The Gathering (Rapture)

1. The gathering

2. The order in which we will be resurrected

3. Jesus coming to gather us and Jesus coming in His power, are 2 different events

4. The Day of Lord can refer to either Jesus gathering us or Jesus coming in Power

5. The antichrist will rule before Jesus gathers us up to Him

Briefly below some events are listed to show the timing of the gathering. They will be covered in detail in other messages.

6. The gathering will not happen until the antichrist loses his power

7. The wrath of God

8. Believers will know the season when Jesus will return; unbelievers will not

9. No second chance

10. Celebrate marriage supper of the Lamb

11. Jesus returns in power

1. The gathering

Jesus promised to return for us, and when He comes, He will gather all believers to Him, and take us to Heaven. The word gathering aptly describes this event. Jesus told us how He would like to gather us unto Him, as a hen gathers her chicks. And the Word tells us of Jesus gathering the wheat into the barn, while burning the chaff.

*Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, 2Thess 2:1 ESV+

*"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! Lk 13:34 NKJV+

*His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matt 3:12 NIV+

We like to use the word gathered, gathers, or gathering above over rapture for the following reasons.

1. We like to use a word which describes the events in our language, so we can find in the translations of God’s Word we use, especially with a word search program. And the words gathered, gathered, and gathering, are used many times to describe how our Savior will return in glory to gather us home to be with Him. The word rapture is not in any English translation of the Word, means caught up in Latin, is referring to 1Thess 4:17 when we shall be “caught up” in the air to be with our Lord when He returns for us.

*Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 1Thess 4:17 NKJV+

2. We also like to use a word which does not have overlapping meanings, so one has to agree with other events, not just how the individual word is used. Rapture through its extended use in congregational beliefs, books, and movies, now includes the added perception of the antichrist making a covenant with Jerusalem, which will start a 7 year tribulation period, but before this tribulation period starts all believers will be raptured, taken to Heaven, and those who are left behind will have a second chance to accept our God.

We believe there is no 7 year tribulation period; that we will not be gathered up to Jesus until after the antichrist’s rule is over. That there will be one resurrection, and there will be no second chance for anyone who knew about Jesus, but had not accepted Him, and was let behind after Jesus returns and gathers us up to Heaven.

2. The order in which we will be resurrected

Jesus was the first in all things, though He was God, He became flesh, became man to save us. Jesus was the Son of God, and became the Son of Man. As a man, Jesus was the first to be physically resurrected from the dead, and ascend into Heaven with a glorified physical body. Jesus ascended in a cloud to Heaven, and in the same way He will descend in a cloud from Heaven, when He returns for us.

*After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Ac 1:9-11 NIV+

Jesus revealed to John that the two witnesses would be the next to be resurrected from the dead, and taken into Heaven with an eternal glorified physical body. These witnesses will be the two prophets, who will come in power just before Jesus returns for us. Elijah (who never died) and Enoch (who never died, others believe Moses because of his transformation with Jesus) will be killed by the beast, the antichrist, who will have dominion over the earth at this time.

*And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." Rev 11:3 NKJV+

*When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. Rev 11:7 NASB+

*and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. Rev 11:10 ESV+

Our Heavenly Father will resurrect the prophets 3 1/2 days after they are killed. He will put the breath of life in them, have the Spirit reunite their souls and spirits which will come down from Heaven, into their physical bodies which have been glorified, making them alive again. And then Jesus, (or possibly our Heavenly Father) will call out "Come up here," and bring them up into Heaven in a cloud.

*But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. Rev 11:11-12 NASB+

Elijah and Enoch will be the second to be taken to Heaven because they pleased our Heavenly Father, because it will always be first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

*There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Ro 2:9-10 NIV+

The Spirit revealed to Paul how all believers would be the next, the third to be physically taken to Heaven. Jesus Himself will personally descend from Heaven, with all of His saints. Note: Saints refers to all believers on earth and in Heaven. Here it refers to all believers’ eternal spiritual being, their spirits and souls, which went to Heaven after their physical being, their bodies and minds, died on earth. Our Lord with a cry of command, which sounds like an archangel, and the trumpet of God, will first call up from the grave the physical bodies all of the spiritual saints which will come down from Heaven with Him.

*so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. 1Thess 3:13 NASB+

*For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1Thess 4:16 ESV+

Our Lord’s shout, His command, will also be heard by all believers who are still alive, and living here on the earth. This will be the same great voice John heard telling him to write revelations, the same voice which sounded like a trumpet and called to John “Come up here”. The command by which John was spiritually (his soul and spirit) taken into Heaven, and came before Jesus seated on His throne.

