Joel IDs the Day of the Lord as “great and terrible and bringing both destruction and deliverance.” Peter IDs it as “great and glorious with emphasis on deliverance.” Joel 2:11, 31-32; Acts 2:20. The difference is in the repentance and restoration of Israel versus “no escape for those who refuse to call on the Lord.”

Only on the Day Christ "roars from Zion and God reveals Him in power and great glory" do both destruction and deliverance occur at once! Joel 2:10-14; Joel 2:30-32; Joel 3:12-17; Rev.16:12-17; Rev.6:12-17. One hundred verses in Revelation agree with Paul in describing the destruction and deliverance that occurs on this single great day of God. I can't believe the 1260 days of "great tribulation" constitute the "Great day of God's and the Lamb’s wrath". Jesus and Paul put God's wrath upon all the wicked and the rescue of all who are rescued "on the Day" Christ is revealed and comes with all the Saints. Luke 17:27-33; Luke 21:25-36; 2 Thes.1:5-10 (Note Paul’s words from “The Message” in the indented paragraph just below).

Other Scriptures regarding events on one of the "days after great tribulation": Matt.16:27-28; Mark 8:38-Mark 9:1; Mark 13:24-27; Matt.24:29-36; Rev.14:1-Rev.15:5; Rev.7:1 to Rev.8:5; Rev.11:11-19; Rev.16:18-21; Rev.18:20-Rev.20:6.

II. Worthy of the Kingdom

Jesus places signs in the sun, moon and stars on the Day of His "apocalypse" and Revelation calls it the "great Day of God Almighty (16:14) and great Day of their wrath." Rev.6:17. Events of this great day of God Almighty and the Lamb include the destruction of all the wicked on the same day Jesus "comes as a thief"! Rev.16:15. The End having come, Christ delivers all who call on the Lord! This happens only when all the Saints are "worthy of the Kingdom." I Thes.3:13; 2 Thes.1:5.

The only direct references in Revelation to Christ coming with the Saints is when the “Lamb comes as Lord of lords and King of kings to overcome His enemies and He brings the called, elect and faithful with Him.” Rev.17:14; Rev.19:14. So Dan.7:14,22,27. Thus Rev.16:12-17 first sets the stage at Armageddon for His coming as a thief with all the Saints to execute wrath anticipated in Rev.6:12-17. The passage in Rev.16 anticipates the events of Rev.6 ten chapters earlier! But First I believe Christ will come for His own only when they are all worthy of Him.

"Truly I say to you: by no means will this generation pass until all these things happens." This is so all-embracing that Jesus uses the plural noun *all things* with a singular verb *happens* (ginomai; Strong #1096). Matt.24:34; Mark 13:30; Luke 21:32. All of 100 verses in Revelation must be fulfilled on the Day He appears! Jesus uses a unique verb-form to show "all that was written of this generation," beginning in AD 70, climaxes with 3½ times being cut short to 1260 days of great tribulation. Jesus adds that the Church will prevail until all things are fulfilled *after* the great tribulation! Matt.16:18,28.

These things" will conclude with the Great Day of God! Luke 21:22,28,31,36. *Some* in the Church that He promised to build (Matt.16:18) will continue to face death and determine to overcome Satan for the few days after God's Kingdom Power comes thru the Two Prophets. Matt.16:28 and Mark 9:1. This generation will not pass away during the supreme testing-time of Rev.12:10-17 since the sufferings of Matt.16:28 must be fulfilled before the Saints are rewarded. Matt.16:27.

"All things climax" on the Day of God. 2 Pet.3:12. Death, destruction, wrath to all who blaspheme God. But resurrection and rewards to the Saints on the same day. Rev.11:18. And rescue for all who call on the name of the Lord. Joel includes the great quake (of Rev.6:12) and twice alludes to those rescued if they repent. Joel 2:10-14; Joel 2:30-32. Note NT verses: I Cor.1:7; 2 Thess.1:7; I Pet.1:7; Rev.1:7.

