In forty years of study and contemplation over the many aspects of End Time events, I hope to share my conclusions which based on those four decades of musing and rumination. I haven’t pulled this “timeline of events” out of a hat, this presentation of such events, has been changed and changed and prayed over and probably changed again, until I have finally arrived at what is written in this section of our Web site.
I have defended with numerous biblical references, a personal belief of a Posttribulation Rapture of the Christian Church (from here on noted as the Church) to the beginning of the New Heavens and the New Earth time period. I have begun this process with what I believe is a detailed time line of events from the beginning of Daniel's 70th week.
The reasons why I have arrived at a Posttribulation Rapture of the Church, coupled with the Second Advent of Christ, should be made clear by the time I have finished presenting this information. So, let’s first take a look at what a Posttribulation Rapture should be.
A POSTTRIBULATION RAPTURE
One must use and consider the Scriptural evidence as it directly relates to a rapture occurring at the conclusion of Daniel’s 70th week, as I have already mentioned I have done, and not somewhere else along timeline of End Events. Here are some obvious contrasts between a Pretribulation Rapture and a Posttribulation Rapture.
Included will be some definitive answers for Posttribulation believers. A very detailed Posttribulation Rapture time line is given (for an unmistakably clear comprehension) of how everything comes together. For Posttribulation believers who support a Prewrath Rapture position, I have made appropriate commentary. Keep in mind, to most Pretribulationists, the Day of the Lord includes the entire 70th week of Daniel. That is, before the 70th week, during the 70th week, and after the 70th week.
Distinguishing Differences
The Pretribulation Rapture viewpoint requires the duplication of events that a Posttribulation Rapture viewpoint simplifies into one event. (The first of the two references given beside each event below is generally believed to occur before the 70th week of Daniel by Pretribulationists. The second reference is generally regarded as occurring at a Posttribulation time by both sides.) The same event is described in both passages, so Pretribulationists must explain this duplication by saying that each of these events will occur twice. I will demonstrate the fallacy of a Pretribulation Rapture when contrasted with the position of a Posttribulation Rapture: this stance does not require such duplications. I have supported all stated commentary with Scripture.
Scriptural Event: Christ coming in the clouds
Pretribulation Viewpoint: Christ comes two times
Posttribulation Viewpoint: Christ comes one time
Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and Matthew 24:30-31
Scriptural Event: The Resurrections
Pretribulation Viewpoint: Two times with the second resurrection called the “first resurrection”
Posttribulation Viewpoint: One time
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:52 and Revelation 20: 4-5
Scriptural Event: The Last Trumpet Sounds
Pretribulation Viewpoint: Two times
Potstribulation Viewpoint: One time
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:52 and Revelation 11:15
Scriptural Event: Saints rewarded
Pretribulation Viewpoint: Two times
Potstribulation Viewpoint: One time
Scriptures: Revelation 22:12 and 11:18
Scriptural Event: Believers told to await Christ’s Coming
Pretribulation Viewpoint: Two times
Postttribulation Viewpoint: One time
Scriptures: Titus 2:13 and Matthew 24:42
Scriptural Event: Christ’s Second Advent
Pretribulation Viewpoint: Two times
Posttribulation Viewpoint: One time
Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:2 and Revelation 16:15
Scriptural Event: Sun Darkened, moon turns to blood, stars fall from sky and lose their brightness, powers of heaven are shaken, wonders in the sky
Pretribulation Viewpoint: Three times
Posttribulation Viewpoint: One time
Scriptures: Joel 2: 30-31, 3:14-16, Revelation 6:12 and Matthew 24:29
Scripture Reviewed
1 Thessalonians 5:1 and 2 Thessalonians 2:2
Most Pretribulationists believe the day of the Lord immediately follows the Rapture of the Church and therefore it includes the entire 70th week of Daniel. The implication is clear that the great judgments of the Day of the Lord extend over the entire Tribulation period, the Time of Jacob’s Troubles, and most Pretribulationists agree that they climax at its end, as God imposes a Final Judgment on the nations.
Reasons why Posttribulationists place the day of the Lord after the end of the 70th week of Daniel.
Joel 2:30-31, 3:9-12 – this scripture states certain celestial events that will precede the Day of the Lord.
Matthew 24:29 – says that these same events happen right after the Tribulation.
Revelation 6:12-17 – Says this happens during the 6th Seal, and therefore indicate that the Day of the Lord starts right after the 70th week of Daniel.
The prophet Malachi claims that Elijah will appear before the coming of the great and terrible Day of the Lord.
Malachi 4:5 - After John the Baptist's death Jesus said, "Elijah is yet to come."
