The question of the ages… with all the terrible things that are going to happen during the tribulation period, the next logical question is whether or not God’s people will go through it or be taken from the world beforehand. This is one of the most hotly debated areas of Bible interpretation, and everyone’s got their opinion. So let’s ask God for his.
Reread Jesus’ words in the passages of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Jesus told His disciples that they would recognize by seeing these events happen that He was near. Digest that. We will know He is returning when we see these things happen. We can’t see these things happen if we’re not here. And they happen before He returns. And we’re here until He returns. That’s how we are able to see them happen before His return. Because we are here.
Sorry. It’s just really important that certain people understand that point.
Elsewhere, John records four instances where Jesus said He would raise His people up on the last day[1]. He also says that Martha, mourning with Jesus over the death of Lazarus, confessed her belief that the resurrection occurs on the last day, which Jesus did not dispute or correct[2]. First Thessalonians 4:15-17 says that those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means proceed those who have died; that the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remain are caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. On the last day.
Think about it. The living are not taken up until after He takes up the dead… and the dead are taken on the last day, right as He returns. Which means we are here to see the last day, which is the day He returns. Until then we are here.
Sorry. It’s just really important that you all understand this.
We will see these things. We do not escape judgment. God clearly states that over and over again throughout His word. Back to it in a second…
Let’s look at that being caught up to meet the Lord, with a focus on the ‘to meet’ part of it. In Biblical times, when a dignitary or visitor was coming to town, it was customary for those whom he was coming to see to go out ‘to meet’ him, and then escort him on the final leg of his journey[3]. When we are caught up ‘to meet’ Jesus, we will then turn around and “escort” Him on His way to earth. He does not change direction and take us back to Heaven. He’s on His way to return to earth to rule for the next millennium. We will see these things, be caught up ‘to meet’ Him as He approaches, and return to earth with Him.
But we WILL see these things.
He even says there’ll be a soundtrack… that He will return with the sound of a trumpet that all the world will hear. Looking in the book of Revelation[4] John sees Christ opening 7 seals on a scroll, which is followed by 7 angels who sound trumpets. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul says that the Lord wild descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. Talking about the resurrection (when the dead are caught up, which is before the living are) in 1 Cor. 15 Paul calls it a mystery and in verse 52 says it will come at “the last trumpet”. Revelation 10:7 states that in the day the last angel sounds his trumpet, the mystery is finished. We find an account of that last (7th) trumpet being sounded in Revelation 11:14; those gathered around God’s throne praise Him, shouting with loud voices that His time has come to reign, to judge the dead, to reward His people, and to destroy the wicked.
As each trumpet is sounded, the calamities of judgment befall mankind. And we hear those trumpets blow here on earth. AND it isn’t until we hear the LAST trumpet sound that we are taken up. That last trumpet sounds the last judgment of God upon man, and only then does He to come gather us together to rule over the world. After the judgment, which are the tribulation events. Which we are here to see.
Sorry. It’s just really important...
Judgment. God’s People have never escaped His judgment. God’s miracle of deliverance from trial has never been accomplished by removing His people from it, but by providing the means to bring them through it. And bringing them through it has always required their participation. For example, when the angel of death went through Egypt to kill the firstborns, God told His people how to avoid it by sprinkling the blood of a lamb on their door posts[5]. Those who participated so were spared. Those who didn’t suffered, even among the Jews. Then, when He lead His people out of the country He told them to plunder the Egyptians and haul all they could take with them. It was only after these provisions ran out that He interceded with the manna and quail, and these only lasted until they were able to provide for themselves again. I use these two examples here because if you compare the judgments against the Egyptians with the end time judgments, you’ll find that many events are very similar and maybe we should take a hint. God’s pattern throughout the Bible are clear on this… He says we’ll see judgment.
