WHEN IS THE RAPTURE?
Updated 8/4/11
A
careful study of the Biblical timeline of history yields two significant dates,
May 21, 2011 and October 21, 2011.
May
21, 2011 is significant because the year 2011 is exactly 7,000 years after the
flood of Noahs day. Also, May 21, 2011 is the 17th day of the 2nd
month of the Biblical calendar which matches the reference given in Genesis
7:11 as the day that Noah and his family entered the ark and the day that flood
began.
Also,
May 21, 2011 is very interesting because it ends a Great Tribulation period of
exactly 23 years or 8,400 days which started on May 21, 1988. For these and
other reasons, May 21, 2011 is a very interesting date.
October
21, 2011 is also an interesting date because it is the last day of the Feast of
Tabernacles in 2011. The year 2011 is very interesting for the above reasons,
and therefore the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles in the that year is also
interesting.
Another
interesting fact is that there are exactly 5 months between those two dates,
according to our calendar which is based upon 12 months per year. That makes us
think of the 5 months of Revelation 9 verses 5 & 10.
These
facts lead to the important question: When is the Rapture?
That
is, upon which of these two dates, May 21, 2011 or October 21, 2011 will occur
the Rapture or catching up of the true believers?
Many
are talking about the Rapture occurring on May 21, 2011. When we listen
carefully to the arguments for the Rapture occurring on May 21, 2011, mostly
they center around the fact that the time line of history that leads to that
date.
There
is much information from the time line of history that points to May 21, 2011
as a significant date, but not necessarily that this date is the Rapture.
In
this study, we will examine the arguments for May 21, 2011 as the day of the
Rapture. We will also examine Bible verses that point to October 21, 2011 as
the date of the Rapture.
Reasons given for May 21, 2011 being the DATE of the
rapture
One
argument given for the Rapture being on May 21, 2011 has to do with the numbers
17 and 722,500. We will examine this argument now.
It
is said that the number 17 identifies with heaven. Also, a careful calculation
of the number of days from Friday, April 1, 33AD when the Lord Jesus was
crucified to May 21, 2011 is 722,500 when both the starting and ending dates
are included in the count. It is noteworthy that the number 722,500 breaks down
as follows:
722500
= ( 5* 10 * 17 ) * ( 5 * 10 * 17 )
The
fact that the numbers 5, 10 & 17
appear twice places extra emphasis on them. The number 5 identifies with the
atonement that the Lord Jesus provided on Friday, April 1, 33AD, the Passover.
The number 10 identifies with the completeness, and people argue that the
number 17 has to do with heaven. Based upon all of this, it is said that the
appearance of the number 17 in this calculation is a proof that the Rapture
will happen on May 21, 2011.
We
will check this line of reasoning against the Bible.
The
church Age lasted for 1955 years from 33AD to 1988. The number 1955 breaks down
as follows:
1955
= 5 * 17 * 23
The
number 5 identifies with the atonement. The number 17 appears again and as
stated it identifies with heaven. The number 23 identifies with judgment.
The
1955 years of the Church Age could be understood this way. The atonement of the
Lord Jesus (represented by 5) brought salvation or heaven (represented by 17)
to those that became saved and brought additional judgment (represented by 23)
upon those that turned away from the Gospel and never became saved.
There
is a commonality between the numbers 1955 & 722,500. They both have the
number 17 in them.
When we came to the end of the 1955
years of the Church Age, were all of those that were saved immediately taken to
heaven in the Rapture?
No.
Those true believers did not experience the Rapture when we came to the end of
the 1955 years.
Therefore, we cannot say that just
because a number in the time line of history has the number 17 in it, that this
means that it points to the date of the Rapture.
Rather,
the number 17 in the number 1955 points to the fact those that became saved
during the Church Age are on their way to heaven. They are guaranteed to be
taken to heaven. The number 17 does not point to the Rapture. Rather, it really
points to salvation and a future promise of being caught up in the Rapture.
Because 1955 has 17 in it and yet the
Rapture did not happen at the end of the 1955 years, God has shown us that just
because 722,500 has the number 17 in it, this cannot be used as a proof text
that the Rapture will happen at the end of the 722,500 days.
If
we say that the number 17 in the number 722,500 proves that the Rapture comes
at the end of the 722,500 days, then applying that reasoning to the 1955 years
of the Church Age, we would have to say that the saved people at the end of the
1955 years would have to be caught up in the Rapture in 1988. However, that did
not happen.
Just as the Rapture did not occur at the
end of the 1955 years, it does not need to happen at the end of the 722,500
days.
There
is a better understanding for the number 17.
The number 17 identifies with salvation,
the promise and assurance of heaven to come.
We
some more examples in the Bible in which God uses the number 17 to represent
salvation and the promise of heaven to come, but not the actual fulfillment of
that promise as of yet.
We
read in Genesis 37:1-2:
1 Ά And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein
his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
2
These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being
seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was
with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his fathers wives: and
Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
In
verse 2 we read that Joseph was 17 years old. As we study Joseph, we find that
he is a wonderful example of a true believer, and also a picture of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
The
number 17 identifies Joseph as a true believer, someone who is bound for
heaven. However, Joseph was not already in heaven. The promise of salvation and
of heaven were eternally secure for Joseph, but he was not yet in heaven.
We
find another usage of the number 17 in Jeremiah 32:9. We read in Jeremiah 32:6-9
& 41-44:
6
And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
7
Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee,
saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption
is thine to buy it.
8
So Hanameel mine uncles son came to me in the court of the prison
according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee,
that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the
right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it
for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
9
And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncles son, that was in
Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
41
Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in
this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
42
For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon
this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.
43
And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is
desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
44
Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them,
and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem,
and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the
cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their
captivity to return, saith the LORD.
In
Jeremiah 32 we read about God commanding Jeremiah to buy a parcel of land for
17 shekels of silver. This is another important usage of the number 17. The
passage is long. To save space, only a few verses were copied. At the time of
the purchase of the land, the Babylonians were just about to conquer Judah and
take all of the land. Nevertheless, God commanded Jeremiah to buy the land even
though the land was about to be taken by the enemy. God explains that the land
was purchased to show that God would again bring back the people to the land
and the Jews would again possess the land. This land represented the Kingdom of
God and the fact that the Jews owned it pointed to salvation. So, the purchase
of the land for 17 shekels was a picture of the promise of God that salvation
would again come to the Kingdom of God. The salvation of God brings the promise
of heaven. So, the number 17 points again to the promise of heaven. It does not
mean that the true believers are already in heaven. Rather, in Jeremiah 32 God
is using the number 17 to point to salvation and the promise of heaven to come.
We
have examined a key number in the time line of history that has the number 17
in it, namely 1955, and found that it points to the promise of heaven to come.
Also, God uses the number 17 in Genesis 37:2 and Jeremiah 32:9 to point to the
promise of heaven to come in the future.
Therefore, when we examine how the Bible
uses the number 17, we find that it does not point to the Rapture, but to a
future promise of heaven to come. As a result, the number 17 in 722,500 does
not point to the Rapture coming on May 21, 2011. Rather, it points to the
promise that all of those that became saved will finally come to heaven in the
future.
Another
argument given for why the Rapture occurs on May 21, 2011 is because of the
destructive language that we read about the flood in Genesis 7.
In
Genesis 7 we read about mankind and the animals dying and their corpses being
destroyed. Also, that great flood would have caused great destruction upon the
land.
The
Bible does emphasize a period of 5 months during the flood (Genesis 7:11, 8:4).
This ties into the 5 months of Revelation 9, verses 5 & 10.
When
we read the very destructive language of Genesis 7 it is easy for us to think
that God is teaching that we will see a very literal destruction in 2011.
However,
we have to remember a few Biblical principles.
GOD
USES PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION AND DISEASE TO REPRESENT MANS SPIRITUAL CONDITION
BEFORE GOD.
Lets
consider what we read in Isaiah 1:4-7:
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with
iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken
the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of
5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will
revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there
is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying
sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with
ointment.
7 Your country is desolate, your cities are
burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is
desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
Isaiah
1:4-7 is describing the present conditions of all of the churches and local
congregations throughout the Great Tribulation. When we read the book of Isaiah
carefully, comparing Scripture with Scripture, we find that Isaiah 1:4-7 is
talking about our present day.
In
Isaiah 1:4-7 we see how God is using the language of a very physical
destruction to describe the condition the present standing of the unsaved
corporate people of God today.
Regarding
the people, God says that whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint
in verse 5. About the people in our day, we read that From the sole of the
foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds,
and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up,
neither mollified with ointment. in verse 6.
God
is describing the present condition of the people as having great sicknesses
and diseases.
Regarding
their country and cities, we read Your country is desolate, your
cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your
presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
God
is describing countries and cities that are ruined.
Isaiah
1:4-7 is talking about our day. Yet, it uses the language of the people having
great diseases and their land being destroyed. In reading this kind of
language, we are reminded that Christ spoke in parables (Mark 4:33-34).
We
see similar language in the book of Lamentations. The book of Lamentations is
talking about the condition of
With
the help of Isaiah 1:4-7, Lamentations and other passages in the Bible, we
learn that God uses the language of great disease and destruction to describe
the present standing of Gods corporate people in His sight. This is because,
it is a great disease and destruction for mankind to be separated from God.
This separation comes because of mans rebellion against God.
This
subject is covered in more detail in the study at the following link:
DOES THE FREQUENCY OF
WORDS LIKE "PERISH", "DEATH", "DESTROY",
"CONSUME", ETC. TEACH ANNIHILATION?
Because
God uses the language of great disease and destruction to describe the present
condition of the unsaved, we cannot use that kind of language found in Genesis
7 as a proof text that the 5 months of 2011 will have the type of physical
destruction of the flood.
Another
argument concerns the fact that Genesis 7 talks a lot about death and the
destruction of the unsaved and of the animals. It is argued that since Genesis
7 talks a lot about death then we can conclude that during the 5 months in 2011
that there will be many corpses spread across the earth.