The events that occur during the Day of the Lord have become the Church’s great controversial subject because they determine the starting point of God’s Wrath. Most evangelicals insist that there is a seven-year time period between the Sixth Seal and the Seventh Trumpet. The first Left Behind book claims the Day of the Lord tribulation lasts for 84 months with the signs of God's wrath in Seal Six taking place in the first 21 months. P.309-312. I believe Seal Six signals the start of the great Day of God Almighty. Its signs warn of His impending wrath globally. The sun turns dark at various times over12 hours on the clock depending on where one lives; but occurs on the same 12-hour day that launches events of the Day Christ appears with all the Saints to show mercy to mankind for another 1000 years.

No one knows the "hour of Christ’s revelation" except it is between noon and six PM in Israel. The Two Prophets will arise in the “same hour” during which a great quake kills 7000 of the Beast’s guard in a tenth of Jerusalem...just before the 7th Trumpet sounds that God's wrath has come. Rev.11:13-18. The quake ends the killing of Jews during the last hour. Coming as a thief to those not expecting Him, only hours separate that day's global signs and *The Sign* of Christ's visible manifestation over Jerusalem with all the Saints! The Two Prophets are thus dead for (up to) 3½ days. Rev.11:12.

Signs continue for no more than a “half of one day after the tribulation.” Matt.24:29-36; Matt.24:30. To me the time-frame of *Day One* is noon to twilight on the *unique* Day Christ is revealed to show His mercy to Israel for a *third day* of 1000 years; the first two days being from Abraham to Christ's first Advent. Hosea 6:2. Crowned as King of the nations to begin that *1000-Year-Day,* "all those left of the nations coming against Jerusalem must worship Him annually at the Feast of Tabernacles." Zech.14:7,9,16; Luke 17:30; Amos 8:9; Rev.15:4; Rev.11:15-19; Dan.7:22-27 and Rev.18:20 to Rev.20:6.

The usual view of Covenant Theology overlooks that Paul reveals God will do the unexpected after He concludes that Gentiles, as well as Israel, will have been in a state of unbelief and disobedience. Rom. 11:30-33. Paul concludes with the same emphasis as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Joel about mankind not being able to understand the mind (sovereignty) of God. Rom.11:33-36; Isa.40:13,28; Isa.55:6-1; Jer.31: 35-37; 33:21-26. "God will shut up all to disobedience so He might show mercy to all." Rom.11:32.

V. Hosea’s 3^rd Millennial “Day” Enclosed by two Decrees: “It is Done" and "All is Done”! ****Gegonen; 1st person sing. - Rev.16:17. Gegonan; 3rd person sing. - Rev.21:6****

The basic word for what “happens,” used 30 times as an aorist in Revelation, appears only twice in the perfect tense: “It has happened; All has happened.” Jesus used the word in the present tense for events on that Day that “begin to happen” with men’s hearts failing from fear at the signs of Seal Six (Luke 21:25-28); “continue to happen” (Luke 21:31) during the afternoon hours of that Day and “completely happens” (Luke 21:32) in the Hour He “completes all things that had been written.” Luke 21:22.

Revelation uses this word in the perfect active tense to launch and to climax the 1000-Year-Day of the Lord. The perfect tense indicates action already completed but with continuing results. At the voice coming out of the Temple, God decrees: “The end has happened”...with continuing results of the 1000-Year “Great-Day of God.” The Two Decrees are separated by Rev.20:4-6 and Rev.16:15-17 during which Christian Martyrs will serve God and Christ in the New Jerusalem before it comes down over the New Earth.

At the creation of the New Earth, God will decree: “All has happened”…with eternal consequences of the New Jerusalem resting over the earth as the wife of the Lamb. Sheep nations will inherit the Kingdom of God “prepared from the foundation of the world." It will be inherited "forever” by those whom Jesus calls “His sheep” and whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Rev.16:17; Rev.21:1-6,9-10,24-27; Matt.25:32-34; Rev.22:2,14. But they dwell on earth while the Bride dwells in heaven.

