Transcript Document 7132783

© 2006 Brett Peterson
Rapture Overview
A few considerations…
-2Pe 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of
Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation
This means that the Bible will interpret any symbolism and
key phrases will be consistent (expositional consistency).
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Interpret scripture with scripture.
Do not hold to tradition or theory without Biblical support.
• Let’s get into the Word and see what God has revealed about the Last Days
and the Rapture of the Church
© 2006 Brett Peterson
First, What is the Rapture?
© 2006 Brett Peterson
What is the Rapture?
The Rapture:
1 Cor. 15:50 I declare to you, brothers,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God, nor does the
perishable inherit the imperishable.
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will
not all sleep, but we will all be changed-
© 2006 Brett Peterson
How will we be ‘changed’?
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, the dead will be
raised imperishable, and we will be
changed.
53 For the perishable must clothe
itself with the imperishable, and the
mortal with immortality.
How will we be ‘changed’?
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Rom 8:23 And not only this, but
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an
also we ourselves, having the first
eye, fruits
at theoflast
trumpet.
For
the
the Spirit, even we
trumpet
will sound,
the dead
will be
ourselves
groan within
ourselves,
raised
imperishable,
andadoption
we willasbe
waiting
eagerly for our
changed.
sons, the redemption of our body.
53 For the perishable must clothe
itself with the imperishable, and the
mortal with immortality.
We will be changed in an instant, however the whole event of
the Rapture may take longer
© 2006 Brett Peterson
•
•
•
•
•
He will come in the clouds
There will be an announcement of His coming and a trumpet call
The dead in Christ will rise first
Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up(changed in an instant)
Then we will be gathered together to meet the Lord in the air!
2Th 2:1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
Mat 24:31 "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and
THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end
of the sky to the other.
• Mat 24:32 "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its
branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves,
you know that summer is near;
• Mat 24:33 so, you too, when you see all these things,
recognize that He is near, right at the door.
• Mat 24:34 "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away
until all these things take place.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The main support for the
Rapture is this verse…
1 Thess. 4:15 According to the Lord's own
word, we tell you that we who are still alive,
who are left till the coming of the Lord, will
certainly not precede those who have fallen
asleep.
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.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
17 After that, we who are still alive
and are left will be caught up
together (gathered together) with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord
in the air. And so we will be with the
Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage each other
with these words.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
17 After that, we who are still alive
and are left will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to
Strong's 726. arpazw harpazo
meettothe
Lord in the air. And so we
seize:--catch (away, up), pluck, pull,
takewith
(by force),
will be
the gathered.
Lord forever.
•In Latin this isencourage
RAPIO. It is from
18 Therefore
each other
rapio that we get the word Rapture.
with these words.
•Thus, "Rapture" has the literal
meaning of being caught up,
gathered, or snatched away.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The Rapture is the most glorious
event that will ever occur in history.
It is when the Church (both those
who have died and those who are
alive, will be taken to be with Jesus
Christ. This is the first resurrection.
This is the glorious appearing of
Jesus Christ to the world!
When does this event occur?
© 2006 Brett Peterson
2nd Coming of Christ
First, what do most Biblical
scholars agree upon…
Whether pre-trib, post-trib, or pre-wrath, most premillennial scholars agree on the following timeline
of events…
Judgments
© 2006 Brett Peterson
1
2
3 4
Seals 1-7
The
5
6
‘s
7
Wrath
th
70
week
2nd Coming of Christ
‘s
7
Seals one through five occur during the first half of the 70th week of
Daniel.
The seven year period is divided into two halves separated by the
abomination.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The first half is anti-christ rule over Israel and most of the world.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The second half is God’s judgment and wrath and Israel protected in
the wilderness.
Rev 12:6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she
*had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be
nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
Rev 12:14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to
the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her
place, where she *was nourished for a time and times and half
a time, from the presence of the serpent.
• Note that the anti-christ has no power during the second half of the 70th week,
and God does not deal with Israel until after the abomination.
The 1st 5 Seals are Broken, The Four Horsemen are Released
All of this takes place in the first half of the 70th week of Daniel.
1st
White Horseman
Mt. 24:5
Rev. 6:1-2
Ten nations give AntiChrist powers.
Anti-Christ makes his
7 year covenant with
Israel. 70th week begins.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Rev. 13
Rev. 11
Israel Rebuilds their
temple
Rev. 11:2-6
Two witnesses prophesy for
3.5 years.Likely Enoch and
2nd
Red Horseman
3rd
Black Horseman
Mt. 24:6-7a
Rev. 6:3-4
Mt. 24:7b
Rev. 6:5-6
3 of the 10 nations refuse
to give Anti-Christ power,
he comes against them with
a sword and ‘uproots’ them.
Anti-Christ conquers.
Famine - This may lead
to the implementation
of the mark of the beast.
Rev. 13
Rev. 13:15-18
5th
4th
Pale Horseman
Mt. 24:7c-10
Rev. 6:7-8
Death by sword,
hunger, & beasts of
the earth.
Rev. 13:15 This will
be when those who
refuse to receive the
mark will starve and
be killed by the
anti-christ.
Martyrs
Matt. 24:9-13
Rev. 6:9-11
Martyrs asking
when the earth
will be judged.
II Peter 4:16-18
II Thess.chpt. 1&2
Rev. 13:7-10
Lk. 21:16
Elijah. (Mal. 4:5) or Moses and Elijah, both of whom were reported in Jewish tradition as having been taken up to God without
dying. The LORD’s secret burial of Moses (Deut 34:6) led to the tradition that he had not died but ascended; Elijah’s being taken
up is described in 2 Kings 2:1-12.
Matt. 11:13-15;17:11&12
John 1:21 (John was not Elijah re-incarnated!) The two witnesses prophecy this entire time until the 6th seal is broken.
Antichrist’s Reign
Antichrist’s Runs
2nd Coming of
Christ
10 Kings
3
uprooted
1 seal
5 seal
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Israel follows false messiah--------
7 seal
Israel protected & sealed--------
1000
Year
The
th
70
week
reign
The antichrist will only have power for 3 and ½ years! This is
the first half of the 70th week of Daniel!
Then the sixth seal is broken…Revelation Chapter 6.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The last half of the 70th week of Daniel God’s wrath will be
unleashed on this planet, and no one will have control.
Rev 6:15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and
the commanders (this includes the antichrist)and the rich and
the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in
the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks,
"Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on
the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;
Rev 6:17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and
who is able to stand?"
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The antichrist will only have power for 3 and ½ years! This is
the first half of the 70th week of Daniel!
Then the sixth seal is broken…Revelation Chapter 6.
Dan 7:24 'As for the ten horns, out of this
ten70
kings
will of
arise;
andGod’s
another
th week
The lastkingdom
half of the
Daniel
wrath will be
will arise
afterplanet,
them, and
and no
he one
will be
unleashed
on this
willdifferent
have control.
from the previous ones and will subdue
Daniel
'He will
out men and
Rev 6:15three
Thenkings.
the kings
of 7:25
the earth
andspeak
the great
against the
Most
High the
andantichrist)and
wear down the
the commanders
(this
includes
the rich and
saints of the Highest One, and he will intend
the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in
makeand
alterations
in times
in law;
and
theto
caves
among the
rocksand
of the
mountains;
will
be *said
givento
into
hand for a
time,
Rev 6:16they
and
they
thehis
mountains
and
to the rocks,
times,
a time.
"Fall on us
and and
hidehalf
us from
the presence ofthHim who sits on
(this
must be
firstthe
half
of the
week!)
the
throne,
andthe
from
wrath
of 70
the Lamb;
Rev 6:17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and
who is able to stand?"
The antichrist will only have power for 3 and ½ years! This is
the first half of the 70th week of Daniel!
Then the sixth seal is broken…Revelation Chapter 6.
The last half of the 70th week of Daniel God’s wrath will be
Rev.
13:5
There
was
given
to
unleashed on this planet, and no one will have control.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
him a mouth speaking arrogant
Rev 6:15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and
words
and
blasphemies,
and
the commanders (this includes the antichrist)and the rich and
authority
to and
actfree
forman
forty-two
the strong and
every slave
hid themselves in
the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;
months
was
given
to
him.
Rev 6:16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks,
"Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on
He
has
authority
the
first
half
only!
the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;
Rev 6:17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and
who is able to stand?"
2nd Coming of Christ
Antichrist’s timeline
10 Kings
3
uprooted
© 2006 Brett Peterson
1 seal
5 seal
7 seal
1000
Year
The
th
70
week
reign
The Fifth seal – Christians killed
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Revelation 6:9-11 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw
underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because
of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had
maintained; (10) and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How
long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging
our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (11) And there was
given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they
should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow
servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had
been, would be completed also.
Matthew 24:(9) "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill
you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. (10)
"At that time many will fall away (The Apostasy)and will betray one
another and hate one another. (11) "Many false prophets will arise
and will mislead many. (12) "Because lawlessness is increased,
most people's love will grow cold. (13) "But the one who endures to
the end, he will be saved.
The Fifth seal – Christians killed
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Revelation 6:9-11 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw
underneath theRev
altar
the souls of those who had been slain because
13:7 It was also given to him to make war with the
of the word of God,
of the
they had
saints and
and tobecause
overcome them,
and testimony
authority overwhich
every tribe
and and
peoplethey
and tongue
given to
him. 8 saying,
All
maintained; (10)
criedand
outnation
withwas
a loud
voice,
"How
who and
dwelltrue,
on the will
earthYou
will worship
everyone
whose
long, O Lord, holy
refrainhim,
from
judging
and avenging
name has not been written from the foundation of the world
our blood on those
who dwell on the earth?" (11) And there was
in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. 9 If
given to each ofanyone
themhas
a an
white
and10they
were
told that
ear, letrobe;
him hear.
If anyone
is destined
for they
to captivity
he goes;
if anyone
kills withof
thetheir fellow
should rest for acaptivity,
little while
longer,
until
the number
sword,
with the sword
must to
be killed.
Here is
the as they had
servants and their
brethren
whohewere
be killed
even
perseverance and the faith of the saints.
been, would be completed also.
Matthew 24:(9) "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill
you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. (10)
"At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate
one another. (11) "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead
many. (12) "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love
will grow cold. (13) "But the one who endures to the end, he will be
saved.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The Fifth seal Part II Not all Christians are killed…
Matthew 10:17-33 "But beware of men, for they will hand you over to
the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; (18) and you will
even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a
testimony to them and to the Gentiles. (19) "But when they hand you
over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be
given you in that hour what you are to say. (20) "For it is not you who
speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. (21)
"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and
children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to
death. (22) "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the
one who has endured to the end who will be saved. (23) "But
whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I
say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the
Son of Man comes. (32) "Therefore everyone who confesses Me
before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in
heaven. (33) "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny
him before My Father who is in heaven.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Rev 2:10 'Do not fear what
you are about to suffer.
