SCRIPTURE SUPPORTS A PREWRATH RAPTURE

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Key Foundational Scriptures

The PreWrath Rapture distinguishes God’s refining trials (tribulation, even great tribulation) for believers from His wrath poured out on the ungodly, as supported by Scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 5:9: “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Below, I’ll provide the timeline of events prior to Jesus’ return at Armageddon, drawing from key Scriptures. This sequence is based on the final seven-year period of Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27), with the seven seals unfolding progressively in those seven years, the rapture occurring after the sixth seal and the sixth year. Just as the seven seals show us what is unfolding in each of the final seven years so do the seven churches show us the state of the church in those seven years (Revelation 2-3).

Before the timeline, here are core passages:

  • Daniel 9:27 (start of the seven years): “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.“
  • Revelation 6 (the fifth and sixth seals): “9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. 12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?'”
  • Joel 2:30-31 (celestial signs preceding the Day of the Lord): “I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”
  • Matthew 24:29-31 (celestial signs and gathering/rapture): “29 ‘Immediately after the distress of those days “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” 30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.’“
  • Revelation 8:1-5 (seventh seal and transition to trumpet judgements): “1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” Note the censer is no longer needed for the Saints prayers (raptured).  
  • Revelation 7:9-17 (raptured multitude in heaven): “9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. … 14 … ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'” (full passage describes their eternal reward and protection).
  • Revelation 3:7-13 (sixth church, Philadelphia raptured): Key verse 10: “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”
  • Revelation 3:14-22 (Laodicea church, left behind): Key verse 16: “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.“
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (rapture description): “16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.“
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (events before the Day of the Lord): “3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (full passage emphasizes the Antichrist’s revelation precedes the gathering/rapture and Day of the Lord).

PreWrath Timeline Prior to Jesus’ Return at Armageddon

This timeline integrates the seals and churches representing the unfolding of the seven years, with the rapture after the sixth seal (post-tribulation but pre-wrath). The Great Tribulation refines the church (as in Daniel 12:10 and Revelation 7:14), but believers are kept from God’s wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9). The sequence ends with Jesus’ physical return to Earth with the glorified saints for Armageddon and the Millennium.

Phase/EventDescriptionKey Scriptures
Start of the 7 Years (Daniel’s 70th Week)Antichrist confirms a covenant with Israel, initiating the final seven years before Christ’s return. This aligns with the first churches (e.g., Ephesus to Sardis) representing early church readiness or decline.Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:4-8 (beginning of birth pains); Revelation 2:1-3:6 (churches 1-5 as preparatory).
Seals 1-4 (Beginning of Sorrows)Global conquest, war, famine, and death affect a quarter of the earth. A time of tribulation, as unbelievers persecute Christians under Satan’s influence, refining the church,Revelation 6:1-8; Matthew 24:4-14 (wars, famines, persecutions); 2 Thessalonians 2:7 (lawlessness at work).
Midpoint (3.5 Years In)Antichrist revealed, abomination of desolation in the temple, start of Great Tribulation (Satan’s persecution of the saints and Israel). Full number of martyrs begins to accumulate.Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15-28; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 13 (beast’s rise).
Seal 5 (Martyrs Under the Altar)Souls of slain believers (without resurrected bodies) cry for justice, told to wait until the full number is complete. This ties to the refining tribulation.Revelation 6:9-11.
Seal 6 (Celestial Signs)Earthquake, sun darkened, moon blood-red, stars fall, heavens shake. People hide, announcing “the great day of their wrath has come.” Precedes the Day of the Lord.Revelation 6:12-17; Matthew 24:29; Joel 2:30-31.
Rapture and Resurrection (After Seal 6, Before Wrath)At the trumpet call, dead in Christ rise, living believers caught up. The faithful church (Philadelphia) is kept from the hour of trial; lukewarm (Laodicea) face wrath. Raptured saints appear in heaven as a multitude from the Great Tribulation.1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 24:30-31; Revelation 3:10 (Philadelphia), 3:16 (Laodicea); Revelation 7:9-17.
Seal 7 (Transition to Wrath)Silence in heaven, trumpets given to angels, fire hurled to earth—initiating God’s wrath via trumpet and bowl judgments on the ungodly.Revelation 8:1-5; followed by trumpets (Revelation 8-9, 11) and bowls (Revelation 16).
Trumpet and Bowl Judgments (Day of the Lord Wrath)God’s punitive wrath poured out: hail, fire, locusts, plagues, earthquakes, etc. This shortens the days for the elect’s sake but destroys Antichrist’s kingdom.Revelation 8-9 (trumpets 1-6), 11:15-19 (trumpet 7), 16 (bowls); Joel 2:1-11 (Day of the Lord).
Jesus’ Return with Glorified Saints (After Wrath, at Armageddon)Christ returns on a white horse with heavenly armies (raptured saints). Destroys Antichrist’s gathered armies, throws Antichrist and false prophet into the lake of fire.Revelation 19:11-21: “19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet … The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulphur.” Zechariah 14:1-5; Jude 1:14-15.
Millennial Reign BeginsSatan bound, first resurrection (including tribulation martyrs) reign with Christ for 1,000 years of righteousness.Revelation 20:1-6: “4 … They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. … 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection.” Isaiah 2:2-4; Zechariah 14:16-21.

This timeline reflects the PreWrath position that the rapture “cuts short” the Great Tribulation before wrath, allowing the church to be refined but protected from divine judgment.

Below is an updated and expanded chart incorporating the seven churches. I’ve added a dedicated column for the churches’ alignment with the seven-year timeline, including the key Scriptures for Philadelphia and Laodicea (NIV). The rest of the timeline remains consistent with PreWrath sequencing.

Phase / PeriodTiming Corresponding Church (Prophetic Alignment)Key Events & SequenceSupporting Scriptures (Core Verses, Including Churches)Notes on PreWrath Distinction
Beginning of the 7 YearsYear 1Ephesus (faithful but lost first love)Covenant confirmed; birth pains begin (conquest, war, famine, death)Daniel 9:27; Rev 6:1-8 (Seals 1-4); Matt 24:4-8; Rev 2:1-7Early trials test love for Christ; church urged to return to first works.
Early TribulationYear 2Smyrna (persecuted, poor but rich)Increasing persecution, martyrdom beginsRev 6:1-8 (cont.); Matt 24:9-14; Rev 2:8-11Faithful endure suffering; “be faithful unto death” promise.
Rising ApostasyYear 3Pergamum (faithful amid compromise/Satan’s throne)False teaching, idolatry infiltrateRev 2:12-17; 2 Thess 2:3 (apostasy buildup)Church warned against compromise with world/Antichrist influences.
Midpoint / AbominationYear 4 (mid-3.5 years)Thyatira (tolerating Jezebel/false prophetess)Antichrist revealed; abomination; Great Tribulation startsDaniel 9:27; Matt 24:15-21; Rev 13; Rev 2:18-29Intense spiritual deception; call to hold fast amid corruption.
Great TribulationYears 5–6 (cut short before end)Sardis (reputation of alive but dead; few faithful)Intense persecution, widespread martyrdom; refining of saintsMatt 24:21-22; Rev 6:9-11 (Seal 5); Dan 12:1,10; Rev 3:1-6Lukewarmness/deadness exposed; remnant urged to wake up; full martyrs accumulate.
Cosmic Signs (6th Seal)End of Great Tribulation (transition)Philadelphia (faithful, kept from hour of trial)Sun/moon darkened, stars fall, earthquake; God announces wrath has comeRev 6:12-17; Matt 24:29; Joel 2:30-31; Rev 3:7-13 (esp. v10: “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”)Faithful remnant (Philadelphia) raptured here; “open door” and protection promise fulfilled via rapture before wrath.
Rapture & ResurrectionImmediately after 6th seal, before 7th sealPhiladelphia (raptured faithful)Trumpet call: dead rise, living caught up; multitude in heaven from Great TribulationMatt 24:30-31; 1 Thess 4:16-17; Rev 7:9-14; Rev 3:10-13 (v11-12: promises to overcomers: pillar in temple, new name)Gathering of elect; Philadelphia kept from wrath hour (not through it); Laodicea not included.
Transition to WrathAfter raptureLaodicea (lukewarm, left behind)Silence in heaven; 7th seal; fire hurled to earthRev 8:1-5; Rev 3:14-22 (esp. v16: “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”)Lukewarm professing believers face wrath; call to repent ignored by many; “buy from me gold refined by fire.”
God’s Wrath (Day of the Lord)Post-rapture to end of 7 yearsUnbelievers and Laodicea church (enduring judgments)Trumpet/bowl judgments; plagues, Armageddon setupRev 8–9, 11:15-19, 16; Joel 2:1-11; Rev 3:16-19Explicit wrath on ungodly/world; church absent (raptured faithful); refining for any who turn.
Christ’s Return to EarthAfter wrathN/A (saints return with Christ)Jesus with glorified saints; destroys Antichrist/false prophet at ArmageddonRev 19:11-21; Zech 14:3-5Physical return; Antichrist thrown into lake of fire.
Millennial Reign BeginsImmediately after ArmageddonN/ASatan bound; saints reign with Christ 1,000 yearsRev 20:1-6; Isa 2:2-4Righteousness restored.

