The Gathering of the Saints
The question to be explored in this article is “When will saints be “caught up” to meet Messiah in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17)?” An interesting note is that many Christians use the English word “rapture” in place of the English words “caught up”, even though it is not in the Bible. For this article we will use the Scriptural term “caught up”.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For YahwehShua himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of Yahweh: and the dead in Messiah shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet YahwehShua in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Sovereign.
Before we review doctrines regarding Messiah’s gathering of His saints, we see the term “caught up” used to refer to those who are alive not dead. Those who are alive and “caught up” to meet Messiah may be changed in a way that is different than those who are dead and are “resurrected” (see 1 Corinthians 15:42 and Revelation 20:5).
Did you know that there are two examples in the Scriptures of men who never saw death and who were taken away (i.e. caught up) by Yahweh?
Genesis 5:21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22 And Enoch walked with Elohim after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with Elohim: and he was not; for Elohim took him.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because Elohim had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased Elohim. (NKJ)
2 Kings 2:9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
There are three different doctrines in Christianity regarding saints being “caught up” to meet Messiah at the end of this age. Two are unscriptural. Let us being our review.
The first position is called the Pre-Tribulation doctrine. This position claims that saints who are alive will be “caught up” to safety in heaven before the Tribulation begins, which is seven years before Messiah’s return.
The second doctrinal position is a modification of the first and is called the Mid-Tribulation doctrine. This position claims that saints who are alive will be “caught up” to safety in heaven before the Great Tribulation begins, which is three and half years before Messiah’s return.
As we read what it will be like before Messiah’s Second Coming at the end of this age, both the Pre-Tribulation and Mid-Tribulation doctrines comfort people whose faith is small. These doctrines do not require saints to endure the horrific Great Tribulation.
The Pre-Tribulation and Mid-Tribulation doctrines are prevalent in Christianity today. We see Christian books and movies that depict believers who are alive being “caught up” to heaven before the Tribulation. It makes for great theatre as pilotless airplanes plummet into earth, empty cars crash, and many search frantically for their loved ones, not knowing what happened to them.
But is it Scriptural that saints will not have to endure either the whole Tribulation or the last three and half years known as the Great Tribulation? The third doctrinal position is that saints who are alive before the Tribulation will have to endure this horrific time period. This is called the Post-Tribulation doctrine. All those who are alive in Messiah will not be “caught up” to meet Messiah until His Second Coming, which is after the Tribulation. It takes greater faith to trust in Yahweh and believe the truth, which is that saints live through the Great Tribulation.
Let us start this study by first getting a flavor of the Tribulation period before the return of Messiah. It is a time of unimaginable distress on mankind and persecution of the saints.
Revelation 8:1 And when he (Messiah) had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before Yahweh; and to them were given seven trumpets (#4536).
3 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.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before Yahweh out of the angel’s hand.
5 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.
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets (#4536) prepared themselves to sound.
The English word “trumpets” is translated from the Greek word #4536 “salpigx”. The use of the word trumpets is an important clue as we tie many Scriptures together about Messiah’s Second Coming and the catching up and resurrection of the saints.
4536 salpigx {sal’-pinx} • perhaps from 4535 (through the idea of quavering or reverberation); TDNT – 7:71,997; n f • AV – trumpet 9, trump 2; 11 • 1) a trumpet
7 The first angel sounded (#4537), and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
It is interesting to note that the word “sounded” in verse seven is from the Greek Word “salpizo” and is derived from the Greek word we just reviewed, “salpigx”.
4537 salpizo {sal-pid’-zo} • from 4536; TDNT – 7:71,997; v • AV – sound 10, sound of a trumpet 1, trumpet sounds 1; 12 • 1) to sound a trumpet
8 And the second angel sounded (#4537), and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel sounded (#4537), and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
12 And the fourth angel sounded (#4537), and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
Revelation 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded (#4537), and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of Yahweh in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
13 And the sixth angel sounded (#4537), and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before Yahweh,
14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded (#4537); and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Sovereign, and of his Messiah; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Many Pre-Tribulation and Mid-Tribulation believers mention the following passages in 1 Thessalonians to back-up their doctrine. Let us consider these passages.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Yah’shua, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet YahwehShua in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Sovereign. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The above verses indicate that Yah’shua delivered us from the wrath to come and that we should comfort one another with the words of 1 Thessalonians 4. Pre-Tribulation and Mid-Tribulation believers conclude that based on these passages, there is no way those who are alive will have to endure either the Tribulation or the Great Tribulation periods. Also, Pre-Tribulation and Mid-Tribulation believers use other Scriptures to show that saints will be “hidden” from the Almighty’s anger.
Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21 For, behold, Yahweh cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye Yahweh, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of Yahweh’s anger.