Behold, the devil is about to
cast some of you into prison,
so that you will be tested,
and you will have tribulation
for ten days. Be faithful until
death, and I will give you the
crown of life.
Rev 2:11 'He who has an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches. He who
overcomes will not be hurt
by the second death.'
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Mar 13:6 "Many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He!' and will mislead
many.
Mar 13:7 "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be
frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.
Mar 13:8 "For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be
famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. 9 "But be
on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be
flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings
for My sake, as a testimony to them.
10 "The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 "When they
arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you
are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who
speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. 12 "Brother will betray brother to death,
and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have
them put to death.
13 "You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who
endures to the end, he will be saved. 14 "But when you see the
ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing where it should not be (let the
reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the
mountains.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
This is telling us not all Christians will be killed…
Matthew 10:17-33 "But beware of men, for they will hand you over to
the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; (18) and you will
even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a
testimony to them and to the Gentiles. (19) "But when they hand you
This is speaking to the Church, not Israel.
over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be
given
you inIsrael
that hourwill
what persecute
you are to say.the
(20)Church
"For it is not you who
Notice
speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. (21)
during
with
theand
antichrist
they
"Brother
willthis
betraytime
brother
to death,
a father his–
child;
andwill
children
against
parents andThey
cause them
be put to
thinkwill
herise
is uptheir
Messiah!
are toprotected!
death. (22) "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the
one who has endured to the end who will be saved. (23) "But
whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I
say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the
Son of Man comes. (32) "Therefore everyone who confesses Me
before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in
heaven. (33) "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny
him before My Father who is in heaven.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
It is important to note that Israel will never
be persecuted by the antichrist. They will
have a treaty until he goes into the temple
and proclaims himself god.
At that time Israel will be taken to the
wilderness and protected, and 144,000
Jews will be sealed and protected as they
go out and gather Israel to the wilderness
location!
In fact, only the Church will be persecuted!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
This is when the church will be refined.
Joh 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in
Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation,
but take courage; I have overcome the world."
Rom 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword? (note how all these things
we will endure in the first 5 seals!)
Jesus told us in the letters to the churches:
Rev 2:10 'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold,
the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that
you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten
days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of
life.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
This is when the church will be refined.
Joh 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in
Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation,
but take courage; I have overcome the world."
Rom 8:35
Who
separate
us from
of Christ?
Rom
5:3willAnd
not only
this, the
but love
we also
Will tribulation,
or persecution,
famine, or
exult in or
ourdistress,
tribulations,
knowing or
that
nakedness, or peril, or sword? (note how all these things
tribulation brings about perseverance; 4
we will endure in the first 5 seals!)
and perseverance,
proven
and
Jesus
told us in the letters
to character;
the churches:
hope;
5 andtohope
does
Rev 2:10 proven
'Do not character,
fear what you
are about
suffer.
Behold,
disappoint,
of Godso that
the devilnot
is about
to cast because
some of the
you love
into prison,
you willhas
be tested,
and you
have our
tribulation
been poured
outwillwithin
hearts for ten
days. Be faithful
and I will
give
you
the crown
of
throughuntil
thedeath,
Holy Spirit
who
was
given
to
life.
us.
The Fifth seal – Part 4
It is in the midst of the 5th seal that the
antichrist will go into the temple and
proclaim himself god!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
As he is persecuting the church, he will feel
like he is more powerful than God.
Matthew 24:(15) "Therefore when you see the
ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of
through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the
reader understand), (16) then those who are in Judea must
flee to the mountains. (17) "Whoever is on the housetop
must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.
The Fifth seal – Part 3
Dan 9:27 "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one
During
persecution
of beleivers,
the
gospel
will be
week,the
butintense
in the middle
of the week
he will put
a stop
to sacrifice
preached
tooffering;
the whole
and grain
andearth!
on the wing of abominations will come one
who makes
desolate,
even
until aofcomplete
destruction,
onepreached
that is
Matthew
24:14-19
"This
gospel
the kingdom
shall be
in
is poured
on the onetowho
makes
desolate."
thedecreed,
whole world
as aout
testimony
all the
nations,
and then the end will
© 2006 Brett Peterson
come.
Dan 11:36 "Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt
and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous
th seal that the antichrist
It is
in
the
midst
of
the
5
things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the
indignation
for that which
decreed willhimself
be done. god!
will
go intois finished,
the temple
and isproclaim
Matthew 24:(15) "Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF
DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet,
standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), (16) then
those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. (17) "Whoever is
on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his
house.
The antichrist is now revealed!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The
th
70
week
2nd Coming of Christ
End time events in perspective
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The
th
70
week
2nd Coming of Christ
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The
th
70
week
2nd Coming of Christ
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The
th
70
week
2nd Coming of Christ
© 2006 Brett Peterson
2nd Coming of Christ
There are many views of when the
rapture takes place……
The
th
70
week
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Pre
Mid
The
Pre-wrath
th
70
Post
week
2nd Coming of Christ
These four are the most
accepted…
What does the Bible say?
Here is what we know for sure…
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Joh 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but
he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the
wrath of God abides on him."
1Th 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for
obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He
raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from
the wrath to come.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His
blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through
Him.
• The first point that three of the views agree upon –
we will not be here for the wrath of God.
So, when does the wrath of God occur?
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Rom 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and
unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in
the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of
God, (seventh seal – trumpet judgments)
This comes at the end of the sixth seal, when the wrath
begins…
Rev 6:16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks,
"Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits
on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;
Rev 6:17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and
who is able to stand?"
The wrath begins at the breaking of the seventh
seal. This is the ‘trumpet judgments, and the last
trumpet starts the ‘bowls of wrath’.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Why does the wrath come?
Rev 6:9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw
underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain
because of the word of God, and because of the testimony
which they had maintained;
Rev 6:10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How
long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and
avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
Rev 6:11 And there was given to each of them a white robe;
and they were told that they should rest for a little while
longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their
brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would
be completed also.
It is not a judgment that leads to repentance, it is penalty for
sin! The judgment already took place when they missed the
rapture!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Mat 25:11 "Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord,
lord, open up for us.'
Mat 25:12 "But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not
know you.'
Mat 7:22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did
we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out
demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Mat 7:23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you;
DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS
Rom 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant
heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath
and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
Rom 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave
room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS
MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Eph 5:5-6 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or
impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (6) Let no one
deceive you with empty words, for because of these things
the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
This will be a judgment on those who mistreated the Church and refused to repent
– they took the mark of the beast.
Rev 14:7 and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because
the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the
earth and sea and springs of waters."
© 2006 Brett Peterson
This is the ‘hour’ we will escape: Rev 3:10 'Because you have kept the word of
My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is
about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Rev 14:8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is
Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the
passion of her immorality."
Rev 14:9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud
voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his
forehead or on his hand,
Rev 14:10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full
strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone
in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
Pre
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Post
© 2006 Brett Peterson
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So, we can now add the ‘wrath’
To our timeline…
2nd Coming of Christ
We can also remove ‘Post’ because they
believe we will be here for the wrath, just
protected.
Pre-wrath
Post
Pre
Mid
© 2006 Brett Peterson
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Pre-Trib
Mid
Pre-wrath
© 2006 Brett Peterson
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2nd Coming of Christ
This leaves three views to consider.
First, lets address the arguments for pre-trib.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Tim Lahaye came up with several reasons pre-trib is Biblical.
Nowhere among their reasons will you find an appeal to a Bible
verse which specifically states the Lord will return before the
Tribulation. Why? Because it does not exist! LaHaye freely
acknowledges the absence of any explicit pre-Trib passages.1 (He
does, however, profess that all opposing positions share the same
weakness. This claim will be considered fully in another chapter.)
To get an idea of how rare it is for a major Bible doctrine to be
established without an explicit teaching in Scripture, consider the
counsel of premier pre-Trib scholar, John Walvoord. In his writings
he strongly condemns the promotion of any doctrine not explicitly
taught in the Scriptures. He refers to such practices as "desperate
exegesis."2 Desperate or not, the absence of a definitive text forces
pre-Tribulationists to engage in that very practice.
How should the absence of an explicit pre-Trib text affect our
inquiry? For one thing, it should raise the evidentiary standard for
their arguments. These arguments are not being offered to confirm
direct evidence—they are being offered in place of direct evidence.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
This is a fact that any honest Biblical scholar readily admits to!
Reason #1 for being a Pre-Tribulationist
"The pre-Tribulation view is the most logical view of Second
Coming Scriptures when taken for their plain, literal meaning
whenever possible."3
Pre-Trib Argument: The pre-Trib view provides the most
logical fit.
Pre-Tribulationists contend there is no single Bible passage
outlining the order of end time events.
II Thess. 2 does give us a clear order of events (more on this later)
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Matt. 24 gives us the signs of Christ’s coming to gather His elect for
the four winds (clear order of events)
Pre-Trib Argument: The Pre-Trib view is based on the literal
approach of interpreting Scripture.
At least ten times in his book, LaHaye intimates that those who
oppose pre- Tribulationalism do so because they have abandoned
the literal approach. Over and over, pre- Tribbers charge
spiritualization by opponents. Walvoord even refers to the "fact that
spiritualization of Scripture goes hand in hand with denial of the
pretribulation rapture."7
© 2006 Brett Peterson
This argument is easily disproved…
we find it is the pre-Trib camp which continuously engages in
spiritualization. For instance, consider the treatment of Revelation
4:1. This, of course, is the verse where pre-Tribbers contend the
rapture occurs. LaHaye freely admits the plain reading of the
passage does not support a pre-Trib rapture teaching, yet that does
not dissuade him from declaring it just the same. He writes, "The
Rapture of the church is not explicitly taught in Revelation 4 but
definitely appears here chronologically at the end of the church age
and before the Tribulation"
© 2006 Brett Peterson
This is not taking the literal interpretation of this text in any way!
(more on this when we get to Rev. 4 in class)
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Notes:
Tim LaHaye, No Fear of the Storm, p. 188.
John Walvoord, The Rapture Question, p. 72.
Tim LaHaye, No Fear of the Storm, p. 219.
Hal Lindsey, There's a New World Coming, p. 122.
Tim LaHaye, No Fear of the Storm, p. 240.
Ibid., p. 220.
John Walvoord, The Rapture Question, p. 72.
Tim LaHaye, Revelation, p. 76.
Number Two
"The Rapture is described as imminent."12
© 2006 Brett Peterson
"No unfulfilled prophecy stands between the church and the
Rapture, while many signs must be fulfilled before the
Second Coming."14
This is known as the ‘any moment’ theory of the Rapture. It could
occur right now, or it could have occurred in Paul’ lifetime, or that
of Martin Luther.
