Studying the book of Revelation takes a lot of passion, but it\u2019s almost impossible to discuss it without having to address the different tribulation theories.\u00a0 There are three main viewpoints concerning the rapture.\u00a0 Those viewpoints are: pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, and post-tribulation.\u00a0 Here is a quick overview of the different viewpoints without getting into too much detail.<\/p>\n
Pre-tribulation\u00a0<\/strong>The rapture and second coming are two separate events<\/p>\n 1) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rapture<\/p>\n 2) \u00a0 \u00a0 Christ returns to earth after the tribulation period for the tribulation saints<\/p>\n Mid-tribulation<\/strong>\u00a0The rapture and the second coming are two separate events<\/p>\n 1) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Rapture<\/p>\n 2) \u00a0 \u00a0 Christ returns to earth after the tribulation period for the tribulation saints<\/p>\n Post-tribulation<\/strong>\u00a0The rapture and second coming is the same event<\/p>\n 1) \u00a0 \u00a0Second Coming<\/p>\n 2) \u00a0 \u00a0 Christ returns to earth after the tribulation period<\/p>\n Admittedly, there\u2019s lot of confusion concerning this matter.\u00a0 One should always let the Bible be the deciding factor.\u00a0 I\u2019ve found that a lot of people first have an opinion, then, they study the Bible to support or prove that position.\u00a0 I believe it should be just the opposite.\u00a0 One should study the Bible first; then one will not have opinions, but biblical facts.\u00a0 One should also note; the word\u00a0rapture<\/em>\u00a0and the phrase\u00a0second coming<\/em>\u00a0are not found in the KJV of the Bible, but they somehow always manage to find their way into conversations concerning prophecy.\u00a0 Man has somehow convoluted\u00a0the rapture<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0the second coming<\/em>\u00a0into church doctrines.\u00a0 Here we have two man made doctrines that have created a lot of confusion and division in the church.<\/p>\n The doctrines of rapture and second coming, has created at least three different viewpoints concerning the tribulation.\u00a0 All three of the tribulation viewpoints have one thing in common; the\u00a0resurrection<\/em>\u00a0of the righteous.\u00a0 The only real difference in these viewpoints is the timing; the actual time the\u00a0resurrection<\/em>\u00a0will take place.<\/p>\n The resurrection takes place when the righteous folk, dead and alive, receive their immortal body and ascend into heaven.\u00a0 1 Thess.4:13-18 is commonly referred to as the rapture and it occurs when man ascends into heaven.\u00a0 The physical body cannot go to heaven.\u00a0 It will have to first be changed before it can go to heaven; 1 Cor.15:50-53, \u201c\u2026..flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God\u2026..in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye\u2026..the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 The body will have to be immortal or resurrected before it can go to heaven.\u00a0 This means that the events of 1 Thess.4:13-18 and 1 Cor.15:50-53 are simultaneous; therefore the rapture and the resurrection are ultimately the same event.<\/p>\n The second coming is actually the return of Jesus to the earth.\u00a0 The first coming was when Jesus came to earth as a man (baby).\u00a0 The second coming is when Jesus will come back to earth as Lord of Lords and King of Kings.\u00a0 He will then begin to reign in his kingdom; Rev. 11:15, \u201c\u2026..The kingdoms of this world are become\u00a0the kingdoms<\/em>\u00a0of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 The second coming also is when righteous men will be resurrected; 1Cor. 15:20-23, \u201c\u2026..came<\/em>\u00a0also the resurrection of the dead\u2026..in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive\u2026..they that are Christ\u2019s at his coming.\u201d\u00a0 The second coming is when Christ returns for the righteous and that will take place on the last day; John 6:40, \u201c\u2026..this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the\u00a0last day<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0 The second coming is on the last day and the resurrection takes place on the last day; John 11:24, \u201c\u2026..I know that he\u00a0shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n We have now established that the rapture is a resurrection and the second coming is a resurrection.\u00a0 Some will say that there are indeed two resurrections.\u00a0 Yes, I agree.\u00a0 There willonly<\/strong>\u00a0be two resurrections, resulting in mortal man having an immortal body. Those two resurrections are when mortal put on immortality and the Great White Throne Judgment.\u00a0 We know that the Great White Throne Judgment takes place after the millennium; Rev. 20:5, \u201c\u2026..the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished\u2026..\u201d\u00a0 The question now, is when will the first resurrection take place?\u00a0 The answer is given in Rev. 20:4-5.\u00a0 The first resurrection takes place after the mark of the beast has been established and implemented.\u00a0 John saw men who had already died.\u00a0 They obviously had been given an opportunity to receive the mark of the beast, but had not accepted the mark.\u00a0 These menbegin to live<\/strong>\u00a0(resurrected or immortal bodies) and reign with Christ for 1000 years; Rev. 20:4-5, \u201c\u2026..This\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0the first resurrection.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Just like you cannot make\u00a0two<\/strong>\u00a0first impressions; you cannot have\u00a0two first resurrections<\/strong>; therefore the pre-tribulation and the mid-tribulation theories are null and void, because Rev. 20:1-5 clearly shows the first resurrection taking place after the great tribulation; after the binding of Satan.\u00a0 As a matter of fact, the first resurrection occurs immediately after the tribulation; Mt. 24:29-31, \u201cImmediately<\/strong>\u00a0after the tribulation of those days\u2026..then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven\u2026..they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven\u2026..he shall send his angels\u2026..and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.\u00a0 Any resurrection taking place before or during the Great Tribulation, just isn\u2019t supported by scripture.<\/p>\n The resurrection is not an event where people will mysteriously disappear.\u00a0 A multitude of people saw Jesus when he ascended in to heaven; Acts 1:9, \u201c\u2026..while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus will return to earth the same way he left the earth; Acts 1:11, \u201c\u2026..why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.\u201d\u00a0 Just like people witnessed the ascension of Jesus to heaven, they will also witness him descending back to earth; Rev. 1:7, \u201c\u2026..he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him\u2026..\u201d\u00a0 Because everyone will see Jesus coming, there will be nothing to wonder about.\u00a0 They will see Jesus when He returns and all those who are left behind will know exactly where all the saints have gone.\u00a0 There will be only one resurrection before the 1000 year millennium.\u00a0 Because there\u2019s only one resurrection, it includes both the rapture and the second coming; making them the same event; and it occurs immediately after the tribulation.<\/p>\n\n
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