Key Insights on the Churches in This View

  • The progression mirrors the seals: early churches face “beginning of sorrows,” later ones the Great Tribulation’s intensity.
  • Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13) represents the faithful, patient-overcoming believers who endure tribulation but are promised exemption from the “hour of trial” (global wrath/testing). The “open door” (v8) symbolizes opportunity/escape via rapture; overcomers made pillars (v12).
  • Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22) depicts self-satisfied, lukewarm professing Christians left to face wrath (spit out, v16). They must buy refined gold (purified through fire/judgment) and repent (v18-19), but many won’t.
  • This supports PreWrath: Tribulation refines (faithful endure/persevere), but wrath is for the world/ungodly; faithful removed before it pours out.

This interpretive layer adds depth to why the rapture occurs post-Great Tribulation (refining complete for the faithful) but pre-wrath (protection promise fulfilled).

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR?

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The Scriptures reveal what our hope should be in, it is in Jesus Christ’s return. Verses about Jesus’ glorious return and the years immediately preceding it comprise nearly 25% of the Bible.

Our hope comprises all of the following: resurrection from the dead”(Acts 23:6), the hope of glory (new amazing body) (Col 1:27), to rule over the nations with Jesus (Rom 15:12), the presence of our Lord Jesus and all of our loved ones who know Jesus (1 Thessalonians 2:19). Note what Peter tells us to do: prepare our minds for action.

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13

.This is a lot to hope for, and all of these things happen upon Jesus’ return. Paul had this to say about those who only hope in this life and not in the return of the Lord:

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” 1 Corinthians 15:19

The Coming of the Lord
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this, we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord, himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

“Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it, we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body,” Philippians 3:20

“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.” Revelation 2:26-27

Our hope is for Jesus’ soon coming return when all of these wonderful promises will be fulfilled. Surely, we are prepared to face the coming tribulation knowing that the indwelling Holy Spirit will ensure we can handle it just as He did for Stephen when he was stoned to death. Even more important, surely you want to complete the work God has for you to do in these last days in order to receive His commendation.

“But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God… And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:55-56, 59-60

THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS PRIOR TO JESUS RETURN TO EARTH

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Alan Kurschner teaches the PreWrath timing of The Rapture of the church which I also hold. The predominant church position particularly in Charismatic churches is the Pretribulation position. This is a problem because it teaches that the church will not experience the “end times” tribulation that Jesus speaks of in the Olivet Discourse. The church will not experience the wrath of God which is poured out on an unrepentant world with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements once the seven seals around the Scroll are opened. But God allows the tribulation, which Satan administers, to purify His church. The wrath of God is poured out by God in judgement.

1260 Days, 42 Months, Time, Times, and a Half Time – Book of Revelation, Session 5 of 6

This is part 5 delivered by Alan Kurschner of 6 sessions from the Minnesota Bible prophecy conference on the Abomination of Desolation, Oct 1–2, 2021, at Conquering King Fellowship in Inver Grove Heights The speakers were Alan Kurschner and Ryan Habbena. I will post session 6 at a later date

GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS

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“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:9-13

These two verses show us we cannot claim Jesus did not tell us that Christians will face persecution in the last days as God refines His church before the Rapture. It shows the Pretribulation position held by much of charismatic church in the USA and Australia is untenable. The church will go through a refining process with the tribulation and even great tribulation but Jesus tells us that we will kept from the wrath of God that is poured out on the world with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements.

“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” Romans 5:9

“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:10

It is at the sixth seal that heralds the coming wrath of God

“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:15-17

The trumpet blast at the seventh seal is when the Rapture of the Saints on earth takes place and it is then John sees the Saints in heaven in their glorified bodies.

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10

Hold steady by keeping close to Jesus, by following the leading of the Spirit and by keeping short accounts with the Lord.  Confess sin quickly and be restored from all unrighteousness. Pray and seek guidance so that we can walk on the Highway of Holiness prepared for the ransomed, doing the things He has prepared beforehand for us to walk in – all for His glory. 