Matthew 17:11, Hebrews 9:27 – The majority of Premillenarians believe that Elijah is one of the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation. Because Elijah was taken into heaven without suffering death, as was Enoch, they stand to be the two best choices for the Two Witnesses who return to earth during the latter part of the Great Tribulation. Scripture says that every man is destined to “die once” and after that face judgment. Elijah and Enoch are the only two men in the Bible who never died, but were snatched away by God. See Hebrews 9:27
Revelation 11:1-13 - Since these witnesses have their ministry during the Great Tribulation, the beginning of the Day of the Lord should best occur during the middle of the 70th week of Daniel.
The Apostle Paul described two events that will occur before the Day of the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 - The apostasy occurs and the man of lawlessness takes his seat in the temple of God, at the start of the Great Tribulation. Therefore the beginning of the Day of the Lord would have to be no sooner than the middle of the 70th week of Daniel.
Most Pretribulationists have a problem with the Day of the Lord being at the end of the 70th week because it is viewed as a time of judgment. Numerous Old Testament references make it clearly understood that the Day of the Lord denotes an extensive time of Divine Judgment of the world.
Revelation 6:10-11 – This scripture explains that martyred saints must wait for judgment to fall upon their persecutors until the number of their fellow servants, who are to be killed is completed. Thus, the last martyred saint is killed very near the end, if not on the last day, of the 70th week.
Revelation 13:5-7 – States that the beast will have authority to act for 42 months (generally agreed upon by most everyone to be during the Great Tribulation) and among his actions will be making war with the saints and overcoming them. Therefore, God's judgment will not fall on the world until after the Great Tribulation and the seals, trumpets, and bowls that occur during the 70th week will not contain judgment from God.
A time of repentance for all believers continues right up until the angels poured out the fourth and fifth bowl judgments.
2 Peter 3:8-9, Revelation 16:8-11 - Indicates that the Day of the Lord is being held back in order to allow time for all who will repent to do so. People are apparently still being given a valid chance to repent. Yet non-believers do not repent and turn to the Lord for their salvation. As late as the fourth and fifth bowl of God’s Wrath they refused to repent and glory God. Their lack of repentance provides evidence that God is justified in bringing His judgment on the earth in the bowls of His Wrath.
The Return of Christ's and the “believer’s” Resurrection.
Jesus said His return would be at the end of the 70th week of Daniel. In Matthew 24 and 25, He taught His disciples about the signs preceding His Second Coming. He then described His coming in the clouds, gathering the elect, angelic participation, and Coming with the sound of a trumpet. This list is similar to what occurs at the Rapture. Thus, the disciples would logically identify any future teaching about a Rapture with the only coming they knew about, unless a different time for the Rapture was specifically given. However, no such specific differentiation is taught, nor is it necessary.
Daniel 12:2 - Jesus reinforced this belief by teaching about a resurrection of believers, which seems to have included the church, and will end "on the last day.”
Resurrections and what Scripture has to say about them.
John 6.40 - "...everyone who beholds the Son, and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." The church is among those who "believe in Him.” When the disciples heard these words, they must have applied them to the only Resurrection they knew about the one after the Great Tribulation.
John 11:24 - Further evidence that followers of Jesus knew about this Posttribulation resurrection is gained from Martha's statement, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Therefore the lack of Biblical proof for a Pretribulation Return of Christ and a Pretribulation Resurrection of believers does not exist. While a Posttribulation Return and Resurrection had already been established. Unless another Return and Resurrection clearly distinguished from the Posttribulation event is taught in the Bible, we have no choice but to believe that the Rapture occurs at the end of the Great Tribulation.
If Pretribulation belief is true, then some other unknown teaching had to exist in order to change the minds of the apostles and teachers of the early church, about the timing of the Resurrection of believers and the Return of Christ.
1Corinthians 15.51 - The new truth or mystery is that the living will be changed without dying. "Behold I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed." Paul is stressing the fact that all believers will receive glorified bodies even if they are alive at Christ's coming. The Corinthians knew dead believers would receive glorified bodies because Christ and some Old Testament saints had been raised and glorified already. If the mystery was that we would be raised before the 70th week of Daniel, then this is still left a mystery. Paul didn't give a Pretribulation time for this event. In fact, he gave two Posttribulation time indications for this event. And, since the translation of the living is tied with the Resurrection of believers and no Pretribulation time is mentioned, it would be natural for the Corinthians (and us) to place these events at the close of the Great Tribulation. This is supported Biblically and it makes good sense.