First, we know that world events were not in place for the Rapture
to have occurred prior to 1948.
In fact, only in that past 20 years has the world been in the position
to fulfill all the prophecies about the last days!
Note the following quote by Walvoord, as he seeks to establish the
doctrine of immanency. "The prospect of being taken to heaven at
the coming of Christ is not qualified by description of any signs
or prerequisite events. Here [referring to John 14], as in other
passages dealing with the coming of Christ for the church, the hope
is presented as an imminent hope."13
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Did you get that? By pre-Trib logic, because rapture passages
contain nothing to preclude immanency, they somehow "prove"
immanency!
• Joh 14:28 "You heard that I said to you, 'I go away, and I will come to
you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the
Father, for the Father is greater than I.
• Jesus clarified when He would come later at the Olivete Discourse
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Scriptural basis for the any moment rapture;
Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord
is coming. (Matt. 24:42).
Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day or the hour. (Matt.
25:13).
For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an
hour when you do not think He will. (Matt. 24:44).
However, in context, all of these passage have signs that precede the
coming!!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Walvord admits that there are NO passages teaching the concept of
imminence - . Instead, he offers passages which, in his words,
"contribute to the concept of imminence."
Among these are, John 14:1-3, I Thessalonians 4-5,
and I John 3:1-3.
Joh 14:1 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God,
believe also in Me.
Joh 14:2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it
were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place
for you.
Joh 14:3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you
may be also.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
•
•
Jesus later gave them the signs of His return – Matt. 24
About 25 years after the Lord spoke the words recorded in John 14, the Apostle Paul
wrote a letter to the church at Corinth. In that letter (under the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit), Paul revealed the mystery of the rapture of the church. "Behold, I tell you a
mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised
imperishable, and we shall be changed." (I Corinthians 15:51-52). A mystery,
according to Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, is a truth
previously withheld by God, but now made known by Divine revelation.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The second section of Scripture Walvoord offers in defense of
imminency is I Thessalonians, Chapters 4 and 5. However,
he makes reference to just one verse: "Therefore, comfort
one another with these words." (4:18). Walvoord does not say
how this passage contributes the concept of imminency. He
merely asserts the rapture had been taught as an imminent
hope. LaHaye, however, is not so reticent. From this phrase,
he develops a "comfort" argument in favor of imminency. In
his words, "the hope and comfort aspect of the Rapture
demands that we escape the Tribulation, being raptured out
of this world before God's wrath begins." 8
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The second section of Scripture Walvoord offers in defense of imminency
is I Thessalonians, Chapters 4 and 5. However, he makes reference to
just one verse: "Therefore, comfort one another with these words." (4:18).
Walvoord does not say how this passage contributes the concept of
imminency. He merely asserts the rapture had been taught as an
imminent hope. LaHaye, however, is not so reticent. From this phrase, he
develops a "comfort" argument in favor of imminency. In his words, "the
hope and comfort aspect of the Rapture demands that we escape the
Tribulation, being raptured out of this world before God's wrath begins." 8
• In context, this was written to comfort them about those who died as
believers! The comfort is that they will be raised! It’s the resurrection of the
dead that is comforting!!!!
The third passage which, we are told, contributes to
imminency is I John 3:1-3. "See how great a love the Father
has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of
God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not
know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are
children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall
be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him,
because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who
has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is
pure."
© 2006 Brett Peterson
•
•
This verse actually supports the appearing of Christ at the Rapture and helps disprove
the ‘secret rapture’ misconception!
? Obviously, it offers no indication that a Coming of the Lord is without reference to
signs. Walvoord, however, suggests the presence of the word hope amounts to an
argument for imminency. "The hope of seeing Christ as He is and being like Him is a
purifying hope." And this hope, he claims, "is realistic in proportion to its imminency."
10
© 2006 Brett Peterson
To grasp the futility of this logic, we need only view the
formal argument.
First premise: Believers should be concerned about the Coming of
the Lord for the Church (the rapture).
Second premise: If an event is imminent, believers will be more
concerned.
Conclusion: The coming of the Lord for the church is always
presented as an imminent event.
Believe it or not, the three passages above, along with their
corresponding arguments, represent the strongest "Biblical"
arguments to be found in behalf of this doctrine. Little wonder
Walvoord could not bring himself to say these passages
actually teach imminency.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Scripture NEVER presents the rapture as a signless (imminent)
event. But the problems for imminency do not stop there. Perhaps
even more threatening is the fact that a number of Scriptures seem
to contradict the doctrine.
These problem texts imply that either an extended period of
time or certain prophesied events must transpire before the
Lord's return. Following are six such texts:
© 2006 Brett Peterson
. The Lord's promise to Peter that he would die at an old age. (See
John 21:18-19). Herein is a huge problem for imminency. If the
rapture was presented as imminent, as pre-Tribbers maintain, that
means it could have happened at any moment from Pentecost until
now. Yet, the Lord, Himself, prophesied that Peter would die an old
man. This prophecy directly contradicts the pre- Trib doctrine of
imminency
• That the rapture could occur at any moment. A number of years would have to
pass before Peter became old and died. That means, at least during those
intervening years, the rapture could not have occurred. Otherwise, Peter would
have been translated, which would have made the Lord a false prophet.
• That the rapture is without reference to signs. Based on the Lord's prophecy, it
was impossible for the rapture to occur before at least one future event—that
being Peter's death. The obvious implication is that the Lord did not teach
imminency.
The parables which imply a long interval of time before the
Lord returns. (See Matt. 25:14-30, the parable of the talents;
Luke 19:11-27, parable of the minas). These passages argue
against the concept of an any moment rapture.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
First;
Mat 25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable
to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the
bridegroom.
• Notice, they went out from the brides house to meet the bridegroom, meaning
they knew the day, they simply did not know the hour of His coming.
• Usually the bridegroom came right at Sundown, as the first star appeared in
the sky.
Mat 25:2 "Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
Mat 25:3 "For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
Mat 25:4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 "Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began
to sleep.
Mat 25:6 "But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out
to meet him.'
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Mat 25:13 "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
1Th 5:4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you
like a thief;
1Th 5:5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of
darkness;
1Th 5:6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
1Th 5:7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk
get drunk at night.
1Th 5:8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate
of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
• The wise virgins were those who were ready to wait, to endure, to overcome
the night. They were alert to the dangers of worldliness and complacency.
Walvord, although admitting there are texts which raise difficulties for the doctrine of
imminency, he states, "most of the hindrances to the coming of the Lord at any moment in
the first century no longer exist. A long period has elapsed; Peter and Paul have gone home
to the Lord; only the specific signs of Matthew 24-25 remain to be fulfilled."
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Matt. 24 & 25 are the Rapture, not the second coming!
Mat 24:36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,
nor the Son, but the Father alone.
Mat 24:37 "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
Mat 24:38 "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
Mat 24:39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all
away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Mat 24:40 "Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will
be left.
Mat 24:41 "Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will
be left.
Mat 24:42 "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is
coming.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Ulimately, the doctrine of imminency rests on fear of two things…
Pastor Chuck Smith said that if the Rapture isn’t imminent, no one would be in
Church. They would know they had time to ‘play’ until the tribulation started,
and then they would get right with God.
LaHaye also suggested that apart from the anticipation that goes with an
imminent rapture, the church would become "carnal and spiritually dead." In
other words, he argues that the Lord's return is imminent, simply because, in
his opinion, imminency is necessary for the well-being of the church.
Lahaye said that if the Church had to go through hard times, she would not
survive.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
I categorically disagree with both statements!
This is escapism mentality and denies the Power of God to preserve His
Church even if the gates of hell come against it!!!!!!!!
• Mat 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I
will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Tim LaHay writes, "It is impossible to understand how a loving
bridegroom, as the Lord presents Himself, would permit His church
(which Ephesians 5 designates as His bride) to suffer such a terrifying
time just prior to their wedding, marriage supper, and one-thousand-year
honeymoon." 10
, "...and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that
they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced
mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They
were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to
death with the sword; they went about in goatskins, being destitute,
afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering
in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground." (Hebrews
11:35-38). And how did Peter comfort the believers of that day? It was
through what could be called another rendition of Paul's "blessed hope":
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, as though
some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you
share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that at the revelation
of His glory, you may rejoice with exaltation." (I Peter 4:12-13).
Today, Christians are being beheaded, tortured, and killed for their
faith all over the 10/40 window.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
We are told to;
Jam 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you
encounter various trials,
Jam 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces
endurance.
Jam 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you
may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
LaHaye's writings: "Frankly, one of my principal objections to the
mid- and post-Trib theories is their destruction of imminency. For if
Christ cannot come at any moment, these views cannot instruct us
to look for His return. Instead they advise us to look for the
inaugurating of the Tribulation period, when Antichrist signs a
covenant with Israel for seven years for the rebuilding of the
Temple, the mark of the Beast, the advent of Antichrist himself..."
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Yes, this sounds like God’s Word!
1Jo 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard
that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have
appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
• This does not preclude the longing to go home and be with the Lord! The
waiting for and looking for the signs that would indicate Christ’s soon return!
• Paul said; Phi 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Next Argument by pretibbers;
"It explains why there is no Bible instruction on preparation for
the Tribulation." 1
LaHaye writes, "Doesn't it seem strange that although the Bible
advises Christians how to face ordinary, everyday troubles, it
submits absolutely no instructions related to the worst time the
world will ever face, a period filled with frightening events that
have never even come close to being fulfilled? Pre-Tribs have a
simple answer. We won't be there!"
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Folks, the Bible is filled with information on how to endure to the
end! And encouragement to the Church for the exact events of the
first 5 seals!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Rom 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE
ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE
CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."
Rom 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly
conquer through Him who loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor
things to come, nor powers,
Rom 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created
thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Tribulation is to be expected in the life of a Christian. "In the
world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome
the world." (John 16:33). And again, "Through many
tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22).
In fact, afflictions are a believer's destiny. "...for you yourselves
know we have been destined for this." (I Thessalonians 3:3).
Persecution is also to be expected. "All who desire to live godly
in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (II Timothy 3:12).
All periods of calamity come from the hand of the Lord. "The
One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being
and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these."
(Isaiah 45:7).
But, God is faithful and will not allow us to be tempted (tried)
beyond what we are able to handle. (I Corinthians 10:13).
Though sin is definitely in view here, there is also an
implication that God will limit the amount of adversity that
comes to us.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
We are not to be surprised at the presence of affliction. "Beloved, do not be
surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for testing, as
though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you
share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of
His glory, you may rejoice with exultation." (I Peter 4:12).