The Storm Theophany of "voices, thunders, flashes of lightning and a quake" occurs after Seal #7  Trump #7 and Plague #7. Plague #7 implodes with the Cup of Wrath at the third Theophany which is also the third great quake. Rev.8:5; Rev.11:19; Rev.16:18 (Rev.6:12; Rev.11:13; Rev.16:18). "God's wrath had come." Great hail is added in Rev.11:19 and Rev.16:19-21 as the third quake becomes global as history's greatest during the Hour of Trial. Its aftershocks destroy earth's cities and mountains globally and cause islands to rapidly move out of their places. "The wine of God’s Cup of anger has mixed full strength with His wrath." Rev.14:10; Rev.16:19; Rev.18:21-24; Rev.19:15-Rev.20:3.

History's greatest quake destroys great Babylon as a City and System within 3½ days after the great tribulation. Thru Ten Kings God will have destroyed Rome by fire to begin the Great Tribulation. Rev.17:16-18; Rev.18:8. He will destroy her entire system by the quake's aftershocks. This is finally symbolized by a "great millstone" cast into the sea by a Mighty Angel. Rev.16:19-21; Rev.18:21-24.

The scene shifts from the 7th Trumpet to Heaven's final scene of rejoicing that Babylon has fallen and for the revelation that the Lamb's wedding has come. The Saints are ready. Rev.18:20; Rev.19:1-10. Then "heaven opens," Christ descends as King of kings, raises up all who had "died in the Lord" prior to the "first resurrection" (Rev.14:12-13; Rev.20:6), gathers the Saints from earth to heaven vertically, sends the angels to gather them out of the 4 winds from all extremities of the heavens horizontally and welcomes His entire Bride transformed into eternally glorified bodies. The "called, elect and faithful, worthy of the Kingdom, are together manifested with Him in glory." Mark 13:27; Matt.24:31; Phil.3:21; I John 3:2; Titus 2:13; Col.3:4; I Thes.3:13; 2 Thes.1:5; Rev.17:14; Rev.19:11-16. 

VII. Every Eye sees Jesus Christ with all the Saints.  Rev.1:7; Zech.12:10.

John wrote that "every eye sees the Son of Man coming." Those who realize they pierced Him will mourn for Him as for a firstborn son. "Every eye" points not only to those who recognize they pierced Him but to millions left behind who prostrate themselves five times daily in misguided worship. Scripture reveals their prayers hold hope of a compassionate response from the one true God.

Believers being gathered to His side will intensify the guilt of those left behind. With all Believers caught up to meet Him, it's the last opportunity to be rescued from death. God pours out His spirit in compassion as the Jewish remnant repents. Many non-Jews will mourn and beg to be rescued. God “shows mercy to all” except the wicked. Isa.55:6-9; Joel 2:10-14,32; Joel 3:14-17; Dan.12:10; Rev.12:10; Zech.12:10; Rom.11:25-33.

I believe Jesus intends End-timers to think of what happens during the "days after the great tribulation" when He appears like lightning. Signs in the sun, moon and stars, heaven rolling up like a scroll and three successive messages "across the sky" give final warnings. These signs occur on the Day God in Christ is revealed and “Believers share in His glory and power." Luke 17:27-30; Luke 21:25-27; Rev.14:6-11; Mark 13:24-27; Matt.24:29-31; Col.3:4; I John 3:2; Phil.3:21; 2 Tim.4:1; I Pet.1:7; I Pet.4:13; I Pet.5:1.

These signs do not occur during the great tribulation in order to support the belief in a premature rapture of Saints. They are the final warning after the Great Tribulation ends with the Two Witnesses “completing their 1260-day task" of God’s Kingdom Power against Satan’s self-appointed deity. These Olive Trees “stand before the God of earth” in Rev.11:4 (Zech.4:11) before Jews are reinstated in their own Olive Tree. Fulfilling Rev.11:3-7, they protect (and prepare) a remnant of Jews and the Saints for the climax of Matt.17:11; Rom.11:11; Rev.6:11; Rev.12:11; Rev.7:11; Rev.19:11.

