The Ten Possible Rapture Points in Revelation?

The Ten Possible Rapture Points in Revelation?

This is a different and refreshing approach to the massive and incredibly important topic of the Rapture, something that is very special to Christians. This will not be trying to prove a particular rapture theory correct, nor will it be trying to disprove any particular rapture theory either. The Rapture will be looked at in a neutral and objective manner, trying to assess ALL the possibilities of where the Rapture could take place on the time line in line within Bible Prophecy. What does the scripture say rather than what other people or myself have to say.

This is a complex topic, but the ultimate goal is to keep this as simple as possible with no complex information or presentations, but some explanatory diagrams do creep into the video (below) due to the complex nature of the topic.

In the video featured at the end of this article

1. Will firstly look at the main Bible verses that mention the Rapture, which come mainly from The Apostle Paul and John, which are straight out of the New Testament in the Bible

2. What are the Four Main Rapture Time line Theories out there. At present they are Pre Tribulation Rapture, Mid Tribulation Rapture, Pre Wrath Rapture and the Post Tribulation Rapture and a demonstration where they appear on the Book of Revelation Prophecy Timeline.

3. A look at TEN possible rapture points that appear on the Book of Revelation Time line covering a whole spectrum of chapters. An analysis of the relevant Bible verses using Xiphos Bible Software to see what they have to say in relation to a possible rapture at that time. Do they fit the description of a Rapture, or are they mentioning something else.

4. Some personal views on the rapture and the things I have seen out there and some further scripture, which you can FYOO (Form Your Own Opinion) on and DYOFR (Do Your Own Further Research)

Rapture Theories and Analysis
The very essence of The Twelve Gates website is based primarily on The Book of Revelation and the Bible Prophecy it contains. To get to the very bottom of the Rapture conundrum we have to FIRSTLY look at the two main verses that The Apostle Paul and John mention to get the background on what shape and form the rapture will take and how it will affect Christians in the last days.

THE 2 MAIN RAPTURE VERSES

1 Corinthians 15:52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself 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.

Once you have the HOW information on the Rapture contained in these verses and see what the Rapture actually is and what form it will take, then you can start to approach the topic of the WHERE and WHEN on the prophecy time line. This is NOT abundantly obvious on the first or subsequent readings from the above 2 scriptures.

THE REVELATION TIMELINE

Michael Svigel of retrochristianity.org states

"One must ask where the Rapture is found in the Revelation before one asks the question of when the Rapture is said to take place, if indeed the timing of the event is even asserted by the context"

This is a very valid and important statement as the Rapture and the Last Days are interconnected and the Book of Revelation in no uncertain terms is all about the last days. So if there is a Rapture then the Prophecy contained within the Book of Revelation will give a sure fire indicator whether there is one or not and possibly when it will occur?


The Ten Possible Rapture Points according to Keith H Esse of The Masters Seminary
The backbone of this study into the Rapture and when it could possibly occur appears in "the rapture and the book of revelation" part of The Masters Seminary Journal by Keith H Essex who is Assistant Professor of Bible Exposition. He comes up with the following ten possible rapture points throughout the Revelation Time Line they are as follows:

1. Rev 3:10-11
2. Rev 4:1-2 and 4
3. Rev 5:9-10
4. Rev 6:2
5. Rev 7:9-17
6. Rev 11:3-12
7. Rev 11:15-19
8. Rev 12:5
9. Rev 14:14-16
10 Rev 20.4

I have picked this particular study, as the angle he approaches the Book of Revelation in Rapture Prophecy terms is refreshing and open minded and starts right at the beginning to let the Bible reveal the truth instead of arriving with some pre-conceived notions of when the rapture will take place and using the Bible to provide the answer to that pre-conceived notion, which will always lead to the wrong result.

After conducting this study Keith H Essex then comes to the conclusion that only one of these Ten Rapture Windows could possibly be the rapture, which will be revealed at the end of this study in the video.

Watch the video The Ten Possible Rapture Points on the Revelation Prophecy by The Twelve Gates at You Tube for a full in depth analysis and some personal conclusions on this and other rapture theories and the possible timings and form your own conclusions.

The Seven Trumpets of Revelation

The Seven Trumpets of Revelation

The Seven Trumpets of Revelation are the second group of 7 God´s judgements that are dealt out to the earth and it´s inhabitants. The further we go into the 21 judgements the more serious are the events and their consequences. The question is are we in the Seven Trumpets phase now? The Seven Trumpets follow on from the Seven Seals and the opening of the Seventh Seal opens the door for the start of the series of the Seven Trumpets. This series of events precedes the last group of 7 judgements which are the Seven Vials or the Seven Bowls and are the most severe of the Seven Judgements.

