Can we know when the "end" will be?

"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matthew 24:36

Does this mean Christians will be utterly clueless? Not at all. Jesus said that there would be signs, which will give us an idea of the season (times) when the "end" will happen (we just won't know the specific day or hour):

"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matthew 24:33

Jesus tells us to watch for the signs of the end:

"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." -Matthew 24:42

Will there be a rapture?

The word "rapture" does not appear in the Bible, but it is a term that most Christians are familiar with. Just as the word "trinity" isn't in the Bible, but its truth is plainly taught; such is with the rapture.

I believe there will be a rapture. The question is – When? Various scriptures tell us of the rapture.

As you read through this article, you will be confronted with scripture upon scripture, which should show you, without a shadow of a doubt, that there will indeed be a rapture. Get out your pen and King James Bible, and get ready to hunker down in the Word of God…

Will there be a pre-tribulation rapture?

Three of the most popular scriptures pre-trib rapturists like to use to try to prove pre-trib rapture are the following:

"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." 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" - 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." Revelation 4:1

The first two scriptures will be used later to prove that there is indeed going to be a rapture, but that it will not be pre-trib. As for the third scripture, I've always found that a ludicrous scripture for one to use to "prove" pre-trib rapture. I think that those who use Revelation 4:1 are grasping at straws. Revelation 4:1 is speaking specifically to John, to "come up hither," and see the visions. I do not believe it was spoken to the church.

Pre-trib rapturists like say that the word "church" is not mentioned in Revelation after the first three chapters. It isn't, because after chapter three, the topic of the book changes from addressing the seven churches of Asia, to addressing the topic of the end times. The word "church" may not be used, but synonymous terms are, such as "saint," and "elect."

I have yet to find any scriptures that tell me there will be a pre-trib rapture.

Will the rapture happen after the tribulation?

If the rapture were to happen after the tribulation, then what would be the point of having a rapture, since that is when Jesus comes back to the earth? Am I supposed to think that we Christians will be raptured up to heaven, and then immediately come back down onto the earth with Jesus? I don't know how post-trib rapturists can say that there is going to be a rapture at all. I have yet to find any scriptures that tell me there will be a post-trib rapture.

When will the rapture be?

My studies have led me to believe that the rapture will probably happen somewhere in the middle of the tribulation. I believe in mid-trib rapture. As you will see in a few minutes, there are abundant scriptures in the Bible that seem to tell us of a mid-trib rapture. I'm speaking of scriptures that give detail, so that it would be hard to interpret the rapture happening at any other time, besides sometime during the middle of the tribulation. (Remember the Scripture I pointed out earlier in this article - we won't know the exact time of the rapture, but we can know the season.)

I will not go through all of the scriptures that prove mid-trib rapture, else this article will truly turn into a book. For those of you who like to dig deeper, may I suggest that you write down all of the scriptures I'm about to give to you, then you can use a good KJV reference Bible to look up other Biblical references to the following scriptures, and find more mid-trib rapture support for yourself...

"Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it." Jeremiah 30:7

I believe "Jacob's Trouble" is the last half of the tribulation. If you do a careful study of the book of Revelation, you'll notice that the first half of the tribulation isn't nearly as bad as the second half. The first half contains the seven seals and the seven trumpets, which aren't much to wink an eye at, when you read of the second half of the tribulation, where antichrist proclaims himself as "god," and the 7 Vials of God's wrath are poured out. That is going to be the big trouble – Jacob's Trouble. Jacob's Trouble is also referred to as the "Great Tribulation" in the Bible, as opposed to just the tribulation. See Matthew 24:21.

The Bible tells us that those who have the seal of God in their foreheads will be saved from a lot of the troubles in the first half of the tribulation. Revelation only mentions the 144,000 Israelites getting sealed, but Christians are already sealed right now, as you can learn from studying such scriptures as Ephesians 1:13.

Before or at "Jacob's Trouble," or the "Great Tribulation," (the second half of the tribulation) all true Christians will be raptured.

"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." Daniel 9:27

The Bible teaches the principle that one should let scripture interpret scripture. By looking up other scriptures that discuss the topic of Daniel 9:27, it is concluded that the "week" is a week of years – 7 years. You can also gather this simply by reading the surrounding context of the above scripture. Daniel 9 talks of the 70 weeks of years. The tribulation is in the 70th week - the last 7 years.

Daniel 9:27 is discussing the 7-year treaty/deal that will be made between the Middle East and many nations.

Daniel 9:27 tells us that in the middle of the 7-year tribulation/treaty, antichrist will cause the sacrifices and oblations to stop. Other scriptures also tell us that when he does this, he will sit in the temple, "shewing himeself that he is god." This is also around the time of Revelation chapter 13, when the mark of the beast will become mandatory. NOTE: "Shewing himself that he is god?" Interesting wordage. Think on that one for a while.