THE RAPTURE TIMING

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There is 99% proof that believers are raptured into heaven. Why 99%? Because few things are 100% in prophecy. Not only are there 3 verses that clearly show this, but scenes from Revelation also describe believers in Resurrection Bodies before the throne of God in Heaven. As most of you know, I often include Nelson Walter’s end times videos on this site and strongly recommend you sign up to his YouTube channel. I have met Nelson and am confident this humble man has been raised up by God to alert the church to the lateness of the hour and the many end times scriptures. Nelson also helps me with my other website http://www.powerpointsermons.net. You will be blessed by watching this video and am confident you will learn something new.

144,000 JEWS SEALED FOR WHAT PURPOSE?

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Who are the 144,000 sealed Jews in Revelation 7, after the sixth seal and the celestial disturbances and prior to The Rapture at the seventh seal? Immediately after they are sealed, John sees the raptured multitude in heaven standing before the throne of God crying out “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

We are told Jesus comes on the clouds and is seen by all tribes including the Jews who mourn. “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.” Revelation 1:7

In Revelation 14; we see the 114,000 are with Jesus in heaven singing before the throne. Are they the first fruits of the Rapture?

“They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth… These were redeemed from among men, being first fruits to God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 14:3-4

You will need to go to YouTube (click on it) to watch the video.

ALL THESES ARE THE BEGINNING OF BIRTH PANGS NOT THE DAY OF THE LORD

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Alan Kurschner of Eschatos Ministries does a creditable job to explain that Matthew 24:8 and 1 Thessalonians 5:3 do not explain the same events, which provides support for the PreWrath Rapture position: the Rapture occurs after the tribulation and great tribulation but before the wrath of God is poured out at the Trumpet and Vial judgements.

“Pretribulational proponents believe that the beginning of birth pangs that Jesus mentions in his Olivet Discourse refer to when the day of the Lord’s wrath begins and typically place it at the beginning of the seven-year period.

In an attempt to make the “beginning of birth pangs” in Matthew 24:8 describe the day of the Lord’s wrath, pretribulationists assert that this is parallel with Paul’s usage of “labour pains” in 1 Thessalonians 5:3, which clearly refers to the beginning of God’s wrath. However, it is obvious the respective contexts show that Jesus and Paul are not describing the same event, but actually very different events. The metaphor “birth pangs” is not a technical phrase to denote the day of the Lord as some wrongly claim. Context must determine the application of the usage of the common metaphor of birth pangs.

Let’s compare both verses:

“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of birth pangs.” (Matt 24:8)

“For you yourselves know perfectly that THE DAY OF THE LORD so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3

There are six differences that demonstrate that Jesus and Paul are using it for two separate and distinct periods.

1. Jesus’ usage in Matthew 24 describes events before the great tribulation; Paul’s usage is found at the inception of the day of the Lord. Jesus uses the birthing metaphor to warn that the end has not arrived (“Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come. . . All these things are the beginning of birth pains”). Paul uses it to announce that the end has arrived (“then sudden destruction comes on them, like labour pains,” cf. Isaiah 13:7–8).

2. Accordingly, Jesus emphasises the tolerable stage of “the beginning of birth pains” (Matt 24:8); hence, the reason he reassures, “Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come” (Matt 24:6). In contrast, Paul is drawing from Isaiah’s labour imagery focused on the intolerable stage of actual giving birth, “cramps and pain seize hold of them like those of a woman who is straining to give birth” (Isaiah 13:8).

3. Jesus teaches that the “beginning of birth pangs” is what Christians are destined to experience (Matt 24:4–8); Paul teaches just the opposite that Christians are promised exemption from the hard labour pains, the time of God’s wrath (1 Thess. 5:9).

4. The labour pains in Matthew 24 refer to natural events such as false christs, wars, famines, and earthquakes (Matt. 24:5–8). Paul’s reference is to the supernatural event of the day of the Lord (2 Thess. 1:5–8).

5. Jesus’ usage of the beginning of birth pangs occurs before the celestial disturbance happens (Matt. 24:8–29). But in the Isaiah passage that Paul is drawing from associates the birth pangs of the onset of the day of the Lord with the celestial disturbance (Isaiah 13: 8–10).

6. Jesus uses the birthing metaphor to apply to both unbelievers and believers (Matt 24:5–8). While Paul uses it exclusively applied to unbelievers (1 Thess. 5:3–4).

The interpreter must be careful not to fall into the similarity equals identity fallacy. Context is key.”

