Daniel 12:7
The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
Revelation 11:12
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
These are two verses I use to teach about a Great tribulation rapture. Lord Jesus will come to collect and rapture a badly bruised, powerless and persecuted Church. The rest of the «Church» will be left behind. The rapture will take place Just before he returns to Jerusalem, and there will be hardly anyone who wants to listen to the truth about Jesus the Messiah. The teachers who preach about a Global end time revival, have in my opinion missed the mark. The true Church is a rescue operation, not a political power house.
ivarfjeld.com 
Well said that the church has missed the mark. It must be busy about rescuing souls for Christ. But unfortunately it has gone political for several decades now, and many seem to be onboard with that agenda. Trying to make things good through legislating morality doesn’t work but the power of the gospel transforms minds into right thinking. If a nation is made up of more Godly people than unGodly
then it will be more right
‘
Christians being martyred around the world and beaten…is it not the tribulation for them already? Those dying in Japan..have they not tasted wrath? Those starving from famine..has scripture not been fulfilled in their hunger?
If you live in comfort and only see blue skies and TV shows you can’t see what’s happening already. I know many hope to avoid all suffering and coast into the rapture without batting an eyelash while our brothers and sisters are martyred in India and Pakistan.
The easy road we are not promised but that we will be led where we don’t want to go. When we are asked to take the road of suffering and carry our cross how many will ask for a refund?
Peace, Sue
Tribulation is something Christendom had always endured, and so it shall it ever until Lord Jesus descends from heaven.
At the time of the end, there will be a great tribulation, in which the beasts will exert their false authority, and the many shall drink from the cup of Mystery Babylon.
Remember, no suffering we could ever endure could equate to that which Christ endured on the cross, two-thousand years ago
Peace to you, Steve
You said:
Remember, no suffering we could ever endure could equate to that which Christ endured on the cross, two-thousand years ago
Amen to that, brother.
In His Grace,
Sue
Thanks so much for this explanation. I have translated it into Danish and send it to my contacts. Finally I found sombody, who have a Biblical view on this things – and not only wishful thinkings like the pre-Tribulation supporters.
how about those that believe the rapture has already happened
Dear Todd..
Shalom.
You wrote:
how about those that believe the rapture has already happened.
My reply:
Than both we and them have missed the buss.
I would rather be waiting for a tribulation and be surprised by a rapture, than be waiting for a rapture and be surprised by a tribulation.
Shalom and keep up the good work. 🙂
The way I have it figured the rapture would be all Jewish believers. Like Paul explains the Gentiles are being grafted in because of the Jews who didn’t believe. But when the Gentile church dies out and Jesus doesn’t find any good fruit he will lift the blinders off the Jews who don’t believe. The branch that fell to the ground grafted back on the tree. Probably by some miracle. So the end won’t come until the Gentile church becomes totally corrupt or gone, which would exclude them from being part of the rapture.
I have two questions.
1. Is it true only 144,000 saints will be raptured?
2. If you are not raptured could it mean the Lord wants to keep some strong saints down here to be witnesses to the lost? But then again, the two witnesses will be sent Enoch and Elijah..
So, the ones left, are they not good enough to get raptured?
I know if the rapture happens and I’m left behind, I would worry about where I truly stand with the Lord.
The 144,000 is most likely symbolic number, one of completion. It is unlikely that literally 12,000 of each tribe of Israel is meant here, especially with the term given unto them. They are called God’s firstfruits. The following chapters talk of the harvest; all believers are collected, and the 144,000 are the firstfruits of this harvest (believers who are especially pleasing to the Lord). After this, Seven last plagues are rendered unto those that remain on the earth (the lost). This is the last day.
Do not worry of being left behind, but instead remain truly faithful to the Lord, that you might be one of his firstfruits!
Steve it is a joy to have someone on this cite who I agree with.
Your interpretation of the 144000 I believe is also a symbolic number of completion and fulfillment. It is the first fruits of Christ’s ministry. One thing I want to entertain is that the first fruits that is spoken of is the remnant or the elect Jews of that
First generation Jews in Christ. I believe they are the first fruits.
Thank you Steven for your time in helping with this question….and the scriptures too!!
Ed, does it say ‘the jewish believers’ shall rise first, or does it say the dead shall rise first?
There is no support in Scripture to the notion that “the rapture would be all Jewish believers”.
When the apostle Paul wrote these famous words, he was addressing the gentile background believers of Chorinth:
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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.