We now have a marker that tells us what is going to happen mid-trib, so we know that if there is mid-trib rapture, that it will happen, around the time of the mid-trib crises of the "abomination of desolation" as spoken by Daniel in such places as Daniel 9:27.

"And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." Daniel 11:45-12:1

The "he" that will plant the tabernacle of his palace in the glorious holy mountain is the antichrist. This is mentioning the same thing as Daniel 9:27, which is called the "abomination of desolation," elsewhere in scripture. The "trouble" (AKA Jacob's Trouble) is mentioned as happening after the palace is planted in the glorious mountain. We see that the time being discussed in the above passage is again the middle of the tribulation/treaty.

The above says "Thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." "The book" is defined in the book of Revelation as "the Lamb's book of life." Only saved, born again Christians have their names in that book.

One of the first possible mentions of the rapture in the New Testament is the below:

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:36

Perhaps Christians will escape during the first half of the tribulation, because they have God's seal (see Eph. 1), just as the 144,000 will get sealed. Christians will escape Jacob's Trouble, because the rapture will happen somewhere in the middle of tribulation, before the seven vials of wrath are poured forth. Under the mid-trib view, the Christians will be raptured before God's full wrath is released, via the Seven Vials of Wrath. Because of this stance, some people refer to the mid-trib stance as "mid-trib pre-wrath."

"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." 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

Later we will go to the "last trump" in the Bible – the seventh trumpet in the book of Revelation. In the description of the seventh trumpet, we will read of the dead being raised first, and then the saints. Remember, the Bible identifies "saints" as saved, born again Christians, not some person who was ordained so by any earthly church.

The above passage cannot be referring to the rapture happening pre-trib, because it says it will happen in the last trumpet. Further, the seventh trumpet in Revelation is in the middle of the 7-year tribulation.

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." -1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

The above is another scripture describing the rapture. When will the rapture happen? The above tells us, when it says "with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God." This happens in the seventh trumpet in Revelation, during the middle of the tribulation, as you will see in a moment. But first:

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" -2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

When will "our gathering together unto him" be? Ah, yes "for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" – Answer? Not until the abomination of desolation. Remember when that happens? That's right, in the middle of the 7-year tribulation.

Now let us read of the mid-trib rapture in the seventh trumpet in the book of Revelation:

"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...
...And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." Revelation 11:15 and 18

Notice the above tells us that the dead will be raised first, and then the living saints are raptured next. It shows this happening at the seventh trumpet, which is the last trumpet in the Bible, and must therefore be the "last trump" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.

If you keep reading through the book of Revelation, you'll see that chapter 12 is a parenthetical chapter, and then the timeline picks up again with chapter 13, where the mark of the beast is mentioned. This is also where it tells us that anti-christ proclaims himself to be "god" - the Abomination of Desolation. This is where the second half of the tribulation begins.

PS – For further study of interest - it is in the sixth trumpet where the two witnesses are killed and then translated to heaven. (Read the first half of chapter 11). Christians are raptured at the next trumpet - the 7th. If the rapture isn't occurring in the seventh trumpet, then that trumpet is empty. Read it for yourself and see. There is nothing occurring in the seventh trumpet, if you don't read the rapture there.

When is the Rapture? - A Recap

I could have this all wrong, but I don't think so...

The seventh trumpet is the middle of the tribulation, as studying the surrounding chapters before and after Revelation 11 reveals. The rapture has two steps: 1) The dead in Christ are raised and raptured first, and 2) The Christians still living are then raptured:

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God {Seventh Trumpet}: and the dead in Christ shall rise first {Step One}: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air {Step Two}: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." -1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

The seventh trumpet is the last trumpet mentioned in the Bible. Rapture happens at the Last Trump:

"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." 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

One More Thing

There are many more scriptures which I just didn't mention, because it would have made this article too long. However, I ran across a scripture that needs to be in this article.

Before I give you that Scripture, let's review my key rapture verse:

"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." -1 Corinthians 15:51-52

Now here's the Scripture I want to show you:

"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." -Revelation 10:7

WOW! Did you see that?!!! Amazing!

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 says that the rapture is

1) A mystery of God

2) That it will happen at the last trumpet

3) That the dead Christians shall be raised and raptured first, and then the living Christians

Between 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Revelation 10:7, and the description of the seventh trumpet in Revelation chapter 11, we can see the parallel with the word "mystery." This particular 'mystery' of God certainly must be the rapture.

Keeping the "mystery" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 in mind, we see it referenced again in Revelation 10:7, where it agrees with the Corinthians passage, that this mystery will happen at the seventh trumpet (the last trump).

Let's see if the seventh trumpet matches the above two Scriptures:

"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. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." -Revelation 11:15-19

Let's view this in a chart: