Anonymous writer-The First or Last

Although the term Rapture is not found in Holy Scripture, it describes the "taking away", or "gathering up" of the church to meet the LORD in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18) Because the church is not appointed unto God’s wrath, many believe the church will be exempt from what is commonly referred to as the seven year tribulation period, thus the term "Pre"– tribulation Rapture. According to this view, the latter half accelerates at midpoint into the Great tribulation. In order for classical Pre-tribulation to stand, it rises and falls on the following points.

The Rapture must be:
1. Silent 2. Signless 3. Imminent
By imminent, this view understands that NOTHING has to be fulfilled before the Rapture can occur.
Therefore, millions of Christians believe
they could be whisked away silently, without a sign,
at any moment, with no prophesied events to precede the Rapture,
to meet the Lord in the air,
while unbelievers will be left behind!"
Note: Scholars are very well aware, that if any of the above points fail the test of scripture,
the Pre- tribulational view cannot stand.

A Spirit of Confusion
Deep in their souls there are those who wonder, "Is it really true, will we escape the tribulation altogether?" While many Christians do not have the courage or biblical knowledge to disagree, others simply never question and trustingly believe what they are taught. Since views vary from one extreme to another, from a Pre-, to a Mid-, to a Post- Tribulation Rapture, and even those who deny the Rapture, the issue is not only controversial, divisive, and packed with emotion, but deeply confusing. Therefore, many pastors avoid Rapture issues and prophecy all together, or simply try to make the best of it by saying: "It does not matter if Pre-, or Mid-, or Post - Tribulation is right or not. Whatever happens, it will all ‘pan out’ at the end." This obviously reflects their lack of conviction one way or the other. At best it is their loving effort not to cause division among believers who hold various views.

What is the "key" to the Rapture Riddle?
For years I returned from prophetic seminars more puzzled than convinced. "How frustrating", I thought! "Why would God make it this difficult?" I had listened intently, made notes, went home and studied at length, but in the end it was always a barrage of confusion that left me frustrated and annoyed. I would pray and tell God that I must be missing something. What was it? What is the "key" to understanding whether the church will be removed by Rapture, before, or in the middle, or at the end of the Tribulation period.

The first key! Wrong questions - equal wrong answers
While I agree with every part of my being that the church is not in any way appointed unto God’s Wrath, the "first Key to the Rapture Riddle" is to realize that the Wrath of God and the Great Tribulation are NOT one and the same; even more, they are the total opposite. Whoever equated them as being one and the same, I’m not sure, but I challenge anyone to listen and pay close attention to various preachers, teachers and numerous authors, as they obviously use the terms interchangeably. However, to "assume" they are the same, is not just a small error, but an eschatological and biblical merry-go-round, going in circles looking for truth in a corner that does not exist. I dare say it’s time to get off the ride.

There is ample proof by example that God does indeed exempt His people from the outpouring of His wrath from heaven. However, I boldly declare, that Scripture does not contain a single word suggesting that God will exempt His people from Tribulation. Therefore, the truth will not and cannot ever be found in a Pre-, or a Mid-, or Post-Tribulation Rapture, because nowhere does the Bible speak of it. Yet millions are trapped in a spirit of confusion by asking wrong questions, blindly trusting the teachings of a Pre- Tribulation Rapture.

Therefore, I simply write as one who believes that the problem has a simple solution, namely a misapplication of terms.
"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Thessalonians 5: 9

What is Tribulation versus God’s Wrath?

Tribulation means troubles, pressure, persecution, thus great difficulties. The word was derived from the torturous practice of placing a heavy rock on a person’s chest, unable to breathe, causing suffocation and death. In a nutshell, all the tribulations mentioned in the Bible were caused by Gentile kings, their kingdoms and Empires seeking to conquer the earth no matter the cost. With the destruction of the Hebrew people or nation of Israel as their goal, they all exemplified the characteristics of the Antichrist and his armies. But why hate Israel and the Hebrews? Pagans rejected the only true God, sought to destroy the only witness to God and in turn invented their own gods, even set themselves up as gods.

God often judged Israel for her sin of falling away into pagan belief, by removing His protection over her. Although permitted, it was directly caused by enemy pagan nations coming against Israel, causing tribulation. Why would God allow such, including the end-time tribulation? He gives us the kings we ask for in hopes to learn. God’s permitting of tribulation is not in vain, but His divine knowledge that backslidden and unrepentant Israel, the apostate church, even all unbelievers refuse to seek Him and repent without consequences, so that they may be saved before it's too late. In other words it is man's last chance to repent. Until God intervenes the righteous remnant suffers as well needed to be a testimony to the world for the true and living God and His Savior. It is indeed agony for our Father that He must even allow such in hopes for Israel even all mankind to repent and be saved. There comes a time only known to God when He intervenes, cuts the tribulation short by the removal / rapture of the repentant and righteous remnant, and the consequent outpouring of GOD'S DIVINE WRATH from heaven to judge the wicked left behind.

