SAINTS OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION   -   9/15/04

My Introduction to Revelation sees the Day of the Lord beginning with Signs in the sun, moon and stars and with Jesus saying: “Watch for I am coming as a thief.” Jesus taught that believers will know when the End is Near. Matt.24:33. Revelation gives us the setting for expecting His imminent return. Before considering the 22 major events of the Lastday, let’s recognize the role of Saints who “overcome to the End” whether that End is death or the second coming of Christ to “gather the elect from the earth.”  Rev.2:26; Mark 13:27

What we are considering in this continued introduction is the status of Saints in the Book of Revelation on the Day of the Lord…the Day Christ comes with all the Saints. Their prayers are first mentioned before that day. Rev.5:8. Their prayers are last mentioned in the Court Scene of Seal 7 on the Day of the Lord. Rev.8:4. The Court sits in judgment before God avenges their blood. The armies at Armageddon must wait for the Verdict.

The first mention of Saints in Revelation, text-wise, concerns the time having come to be judged and rewarded. Rev.11:18. This occurs at the 7^th Trumpet which sounds right after the Court renders the Verdict in Seal 7. The appointed time comes, as Christ is crowned King of kings, to judge the dead and reward the prophets and Saints and to destroy those at Armageddon who are destroying the earth. The Court and Crown and Coming of Christ “with His rewards for the Saints and Prophets and all who reverence His name, small and great,” occurs on the Day of the Lord between noon and twilight. Matt.16:27; Rev.22:12.

The next mention of the Saints, time-wise, concerns their call to rejoice because God’s vengeance immediately follows the 7^th Trumpet with the fall of Babylon. Rev.16:18; Rev. 18:20 to Rev.19:3. Then the Saints, including Trib-Martyrs, prepare for the Lamb’s wedding. The Church is not the complete Bride. In the New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb is not called the Church because OT Saints are also part of His Bride. Those who “prepare for the Lamb’s wedding,” moments before Christ descends, include all the Saints before Pentecost, since Pentecost and those saved during the Great Tribulation.

The Martyrs come out from under the Altar and, joined by the 144,000 redeemed from the earth and taken by the Lamb to heaven, are “washed in the blood of the Lamb.” They wear white robes and sing their songs to God, one the song of Moses and the other the song of the Lamb, before entering the Temple to praise God and the Lamb for saving them. Right after their songs they praise God and the Lamb in ACT ONE. The last Martyr must first be killed. Rev.6:9-11; Rev.14:1-5; Rev.15:1-5; Rev.7:9-17.

The statement is often made that the Church is not mentioned after chapter four of   Revelation. The Church is not mentioned because OT Saints and Endtime Martyrs are in heaven when the 7^th Trumpet sounds that God’s time has come to reward the Saints. They are all represented by 24 elders, 12 for OT Saints and 12 for NT Saints. Their prayers during the Temple Drama in ACT TWO lead quickly to the Hour of Judgment.

Since the Church is not mentioned, the inference is made that its members have been transferred from earth to heaven before the great tribulation. Yet the main subjects in heaven are the Martyrs, in Seal Five, who besought their Master as to when He would avenge their blood. Rev.6:9-11. The vengeance of God’s wrath is not announced until ACT THREE at the 7^th Trumpet. Act Three follows the Court scene of Act Two in Seal 7.

In Seal 7, upon viewing the evidence of the six trumpet judgments for about a half hour, including the stings upon men for 5 months and the killing of a third of mankind on one day of an appointed month and year, the Angel of Fire mixes incense with the prayers of the Saints. He offers them up before the Throne of God and then renders the Court’s judgment and Verdict...as revealed also by Daniel. Rev.8:1-5; Dan.7:22. Note that the Court sits in judgment before the six Trumpets (Rev.8:6 to Rev.9:21) are described as a “playback” of what had already happened before the last Martyr was killed!!

Secondly, the Church is not mentioned in heaven because it is a separate part of the Lamb’s Bride from that of OT Saints. Rev.21:2-14. And the Martyrs will exclusively enjoy the blessings of the New Jerusalem in heaven ahead of the rest of the Bride for 1000 years! That’s before New Jerusalem comes down forever over the New Earth. Endtime Trib-Survivors will rule on the earth while the Martyrs “serve God in heaven.” Rev.2:25-27; Rev.3:12; Rev.7:15-17; Rev.20:4-6. Nothing suggests that Trib-Survivors will be excluded from ruling over the nations with the Church Saints who "overcome to the End." Rev.2:26-27.