[HR][/HR][1] John 6:39, 40, 44, 54
[2] John 11:24
[3] Genesis 14:17; 19:1; 29:13 for example
[4] 6-11
[5] Exodus 12
Reread Jesus’ words in the passages of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Jesus told His disciples that they would recognize by seeing these events happen that He was near. Digest that. We will know He is returning when we see these things happen. We can’t see these things happen if we’re not here. And they happen before He returns. And we’re here until He returns. That’s how we are able to see them happen before His return. Because we are here.
Sorry. It’s just really important that certain people understand that point.
Elsewhere, John records four instances where Jesus said He would raise His people up on the last day[1]. He also says that Martha, mourning with Jesus over the death of Lazarus, confessed her belief that the resurrection occurs on the last day, which Jesus did not dispute or correct[2]. First Thessalonians 4:15-17 says that those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means proceed those who have died; that the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remain are caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. On the last day.
Think about it. The living are not taken up until after He takes up the dead… and the dead are taken on the last day, right as He returns. Which means we are here to see the last day, which is the day He returns. Until then we are here.
Sorry. It’s just really important that you all understand this.
We will see these things. We do not escape judgment. God clearly states that over and over again throughout His word. Back to it in a second…
Let’s look at that being caught up to meet the Lord, with a focus on the ‘to meet’ part of it. In Biblical times, when a dignitary or visitor was coming to town, it was customary for those whom he was coming to see to go out ‘to meet’ him, and then escort him on the final leg of his journey[3]. When we are caught up ‘to meet’ Jesus, we will then turn around and “escort” Him on His way to earth. He does not change direction and take us back to Heaven. He’s on His way to return to earth to rule for the next millennium. We will see these things, be caught up ‘to meet’ Him as He approaches, and return to earth with Him.
But we WILL see these things.
He even says there’ll be a soundtrack… that He will return with the sound of a trumpet that all the world will hear. Looking in the book of Revelation[4] John sees Christ opening 7 seals on a scroll, which is followed by 7 angels who sound trumpets. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul says that the Lord wild descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. Talking about the resurrection (when the dead are caught up, which is before the living are) in 1 Cor. 15 Paul calls it a mystery and in verse 52 says it will come at “the last trumpet”. Revelation 10:7 states that in the day the last angel sounds his trumpet, the mystery is finished. We find an account of that last (7th) trumpet being sounded in Revelation 11:14; those gathered around God’s throne praise Him, shouting with loud voices that His time has come to reign, to judge the dead, to reward His people, and to destroy the wicked.
As each trumpet is sounded, the calamities of judgment befall mankind. And we hear those trumpets blow here on earth. AND it isn’t until we hear the LAST trumpet sound that we are taken up. That last trumpet sounds the last judgment of God upon man, and only then does He to come gather us together to rule over the world. After the judgment, which are the tribulation events. Which we are here to see.
Sorry. It’s just really important...
Judgment. God’s People have never escaped His judgment. God’s miracle of deliverance from trial has never been accomplished by removing His people from it, but by providing the means to bring them through it. And bringing them through it has always required their participation. For example, when the angel of death went through Egypt to kill the firstborns, God told His people how to avoid it by sprinkling the blood of a lamb on their door posts[5]. Those who participated so were spared. Those who didn’t suffered, even among the Jews. Then, when He lead His people out of the country He told them to plunder the Egyptians and haul all they could take with them. It was only after these provisions ran out that He interceded with the manna and quail, and these only lasted until they were able to provide for themselves again. I use these two examples here because if you compare the judgments against the Egyptians with the end time judgments, you’ll find that many events are very similar and maybe we should take a hint. God’s pattern throughout the Bible are clear on this… He says we’ll see judgment.
[HR][/HR][1] John 6:39, 40, 44, 54
[2] John 11:24
[3] Genesis 14:17; 19:1; 29:13 for example
[4] 6-11
[5] Exodus 12
can you summarize it? they said no 2 parts ler, and then i also don know where the 2 parts form,