The
answer to this argument is in part given by the response above. We also must
remember that God spoke in parables and that God uses destructions in this
world to picture the present condition of unsaved man in relationship to God.
We
examine the verses that are used to support this conclusion in many of the
studies at the following link:
RESPONSE TO ARGUMENTS GIVEN FOR
ANNIHILATION
The
following study can help in understanding what God is teaching by the
references to death in Genesis 7:
God uses
horrible physical destruction as a picture of spiritual destruction.
It is argued that because the
flood brought horrible physical destruction that the 5 months of Revelation 9
must also have horrible physical destruction. However, when we compare
Scripture with Scripture, we find that God uses physical destructions as a
picture of the spiritual destruction of the Gospel being removed.
For example, God sent Nebuchadnezzar in 587BC to destroy
Were all of the church buildings destroyed in 1994? Do we see any
physical destruction of the corporate people of God since 1988 or 1994? The
answer is no.
Yet, God uses the physical destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in 587BC
as a picture of the spiritual destruction of the corporate people of God in
1994. Physically, we see nothing wrong with the corporate people of God in our
day. But, Gods judgment is upon their churches. That is a great spiritual
destruction.
In like manner, God can use the physical destruction of the flood
to point to the great spiritual destruction in a world in which Gods judgment
is upon it. If
we say that the flood in 4990BC requires a great physical destruction on May
21, 2011, then to follow through on that line of reasoning we have to say the
destruction of
We see other examples of how
God uses the language of physical destructions to represent the spiritual
condition of man before God. In Revelation 11:8, God talks about the corpses of
the 2 witnesses lying in the street. That is talking about the first part of
the Great Tribulation during the 2300 days from 1988 to 1994. Again, God uses
the physical language of a corpse to describe a spiritual condition.
In 2 Chronicles 35:25 God
indicates that the book of Lamentations was written upon the death of Josiah in
609BC, the last good king of
Here are some examples of the
language of the book of Lamentations that is talking about the present state of
the corporate people of God with the Holy Spirit being removed:
Lamentations 1:12-17:
12 Ά Is it nothing to
you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my
sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in
the day of his fierce anger.
13 From above hath he sent fire into my bones,
and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath
turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
14 The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his
hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my
strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from
whom I am not able to rise up.
15 The Lord hath trodden under foot all my
mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to
crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of
16 For these things I weep; mine eye,
mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my
soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
17
Lamentations 2:2-11:
2 The Lord hath swallowed up all the
habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the
strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the
ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.
3 He hath cut off in his fierce anger
all the horn of
4 He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood
with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to
the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like
fire.
5 The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed
up
6 And he hath violently taken away his
tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of
the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be
forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king
and the priest.
7 The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath
abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls
of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day
of a solemn feast.
8 The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of
the daughter of
9 Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath
destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the
Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision
from the LORD.
10 Ά The elders of the
daughter of
11 Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are
troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the
daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the
streets of the city.
There is more language like
this in Lamentations. With the help of 2 Chronicles 35:25 and the time line of history,
we know that this is talking about the present state of the corporate people of
God since 1988, the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
God uses much language of
disease and sickness in the body to speak of the spiritual condition of His
unsaved corporate people. Also in these passages we see language of
destruction. God uses physical destruction to point to mans spiritual
condition before God. There are other examples of the use of a physical
destruction to describe the spiritual condition between man and God in the
Bible.
So, when we read about the horrible flood, we have to remember that God uses
the language of a horrible physical destruction, like the flood brought, to
describe the spiritual condition between God and man.
So, if we let the Bible guide
us in understanding how God writes, then we can see that the 5 months of the
flood can point to 5 months of a horrible spiritual condition. Just like the
destruction of
In
summary, we see in a variety of passages that God talks about disease and
destruction to refer to the present condition of unsaved man before God. That
is because it is an awful present disease and destruction for mankind that he
is separated from God who created him. Therefore, the presence of this kind of
language in Genesis 7 is not a proof of literal destruction during the 5 months
of 2011. We also have to keep in mind that the flood is applied in a parabolic
way to Judgment Day. There will not be a literal flood of water at Judgment
Day.
The
destructive language of Genesis 7 would be like the language of Isaiah 1:4-7.
Isaiah 1:4-7 is describing the corporate people of God without salvation.
Does the language in Revelation 9:1-11 teach a time
of horrible conscious affliction during those 5 months for the unsaved?
Another
reason that many people think that the Rapture will be at the beginning of the
5 months, which is May 21, 2011, is because they have applied all or almost all
of the verses that speak about conscious affliction as a punishment for sin to
that 5 month period. However, when we read about the 5 month period in
Revelation 9:1-12, we do not read about horrible conscious affliction for the
unsaved. For some people, whenever they read a verse about horrible conscious
affliction for the unsaved, they apply it to that 5 month period even though
the passage may not give any indication that it is directed to that period of
time.
In
Revelation 9:4, 5 & 10, God talks about conscious affliction that the
unsaved will experience during those 5 months. We read in those verses:
4 And it was commanded them that they should
not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but
only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not
kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was
as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and
there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five
months.
In
verses 4 & 10 God says that the unsaved will be hurt. In both
verses, it is the same Greek word.
The
Greek word translated hurt in those two verses is used to indicate an
affliction, but not necessarily a severe affliction. We see an example of this
same Greek word in Matthew 20:13:
But he answered one
of them, and said, Friend, I do <91> thee no wrong <91>: didst not thou
agree with me for a penny?
In
Matthew 20:13 this same Greek word is translated to do wrong.
In
this passage the servant who worked the whole day was complaining to the master
because he received the same pay as the person who worked only 1 hour.
Then
the master says in Matthew 20:13 that he has done this servant no wrong
using this same Greek word. This statement implies that the wrong
could be the difference in pay, something that may not be a serious affliction.
Therefore,
this Greek word translated hurt in Revelation 9:4 & 10 does not
necessarily indicate severe conscious affliction.
Lets
consider another verse in Revelation 9 that seems to teach that the 5 months
will be a time of great conscious affliction.
Is
Revelation 9:5 teaching that those 5 months will be a time of great conscious
affliction?
People have said that the 5
months of Revelation 9 will be a time of great torment. One of the arguments
for that is based upon Revelation 9:5. Lets look at that verse:
And to them it was given that they should
not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment
was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
The scorpion refers
to satan or his people, the unsaved, as we read in these two verses:
Ezekiel 2:6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them,
neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee,
and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be
dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on
serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall
by any means hurt you.
Throughout the history of the
world, the unsaved and satan have always been tormenting or afflicting
mankind to some degree.
We can read the phrase the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man
and think of horrible pain. However, we have to remember that Christ spoke in
parables (Mark 4:33-34). The scorpion represents satan and his people.
God is not talking about literal scorpions biting people during the 5 months.
God is talking about satan afflicting mankind.
We understand what God means
by a word by seeing how that same Greek or Hebrew word is used elsewhere in the
Bible.
This same Greek word
translated torment in Revelation 9:5 is also found in 2 Peter 2:8:
(For that righteous man dwelling among
them, in seeing and hearing, vexed <928> his righteous soul from day to day with their
unlawful deeds;)
We want to remember that God
defines words by how He uses them. The tormenting of Revelation 9:5
does not need to be any more severe than the conscious affliction that Lot
experienced by seeing the sinful deeds in
If we are trying to do it
Gods way and are around a lot of sinful people, we get the sense of the torment
or vexing that
In fact,
We also find this same Greek
word translated torment in Revelation 11:10.
We read there:
And they that dwell upon the earth shall
rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because
these two prophets tormented <928> them that dwelt on the earth.
Revelation 11:10 is talking
about the two witnesses that represent the true believers throughout the New
Testament era as they brought the Gospel to the world, to those that dwelt on the earth.
Using the same Greek word, God
says that these two witnesses tormented
the people of the world. It is a torment
or conscious affliction for unsaved man to hear about the Gospel. Unsaved man
does not want to hear that he is a sinner and is under the wrath of God.
Again, this Greek word
translated tormented does not signify
a super horrible suffering in Revelation 11:10. It is an affliction, but does
not have to be a super horrible affliction.
These two verses with the same
Greek word torment from Revelation
9:5 show us that this Greek word does not have to mean some kind of great and
horrible pain. It can mean the kind of conscious affliction that both believers
and unbelievers experience in this world today.
Therefore, the language of torment
in Revelation 9:5 in no way requires the believers to be already raptured to
avoid it. In fact, in 2 Peter 2:8, God indicates that true believers in this
world are already tormented or vexed by sinners around them.
So, when we examine how the
words in Revelation 9:5 are used in other parts of the Bible, we find that this
verse does not require a horrible conscious pain. It could be not much
different than the true believer experiences today being around great sin.
Following the Biblical rule to
compare Scripture with Scripture and
remembering that Christ spoke in parables, we find that Revelation 9:5
does not have to describe a horrible condition in which the true believers have
to be raptured to avoid.
Does Revelation 9:6 teach that during those 5 months
the conditions will be so horrible for the unsaved that they will be committing
suicide?
Revelation
9:6 is an interesting verse.
When
we read the phrase "in those days shall men seek death" in
Revelation 9:6, it makes us think of people committing suicide. If people are
committing suicide, then there must be horrible conditions in the world. For
example, when the stock market crashed in 1929 there were reports of investors
jumping out of windows of tall buildings and committing suicide. Those people
sought death and found it in suicide. And there are other examples of horrible
conditions in peoples lives in which they committed suicide.
So,
this phrase, in those days shall men seek death, seems to indicate
that those 5 months will be a horrible time in which people are committing suicide.
However,
let's look at the whole verse:
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not
find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
It
says that people will seek death, but shall not find it.
Then
God repeats the point by saying that people shall desire to die,
but
death shall flee from them. That is, they will not be able to die.
This
language in Revelation 9:6 does not describe a world in which people want to
commit suicide.