There are more specific Scriptural indications that the Rapture and Resurrection of believers is Posttribulation. There are other clear time references associated with some passages on the return of Christ for the Church. These time indications establish that event as being after the Great Tribulation and simultaneous with the Second Coming.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 - Paul commends the Thessalonians for their perseverance in tribulations and then he tells them when to expect relief and revenge. "For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well (when does relief come?) when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire." In verse 7 he is saying God will relieve us who are suffering persecution at the Second Coming. Verses 7-12 should make it clear that this is at the end of the Great Tribulation). Therefore, in the immediate context of a Second Coming relief and return, Paul starts chapter two by tying the Second Coming with our gathering together to Christ at the Rapture.
2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2:8 – Though very speculative in verse one, is the mentioned Coming that is clearly at the end of the 70th week, adding more evidence that the coming in 2:1 and must be interpreted as being at the end of the Great Tribulation (unless verse 1 is taken completely out of context). Paul goes on to correct some false ideas by the Thessalonians believers. They seem to have thought the Day of the Lord had already come. (Not unreasonable considering all the persecutions and afflictions they had endured. They apparently knew tribulations would precede the Day of the Lord.) They were excited, anxiously anticipating the soon Return of Christ. However, Paul corrects this error showing them that two events will occur before the Day of the Lord comes. If Pretribulation is correct, Paul's description of events preceding the Day of the Lord seems useless in correcting their error, IF the Church was in heaven when these events occur. Many Pretribulationists believe the Thessalonians were distressed because they thought they had missed the Rapture. This view is hard to accept since this information supposedly had come by letter from Paul who would also have missed the Rapture! How about those apples?
Two other direct Posttribulation time references are given with the Rapture and Translation of the Saints.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Revelation 10:7 - In verse 51-52 Paul says, "We shall all be changed...at the last trumpet...." The word "last" requires a series of trumpets; that this is the final trumpet in that series; and that no other trumpets will follow. If Millennial trumpets were to occur, they would be sufficiently separated temporally as to not be confused with this series of trumpets. No other series of trumpets is mentioned, furthermore in Revelation 10:7 it says that with the events that occur at the seventh trumpet "...the mystery of God is finished...."
Revelation 11:15-18 - "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." and "the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to Thy bond-servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear Thy name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth" describe events that also occur at the Rapture. Thus, it is most reasonable to place the Rapture and translation of the Church at the time of the seventh trumpet.
1 Corinthians 15:54 - Secondly, in Paul says, "But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable then will come about the saying that is written, 'death is swallowed up in victory'.” This quote is taken from Isaiah 25.8.
Isaiah 24:21, 25:9 - "He will swallow up death for all time," comes from a Posttribulation setting (certainly removing the reproach that Israel does not happen while Gentiles trample on Jerusalem for 1260 days). Thus, this Old Testament prophecy, which is clearly Posttribulationist, is fulfilled at the same time that we get our glorified bodies at the Second Coming.
Acts 1:6 - When will Jesus "restore the Kingdom to Israel?" All Premillenarians will say, at the beginning of the Millennium. Any who may refer to the beginning of the Tribulation may be shown the various passages in the prophets which clearly say that the restored Kingdom will never suffer persecution again, which rules out the Tribulation.
Acts 3:19-21 - Peter, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, tells the men of Jerusalem that Jesus must remain in Heaven (literally, that the Heavens must continue to hold Him or be His dwelling) UNTIL the times of the restoration of EVERYTHING. Now, EVERYTHING is restored only in the Millennium, so Jesus will not leave Heaven until it is time for the Millennium to begin. He will not descend from Heaven with a shout of command and so forth, until then. Can the Tribulation occur after this, as a Pretribulation Rapture would require? And, nothing bad follows the Millennium except for the Great White Throne Judgment of those resurrected dead whose names were not written in the Book of Life.
Romans 8:18-23 – Consider this, verse by verse: 18: Some kind of glory will later be revealed in us, 19: The Creation or everything, including this planet) awaits our "revelation." (In context, probably that of the glory in us, 20: The Creation has been subjected temporarily to emptiness, but 21: it will be freed from corruption and share in the freedom of the glory of God's children. 22: The Creation groans in anticipation of its deliverance, 23: We likewise eagerly await our full adoption as sons of God and the redemption of our bodies, presumably in the Rapture/First Resurrection. THEREFORE: the reason the Creation is awaiting our bodily redemption, the Rapture, is that it will be redeemed from corruption at the same time.
