Who is "caught up"? Can we know When to expect this? - Yes, since "We belong to the Day"

If you are believer who has trusted in Jesus Christ to be your Savior ( realizing it was His death and payment of all sin on the cross that is only thing that qualifies you to receive the gift of eternal life ),
then you are called a child of the day, and a child of the light.
Since "We belong to the Day", we can and should be rejoicing in knowing our future is secure, whether we die now before Christ's return to Earth, or find ourselves living through the Great Tribulation.

It's through having a clear understanding of promises of God, and the revealed prophesies in the Bible, that we can have a strong and confident faith that produces a out flowing of God's Love and Joy in our lives. And this can become a light to those around us. And salt to bring flavor into the lives of others.

Let's look at some of the promises and what to expect in the future.

Starting with,

I Thessalonians 4:17,
Then we who are alive, 

who are left,

will be caught up

together with them ( referencing the "dead" mentioned in the previous verse = I Thess. 4:16 ),

in the clouds

to meet the Lord

in the air,

and so we will always be with the Lord.

** When do we "meet the Lord in the air"?
Let's look at a passage in the book of Mathew,
talking about The Coming of the Son of Man

Mat 24:29  "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Mat 24:30  Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, 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.
Mat 24:31  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. 

No "secret" Rapture mentioned here. The elect ( i.e. born again children of God ) are gather at the end of the Tribulation period ( Detailed in the book of Revelation ). The misconception that being "caught up" occurs before the Tribulation period is a deception that has been taught for about 190 years, and stems from an incorrect interpretation of Daniel's 70 weeks prophecy ( Dan. 9:24-27 ), and this mis-interpretation ( by those who hold to a "Dispensational" view of the Bible ) is covered in detail in other postings.

***

So, what else does Paul share with the Believers in his letter to the Thessalonians?

The Day of the Lord
1Th 5:1  Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.
1Th 5:2  For you yourselves are fully aware that the

day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3  While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them 

as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 

*** This period of time when "people" will say "peace and safety" could be the same period we find in Revelation 11:3-13 in reference to the 2 witnesses that prophesy, and strike the earth with plagues for 1,260 days ( 42 months, approximately 3 1/2 years ).
After the 2 witnesses are killed, and their bodies lay in the streets of Jerusalem for 3 and 1/2 days,
the whole world ( who seem to be able to "look at their dead bodies for 3 and 1/2 days" Rev. 11:9 ),
seems to have a global celebration. They believe their problems are over. They now feel that everything is going to get better ( "peace and safety" ).

Rev 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 

1Th 5:4  But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

*** Please note here --- Believers should be not surprised. 
It should not catch us "off guard" like an unexpected "thief in the night". If you are paying attention - "watching", "waiting" as the scriptures advises us to be doing, then you will clearly understand what is happening. The signs and events will all make sense.
And while we are warned in Revelation 13:9-10 and 14:13, that many of us believers may be destined to captivity or to be killed, we can rejoice in knowing the Lord is about to return to Earth.
Knowing that this period of Great Tribulation will end soon ( as it is repeatedly referenced as period of not more than 3 1/2 years ).  Again, a topic for a whole other post.

The words of encourage for us who are believers are:
1Th 5:5  For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
1Th 5:6  So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
1Th 5:7  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
1Th 5:8  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9  For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10  who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
1Th 5:11  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 

To summarize:

"We" will be saved.

"They" will suffer "wrath and "destruction".
This message is for our Encouragement.
Despite the trials in our lives, or the Tribulations that are soon to come upon all the Earth, we can find peace and happiness in knowing our eternal life is guaranteed, and a glorious future is coming.
That is the message of the End Times --- Rejoice, the Lord is near.

Youtube version Caught Up = https://youtu.be/cYvA9XZ_ZHw

The 3 1/2 year Tribulation ( 42 months ) 1290 Days - 1260 Days = 30 days left for the 7th Trumpet ( 3rd woe ) - Final 7 Plagues = 7 ( Vials ) Bowls of Wrath

How long is the end times "tribulation" period that is talked about in the Bible?

A lot of people think / teach that it last 7 years.

But I don't see that in scripture.

Most teachers of a 7 year tribulation use a mis-interpretation of the passage in Daniel chapter 9,

where a period of 70 weeks is revealed ( reference 9:24-27 ). 

A subject worthy of it's own post.

For now, I'd like to share the clear verses we find in the Bible that make reference to periods of "time" and the end time events.

Starting with Daniel,

In Chapter 12 and verse 6, Daniels specifically asks 

"How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?"

Verse 7 references "a time, times and a half time" ( which is commonly believed to represent 3  1/2 years ).

Continuing in Daniel we read in chapter 12 verses 8 through 13,

"...Then I said, O my lord, what shall be the end of these things? 

And He said, Go, Daniel! For the words are closed up and sealed until the end-time.

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried. But the wicked shall do wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the desolating abomination set up, a thousand two hundred and ninety days shall occur.

Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

But you go on to the end, for you shall rest and stand in your lot at the end of the days." 

* Note --
Daniel tells us 1,290 days ( 12:11 )

Now lets take a look at some passages in the book of Revelation.

Starting with chapter 11 and verse 2, we are told

"and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months"

Also,

In Revelation 13:5 referencing the "beast", 

we learn that

"he was given authority to continue for forty two months".

 

Continuing in Chapter 11 of Revelation

verses 3 - 7 

tells us the TWO Witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days,

which is 42 months averaging 30 days each.

AND 

That they are killed by the beast 

with 30 days left of the 1,290 days foretold in Daniel.

We should also NOTE that the "end" 

when the "wrath of God" is pour out upon the whole world

starts soon after the 1,260 days of the TWO Witnesses has been completed.

Revelation chapter 11 verses 8 - 12 

We learn that

The Witnesses lay dead in Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days, 

and the world celebrates, 

and exchanges gifts. 

They believe the beast has rid them of their problems, 

since those "two prophets tormented those who dwell upon the earth."

Then in Verse 13  

there is "A Great Earthquake", 

and 

that will put an end to the "party" they were having in Jerusalem.

Verse 14 

we are told that the 2nd woe has past 

and the 3rd woe comes quickly

 ( which is the 7th and Last Trumpet ).

Verse 15  And the seventh angel sounded. 

And there were great voices in Heaven, saying, 

The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ. 

And He will reign forever and ever. 

My current "theory" is that 

Everything in the 3rd woe

which is the 7 vials/plagues/bowls full of the wrath of God 

we read about in Revelation Chapters 15 and 16,

all occur in less than 30 days.

And thus completing the 1,290 days foretold in Daniel.

In Revelation chapter 16 verse 1 we read,

"...Go and pour on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God."

The events of the last trumpet ( 7 bowls of wrath )

will destroy much of the earth and kills most of the life on this planet. 

And as Jesus said in Matthew 24:22 

"Unless those days had been cut short, 

no life would have been saved: 

but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short."

So, I conclude that the tribulation period of the end times is only going to last appromiately 3 1/2 years.

With the beginning and end times possibly around the times of the feast of Passover and the feast of Tabernacles. 

I will try to elaborate more on how the feasts times are important in a another post.

For now.... 

just be ready - watch - be alert, 

as you might find yourself in the tribulation period,

and then you can start counting down the days when you see all these things are occurring.

As Jesus said in Luke 21:28

"But when these things begin to take place, 

straighten up 

and lift up your heads, 

because your redemption is drawing near."

SEE Video version of this Blogpost here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKj6zTQnz4I