If
someone wants to commit suicide generally he can do it. If people want to
commit suicide, then they will be able to find death. They can hang themselves
or cut themselves or stab themselves or shoot themselves or take poisonous
substances, etc.
If
people want to commit suicide, there are many ways in which they will be able
to find death. However, Revelation 9:6 says that they will not be able to find
death.
So,
when we read the whole verse, we find that Revelation 9:6 does not fit for
describing a time when people want to commit suicide.
However,
there is another way that we can understand the reference to death in
Revelation 9:6. We read in Romans 6:3-5:
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were
baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism
into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the
likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his
resurrection:
Romans
6:3-5 is talking about when we are saved we are identified with the death of
Christ. Verse 3 says that we are baptized into Christs death. Verse 4
says that we are buried with Christ by baptism into death. Verse 5 says
that we are planted together in the likeness of His death.
In
Romans 6:3-5, God describes salvation as being identified with Christs death.
The
unsaved will desire salvation. In that sense, they will desire to die. They
will desire to be buried with him by baptism into death according to
Romans 6:4. But, that death, the death of the Lord Jesus that provides
salvation, will flee away. People will seek salvation, the death of Christ, but
shall not find. The death of Christ that comes with salvation shall flee away.
There
is no requirement for any changes in the physical conditions of this world in
order to fulfill Revelation 9:6 when we understand that the death in view in
that verse is the death of Christ that comes with salvation.
Therefore, as we examine the language of Revelation
9:1-12 in describing the final 5 months, we do not read about horrible
conscious affliction.
People
read in other parts of the Bible about horrible conscious affliction that the
unsaved must endure as punishment for sin and they apply that to those 5
months. However, no proof is provided that those references to horrible
conscious affliction apply to that 5 months of Revelation 9:1-12.
The
problem is that it is assumed that those 5 months, from May 21, 2011 to October
21, 2011, will be a period of horrible conscious affliction, fulfilling many
Bible promises of conscious affliction upon the unsaved. However, no proof is
given that links those promised horrible afflictions to the 5 months.
Based
upon the assumption that the 5 months beginning on May 21, 2011 will be a time
of horrible conscious affliction, it is concluded that the believers cannot be
in this world to experience this time. Therefore, it is concluded that the
Rapture must be before the 5 months.
However,
this line of reasoning is based upon unproven assumptions. The assumption is
that all of the negative language of suffering in the Bible applies to the time
period of May 21, 2011 and October 21, 2011. This is stated, but not proven.
However,
when we read Gods description of the 5 months which is given in Revelation
9:1-12 we find that it involves some conscious affliction, but we do not read
any language of severe afflictions nor do we read anything about horrible
natural disasters or anything of that kind.
Now
we will consider another argument.
DOES
MATTHEW 24:29-31 TEACH THAT THE RAPTURE WILL HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE
GREAT TRIBULATION, ON MAY 21, 2011?
We
read in Matthew 24:29-31:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those
days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the
stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of
man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall
see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great
sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four
winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
In
verse 29 we read the phrase Immediately after the tribulation.
We
understand this date to be May 21, 2011, the end of the Great Tribulation.
Then,
people read verse 31 and identify that with the Rapture and conclude that Immediately
after the tribulation is the Rapture.
However,
in doing this people have overlooked a very important word in this passage. It
is the word then in verse 30.
This
Greek word then indicates a follow on event but that event might be at some
later time.
When
we see the word then we might
think of it in the sense at this present
time, tying the preceding and following events as being simultaneous
events. However, we have to search the Bible to see how God defines this Greek
word then. We will look at 4
passages with this same Greek word then to see how God can use this
word:
We
read in Matthew 2:14-16:
14 When he arose, he took the young child and
his mother by night, and departed into
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that
it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out
of
16
Ά Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding
wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in
all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time
which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
This
Greek word then is found in verse 16. Verses 14-15 talk about how
Joseph took his family into
Verse
16 talks about how Herod was angry when he realized that the wise men had not
come back to tell him where the baby king was. Verse 16 occurred sometime after
verse 15. It would have taken Herod a while to realize that the wise men were
not coming back to him.
There
is nothing to indicate that verse 16 occurred immediately after verse 15. In
fact, it would have required some time for Herod to realize that the wise men
were not coming back to him. Verse 16 could not have occurred right after verse
15. Rather, verse 16 is the next event in the progression that God is
describing.
We
read in Matthew 3:1-5:
1
Ά In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the
prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye
the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camels
hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild
honey.
5 Then went out to him
Verse
5 has this same Greek word then.
Verses
1 to 4 describe the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist and tell us
some things about him.
Then,
in verse 5 God talks about the next event that He wishes to describe, which was
the coming of people to hear John. However, verse 5 did not have to happen
immediately after John came into the wilderness. It is just that sometime
later, the next event that God wants to describe, is that people came out to
listen to John.
Verse
5 did not necessarily happen right after verses 1 to 4.
We
read in Matthew 3:12-13:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will
throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will
burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
13
Ά Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to
Verse
12 ends the warning from John the Baptist to the unsaved. Verse 13 has this
same Greek word then. Verse 13 describes the coming of the Lord Jesus
to John to be baptized. That could have been some time later. Verse 13 gives
the next event that God wants to describe, but it did not necessarily happen
right after John gave his warning.
We
read in Matthew 9:13-14:
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth,
I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance.
14
Ά Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees
fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
Verse
14 has the same Greek word then. Verse 13 ends the response by Jesus
to a statement made by the Pharisees to His disciples. Verse 14 starts a new
situation in which the disciples of John came to Jesus with a question. Verse
14 begins a new subject matter. It could have been some time later.
The
Gospels describe 3 ½ years of the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus. Yet,
there are only a few hours of dialog contained in the Gospels. So, there was
much time between the events and conversations that are recorded in the
Gospels. These separate events are frequently connected by this Greek word then.
The
four Gospels contain the information that God wants us to know. There were many
more events that occurred over those 3 ½ years that are not recorded. However,
God uses this same Greek word then to separate those distinct events
that occurred over that 3 ½ year period which God wanted recorded. So, there
would have been time between the events that are separated by this Greek word then.
These
are 4 example passages with this same Greek word then found in Matthew 24:31.
These 4 examples show us that this Greek word then can mean the passage of
some time before the next event.
Mark
13:24-28 has the same Greek word then. We read there:
24
Ά But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the
moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the
powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming
in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall
gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the
earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
This
passage is similar to Matthew 24:29-31 with some differences.
Mark
13:24-25 talks about the time right after the Great Tribulation which ends on
May 21, 2011. People identify verse 27 with the Rapture. However, with the word
then in verses 26 & 27, God is telling us that sometime later the
events of verses 26-27 will occur. That time can easily be October 21, 2011 at
the end of the 5 months.
Lets
look at Matthew 24:29-31 again:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those
days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the
stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of
man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall
see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great
sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four
winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Verse
29 talks about events that occur Immediately after the Great
Tribulation ends on May 21, 2011.
However,
Matthew 24:30 begins with this same Greek word then. Following the rules of
proper Bible study, this means that the events described in verses 30 & 31
could easily happen some time later, on October 21, 2011.
Let
us consider another relevant passage, Matthew 24:37-41. We read there:
37
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son
of man be.
38
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into
the ark,
39
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also
the coming of the Son of man be.
40
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other
left.
41
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,
and the other left.
People
identify verses 40 & 41 with the Rapture. The one taken is the true
believer that is taken in the Rapture. The one left is the unsaved person left
behind for judgment.
We
also read about Noah and his family entering the ark in verse 38. The entering
of the ark was on the 17th day of the 2nd month, which
points to May 21, 2011. Since verses 40 and 41 are in the same context as verse
38, people conclude that the Rapture (represented by verses 40 and 41) will occur
on May 21, 2011.
However,
in making the connection between verse 38 (the closing of the ark and May 21,
2011) and verses 40 and 41 (the Rapture), people have overlooked an important
word, the word then. This is the
same Greek word, then, that we
studied above and is found in Matthew 24:30, Mark 13:26 & 27. We saw four
passages above in which God uses this same Greek word then to describe an event that occurs later in time. Therefore,
when we see this word then we
cannot conclude that the following event happens immediately after the preceding
event. There may be some delay before this event occurs.
Matthew 24:38-39 describe the closing of
the ark which identifies with May 21, 2011. Next, God begins verse 40 with the
word then indicating that verse 40 may describe a later event. In this case,
verses 40 & 41 describe the Rapture that occurs 5 months later on October
21, 2011.
God
gives help in seeing that there is a time space between the end of the Gospel
proclamation and Judgment Day.
GOD
TELLS US THAT THE SUN AND MOON WILL BE DARKENED BEFORE THE GREAT AND THE
TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD
In
fact, God tells us that the sun and the moon will be darkened before the
Rapture and the Day of Judgment in which God will execute His full wrath upon
the unsaved. We read about that in these two verses:
Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and
the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Acts 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and
the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
Both
of these verses tell us that the sun and moon will be darkened, which goes
along with the end of the Great Tribulation, before the Rapture and the
Day of Judgment when God will execute his full wrath upon the unsaved.
If
we casually read Matthew 24:29-31 we can get the idea that the Rapture will
occur Immediately after the Great Tribulation. However, if we read the
passage more carefully, examining how God uses the Greek word then, we find
that the Rapture can occur sometime later.
Also,
Joel 2:31 and Acts 2:20 teach that there
is some time from the end of the Great Tribulation to the Rapture and the Day
of Judgment.
Lets
consider another argument that is raised.
DOES THE LANGUAGE OF A SMOKE OF A GREAT
FURNACE INDICATE THAT THE RAPTURE WILL BE AT THE START OF THE 5 MONTHS?
Let
us look at Revelation 9:2 again:
And he
opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke
of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the
smoke of the pit.
We
read the phrase smoke of a great furnace.
Some
have suggested that this language means that the Rapture has to happen at the
start of the 5 months and that this 5 months is the full and complete
experience of the wrath of God.