We must never think the presence of affliction suggests the Lord has abandoned
us. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written,
'For thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep
to be slaughtered.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through
Him who loved us." (Romans 8:35-37).
We should keep a proper perspective, weighing present trials against eternal
blessings. "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of
glory far beyond all comparison." (II Corinthians 4:17).
We should count it all joy when we fall into diverse temptations (See James 1:24). And also, "But we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation
brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character, and proven
character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been
poured out with in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
(Romans 5:3-5).
© 2006 Brett Peterson
We are not to fear death at the hands of our persecutors. "And do not fear those who kill
the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to able to
destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28).
We must entrust ourselves entirely to the Lord. "Let those who suffer according to the
will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." (I Peter
4:19).
We should trust the Lord to see us through all our trials. "Many are the afflictions of
the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (Psalms 34:19). And also,
the Lord is "my strength and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of distress."
(Jeremiah 16:19).
We must make prayer and love toward the brethren our top priorities. "The end of all
things is at hand; therefore be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of
prayer. Above all keep fervent in your love for one another." (I Peter 4:7-8).
We must persevere during times of tribulation. (See Romans 12:12). "For you have
need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive
what was promised. 'For yet in a little while, He who is coming will come, and will
not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul
has no pleasure in Him.' But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but
of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:36-39). And
again, "After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you
to His eternal Glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish
you." (I Peter 5:10).
© 2006 Brett Peterson
General conditions during the Tribulation
Expect deception. Antichrist will come in accordance with the activity of Satan,
with all power and signs and false wonders. (II Thessalonians 2:9) In addition,
"many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many." (Matthew 24:11).
God will cause unbelievers to accept Satan's deceptions. "And for this reason
God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what
is false." (II Thessalonians 2:11).
Know that believers will be hated among all peoples because of the name of
Jesus. (Matthew 24:9)
Many who call themselves Christians will fall away when persecution starts. (II
Thessalonians 2:3). And from the parable of the sower, "And the one on whom
seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word, and
immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only
temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word,
immediately he falls away." (Matthew 13:20-21).
Even friends and family will betray Christians to avoid persecution. (Matthew
24:10, Luke 21:16)
Some believers (but not all) will be put to death. (Luke 21:16). Matt.10:33
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Some pre-tribers quote the following for proof of an early scholar who
supported a pre-trib;
Ephraem, the Syrian, A.D. 373, "...all saints and the elect of the Ruler are
gathered together before the tribulation which is to about to come and are
taken to the Ruler in order that they may not see at any time the confusion
which overwhelms the world because of our sins."
This is the only reference from antiquity that appears to teach a pre-trib
rapture, but when you read it in context, we find that he is talking about
the rapture taking place after the abomination of desolation!!
“But when the time of the abomination of his desolation begins to approach, having
been made legal, he takes the empire.... Therefore, when he receives the kingdom, he
orders the temple of God to be rebuilt for himself, which is in Jerusalem; who, after
coming into it, he shall sit as God and order that he be adored by all nations ... then all
people from everywhere shall flock together to him at the city of Jerusalem, and the
holy city shall be trampled on by the nations for forty-two months just as the holy
apostle says in the Apocalypse, which become three and a half years, 1,260 days. In
these three years and a half the heaven shall suspend its dew; because there will be no
rain upon the earth ... and there will be a great tribulation, as there has not been, since
people began to be upon the earth ... and no one is able to sell or to buy of the grain of
the fall harvest, unless he is one who has the serpentine sign on the forehead or the
hand....”
Further, this is not from Epraem’s works, but from a writing called ‘psuedoEpraem. That means it was not from Ephraem and can’t be dated accurately.
Jeffery, the pre-trib scholar who quoted Epraem and said he supported the
pre-trib rapture also said the following;
“Some of the early Church writers wrote about the persecution of the
tribulation as if the saints will be present. However, a number of early
Christian commentaries suggested that the Church will be delivered
supernaturally before the Great Tribulation.”
© 2006 Brett Peterson
I agree with him! The rapture will take place at the breaking of the
sixth seal – the great tribulation!!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
There are certain names, looking back through the
centuries, that stand out in Messianic history such as
John Wyclif, John Huss, Martin Luther, Philipp
Melanchthon, Hulreich Zwingli, William Tyndale, Nicholas
Ridley, Hugh Latimer, John Foxe, Edwin Sandys, John
Calvin, Armenias, John Knox, King James, Isaac Newton,
Thomas Newton, John Wesley, and every writing prior to
1830 AD. It is of clear knowledge, that none of these men
believed that the church would be taken out before the
appearance of Antichrist. In fact, to the contrary, they
understood that the church would suffer at the hands of
Antichrist and the career of the man of sin, the Son of
Perdition, would be ended by the coming of Messiah at
the end of the age.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
George Ladd, seminary professor, after making a survey
of Church history says: "Every church father who deals
with this subject expects the CHURCH to suffer at the
hands of Antichrist: ...we can find no trace of pretribulationism in the early church: and no modern pretribulationist has successfully proved that this particular
doctrine was held by any of the church fathers or
students of the Word before the nineteenth century." The
Blessed Hope, pg. 31, George Ladd.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
"The Didache", written after the New Testament, is
considered to be one of the earliest pieces of Messianic
literature, stated that the Antichrist would come, that
many would be offended and be lost, and that this time of
woe would be followed by the resurrection of the just.
The Blessed Hope, Pgs. 20,21, Ladd.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Irenaeus (Polycarp’s disciple, and Polycarp was John’s
disciple)(130-202 A.D.) spoke of "the resurrection of the
just, which takes place after the coming of Antichrist." He
spoke of kings who "shall give their kingdom to the
beast, and put the church to flight. After that they shall be
destroyed by the coming of our Ruler." "In the end the
church shall be suddenly caught up" and having
overcome, will be "crowned with incorruption." It is
evident that Irenaeus did not believe in a pre-tribulation.
Against Heresies, Chap. 35:1; 30:4, 26:1; 29:1, Irenaeus.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Tertullian (160-240 A.D.) believed that Antichrist would
rise to power and persecute the church. He affirmed it
was customary for Christians to pray for a part in the
resurrection to meet Messiah at the end of the world. On
The Resurrection of the Flesh, Chap.22, Tertullian.
Walvoord, in The Rapture Question, pg. 148 says that
neither pre-tribulation nor post-tribulation rapture is taught in
scripture. I agree, and that leaves us with the pre-wrath
rapture view!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Dr. Richard Mayhue, who teaches at Masters Seminary and
believes in a pre-trib rapture states this in his The Prophets
Watchword, the Day of the Lord, pg. 181-182, “perhaps the
position of pre-tribulationism is correct although its proof at
times has been logically invalid”
Again, I agree. So what is the logical teaching of scripture?–
It looks to be the pre-wrath view
Yes, the church will be here until the great commission is
completed.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
It is a command to the Church and the final sign of Christ’s return…
© 2006 Brett Peterson
1Co 15:19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we
are of all men most to be pitied.
1Co 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead,
the first fruits of those who are asleep.
1Co 15:21 For since by a man came death, by a man also
came the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will
be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits,
after that those who are Christ's at His coming, (Rapture)
1Co 15:24 then comes the end
• Mat 24:14 "This gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in the whole world as a testimony to all
the nations, and then the end will come.
Note that the ‘end’ is the end of the Church
© 2006 Brett Peterson
1Co 15:19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we
age. Thisare
happens
atmost
the Rapture
of the
of all men
to be pitied.
1Co
15:20 But
now“fullness
Christ hasof
been
from the
dead,
Church.
The
theraised
Gentiles”
have
the first fruits of those who are asleep.
come
in.
The
end
is
when
we
have
taken
1Co 15:21 For since by a man came death, by a man also
the Gospel
tothe
allresurrection
nations. of the dead.
came
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will
be made alive.
Some
may
say
this
isn’t
the
Churches
job…
1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits,
after that those who are Christ's at His coming,
1Co 15:24 then comes the end
• Mat 24:14 "This gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in the whole world as a testimony to all
the nations, and then the end will come.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Act 1:6 So when they had come together, they were asking
Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the
kingdom to Israel?"
Act 1:7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or
epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
Act 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the
remotest part of the earth."
• Mar 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the
world and preach the gospel to all creation.
• Mar 16:16 "He who has believed and has been
baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved
shall be condemned.
The Great commission is given to the Church! We were
given the Holy Spirit to fulfill the great commission and see
the fullness of the Gentiles come in!
So, when does the fullness of the Gentiles come in?
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Rom 11:25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be
uninformed of this mystery--so that you will not be wise in
your own estimation--that a partial hardening has
happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has
come in;
Rom 11:26 and so all Israel will be saved
•
•
We find that the fullness of the Gentiles come in at the same time Israel
recognizes Jesus as Messiah and is saved – their hardened hearts are
opened!
Israel embraces Christ as Messiah after the abomination of desolation. They
are then taken to the wilderness and saved from the wrath of God and the
persecution of Satan.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he
persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.
Rev 12:14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that
she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a
time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
Rev 12:15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the
woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.
Rev 12:16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and
drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.
Dan 12:1 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the
sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never
occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people,
everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
Dan 12:2 "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to
everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
•
The woman is Israel – she is protected for 3 ½ years in the wilderness – the
last half of the 70th week of Daniel.
Daniel 12 breakdown:
vs. 1: “now at this time” When? When the AntiChrist is
back at the Holy Mountain. He will come to an end - an end
of his world peace and governance.
Michael is always seen as the protector of God’s people,
even Moses, in Jude, where he fights over the Body of
Moses.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
“ time of distress such as never occurred since there was a
nation until that time”
It is highly significant that our Lord Jesus in the Olivet
Discourse (Matt 24:21) picks up and enlarges on this
prediction, saying: "For then there will be great distress
[thlipsis] unequaled from the beginning of the world .
Jesus in context says this will take place just after the
Abomination of Desolation!
(this is the breaking of the 6th seal)
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Daniel 12 continued:
Vs. 2 the Resurrection - imperfect tense - an incomplete
action - an action and another action.
Our Rabbi’s agree - some will resurrect here for everlasting
life, the others will not resurrect now, but will stay in the
ground to their shame and be resurrected for judgement
later. (Midrash, Rambam, haMishnah, Sanhedrin 10,
Saadiah, HaRamban, and Emunos).
Jesus taught two resurections in John 5:28-29 by teaching a
"general" resurrection of the righteous and a general
resurrection of the wicked.
At Daniel 12:2, the angel taught Daniel that there would be a
general resurrection of the righteous and one for the wicked.
Daniel 12:13 speaks of a resurrection at the end of the age.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
There are only two resurrections!