Indeed our God loves His pinnacle of creation, mankind, but not unconditionally as many say. He requires repentance and will present His church without spot or wrinkle. Nor will He accept Israel without repentance. However, God’s grace and the outpouring of His Spirit is indeed unconditional poured out in hopes to get mankind to repent, to return us to Him in Covenant love, which is a moral love and deep commitment that cannot occur without recognition of our utter sinfulness and God's holiness.

"GOD'S WRATH"

"It shall be like the days of NOAH and LOT."
(Genesis 6 -7; Matthew 24:36-51, 25:1-13; Luke.17: 26-30)

Jesus compared the events of His return to the days of Noah and Lot. Let us ask ourselves if Noah and Lot were exempt from Tribulation or God’s wrath?

The answer is obvious. The simple fact is; the flood in the days of Noah and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone during the days of Lot, were divinely and directly caused by God Himself, poured out from HEAVEN, and had absolutely nothing to do with what man or any superpower on earth can do, not even the devil manifested in the person of Antichrist to come.
Therefore, let us be clear in our understanding: God’s Wrath to come is not merely permitted, but directly caused by God and executed in vengeance, by His angels from HEAVEN, to purge a wicked world from the decay of sin, and likewise by Jesus Christ on EARTH and his armies during the battle of Armageddon. Therefore, we, the church are NOT appointed unto wrath! In contrast, we must endure Tribulation until God intervenes.

Left behind!

Once again, let me appeal to Noah and Lot. Do you for one moment believe that when Noah and his family were removed before the flood, and Lot and his family were removed before God rained down fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah, the unbelieving stood around and wondered what happened to the righteous? NO WAY! They were in utter panic and ran for dear life. They were left behind alright, not in a daze, but in the hands of an angry God. They knew God’s Wrath had COME!

Did God get tired?

Furthermore, before God poured out His wrath from heaven, He always removed the faithful remnant of His people, and then immediatly proceeded to pour out His wrath directly from HEAVEN on those left behind. In both events compared by Christ Himself, Noah and Lot experienced a type of "rapture", a "gathering up", a "taking away" immediately before God poured out His WRATH from HEAVEN. Since He always did so immediately and swiftly once the faithful were removed, has it occurred to us to ask: "Why would God silently remove his church by Rapture before "the Tribulation commences, rather than His wrath", then, have the unbelieving stand around in a daze wondering what happened to millions of people? Furthermore, why does God need "SEVEN YEARS" to pour out His wrath from heaven on the unbelieving left behind? Did God get tired?" Yet, this is exactly what the Pre-Tribulational view expects us to believe.

Thief in the night
Jesus will come as a thief in the night. However, the passage below does not allude to an imminent, silent and signless Rapture, but describes the element of shock and surprise for the "unbelieving" as "they" will be caught off guard, totally oblivious and unaware of their impending judgment. Such was the case of the unbelievers in the days of Noah and Lot. In contrast, Noah and Lot were NOT caught off guard. They were children of light, believing, expecting; thus prepared. Therefore, pay attention to the "they", the unbelieving, versus the "we", or "us", the believers.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
"Now, BROTHERS (believers) about times and dates we do not need to write to you for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people (unbelievers) are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."

NOTICE THE CONTRAST: "But you brothers are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, (unbelievers) who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath (God’s wrath) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

CONCLUSION:
Bad News and Good News!
The Great Tribulation will be caused by the Antichrist and his satanic army in his attempt to annihilate Israel and the church, while seeking to gain control of the earth. We are not exempt, but will have to suffer until the LORD cuts it short by rapture.
(Matthew 24: 22)

In contrast, God’s Wrath is directly caused by God!
Even more: God’s wrath is poured out from HEAVEN and absolutely necessary to STOP the evil of the Great Tribulation on EARTH, or in context, no believing flesh would survive. The whole point of God’s wrath poured out from HEAVEN has not only to do with God judging a perverted world, but with the "Vengeance of GOD" to repay the suffering of God’s people, the blood of the saints and the treatment of Israel. It is in "direct response and "OPPOSITION" to the Great Tribulation. In contrast to Tribulation, God’s Wrath is good news for the believer, not to be feared. Therefore, the Great Tribulation and God’s Wrath are as far apart as they can get.

FIRST, OR LAST?
Jesus said: "Many who are first will be last." Luke 13:30

The divine KEY to unlock the "Rapture Riddle" and much of scripture is found in the person and mind of Christ, who made Himself LAST. Point? ~ Anytime we focus on ourselves "FIRST", we are blinded by a spirit of arrogance to cause ignorance, and find ourselves the recipients of cursing, at best confusion. Remember, the devil delights in confusion! In order to seek healthy understanding and application of Scripture, never mind prophecy, let us always remember that we Gentiles are grafted into God’s everlasting promises for Israel; we are not the root! (Romans 11) This, in and of itself will remove much confusion. In addition, when it comes to the Rapture, let us study the "Resurrection of the Dead" to avoid deception, since THEY rise FIRST to meet the LORD in the air.

Please notice: The primary passage on the Rapture (gathering up of the church) is found in the letter to the Thessalonian Church. However, unlike the church of today, "their" major and chief concern was not for themselves, (the rapture of the living), but what would happen to those loved ones who had already died. They had questions pertaining to the Resurrection of the dead.

1Thessalonians 4: 14-18
"We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lords own words, we tell you, that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the LORD, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise FIRST. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with THEM to meet the LORD in the air. And so we will be with Him forever. Encourage each other with these words."

"Encourage each other with these words", meant don’t worry about your loved ones who died, they even precede you and resurrect out of the grave FIRST to meet the LORD in the air. "THEN you who are still alive and left", or as the King James says, "those who remain", will be caught up in the air with them, so you will be united with them and be together forever. Contrary to many, I dare say that the Rapture of the living does not refer to believers living an everyday life, and certainly not sitting on padded pews listening to soothing music, or flipping out on a spiritual high, with their thumbs on the Rapture button, waiting to get whisked out of here on beds of ease. Rather, it speaks of believers who manage to survive and stay alive during the Great Tribulation, who are still alive and left; those who will endure this most terrible persecution, those who remain, until the LORD intervenes by the resurrection of the dead and the consequent gathering or Rapture of the surviving church.

Since the dead will rise FIRST, our understanding of the future Resurrection of believers would obviously give us better insights to the Rapture of the living. Sadly, most Christians only study the resurrection of Christ, not ever their own to come. For many it is not even part of their hope, as their focus and belief is merely on going home to be with the LORD when they die, thus only focus on their spirit. It is without exaggeration that I get a puzzled look whenever I ask about the resurrection of believers. Like ~ what’s the point, the dead are already with the LORD?

Since the Resurrection of the dead and Rapture of the living cannot be biblically separated, and the dead rise FIRST, those who accept an imminent, silent, and signless RAPTURE, must ask themselves the following: "Do you really believe in a Silent and Signless RESURRECTION? "Do YOU really believe, that the most glorious and earthshaking day since creation, namely "Resurrection Day", on which millions of graves open, will be a "SILENT and SIGNLESS SWOOSH? Is it biblical, never mind logical?" Sorry to push you into a corner, but if you indeed insist on believing in a silent and signless rapture, you have no choice but to make the resurrection a mockery.

It is my firm conviction that millions of "well meaning and devoted Christians" never study their future bodily resurrection, even more, it is not part of their thinking or consequent hope, and therefore, the enemy was able to deceive them to accept an IMMINENT, SILENT AND SIGNLESS RAPTURE THEORY.

As such, believers do not even realize that they "unwittingly and unknowingly" make a charade of the most glorious day since creation, the very Resurrection of the dead. Can you just hear the enemy laughing at Jesus Christ, trying to make His work a sham? ~ It makes me furious! ~ How about you?

No, I do not believe the Rapture issue is a matter of salvation, of right or wrong, of heaven and hell, but it is indeed the cause of much confusion, much strife, much division, and will be the cause of a dangerous falling away at the end of the age, when believers realize they are not checking out on the easy bus. I ache when I think of the well-meaning sheep stuck in confusion, even those led to slaughter by false prophets. Considering the times and the issue of confusion, and the many pastors who refuse to teach prophecy and rapture issues, merely talking about going home to be with the LORD when we die, and getting whisked out of here before things get real bad, this is indeed disturbing.

1. In the Old and New Testament Scriptures, including the Feast of Trumpets, and many prophetic promises.
2. In the miracles of Jesus Christ, raising people from the dead.
3. In our Lord’s crucifixion when many people were raised to life, and His own consequent bodily Resurrection.

The Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23: 23-25)
The "Feast of Trumpets" is Israel’s dark day. It occurs on the new moon, the first day of the 7th month, (September = Tishri), when the primary night light is darkened, because the moon is a mere narrow crescent. On this day, the Israelites were commanded to blow trumpets. It was Israel's final wheat harvest. Jesus often used this well understood event by the people of Israel, to teach about the final harvest of mankind. Likewise, the apostle Paul wrote of the sound of the trumpet associated with the Resurrection and Rapture of the church. The prophets of old often spoke of this day of darkness as the "Day of Judgment." It was associated with the Resurrection of the dead. Therefore, Jewish graves are often decorated with a Shofar trumpet, the Ram's horn.