VIII. Day of 22 Major Events in 100 verses of Revelation

The Day of Wrath relates to God’s mercy to all who "mourn/repent" as well as to total destruction of the wicked. He offers no mercy to the wicked! His judgments and plagues fall upon all who blaspheme His name and refuse to repent! Rev.9:20-21; Rev.16:9-11. Only those who are saved and/or who call on His name are "rescued from what comes suddenly, as a snare and as a thief to all inhabitants on all the face of all the earth." Jesus describes His coming and John relates it to 22 major events. Luke 21:35-36; Rev.3:10.

All that happens in 100 verses of Revelation are geared to the Temple Drama of the Testimony of the Martyrs, Tribunal of Seal 7 and Triumph of the *Last Trump.* The Last Trump sounds three times: First to crown the King, then for Him to descend and "gather the elect from earth to heaven vertically and then to send the angels to gather the elect out of the 4 winds from all the heavens' extremities horizontally. Rev.11:15; I Thes.4:16; Matt.24:31. Sixty of these 100 verses are fulfilled under the canopy of the 7th Plague as it suspends in the air. The first of 3 great quakes occurs at Seal 6 as the 22 events of the last day begin! The 2nd signals global terror as 7000 of the Beast's elite are  killed in a tenth of Jerusalem. In that hour millions see the Two Prophets rise up. The 3rd launches the Hour of Trial coming on all mankind. Rev.6:12; Rev.11:13; Rev.16:18.

In Israel people will have been at work for 6 hours when these signs affect all mankind. They are working in the field or the mill when the “sun turns to darkness in broad daylight at noontime." Amos 8:9; Matt.24:40-41. The entire moon turns blood-red from 2 to 5 AM in America. Israel’s darkness remains for 6 hours until the light returns at evening time. Zech.14:6-7.

IX. The Hour of Trial

Jesus refers to the unknown Hour of His Presence separately from the signs of that Day.  The Hour of Trial brings eternal death and/or deliverance for billions only after He appears with all the Saints. Christians often apply to themselves the warning intended for the tribes of earth who mourn and are on the verge of faith. Those who mourn see "all these things continuing to happen after Christ appears...and beg to escape and to be able to stand before the Son of Man." They will not be "taken in judgment but will be kept alive” through the Hour of Testing. Luke 21:28,31,32,36; Rev.3:10-11; Luke 17:33.

Those who assume unbelievers can’t repent nor be "kept alive" have theorized that surviving Christians must be left on earth in mortal bodies to populate the Kingdom. After "loving not their life unto death and overcoming Satan by their testimony and by the blood of the Lamb," wouldn’t it be presumptuous to instruct the Saints to "remember Lot’s wife lest they perish"? Unbelievers who beg to escape will not taste God’s wrath but will be "kept alive" and rescued from Hell spoken of in Rev.14:10-11. Luke 17:30-33; Joel 2:10-14, Joel 30-32; Rom.11:30-33; 2 Pet.3:9.

Since "all the Saints come with Jesus Christ," it would also be presumptuous to exclude surviving Saints from meeting the Lord in the air. Their hope is based on God’s promise that all the Saints will be "manifested together with Christ in glory." Saints cannot "look for the Blessed Hope" if it has already occurred. Trib-Saints "watch until He gathers them together above and appear with Him in glory." Rev.16:15; Titus 2:13; Mark 13:27.

X. Completed Bride is "washed in the Lamb's Blood" before He appears

Why is the Lamb's Bride completed before He appears? The Sovereign God reveals Himself and His Bride to all mankind through Jesus Christ. He will demonstrate mercy to all who call on His name. Some theologians question if God knows whether or not men will repent when He appears. As if this is an experiment like that with Jonah. As if God waits to decide if He will destroy all unbelievers during the Hour of Trial. This line of reasoning questions the Sovereignty of God as well as the depth of His mercy.