Interpretations
Some say the first six trumpets are used to serve as a wake up call to the sinners on Earth and a call to repentance. Why....... the judgements are not absolute they are given in one thirds. Each trumpet blast brings with it an event more disastrous in nature than the one before it and each one acts as a warning of worse to come. The seventh trumpet does not bring a disastrous event with it, instead it is sounded so that glory is given to God and His kingdom is announced. A kind of reprieve and announcement that these events were not man made and were not coincidence.

Parallels with the 3rd series of events The Seven Vials (Bowls)
The Seven Trumpets of Judgement shows a lot of similarities of being sort of parallel with the Third Group of 7 Judgements (The Vials/bowls). Because the first trumpet affects the earth, so does the first bowl, the second trumpet and bowl affects the sea, the third trumpet and bowl refers to the rivers, the fourth trumpet and bowl refers to the sun, the fifth trumpet and bowl refers to the bottomless pit or the abyss, the sixth Trumpet and Bowl to the River Euphrates and the seventh Trumpet and Bowl to the Second Coming! Therefore indications are indeed strong - if not pretty much overwhelming - that the seven trumpets and seven bowls refer to exactly the same events but with different emphases and viewpoints.

One observation, for example, is that "the Trumpets" seem to affect in "1/3rd proportions" and "the Bowls" seem to affect in "totallity".

The introduction to The Seven Angels with the Seven Trumpets

This is the beginning of the Seven Trumpets judgement in Revelation and starts at the opening of the Seventh Seal

Revelation 8:1-6
1. And when he 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 God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
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 God 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 prepared themselves to sound.

This is the 7 Trumpet judgements with a brief summary and relevant Bible quotes (main points only)

The First Trumpet Hail and Fire mingled with Blood

Revelation 8:7-9
7. The first angel sounded, 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.

The Second Trumpet The mountain burning with fire cast into the sea
8. And the second angel sounded, 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.

Some speculate that the "great mountain burning with fire" that plunges into the sea, in Revelation 8:8, is an impact event by a possible Near-Earth object.

The Third Trumpet The Great Star from Heaven called Wormwood

This impacts fresh water sources that man relies on including fountains of waters and rivers.

Revelation 8:10-11
10. And the third angel sounded, 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.

The Fourth Trumpet The Cosmos is darkened for a third part

Revelation 8:12
12. And the fourth angel sounded, 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.

The Fifth Trumpet The First Woe The opening of the Bottomless Pit and the release of the locusts

Revelation 9:1-5
1. And the fifth angel sounded, 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 God 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.

The Sixth Trumpet The Second Woe The Release of the Four Angels

Mention of the Euphrates River and the movement of a vast number of troops.

Revelation 9:13-16
13. And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
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.

The Seventh Trumpet or Third Woe and The Temple of God opened in heaven

Voices, lightning, thundering, an earthquake, and a great plague of hailstones.

Revelation 11:15-19
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 Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17. Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

The nature of the 7th trumpet shows that "time is no more, and that the mystery of God is finished.

Revelation 10:6-7
6. And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Where are we on the Seven Trumpets Timeline...if at all?

Hugely debatable topic, but if things are kept simple with no pre-conceived notions, everything becomes blatantly obvious. There are many views out there on where we are in the Book of Revelation timeline, all look plausible, but do the jigsaw pieces fit and if so does the picture match the word?

Here´s a look at some views that are out there which revolve around Revelation. Some say that we are passed the first group of judgements as in the 7 Seals of Revelation, some will say we are in the second phase of the next group of judgements which are the Seven Trumpets. Some will go as far as to say we are on the 6th trumpet. If you take a longer term view on the course of events that unfold in the Book of Revelation say 100 or so years, it could be right, it could be wrong? This would make the Tribulation period much longer than the Daniels final week or 7 years, if you subscribe to that theory. Certainly much longer than the 3.5 years, 42 months or 1260 days that are mentioned in the Bible many times, for the period of the Great Tribulation which many say encompasses the Trumpets and Vials (Bowls) that have many close parallels and similarities.

My views personally, we are on the maximum of Seal 5 in the 7 Seals judgements, if at all. You have to remember these are divine judgements the likes of which have not been seen and will not be seen again. I firmly believe we are not in the second group of more severe Trumpet judgements (not even Trumpet 1) which are fractional in nature and that is based on just reading the Bible, as it is, and not applying any pre-conceived notions. Many times, a third is mentioned being given judgement, two thirds are unaffected...the severity is still restricted. Again this preciseness is not a man made event, it comes from something far greater than that and suggest divine intervention......which of course it is.