"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
BEFORE the coming of the Great Day of the LORD!"
(Joel 2: 31, 3:15; Isaiah 13:9-10, 34: 4-8)

What is the "Sign"?
God gave the stars, the very Zodiac, as signs in the heavens. Therefore, the Hebrews studied the stars in relationship to God’s divine plan of redemption. (Zodiac: Hebrew / Mazzaroth, Genesis 1:14-15). As such, one can correctly assume that the Magi from the East were Jewish Astronomers, possibly of those who remained in the East after their Babylonian captivity, looking for "the sign in the stars", the very birth of their Messiah and King. In contrast, many Babylonians worshipped the sun, moon and stars, the created, rather than the Creator. All the signs of the Zodiac, stars and constellations were associated with the various gods of Chaldean astrologers. (Today's Iraq) Astrology also ascribes to stars personality indicators and direction for daily life; a capitol offense under the Law of Moses.

True to His word, God gave the star of Bethlehem as the "singular sign" of authenticity at His Son’s miraculous birth. In addition, Luke 2 tells us that the GLORY (brightness) of the LORD shone all around the shepherds at Christ’s birth. Therefore, it was not merely in spiritual darkness but in literal darkness that God gave the world a bright light. The unbelieving religious leaders continually asked for many signs to proof Jesus’ authenticity. Knowing their unbelieving hearts, He rebuked them, as He was authenticated at His birth with the star of Bethlehem, and at His baptism when the Father spoke and proclaimed Him as His Son, attesting to His impeccable credentials and authenticity. In addition, Jesus performed numerous miracles, fulfilled prophecy after prophecy, added to the fact that Israel had their prophets and Holy Scripture. (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1: 9-11, 8:11-12).

What is the Sign of your coming?
Since the star over Bethlehem identified the true Messiah in His first coming, the believing disciples asked for a sign concerning His return. (Matthew 24:3) Notice: They asked for a "singular sign"! Jesus in turn warned them that many false prophets and false Christ’s will appear, to perform "numerous (false) signs" to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24: 23-25). Therefore, many have asked:" How are we going to know the real Christ from all those imposters?" This anxious question ignores the need to look up, at the "sign in the heavens", rather than signs and wonders everywhere else, setting ourselves up for deception. Let us put to rest the hearts of His people, to wonder no more. In knowing God and His ways, "His Glory" (brightness) will be revealed in the midst of darkness in the heavens before the Resurrection and consequent Rapture of the church. No counterfeit can do so! Jesus Himself concludes with this concise answer in Matthew 24:23-31

The Crucifixion
The day our LORD was crucified, was a preview of the future Resurrection and Rapture to come: "The Earth turned dark".
"The Earth shook and the rocks split."(earthquake)
"The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life."
Never mind that Jesus Himself was resurrected after three days.
(Matt 27:45- 53; 28; Mark 15: 33; 16; Luke 23: 44-45; 24)

Compare with Revelation: 6:12-14
NOTE: This is NOT the literal return of Christ at the end of the 70^th week of Daniel, (7 year timeframe) when He comes to stand on the Mt. of Olives to deliver Israel, but His glorious revealing from HEAVEN, immediately prior to the Resurrection and Rapture of the church, and consequent outpouring of His wrath from heaven.
"I watched as He opened the SIXTH seal.
There was a great earthquake.
The sun turned black, like sackcloth made of goat hair,
the whole moon turned blood red,
and the stars in the sky fell to the earth like late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up
and every mountain and island was removed from its place."

This doesn’t sound Silent and Signless to me!
The Rapture, preceded by the Resurrection, is indeed the most awesome day since creation, when God raises millions of dead people from their graves, as the earth shakes, rocks split, and tombs open. Imagine the earth in utter darkness, followed by the receding of the sky to expose the brilliance of God’s Light and Glory, to illuminate the earth. As a result, the living on earth will see GOD and the LAMB seated on the THRONE in HEAVEN! What a day of Glory for the believer! In contrast, the unbelievers will obviously panic, as the earth shakes violently and the rocks fall, wishing they were dead, asking the rocks to fall on them. They know they are "left behind" in the hands of an angry God.

Rev. 6:15-17 "They shall say to the rocks and mountains: "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the Great day of "THEIR" Wrath has come! And who can stand?"

Yet, movies portray airplanes and cars suddenly unmanned and crashing, as believers were silently and without any sign whisked away at the Rapture, while unbelievers are left behind standing around in a daze, wondering what happened to millions of people. If it were a joke I would laugh! ~ I can't tell you how frustrated I am with this. No way!

