the End Time Rapture of the church

Prophetical Meat for the body of Christ / equipping saints

What the Bible says about:

He is Near.com

I Thessalonians 4: 16-18:

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel , & with the trumpet of God; & the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then, we who are alive & remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, & thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words."

I Corinthians 15: 51- 52:

"Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed, in a mo- ment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet ; for the trum- pet will sound, & the dead will be raised imperishable, & we shall be changed."

These scriptures are clearly refer- ring to the miraculous moment of time when believers are "caught up" into the presence of the Lord. This event is known as the "rapture" of the church.

Although Jesus said that "no one knows the day or hour" (Mark 13:32) that the rapture will occur, He did say that we will recog- nize the nearness & the timing of this incredible event.

Jesus said, "Even so, you too, when you see all these things happening (meaning prophetical events of the end times), recognize that He is near, right at the door."

(Mark 13:29).

Rev. 13: 1

The exact middle of the 7 year Tribulation

Rev. 19: 11 - 20:3

The return of Christ to earth

"Voice of the archangel" (I Thess 4:16) found in Revelation 10: 3, 7

The last & 7th trumpet of God (I Cor. 15: 52) found in Revelation 11:15

When will the rapture occur ?

The answer to this question starts with close examination of the above "rapture" passages.

Both the "voice of the archangel" & the "last trumpet of God" in the above "rapture" passages are also found in Revelation's chronology of the final 7 year Tribulation period.

Clearly, Rev. 10:3, 7 & Rev. 11:15 place the rapture of the church somewhere within the 1st 3 1/2 years of the 7 year Tribulation period, & before the middle point, which is represented in chapter 13 of Revelation.

The "last trumpet" which Paul speci- fied, is clearly shown as the "7th" & actual "last" trumpet to be blown in the entire book of Revelation. It is blown in Rev.11:15. [shown below]

<------- 1st 3 1/2 years ------->

GREAT TRIBULATION

("WRATH OF GOD" / Rev.16:1)

<------- final 3 1/2 years ------>