The
phrase smoke of a great furnace
has to do with the wrath of God that is coming. The fires of the wrath of God have
already been kindled because of the sin of mankind as we read in Deuteronomy
32:22:
For a fire
is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall
consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the
mountains.
The
fires of the wrath of God are already kindled. The great furnace is
already burning in that sense. The fires of the wrath of God are already
burning because of the sin of man as we read in Jeremiah 17:4:
And thou,
even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I
will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for
ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
Because
of our sins, the fires of the wrath of God are already kindled. They are
already burning. The furnace of the wrath of God is already burning. In
Jeremiah 17:4 God indicates that we have kindled those fires because of our
sin.
In
fact, God uses language similar to the phase smoke of a great furnace in Exodus 19:18:
And mount
Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire:
and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount
quaked greatly.
The
language of the smoke of a great
furnace from Revelation 9:2 is very similar to what we read in Exodus
19:18. Both verses are talking about the same furnace, the furnace of the wrath
of God.
Exodus
19:18 is describing when the 10 commandments, a summary of the law of God, were
given. Finally, the whole Bible is the law of God. The giving of the 10
commandments represented the giving of the law of God. The law of God brings
the wrath of God, the fires of the wrath of God, because man violates the law
of God.
The
10 commandments, as described in Exodus 19:18, were given about 3,400 years
before the end of the world. The giving of those commandments is identified
with smoke coming from a furnace, the furnace of the wrath of God. The smoke of
the furnace of the wrath of God has already been ascending for thousands of
years.
Therefore, the language of a smoke of a
furnace is not limited to just the end of the world. Rather, God applies this
kind of language back to the giving of the 10 commandments in 1447 BC, 3400
years before the end of the world.
Lets
consider another argument given:
Do Revelation 15 & 16 limit the punishment of the
unsaved to this earth?
We
read some language in Revelation 15 & 16 which makes some people think that
the conscious suffering of the unsaved is limited to the existence of this
earth and therefore could not go on forevermore because this earth will not go
on forevermore.
We
will look at those verses and arguments.
In
Revelation 15:1 we read:
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and
marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled
up the wrath of God.
We
read the word filled up and it makes some people think that this word
is teaching that there is a finite amount of the wrath of God.
However,
this same Greek verb translated filled up is also found in the Revelation 10:7 where
it is translated as finished:
But in the days of
the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of
God should be finished <5055>, as he hath declared
to his servants the prophets.
Revelation
10:7 talks about how the mystery of God
will be finished using the same Greek
word.
The
mystery
of God includes all of Gods plans
for both the unsaved and the saved. It includes the destruction of this
universe and the creation of the new heavens and new earth. The creation of the
new universe is part of the mystery of God that must be finished.
The
finishing of the creation of the new heavens and new earth
does not mean that they have a finite duration. Rather, God will finish
His plans in regards to the new heavens and new earth by creating them and they
will continue forevermore.
In
like manner, the finishing of the wrath of God comes when the
unsaved are cast into the lake of fire. But, this does not mean that the lake
of fire comes to an end, in the same way that the finishing of the new
heavens and new earth does not mean that they will come to an end.
Just
as when God has finished creating the new heavens and new earth, they will go
on forevermore, in the same way, when God casts the unsaved into the lake of
fire, they can be there forevermore.
Revelation
16:1 has also been offered as a proof text that the wrath of God is limited to
this earth. We read in Revelation 16:1:
And I heard a great voice out of the
temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the
wrath of God upon the earth.
The
wrath of God is represented by the seven plagues from the seven angels. We
notice that Revelation 16:1 talks about the pouring out of the wrath of God upon the earth. Based upon this statement, some
people have concluded that the conscious experience of the wrath of God is
limited to this earth. We are about the destruction of this earth and universe
in 2 Peter 3:10-12. Based upon these points, some people have concluded that
once this earth and universe are destroyed the conscious suffering of the
unsaved will end.
However,
we should notice that Revelation 16:1 does not say that the punishment is limited
to this earth. It says that the wrath of God is poured out upon the earth, but
it does not say that it is limited to this earth.
We
get more help in understanding this question by examining Revelation 16:17-21:
17 Ά And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and
there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying,
It is done.
18 And there were voices,
and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not
since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was
divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great
20 And every island fled
away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men
a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent:
and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague
thereof was exceeding great.
These
verses describe the seventh plague. We see reference to that in verse 17.
In
verse 20 God says that every island fled away,
and the mountains were not found. This is language that identifies
with this earth passing away.
The
words island and mountains can identify very much with this
world and are used most commonly in that way. These are fled away and not
found. Verse 20 is the language of this earth passing away.
Then
in verse 21, we read about a plague falling upon the unsaved and that the
unsaved are doing the conscious action of blaspheming God.
The
strong implication of Revelation 16:20-21 is the conscious affliction of the
wrath of God continues after this earth passes away. In any case, Revelation 15
& 16 cannot be used as a proof text that the conscious affliction of the
wrath of God ends when this earth is destroyed. The language of Revelation
16:20-21 is of the wrath of God starting on this earth and continuing into
eternity future.
If
we read only Revelation 16:1 we might get the impression that the conscious
affliction of the wrath of God ends when this earth is destroyed, however, we
must read the whole chapter. The language of verses 20 & 21 indicate that
though the conscious affliction begins in this world, it does continue after
this earth is destroyed.
Let
us consider another argument. We read in Revelation 15:8:
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of
God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the
seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Some
people have read Revelation 15:8 and have concluded that this verse is teaching
that the true believers cannot enter into the new heaven and new earth until
the punishment of the unsaved is completed and they are annihilated. This
argument is based upon the idea that the phrase enter into the temple
ties into the believers reigning with the Lord Jesus in the new heavens and new
earth.
However,
that is just one way to read this verse. The verse can be understood in several
ways.
The
eternal temple is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as we read in Revelation 21:22:
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty
and the Lamb are the temple of it.
As
soon as God saves us, we are brought into the eternal
We
read about the saints in heaven in Revelation 7:15:
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve
him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell
among them.
The
saints in heaven are already serving the Lord in his temple. That is,
they are in Christ, who is the temple.
Once
we are saved, we are eternally in Christ. We are already in the
However,
the unsaved are outside of the
The
believers are already in the temple, which is Christ. No one else, none of the
unsaved, can enter the temple until they have endured the 7 plagues. This is
what Revelation 15:8 is declaring. The unsaved, who are still outside of the
Theoretically,
if the unsaved could complete the payment for their sins, then they could enter
into the temple. That is, they could enter into the Lord Jesus, which
means that they would have become saved. However, sadly, other verses indicate
that those plagues go on forevermore.
Nevertheless,
the point of Revelation 15:7 is that the unsaved must endure the seven plagues,
the full payment for sin, before they can enter into the
2 Chronicles 20 has been offered as an illustration
that the true believers will be in heaven while the unsaved are down on the
earth destroying themselves during those 5 months.
We
know that historical passages, like that found in 2 Chronicles 20, have Gospel
application because Christ spoke in parables (Mark 4:33-34).
However,
we do not know if 2 Chronicles 20 is representing the 5 months starting in May
21, 2011. Or, if it is representing the Great Tribulation time or anytime that
false gospels are present.
Mankind
destroys himself and his fellow man with his wrong Gospels. In principle, God
has already made the true believer to sit together in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). So, the true believer is already in
Christ up in heavenly places protected from the wrath of God
and the wrong teachings of the unsaved.
So,
we cannot use passages like 2 Chronicles 20 as proof texts of the Rapture
before the 5 months. These kinds of passages teach important Gospel truth but
the exact application in time sometimes cannot be determined.
DO VERSES LIKE DEUTERONOMY 16:13 TEACH
THAT THE RAPTURE HAS TO BE BEFORE THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES AND THEREFORE THE RAPTURE CANNOT BE ON THE
LAST DAY OF THE FEAST?
We
read in Deuteronomy 16:13:
Thou shalt
observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in
thy corn and thy wine:
The
verse says that the Feast of Tabernacles will be held after the gathering of the corn. We know that the last day of the
Feast of Tabernacles will be on October 21 in 2011 and the corn represents the true believers
that are harvested from this world. Based upon this, some people conclude that
the Rapture must be before the Feast of Tabernacles and they therefore say that
it will be on May 21, 2011.
The
misunderstanding comes from the translation after. The word after
in this verse comes from one letter in the Hebrew text, the Hebrew letter beth. In this verse, this letter is
operating as a preposition and is a prefix for the verb to gather. The verb,
to gather is in the Hebrew infinitive which is correctly translated with an
ing ending as gathering.
The
Hebrew letter beth is also
translated many times as at, in or with. When it is used with a verb, it
sometimes has the sense of while. A completely valid translation of
Deuteronomy 16:13 is:
Thou shalt
observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, while gathering in thy corn and
thy wine:
That is, while gathering of the harvest, the
Feast of Tabernacles is held. This fits perfectly with the Rapture happening on
the last day of the Feast, on October 21, 2011. The last day of the Feast is in
the Feast of Tabernacles and that could be the time of the gathering or the
Rapture of the true believers, on October 21, 2011.
We find this same Hebrew construction with
the letter beth in Deuteronomy 6:7 with four verbs in that verse; to sit, to walk, to lie
down and to rise up. We read there:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of
them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and
when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
The same grammatical structure that is used
in Deuteronomy 16:13 in the phrase after that thou hast gathered is also used four
times in Deuteronomy 6:7, when thou sittest, when thou walkest, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:7 could also be correctly translated:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of
them while thou sittest in thine house, and while thou walkest by the way, and
while thou liest down, and while thou risest up.
There is not a clear after or before
relationship established with this grammatical structure.
The translators were not always completely
consistent or clear in working with this grammatical structure, but the point
of this is that in Deuteronomy 16:13, the word translated after does not have a clear time relationship meaning. This same
grammatical structure is used in Deuteronomy 6:7 to mean while or in that
time.
Lets look at the Hebrew text of Deuteronomy
16:13 and Deuteronomy 6:7 so that we can see the letter beth used with the verbs in both verses.