This can only be believed by those who:
1.) IGNORE the revealing of His awesome Glory from Heaven on a day of darkness and the cosmic disturbances associated with it.
2.) IGNORE the glorious Resurrection of the dead to precede the Rapture of the living.
3.) CONFUSE God’s divine WRATH from Heaven with Tribulation caused by Antichrist.

Imminence
Just for the record: If an imminent (any moment), signless and silent Rapture were true, it would have been true when Christ and Paul taught it 2000 years ago. How can that be, when Jesus and Paul said that many things must occur? (Matthew 24, Luke 17; Mark 13)
1.) The Gospel must be preached throughout the world.
2.) The earth must experience wars and rumors of wars. In context, this is in relationship to Israel. Note: Israel did not exist as a nation for 2000 years, was reestablished in 1948, with Jerusalem as its eternal capitol in 1967. It could therefore, not occur until after this time.
3.) The Antichrist must be revealed before the Rapture, and exalt himself above God in the Temple, to cause the outbreak of the Great tribulation from Jerusalem.
4.) Cosmic disturbances must occur, with the darkening of the earth.
5.) A huge earthquake and the sign in the heavens must be seen.
6.) The Trumpet will blow.
7.) The Resurrection must precede the Rapture of the living.

DO NOT BE DECEIVED!
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5

"Therefore KEEP WATCH, because you do not know the day nor the hour!"
Matthew 25:13

MAY I POINT OUT,
THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WATCH FOR
AN IMMIMENT, SIGNLESS AND SILENT EVENT,
WITH NO PROPHESIED EVENTS TO PRECEDE IT!

The Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls
Revelation speaks of seals, trumpets and bowls, and certain actions associated with them. Many scholars have concluded that the 7 seals, along with the 7 trumpets and 7 bowls comprise the 7 year Tribulation period / wrath of God. Never mind the error of equating Tribulation with God’s Wrath; I disagree for several other reasons which follow here:

Examining the seals
All scrolls ever found have their seals on the outside, thus all 7 seals must be broken in order for the scroll to open. Therefore, the trumpets and the bowls are blown and poured out after the opening of the 7th seal. As such, the 7 seals contain the wrath of God on the inside but are NOT part of God's wrath.

Decoding the seals and understanding of terms: (Revelation 6)
Seals 1- 5 describe the Great Tribulation caused by antichrist, - NOT God. The Old Testament calls it the "Time of Jacobs Trouble". Islam calls it the "Day of Judgment", when their Messiah, the "Mahdi" will come to destroy the tribes of Israel, and make every knee bow to Allah. Anyone who refuses must be put to death.
Seal 1: White horse- Conqueror bent on conquest(antichrist)
Seal 2: Red Horse- bloodshed and war)
Seal 3: Black horse- food shortages, famine.)
Seal 4: Pale horse- death (natural consequence of the first 3 seals)
Seal 5: Martyrs under the altar

Before Jesus the true Messiah /Christ comes, the counterfeit or antichrist comes. Here, we see seals 1- 5, no other than the Great Tribulation, actions directly caused by Satan through antichrist, a conqueror bent on conquest, making war and misery for anyone who refuses to bow to him, including the martyrdom of the faithful. While God will permit this time to bring history to a close, He is not the direct cause of these actions. "IF" seals 1-5 are part of God's wrath as the Pre-tribulation theory contends, God would be the direct cause of these events, including the martyrdom of His own people.

This is IMPOSSIBLE, unless you believe God is the author of EVIL!

John records an interlude.
6 d.) Sealing the 144,000 (Revelation 7:1-8)
Before the resurrection and rapture, God seals 12,000 Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel. Why? - To prepare Israel for her future deliverance at the end of the 70^th week. Therefore, the Holy Spirit cannot be gone after the Rapture of the church, but will be handed off like a baton from the church to Israel, before the Rapture, as they are sealed, preserved, and protected from God’s wrath, since it is about to commence. They await their mighty and future deliverance at Christ’s literal return to Jerusalem. (Revelation 7:1-17, 14; 19:11-21; Zechariah 14.)

6 f.) The Resurrection and Rapture of the church (Rev. 7:9-17)
Once Israel is sealed on earth, the church is ready to be removed! Notice, they are from every tongue, tribe and NATION!
"After this, I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from EVERY NATION, tribe and people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the LAMB’."

The opening of Seal 7, the outpouring of God’s Wrath
Revelation 8: 1-2
When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels, who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

Seal 7 describes the opening of the scroll as it unrolls containing the Wrath of God. NOTICE: There is silence in heaven for about ½ hour. It is the silence before the storm, as the inhabitants of heaven hold their breath! It is from thunderous PRAISE to utter SILENCE! The contrast is overwhelmingly eerie, because heaven knows God is ready to pour out His wrath upon the earth. Although God’s judgment is just, it is bittersweet to know the fury of an angry God. Please notice: God’s wrath has nothing to do with actions of evil men, or the antichrist, but the reaction of a Holy God, unable to hold back His fury, wrath and vengeance any longer; executed by His warring angels from heaven.

