Day 35 - Timing – 3
The next event in Matthew gives us more food for thought pertaining to timing.
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:30-31)
I believe that this event is the rapture.
If it is, and every believer has just left earth after the sun and moon were darkened, then that explains why every person on earth is a nonbeliever after the same event in Revelation 6.
These believers would have just come out of the “great tribulation”, since they were actually on earth to experience it.
If those remaining requirements are met after the sixth seal is opened, (Dark Sun & Blood Moon, The Removal of True Believers (Rapture), and The Sealing of the 144,000), then the seventh seal can now be opened.
If the book indeed contains the wrath of God, once the last seal preventing its opening is removed, we should see God’s end-time wrath finally begin.
“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” (Revelation 8:1-5)
At this point, we see that all of heaven becomes completely silent for about half an hour, perhaps out of fearful expectation because of what is about to be unleashed.
We also see seven angels standing before God being given seven trumpets.
Another angel fills a golden censer with fire from the altar before the throne of God, and casts it into the earth.
Unlike with the seals, we finally actually see something originating from before God in heaven and being unleashed upon the earth.
After this we see both seven trumpets and seven vials.
The trumpets are not specifically called God’s wrath, but there is nothing to rule out this possibility, as there is with the seals.
The vials are definitely referred to as God’s wrath.
“And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” (Revelation 15:1)
“And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” (Revelation 16:1)
Point #1: Before the “Day of the Lord” begins, a sign in the sun and moon must occur, as well as the rapture.
Point #2: When the timing of events is compared, it seems very likely that Revelation 6 & 7 address the same events as the “Olivet Discourse”.
2+2=4
Thanks, @narrowminded
In case you missed them,
Introduction
Back Cover
1 : The Foundation
2 : The Tribulation
BONUS : A Biblical, New Testament Understanding of Tribulation
3 : The Seventieth Week of Daniel
4 : Not Appointed to Wrath
5 : Wrath vs. Tribulation
6 : The Day of the Lord
7 : The Lord Alone
8 : The Exaltation of the Antichrist
9 : Promises
10 : The Presupposition
11 : 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
12 : The Revealing of the Antichrist
13 : Same Day - 1
14 : Same Day -2
15 : Hand in Hand
16 : Overtake You as a Thief
17 : Another Thief
18 : Not Knowing the Day or Hour - 1
19 : Not Knowing the Day or Hour - 2
20 : Not Knowing the Day or Hour - 3
21 : Ignorance
22 : "Olivet Discourse": Armageddon or Rapture? -1
23 : "Olivet Discourse": Armageddon or Rapture? -2
24 : For My Name's Sake -1
25 : For My Name's Sake -2
26 : Enduring to the End
27 : The Righteous and the Wicked
28 : Dark Sun and Blood Moon - 1
29 : Dark Sun and Blood Moon - 2
30 : Dark Sun and Blood Moon - 3
31 : "Seal Judgments"
32 : The Fifth Seal
33 : Timing - 1
34 : Timing -2