I think I must preface this post by stating that I believe the first five seals of Revelation 6 have already been opened. The first four seals mirror the signs identified as birth pains in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24 and Mark 13). I do not intend to expound on that belief at this time, but it may affect the language I use considering the predominant pretribulational teaching. (Detailed explanation of my understanding can be found at my website in my journal on Revelation.) My purpose for this study is clarifying the order of events concerning the rapture, the day of the LORD and the revealing of the Antichrist.
The Rapture = When Jesus gathers believers to Himself and transforms us to immortal incorruptible bodies.
the day of the LORD = The appointed time that God will pour out His wrath and exact His vengeance on all that is wicked and evil on planet earth.
the Antichrist = The man of sin that Satan will use and eventually indwell to establish his throne of power over the whole of planet earth—a time limited by God to the last 3.5 years before Jesus comes to establish Himself on the throne of David as King.
I must also clarify that I believe “the day of the LORD” (the wrath of God) and the seven years that we commonly refer to as “the tribulation” (aka the time of Jacob’s trouble and the 70th week of Daniel) are two separate but predominantly concurrent events with specific purposes. As stated before, I believe “the day of the LORD” is the designated time that God will exact His wrath on all that is wicked and evil on planet earth. The “tribulation” is the last seven years before Jesus returns as King, and the signing of the covenant as foretold in Daniel 9:27 marks its beginning.
Daniel 9:26–27 “…and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary….And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week….”
This seven-year period is directed toward the people of Israel as a refining fire to produce a purified remnant of believers that accept Jesus as the Messiah and through whom the LORD will fulfill His covenants with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David concerning possession of the Promised Land and the Davidic dynasty. Jesus described the last 3.5 years of the seven as “great tribulation,” a time worse than any other the world has or will experience.
Matthew 24:21–22 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
I do want to clarify that I am seeking to understand the truth of scripture and use many teachers and resources in the process. I believe that God will hold me accountable for what I share with others. I am not seeking to please anyone but the LORD and only want to ensure to the best of my ability that I am sharing truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 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 Christ is at hand. 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….”
There is a teacher I listen to that uses this scripture to teach that believers will know who the Antichrist is.
As I read these verses, I understand that two things must happen before “the day of the Lord” (the time of God’s wrath) begins— 1) “our gathering together unto Him” (the Rapture) and 2) the man of sin must be revealed.
Revelation 6:17 identifies the opening of the sixth seal as the beginning of the “wrath of the Lamb” (the day of the Lord).
Revelation 6:16–17 “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
Scripture is very clear that the believer will not suffer God’s wrath; therefore, the rapture must precede the sixth seal or occur concurrent to it. As far as I can see based on all my studies, the first thing that identifies the Antichrist will be the signing of the covenant referenced in Daniel 9:27. Taken in conjunction with verse 3 of 2Thessalonians, I must conclude that the signing of the covenant also occurs before the sixth seal.
If we stopped here, I can see the possible basis of this man’s teaching. However, Paul goes on to tell us more.
2 Thessalonians 2:6–9 “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders….””
The Greek for the word withholdeth states “to hold down…retain.” The same Greek word is translated letteth in verse 7. In other words, there is a force in the form of a being that is “holding down” or preventing the revealing of the Antichrist. That being has to be stronger than Satan, the power behind the Antichrist. I believe the only possible conclusion is that this is a reference to the Holy Spirit—who is now indwelling the body of believers. Only after the Holy Spirit is “taken out of the way” will the Antichrist be revealed. For the Holy Spirit to be taken out of the way, the body of believers must be taken out of the way. That will happen when the LORD gathers His people together in the rapture.
My conclusion of the order of events based on this passage—1) the Rapture, 2) the Antichrist is revealed by the signing of the covenant, 3) the day of the Lord, God’s wrath, begins with the opening of the sixth seal.
This, of course, negates the possibility of the rapture occurring in conjunction with the sixth seal as I had previously considered possible.
America the beautiful
Once the sweet refrain
A time when God was honored
Before this age of shame
A time we treasured freedom
All across the land
That many fought and died for
To keep our nation grand
Our country was a beacon
Of liberty and law
A place to fulfill dreams
A place of hope for all
The beacon light is fading
We’ve turned our backs on God
Rejecting His great truth
As on His name we’ve trod
No longer do we honor
The sanctity of life
Our leaders stoke the fires
Promoting racial strife
Common sense has vanished
Morality despised
Everyone is doing
What is right in their own eyes
It’s like the days of Noah
Evil powers are in control
But there’s still a faithful remnant
Fighting hard for people’s souls
My heart is grieved and saddened
At my nation’s fall from grace
But scripture’s very clear that
In end times we have no place
The whole world now is reeling
Convulsing with the pains
That signify His soon return
As King of kings to reign
Keep looking up dear child of God
It’s clear He’s coming soon
To take His family home to heaven
Before earth meets her doom
These summaries are a result of my studies in the scripture. Detailed explanations including biblical support for my views can be found in my journal on Revelation at www.momsbiblejournal.com.
Revelation 1
An introduction to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in His glory and His instruction to John to inform the churches of what he has seen and what the future will hold.
Revelation 2
Letters to the churches at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos and Thyatira.
Revelation 3
Letters to the churches at Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
Revelation 4
This chapter provides a foundation of understanding by allowing John to witness events that set the stage for the last days as revealed in the rest of the book. The last days began after the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. John is taken to heaven and sees the God the Father on His throne surrounded by myriads of angels. A special group of 24 elders are seated around the throne; I often refer to them as the heavenly Supreme Court; Daniel refers to them as watchers. Notice that Jesus (who was seated at the right hand of the Father when He returned to heaven) is not part of the picture.
Revelation 5
God the Father is holding a seven-sealed book that basically represents the authority to exact His vengeance, destroy Satan and establish His kingdom on planet earth. At first, no one is found that is worthy to open the book. Suddenly, “the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David….a Lamb as it had been slain” appears and takes the book. This is obviously a picture of the Lord Jesus returning to heaven victorious over the grave. A great worship service breaks out in heaven.
Revelation 6
The first six seals of the book are opened. Note how the first four correspond to the birth pains described in Matthew 24. I believe these seals are already open and these forces of evil are already at work. Reminder—their impact will be like birth pains, increasing in frequency and intensity as the time for Jesus’ return approaches.
Revelation 7
Since the word of God declares that the church will not suffer God’s wrath, it has been removed from the scene. God never leaves Himself without a witness, so He selects 144,000 Jewish witnesses, sealing them with a protective mark in their foreheads. Next, we see a great multitude of people from every nation, people, and language standing before the LORD on His throne and worshipping Him. I believe this is a picture of the raptured body of believers in heaven.
Revelation 8
The seventh seal is opened and the first four trumpet judgments are announced.
Then an angel flies through the heavens loudly pronouncing a woe on the people of earth because of the coming three judgments.
Revelation 9
The next two trumpet judgments, the first two woes, are revealed.
Revelation 10
In this chapter, a mighty angel (that I believe is Jesus) appears and gives John a book to eat that contains the message he is to give to the people on earth.
Revelation 11
We are introduced to the two witnesses that will prophesy for the first 1260 days (3.5 years) of the last seven years (the 70th week of Daniel) before Jesus returns to establish His kingdom. No one will be able to harm them during this time, and anyone that tries will be killed with fire from their mouths. At the end of their ministry, they will be killed and their dead bodies allowed to lie in the street in Jerusalem for 3.5 days. People on earth will celebrate their death. After 3.5 days, they will arise from the dead and ascend to heaven, causing a great earthquake that destroys a tenth of the city and kills 7,000 men. This actually marks the end of the judgment of the second woe.
The third woe, the blowing of the seventh trumpet, reveals the temple of God in heaven being opened, noting that the ark of the covenant is there. Once again those on planet earth experience lightnings, voices, thunderings, an earthquake and great hail.
Revelation 12
This chapter provides foundational information for understanding what follows. The nation of Israel is pictured giving birth to Jesus the Messiah. Satan (pictured as a dragon) was ready to destroy the child, but God the Father saves Him. We are told that a third of the angels of heaven followed Satan in his rebellion. Many of the Jewish people flee into the wilderness to a place prepared by God and are provided for and protected by God for the last 3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th week. Michael and his angels throw Satan and his angels out of heaven once and for all; no longer can they accuse believers before God. Satan is so angry that he begins to exact his wrath on the rest of the Jews that keep God’s commandments.
Revelation 13
We are introduced to the Antichrist, the beast from the sea, that is empowered (and I believe indwelt) by the dragon (Satan). He is dealt a death blow from which he is miraculously healed, inspiring people to worship him. He will be allowed to rule for 3.5 years. We are also introduced to “another beast coming up out of the earth,” the false prophet. He is empowered to do miracles in the presence of the Antichrist. He encourages the making of an image of the beast, making a law that those who do not worship the image must be put to death. He is also responsible for establishing the system that prevents anyone from buying or selling unless they have the mark of the beast (666) on their right hand or forehead.
Revelation 14
This chapter pictures the 144,000 witnesses with the LORD Jesus, the firstfruits of the Jews that come to know Jesus as their Savior during the tribulation period. An angel flying in the heavens declares the everlasting gospel to every person on earth. A second angel follows him announcing the destruction of Babylon. A third angel follows loudly warning that anyone who worships the beast and receives his mark will suffer fiery torment forever. A picture is given describing the final harvest that removes the wicked from the earth.
Revelation 15
Seven angels emerge, carrying the seven last plagues that mark the fullness of God’s wrath. We also are given a picture of the victorious martyrs that suffered to the point of death for refusing to worship the beast or take his mark. The seven angels are given vials full of the wrath of God to mix with the plagues.
Revelation 16
The seven vials of God’s wrath are poured out on planet earth.
Revelation 17-18
The source of false religion is destroyed at the great city from which it originated—Babylon—avenging the blood of prophets, saints and all that suffered death for their faith in the LORD.
Revelation 19
Heaven rejoices over the destruction of Babylon. Jesus returns to destroy the armies of Satan/Antichrist and establish Himself as KING OF KINGS. The Antichrist and the False Prophet are thrown into hell.
Revelation 20
Satan is bound and cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years. The saints will rule with Jesus during that time. After the thousand years, Satan is released and amazingly is able to gather a HUGE army; it is destroyed by fire from God out of heaven. The LORD judges all that refused to accept His gift of salvation and condemns them to hell; this is known as the Great White Throne Judgment.
Revelation 21
God creates a new heaven and new earth, and the new Jerusalem, the home of the bride of Christ, descends from heaven. The new Jerusalem is described—shining with the glory of God, having twelve gates and twelve foundations, measuring 15,000 miles in length, breadth and height. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life are allowed to enter.
Revelations 22
We are told that a river of the water of life flows from the throne of God and the Lamb (Jesus). On each side of the river grows the tree of life, baring twelve kinds of fruits. God’s glory provides sufficient light, negating a need for the sun. Jesus, the son of David, appears and identifies Himself as “the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” He warns against tampering with the prophecy recorded by John. Most important of all—He declares He’s coming quickly! “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