So what is the purpose of God in revealing Himself through Jesus Christ? He comes with His completed Bride to finish the "restoration of all things." Matt.17:11; Acts 3:21.  In addition His Kingdom involves millions who mourn and beg for mercy. He revealed the purpose of this “restoration” after He took Peter, James and John up the Mount of Transfiguration. They needed to see the necessity of His death before they share in His glory. But sharing that glory among the nations awaits His return as King of kings.

He prepared three close Disciples to understand this truth a week after He told them the scribes would kill Him though they said Elijah must come first. He revealed that "Elijah truly is coming first and will restore all things” (future tense; Matt.17:11-13). He will begin to restore all things by demonstrating God’s Kingdom Power for 1260 days.

Why did the scribes teach that Elijah must come first? Most teachers affirm that Jesus  proved John the Baptist fulfilled that role. But Jesus made this remarkable statement regarding His Mission after the death of the Baptist and the purpose of His Messianic Mission to build His Church: "Elijah truly is coming and will restore all things." Matt. 17:11; future tense. Matthew’s Prophecy refers to Endtime Manifestation of Power.

Jesus included Himself in being rejected along with the Baptist. Those who reject God's total Sovereignty fail to see that Matthew put Elijah's task in the future. Mark used the  present tense to reveal the building of God's Church must be completed as part of  the  Prophets’ task. The world will then be able to worship God without persecution or opposition. This compares present/future tense in Mark 9:11-13 and Matt.17:11-13.

This knowledge was expressed by Jesus in Mark 14:62 that henceforth they would see Him sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven." It was also expressed in knowing "Elijah restores all things" as of that day. God intends to fulfill His will on earth as it is in heaven...in a Kingdom of mankind called "sheep." After the Millennium, earth's kings will bring their glory into the New Jerusalem and continue to be healed by leaves of the tree of life...forever! Rev.21:24-26; Rev.22:2,14. Ezek.47:12.

XI. The "Blessed Hope" is for Tribulation Martyrs as well as Survivors to the End

The phrase "washed in the blood of the Lamb" refers in Revelation to Saints who "suffer the great tribulation and are faithful to the END. If they survive to the End, their reward is to "rule with Christ over the nations." Rev.2:25-27. The "appointed time to judge the dead and reward Saints" occurs at the 7th Trumpet. Rev.11:15-18; 2 Tim.4:1.

There is one End of the Age (Matt.28:20) and one group of Saints washed in the Lamb's blood who will reign on earth if they survive or, if martyred, who will serve God 1000 years in heaven. Rev.3:10-12; Rev.7:14-17; Rev.20:4-6. They will "serve God day and night" while surviving Saints reign on the earth for a 1000-Year-Day of the Lord.

Martyrs will "bear the names of God and the Lamb and the Holy Jerusalem. They will be shepherded by the Lamb with all pain erased forever. Rev.7:15-17. They are worthy of the Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all the Saints." That's Paul’s prayer and God’s plan. I Thess.3:13; 2 Thess.1:5. Anything less than being worthy of Christ has “many purged, purified and refined.” Rev.12:10-11; Dan.12:10-11.

XII. Who will Populate the Kingdom?

Believers will be manifested in glory with Christ. Col.3:4. No Believer should survive death "in the days after great tribulation" only to remain in mortal bodies to populate the Kingdom. Potentially, I believe up to two billion people will "call on the Lord and be rescued" as He appears with the Saints. With ⅓ of mankind killed over ¼ (Rev.6:8; Seal Four) of the earth by armies from the orient, one of every "twosome" (one taken and one left) and all infants and children should be rescued and "kept alive." Luke 17:33.

No Believer will be “Left Behind.” LaHaye insists our "blessed hope becomes the end-timers’ blasted hope. If Christ does not rapture His church before the tribulation," he claims, "it becomes a blasted hope instead of a blessed one." Quoted from "The Rapture," published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR., 2002, P.69,71. Mel Miller