 7 years through the Millennium.
MAIN MENU
Copyright 2014 E. Cockrell May be copied for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.