This clarifies Daniel 12:
Rev 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and
judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who
had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and
because of the word of God, and those who had not
worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the
mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to
life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the
thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the
first resurrection; over these the second death has no power,
but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with
Him for a thousand years.
John has elsewhere indicated that the kingdom reign will be
shared by every believer who overcomes (2:26-28; 3:12, 21)
and is purchased by Christ's blood (5:10). Also, in 1
Corinthians 6:2-3, Paul clearly speaks of all believers--not just
martyrs--exercising judgment in the future. Revelation 5:10
indicates that the kingdom will be a "reign on the earth."
The first resurrection is the Rapture, and it happens after the
martyrs number is complete!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
This is just after the 5th seal! Again we see a resurrection
taking place at the 6th seal!
And all Israel will be protected in the Wilderness
Rev 12:5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to
rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was
Rom
11:25 up
For to
I doGod
not want
you,tobrethren,
to be
caught
and
His throne.
uninformed of this mystery--so that you will not be
Rev 12:6 Then
the woman fled into the wilderness where
wise in your own estimation--that a partial hardening
she *had a has
place
prepared
by God,
so of
that
happened
to Israel until
the fullness
the there she would
Gentilesfor
has one
come in;
be nourished
thousand two hundred and sixty
years)
Rom 11:26 anddays.(3.4
so all Israel will
be saved; just as it
© 2006 Brett Peterson
is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME
FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE
But the two wings
of the great eagle
UNGODLINESS
FROM JACOB."
Rev 12:14
were given
Israel
is blind
to the woman,
so
that she
coulduntil
fly into the wilderness to her
Rom 11:27 "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH
place, where
she
*was
nourished
for aSINS."
time and times and
the
abomination!
THEM,
WHEN
I TAKE
AWAY THEIR
half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
That’s when the
of was
the ‘caught up (raptured) at this
Who’s the ‘malefullness
child’ that
point?
gentiles come
in!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The Male Child rules with a rod of Iron and is raptured right
after the Abomination of Desolation.
Rev 2:25 'Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.
Rev 2:26 'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds
until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE
NATIONS;
Rev 2:27 AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF
IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN
TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My
Father;
Rev 2:28 and I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches.'
2Ti 2:12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny
Him, He also will deny us;
Rev 5:10 "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests
to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the
first resurrection; over these the second death has no power,
but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with
Him for a thousand years.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
At this time a great multitude that no one can count
appears in heaven.
This is the first resurrection!
(Rev 20:6) Blessed and holy is the one who
has a part in the first resurrection; over these
the second death has no power, but they will
be priests of God and of Christ and will reign
with Him for a thousand years.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The first Resurrection – the Rapture
The second Resurrection – judgment
Revelation 20:4-6 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them,
and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of
those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of
Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had
not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received
the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came
to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (5) The
rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years
were completed. This is the first resurrection. (6) Blessed
and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection;
over these the second death has no power, but they will be
priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a
thousand years.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
All of this happens at the sixth seal – even what Daniel
prophesied:
Dan 12:1 "Now at that time
Michael, the great prince who stands guard
over the
sonssecond
of your people,
will arise. And–there
will be a time of distress
The
Resurrection
judgment
such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that
Revelation
Then
I saw
and
they
sat
time20:4-6
your people,
everyone
who thrones,
is found written
in the
book,
willon
be them,
and judgment
givenofto
them.
AndinIthe
saw
rescued. Danwas
12:2 "Many
those
who sleep
dust the
of thesouls
ground of
will
awake,
these
to everlasting
life, butbecause
the others to of
disgrace
everlasting of
those who
had
been
beheaded
theirand
testimony
contempt. (Two resurrections separated by 1000 years!
Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had
not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received
the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came
to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (5) The
rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years
were completed. This is the first resurrection. (6) Blessed
and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection;
over these the second death has no power, but they will be
priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a
thousand years.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Thus, the rapture happens after the
abomination of desolation, prior to the
wrath, and is given signs that
correspond to the sixth seal.
We already established there will be a
resurrection at the sixth seal.
(Matt. 24 and Daniel 12)
Let’s review …
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The Day of the Lord begins – the breaking of the 6th seal
Revelation 6:12-17 I looked when He
Matthew 24:29-31 "But
broke the sixth seal, and there was a
immediately after the tribulation of
great earthquake; and the sun became
those
days THE
SUN WILL
BE immediately
Matthew
24:29-31
"But
after the tribulation of
black as sackcloth made of hair, and
DARKENED, AND THE MOON
those days THE SUN WILL BEthe
DARKENED,
AND
whole moon became
like THE
blood;
WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND
(13) andAND
the stars
of theSTARS
sky fell to the
MOON
WILL
NOT
GIVE
ITS
LIGHT,
THE
THE STARS WILL FALL from the
earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs
sky,
and FALL
the powers
the sky, and the
WILL
fromof the
powers
ofa the
when
shaken by
great heavens
wind. (14)
heavens
be shaken.
(30)"And thenThe
was split
apart Son
like a scroll
will be will
shaken.
(30)
theskysign
of the
of Man
when
it
is
rolled
up,
and
every
"And then the sign of the Son of
will will
appear
sky,
and then mountain
all the and
tribes
themoved
earth
islandof
were
out
Man
appearin
in the
the sky,
and
of SON
their places.
Then
the kings of
will all
mourn,
and
they
will
OF (15)
MAN
COMING
then
the tribes
of the
earth
willsee the
the earth and the great men and the
mourn,
and
they
will
see
the
SON
ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY
with power
and
great
commanders
and the
rich and
the
OF MAN COMING ON THE
strong His
and every
slavewith
and free
glory. (31)
"And
send forth
angels
A man
CLOUDS
OF THE
SKY He
with will
power
hid themselves in the caves and
GREAT
TRUMPET
THEY WILL
GATHER
and
great glory.
(31) "Andand
He will
among the
rocks of theTOGETHER
mountains;
send
angels
with
A winds, from
(16) and
they
*saidof
to the
the mountains
His forth
electHisfrom
the
four
one
end
sky to
GREAT TRUMPET and THEY
and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide
the
other.
us from the presence of Him who sits
WILL GATHER TOGETHER His
on the throne, and from the wrath of
elect from the four winds, from one
the Lamb; (17) for the great day of
end of the sky to the other.
their wrath has come, and who is able
to stand?"
The Day of the Lord begins – the breaking of the 6th seal
© 2006 Brett Peterson
I looked when He
Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches Revelation
that are in 6:12-17
Asia: Grace
to you and
broke the sixth seal, and there was a
peace, from Him who is and who was
andearthquake;
who is to come,
and
from
the
great
and the
sun
became
Matthew
"But
immediately
after
tribulation
of
seven 24:29-31
Spirits who are
before
His throne,
fromthe
Jesus
black5asand
sackcloth
madeChrist,
of hair,the
and
thosefaithful
dayswitness,
THE SUN
WILLof BE
DARKENED,
AND
THE
the firstborn
the dead,
and moon
the ruler
of
thelike
kings
of the
the
whole
became
blood;
(13) and
the stars
of the
sky
to the
earth.
To Him
who GIVE
loves us ITS
and released
us AND
from
our
sins
by
Hisfellblood-MOON
WILL
NOT
LIGHT,
THE
STARS
earth,priests
as a fig
its unripe
figs
6 and He has made us to be a kingdom,
totree
His casts
God and
Father--to
WILL FALL from the sky, and the
powers
of the
when
shaken by
great heavens
wind. (14)
Him be the glory and the dominion forever
and ever.aAmen.
7 BEHOLD,
The
sky
was
split
apart
like
a scroll
will be
shaken.
(30)
"And
then
the
sign
of
the
Son
Man
HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS,
everyup,
eyeand
willevery
see of
Him,
when and
it is rolled
will appear
inwho
thepierced
sky, and
all
tribes
ofwere
the
earth
even those
Him; then
and allmountain
the the
tribesand
of island
the earth
will
mourn
moved
out
their places.
Then
the kings of
over Him.and
So itthey
is to be.
Amen.
will mourn,
will
see theof SON
OF (15)
MAN
COMING
the earth and the great men and the
ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY
with power
and
great
commanders
and the
rich and
the
strong His
and every
slavewith
and free
glory.
(31) "And He will send forth
angels
A man
Man will appear in the sky, and then all the
hid themselves in the caves and
tribes
of
the
earth
will
mourn,
and
they
will
GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL
GATHER
among the
rocks of theTOGETHER
mountains;
see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE
(16) and
they
*saidof
to the
the mountains
His
elect
from
fourand
winds, from
one
end
sky to
CLOUDS
OF THE
SKYthe
with power
and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide
great glory. (31) "And He will send forth His
the
other.
us from the presence of Him who sits
angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY
WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from
on the throne, and from the wrath of
the four winds, from one end of the sky to
the Lamb; (17) for the great day of
the other.
their wrath has come, and who is able
to stand?"
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The Day of the Lord begins – the breaking of the 6th seal
Revelation 6:12-17 I looked when He
Matthew 24:29-31 "But
broke the sixth seal, and there was a
immediately after the tribulation of
great earthquake;
and
the sun became
those
days THE
WILL
BE
2ThSUN
2:1 Now
we
request
you, brethren,
with
regard
to the
Matthew
24:29-31
"But
immediately
after
the
tribulation
of
black as sackcloth made of hair, and
DARKENED, coming
AND THE
MOON
of our
Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to
those days
THE
SUN
WILL
BE
DARKENED,
AND
the
whole moon became
like THE
blood;
Him,ITS
2 that
you not
be quickly shaken from your composure or
WILL NOT GIVE
LIGHT,
AND
(13) andAND
the stars
of theSTARS
sky fell to the
MOON
WILL
NOT
GIVE
ITS
LIGHT,
THE
be
disturbed
either
by
a
spirit
or
a
message
or
a
letter
as
if
from
THE STARS WILL FALL from the
earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs
us,
to
the
effect
that
the
day
of
the
Lord
has come.
sky,
and FALL
the powers
the sky, and the
WILL
fromof the
powers
ofa the
when
shaken
by
great heavens
wind. (14)
heavens
be
shaken.
(30)
was
split
apart
like
a scroll
3 Let
no one
in any
way deceive
you,
for
it will
comeSon
unless
will be will
shaken.
(30)
"And
thenThe
thesky
sign
ofnotthe
of Man
when
it
is
rolled
up,
and
every
"And then thethe
sign
of thecomes
Son of
apostasy
first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed,
will
appear
in
the
sky,
and
then mountain
all the and
tribes
themoved
earth
islandof
were
out
Man will appear
sky, and
the in
sonthe
of destruction,
of SON
their places.
