MAJOR BRICKS OF THE PRE-WRATH POSITION CONTINUED:
4. COSMIC SIGNS=COMING OF THE SON OF MAN=RAPTURE=SIXTH SEAL
Several passages in the Bible mention the signs that will appear at the coming of Jesus:
“The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.” Isaiah 13:10
“Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.” Joel 2:10
“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 2:31
“The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine.” Joel 3:15
"Immediately after the distress of those days `the SUN WILL BE DARKENED, and the MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT; the STARS WILL FALL FROM THE SKY, and the HEAVENLY BODIES WILL BE SHAKEN.’” Matthew 24:29
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. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will GATHER HIS ELECT from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” Matthew 24:30-31
"But in those days, following that distress," `the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ "At that time men will see the SON OF MAN COMING in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and GATHER HIS ELECT from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.” Mark 13:24-27
"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the SON OF MAN COMING in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:25-28
“The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious DAY OF THE LORD.” Acts 2:20
Where else do we see those same signs? Revelation 6:12-13 — the sixth seal. Notice the cosmic signs happen at both the coming of the Son of Man and the gathering of the elect making them line up as the same event.
The cosmic signs come with the second coming of Christ and the rapture immediately after the sixth seal. This is why the Pre-Wrath rapture is sometimes called "the sixth seal rapture”:
“I watched as he opened the SIXTH SEAL. There was a great earthquake. The SUN TURNED BLACK LIKE SACKCLOTH MADE OF GOAT HAIR, THE WHOLE MOON TURNED BLOOD RED, and the STARS IN THE SKY FELL TO EARTH, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "FALL ON US AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" Revelation 6:12-17 People of the world SEE Jesus coming at the sixth seal.
5. CONSECUTIVE JUDGMENTS
The seals, trumpets, and bowls described in Revelation are consecutive. In fact, the book of Revelation is chronological, except for a few sections which are “flashbacks” such as Revelation 12. Also, there are verses that go back to explain in greater detail what have already occurred. These parenthetical verses time themselves within what John writes so they can be placed properly into the chronology of the seal, trumpets and bowls. Look for “then”, “when”, “after this” and other indicators of time when reading through Revelation.
The cosmic signs, coming of the Son of Man, rapture, and beginning of God’s Wrath begin in Revelation 6:12 with the sixth seal. In Revelation 7, angels (God) seals 144,000 from all tribes in Israel, the servants of God, to keep them from the harm that is to come on the earth.
Also, in Revelation 7 the rapture saints are in heaven:
“AFTER THIS I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” Revelation 7:9
In Revelation 8, the seventh seal brings in the seven angels with seven trumpets:
“WHEN he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand. THEN the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
THEN the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.” Revelation 8:1-6
After the seven trumpets are described (along with other events) Revelation 15 begins the pouring out of the seven bowls:
“AFTER THIS I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues (called bowls in Revelation 16). They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.” Revelation 15:5-8
Most people who hold to the Pre-Wrath position believe that after the rapture of the Church, the trumpets and bowls have yet to be poured out. The trumpets and the bowls are the time of God’s judgment on the earth — a time called the Day of the Lord. The seals are a time of preparation for the Day of the Lord. The Church will be on earth for the first six seals. Jesus returns after the sixth seal to rapture His Church just before the Day of the Lord begins.
6. THE DAY OF THE LORD IS THE WRATH OF GOD
The day of the Lord is a period of time in which the wrath of God is especially displayed. Cosmic signs at the sixth seal signal the beginning of the day of the Lord:
“I watched as he opened the SIXTH SEAL. There was a great earthquake. The SUN TURNED BLACK LIKE SACKCLOTH MADE OF GOAT HAIR, THE WHOLE MOON TURNED BLOOD RED, and the STARS IN THE SKY FELL TO EARTH, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” Revelation 6:12-14
One example, out of hundreds, will explain the Day of the Lord:
"The great day of the LORD is near–near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.
Gather together, gather together, O shameful nation, before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you. Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.” Zephaniah 1:14-2:3
The Day of the Lord is the time of God’s final judgment on a wicked, unrepentant world. According to Joel 2:31, the Day of the Lord begins immediately after the triple sign of sun, moon, and stars that we also see in Isaiah 13:10 Joel 2:10, 3:15 Matthew 24:29-31 Mark 13:24-27 Luke 21:25-28 Acts 2:20 and Revelation 6:12-13.
Paul discusses the rapture and the coming of the Lord. He ties "the Day of the Lord" as being part of the same event:
“For the LORD HIMSELF WILL COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN… and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
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.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:2
Christians may not know the exact day or hour, but they should discern “times and dates” because Paul goes on to say:
“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.
But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourager one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:3-11
It is encouraging to know we will escape the Day of the Lord/Wrath of God and:
“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:28