Now, if the Creation has been freed from corruption and emptiness, that is, not fulfilling its original design, at the Rapture, how can it be subjected to plagues thereafter? Could the Bowls be poured out on a redeemed Earth? I don’t think so! So the redemption of the Earth must occur after the Trumpets and Bowls. Yet it also occurs at “the same time as our own redemption” in the Rapture. So the Rapture cannot precede the Trumpets and Bowls either.
Titus 2:13 – This verse is a famous proof text for the deity of Christ. Where the Granville Sharp Rule of Greek Grammar equates Christ as being one and the same as God the Father. The King James Version of the Holy Bible makes it seem like there may be two different people coming! Unknown to many is that this grammatical phenomenon occurs TWICE in this verse, once at the end proving the deity of Christ and once at the beginning. The blessed hope which Pretribulationists call the Rapture and the glorious appearing. The Second Coming are said to be one and the same event, NOT two distinct events separated by a period of at least seven years!
By simply, but very carefully comparing Scripture with Scripture, this time line of prophetic events is proposed. If more than one passage contains specific details of a future event, they are assumed to be describing the same event. Then the time indicators are matched like pieces in a puzzle to form a coherent, consistent picture of prophecy. If there are no differences between the Premillennial Tribulational views (such as that the seven seals begin to unfold at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week), the standard Premillenial view is used.
Prophetic Events should occur as outlined in this Time Line.
DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK BEGINS
1. Antichrist makes a covenant with "the many" for 7 years. Daniel 9:27
2. Restrainer steps aside. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7
3. Begin seven seals. Revelation 6:1-17
SEALING OF THE 144,000: TWO GROUPS
The 144,000 sealed by the hand of angels (Matthew 24:31) before the trumpets begin in Revelation 7:3-8, 8:6-11and other significant differences.
So, who are the 144,000?
“And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads." And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel’.” Revelation 7:2-4
"And I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless." Revelation 14:1-5
We should not automatically assume that the first group of 144,000 in Revelation Chapter 7 is the same group presented in Chapter 14.
The Differences: There are significant differences between these two groups, both in their descriptions and the timing of their appearances. Those of Chapter 7 are selected from every tribe of Israel, while those of Chapter 14 are selected from among men. Those of Chapter 14 are in heaven before the gospel is preached to the whole world and before the trumpet judgments, while those of Chapter 7 are on earth after the preaching of the gospel to the whole world, being sealed to go through the trumpet judgments. Those in Chapter 7 are marked with the seal of God on their foreheads, while those in Chapter 14 are marked with the name of God and the name of the Lamb on their foreheads.
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS BEGIN TO SOUND
This event is placed before the Great Tribulation. Because it is mentioned in Revelation after the discussion about the seals (which begin at the start of Daniel's 70th week and extend to the Posttribulational Second Coming at the seventh seal) but before the second half of Daniel's 70th week, the Great Tribulation is mentioned in Revelation 11. See Revelation 8:6-12
THE GREAT TRIBULATION BEGINS
It begins in the middle of Daniel's 70th week. Daniel 9:27
The Antichrist puts a stop to sacrifices and grain offerings. Daniel 9:27
The Antichrist is given authority to overcome saints; they can't buy or sell without the mark of the beast. Revelation 13:5-10, 16-17
The Abomination of Desolation is set up in the Temple. Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:12 and 2 Thessalonians 2:4
Two witnesses are given authority for 1260 days, probably Enoch and Elijah. John the Baptist was not this Elijah because when Jesus made His statement in Matthew 17:11, John had already been killed. Malachi 4:5, Matthew 17:11 and Revelation 11:3
Nations start to trample on the holy city Jerusalem for 42 months. During this time the Antichrist sets up his Abomination of Desolation. Revelation 11:3
Believers in Israel are nourished in the wilderness for 1260 days Matthew 24:15-23, Revelation 12:6-14
THE LAST DAY OF DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK
The Two witnesses, probably Elijah and Enoch, are killed but resurrected 3 1/2 days later. Revelation 11:7-11
The authority of the Antichrist ends. Revelation 12:6-10
Immediately after the Tribulation: the sun is darkened or turned black; the moon turns to blood; the stars fall from the sky (seen as wonders in the sky); and a great earthquake occurs moving every mountain and island. Joel 2:30-31, 3:15-16, Matthew 24:29-30, Mark 13:27 and Revelation 6:12-14
The opening of the sixth seal. Revelation 6:12-14
The time of the Wrath of the Lamb. Isaiah 2:12-21, Revelation 6:17
The Bowls of God’s Wrath begin. These are tentatively aligned here because: God’s Wrath is said to have arrived at the sixth seal which is after Daniel's 70th week. Revelation 11:18 implies that God's Wrath had recently arrived during the days of the seventh trumpet. The first bowl leaves the impression that the mark of the beast has been available long enough for people to accept or reject it. The third bowl is an answer to the question raised in the fifth seal.