To
download the Hebrew font used on this page, right click the link below. Select
Save Target as, then use the Control Panel in Windows to install the font.
The Hebrew letter beth is b. Its usage with each verb is underlined in
the verses below.
Deuteronomy
16:13 Thou shalt observe the feast of
tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:
Kbqymw Knrgm Kpoab Mymy tebs Kl hvet tkoh gx Deuteronomy 16:13
Deuteronomy
6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently
unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and
when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest
up.
Kmwqbw
Kbksbw Krdb Ktklbw Ktybb Ktbsb Mb trbdw Kynbl Mtnnsw Deuteronomy 6:7
A
careful examination of Deuteronomy 16:13 shows that the Hebrew letter
translated after does not give a clear time relationship in the Hebrew
language. In the general case it means while or in that time. As a result,
Deuteronomy 16:13 does not teach that the Feast of Tabernacles has to be after
the Rapture.
We
have looked at arguments given to show that the Rapture must occur before the 5
months of Revelation 9. A careful examination of the arguments given shows that
none of them gives any substantial support for the Rapture occurring before the
5 months.
Now we will examine reasons for the Rapture occurring
after the 5 months of Revelation 9.
1. 1 Corinthians 15:52 says that the resurrection of
the believers and the Rapture is at the last trumpet. However, the 5 months of
Revelation 9 is the 5th trumpet.
We
read in 1 Corinthians 15:52:
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
We
read the word trump. This is the same Greek word translated trumpet
that we find in Revelation 8-11 to describe the 7 angels with the 7 trumpets.
We
find this same Greek word in the following verses from Revelation 8-11:
Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before
God; and to them were given seven trumpets <4536>.
Revelation 8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven
trumpets <4536> prepared themselves to sound.
Revelation 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying
through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the
inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet <4536> of the three angels,
which are yet to sound!
Revelation 9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the
trumpet <4536>, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great
river
1
Corinthians 15:52 also has the verb form of this same Greek noun. It is
translated as the trumpet shall sound. This same verb is used in the
following verses in Revelation 8-11 to describe the 7 angels with the 7
trumpets:
Revelation 8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven
trumpets prepared themselves to sound <4537>.
Revelation 8:7 The first angel sounded <4537>, and there followed
hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the
third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
Revelation 8:8 And the second angel sounded <4537>, and as it were a
great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of
the sea became blood;
Revelation 8:10 And the third angel sounded <4537>, and there fell a
great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third
part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
Revelation 8:12 And the fourth angel sounded <4537>, and the third part
of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of
the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for
a third part of it, and the night likewise.
Revelation 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying
through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the
inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the
three angels, which are yet to sound <4537>!
Revelation 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded <4537>, and I saw a star
fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless
pit.
Revelation 9:13 And the sixth angel sounded <4537>, and I heard a voice
from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh
angel, when he shall begin to sound <4537>, the mystery of God
should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded <4537>; and there were
great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the
kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and
ever.
These
verses show that the language of 1 Corinthians 15:52 is closely tied into the 7
trumpets in Revelation 8 to 11. In 1 Corinthians 15:52, the Greek noun translated
trump and the corresponding Greek verb translated the trumpet
shall sound, are both very much tied into the 7 angels sounding the 7
trumpets in Revelation 8 to 11.
Therefore,
it is significant that 1 Corinthians 15:52 talks about the last trump.
That ties into the 7th trumpet in Revelation 8 to 11.
However,
notice that the 5 months described in Revelation 9:1-12 is the 5th trumpet.
We read in Revelation 9:1:
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall
from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Revelation
9:1 says that the 5 months are the 5th trumpet. But, the
resurrection of the bodies of the true believers that are sleeping in the dust
and the Rapture is the last or 7th trumpet.
This
is an important point. The Rapture is the last or 7th trumpet, but
the 5 months is the 5th trumpet. This fact points to the Rapture
being after the 5 months.
One
argument that is made is that the 7 trumpets all sound at the same time.
Revelation
10:7 has been offered as a proof that all 7 trumpets sound at the same time. We
read there:
But in the days of the voice of the
seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be
finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
The
word begin should be translated shall or should.
This Greek word is only translated begin in this verse. When we check
how this Greek word is used in the Bible, we find that it expresses something
that will happen in the future or should happen in the future. It is not
expressing something that is beginning now. The phrase mystery of God should be finished points to the
very last day. That is when the mystery of God will finally be finished.
Revelation
10:7 is more of a proof that the seventh (last) trumpet will not sound until
the mystery of God should be completely finished. The mystery of God will be
finished when everything is finished, right at the end of the world. May 21,
2011 is not that date. That date is October 21, 2011.
Revelation 8:13 shows that the 7 angels with trumpets
do not sound at the same time.
We
read in Revelation 8:13 that four trumpets have sounded, but 3 are yet to
sound:
And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the
midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of
the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels,
which are yet to sound!
In
Revelation 8:6-12 we read about the first 4 trumpets soundings. Then, in verse
13 God indicates that there are 3 more trumpets that are yet to sound.
Revelation
8:13 shows us how that 4 trumpets have sounded and there are still 3 more
trumpets that are yet to sound. This is language that indicates that
the 3 remaining trumpets have not yet sounded.
The
same Greek grammatical structure that we find in Revelation 8:13 translated as
are yet to sound is found in these verses:
Matthew 2:13
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to
Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and
flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will <3195> seek the young child
to destroy him.
Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism,
he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the
wrath to come <3195>?
Mark 10:32
And they were in the way going up to
John 6:15
When Jesus therefore perceived that they would <3195> come and take him by
force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Acts 5:35
And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye
intend <3195> to do as touching these men.
Acts 23:3
Then said Paul unto him, God shall <3195> smite thee, thou
whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be
smitten contrary to the law?
Hebrews 13:14
For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come <3195>.
These
are sample verses with the same Greek word and grammatical structure as the
phrase are yet to sound found in Revelation 8:13. This grammatical
structure is always used to speak about something that will happen but has not
yet happened.
As
a result, Revelation 8:13 teaches us that the 7 trumpets are not simultaneous.
First
point: The 7 trumpets are not simultaneous. The Rapture is the 7th
trumpet, but the 5 months is the 5th trumpet, indicating that the
Rapture is after the 5 months.
Lets
consider another argument for the Rapture occurring after the 5 months:
2. God HAS TIED THE LANGUAGE OF THE 5TH TO
7TH TRUMPETS INTO THE 3 woes WHICH ARE WRITTEN in a very
chronological manner.
Let
us now examine the 3 woes that we read about in Revelation 8 to 11.
It
is argued that nothing in the book of Revelation is chronological. However, we
cannot make blanket statements. We have to examine each verse and each topic to
learn what God is saying.
Revelation
8:13 talks about 3 woes that are coming. This is after the first 4
trumpets sound. The 4 four trumpets could be the Great Tribulation. We read in
Revelation 8:13:
And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the
midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of
the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels,
which are yet to sound!
In
Revelation 8:6, God introduces 7 angels that are to sound 7 trumpets. Next, in verses
7 to 12, we read about the first 4 trumpets sounding. Then, in verse 13, God
tells us that there are 3 angels that are yet to sound their trumpets.
Revelation
8:13 also talks about 3 woes. We read Woe, woe, woe. Notice how God
ties those 3 woes to the 3 last trumpets by the language by reason of the
other voices of the trumpet of the three angels.
The
language of Revelation 8:13 makes the following connections:
-
1st woe => 5th trumpet
-
2nd woe => 6th trumpet
-
3rd woe => 7th trumpet
As
we examine the Biblical language concerning the 3 woes and last 3 trumpets, we
see that it confirms the above association.
1st woe / 5th trumpet
Let
us first consider the 5 months of Revelation 9. God talks about those 5 months
in Revelation 9:1-12. Let us look at verses 1 and 12 that bracket the
description of the 5 months. We read:
1
Ά And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the
earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
12 One woe is past; and, behold, there
come two woes more hereafter.
Revelation
9 verses 1 & 12 bracket the 5 month period. Notice that Revelation 9:1
begins with the fifth angel sounded. This is the 5th
trumpet. Revelation 9:1-11 describe the 5 months. Then right after God
describes the 5 months, Revelation 9:12 declares, One woe is past.
With
this language, God is really locking in that the 5th trumpet is the
1st woe and both of those refer to the 5 months of Revelation 9,
which we have learned is from May 21, 2011 to October 21, 2011.
The
careful language of Revelation 8:13, 9:1-12 teaches us the important truth:
1st
woe = 5th trumpet (Revelation 9:1-12) - 5 months, 5/21/2011 -
10/21/2011
As
we continue to examine verses in this study, we will see that God gives more
information to tie the 3 woes to the last 3 trumpets, 5th to 7th.
Right
after the 5th trumpet and 1st woe have passed in
Revelation 9:12, we read in the next verse, Revelation 9:13:
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a
voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Revelation
9:13 signals the 6th trumpet. Revelation 9:13 also shows that the 6th
trumpet / 2nd woe is after the 5th trumpet / 1st
woe. The chronological language of the 3 woes will confirm this. The
description of the 6th trumpet / 2nd woe continues
through the rest of Revelation 9, through the end of the chapter which is verse
21.
Then,
to complicate matters, in Revelation 10 God takes a detour and gives other
Gospel truth. Then, in Revelation 11, God talks about the 2 witnesses, which
are the true believers as they bring the Gospel throughout the New Testament
era. God gets back into the description of the 6th trumpet in
Revelation 11:12. Revelation 10 and 11:1-11 is an interjection in the middle of
the description of the 6th trumpet / 2nd woe.
That
is, God begins to describe the 6th trumpet / 2nd woe in
Revelation 9:13 with the phrase And the sixth angel sounded. The
description is ended in Revelation 11:14 which says The second woe is past.
In
the middle of the description of the 6th trumpet / 2nd
woe, from Revelation 10:1 through Revelation 11:11, God takes a break from
describing the 6th trumpet / 2nd woe to discuss other
Gospel truth.
