After-this

REVELATION CHAPTER 4

Revelation 4:1 (KJV) After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.

The things which must be hereafter.

After God has talked to the churches, he says I will show you what must come, AFTER.

Now we are going to discuss the Rapture – The word is not in the Bible, it comes from the Latin noun raptura.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 (KJV) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The Greek word used here is harpazo. It means to seize, catch away. I was referred to #G138 {haireomai - hahee-reh'-om-ahee} in the Strong’s concordance, as harpazo is derived from this word. It means to take to oneself, to prefer. Jesus will take to himself that which he prefers and he is going to do it in a catching or seizing away.

Now let us have some fun. It is time to decide once and for all, which boat load are you going in? The first, second, or third? Pre tribulation, which is the first boat load, mid tribulation / pre wrath, the second, or post tribulation, which is the last one.

First, the Post Tribulation view.

This view says that Jesus will come back at the end of the seven years of great tribulation / wrath. He will be seen coming in the sky by everyone. The dead in Christ shall rise as well as the living Christ like people. We will all meet in the air and then we will immediately follow Jesus back down to earth. He will wipe out satan and his hoard, then set up his 1000 year rule.

The post tribulation people say that there are no Bible verses that teach pre tribulation. They say that the pre tribulation theory has only been thought of and taught in the last 110-130 years. They say that Jesus would have presented a pre tribulation doctrine in Matthew 24 if it were true. They say he did not present it because there is not one.

If the post tribulation view is correct why would so many people refuse it for a pre tribulation belief?

Because our nature is to avoid pain, great discomfort and death. The great-tribulation / wrath is full of all three. Now that we have seen what the post trib. people say about pre tribulation, let us see how they defend their belief.

1 Corinthians 15:52 (NKJV) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

We will be raptured at the last trumpet, which then has to mean that we will be raptured near the end of the great-tribulation / wrath.

Luke 17:28 - 30 (KJV) Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. We see here that we will be raptured the same day the wicked are destroyed. This is the day spoken of in Revelation 19:21 (KJV) And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Matthew 24:29 - 31 (KJV) 29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days, he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. This, they say, proves we will be raptured after the tribulation.

John 16:33 (KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus himself told us that we would suffer tribulation.

These are not all of the reasons for post trib. but they are the four most often used.

Pre – Wrath / Mid – Tribulation

Revelation 6:12 - 13 (KJV) 12And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

The pre-wrath / mid-tribulation explanation I have been given is this, the rapture will take place at the sixth seal. This is when the sun and moon are darkened and the stars fall. Jesus says at this time he will gather his elect.

Revelation 13:7 (KJV) And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

They say that the church has to be here to fulfill this scripture. We will go through tribulation, but be taken out before the wrath of Jesus hits.

Revelation 6:15 - 17 (KJV) 15And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

We will now be taken out of the way, so as not to endure God’s wrath.

God does say there will be a rapture at the three and one half year mark.

Revelation 11:3 (NKJV) 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 (NKJV) 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 (NKJV) 11Now 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. 12And 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.

The two witnesses are the only ones I see in this rapture. There are no scriptures that outright say any one else is going up at this time. The One hundred forty four thousand are around for the plague of locusts during the last half of the 7 years, so they cannot be raptured at this time.

Pre – Tribulation.

It was because of verse 4:1 that we started talking about the rapture.

The pre – tribulation people say that they will be raptured just before the things which must be here after.

We are told that pre-tribulation is built on assumptions only. There is no one verse that says there will be a pre-tribulation rapture. Would someone turn to the verse that says “the trinity of God”. If there is no verse that uses the word trinity how do we come up with a triune God? Dan. 7:13-14 / John 14:16-17,26 / John 15:26-27; / Matt. 28:19 / 2 Cor. 13:14. I stated earlier that some post tribulation people say that pre-trib was not taught before the latter 1800s. The following is from a sermon ascribed to Ephraem of Nisibis (306-373 A.D.), "For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins" (geocities, 2009).

Now let us see why some people believe in a

Pre-Tribulation rapture.

