Topic summary

From the Introduction on the Home page, John 14:1-3 was cited as the verses in which Jesus promised a place is prepared in heaven for believers ( note ). Jesus coming for believers (His church) is also a description of the Rapture. Unbelievers are invited to go to the page Reasons To Believe in the hope that minds will be changed. This page can also be of interest to believers who have any doubts about the integrity of the Bible.

The Rapture

(The full text of The Rapture can be read here ) This is the single event when Jesus will gather His church and take believers to be with Him to rescue them from the wrath to come as God’s judgement on an unbelieving world, Jews and Gentiles. This is taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 where Paul tells us: First the dead will rise - v 16 Then those who are alive to be with them - v 17 They will all then be together with the Lord forever - v 17 This is further described in [ 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 ] The resurrection of the saints will not be as flesh and blood - v 50 The event will be instantaneous - v 52 Their bodies will be transformed to be incorruptible and immortal - v 53 There is some debate as to when the Rapture event will take place. The varying views are: Pre-tribulation - The Rapture will occur before the seven year tribulation period begins Mid-tribulation - The Rapture will occur at the midpoint of the tribulation period Pre-wrath - The Rapture will occur before God’s wrath is poured upon the earth, considered here to be in the second half of the tribulation Post tribulation - The Rapture will occur at the end of the tribulation period. However, whatever your beliefs on the timing of the rapture, whenever it occurs, you will be raptured. Remembering all the while that this only applies to believers. There is a strong opinion that the rapture will be a pre-tribulation event, often referred to as pre-trib, which is the best position to use as a reference as it is the earliest one that might occur. Obvious questions are: How do we know the tribulation will be seven years, and when are the tribulation period and rapture likely to happen.

The Tribulation

(The full text of The Tribulation can be read here ) A good starting point would be Jesus’ own words in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew chapter 24. In verse 15, where Jesus refers to “the abomination of desolation” He directs us to Daniel’s Seventy Weeks prophecy, and specifically the seventieth week in Daniel 9 verse 27 during which there will be a covenant enforced for one week (7 years), but it will be interrupted half way through when sacrifices and oblations will no longer be allowed and an abomination will desolate the Holy Place. Then the great tribulation will begin [Mat 24:21], which precedes the Messiah’s second coming at the end of the 70th week. It is this 70th week (of seven years) that is referred to as the tribulation period. It is from Daniel 9:27 that we can deduce clues as to when the seven year tribulation might start. (The topic ‘Daniel’s Seventy Weeks’ can be read here )

Signposts

(The full text of Signposts can be read here ) To remind us, this is Daniel 9:27: And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week (a week of years – seven years) . And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease, and on a corner of the altar desolating abominations, even until the end. And that which was decreed shall be poured on the desolator. The interpretation of which is: The Antichrist will strengthen, or enforce, a covenant with the Jews for seven years, but half way through the seven years he will renege on that covenant, preventing all further worship at the Jewish temple and present himself as God in the temple. The signposts can therefore be reasonably suggested as: A covenant with the many enforced The Jewish temple must be constructed for the sacrifices and offerings to be resumed The covenant reneged on The Antichrist setting himself up as God The problem presented here is that if we rely on these signposts then, assuming a pre-tribulation rapture, they all come a little late. The covenant with many , enforced by the Antichrist, implies we will already be in the final seven years. However, there is another factor to consider. Immediately following the United Nations Summit in September 2024, a group was set up with the intent to bring about a two states solution for Palestine and Israel as the means towards peace and security in the region. The announcement lasted just 1min 30 seconds, followed by questions. In that short announcement it was stated that recognition of a State of Palestine would be a focus. Events have moved on since then, with an update included in the Signposts page.

Overview This chart is to provide a visual flow of the site pages with links. It is followed by a summary of the three main topics: The Rapture of the church The seven year tribulation Signposts to the tribulation period.

Overview Links from this page

Reasons to Believe A suggested read for unbelievers, but also of interest to believers. Topics: Evolution vs creation Encoded proofs in scripture The reliability of prophecies

The Blessed Hope The Rapture of the church. Provides scriptural verses for the Rapture and introduces the Tribulation.

The Tribulation Identifies the tribulation sources from the Olivet Discourse and Daniel’s Seventy Weeks prophecy

Signposts Suggested signposts to recognise the beginning of the tribulation period

The Blessed Hope and the Rapture are only for believers. These two pages relate to this: Is Simply Believing enough , A commentary on the Sermon On the Mount .

Daniel’s Seventy Weeks Identifies the seventieth week as the tribulation period, and the primary events in it.

Appendices Additional articles, supplementary to the main pages Jesus is the only way to salvation Is Heaven or hell simply a binary option? What happens when we die? Israel can’t lose