*After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. Rev 4:1-2 ESV+

The Spirit will unite the souls and spirits of the saints coming down from Heaven, with their physical bodies as they are raised from the dead, from the grave. He will give these resurrected bodies the breath of eternal life, as they are caught up into the clouds to be with their Lord. Then all believers who are still physically alive on earth, will be caught up in the clouds to be with our Savior. All saints, both from Heaven and from earth, will be changed, made perfect, made eternal, and be caught up into the clouds, in the twinkling of an eye.

*Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1Co 15:51-52 ESV+

*that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. Eph 1:10 NKJV+

We will all marvel at Jesus, as He is glorified in us.

*when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. 2Thess 1:10 NASB+

*and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Ro 8:17-18 NKJV+

As we are glorified in Him, for Jesus will change and glorify our bodies to be like His.

*But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Phil 3:20-21 ESV+

*and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Ro 8:30 NASB+

3. Jesus coming to gather us and Jesus coming in His power, are 2 different events

Paul was given the answer to a mystery, which was unknown at the time he received it

*Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1Co 15:51-52 ESV+

It was revealed to Paul that the gathering would be at a different time then when Jesus would come down in all power and vengeance to rule over the world.

*But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 1Co 15:23-24 NIV+

Paul now also knew the order in which we will all be physically taken into Heaven. Christ would always be the firstfruits, and was the first to be physically taken to Heaven.

*But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 1Co:23-24 NASB+

Then Jesus will return by Himself in the clouds, gather us up to Him, and take us to Heaven. He will call us up with a shout, which will sound like a voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God. What a joy for any child of God to Hear.

Note: Also Paul did not list the two prophets next because this revelation was given to John after Paul’s death.

*But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 1Co 15:23-24 NKJV+

*For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1Thess 4:16 ESV+

Then Jesus will come in power and vengeance with all His mighty angels to destroy every rule, authority and power on earth.

*But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 1Co 15:23-24 ESV+

*"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. Matt 24:30 NIV+

*and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Thess 1:7-8 NKJV+

Jesus will come down to the earth with His armies from Heaven. And will stand on the Mount of Olives, splitting it in half.

*He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Rev 19:13-14 NKJV+

*On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. Zech 14:4 NIV+

4. The Day of Lord can refer to either Jesus gathering us up or Jesus coming in Power

In the Old Testament and in the New Testament, believers only knew that Jesus would return in power, until Paul was given the revelation that Jesus would gather us up, before He would come in power. Before Paul’s revelation, “that day”, “the day of the Lord”, “the day of Christ,” and other similar names, referred to the time Jesus would return in all of His power. Verses from Amos and Peter are examples of this.

*Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him! Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it? Am 5:18-20 NKJV+

*And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. Ac 2:19-20 ESV+

After Paul received his revelation, he would refer to “that day” (“the day of the Lord”, “the day of Christ”, and other similar names), as the day we are saved, the day we are all waiting for. Now the same terminology of “that day”, (“the day of the Lord”, “the day of Christ”, and other similar names), was being used in the Word to describe two events, the day Jesus returns to gather us up, and the day Jesus would come in all of His power. There are two things we must consider to know which event is being referred to in the Word.

1. Is the verse before or after Paul’s revelation of Jesus returning to gather us up.

2. The context of what is being said, and what is happening, must be used to determine which event is being referred too.

Here are some verses in which Paul, after his revelation, refers to the day when we will be saved. The day Jesus returns to gather us up, and take us to Heaven, not the day when Jesus comes in all of His power.

While we are waiting for Jesus to return, our Savior will keep us blameless, until we are saved on the “day of the Lord.” When Jesus returns to gather us up, and takes us to Heaven.

*so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Co 1:7-8 NASB+

*hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. 1Co 5:5 NIV+

Jesus will help us to remain one with Him and will grant us mercy, on “that day,” when He returns to gather us up to Him.

*For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 2Ti 1:12 NASB+

*May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus. 2Ti 1:18 NIV+

Being sincere, without offense, by the grace of our Savior, and by holding on to the gospel of Christ, we will rejoice on the “day of Christ”. The day Jesus returns to gather us up, and take us to Heaven.

*that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, Phil 1:10 NKJV+

*holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Phil 2:16 NKJV+

Our Father has put the Spirit into our hearts as a seal, will continue giving us gifts from Spirit until the “day of redemption,” the “day of Jesus Christ,” the day Jesus gathers us up, and takes us to Heaven.

*And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Eph 4:30 ESV+

*being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil 1:6 ASV

5. The antichrist will rule before Jesus gathers us up to Him

Paul wanted to stop a rumor that was spreading through the church in Thessalonica. It concerned the coming of Jesus and our being gathered together to Him.

*Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2Thess 2:1 ESV+

Here “the coming of the Lord” and “our being gathered to Him”, clearly describes one event, the time Jesus will come and gather all believers to Him. Paul had previously told the church in Thessalonica about the gathering, and believers were eagerly waiting for Jesus to come and take them home to Heaven. Paul had also told them if they were not taken up, they would have to face the wrath of God, the vengeance of Christ when He comes in all of His power, and the lake of fire.

*Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 2Thess 2:5 NASB+

Believers in Thessalonica had received information from a reliable source which had alarmed them. They had been told the “day of the Lord” had come. (It is obvious here that “the day of the Lord” is referring to our being gathered together to Jesus. For no one could miss Christ’s return in power, when He brings vengeance on the earth). This news terrified some of them, for they believed they had missed out of being gathered up to Heaven. Paul was not sure how they had received this information, but tried to calm them down by telling them it had not come from him or any other reliable source in the church.

*that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 2Thess 2:2 NASB+

The newer translations we use all translate the last two words of the previous verse in the past tense (ESV+ and NASB+ “has come”, NIV+ “already has come”, NKJV+ “had come”). The ASV and KJV translate these last two words to “just at hand”. We believe the newer translations are correct with the context of the Word. The early congregations had problems with those who had gone astray from the truth and were telling others the resurrection had already taken place, the day of the Lord had already taken place. This false teaching would quickly spread into the churches, and was destroying the faith of some.

*and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. 2Ti 2:17-18 NASB+

Paul gave a direct answer to them, one they could understand, one which would strengthen their faith. Paul clearly states “that day”, the day Jesus will return to “gather” us into Heaven, will not come until after the antichrist, the man of lawlessness, will proclaim himself to be God, in the temple of God.

*Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 2Thess 2:2-4 ESV+

6. The gathering will not happen until the antichrist loses his power

We will be under trial and tribulation until the antichrist comes (See Tribulation). Then we will be under great tribulation when the antichrist is given physical control over all people on earth for 3 1/2 years (Some from Israel will be protected: Rev 12:6). The Father will give this authority to the antichrist, which will be enforced by His Heavenly court.

*And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev 7:14 NKJV+

*He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time [year, 2years, and a half year]. Da 7:25 NIV+

*Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, Rev 13:7 ESV+

The saints cannot be physically gathered by Jesus until they are out of the antichrist’s control, until his 3 1/2 years of rule ends.

*'But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.' Da 7:26-27 NKJV+

*And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. Da 12:7 ESV+

The antichrist’s time to reign will end at the sound of the seventh trumpet, as the mystery of God’s plan of is fulfilled. The world will become the Kingdom of our Lord and of Christ once more.

*but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. Rev 10:7 ESV+

*The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." Rev 11:15 NIV+

Jesus will descend from Heaven after the last trumpet sounds. And with a shout like the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God, all saints will be gathered up in the clouds to Jesus. And He will take us to Heaven to be with Him forever.

*in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1Co 15:52 ESV+

*For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1Thess 4:16 ESV+

We have been delivered from the wrath of God by our Savior.

*and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1Thess 1:10 NKJV+

* For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1Thess 5:9 ESV+

7. The wrath of God

The antichrist will rule for 1260 days (3 1/2 years), and then our God will pour out His wrath upon the earth for 30 days. This will finish up our God’s tribulation upon the earth. You can read about all of the 7 bowls of wrath the seven angels will pour out in Rev Chapter 16. 1290 days after the antichrist comes – 1260 days antichrist’s reign = 30 days of the wrath of God.

*Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. Rev 15:7-8 NASB+

*"From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Da 12:11 NASB+

*Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" Rev 16:17 NKJV+

8. Believers will know the season when Jesus will return; unbelievers will not

We should always be prepared to meet Jesus, for at any time we can die. Jesus can surprise anyone, like a thief in the night, and take our physical life from us when our physical time on earth is completed. If we are prepared, are one with Jesus, our spiritual being will ascend into Heaven; if we are not one with Jesus our spiritual being will descend into Hades.

Jesus tells us we should likewise be prepared, and recognize the season when He is near. The time when He will be at the door leading to Heaven, waiting to come and gather us up to Him. Events which must take place before Jesus returns give us hope and assurance, lest we are led astray and deceived by satan, the world, or the antichrist when he comes.

*'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' Lk 12:19-20 NASB+

*"Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Matt 24:32-33 NASB+

The “day of the Lord,” when Jesus returns in the clouds to gather us up, will come as a thief in the night only to unbelievers. Those who have not accepted Jesus into their hearts will be surprised; when the 30 days of God’s wrath suddenly descends upon them, and they will be unable to escape it.