Then
the kings of
will all
mourn,
and
they
will
OF (15)
MAN
COMING
then
the tribes
of the
earth
willsee the
4 who opposes and exalts himself
so-called
god or
theabove
earthevery
and the
great men
and the
mourn,
and
they
will
see
the
SON
ON THE CLOUDS
OFsoTHE
with
power
and
great
object of worship,
that heSKY
takes
his
seat in
the
temple
of God,
commanders
and
the
rich
and
the
OF MAN COMING ON THE
strong His
and every
slavewith
and free
displaying
himself
as being
God.
glory. (31)
"And
send
forth
angels
A man
CLOUDS
OF THE
SKY He
with will
power
hid themselves in the caves and
GREAT
TRUMPET
THEY WILL
GATHER
and
great glory.
(31) "Andand
He will
among the
rocks of theTOGETHER
mountains;
send
angels
with
A winds, from
(16) and
they
*saidof
to the
the mountains
His forth
electHisfrom
the
four
one
end
sky to
GREAT TRUMPET and THEY
and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide
the
other.
us from the presence of Him who sits
WILL GATHER TOGETHER His
on the throne, and from the wrath of
elect from the four winds, from one
the Lamb; (17) for the great day of
end of the sky to the other.
their wrath has come, and who is able
to stand?"
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The Day of the Lord begins – the breaking of the 6th seal
Revelation 6:12-17 I looked when He
Matthew 24:29-31 "But
broke the sixth seal, and there was a
immediately after the tribulation of
and
the
sun
those
days THE
BE
1ThSUN
4:15 WILL
For this
we immediately
say to yougreat
by theearthquake;
word
of the
Lord,
that
webecame
Matthew
24:29-31
"But
after
the
tribulation
of
black as sackcloth made of hair, and
DARKENED, who
ANDare
THE
aliveMOON
and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not
those days
THE
SUN
WILL
BE
DARKENED,
AND
the
whole moon became
like THE
blood;
precede
whoAND
have fallen asleep.
WILL NOT GIVE
ITSthose
LIGHT,
(13) andAND
the stars
of theSTARS
sky fell to the
MOON
WILL
NOT
GIVE
ITS
LIGHT,
THE
THE STARS WILL
FALL
the Himself will
earth,
as a fig
treeheaven
casts its
unripe
figs
1Th 4:16
Forfrom
the Lord
descend
from
with
a
sky,
and FALL
the powers
of the
the
WILL
from
sky,ofand
the
powers
ofatrumpet
the
when
shaken
great heavens
wind.
shout,
with
the voice
the archangel
and
with by
the
of (14)
heavens
be
shaken.
skysign
was split
apart Son
like a scroll
God,
and (30)
the (30)
dead"And
in Christ
will The
rise
will be will
shaken.
then
thefirst.
of the
of Man
when
it
is
rolled
up,
and
every
"And then the sign of the Son of
will will
appear
in
the
sky,
then
all
tribes
ofwere
themoved
1Th
weand
who are
alivemountain
and the
remain
will
be caught
upearth
and
island
out
Man
appear
in4:17
the Then
sky,
and
together
with
them
in the
clouds
meetplaces.
theOF
Lord(15)
in theThen
air,
and
their
the kings of
will all
mourn,
and
they
will
see
theoftoSON
MAN
COMING
then
the tribes
of the
earth
will
so we shall always be with the Lord.
the earth and the great men and the
mourn,
and
they
will
see
the
SON
ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY
with power
and
great
commanders
and the
rich and
the
OF MAN COMING ON THE
strong
and
every
slavewith
and free
glory. (31)
"And
He
sendof
forth
angels
A man
is the
Rapture
theHis
Church!
CLOUDS
OF This
THE
SKY
with will
power
hid themselves in the caves and
GREAT
TRUMPET
THEY WILL
GATHER
and
great glory.
(31) "Andand
He will
among the
rocks of theTOGETHER
mountains;
send
angels
with
A winds, from
(16) and
they
*saidof
to the
the mountains
His forth
electHisfrom
the
four
one
end
sky to
GREAT TRUMPET and THEY
and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide
the
other.
us from the presence of Him who sits
WILL GATHER TOGETHER His
on the throne, and from the wrath of
elect from the four winds, from one
the Lamb; (17) for the great day of
end of the sky to the other.
their wrath has come, and who is able
to stand?"
The Church will be gathered in the air - from one end of
heaven to the other. We will be caught up and gathered!
Mat 24:30 "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear
in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and
they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS
OF THE SKY with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT
TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect
from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
At the second coming, Israel will be gathered from the earth
to Zion, not in the air!
Isa 11:11 Then it will happen on that day that the Lord Will again recover
the second time with His hand The remnant of His people, who will
remain, From Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, And
from the islands of the sea. 12 And He will lift up a standard for the
nations And assemble the banished ones of Israel, And will gather the
dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth.
144,000 sealed, the raptured
multitude is heaven.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Revelation 7:3-4 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea
or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our
God on their foreheads." (4) And I heard the number of
those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four
thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
Revelation 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a
great multitude which no one could count, from every
nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing
before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white
robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
All of this is just after the breaking
of the 6th seal!
Those in white robes…
A white robe = white garments are clearly the proper attire of
those in the presence of God. Notice it will be the attire of:
a. The overcomers, (Rev 3:4-5, 18).
b. The martyrs, (Rev 6:11).
c. The raptured innumerable multitude, (Rev 7:9).
d. The armies of heaven, (Rev 19:14).
© 2006 Brett Peterson
E. The Bride of Christ!
Revelation 19:7-8 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself
ready." (8) It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and
clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
All indicating the Church – the Bride of Christ!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
1 Thessalonians 5:7-10 For those who sleep do their
sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at
night. (8) But since we are of the day, let us be sober,
having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a
helmet, the hope of salvation. (9) For God has not
destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our
Lord Jesus Christ, (10) who died for us, so that whether
we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
For us, this is a wonderful promise – we will not be here
when the seventh seal is broken – we are not destined for
wrath!
God’s wrath begins with the seventh seal, after all the
events we just went over!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
1 Thessalonians 5:7-10 For those who sleep do their
sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at
night. (8) But since we are of the day, let us be sober,
having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a
Rev 6:16
and they *said
to the
helmet, the hope
of salvation.
(9) For
God has not
mountains
andobtaining
to the rocks,
"Fall onthrough our
destined us for wrath,
but for
salvation
us and
hidewho
us from
of whether
Lord Jesus Christ,
(10)
diedthe
forpresence
us, so that
who sitswe
onwill
thelive
throne,
and from
we are awake Him
or asleep,
together
with Him.
the wrath of the Lamb;
Rev 6:17 for the great day of their
For us, this is awrath
wonderful
promise
– we
will not
has come,
and who
is able
to be here
th seal) – we are not destined for
when the seventh
seal is(7broken
stand?"
wrath!
God’s wrath begins with the seventh seal, after all the
events we just went over!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
This is just after the abomination of desolation, when the
antichrist exalts himself above God and goes into the temple!
Dan 9:27 "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one
week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice
and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one
During
the intense
persecution
beleivers,
the gospel
who makes
desolate,
even until aofcomplete
destruction,
onewill
thatbe
is
preached
topoured
the whole
earth!
decreed, is
out on
the one who makes desolate."
Matthew
24:14-19
"This
kingdom
shall
be preached
in
Dan 11:36
"Then the
kinggospel
will doofasthe
he pleases,
and
he will
exalt
the
whole
world
as a above
testimony
all the
then the end will
and
magnify
himself
everytogod
and nations,
will speakand
monstrous
come.
things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the
indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
It is in the midst of the 5th seal that the antichrist
will go into the temple and proclaim himself god!
Matthew 24:(15) "Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF
DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet,
standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), (16) then
those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. (17) "Whoever is
on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his
house.
The antichrist is now revealed!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
There is only one scripture in the Bible
that gives us the timing of the rapture…
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Now we request you, brethren,
with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and
our gathering together to Him, (2) that you not be
quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed
either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us,
to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (3)
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come
unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
© 2006 Brett Peterson
There is only one scripture in the Bible
Antichrist revealed: Thayer Definition:
that gives us the timing of the rapture…
1) to uncover, lay open what has been
veiled or2:1-3
covered
upwe request you, brethren,
• 2 Thessalonians
Now
with regard to
coming make
of ourbare
Lord Jesus Christ and
1a)the
disclose,
our gathering together to Him, (2) that you not be
2) to make
make manifest,
quickly shaken
fromknown,
your composure
or be disturbed
before was
either by disclose
a spirit orwhat
a message
or aunknown
letter as if from us,
to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (3)
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come
unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
© 2006 Brett Peterson
There is only one scripture in the Bible
The Apostasy is the falling away that takes
thatplace
givesat us
timing of the rapture…
the the
5th seal!
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Now we request you, brethren,
with
regard
to theis
coming
of our
Lordabomination
Jesus Christ and
The
antichrist
revealed
at the
our
together to Him, (2) that you not be
ofgathering
desolation.
quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed
either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us,
to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (3)
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come
unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
The antichrist is ‘revealed’ as the antichrist
when he goes into the Jewish temple and
exalts himself above God.
This is called the abomination of desolation
in scripture.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
This event happens just before the breaking
of the sixth seal.
It starts a short period of time known as the
‘time of Jacob’s trouble’ or ‘the great
tribulation’.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The antichrist is ‘revealed’ as the antichrist
when he
into
Jewish
and
•Jergoes
30:2 "Thus
says the
the LORD,
the Godtemple
of Israel, 'Write
all
the words which I have spoken to you in a book. 3 'For
exalts
above
behold,
days himself
are coming,' declares
the God.
LORD, 'when I will
restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.' The
LORD says, 'I will also bring them back to the land that I
gave to their
forefathers
and they shall possess
it.'" 4 Now
This is called
the
abomination
of desolation
these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning
in scripture.
Israel and concerning
Judah: 5 "For thus says the LORD, 'I
have heard a sound of terror, Of dread, and there is no peace.
6 'Ask now, and see If a male can give birth. Why do I see
every man With his hands on his loins, as a woman in
This event
happens
justallbefore
childbirth?
And why have
faces turnedthe
pale? breaking
•Jer 30:7 of
'Alas!
for that
day isseal.
great, There is none like it;
the
sixth
And it is the time of Jacob's distress, But he will be saved
from it. :8 'It shall come about on that day,' declares the
of hosts, 'that I will break his yoke from off their
It starts LORD
a
short
time
known
neck and willperiod
tear off theirof
bonds;
and strangers
willas
no the
make them their
slaves.
‘timelonger
of Jacob’s
trouble’
or ‘the great
tribulation’.
