Rapture At The 7th Trumpet?

Rapture At The 7th Trumpet?

I don't believe that the 7th trumpet (Revelation 11:15-19) is the "last trump" (1 Corinthians 15:52), but that the rapture trumpet will sound "after the tribulation" (Matthew 24:29-31), after the 7 vials are finished. Between the 6th and 7th vials, Jesus exhorts us to hold on (Revelation 16:15). I believe this is the same blessing as Daniel 12:12, so that we might endure to the 1,335th day after the abomination of desolation (Daniel 12:11-12), which is the day I believe Jesus will come back (Revelation 19).

Note that Paul taught that the Antichrist will be destroyed at the same coming (parousia) of Christ in which we will be gathered together unto him (2 Thessalonians 2:1, 8), and the Bible doesn�t teach a 3rd coming (parousia) of Christ. Revelation doesn�t show Jesus coming or the Antichrist being destroyed at the 7th trumpet, for the Antichrist is still gathering his armies after the 6th vial (Revelation 16:12-16), and isn't destroyed until the 2nd coming (Revelation 19:11-21), after the vials (Revelation 16).

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Two-Phased Coming?

Note that if Jesus can come back from heaven before the vials, then depart for some period of time back into heaven, then come back again after the vials, and this can all be referred to as a single "coming," then there's no 2nd coming, for Jesus' two future comings would simply be subsequent phases of his 1st coming as a babe in Bethlehem.

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Why No Trumpet In Revelation 19?

Note that we don't see the rapture itself or many of the elements of the rapture and 2nd coming such as the shout or the voice of the archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16) or the gathering together of the saints by angels (Matthew 24:31) or the resurrection of all believers at the sounding of a trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16) or Jesus setting foot on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4) anywhere in Revelation, so it's not surprising that the rapture trumpet (Matthew 24:31) isn't seen in Revelation either.

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Can "Tribulation" Include "Wrath?"

Some who believe pre-wrath also call themselves post-trib because they say the 7 vials of God's wrath are not part of the tribulation, but begin immediately after it.

I personally can't find any verse which separates the 7 vials of God's wrath from the tribulation. I believe God's wrath in the 7 vials is the 3rd and final stage of the tribulation, the 7 seals and 7 trumpets being the 1st and 2nd stages.

Note that God's "wrath" against the wicked isn't separated from "tribulation" brought against them (Romans 2:8-9), that God's judgment against the wicked can bring "great tribulation" (Revelation 2:22), and that God's retribution against those who harm Christians can be called "tribulation" (2 Thessalonians 1:6).

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"The Time Of The Dead" (Revelation 11:18)

Note that a "time" (Revelation 11:18) may be an entire year (Daniel 12:7). I don't believe the resurrection will happen immediately at the 7th trumpet, but will happen at the 2nd coming (1 Corinthians 15:23), which I believe will be about 75 days after the 7th trumpet.

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"The Kingdoms Of This World" (Revelation 11:15)

I believe Revelation 11:15 announces that at the sounding of the 7th trumpet Jesus' kingdom includes all the kingdoms of the earth which Satan had given into the hands of the Antichrist (compare Luke 4:5-6) for his 42-month reign (Revelation 13:5, 7). I believe Jesus takes legal rule from Satan and the Antichrist at the 7th trumpet, at which time the vials will commence as judgment (Revelation 11:15-19; 15:5-16:21), but that Jesus will not set his feet upon the mount of Olives and begin his de facto reign until the 2nd coming (Zechariah 14:4-9), after the vials (Revelation 16, 19).

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"Mystery Of God Finished" (Revelation 10:7)
MEANS RAPTURE FINISHED?

While some believe Revelation 10:7 must refer only to the "mystery" in 1 Corinthians 15:51, note that there are many other "mysteries" of God (1 Corinthians 4:1) and of the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:11) besides the mystery of the changing of the bodies of living believers into immortality at Jesus' coming (1 Corinthians 15:51), which coming we don't see at the 7th trumpet, such as the mystery of the blindness in part of Israel (Romans 11:25) and the mystery of the salvation of the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:3-6) and the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19) and the mystery of Christ being joined to the church as a man is joined to his wife (Ephesians 5:31-32) and the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ (Colossians 2:2) and the mystery of God's will (Ephesians 1:9) and the mystery of the 7 stars (Revelation 1:20) and the mysteries of speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2) and the mystery of faith (1 Timothy 3:9) and the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16) and the mystery of iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7) and the mystery of the Woman Babylon (Revelation 17:5).

Note that Revelation 10:7 says that in the days of the 7th trumpet, when it sounds, "the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." Here the Greek word translated "finished" can be translated "performed," as it is in Luke 2:39, so that Revelation 10:7's statement is similar to Amos 3:7's statement that "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

Therefore, we need to determine what thing which can still be called a mystery or secret of God which has only been declared to some people, will be revealed to all people and performed before all people at the 7th trumpet.