Please note the parallel concepts in the fifth seal and the third bowl: (1) martyrs, (2) the alter, (3) judgment, (4) blood, (5) God as the Lord, (6) holy and (7) true, and (8) the wicked as deserving of the Lamb’s divine vengeance and punishment. Then the last chance to repent. Revelation 6:16-17, Revelation 11:18, Revelation 16:2, Revelation 6:9-10, 16:4-7, 2 Peter 3:9-10 and Revelation 16:8-11
JUST PRIOR THE RAPTURE/SECOND COMING
The sixth trumpet: men did not repent, no more delay, 1/3 of mankind killed, and 200 million mounted horsemen. Revelation 9:13-21, Revelation 10:6
The sixth bowl of God’s Wrath, and preparing for Armageddon. Revelation 16:12-14, 19:19
John eats a bittersweet book, just before the seventh trumpet. Compare the sweet effect of the Rapture/Second Coming on Christians (giving relief to you who are afflicted) with the bitter consequences of the Second Coming on unbelievers and dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and so forth. Placed here because it follows the announcement that the 7th trumpet is about to sound. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Revelation 10:7-10
THE RAPTURE/SECOND COMING
This begins the Day of the Lord which also extends through to the eternal state. Isaiah 2:12-21, 13:9-16, Joel 2:30-32, 3:9-21, Zephaniah 1:14-18, and 2 Peter 3:10-12
The Second Coming (including the Rapture): believers meet Christ in the air and join His triumphant and victorious descent to earth, first reaping of the harvest; Christ coming in the clouds, gathering His elect from heaven and earth; there is angelic participation and a seventh trumpet sounds. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, Revelation 14:14-16, 11:15-18, Zephaniah 1:16, Matthew 24:30-31, Mark 13:26-27, Acts 1:9-11, and 1 Corinthians 15:52
The dead believers of all the ages are resurrected. This is the First Resurrection. Daniel 12:1-2, Revelation 20:5
Death is swallowed up in victory. Isaiah 25:8, 1 Corinthians 15:54
The Mystery of God is finished. Revelation 10:7
The saints are rewarded. Revelation 11:18
Christ begins His reign on earth. Psalm 2:1-8, Revelation 11:18
The Lamb stands on Mount Zion (in Jerusalem) with the 144,000 selected from among men and marked with the name of the God and the Lamb on their foreheads. Psalm 2:6, Revelation 14:1
Christ comes like a thief. Matthew 24:43-44, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, and Revelation 16:15
The second reaping of Revelation 14:17-20
The seventh seal. Revelation 8:1-5
The seventh trumpet. 1Corinthians 15:52, Revelation 10:7, 11:15-19
The seventh bowl. Revelation 16:17-21
Lightning, thunder, an earthquake, a great hailstorm. Revelation 8:1-5, 11:19, 16:81-21
Armageddon. Joel 2:10-14, Zephaniah 3:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:8,11, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 16:16-21, 17:11-21, and 19:11-21
Babylon the Great falls. Revelation 14:8, 18:2
The end of the Abomination of Desolation. Daniel 9:27, 12:11, and Zephaniah 1:8-9
All of Israel turns to God. Joel 2:32, Zechariah 3:8-9, 12:3, 12:9-14, 13:1-9, Malachi 3:1-6, and Romans 11:26-27
Please note: the 144,000 may be the first fruits of this harvest of Jewish souls, those from among men and stamped with the name of God and of the Lamb. Revelation 14:4
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Luke 22:18, Revelation 19:7, and 21:9-14
The Day of Atonement. Zechariah 12:10-11
THE BEGINNING OF THE MILLENNIUM
The Millennium begins apparently 1335 days after the middle of Daniel's 70th week. Daniel 12:12
Satan is bound for 1000 years. Revelation 20:1-3
The Antichrist and False Prophet are cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15
SEVEN YEARS INTO MILLENNIUM
Seven years into the Millennium the weapons of Ezekiel finish burning. Ezekiel 39:9
END OF MILLENNIUM
Satan is released, Battle with Gog and Magog takes place, the Devil is thrown into the Lake of Fire; the Great White Throne Judgment takes place and the Great White Throne Judgment of the wicked and unrighteous dead is held. Judgment of the nations occurs with evil men being thrown into the Eternal Fire of Hell. Revelation 20:7-15, Matthew 25:31-46
OUR ETERNAL STATE BEGINS
The creation of a new heaven, and new earth. Revelation 21