*Now, brothers, 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 are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1Thess 5:1-3 NIV+

*Then I heard a loud voice from the temple , saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God." Rev 16:1 NASB+

Paul clearly tells, continuing on from 1Thess 5:1-3 above to verse 4; that believers are not in darkness about when Jesus will return for us. The day of the Lord, when Jesus returns in the clouds to gather us up to Him, will not surprise us. For we know this day is coming, what must take place before it comes, and the season in which it will come. The only thing we do not know is the exact day, the exact hour in which Jesus will return to gather all believers up to Him in the clouds.

*But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 1Thess 5:4 NIV+

*“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Matt 24:36 ESV+

*Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Matt 25:13 NKJV+

Jesus also used the days of Noah to illustrate the difference between believers and unbelievers. Whether Jesus was referring to when He returns to gather us up as in the 2 paragraphs above; or when He comes in power as we believe is irrelevant. Jesus has told us He will come like a thief at both times.

Believers will not be surprised when Jesus comes in all of His power, like a thief, just before the battle of Armageddon, after the 7^th bowl is poured out. For we know there will be wonders in the heavens, darkness, and the moon will turn to blood just before Jesus comes in His power. Unbelievers will not believe in these signs, will never believe the majesty of our God; be surprised when they are defeated by Jesus coming down from Heaven, instead of fighting armies on the ground.

*"Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed." Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. Rev 16:15-16 NIV+

*I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Joel 2:30-31 NIV+

Noah was a believer, was not surprised when the flood came. For our Father told Noah it would not come until the ark was completed, the animals put in, and Noah with his family were put in the ark (Gen 6:13-22). Just like our Father has and will keep revealing to believers through the Word, by events in Heaven and on the earth; when Jesus will return to gather us up, and the time when He will come in all of His power. Yet we will not know the exact day or hour, of either of these events. But believers will not be surprised when we are separated from unbelievers, only unbelievers will be. If when Jesus comes to gather us up the believer will be taken; if when Jesus comes in all of his power, the unbeliever will be taken.

*For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matt 24:37 ESV+

*"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Matt 24:42 NIV+

*Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Matt 24:41-42 NIV+

All other people at the time of Noah would not believe in our God while Noah was building his ark. They would not believe a flood was coming even when it began to rain. Unbelievers were unaware of what was happening until the rain turned into a flood which took them away. Just like unbelievers will not accept any of the signs we will be given in the Word about when Jesus will return to gather us up. Nor will they believe in Jesus, the signs we will be given, before our Savior comes in all of His power to destroy them.

*For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matt 24:38-39 ESV+

9. No second chance

Those who have heard of Jesus, but haven’t accepted Him when the antichrist comes, will be condemned forever. For our Father will send them a strong delusion which will make them follow the antichrist; they will make the antichrist their god. They will become the enemies of believers as they will help the antichrist kill the faithful. They will have no chance to be forgiven, will have to face the wrath of God, and His vengeance when Jesus comes in all of his power.

*The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2Thess 2:9-12 NKJV+

Our God will repay all who afflict believers and grant relief to those who are afflicted when Jesus comes in all of His power. Jesus will inflict vengeance on all who will not accept our God or what He has taught. These unbelievers will also suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of our Lord, the 30 days of God’s wrath upon the earth. This punishment will start on the day when our Savior gathers all believers up to Him, while these unbelievers will begin enduring the 30 days of our God’s wrath, awaiting the vengeance of Jesus when He comes in all of His power. Jesus will be glorified in all of His saints, those who were still living on earth, and those who came down from Heaven above; and we will all marvel at His glory.

*since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 2Thess 1:6-8 ESV+

*They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 2Thess 1:9-10 ESV+

10. Celebrate marriage supper of the Lamb

We will be taken to Heaven with Jesus, while the 30 days of God’s wrath, the 7 bowls of wrath is poured out on the world. During this time Jesus will be symbolically married to His bride, the holy city, the New Jerusalem.

*Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; Rev 19:7 ESV+

*Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Rev 21:9-10 NKJV+

*And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev 21:12 NASB+

We will celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb with our Savior, as it is fulfilled in His Father’s Heavenly Kingdom. What a joyous event this will be, as we become citizens of Heaven.

*And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Lk 22:15-18 ESV+

*Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' "And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." Rev 19:9 NKJV+

*But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Phil 3:20-12 NIV+

11. Jesus returns in power. See Where We Are in End Times 4d.

After the 30 days of God’s wrath, Jesus will come in all of His power, and destroy all against Him, and set up His earthly Kingdom in the last 45 days of Daniel’s prophecy. 1,335 days - 1260 days antichrist’s reign - 30 days of the wrath of God = 45 days

*Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Rev 19:11-15 NKJV+

*Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. Da 12:12 ESV+

We must be prepared for Jesus coming sooner, or later than we think, for we know He will return for us.

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+ESV “Scripture quotations marked [ESV] are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version,” copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good New Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”