In
the book of Genesis, we see this principle of an interjection of other
information in the middle of another description.
In
Genesis 37 through Genesis 41, God describes Josephs sojourn from the
In
Genesis 37 through Genesis 41, we read about the sojourn of Joseph, but in the
middle of that description, God makes an interjection to describe Judah and
Tamar. That happens in Genesis 38. In Genesis 39 God continues with the
description of Joseph.
God
has done the same thing in the description of the 6th trumpet / 2nd
woe.
God
begins to describe the 6th trumpet / 2nd woe in
Revelation 9:13 and continues that through the end of chapter 9. Then starting
in Revelation 10, God takes a detour from describing the 6th trumpet
/ 2nd woe, and gives other Gospel truth. This is similar to what God
did in Genesis 38 when He took a detour from describing the sojourn of Joseph
in order to give information about Judah and Tamar.
God
resumes the description of the 6th trumpet / 2nd woe in
Revelation 11:12 with the Rapture and resurrection of the bodies of the true
believers.
To
understand more about how this interjection works, we have to consider several
passages.
First,
we read in Revelation 9:13 & 21:
13
Ά And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the
golden altar which is before God,
21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor
of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation
9:13-21 all discuss the same theme, the 6th trumpet / 2nd
woe which was introduced in verse 13.
Next,
we read in Revelation 11:11-15:
11 And after three days and an half the Spirit
of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great
fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven
saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud;
and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was there a great
earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were
slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to
the God of heaven.
14
Ά The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were
great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the
kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and
ever.
In
Revelation 11:14 we read that the The second woe is past. That
identifies with the end of the 6th trumpet / 2nd woe.
Then
in verses 14 & 15 we read the third woe cometh quickly. And the seventh
angel sounded;. This language ties the 3rd woe to the 7th
trumpet.
These
two statements help to confirm that the 3rd woe identifies with the
7th trumpet, further confirming that the last 3 trumpets identify
with the 3 woes.
In
Revelation 11:12 we read the language of the Rapture:
And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto
them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their
enemies beheld them.
This
is the language of the Rapture.
We
have to ask the important question: How does the Rapture fit into the 5th
to 7th trumpets / 3 woes?
Earlier,
we looked at 1 Corinthians 15:52 which said that the resurrection of the true
believers and the Rapture is at the last trump. The Rapture is at the
last trumpet, that is the 7th trumpet. The 7th trumpet is
also called the 3rd woe.
But,
then we wonder how to fit in the language of Revelation 11:12-15, which we just
examined.
Revelation
11:12 talks about the Rapture yet the 7th trumpet is not sounded
until verse 15. This seems to be in disagreement with Corinthians 15:52 which
says that the Rapture is at the last trumpet.
We
get an answer to this puzzle when we examine the Greek word translated at
in the phrase at the last trump in 1 Corinthians 15:52.
This
same Greek word is found in Acts 11:15:
And as <1722> I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on
them, as on us at the beginning.
In
Acts 11:15, the apostle Peter is recounting to his friends the events that
happened when he brought the Gospel to the Roman Centurion Cornelius and his
family. In 1 Corinthians 15:52 the Greek word at in the phrase at
the last trump is translated as in Acts 11:15.
We
learn more about Peters encounter with the family of Cornelius in Acts
10:34-47:
34
Ά Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God
is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and
worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 The word which God sent unto the
children of
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was
published throughout all Judaea, and began from
38 How God anointed Jesus of
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he
did both in the land of the Jews, and in
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed
him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses
chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after
he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the
people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the
Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that
through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44
Ά While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which
heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed
were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also
was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and
magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should
not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
We
read in verse 34 that Peter opened his mouth and began to speak to them. Verses
34 through 43 contain at least some of what Peter said. Then, in verse 44 we
read that while Peter spoke to them the Holy Spirit fell on the people. The
evidence of the Holy Spirit falling upon the people is given in verse 46 that
the people spoke in tongues.
As
we read in verse 45, the Jews that came with Peter were astonished as they
heard the gentiles speak in tongues, which was the evidence that the Holy
Spirit had come upon them. Peter and his Jewish friends witnessed the family of
Cornelius speaking in tongues. Then, Peter answered in verse 47 saying that
they should be baptized in water.
If
we examine this passage carefully, we see that the Holy Spirit came upon the
people at about the time that Peter was saying the statement in verse 43.
We
can know this because when the Holy Spirit came upon the people they spoke in
tongues and this astonished Peter and his companions as we read in verse 45.
That would have stopped Peters sermon. After Peter heard them speak in
tongues, he realized that God had saved them, so in verse 47 he said that they
should be baptized in water.
So,
in Acts 10:34-47, we learn that Peter spoke for a short while, then the Holy
Spirit came upon the family of Cornelius.
However,
in Acts 11:15, God indicates that at the beginning of Peters speech,
using the same Greek word at that we find in 1 Corinthians 15:52, the
Holy Spirit came upon the family of Cornelius. The Holy Spirit came upon the
gentiles at the beginning of Peters sermon in the sense that near the
beginning of Peters sermon He came upon them. Peter began to speak and spoke a
few sentences and at that time, the next event, the Holy Spirit came
upon the gentiles.
Therefore,
when we put the two accounts together, we learn that this Greek word at
in the phrase at the last trump in 1 Corinthians 15:52 can indicate
the very next or following event in time.
The
event is at that time in sense that it happens as the next event.
So,
lets apply this understanding to Revelation 11:11-15:
11 And after three days and
an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon
their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great
voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to
heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was
there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the
earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted,
and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 Ά The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe
cometh quickly.
15 And the seventh angel
sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this
world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he
shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation
11:12 describes the Rapture, which from 1 Corinthians 15:52 we know is at
the last trump or 7th trumpet. Then, in verse 14 we read about
the end of the 2nd woe and the 3rd woe comes quickly.
That is the end of the 6th trumpet and then the 7th
trumpet comes quickly. Verse 15 declares the sounding of the 7th
trumpet or last trump.
From
Revelation 11:12-15, it appears that the Rapture is in the 6th
trumpet, but 1 Corinthians 15:52 says it is the last trump. We wonder how to
resolve this.
However,
with the help of the two accounts of Peter visiting the family of Cornelius, we
can see that God can use this Greek word translated at in the phrase at the
last trump in the sense of the next event.
In
1 Corinthians 15:52 the Greek word at in the phrase at the last
trump can mean that the last trump or 7th trumpet is the next
event. That would agree with the language the
third woe cometh quickly in Revelation 11:14. The 3rd
woe is the 7th trumpet and it comes quickly
or right after the Rapture described in Revelation 11:12.
So,
the Rapture is at the last trump in the sense that the 7th trumpet
happens quickly or as the next event after the Rapture. So, this puts the
Rapture clearly after the 5th trumpet / 1st woe which is
the 5 months.
Lets
look at Revelation 11:12-14 again to see another important point:
12 And they heard a great
voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to
heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was
there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the
earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted,
and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 Ά The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe
cometh quickly.
Verses
12-13 describe the Rapture and the resurrection of the bodies of the true
believers. When we compare 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 with 1 Corinthians 15:51-52,
we learn that the Rapture and the resurrection of the bodies of the true
believers both happen at the same time.
Then,
the next thing God says in verse 14 is The second
woe is past.
With
this language, God is tying the 6th trumpet / 2nd woe
into the Rapture. God describes the Rapture in verses 12-13 and then right
after that, in verse 14, God tells us the 2nd woe is past. So, we
can know that the 6th trumpet / 2nd woe is the time of
the Rapture.
The
Rapture is the at last trump
because the 7th trumpet is the next event, according to how God
defines this Greek word at or as in Acts 11:15.
2nd
woe = 6th trumpet (Revelation 9:13-21, 11:12-14) - the Rapture on
10/21/2011, after 1st woe. The 7th or last trumpet
happens quickly as the next event.
Let
us look again at Revelation 11:14-15 to see the 7th trumpet and the
3rd woe:
14 Ά The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe
cometh quickly.
15 And the seventh angel
sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this
world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he
shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation
11:14 tells us that the 2nd woe has passed. That ties into the 6th
trumpet that sounded in Revelation 9:13.
Verse
14 also tells us that the 3rd woe comes quickly.
Then, the next verse tells us the 7th and last trumpet has sounded.
So, God is tying the 3rd woe into the 7th and last
trumpet.
A
careful examination of Revelation 9 to 11 shows that God clearly links the 3
woes to the last 3 trumpets, 5th to 7th. So that, the 5th
trumpet corresponds to the 1st woe and the 7th trumpet
corresponds to the 3rd woe.
Let
us now consider another important point:
To help us understand the time sequence of the 5th
to 7th trumpets, God has written the language of the 3 woes in a
very chronological manner.
Much
of the book of Revelation is not chronological. We read about Judgment Day in
Revelation 6:12-17. Then, in succeeding chapters, God talks about many things
that occur before Judgment Day. As a result, some people have concluded that
nothing in the book of Revelation is chronological.
However,
we should not make this kind of blanket statement. Each passage must be
examined on its own merit.
God
has written the language of the 3 woes in a very chronological way that is
different than the other language of the book of Revelation. Let us examine
this now.
Earlier
we looked at Revelation 8 and saw how verses 6 to 12 describe 4 trumpets. Then
verse 13 talks about 3 more trumpets that are yet to sound. The Greek grammatical structure of the phrase yet to sound is always used in other verses to speak of something
that has not yet occurred. We looked at that earlier in this study.
So,
Revelation 8:13 shows that the 7 trumpets are not simultaneous. According the
Revelation 8:13, the first 4 trumpets have sounded and there are 3 more trumpets
yet
to sound.
Lets
look more at the 3 woes.
In Revelation 9:12 God has put 3 Greek words /
phrases that are used to indicate chronological events.
We
read in Revelation 9:12:
One woe is past; and, behold, there come two
woes more hereafter.