Why do I have this view that we are not in the Trumpet judgements phase of the Book of Revelation? IF the Book of Revelation is in fact a timeline of events that take place in the last days, then the 7 Trumpet judgements would follow one another as in First to the Seventh. On that basis let´s read the First Trumpet judgement bearing in mind that the higher the number the more severe they become. This is what it says in the Bible.....it´s very clear, simple and concise (KJV)

Revelation 8:7
The first angel sounded, 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.

Hail and fire Mingled with Blood coming from the sky (heaven) and cast upon the earth? Just trying to get your mind round this one, nowhere in this Planet´s history has there been such an event. This event is so specific, it only affects plant life such as trees and grass and  by burning. There is no mention of human life at all. This is a Biblical Event that cannot be recreated by man here on this earth. That rules out the longer term view of the Two World Wars, Hiroshima and as far as I´m aware anything that has happened in the last twenty or so years, in this planets recent history. As horrific as the Two World Wars were, including the Atomic bomb, these events were not so selective to burn and kill one third of grass and one third of trees on this planet. Do not even think that amount of vegetation was killed off during both World Wars combined. Even the recent epidemic of wildfires around the globe doesn´t come close. The toll of human life in the Two World Wars was many millions. This is not mentioned in the first Trumpet.....vegetation only....it´s that selective. This event has quite clearly not happened yet, which means the Second, Third, Fourth or any other Trumpet if they are in sequence have not happened either. That´s unless of course they are not in sequence, but then why would the Bible number them as a sequence increasing in intensity? What I´m trying to say is, if you start twisting the Bible or seeing something that isn´t there or applying man made or pre-conceived ideas to the Word of God, the result will be just some pre-conceived ideas and nothing more and the jigsaw pieces will not fit!

It´s quite clear that these Revelation events will be unmistakable events and will not be man made, they will be judgements from God and only can be created by God. There will be no confusion or mistaking these events....none whatsoever.....the source will be undeniable. But that´s just my view and there are four main camps or views on Revelation as mentioned previously which are Historic, Preterist, Futurist and Idealist. See The Seven Seals of Revelation for further details.

Expanding on that non sequential theory, maybe the Trumpets are not in sequence, maybe the second trumpet has happened and the first is yet to come? What does the Bible say about the Second Trumpet?

Revelation 8:8-9
8. And the second angel sounded, 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.

Again this event has not happened yet. A mountain burning with fire cast into the sea. Could be Hiroshima? As bad as that was, one third of the sea was not turned into blood? Yes there have been mass animal deaths around the world but not to the extent that a third of the creatures of the sea have died and certainly a third of the seas have not become blood. A third part of the ships were possibly destroyed in the First and Second World Wars but this doesn´t tie up with the other occurrences which again cannot be recreated by man, (certainly the blood part) and most certainly has not happened yet.

We could move onto the third trumpet Some say it has already happened on the long term view and it was the Chernobyl Disaster in 1986

Revelation 8:10-11
10. And the third angel sounded, 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.

Chernobyl was a terrible disaster and it contaminated water supplies and killed  made many people sick or deformed but NOT to the extent of affecting a third of the planets fountains and rivers. Chernobyl translated means Wormwood, but it´s a nuclear power station not "a great star falling from heaven burning as if it were a lamp". Again there are some undeniable coincidences here if you take a longer term view on Revelation as in over the last 100 or so years. If you simply just read the words you realise the jigsaw pieces do not fit Chernobyl the Nuclear power Station in Russia. Again this was a man made event. Fukushima in 2011........same again...doesn´t fit. The Wormwood event is again an act of God and will be unmistakable and as said with the other two Trumpet events.........they have not happened yet.

We could go on with Trumpet 4,5,6 and 7, but I think it is proven conclusively that the first three trumpet events have yet to come to pass, therefore and just reading them quickly, you realise the latter Trumpets, are even more severe and definitely have not happened yet either! But then the Historic view would say these things will never happen as these things have happened already?

The Trumpet Judgments and the Rapture

Ending on a highly controversial and volatile topic being The Rapture, many people in the Post Tribulation Rapture camp will quote these verses to put a compelling argument that the Trumpet Judgement phase in the Book of Revelation is when the Rapture will occur especially at the last Trumpet. Post-tribulationists see the rapture happening during the seventh trumpet. Some say the "Last Trump" is not to be confused with the Seventh Trumpet? Compelling evidence below but still subject to debate none the less. Where do I stand on this, I´m Post Tribulation and No I´m not a Catholic! BUT if the Rapture happens Pre Trib that obviously would be the highly preferable option!

Bible Quotes

Here Paul was talking to all the Thessalonian Christians concerning all those Christians who had died.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16. For the Lord himself 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.

Another supporting quote

1 Corinthians 15:51,52
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: for the TRUMPET shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

And another one

Matthew 24:29-32
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, and they shall GATHER together his ELECT from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.