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
But those who believe in the Pre-Tribulation or Mid-Tribulation doctrine must read into these verses that saints will be gathered to safety in heaven either before the Tribulation or Great Tribulation. We need to understand that Yahweh’s saints have always gone through tribulation. From Genesis to Revelation His children have always endured difficult trials. If you search for the word “tribulation” in the New Testament, you will find that almost every reference is about what believers must endure, rather than what they escape! Believers must look at the whole counsel of Yahweh before formulating doctrine.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of Yahweh.
Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Note what Paul says about going through tribulation in his letter to the Romans. He clearly states that tribulation builds strength and character. Therefore Yahweh will use difficult situations including the seven year Tribulation to mold us into His Son’s image.
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Did you know that Messiah returns to Earth just once to gather His saints? And if we know when He is coming, then we will know the time when He will gather His saints. And we will prove over and over in the Scriptures that the time of His return is after the Tribulation.
There is nothing in the Scriptures that indicates multiple returns of Messiah. In fact, Scripture teaches that He will appear a second time since He has already been here once as a man. There is no indication of a third time, which would be needed for the Pre-Tribulation or Mid-Tribulation doctrine.
Hebrews 9:28 So Messiah was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
We also note that prior to Messiah’s return to set up His kingdom on Earth, there is no “secret time” that He is coming to gather His saints. Again, there is only one time that Messiah is coming and we shall show His coming is NOT in secret.
After His resurrection, Messiah returned to heaven and His disciples watched. He will return to Earth the same way He came the first time with the disciples watching Him rise, literally, bodily, into the air until a cloud hid Him from their sight.
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same YahwehShua, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
YahwehShua will most definitely not return secretly. Revelation 1:7 states that when YahwehShua comes every eye…everyone on earth…will see Him come. That doesn’t sound like He is coming any time secretly!
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
We have already read in 1 Thessalonians 4 that Messiah is returning with the shout of the archangel and a trumpet blast. Matthew 24:27 says that YahwehShua coming will be as visible as the lightening that flashes from one end of the sky to the other. Again, this does not seem like He is coming in secret at any time.
Matthew 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
So a picture of truth is starting to emerge from the Scriptures. When Messiah returns to Earth a second time for all to see, this will determine when He gathers His saints. To determine when Messiah is returning a second time to gather His saints, let us review New Testament passages that describe the coming of our Savior. Also, notice the mention of the word trumpets (#4536) as we tie together these Scriptures.
First we will look at what Yah’shua taught about His Second Coming and the gathering of the saints in what is known as the Olivet Prophecy.
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 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. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet (#4536), and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which Elohim created unto this time, neither shall be. 20 And except that Yahweh had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Messiah; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Messiahs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. 24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
There are remarkable similarities between what Yah’shua taught in the Olivet Prophecy in Matthew, Mark and Luke and what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians, which we have already reviewed. Below are these similarities.
1 Thessalonians 4 Matthew 24
4:15 – coming (“parousia”) 24:27 – coming (“parousia”)
4:17 – clouds 24:30 – clouds
4:16 – with a trump 24:31 – sound of a trumpet
4:17 – caught up together 24:31 – gather together
There are no doubt the passages in 1 Thessalonians and the Olivet Prophecy is describing the same event. Not only do they perfectly parallel each other but the events even occur in the same order. We also see that Yah’shua in the Olivet Prophecy talks about gathering His followers from the “four winds” or from all areas of the globe after the Tribulation. It does not get any clearer than this.
So when verse 18 of 1 Thessalonians states “comfort one another with these words”, this verse is not talking about saints being “caught up” before either the Tribulation or Great Tribulation. It is talking about the comfort believers will receive when our Savior redeems our corruptible and mortal bodies.
Some will claim that Messiah’s gathering of His saints at the end of the Tribulation only applies to those converted during the Tribulation period, not to believers supposedly gathered before the Tribulation. Yet we see no clear Scriptural identification of another group being “caught up” before the Second coming of Messiah.
The next passage that describes the gathering of the saints is also written by the Apostle Paul. Again, notice the use of the word trumpet in this passage.
1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Yahweh; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (#4536): for the trumpet (#4537) shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
And this last trump may be describing the final or seventh trump found in Revelation 11:5 where “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Sovereign, and of his Messiah; and he shall reign for ever and ever”.
The passages of Scriptures we have already read, 1 Thessalonians 4, Matthew 24, and 1 Corinthians 15, are all describing the same event that is heralded by the sound of a trumpet. This event is the return of Messiah and the gathering of the saints at His Second Coming to establish His kingdom on Earth. Messiah’s return is clearly shown Scripturally to be after the Tribulation.
