The 7 last words in verse 16 are the clue to whether the rapture or tribulation is first. 1st Thessalonians Chapter 4 16 For the Lord himself (Jesus) 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: 17 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. Since the dead in Christ rise first, perhaps we need to know more about them. Here are the basics Jesus does not come upon the earth during this event called the rapture but is positioned above the earth on a cloud.The following sequence outlines Jesus coming on the cloud:
The rapture: First and foremost, the word rapture is not in the bible. The word 'rapture' is simply used only to describe a future event. The future event identified as the 'rapture' is when Jesus returns (not to earth but) in the clouds. The dead in Christ rise first and then people who confess Jesus as the son of God will be gathered up into the clouds to also be with Jesus forever (verses 16 and 17 above). The tribulation: Most people think the rapture can happen at any moment and when it does the rapture will prevent them from enduring the dreaded tribulation. The tribulation is a future event too. The tribulation is discussed in Revelation 13 and is where every person on earth will be forced or tricked into receiving a mark so they can buy and / or sell (survive). Those who receive this mark will live. This 'mark' will be, of course, the mark of the beast. However, if you understand nothing else please understand this one single point; The wrath: There is another future event that needs mentioning. It is the wrath of God and the wrath of the Lamb, simply know as 'wrath'. This wrath is designed specifically for people who will accept the mark of the beast. This wrath is so terrible that many people will not read Revelation because of it. However the tribulation and the wrath of God are two completely different events.
The second coming: Jesus will indeed come to the earth and rule on this earth for 1,000 years. When Jesus does come to the earth it will be after the tribulation and the rapture. When Jesus comes during this second coming, it will be for the battle of Armageddon. During the battle of Armageddon Jesus and his saints (that come with him from heaven) will fight against the beast and the false prophet. Jesus and his saints will, of course, win and rule on earth for 1,000 years. The beast and the false prophet will go into the lake of fire, forever and Satan will be placed in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. The second coming of Jesus and Jesus coming on the cloud for the rapture are 2 separate events. It is not the events that have people uncertain about the future but rather it is the timing of the events The book of Revelation is mandatory for understanding God plan! It is more important that any other book in the bible because Revelation is the latest book of prophecy. Plus it is the only book written by a man who went to heaven and came back to show us, you and I, the future. God's future!
But back to the rapture for a moment. As most people speak of the rapture they are mostly speaking about the final step where only the living saints being caught up to Jesus. Mostly people don't consider or discuss the dead people (the dead in Christ) who must rise first. There are many people who cling to the rapture as a means of escape because they are afraid of facing the tribulation. This is easily understood since so many people will die in the tribulation. The amount of people dying in the tribulation is a number so vast it can not be counted. The people who will be killed in the tribulation are called the great multitude (Revelation 7: 9-17). However, the fear many of us face is mainly caused from a lack of bible study, especially of the book of Revelation. Revelation must be studied to also learn the following
If we understand ‘who' exactly the dead in Christ are, we'll solve the question of when the rapture occurs along the timeline (whether before or after the tribulation). ****** Most say the dead in Christ are all people who have accepted Jesus as Lord and savior and have died already from car accidents, sickness, old age, etc. At first glance this would seem correct. But is this what God is showing us in Revelation? __________________ The early saints: The early saints who followed after Jesus were killed in some very cruel and unusual ways, such as: for amusement, fed to lions in Rome, sawn in two; simply for having faith in Jesus (here). They are the first church or the early saints. Surely we must count them as some of the dead in Christ. Otherwise their suffering specifically for the name of Jesus would be in vein. What do you think? John saw the early saints alive, in the book of Revelation, under an altar wanting to know when their blood will be avenged on the people on earth. John saw them receive white robes. John also states in Revelation that they were told to wait until their brother and fellow servants that will be killed as they were is fulfilled. In other words the blood of those early saints killed for proclaiming Jesus 3 questions arise about this first set of people identified as some of the dead in Christ 1) What reasons were these early saints under the altar killed for? __________________ The facts concerning the dead in Christ and the rapture are these
We can't know the day or year Jesus returns but by understanding God's definition of who the dead in Christ are; we can know when along the timeline the rapture happens in relation to other predestined events. ******
Revelation Helps Us Understanding Who The Dead In Christ Are. _________________________________
But this book The Rapture Confidential will help you understand Revelation. It can be tough (and even scary for some) trying to understand Revelation. But relax; The Rapture Confidential explains Revelation in an easily way so you can fully understand everything about the rapture, the tribulation and of course the dead in Christ. It's only $19.95. Help is just a click away! The Rapture Confidential makes the uninformed become teachers and changes our fear into faith.