The Bribe of the Lamb will dwell in the New Jerusalem after the Martyrs “serve God day and night as pillars in the Temple for 1000 years.” Only then there are no nights and no Temple as God and the Lamb dwell with the Bride in the New Jerusalem. Those "purchased by the Lamb," His Bride, which also includes 144,000 Jewish Firstfruit “redeemed from among men,” will finally see God’s face. Rev.14:3-4; Rev.22:4. The Bride includes OT Saints represented by Israel's 12 Tribes and NT Saints represented by the 12 Apostles.

Men from earth will bring their honor into the Holy City forever. Rev.21:24-26. Those who worship God in mortal bodies during the Millennium will inherit the New Earth and have access to the New Jerusalem to be healed by the leaves of the Tree of Life. Rev.22:2,14. Before God comes down to dwell with men, Jesus will rule on earth over all nations.

During the Millennium the Lamb will fulfill His role of “shepherding the Martyrs” in the Temple of Heaven. Rev.3:12; Rev.7:15-17. Those who “overcome and survive to the End” of this age will reign with Christ on the earth during the age to come. Rev.2:25-27. They will “shepherd the nations with an iron staff on earth.” The Lamb will shepherd the Martyrs in heaven for 1000 years and reign on earth as well. Rev.2:25-27; Rev.20:4-6.

Endtime Martyrs belong to the Body of Christ because they “die in the Lord.” Rev.14:13. The Saints mentioned in Seal Five are primarily Endtime Martyrs. God will avenge their blood. John was caught up in the spirit to receive the Revelation concerning these Saints who must wait a short time until their number is complete and God avenges their blood.

Before John was caught up to heaven “in the spirit,” he wrote messages to seven of the churches that apply to the End of the Age...until Christ comes in glory. Church Saints will “overcome to the End.” Rev.2:26. “Some are appointed (t)here to not taste death by any means” until the Two Prophets complete their task to manifest God’s Kingdom Power for 1260 days; “until the 7^th Trumpet is about to sound.” Mark 9:1; Rev.12:10-11; Rev.11:1-7.

Those who “endure to the End” will be “kept from the Hour of Trial coming on all the inhabitants on all the face of all the earth” when Christ appears with all the Saints. Rev.3:10; Luke 21:35. Millions will “beg to escape and to be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36. Jesus will come “WITH all the Saints.” Rev. 17:14; I Thess.3:13; Zech.14:5; Dan.7:27. After the End of the 1260 days, He gives the time and the method by which He will come FOR the Saints who survive. Mark 13:13,24-27; Matt.24:13,29-31.

“Gathered from earth to heaven” to meet Jesus at His presence above the earth, all surviving Believers will be caught up when He comes with the souls of the dead in Christ. Trib-Martyrs “die in the Lord” and are among those whom Jesus “raises up first as God brings their souls with Jesus.” They rise up at the “first resurrection” so as to come with Jesus when He brings their souls from heaven. Rev.20:5; I Thess.4:14-16; John 6:38-40.

Rev.16:16-17 and Rev.6:12-17, the first 8 of 100 verses fulfilled on the Lastday, introduce the setting for Jesus to come as a thief. Jesus introduces this setting and urges Believers to watch because they will know He is coming “as a thief to destroy the wicked.” Only Believers will know the Day of His presence is near prior to the signs in the sun, moon and stars. As the world celebrates by sending gifts after the Beast kills the Two Prophets, they will not realize that Jesus is coming within four days or less…on the very day the Lamb rescues the 144,000 on Mt. Zion and the Two Prophets rise up to heaven!   Mel

“When will Endtime Believers Know the End is Near?”            

Endtime Believers during Great Tribulation will know the End is near as the Abomination sits in the Temple. The Endtime begins with the destruction of Babylon by Ten Kings, the desecration of the third Temple and peace taken from the earth by the Red Horseman of Seal Two. The Endtime continues with the martyrdom of Jews and Christians and a 1260-day manifestation of God’s Kingdom Power by the Two Prophets. This climaxes with their deaths as “time is no longer and the 7^th trumpet is about to sound.” Rev.10:6-7. With the killing of the Two Prophets by the Beast, less than 3½ days remain until the Lastday. According to Rev.16:15, Endtime Believers will “be watching, knowing He will come as a thief”…like lightning! They will know events of the Lastday are imminent!

When Peter quoted Joel at Pentecost, he included the promise: “The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes." Why does this prediction refer to the second coming when, in fact, Peter shows it was partly fulfilled at Pentecost? Its final fulfillment requires the pouring out of the Holy Spirit during the Last Days which continue until the last day and hour and the last one is killed who should be killed. Jesus “remains in heaven until the times for restoring all things.” Acts 2:17; Acts 3:21. That includes His presence in Kingdom Power thru the Two Prophets and the last Martyr before coming in Person! Matt.16:27-28; Rev.12:10.