1. The scripture 1 Thessalonians 1:10 says that Jesus “delivered us from the wrath to come”, Some will say this only refers to salvation and delivering us from hell, and 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 tells us that “we are not appointed to wrath”. God out right tells us who he reserves his wrath for. Nahum 1:2 (KJV) God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

Some people believe that the seven years are split between a time of great tribulation and wrath. I agree with this. The mid-tribulation people think we will go through the great tribulation but not the wrath. Some of the post- tribulation and mid-tribulation people tell us that we need to prepare for this time. We are told to save gold, silver, weapons and food. This way we can survive without taking the mark of the beast. God has something to say to those wanting to hoard their gold and silver.

Zephaniah 1:18 (NKJV) Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the Lord’s wrath; …

2. Will we go through the great tribulation? Are the pre-wrath / mid-tribulation people right? We know that we will see tribulation, 1 Thessalonians 3:4 (NKJV) For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, …

But, is there a difference between tribulation and great tribulation? Let us see what God’s Word says.

Revelation 3:10 (NKJV) Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from {out of, from, by, away from} the hour {any definite time, time frame} of trial {the trial of mans fidelity, integrity, virtue} which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

The King James uses the word temptation. This is a time of temptation or trial, the word wrath is not used here.

Jesus did use the term, “great tribulation”.

Matthew 24:21 (KJV) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Revelation 7:14 (KJV) And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

There is a difference between tribulation and great tribulation.

3. Some say that the 24 elders in Rev. 4.4 are 24 angels, some say they are not angels nor are they human, but some other form of God’s creation. What I want to know is, what does God’s Word say they are.

Revelation 4:4, 10 - 11 (KJV) 4And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 10The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

a. The word elders (plural) appears in the bible 179 times in 175 verses. It does not once refer to angels, not once.

b. Crowns of Gold. The various forms of the words angel and crown appear in the Bible 364 times. Out of that only 3 verses even have the 2 words in the same verse. They deal with Jesus being a little lower than the angels and crowned with glory. Psa. 8:4-5 / Heb. 2:6-7 & 9. Nowhere does God crown the angels but he does talk about crowning man. 2 Timothy 4:8 (NKJV) Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 1 Peter 5:4 (NKJV) and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

The answer is yes. These elders are humans who have received their rewards and are laying them at the feet of their creator. Not only does this show that the 24 are human but it also shows us that they have received their rewards.

4. The church is mentioned 19 times in the first three chapters of the book of Rev. It is not mentioned again until Rev. 22:16, which is the closing of the book. Why is the church not mentioned at all from Rev. 4:1 through the end of the book? If the church were to go through all this that is mentioned, one might think He would refer to her. Some say the word saints means the church, but all of God’s people throughout history are referred to as saints. Psalms 50:5 (NKJV) “Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” Psa. 116:15

5. In the Bible there are two totally different pictures of the Messiah. One meek, suffering, riding on the colt of a donkey, destined to die just for you and one of a conquering hero destined to rule.

In the Bible there are two totally different pictures of Jesus’ return.

Jesus coming for His church.

John 14:3 / 1 Thess. 4:16-17

Caught up with him in the air.

1 Thess. 4:17-18

Happens at the speed of light, the twinkling of an eye.

1 Cor. 15:52

A resurrection is spoken of.

1 Cor. 15:51-54 / 1 Thess. 4:16-18

We will not know the day or the Hour.

Matt. 24:36, 25:13

Pre-trib.

Daniel 9:27 (TLB) This king will make a seven-year treaty with the people, but after half that time, he will break his pledge and stop the Jews from all their sacrifices and their offerings; then, as a climax to all his terrible deeds, the Enemy shall utterly defile the sanctuary of God. But in God’s time and plan, his judgment will be poured out upon this Evil One.”

Some say this means he will strengthen or make effective an already existing covenant, either way, I personally believe in a literal seven year great tribulation/wrath period of time. With this in mind, we see that from the day the antichrist signs the peace treaty with Israel until Jesus returns is seven years. If anyone missed the first sign, our loving God gives them a second one, three and one half years from the desolation of the temple. {see appndx. 70th week of Dan.}

6. Isaiah 26:19 - 21 (KJV) 19Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. 20Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

First, we see the rapture, “your dead men shall live, they shall arise”. Then God tells them to come and enter into their chambers and shut the doors. Hide yourself until the indignation is over. H2195 zah'-am, fury (especially of God’s displeasure with sin): 1st we are raptured, then he will hide us in the chambers he has prepared for us, John 14:2c (KJV) I go to prepare a place for you. until God’s fury with sin is over. If this is not an old testament pre-tribulation promise I do not know what is. 21For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity:

7. One last point for pre-tribulation {until I find another one}. Does God say something or set up a pattern in his word for no reason?