TIMING OF THE RAPTURE

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The debate between pretribulation and prewrath rapture scholars about Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians has been fierce – mostly centred around 2 Thess. 2:3 and the meaning of the Greek word apostasia.

Image result for book Rapture Case Cosed by Neslon Walters

Dr Nelson Walters of Gospel in the End Times has written about that passage at length in his book Rapture: Case Closed?  However, he points out in this presentation that very little discussion has taken place about the passage that precedes 2 Thess. 2 and provides its “context,” that is 2 Thess. 1. The eschatological material in chapters one and two are really one continuous teaching! We cannot understand chapter two without understanding chapter one that provides introductory thoughts on the more hotly contested chapter.

Nelson does a stellar job of presenting the Prewrath case for the timing of the Rapture in this seven minute video.

 

TENETS OF PREWRATH RAPTURE

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As some of my followers will have determined, I hold to a Prewrath Rapture position. It means that Christians will go through the tribulation period outlined by Daniel and John in Revelation, but not be subjected to the wrath of God that is poured out during the trumpet and bowl judgements.

For those of you who would like to explore this position further, I can recommend the resources produced by Alan Kurschner – Antichrist: Before the Day of the Lord and Nelson Walters – Rapture Case Closed? both who hold to the Prewrath Rapture position.

Don’t forget you can find sermons and videos relevant for these “last days” available for download on my other website http://www.powerpointsermons.net

I found the following fifteen tenets of the Prewrath position as outlined on Alan Kurschner’s website a great help and I hope you do too.

  1. There is a future seven-year period, and at the midpoint the Antichrist will be revealed and commit the abomination of desolation, initiating his great tribulation against the Church and Israel.
  2. There is a biblical distinction between the Antichrist’s great tribulation against the Church and Israel and the day of the Lord’s wrath against the ungodly. The latter event happens after the former event.
  3. The gathering of the elect mentioned in Matthew 24:31 refers to the rapture (cf. Mark 13:27; Luke 21:28; Rev 7:9–17; 1 Thess 4:13–18; 2 Thess 2:1).
  4. At an unknown day and hour during the second half of the seven-year period, the Antichrist’s great tribulation will be cut short by the Revelation of Christ to resurrect and rapture God’s people, and this will be followed immediately by the day of the Lord’s wrath with the trumpet and bowl judgements.
  5. On the same day the rapture happens, the onset of the day of the Lord’s wrath takes place, just as it was in the days of Noah and Lot (Luke 17:22–37; cf. 2 Thess 1:5–10).
  6. The second coming (parousia) is not a simple (instantaneous) event. The second coming is a complex-whole event containing various purposes of God, beginning with the Revelation of Christ in the sky displaying his Shekinah glory and power to the whole world, and resurrecting and rapturing God’s people, followed by the day of the Lord’s judgments upon the ungodly and Antichrist’s kingdom, restoring Israel to salvation, and culminating in Christ’s earthly reign.
  7. Although Armageddon is an element within the complex-whole second coming, Armageddon does not initiate the second coming; instead, the second coming begins between the sixth and seventh seal.
  8. The resurrection and rapture happens between the opening of the sixth seal and the seventh seal.
  9. The first six seals are not part of the day of the Lord’s wrath. The first six seals are conditional events that must happen before Christ’s return.
  10. The sixth seal signals the impending day of the Lord’s wrath as recorded in Joel 2:30–31; Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:25–26; Mark 13:23–25; and Revelation 6:12–17.
  11. The seventh seal pronounces the day of the Lord’s wrath.
  12. The trumpets, bowls, and Armageddon contain and execute the day of the Lord’s wrath.
  13. The trumpets, bowls, and Armageddon will not occur before the seventh seal is opened.
  14. Paul’s “last trumpet” (1 Cor 15:52) is not the seventh trumpet judgment in the book of Revelation.
  15. Christ’s return to resurrect and rapture God’s people is not imminent (“any moment”), since discernible prophesied events must happen first (e.g., the Antichrist’s revelation and his ensuing great tribulation; the apostasy; coming of Elijah; and a cluster of discernible celestial events). Christ can return in any generation of the Church.

—Alan Kurschner, 08/01/12

TIMING OF THE RAPTURE IS IMPORTANT

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Once again Nelson does a great job of challenging us all about the state of the church in these last days. What is the state of your church? Has it compromised with the worlds values? How many in your church are actually born again? Is it even discussing Jesus Second Coming and prophesied tribulation at that time?