The Great Tribulation
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Matthew 24:21-28 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as
has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever
will. (22) "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have
been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
(23) "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or
'There He is,' do not believe him. (24) "For false Christs and false
prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to
mislead, if possible, even the elect. (25) "Behold, I have told you in
advance. (26) "So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the
wilderness,' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do
not believe them. (27) "For just as the lightning comes from the east
and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Dan 12:1 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of
your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since
there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found
written in the book, will be rescued.
Dan 12:2 "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these
to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
The Great Tribulation
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Matthew 24:21-28 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as
has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever
will. (22) "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have
been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
(23) "Then if•Jer
anyone
to you,
'Behold,
is the
Christ,'
30:7says
'Alas!
for that
day ishere
great,
There
is or
'There He is,'none
do not
believe
him.
"For of
false
Christs and false
like
it; And
it is(24)
the time
Jacob's
prophets willdistress,
arise andBut
willhe
show
signsfrom
and wonders,
willgreat
be saved
it. :8 'It so as to
mislead, if possible,
evenabout
the elect.
(25)
"Behold,
I have
shall come
on that
day,'
declares
the told you in
advance. (26)
"So ifofthey
say'that
to you,
'Behold,
in the
LORD
hosts,
I will
break He
his isyoke
from
wilderness,' do
goneck
out, or,
Heoff
is their
in thebonds;
inner rooms,'
offnot
their
and'Behold,
will tear
and do
not believe them.
(27) will
"Forno
just
as the
lightning
from the east
strangers
longer
make
themcomes
their slaves.
and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Dan 12:1 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of
your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since
there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found
written in the book, will be rescued.
Dan 12:2 "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these
to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
The Great Tribulation
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Matthew 24:21-28 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as
has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever
will. (22) "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have
been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
(23) "Then if•Jer
anyone
to you,
'Behold,
is the
Christ,'
30:7says
'Alas!
for that
day ishere
great,
There
is or
'There He is,'none
do not
believe
him.
"For of
false
Christs and false
like
it; And
it is(24)
the time
Jacob's
prophets willdistress,
arise andBut
willhe
show
signsfrom
and wonders,
willgreat
be saved
it. :8 'It so as to
mislead, if possible,
evenabout
the elect.
(25)
"Behold,
I have
shall come
on that
day,'
declares
the told you in
advance. (26)
"So ifofthey
say'that
to you,
'Behold,
in the
A
resurrection
LORD
hosts,
I will
break He
his isyoke
from
wilderness,' do
goneck
out, or,
Heoff
is their
in thebonds;
inner rooms,'
do
offnot
their
and'Behold,
willHappens
tear
and
here
not believe them.
(27)
"For
just
as
the
lightning
from the east
strangers will no longer make themcomes
their slaves.
and flashes even to the west, so will
the coming
of the
Son of Man be.
too!
(more on this
later)
Dan 12:1 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of
your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since
there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found
written in the book, will be rescued.
Dan 12:2 "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these
to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
The day of the Lord is about to start
© 2006 Brett Peterson
At this time Christians will be looking for the coming of Jesus! This is
not the Jews, because they will be supernaturally taken to the
wilderness to be protected during the wrath.
Matthew 24:21-28 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as
has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever
will. (22) "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have
been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
(23) "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or
'There He is,' do not believe him. (24) "For false Christs and false
prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to
mislead, if possible, even the elect. (25) "Behold, I have told you in
advance. (26) "So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the
wilderness,' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do
not believe them. (27) "For just as the lightning comes from the east
and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
The day of the Lord is about to start
At this time Christians will be looking for the coming of Jesus! This is
This
can’t
be talking
because
not
the Jews,
because
they willto
be Israel
supernaturally
takenthey
to the will
wilderness to be protected during the wrath.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
be taken to the wilderness!
Matthew 24:21-28 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as
Rev 12:14 But the two wings of the great eagle were
has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever
given
the woman,
so had
thatbeen
she cut
could
flynointo
the have
will.
(22) to
"Unless
those days
short,
life would
been
saved; but to
forher
the sake
of the
electshe
those
daysnourished
will be cut short.
wilderness
place,
where
*was
(23) "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or
for a time and times and half a time, from the
'There He is,' do not believe him. (24) "For false Christs and false
presence
of theand
serpent.
prophets
will arise
will show great signs and wonders, so as to
mislead, if possible, even the elect. (25) "Behold, I have told you in
advance. (26) "So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the
wilderness,' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do
not believe them. (27) "For just as the lightning comes from the east
and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Hos 2:13 "I will punish her for the days of the
Baals When she used to offer sacrifices to
them And adorn herself with her earrings and
jewelry, And follow her lovers, so that she
forgot Me," declares the LORD.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Hos 2:14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure
her, Bring her into the wilderness And speak
kindly to her.
Hos 2:15 "Then I will give her her vineyards
from there, And the valley of Achor as a door
of hope. And she will sing there as in the days
of her youth, As in the day when she came up
from the land of Egypt.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The Sixth seal – Great Tribulation
Revelation 6:12-17 I looked when He broke the sixth seal,
and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became
black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon
became like blood; (13) and the stars of the sky fell to
the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken
by a great wind. (14) The sky was split apart like a scroll
when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were
moved out of their places. (15) Then the kings of the
earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich
and the strong and every slave and free man hid
themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the
mountains; (16) and they *said to the mountains and to
the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence 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 is able to stand?“
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Luke 21:25-28 "There will be signs in sun and moon and
stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at
the roaring of the sea and the waves, (26) men fainting from
fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon
the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (27)
"Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A
CLOUD with power and great glory. (28) "But when these
things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your
heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Some observations…
1. He who endures to the end shall be saved.
We found the end does not come until after
the Gospel is preached to the whole world –
we haven’t done this yet!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
2. The Church will take the Gospel to the
whole earth prior to the rapture.
3. The Antichrist will be revealed prior to the
rapture.(this happens at the abomination)
© 2006 Brett Peterson
4.The fullness of the Gentiles will come in
prior to the Rapture (this takes place after
the abomination of desolation)
5. The apostasy (a great falling away from
the faith) will take place prior to the rapture
-this will correspond with persecution.
6. Jesus made a promise about His
coming…
© 2006 Brett Peterson
He gave us another clue as to the timing of
the rapture…
Mat 10:23 "But whenever they persecute
you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say
to you, you will not finish going through the
cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.
• Remember – He is not talking to Jews here – He is talking
to the Church! The Jews will never be persecuted! They
will be protected in the wilderness!
Some Observations continued…
7. Based on that last verse, the time of persecution will be
very short. So when intense global persecution of
Christians starts to the Rapture of the Church will be a
relatively short period of time!
-Global persecution of Christians will take place prior to the
rapture.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
8. Only those with extra oil, ready to wait until the midnight
hour will make it. Those who thought the Bridegroom
would come earlier were not ready to ‘endure to the end’.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Mat 25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took
their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 "Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
Mat 25:3 "For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
Mat 25:4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 "Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began
to sleep.
Mat 25:6 "But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out
to meet him.'
Mat 25:7 "Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 "The foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps
are going out.'
Mat 25:9 "But the prudent answered, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you
too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'
Mat 25:10 "And while they were going away to make the purchase, the
bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding
feast; and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 "Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.'
Mat 25:12 "But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'
Mat 25:13 "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Mat 25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took
their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 "Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
Mat 25:3
"For- Thayer
when the
foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
“Alert”
Definition:
Mat 25:4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
1) tothe
watch
Mat 25:5 "Now while
bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began
to sleep.
2)
metaphorically
give
attention
to, the
be cautious,
activeCome out
Mat 25:6 "But at midnight there was astrict
shout,
'Behold,
bridegroom!
to meet
him.' remission and indolence
2a) to take heed
lest through
Mat 25:7 "Then
those virgins
rosesuddenly
and trimmed
their
somealldestructive
calamity
overtake
onelamps.
Mat 25:8 "The foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps
are going out.'
John clarifies this in the beginning of the book of Revelation…
Mat 25:9 "But the prudent answered, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you
too; goRev
instead
the dealers
and buy
some
yourselves.'
1:3 to
Blessed
is he who
reads
and for
those
who hear
Mat 25:10 "And
while they
going away
to make
the purchase,
the words
of thewere
prophecy,
and heed
the things
which the
bridegroom came,
those
readyiswent
are and
written
in who
it; forwere
the time
near.in with him to the wedding
feast; and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 "Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.'
Mat 25:12 "But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'
Mat 25:13 "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Mat 25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took
theirDefinition:
lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
“Heed” - Thayer
Mat 25:2 "Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
1) to attend to carefully, take care of
Mat 25:3
"For
when the
foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
“Alert” - Thayer
Definition:
guard
Mat 25:4 1a)
buttothe
prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
1) tothe
watch
Mat 25:5 "Now while
bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began
1b) metaphorically to keep, one in the state in which he is
to sleep.
2)
metaphorically
give
attention
to, the
be cautious,
activeCome out
1c) to observe
Mat 25:6 "But at midnight
there was astrict
shout,
'Behold,
bridegroom!
to meet
him.' remission and indolence
to take
lestsomething
through
1d) to2a)
reserve:
to heed
undergo
Mat 25:7 "Then
those virgins
rosesuddenly
and trimmed
their
somealldestructive
calamity
overtake
onelamps.
“To be
on the
for – to 'Give
guard against”
Mat 25:8 "The foolish
said
to lookout
the prudent,
us some of your oil, for our lamps
are
goingtoout.'
This will
you beginning
to
“endure
thethe
end”
and “overcome”.
John clarifies
thishelp
in the
of
book
of Revelation…
Mat 25:9 "But the prudent answered, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you
too; goRev
instead
the dealers
and buy
some
yourselves.'
1:3 to
Blessed
is he who
reads
and for
those
who hear
Mat 25:10 "And
while they
going away
to make
the purchase,
the words
of thewere
prophecy,
and heed
the things
which the
bridegroom came,
those
readyiswent
are and
written
in who
it; forwere
the time
near.in with him to the wedding
feast; and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 "Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.'
Mat 25:12 "But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'
Mat 25:13 "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
(Mat 10:22) "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the
one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
(Mat 24:13) "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
(Mat 28:20) teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo,
I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
(Mar 13:13) "You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one
who endures to the end, he will be saved.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
(Act 13:47) "For so the Lord has commanded us, 'I HAVE PLACED
YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING
SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'"
(1Co 1:8) who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Mat 10:22) "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured
to the end who will be saved.
(Mat 24:13) "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
(Mat 28:20) teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always,Definition:
even to the end of the age."
“Endures” - Thayer
(Mar 13:13) "You will
byfaithful
all because
of Myof
name,
but the one who endures to the
1) be
to hated
remain
in light
persecution
end, he will be saved.
1a) to tarry behind, wait in spite of trial
(Luk 2:35) and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many
may benot
revealed."