I believe that at the 7th trumpet God will reveal to all people and perform before all people the 7 vials of his wrath which have already been declared to believers through John's prophecy in Revelation 16, but now remain hidden from view in the temple in heaven, but which will come out of the temple-opening of the 7th trumpet (Revelation 11:15, 19; 15:5-6).

I see the good news declared in Revelation 10:7 to be that God's judgments "made manifest" in the 7 vials are "great and marvellous" (Revelation 15:1, 3-4) and "true and righteous" (Revelation 16:7), just as the "everlasting gospel" has always included the message of God's "judgment" (Revelation 14:6-7, Acts 24:24-25).

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"Mystery Of God Finished" (Revelation 10:7)
MEANS CHURCH FINISHED?

Some say the church itself will be finished at the 7th trumpet. But I don't believe the church will be finished at the 7th trumpet because many Jews will come to Christ later at the 2nd coming (Romans 11:24-26, Zechariah 12:10-13:6), and Christ will be preached to the nations in the millennium (Isaiah 66:19-21). Nothing says the church will ever be finished (Ephesians 3:21).

Note that there are many other "mysteries" of God (1 Corinthians 4:1) and of the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:11) besides the mystery of the church itself, such as the mysteries of speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2) and the mystery of faith (1 Timothy 3:9) and the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16) and the mystery of iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7) and the mystery of the Woman Babylon (Revelation 17:5).

Note that Revelation 10:7 says that in the days of the 7th trumpet, when it sounds, "the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." Here the Greek word translated "finished" can be translated "performed," as it is in Luke 2:39, so that Revelation 10:7's statement is similar to Amos 3:7's statement that "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

Therefore, we need to determine what thing which can still be called a mystery or secret of God which has only been declared to some people, will be revealed to all people and performed before all people at the 7th trumpet.

I believe that at the 7th trumpet God will reveal to all people and perform before all people the 7 vials of his wrath which we see declared in Revelation 16, which now remain hidden from view in the temple in heaven, but which will come out of the temple-opening of the 7th trumpet (Revelation 11:15, 19; 15:5-6).

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How Long Will The Vials Last?

From the time he commits the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15; Daniel 11:31, 36), I believe the Antichrist is given 1,260 days to rule and persecute believers (compare Revelation 13:5), after which I believe the 7th trumpet will sound and vials 1-5 (Revelation 16) will be poured out as judgment on his kingdom over a period of 30 days, during which time we don't see him persecuting believers. On day 1,290 (Daniel 12:11), I believe the 6th vial will be poured out preparing the way of the kings of the east (Revelation 16:12). It may then take about 45 days for the Antichrist and all the kings of the earth to gather all of their armies to Armageddon (Revelation 16:14). I believe Daniel 12:12 and Revelation 16:15 are the same blessing, given on day 1,290 (Daniel 12:11), so that we must wait until day 1,335 (Daniel 12:12) for Christ to return to rapture us into the clouds to judge (Psalms 50:4-5, Mark 13:27) and marry us (Revelation 19:7), and then descend (Revelation 19:11-14) to destroy the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:8) at Armageddon (Revelation 19:20-21).

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Aren't We Fed For ONLY 1260 Days?

Note that it doesn't say we won't be fed any longer than 1,260 days. I believe the purpose of Revelation 12:6 is to show that the time of the woman in the wilderness is the same time as the two witnesses (Revelation 11:3), just as I believe the purpose of Revelation 12:14 is to show that the time of the woman in the wilderness is the same time as the Antichrist's rule (Daniel 12:7).

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Why No Persecution In Final 75 Days?

We don't see any persecution or martyrdom during the 7 vials, even though I believe Christians will still be in hiding on the earth during that time of God's wrath (Isaiah 26:20-21), probably because the Antichrist and his followers will be too busy contending with the vials and with having to muster and gather together all the armies of the earth in one place in an attempt to fight Christ at his return (Revelation 16:14).

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Will We Be Affected By The 7 Vials?

I believe Isaiah 26:20-21 refers to those Christians still alive on the earth during the 7 vials of God's wrath (Revelation 16). The vials aren't directed at Christians, and if we have good bunkers with fresh water, they need not affect us in any way.

Even if we are affected by them, Lot was greatly affected by the judgment on Sodom: he had to leave behind everything he owned; he even lost his wife; and he went to go live in a cave (Genesis 19:30). Was Lot therefore appointed to God's wrath?

And even if we are affected by something in the vials unto death -- will that be so bad? "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Won't it be a blessing to escape all the rest of the vials? As it says in another context, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours" (Revelation 14:13).

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