LET MY PEOPLE GO!
Now pay attention! While God interrupted the Great Tribulation, thus cut it short for the sake of the elect by Rapture, it continues alongside the wrath of God to the end of the 70^th week, the end of the 7 year timeframe. But now that the church is removed, God is ready to climax the event of His redemption by intervening on behalf of the remnant Israel!

As the Great tribulation and God’s wrath run side by side at this point, the antichrist and his armies march towards Jerusalem in a last ditch effort to destroy the remnant of Israel. However intensified, God’s actions at this point are no other than the plagues given by God in the days of Moses and the Pharaoh of Egypt. (Compare Exodus 7:14 – ch.11, with Revelation chapter 8 and chapter 16) Just to mention a few, God causes boils and bugs, hail and fire mixed with blood; seas and rivers turn to blood, and God strikes 1/3 of the sun, moon and stars. Plague after plague directly caused by God is warning antichrist and his armies to "Let my people go!" But they dare to defy and curse the God of heaven, the God of Israel. They are warned again, as He causes a most severe earthquake, moving every mountain and island out of place, and drops down 100 pound hailstones. But they still curse the God of heaven.

Just as the Hebrew people were backed against the Red Sea with no escape from the Pharaoh of Egypt and his armies; (a type of Antichrist) at the end of the age the Hebrews are stuck in the wilderness of the Judean hills with no escape from antichrist and his armies. (Exodus 14; Matthew 24:15- 21) It is worthy to note that in both cases God led them there for Him to display His mighty deliverance. As the enemy approaches and the Hebrews think they are doomed for destruction, God will provide a most glorious redemption through the ultimate deliverer, the Messiah of Israel, the fulfillment of Moses, a type of deliverer. They will see Him coming in power and great glory, as they look upon the one whom they have pierced, and will weep and mourn, as for an only Son. They will do so clan by clan. As Israel repents as a nation, is spiritually reborn, and enters the New Covenant, the LORD will split the Mt. of Olives in half to make a way of escape for His people. (Zechariah 12 - 14)

Then together, God the Father in heaven and His Son on earth pour out their wrath in the exact measure used by the enemy. The Father will cause their eyes to rot in their sockets and flesh fall off of their bones while still standing, in direct response to nuclear war, but God does so with His power, for He does not need man’s evil inventions.

The LORD Jesus and His heavenly army (angelic beings) are now on earth to destroy all those armies who dared to come against Jerusalem, in the battle of Armageddon. Because the enemy sought after the destruction of Israel and the church, the very blood of the saints, causing terror, torture, war, starvation and beheadings, the LORD will in vengeance repay according to their own measure. It is restitution time! The Sword of Christ will vanquish the Sword of Islam, and the birds of the air will gorge themselves on their flesh. (See trumpet and bowl judgments beginning in Revelation 8:1; then Christ’s literal intervention and return to Jerusalem in Zechariah 14 and Revelation 19:11-21).

Who said that?
While well meaning men have labeled ALL of the 70^th week of Daniel the 7 year tribulation period; (Daniel 9: 20-27) they have also said that all of it is the wrath of God. They have also called the 7 seals, 7 trumpets and 7 bowls God’s wrath. (Revelation 6) Although well meaning as it may be for the church, to preach escape rather than endurance, I find it not only dangerous, but totally inappropriate and unbiblical, to ascribe ALL of the actions of these events to God, but rather separate the evil actions of Antichrist from the righteous wrath of God poured upon from heaven. Therefore, I personally believe that Jesus in Matthew 24 taught the following:
1.) The beginning of the 70^th week of Daniel are the birth-pangs ----, never ever called the Tribulation, or tribulation period, or God’s wrath.
2.) – The birth-pangs will erupt into the outbreak of the "Great Tribulation" in the middle of the 70^th week, just as birth pangs give birth to a child. (Matthew 24: 8, 15-21)
3.) God will cut the Great tribulation short; an impossibility unless it begins. (Matthew 24: 22) It commences in the middle of the 70^th week (7 year timeframe) The cutting short of the Great Tribulation is only an interruption in war, suffering, in persecution, by Resurrection and Rapture, to remove the church, or she would be totally exterminated, as in context, no believing flesh would survive. Then, the 70^th week continues to the end when God delivers Israel.