Joel said the Day of the Lord was near in Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1 and Joel 3:14. But Peter’s quote from Joel 2:28-32 concerning that Day does not emphasize the “Day of the Lord is near.” Peter was careful to show that God will pour out His Spirit during the entire period called “Last Days.” Believers will not expect the Day of the Lord until the (1260) Endtime Days are completed and the Lastday is imminent…less than 4 days away. The Sign of that Day will occur as one of 22 events that launch the 1000-Year Day of the Lord.

Many Believers are confused thinking the Day of the Lord is a “period of years.”  The final Great Tribulation is the period of time when Saints will know the End is near and will count the days. The last (unpredictable) day comes “in the days after” the Beast kills the Two Prophets…at the Feast of Tabernacles beginning on one of the three nights of a full moon. This Feast is also called the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the harvest.

Why should anyone question whether “The Sign comes after the Tribulation”? The last days must see the Gospel taken to all the nations. Then the End will come. Matt.24:14. Only by knowing the 1260-day countdown has ended with the killing of the Two Prophets does Scripture indicate that Day is “about to occur at any moment.” Rev.10:6-7. Jesus was precise. “He gathers the Elect above on a day after the tribulation.” Mark 13:24-27.

On the Day of Wrath, millions of unbelievers who “mourn and call on the Lord” will find mercy. All Israel will “beg to be saved” on the Day Christ “roars out of Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem.” The 144,000 Firstfruit unto God and the Lamb will be sealed with the Lamb’s name and redeemed from earth first, from among men on that Day. They will present the Son of Man to the Father as the bridal gift for the Lamb’s wedding. Dan.7:13.

When their Messiah appears, the tribes descended from the 12 tribes of Ishmael as well as from Israel will mourn. Luke 21:36; Joel 2:32; Joel 2:11-14; Joel 3:14-16; Matt. 24:30; Zech.12:10-14; Rev.1:7. Jesus commands men to “beg to be able to stand before the Son of Man.” This is not addressed to the Elect. Nor to the 144,000 already saved and sealed and taken to heaven. It is directed to those who “beg to escape all these things.”

This command is addressed to those who mourn after they see “The Sign” given by the prophets. During that Sign, the Son of Man will raise up every/all Believer(s) and gather them from the earth and send the angels to gather them out of the four winds from all four extremities of the heavenS. Every eye will see Him coming” and with Him millions who pierced Him. Luke 21:25-36; Mark 13:27; Matt.24:30; Zech.12:10; Rev.1:7.

Jesus knows those who mourn will be “begging to escape” when their Messiah appears with all the Saints…”knowing their redemption and kingdom are near.” Luke 21:28-31. The Two Prophets will have prepared a third of the remnant of Israel for this event. Only when the Saints come with the Son of Man to “give the Kingdom to the people of the Saints” will the Jews “know their Kingdom is near.” This fulfills the promise to Daniel and John once the Court sits in judgment and Seal 7 opens. Dan.7:22-27; Rev.8:1-5.

The Storm Theophany of Rev.8:5, Rev.11:19 and Rev.16:18 will intensify within minutes as soon as the Court renders its Verdict. This storm represents God’s pent-up anger ready to explode as the 7^th Trumpet sounds: “God’s wrath has come and the time to judge the dead and reward the Saints and to destroy those who are destroying the earth.”  Rev.11:18. Progressively the Storm intensifies ‘til Plague 7 implodes! Rev.16:18-21.

In the Mt. Olivet Discourse, why does Luke alone not mention the Elect? The theory of urging Believers to “pray to escape all these things” produces a false anxiety. Jesus promises on that last day to raise up every Believer and gather the Elect from earth to heaven...and to send His angels (at a 2^nd sound of the great trumpet) to gather them out of the 4 winds from all extremities of the heavenS. John 6:38-40; Mark 13:27; Matt.24:31.

Peter’s quotation anticipates the End after the 1260 “last days” that pass by before The Sign of the Day of the Lord. At this sign all 22 events of the Lastday begin immediately. Other passages in Joel state that Day is “Near.” Joel 1:15; Joel 2:11; Joel 3:14-16. The 1260 tribulation days will end two to four days before this Day of the Lord begins.

The Sign of the Day of the Lord inaugurates the Day of Darkness and Destruction ...an awesome Day for sinners and Saints. That Day is a single solar day...not the entire period of great tribulation. Long before The Signs in the sun, moon and stars shock mankind, Endtime Believers will know the Day of the Lord is near.

Tim LaHaye's Prophecy Study Bible affirms: "The Day of the Lord is not a single day, but a period of time filled with many prophetic events." AMG Publishers,  2000, P.1287. Jesus said: "The Sign of His coming will occur immediately AFTER the tribulation.”

Seven classes of humans hiding in the hills from invading armies will cry for the rocks to hide them from the "wrath of God and the Lamb." Joel does NOT put this Sign 63 months before that Day as speculated in the first "Left Behind" book by Tyndale Publishing House, Wheaton, IL., 1995, P.312.

Of the Saints raised up to heaven on the Lastday, 144,000 Jewish men, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel will be “rescued from earth, purchased from among men.” They will be taken by the Lamb to heaven after being sealed a 2^nd time with the Lamb's name  and then meeting Him on Mt. Zion as soon as the sun turns dark on the Lastday. Rev.7:1-8; Rev.14:1-5. They had already been sealed with the Father's name. Rev.9:4.

They will be the first ones sealed with the name of the Lamb; the Martyrs will be next. Rev.14:1; Rev.3:12. "Taken bodily to heaven after Seal 6 indicates the Day of the Lord has begun, these 144,000 Jews are the Son of Man's bridal gift to the Father. “They present Him to the Ancient of Days” before God sits in judgment or sends the souls of those who “sleep in Jesus with Him as He comes to gather all the Saints together." Dan.7:13.  The Two Prophets (two witnesses) will be "caught up" bodily on the same last day to heaven, being among "some who will not taste death by any means” until after they demonstrate God’s Kingdom power for 1260 days. Mark 9:1; Rev.12:10. They complete their task to manifest His power and Christ’s Authority in 3½ days (or less) when the 7th Trumpet is about to sound and just before Christ comes "with ALL the Saints." Rev.11:7-11; Rev.10:7; Rev.17:14. Obviously the Saints include the Two Witnesses. The Lamb must come FOR the "called, elect and faithful" before He can come “WITH all the Saints.” I Thess.3:13.

The Two Prophets are “called up to heaven by a great voice” to fulfill the required role for two witnesses to testify as the Court sits in Seal 7. Dan.7:22. Then, in the same hour of a great quake that kills 7000 of the Beast’s elite guard, and after the Court sits in Dan.7 and Seal 7, the 7th angel sounds that "God's wrath has come and the appointed time to judge the dead and reward the Saints.” The saints and prophets are immediately called to rejoice at being avenged. They rejoice in heaven because God has avenged their blood on Babylon; and is about to avenge their blood on the wicked. Rev.18:20-24; Rev.19:1-3; Rev.19:15-21.

All the Saints come with Jesus." Survivors (those who overcome to the End; Rev.2:26) will not be raised up to meet them before the dead in Christ arise...which obviously includes all the Martyrs out of the great tribulation. Those whose bodies are “asleep in Jesus” rise up first but not until the last one "who must be killed is killed." Rev.6:9-11.

When the wedding of the Lamb is announced, all the Saints prepare for the wedding. Heaven opens and Christ descends. For a multiple purpose! To bring the souls of all those having “died in the Lord” with Jesus from heaven, to gather the surviving Elect from earth to the Synagogue in the Sky, to destroy all the wicked while they stand gasping for air and to redeem those who beg for mercy. Millions who mourn, one of every Twosome, will be “kept alive…and will stand before the Son of Man” as Jesus predicted. Luke 17:30-37; Luke 21:36. They may inherit the earthly Kingdom!

Many believe the Rapture of Pre-Trib Saints to heaven may occur “at any moment.”  It is clear that Trib-Survivors will be “raised up at any moment” once they know the End is Near; but that some standing (t)here must still taste death even *after* the “Kingdom of God comes with power and with Christ’s authority” thru the Two Prophets. Mark 9:1; Rev.12:10-11. My brother and I have discussed our differences for 25 years. He holds the Pre-Trib view and I hold the Post-Trib view, both of us agreeing in peace that maybe there just might be “two raptures.”

A good friend of mine at First Baptist Church of Norfolk likes to say: “It could be” the truth that Church survivors to the End may meet Jesus at the same time Trib-Saints do who also survive to the End. In any case they will all “reign with Christ” on earth while the Martyrs “serve God in the Temple."

All the survivors will “reign on earth with Christ over the nations” and, at the “first resurrection,” Trib-Martyrs will begin to “reign with Christ and serve God day and night” for 1000 years before the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven. Rev.2:25-27; Rev.7:15-17; Rev.20:4-6; Rev.21:2. The final blessing promised by God to the other "natural" descendants of Abraham involves the eternal kingdom on earth for which Believers are instructed to pray and which the brothers of Jesus, the "sheep," will inherit forever on being separated from the "goats" after Jesus sits on His throne. Matt.25:31-46.   Mel