Many people believe that the church officially started on the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts. Keeping this in mind take a look at this list of scriptures.

These are all of the scriptures with the words “let him hear” in the new testament.

Matthew 11:15 (KJV) 15He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:9 (KJV) 9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:43 (KJV) ...Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 4:9 (KJV) …He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 4:23 (KJV) If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 8:8 (KJV) …He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 14:35 (KJV) … He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Revelation 2:7 (KJV) 7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

Revelation 2:11 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches

Revelation 2:17 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches

Revelation 2:29 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches

Revelation 3:6 (KJV) 6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:13 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches

Revelation 3:22 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches

Revelation 13:9 (KJV) 9If any man have an ear, let him hear.

It seems conspicuous to me that the church is missing before the book of Acts and after Rev. 4:1.

I believe all three raptures are correct. The church will go before the great tribulation starts, the two witnesses will be raptured at the three and one half year mark, and those that find true salvation through Jesus during the tribulation will be taken up when Jesus returns to take over for 1000 years. Revelation 7:9 (KJV) After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; Revelation 7:13 - 14 (KJV) 13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Post-trib.

Revelation 11:11 - 12(NKJV) 11Now 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. 12And 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. Mid-trib.

Isaiah 26:19 - 21 (KJV) 19Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. 20Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Pre-trib.

Mark 13:27 (NKJV) And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth {tribulation saints} to the farthest part of heaven. {Church already in Heaven.}

I have heard people say the farthest part of heaven is the bodiless spirits to be given new bodies and the farthest part of the earth is the living church people. God tells us that the dead in Christ shall rise first, but in this verse they are mentioned second if this refers to them.

Now that we have looked at when the rapture will occur, let us look at the rapture itself.

1. Matthew 24:36 (KJV) But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Matthew 24:42 (KJV) Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 25:13 (NLT) “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

2. Matthew 24:32 - 33 (KJV) 32Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Luke 21:29 - 31 (KJV) 29And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Matthew 16:2 - 3 (KJV) 2He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

Hebrews 9:28 (KJV) 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

God has told us, in no uncertain terms, that we will not know the day or the hour that Jesus will be sent to get us. We see that we are to watch for him and know the season when his coming is near. We also see he rebukes those that do not discern the time.

3. 1 Corinthians 15:51 (KJV) Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1 Corinthians 15:53 (NKJV) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Philippians 3:21 (NKJV) 21who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Hebrews 9:27 (KJV) 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

This is telling me that our corrupt bodies must die and new ones be given us. I do not know how God will accomplish this, but I see it like this; as we are going up our old body disintegrates, {maybe from the top of the head down} and a new one instantly forms.

4. 1 Corinthians 15:52 (KJV) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, …

1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 17 (KJV) 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Matthew 24:31 (ESV) And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. His angels will gather us. Carry us away?

“unto them that look for him”

I do not believe the sinners will hear the trumpet nor see us leave. As Matthew 24:31 & 1 Corinthians 15:52 tell us we will be taken by angels at the speed of light. I do wonder if those left behind will hear a thunder clap when we go? Our bodies will be vanishing at the speed of light. This could cause thunder like a jet or lightning bolt. Wouldn’t it be interesting if the rapture created a world-wide roll of thunder.

We are now looking into the future of mankind. There are four systems of interpretation. The first is spiritual. Those that teach this say that this does not refer to the physical realm but is only talking about the spiritual realm. The second is the Preterist system, they say that this all took place during the first century A.D. and has no real relevance for us today. Third is the historical view which says that this is showing all of the church throughout history, which is partially correct if you include chapters one through three. The fourth view is the futurists who believe that from chapter four on is yet to happen.

We are now going to look at the end of the world systems as we know them. Over the next 16 chapters we will witness the end of the world’s financial system, the collapse of the world’s transportation system, the fall of the world’s educational system, the demise of the communication network and the end of the religious governmental system. God is going to bring down everything man has built and start over in the millennium.