The FINAL SOLUTION!
We simply have come full circle in history. It began with an everlasting HATRED by Satan who demanded to be FIRST, carried on in time by the rejected heirs of the Promised Land who demanded and still demand to be FIRST. After the 7^th Century they became Islamic nations demanding to be FIRST, seeking global control, destroy Israel and the West. Blinded by HATE, I am convinced they will cause the Great Tribulation. Satan’s goal will be a global rampage in his attempt to submit the "People of the Book", the Jews - the Saturday people, and Christians - the Sunday people, demanding to bow to Allah or die. It is the vision of Radical Islam to establish Allah’s one world religion and one world government, namely an Islamic theocracy. This will be the satanic counterfeit before Christ’s coming Kingdom/Theocracy ruling from Jerusalem. That is why Jesus called it the Great Tribulation NEVER TO BE EQUALLED AGAIN! In the Old Testament, the Great Tribulation is known as the "Time of Jacob’s Trouble". (Jeremiah 30:7) I understand it to be nothing less than WWIII and the attempt at the Final solution, the Final Holocaust.

While WWII ended, the goal of Islam has not. Today, the radical Muslim movement is nothing less than fascism on a global scale. What was taught in little Germany to a small number of people, pales in comparison to what is being taught to the monstrosity of Muslim nations and the general mass of humanity. Please envision the makings of numerous NAZI Germanys! PLEASE get a clue to the urgency of what I am saying! The Great Tribulation will make WWII and the Holocaust look like a Garden Party! The simple fact is that if God did not intervene, by sealing a remnant of Israel to keep them from harm, and cut it short by rapture to save the surviving church, all would be lost. It is as simple as that, and as horrifying! God help us all!

Although we must endure the Great Tribulation until God intervenes, the good news is, we will never endure the Wrath of God.
"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord."
1 Thessalonians 5: 9

The wrath of God is reserved for the enemies of Israel and the church, and "this" will make the Great Tribulation look like a Garden Party.

DO NOT BE AFRAID!
The enemy will attempt the "Final Solution,
but let us never forget, that Jesus IS and HAS the "FINAL SOLUTION!"
He is the WORD of God. He will have the last WORD!
He is the Alpha and Omega the FIRST and LAST!

THE CROSS and the CROWN
In closing I would like to say the following: Concerning the last 2000 years, most of our pastors have not been taught much or anything about Middle East history. Nor have they been educated about Islam since its inception in the seventh century. How tragic, since Jesus is indeed a Jew, even more, King of the Jews, coming back to Jerusalem in vengeance to destroy the enemies of Israel, no other than the same old enemy nations.

For 2000 years we gentiles have called Jesus King of Kings and LORD of lords, but hardly ever King of the Jews, and even when we do, we only think of the sign nailed on the CROSS, not even realizing what it means. In the meantime, the church has arrogantly criticized Jews for centuries for expecting a warring Messiah and King. However, many Jews were not wrong about their expectations; it was their timing and heart condition that was wrong, looking only for the CROWN overlooking the CROSS! I dare say we have been cursed by arrogance as well, by placing ourselves in FIRST position, seeking mere personal application of scripture, ignoring God’s eternal purposes for Israel, ~ overlooking the very CROWN for Israel. God cannot be mocked. May we repent and humble ourselves to LAST place, knowing we are grafted in, not the root.

A day will come when God will destroy all nations, but will never destroy Israel. Yes, Israel was always judged for her sin and unbelief, but was and will always be preserved to bring about God’s glorious plan of the redemption and restoration of mankind, the earth, and the exaltation of Israel to first place on earth. This will occur when Jesus Christ comes again, to rule from Jerusalem. Thank God, there is always a righteous remnant according to God’s grace and Covenant promises.

In the meantime, dark days are ahead, thus the light of the Gospel must shine brightly. The faithful church must and will be a mighty witness during that time to proclaim the bold message of repentance, and salvation through Jesus Christ our LORD, to draw people to the LORD during this final stage of history. When the enemy of mankind and God will deceive the world like never before, mock our bridegroom, and spew his arrogant satanic lies, we are an army needed like never before! Why would the church want to be gone, when she is needed the most? Not only are we to be witnesses for Christ to a dying world, but to Israel at the end of the age. Just as God called upon the early church, the believing Jews, to stand firm during severe tribulation in the first century, and brought us Gentiles the Gospel at great cost, He is calling upon the Gentile church to stand during the final tribulation to love Israel and the world at the end of the age. We cannot escape that we must care for the "least of His brethren", the despised Jew, as the world blames and hates them once again. Maybe this time they will actually believe us when we proclaim Jesus is their Messiah, and see us love and suffer with them during our darkest hour. (Romans 11; Matthew 26:31-46) ~ Our debt is due.