Let us look at another passage in Revelation that shows there is only one resurrection of saints at Messiah’s Second Coming. There are not multiple resurrections, which would be needed to prove a Pre-Tribulation or Mid-Tribulation doctrine. Again, those who are alive and “caught up” at Messiah’s second coming may be changed differently than the dead that are “resurrected” at His second coming.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Messiah, and for the word of Yahweh, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Messiah a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of Yahweh and of Messiah, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Note that the first resurrection includes all of Messiah’s followers from the past as well as those who are martyred at the time of the Great Tribulation. There is no mention of multiple resurrections before Messiah’s return. As a side note, there will be another resurrection to glory at the end of the ages with the coming of the New Heaven’s and Earth.
We also see that the Pre-Tribulation and Mid-Tribulation doctrines contradict both the Old Testament and the New Testament Scriptures which show Satan and his dominion will be allowed to persecute the saints unrestrained during the last three and half years, better known as the Great Tribulation. There is no Scriptural reference to any group of believers during this time period who would not have to endure this persecution.
Daniel 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against Yahweh, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
We see persecution of saints during the end time tribulation clearly in three of the evangels. Again, these Scriptures debunk Pre-Tribulation and Mid-Tribulation doctrines.
Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this evangel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. 9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the evangel must first be published among all nations.
Luke 21:10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. 12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
And what about the elect described in the following passage? The elect are true and faithful believers. Messiah assures the elect that the time of the Great Tribulation will be shortened for their sake. There would of course be no need for the Great Tribulation period to be shortened if His people were already in heaven, now would there?
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
We have another clue regarding the gathering of His saints at the end of this age found in 2 Thessalonians 2.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Sovereign Yahweh Messiah, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Messiah is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Paul makes it very clear that the day Messiah comes to gather His saints will not occur until there is a falling away first and the man of sin, the son of perdition, is revealed. And we see in verse 8 that this “wicked” one, the man of sin, the son of perdition, is destroyed by YahwehShua.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom YahwehShua shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
I will not go into details, but that “wicked” one, the man of sin, the son of perdition is the beast in Revelation. And the beast in Revelation is controlled by Satan (i.e. dragon). Therefore, the time that Messiah come to destroy the beast and his dominion is at the end of the Tribulation. This is clear as we read the following passage in Revelation 19. How do we know that this time is the end of the Tribulation? As we just covered in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, Satan, including the beast who is under Satan’s dominion, will be allowed to persecute the saints unrestraint during the last three and half years, better know as the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called dabar Yahweh. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty Yahweh. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND SOVEREIGN OF SOVEREIGNS. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great Elohim; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
When we look at all these Scriptures, it is plain that there is no real Scriptural support for the Pre-Tribulation or Mid-Tribulation doctrine.
It is also clear that those gathered at Messiah’s Second Coming who will be “caught up” in the clouds will neither stay in the clouds nor return permanently to heaven to dwell, as some imagine. Messiah is coming again to establish His kingdom over all the nations with His saints on Earth, where He will be King of kings and Sovereign of sovereigns.
Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to Yahweh by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our Elohim kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Yahweh, and of his Messiah; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Zechariah 14:9 And Yahweh shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Yahweh, and his name one.
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am Elohim: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Believers both alive and dead that are gathered at Messiah’s Second Coming will be Priests and Kings with Messiah for 1,000 years.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of Yahweh and of Messiah, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Revelation 1:5 And from YahwehShua Messiah, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto Mighty One and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the assemblies.
And when we are caught up/resurrected at Messiah return, we will be rewarded by being like Messiah and we shall see Him as He is! As we have already read in 1 Corinthian 15, we will become incorruptible and immortal!
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of Yahweh, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of Yahweh.
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Messiah, seek those things which are above, where Messiah sitteth on the right hand of Yahweh. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Messiah in Yahweh. 4 When Messiah, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Sovereign YahwehShua Messiah: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
1 Corinthian 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
We conclude that saints who are alive at the time of the Tribulation will have to endure this horrific period of time. We also conclude that there is no Scriptural basis for the Pre-Tribulation or Mid-Tribulation doctrine.
It is clear from the timing of events in Scriptures that there is first a seven year Tribulation period, which is then followed by the Second Coming of Messiah. At this time Messiah puts down Satan, his dominion, and the kingdoms of this world and gathers all His Saints to be with Him as He establishes His kingdom on Earth. Yahweh Sdikenu (i.e. our righteousness) will be King of kings and Sovereign of sovereign and rule with an iron rod.
Although believers that are alive during the Tribulation will have to endure this horrific period of time, thankfully there are many Scriptures that can help saints realize that we can endure this very difficult time. And for the elect’s sake, Yahweh will shorten those tribulation days (Matthew 24:12).
Psalm 23:14 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Hebrews 13:5 ….and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, Yahweh is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Psalm 56:11 In Elohim have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Messiah which strengtheneth me.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for Yahweh thy Elohim, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
8 And Yahweh, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
It takes greater faith to trust in Yahweh and believe the truth, which is that saints live through the Great Tribulation.
HalleluYah
(12/14b)