Revelation
9:12 appears right after the 5 months, which is the 5th trumpet / 1st
woe, and right before the 6th trumpet / 2nd woe. When God
says One woe is past He is talking about the 5 months which He just
finished describing in the previous verse.
The
same Greek verb with the same tense translated as is past in
Revelation 9:12 is also found in these verses:
Matthew 8:33
And they that kept them fled, and went their ways <565> into the city, and
told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
Matthew 9:7
And he arose, and departed <565> to his house.
Matthew 25:18
But he that had received one went <565> and digged in the
earth, and hid his lords money.
Mark 16:13
And they went <565> and told it unto the residue: neither
believed they them.
John 6:1
After these things Jesus went <565> over the sea of
Galilee, which is the
Acts 9:17
And Ananias went his way <565>, and entered into
the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even
Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that
thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away <565>.
The
above verses, and other verses with this same Greek word and same tense, convey
the meaning of something that has gone away or is past. This Greek word is
translated went, gone away, departed or came. It is used to indicate
something that has gone or has come. With this verb when something is passed
or gone, it is truly gone.
People
have argued that this Greek word translated past in Revelation 9:12 is never translated in a similar way in
any other verse and therefore does not mean a past event.
First
off, that statement is not true. This same Greek word with the same tense is
translated passed away in
Revelation 21:4, which we will examine shortly. Revelation 21:4 gives a direct
teaching on how to understand this word past
found in Revelation 9:12.
Secondly,
this verb is used to describe something or someone that has passed on and is no
longer present. For example, in Matthew 9:7 we read about a man that was sick
of the palsy and was lying in a bed. Jesus healed him and told him to get out
of his bed and go home. We read:
And he arose, and
departed <565> to his house.
That
man went away. This is what God is teaching about the 1st woe in
Revelation 9:12. In Revelation 9:1-11 God describes this 1st woe.
Then, in the next verse, verse 12, God tells us that this 1st woe is
past, but there are still 2 more
woes yet to come. It is like this sick man has departed and yet there are still 2 more people that have yet to
depart. Revelation 9:12 tells us that there are still 2 more woes that have yet
to depart or to happen.
God
confirms this understanding when we look at Revelation 11:14 which says:
The second
woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
In
Revelation 11:14 we see now that the 2nd woe is past. This word past is the same verb and in the same
tense as we are reading in Revelation 9:12. In Revelation 11:14 God says that the third woe cometh quickly. Notice
that God uses the verb cometh. God
is describing the 3 woes like 3 people that are coming. In Revelation 9:12 we
see that one woe came and departed, yet there are still 2 more woes to come. It
is like the 1st man of the 3 came and went. Next, in Revelation
11:14 we read that the 2nd woe has past and the 3rd woe
will come quickly. This is like
the 2nd man came and departed, and the 3rd man will come
soon.
If we read Revelation 9:12 and 11:14
carefully, checking the verbs and the tenses, we see that God is using very
clear language to show that the 3 woes are in chronological sequence.
Lets
look at a verse in which God defines what He means by the word past in Revelation 9:12.
Revelation 21:4 provides a very direct
definition for the verb translated past in Revelation 9:12
Revelation
21:4 is very helpful in defining this Greek word translated is past in
Revelation 9:12. Revelation 9:12 and 21:4 use this verb in the same tense.
Therefore, God has given Revelation 21:4 to define what God means by the word
translated past in Revelation
9:12. Lets look at those two verses:
Revelation
9:12 One woe is past <565>; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
Revelation
21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away <565>.
The
verb and the tense of the verb translated past
or passed away in both verses is
the same.
Revelation
21:4 talks about how in the new heavens and the new earth, all of the problems
that the true believers suffered in this present world are all past; past in
the sense of time. The time of the problems described in Revelation 21:4 has past. Those problems will never come
again. In Revelation 21:4 those problems are truly gone.
Revelation
9:12 uses the same Greek verb in the same tense to describe the 1st
woe / 5th trumpet, which is the 5 months. Based upon Revelation 21:4
and other verses, God is teaching that those 5 months are past in Revelation 9:12 before we get to the 6th
trumpet, which ends with the Rapture.
By
careful choice of verbs and tenses, God is teaching that the 6th
trumpet which ends in the Rapture is after the 5 months, on October 21,
2011.
God
has put other words in Revelation 9:12 that teach a chronological series of
events.
We
read the word more in Revelation 9:12. This Greek word is used to
convey something that is not yet complete.
We
find this same Greek word in these verses:
Mark 12:6
Having yet <2089> therefore one son, his wellbeloved,
he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
Luke 22:37
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet <2089> be accomplished in
me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me
have an end.
Acts 9:1
And Saul, yet <2089> breathing out threatenings and
slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Hebrews 10:37
For yet <2089> a little while, and he that shall
come will come, and will not tarry.
Revelation 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of
them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet <2089> for a little season,
until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as
they were, should be fulfilled.
The
above are examples of how this Greek word translated more in
Revelation 9:12 is used in the Bible. This word indicates something that is yet
to come. That is there are two more woes, the 2nd and 3rd,
that are still to come. We saw in Revelation 11:12-15 that the Rapture comes
right at or before the 3rd woe / 7th trumpet.
Lets
us look at one more word in Revelation 9:12. The word hereafter is
actually a two Greek word phrase.
That
same two word Greek phrase is found in the following verses:
Mark 16:12
After <3326> that <5023> he appeared in
another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
Luke 5:27
And after <3326> these things <5023> he went forth, and
saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto
him, Follow me.
Luke 17:8
And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and
gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward <3326> <5023> thou shalt eat and
drink?
John 5:14
Afterward <3326> <5023> Jesus findeth him in
the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a
worse thing come unto thee.
John 13:7
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but
thou shalt know hereafter <3326> <5023>.
Acts 7:7
And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God:
and after <3326> that <5023> shall they come
forth, and serve me in this place.
1 Peter 1:11
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in
them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and
the glory that should follow <3326> <5023>.
Revelation 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and
shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no
more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after <3326> that <5023> he must be loosed a
little season.
From
the above examples, we see that this two word Greek phrase translated hereafter
in Revelation 9:12 refers to something that will happen later.
God
is using this word hereafter to indicate that the two remaining woes
are not simultaneous with the 1st woe. The two remaining woes, which
includes the 7th trumpet and the Rapture, come hereafter
the 1st woe which is the 5 months from May 21, 2011 to October 21,
2011.
It
is significant that God has put 3 words / phrases in Revelation 9:12, is
past, more and hereafter, to indicate that the 5 months are past before we
get to the 7th trumpet and the Rapture.
Lets
look again that the two remaining woes, the 2nd and 3rd
woe.
We
read in Revelation 11:12-15:
12 And they heard a great
voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to
heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was
there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the
earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted,
and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 Ά The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe
cometh quickly.
15 And the seventh angel
sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this
world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he
shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty
elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and
worshipped God,
Verse
12 describes the Rapture with the language they
ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
This is clearly the language of the Rapture.
Then
verse 14 indicates that the 2nd woe has past. Verses 12 to 14 show
us that the 2nd woe is the Rapture. Verses 14 & 15 confirm that
the 2nd woe is also the 6th trumpet.
Verses
14 & 15 indicate the 3rd woe and 7th trumpet quickly follows. This explains how 1
Corinthians 15:52 can talk about the Rapture as at the last trump. The
7th or last trumpet sounds right after or at the end of the 2nd
woe / 6th trumpet, which is the Rapture. That is, the Rapture
happens and immediately or quickly comes the 7th or last
trumpet.
We
also want to note the language of verse 14, that the
third woe cometh quickly. God talks about the third woe which cometh. God is using language that would be
used to describe 3 people coming to describe the 3 woes. In Revelation 11:14,
it is like 2 people have come and past on and now the 3rd person cometh quickly. This confirms the chronological
sequence of the 3 woes.
Verses
12-15 tie the Rapture with the 7th (last) trumpet and the 3rd
woe. The 7th (last) trumpet for the Rapture agrees with 1
Corinthians 15:52. Both of these are after the 5 months which was the 5th
trumpet and 1st woe.
God
has carefully written the language of the 3 woes to teach that they are
chronological. Also, God has linked the last 3 trumpets, 5th to 7th,
to the 3 woes with careful language. The Bible teaches that the 5 months is the
5th trumpet / 1st woe, and that this is past before the
Rapture which comes right at the 3rd woe / 7th trumpet.
Therefore, the Bible teaches that the Rapture will occur at or after October
21, 2011.
Let
us consider another Biblical argument for the Rapture occurring after the 5
months.
3. The phrase last day is used 8 times in the Bible
and identifies with the resurrection of the believers and the Feast of
Tabernacles (at the end of the 5 months)
The
phrase last day is only used 8 times in the Bible. Since God is the
author of the Bible, we know that this is significant. We will now look at
those 8 occurrences.
These
2 verses identify the last day with the last day of the Feast of
Tabernacles:
Nehemiah
8:18 Also day by day, from the first day
unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the
feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according
unto the manner.
John
7:37 In the last day, that great day
of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come
unto me, and drink.
The
following 5 verses identify the last day with the resurrection of the
true believers which is also the time of the Rapture according to 1 Corinthians
15:51-52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17,
John
6:39 And this is the Fathers will which
hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but
should raise it up again at the last day.
John
6:40 And this is the will of him that
sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have
everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John
6:44 No man can come to me, except the
Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John
6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh
my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John
11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that
he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
We
have one more verse with the phrase last day in it:
John
12:48 He that rejecteth me, and
receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken,
the same shall judge him in the last day.
John
12:48 talks about how the Word of God will judge the unsaved in the last
day. The idea of judging can have a broad understanding. John 12:48 could
refer to the Rapture, since the Rapture of the true believers is a judgment
against the unsaved as we read in Matthew 12:41-42.
These
8 verses are all of the verses in the Bible that have the phrase last day.
In these verses, God is linking the term last day with the last day of
the Feast of Tabernacles, which is October 21 in 2011, to the Rapture. God is
directing us to understand that the Rapture will occur on the last day of the
Feast of Tabernacles in 2011, which will be October 21, 2011.