2) to remain,hearts
i.e. abide,
recede or flee
(Joh 13:1) Now before the
of the Passover,
Jesus knowing
His to
hour
had come
2a) Feast
to preserve:
under misfortunes
andthat
trials
hold
that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the
fast world,
to one’s
Christ
Hefaith
lovedin
them
to the end.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
2b) to
bear us,
bravely
andPLACED
calmly:YOU
ill treatments
(Act 13:47) "For so the Lord
hasendure,
commanded
'I HAVE
AS A LIGHT FOR
THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'"
(1Co 1:8) who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
(Eph 1:12) to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of
His glory.
(Rev 2:11) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'
(Rev 2:26) 'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO
HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
(Rev 3:5) 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will
not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My
Father and before His angels.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
(Rev 3:12) 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My
God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of
My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes
down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
(Rev 3:21) 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My
throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
(Rev 21:7) "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God
and he will be My son.
(Rev 2:11) 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'
(Rev 2:26) 'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO
HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
“Overcomes” - Thayer Definition:
(Rev 3:5) 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will
1) tofrom
conquer
not erase his name
the book of life, and I will confess his name before My
Father and before His angels.
1a) to carry off the victory, come off victorious
(Rev 3:12) 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My
1a1) of Christ, victorious over all His foes
God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of
My God, and the name of1a2)
the city
of My God, that
the new
of Christians,
holdJerusalem,
fast their which
faith comes
down out of even
heaven
from
My God,
and My
name.
unto
death
against
thenew
power
of their
© 2006 Brett Peterson
foes, and temptations and persecutions
(Rev 3:21) 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My
throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
(Rev 21:7) "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God
and he will be My son.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Back to the one scripture in the Bible
that gives us the timing of the rapture…
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Now we request you, brethren,
with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and
our gathering together to Him, (2) that you not be
quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed
either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us,
to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (3)
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come
unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
© 2006 Brett Peterson
There is only one scripture in the Bible
Remember, the Day of the Lord starts with the
thatRapture
givesand
usends
thewith
timing
the rapture…
the finalof
judgment,
after the
1000 year reign of Christ:
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Now we request you, brethren,
with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and
our gathering together to Him, (2) that you not be
quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed
either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us,
to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (3)
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come
unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
© 2006 Brett Peterson
1Th 5:2 For you yourselves know full well
There is only
thejustBible
that theone
day ofscripture
the Lord willin
come
like a
the night.
3 While
they rapture…
are saying,
that givesthief
us inthe
timing
of the
"Peace and safety!" then destruction will come
upon them
suddenly
labor pains
upon
a
• 2 Thessalonians
2:1-3
Now like
we request
you,
brethren,
woman
child,of
and
they
willJesus
not Christ and
with regard
to thewith
coming
our
Lord
escape.1Th
5:4toBut
you,(2)
brethren,
are not
not be
in
our gathering
together
Him,
that you
darkness,
that
the day
would overtake
you like
quickly shaken
from
your
composure
or be disturbed
a thief;
either by a
spirit or a message or a letter as if from us,
to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (3)
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come
unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
Jesus gave us clear signs to look for regarding
only
scripture
in the Bible
the one
Rapture
of the Church:
© 2006 Brett Peterson
There is
that gives1.usPersecution
the timing
the rapture…
of the of
Church
2. Apostasy
falling
fromyou,
the faith
• 2 Thessalonians
2:1-3– aNow
weaway
request
brethren,
with regard
the coming
of all
ournations
Lord Jesus
Christ
3. toGospel
taught to
– fullness
of and
our gatheringthe
together
Him,in(2) that you not be
Gentilestocome
quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed
4. spirit
Antichrist
revealed as
man of
either by a
or a message
orthe
a letter
as if from us,
lawlessness.
to the effect that
the day of the Lord has come. (3)
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come
unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Given these observations, we can
now look at our timeline and figure
out approximately when the rapture
will take place…
Pre
Mid
Pre-wrath
Post
© 2006 Brett Peterson
wrath
The
th
70
week
2nd Coming of Christ
There is only one position that seems to
fit…
And pre-tribbers agree –
From Lahaye:
© 2006 Brett Peterson
"The translation of the church is pictured as a deliverance before the
day of wrath, while the Second Coming is followed by the
deliverance of these who have believed in Christ during the
Tribulation."
Pre-wrath
wrath
© 2006 Brett Peterson
6th
seal
The
th
70
week
2nd Coming of Christ
This is the event Jesus talked about in
Matt. 24, that happens during the 6th seal.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
70th week of Daniel
Wrath
(Trumpets,
Bowls)
2nd Coming of Christ
7th seal
Armageddon
Seals 1-5, Peace treaty,
Horsemen, the mark,
Two witnesses,
Christians persecuted.
Abomination
Peace, Temple
Timeline…
© 2006 Brett Peterson
So what happens after the Rapture?
Two things:
2Co 5:6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and
knowing that while we are at home in the body we are
absent from the Lord-2Co 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight-2Co 5:8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather
to be absent from the body and to be at home with the
Lord.
2Co 5:9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether
at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for
his deeds in the body, according to what he has done,
whether good or bad.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
That is the Bema(Judgment) Seat of Christ
1Co 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the
one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
1Co 3:13 each man's work will become evident; for the day
will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire
itself will test the quality of each man's work.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work which he has built on it
remains, he will receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss;
but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Second, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Rev 19:7 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to
Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride
has made herself ready."
Rev 19:8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen,
bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the
saints.
Rev 19:9 Then he *said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those
who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he
*said to me, "These are true words of God."
2Co 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I
betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might
present you as a pure virgin.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also
loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
Eph 5:26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her
by the washing of water with the word,
Eph 5:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all
her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that
she would be holy and blameless.
We can’t be perfect on this earth except in Christ, however,
after the Bema (Judgment) seat of Christ, all imperfection will
be burned away, we will have our glorified bodies, and we will
be a spotless bride presented to our Lord!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
After the Rapture – in heaven…
1. Bema(Judgment) Seat of Christ –
this is only for the Church!
(2 Cor. 5:10): All believers
2. Marriage Supper of the Lamb
(Rev. 19:7): All believers
No one can be part of the Church after
these two events take place – meaning
everyone who is the ‘Bride of Christ” will
be raptured at the same time!
Only those who deserve the Wrath of
God will be left to go through it!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
The Church will be gone and Israel will
be protected in the wilderness or part of
the 144,000 males who will be sealed by
the Holy Spirit!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
70th week of Daniel
Wrath
(Trumpets,
Bowls)
2nd Coming of Christ
7th seal
Armageddon
Seals 1-5, Peace treaty,
Horsemen, the mark,
Two witnesses,
Christians persecuted.
Abomination
Peace, Temple
Timeline…
70th week of Daniel
7th seal, wrath
Wrath
(Trumpets,
Bowls)
2nd Coming of Christ
Bema seat of Christ, Marriage supper
Armageddon
Seals 1-5, Peace treaty,
Horsemen, the mark,
Two witnesses,
Christians persecuted.
Abomination
144,000 sealed, Israel saved taken to the wilderness
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Peace, Temple
Timeline…
Now is the time to be a bold witness for Jesus!
Acts 1:8 - We Are given a great commission to take the
Gospel to the whole earth – the church has not completed
this yet!
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and
then shall the end come.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
2Pe 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count
slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for
all to come to repentance.10 But the day of the Lord will come like a
thief, “
But not for the Church – we will see the signs and recognize it is
coming!
© 2006 Brett Peterson
1Th 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the
day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the
night.
1Th 5:3 While they are saying, "Peace and
safety!" then destruction will come upon them
suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with
child, and they will not escape.
1Th 5:4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness,
that the day would overtake you like a thief;
1Th 5:5 for you are all sons of light and sons of
day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
1Th 5:6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but
let us be alert and sober.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
1Th 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the
day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the
night.
This tells us plainly, we will
1Th 5:3 While they are saying, "Peace and
see
that
day,
but
it
won’t
safety!" then destruction will come upon them
overtake
us like
a thief.
suddenly
like labor
pains
upon a woman with
child, and they will not escape.
1Th 5:4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness,
that the day would overtake you like a thief;
1Th 5:5 for you are all sons of light and sons of
day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
1Th 5:6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but
let us be alert and sober.
But it will overtake the apostate church like a thief…
Rev 3:3 'So remember what you have received and heard;
and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I
will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I
will come to you.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
If you know the signs to watch for, you will be awake and
ready!
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the
words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are
written in it; for the time is near. 4 John to the seven
churches
Rev 1:7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS,
and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him;
and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is
to be. Amen.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
1Jo 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard
that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have
appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
Eph 5:14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And
arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you." 15
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but
as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the
days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand
what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with
wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.
Do you love the world more than God?
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Today is the day to make things right
between you and God.
© 2006 Brett Peterson
Knowing the right path to take is a start. Proceeding down that path is the difficulty.
However, life is a wonderful journey, and who is a better guide than He who conceived it?
As soon as you start on the path, you discover it is just the beginning of a wonderful
journey. It is an adventure. As you embark, you have to leave much behind. But you
realize the destination is worth it – not to mention the overwhelming peace, joy and love
you experience on the way. Every morning is new, every night brings sweet rest. You look
forward to what wonders God will show you the next day. Yet, the enemy tries to keep us
from the path. And whether the enemy is Satan or our flesh, we are kept from that great
adventure. Therefore, every morning we say to ourselves - Enough of mediocrity. Enough
of simply existing. Enough of self-indulgence. I am an adventurer. God’s Word is my
guide. This life is too short to just get by – I will do exploits for my King! God, use me
today to reach just one person for your Kingdom! And after that one, just one more! Life is
exciting when Christ’s at the helm! It is too grand to articulate! God created you with a
wonderful plan in mind. One day, in eternity, you and I will gaze speechless across the
heavenly landscape. Overwhelmed with complete joy, we will remember this day. We will
thank God our past is forgotten (more importantly forgiven), and we will give each other a
‘nod’ knowing that we lived the rest of our lives in service to the King. We embarked on
that wonderful journey and we never looked back. We denied ourselves a few earthly
accolades to embrace an eternal reward. And our Lord God, our Savior, will say, “well
done good and faithful servant.” At that singular event in time, we will remember
everything we left behind, and it will appear as but rubble. And we will see all who came
into the Kingdom through our words, our actions, and our lives as we died to ourselves and
allowed Christ to live through us. The greatest joy that man can contain will fill us to
overflowing. That is worth more than you and I could ever attempt to pay. Thank God He
sent His Son to pay the price for our great adventure – both the journey and the
destination.
Much Love and Prayer, Pastor Brett Peterson -- email questions/comments to:
[email protected]