The Question:
Does the Rapture occur before or after the Great Tribulation?
Let's look at 1 of the many proofs in the scriptures
That will help answer the question
once and for all
*
The timing of WHEN the Rapture
and
When the 2nd coming of Jesus is to occur,
can be seen in several scriptures that address this topic.
There are 2 events that can help us understand
When the Rapture
( Our Gathering to Christ ),
and the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ will occur.
NAMELY,
1 ) The First Resurrection
and
2 ) The Day of the Lord
Today I'd like to take a close look at the first one,
The First Resurrection.
We see the First Resurrection explained in some detail
in Revelation chapter 20 verse 4 - 6
We read
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them,
and judgment was given unto them:
and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus,
and for the word of God,
and which had not worshipped the beast,
neither his image,
neither had received his mark upon their foreheads,
or in their hands;
and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection:
on such the second death hath no power,
but they shall be priests of God and of Christ,
and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Now let's look at some other scriptures
that talk about the Resurrection.
Let's start with I Corinthians 15 verse 12
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead,
how say some among you
that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Then in verse 20 we read
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead,
and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
and continuing in verse 23 we read
23 But each one in his own order:
Christ the firstfruits,
afterward
those who are Christ's at His coming.
So we see that Christ has risen first,
and the rest will be resurrected at His coming.
More about His coming
and our transformation to our new glorified bodies
can be found
if you read further in chapter 15.
Looking at verse 42 we read
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead.
The body is sown in corruption,
it is raised in incorruption.
And the KEY Verses 51 - 53,
we read
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery:
We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed—
52 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put on immortality.
* The point I'm trying to show you here is
that Christ was raised first,
and we are told there is a future resurrection
of the believers who have died
And that is when living believers are to be changed.
Both things occur at the same time.
AND
since the First Resurrection occurs
after the great tribulation
and just before the 1,000 reign of Christ,
this "event" is a post tribulation rapture,
NOT before the tribulation,
because we see the Tribulations saints
( which could be us )
Included in this FIRST RESURRECTION.
Why some people can "SEE" this,
and others can not see it,
is a mystery to me.
Let me share another clear passage that references
both the time of Christ's Return,
and the resurrection of the dead
( those asleep in Jesus ),
and
includes again our gathering to be with the Lord.
In 1 Thessalonians
chapter 4 and verses 15 through 18 ( NKJV )
we read
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive
and remain until the coming of the Lord
will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice of an archangel,
and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
*** So, here again,
we see the timing of the RESURRECTION
to be the same time as
both the RETURN of Jesus Christ,
and
our being gathered to meet Him
( on His way back down to earth
to rule and reign for 1,000 years ).
As we know from Acts
chapter 1 verses 9 - 11,
He ascended in the clouds from the mount of Olives,
and will descend in the clouds to the same location.
And namely this passage
at the end of verse 11,
we read
This same Jesus,
who was taken up from you into heaven,
will so come in like manner
as you saw Him go into heaven."
I'll close this message
( 1st of 2 proofs ),
with Titus chapter 2 and verse 13
13 looking for the blessed hope
and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
AMEN
Youtube video version =
-- Saved by Grace,
Andrew Cross
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another,
and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.Hebrews 10:23-25
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