It
is argued that there are two last days. The last day for the
true believers and the last day for the unbelievers.
If
this were true that would make the last day for the unbelievers at the
Feast of Tabernacles on October 21, 2011. However, the Feast of Tabernacles is
focused upon the harvest of the true believers, when they go home to be with
Christ as we read in:
1
Kings 8:66 On the eighth day he sent the
people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and
glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his
servant, and for
2
Chronicles 7:10 And on the three and
twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents,
glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David,
and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
Both
of the above verses speak about the Feast of Tabernacles that was held by King
Solomon upon the completion of the
The
Feast of Tabernacles was also called the Feast of Ingathering as we read in
these two verses:
Exodus 23:16 And
the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in
the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the
year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Exodus 34:22 And
thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and
the feast of ingathering at the years end.
The
ingathering of the harvest ties into the gathering of the true
believers to the Lord Jesus in the Rapture. We read about the gathering
of the true believers in 2 Thessalonians 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
In
2 Thessalonians 2:1 God is talking about the gathering of the true
believers to the Lord Jesus. This is the Rapture, when the true believers are
gathered unto Christ in heaven.
This
language of 2 Thessalonians 2:1 agrees with the language of gathered in thy labours that describes the Feast of Ingathering or the Feast
of Tabernacles in Exodus 23:16. This feast points to October 21 in 2011, which
is after the 5 months.
Let
us also look more closely at the language of the last day in John
7:37. We read there:
In the last day, that great day of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and
drink.
John
7 is talking about the Feast of Tabernacles. In John 7:37 God is using the term
last day to tie the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles to the
Rapture and the resurrection of the true believers.
Notice
the rest of the language of John 7:37 which says If any man thirst, let him
come unto me, and drink.
The
true believers thirst after righteousness and the Gospel as we read in
Matthew 5:6:
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst
after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
The
true believers thirst after righteousness which includes the Rapture and the
completion of their salvation. That agrees with the idea that John 7:37 is
referring to the Rapture when the true believers who are thirsting
after righteousness will come up to the Lord Jesus.
We
learn more this in Revelation 7:16:
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more;
neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
In
Revelation 7:16 the true believers are in heaven. They are no longer
thirsting anymore. The true believers will no longer thirst after the
Rapture when the Lord Jesus takes them to Himself.
We
learn about this in Revelation 21:6:
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain
of the water of life freely.
Revelation
21:6 is talking about when the true believers are with the Lord Jesus in the
new heavens and new earth as indicated in verse 1. In this world, the true
believers were thirsting for righteousness and the completion of their
salvation (Matthew 5:6).
John
7:37 talks about those thirsting for the Gospel. Jesus instructs them to come
to Him and drink. John 7:37 is set at the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles
which is October 21 in 2011. All of the elect have been saved at that point.
However, in the Rapture the true believers come to the Lord Jesus in
heaven. In heaven, they will drink freely of the eternal salvation.
Therefore,
when we compare the language of John 7:37 to Matthew 5:6 and Revelation 7:16
& 21:6, we see further evidence that the fulfillment of John 7:37 is the
Rapture occurring on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, which will be
October 21 in 2011.
God
has carefully used the term last day 8 times in the Bible and has identified
it with the Rapture and the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. By this, God
is tying the Rapture to October 21, 2011. There is no Biblical suggestion for
the idea of 2 last days.
Let
us consider another passage:
4. In Revelation 9:4 the locusts that are released
upon the earth are TOLD not to hurt the true believers.
We
read in Revelation 9:4:
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt
the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only
those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
This
verse is saying that the locusts of Revelation 9 were commanded not to
hurt the true believers. A more common translation of this Greek word is that
it was said to the locusts. It was said to the locusts not to hurt the
true believers.
Sometimes
people argue about the phrase should not hurt the grass of the earth,
neither any green thing, neither any tree, disputing about what the grass,
green thing and tree represent.
However,
it is not necessary to argue about those three terms because God gives an
explanation at the end of the verse, only those men which have not the seal
of God in their forehead. This phrase must refer to the true believers.
God is telling us in Revelation 9:4 that the true believers will not be hurt.
Lets
look more closely at those locusts. We read Revelation 9:1-4:
1
Ά And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the
earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there
arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and
the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon
the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have
power.
4 And it was commanded them that they should
not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but
only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
Verse
1 and 2 talk about a bottomless pit. This refers to condition of being
under the wrath of God. Those in the bottomless pit are under the
wrath of God, like satan was cast into the bottomless pit in Revelation 20:1-2.
He is under the wrath of God.
Verse
2 tells us that out of the bottomless pit came a smoke and
out of the smoke came the locusts.
God
is effectively saying that these locusts came out of the bottomless pit along
with the smoke.
The
releasing of these locusts out of the bottomless pit is similar to
satan being released out of this bottomless pit at the beginning of
the Great Tribulation. We read about the binding and loosing of satan in
Revelation 20:1-3:
1
Ά And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless
pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old
serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and
shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no
more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be
loosed a little season.
We
see in Revelation 20:3 that satan is loosed from the bottomless
pit. From other passages, we know that this is at the beginning of the
Great Tribulation.
The
language of satan being loosed from the bottomless pit is similar to
the language of Revelation 9:1-3 in which the locusts are released from the bottomless
pit.
Going
back to Revelation 9:3, we see that the locusts are released upon the earth.
According
to Revelation 9:1-3, these locusts come from the bottomless pit and go
upon the earth.
The
bottomless pit identifies the locusts with those under the wrath of God, just
like satan is under the wrath of God (Revelation 20:1-3). The fact that they go
upon the earth identifies them as being in this world.
This
is similar language to what we read about satan in Revelation 12:9, he was
cast out into the earth. At the time of the cross, satan was defeated and
cast out of heaven and God says that he was cast out into the earth. Even though he was bound during the church age in
the sense that he could not frustrate Gods salvation program, satan has been
active in the earth throughout the New Testament era.
The
language of Revelation 9:1-3 identifies these locusts as the unsaved. It is the
unsaved that are subject to the wrath of God symbolized by the bottomless
pit. Also, these unsaved people are here on the earth during the 5 months
because God talks about them being upon the earth.
There
is similarity between satan being loosed upon the earth in Revelation 20:3 and
the unsaved, the locusts, being released upon the earth in Revelation 9:3. When
satan was released at the beginning of the Great Tribulation he was able to
make the world more sinful as we see in our day. This could be part of the
effect of the locusts, the unsaved, coming upon the earth during the 5
months starting on May 21, 2011. The world could become even more sinful.
Also,
Revelation 9:4-5 & 10 indicate that these locusts will hurt and torment,
that is, consciously afflict, the unsaved for the 5 months.
It
is said that these locusts represent the true believers. That conclusion does
not agree with what we have see above in verses 1 to 4. One argument used to
indicate that they are true believers is based upon Revelation 9:11 where we
read:
And they had a king over them, which is the
angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon,
but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
The
king over everything is God Himself. It is argued that these locusts
must be the true believers because God is the king of the true
believers. However, this line of reasoning is not valid because, finally, God
is the king over all mankind, both saved and unsaved. The unsaved have
a king over them who is God Himself. God finally is king over all
mankind.
Let
us get back to Revelation 9:4 which says that the locusts, which come upon
the earth, are told that they cannot hurt the true believers during the 5
months.
If
the true believers have already been raptured, why does God tell the locust,
who are upon the earth, not to hurt the true believers?
One
answer given is that God has made the Bible difficult to understand by putting
confusing language in the Bible. However, this answer could be used anytime we
run into a verse that does not agree with a conclusion that we have made. We
have to face the fact that God has put this statement to the locusts in the
Bible to teach Gospel truth.
Why
does God makes this statement to the locusts if the true believers are not in
the earth?
Another
answer given is that this said because the true believers are not on the earth.
However, if the true believers are not on the earth, then there is no need to
command or say to the locusts not to hurt the true believers. We should
remember that in Revelation 9:4 God is giving direction to the locusts.
Why does God make this statement to the locusts if the true believers
are not on the earth?
We
should keep in mind that every statement in the Bible was put there by God to
teach Gospel truth. God tells us in Revelation 9:3 that these locusts came out
upon the earth. That is an indication that they are on the earth.
Also, God tells them not to hurt the true believers. These locusts which are
upon the earth are told not to hurt the true believers.
When
this word commanded or said is used in the Bible, it always
has a real application to the one to which it is spoken. That is, the item said
to them is an actual possibility. Here are some verses with this same Greek
word:
Romans 9:12 It was said <4483> unto her, The elder shall serve the
younger.
Romans 9:26 And it shall
come to pass, that in the place where it was said <4483> unto them, Ye are not my people;
there shall they be called the children of the living God.
Revelation 6:11 And white
robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said <4483> unto them, that they should rest yet for
a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that
should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
We
read similar language in Revelation 7:1-3:
1 Ά And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four
corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should
not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel
ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the
sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the
earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our
God in their foreheads.
Revelation
7:1-3 is talking about the coming of the Great Tribulation. The four angels
were not allowed to hurt anything until the servants of our God were
sealed. This is talking about the fact that the Great Tribulation could not
come until all of those that were to be saved during the church age became
saved.
In
Revelation 7:2-3, we read about the angel or messenger of God saying
to the 4 angels not to hurt anything until God has sealed all of His
servants. This was a command that had real application because there were the
elect in the world that God would not allowed to be hurt.
Revelation
9:4 is written with similar language from God that it was said to the
locusts not to hurt the true believers.
By
God telling the locusts that are upon the earth not to hurt the true believers,
God is making the strong implication that the true believers are present in the
world during those 5 months.
We
have examined 4 groups of passages that strongly argue that the Rapture is
after the 5 months, on October 21, 2011. One of these arguments alone would not
be too convincing, but together, they make a strong case. However, when the
Bible is examined carefully, there are no strong arguments for the Rapture
being before the 5 months.