Far beyond our ability to endure
Many Christians say that the Lord will never give you more than you can handle. But this has always bothered my spirit, because in my life I have often been given more than "I" can handle! As we examine Scripture we discover that the passage is misused, and does NOT talk about HARDSHIPS, but of TEMPTATION, and God always providing a way out! Of course He does, as He, a Holy God, will always make a way for us to resist temptation to avoid sinning.  (1Corinthians 10:13)

Please listen to the Apostle Paul and his honest words of despair.

2 Corinthians 1: 8 - 11
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Paul certainly admitted his anguish and despair, even of life itself. How about Jesus? He cried out: "My God- my GOD -- why have you forsaken me? He was under great pressure, (Great Tribulation) far beyond His ability to endure, so that He despaired even of life. Indeed, in His heart He felt the sentence of death. ~ He was terrified resulting in sweating drops of blood. God did not provide a way out! ~ Jesus died, His heart was broken, as it was the ONLY WAY, and Jesus knew it, and said:

This is an important Word to the Body of Christ! 
By believing that God will never give us more than "we" can handle, "we" will not allow ourselves to be real, nor permit ourselves to admit that "we" are in anguish, even despair. Never mind the lack of honesty with God and others, it can produce judgment and condemning legalism. It also places us and others under pressure, to act phony, super-spiritual, like God is good all the time, (although He is) - but fact is, when we are beyond the ability to endure, we feel like He has abandoned us. Even Jesus did! Why not be real? Why not be honest with God, ourselves and others?

Endurance not Escape:
Of course we want to escape the Great Tribulation. The mere thought of facing it is chilling enough. But biblically and historically it simply doesn’t stand the test. Why would God exempt us from the last Beast Empire, when He never exempted Jews from any other, nor raptured Christians from Rome or Nazi Germany or Stalin’s Russia, etc. etc. ? Furthermore, why doesn’t God remove all Christians from Sudan by Rapture right now, as they suffer a "Hidden Holocaust", a "preview of the Great Tribulation" at this very hour of history, having endured the terror and martyrdom of over 2 Million Christians under Muslim extremists? What makes us more privileged than them? What makes us any better than Jesus Christ? ~ No servant is above His master!

What would they say?
Those who say God will always make a way of escape, what would they say to Jesus, or to the martyrs throughout the centuries? What would they say to the Christians in Sudan right now who stand for Christ rather than submit to Allah? When radical Muslims warriors torture children or give mothers the options to kill them, do you think that this is not more than they can handle? I heard of one woman unwilling to renounce Christ, but lost her mind because she in love stabbed her child in a merciful death! God did not provide a way out, except death and the sure hope of eternal life with HIM! ~ How about mothers having their breasts cut off so their babies die? How about their crops being burned and wells poisoned to starve them to death, their husbands beheaded so the bread winner is gone, or cut off his hands so he can’t work? How about burying them alive and even crucifying them? Is that not more than they can handle?

People who teach us that God will "always" make a way out, and never give us more than we can handle, even escape the Great Tribulation, are out of touch with reality. I just wonder how many church bulletins are filled with stories of martyrs across the world, versus fun activities, concerts and church programs. Of course, how could this ever – ever happen in America? Attending churches with fancy cloths and drinking Latte’s, while waiting for the church-band to play, ready for another feel-good sermon, has left people with a mindset of "this is normal", to be expected, stuck in ignorance; a stupor of oblivion.

I am convinced we are living at the end of the age. A time of great apostasy is coming, a great falling away, because believers who expect to get out of here on beds will not stand. Churches will clear out, outside of remnant, because God never promised us exemption from the Great Tribulation, but did promise to CUT it short! (Matthew 24:22) How short? I don’t know! No man knows the day or the hour. But it must be less than 3 1/2 years since it commences in the middle of the 7 year period. Yes, there will be those who will be raptured, those who are left alive, who will remain, but many will not. ~ Many will die from war and hunger and many will be martyred.

How will we stand? All I know, a house divided against itself cannot stand! It is my prayer that the knowledge and insight of this booklet will dispel the confusion and unite us to stand as one in Christ! May God help us all!

When we are under great pressure, (Great Tribulation) far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despair even of life, and indeed in our hearts feel the sentence of death, - our only hope is in HIM!

HE WILL CARRY US!

So I say with confidence,
the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?"
Hebrews 3:6; Psalm 118:6,7

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath,
but to receive salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord."
1 Thessalonians 5: 9

Those who trust in Christ will NEVER experience the wrath of God. Let us find comfort in knowing this with utter conviction and complete certainty. Let us be clear minded and remove the spirit of confusion by understanding the simple difference between Tribulation and God’s wrath, and NEVER ignore the Resurrection followed by the Rapture!

With love and concern, from one of the least!
Anonymous-First or Last