An understanding of the future we face is all in Revelation but we aren't going there looking. Revelation means to reveal and it reveals the future! As long as we are kept out of Revelation, we can be easily misled. Please find where cars and planes will be crashing based on the rapture, in your bible, and then The only reasons an unreal (fiction) story like 'left behind' is accepted is: 1) We want to believe it and 2) We aren't studying. A lot of people have made millions selling us Christian fiction…unreal stories. Do yourself a favor and look up the Left Behind book(s) and see what category they are placed under. (You will find Left Behind under Christian Fiction or Fantasy Fiction: something not real) I'm placing my life on God's word, especially in Revelation. What are you placing your life on? Fiction? Just a few dollars can change your spiritual future forever. Click the button below so I can send your copy for only $19.95 ****** You need an understanding from God and I want to help you get that understand from God's word. It is for you to understand this information. None of this is an accident; you coming to this web site, my life, this prophecy in Revelation, The Rapture Confidential to help you learn, it's all in God's plan. Learn about God's view of the rapture. Learn what spiritual suicide is and how you can avoid it Why do you need to know this information? You must avoid spiritual suicide so your eternal life will be blessed. Then you can approach the throne of grace with boldness when your name is called to give an account of your life. 1. In Revelation 13 the entire world will be worshipping Satan. Is it really possible for the entire world to be deceived into worshipping of Satan? Wouldn't that be like worldwide satanic worship? The world worshipping Satan (the dragon) and the world worshipping the beast is all clearly discussed on page 34 in: The Rapture Confidential 2. John was asked who the people in the great multitude were and where were they from. The answer to this question will let you know if you and I could be a part of that great multitude. The information starts on page 6 in the easy to read and easy to understand book: The Rapture Confidential. 3. What does it truly mean to be saved? Are we saved from sin? No, we still sin in our flesh and, get this, even in our thoughts. Okay then, we must be saved from hell right? No, hell will later give up the dead placed therein. So what are the people who confess Jesus really saved from? The answer is we are saved from the lake of fire. But what is the other name for the lake of fire? It's important to understand as much as possible about God and Jesus; let The Rapture Confidential help you.
4. Will judgment be just one single day? Order one copy for you and one for a friend. I'll speak with you again hopefully soon in The Rapture Confidential. I love you under the blood of Christ,
Brother Vadis Joseph Frone Sr.
A servant of the Most high your brother in Christ PS. Don't get with the program, get ahead of it with The Rapture Confidential. Here are the rest of your questions. If you don't know the answers, please let me help: 5. The saints from the early / beginning church wanted to know when the people on earth would be punished for killing them. But how do dead people ask questions? 6. 666 is not the mark of the beast. Given that 666 is not the mark of the beast, 7. What will be happening on earth during the years just before Jesus returns? 8. Exactly when do the 2 prophets stand before Satan, testify and die? 9. What is God's time frame for how long the beast continues the tribulation (war against all saints). 10. What happens to the 144,000 during the great tribulation? 11. Satan will be in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. 12. What is spiritual suicide? If you don't know what it is how can you avoid it? 13. What is the least amount of time a person can stay in the lake of fire? 14. Will there really be a new heaven and a new earth? 15. What is the marriage supper of the Lamb and when will it occur?
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The Rapture Confidential took over 2 years to write because it had to be easy to read yet it's substance needed to clearly show the facts God is wanting us to see about his future.
The quote below means if your buying decisions are based on price alone, you will be the lawful prey to people who make something a little worse and sell it a little cheaper.
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