End Times Commentary #7:
Why is there is a "Pre-Trib Rapture,"and a "Mid-Trib Gathering?"
Imminency Verses Defends A Pre-Tribulation Rapture:
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" (Titus 2:13).
"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Matthew 25:13).
"Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (Luke 12:40).
The Pre-Trib Rapture is new mystery revealed by Paul:
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed," (1 Corinthians 15:51).
Jesus says we can watch & pray so we can escape all these things (tribulation things) that He just mentioned beforehand in Luke 21:
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36).
What things shall we escape if we watch and pray?
War:
"Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom"
(Luke 21:10).
Compare that with:
Revelation 6:4 that says,
"...and
power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another..."
Earthquakes:
"And great earthquakes..."
(Luke 21:11).
Compare that with:
Revelation 6:12 that says,
"...and, lo, there was a great earthquake;"
Revelation 8:5 says,
"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."
Famines:
"...and famines..." (Luke 21:11).
Compare that with:
Revelation 6:5-6 that says,
"And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and
see thou hurt not the oil and the wine."
God's People are not Appointed Unto Wrath:
(This means that faithful believers will not go through God's Wrath;
So both Pre-Trib believers and Mid-Trib believers will be protected from God's Wrath that is to come upon this world).
"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
The Wrath begins with the beginning of the 1st Trumpet Judgment and ends in Revelation 15:1. Note: Ezekiel 13:11-13 alludes to God's wrath being tied with hailstones (Which is what we see as the start of God's wrath in the 70th week of Daniel). The day of God's wrath is a synonym for the Day of the Lord, which according to Joel 2:31, begins after the 6th seal. The unbelieving Gentiles crying that "the day of His wrath has come" (in Revelation 6) are referring to a future imminent event (i.e. the 1st trumpet judgment).
For the Elect's Sake The Great Tribulation Days Will Be Shortened:
(This fits the Mid Tribulation Saint being gathered up by angels before God pours out his wrath upon the world):
21 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:21-22).
In the Midpoint of the Tribulation (Luke 21:20-27), believers are told to look up, for their redemption draws near: (This fits the Mid Tribulation Saint being gathered by angels before God pour out his wrath upon the world):
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:28).
One in a is taken, and other is left is mentioned as happening within the Middle of the Tribulation (Luke 17:31-33 cf. Matthew 24:15-18):
34 "I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left." (Luke 17:34-36).
There are Two Calls:
The Pre-Trib Rapture Call:
(The Call to Marriage):
"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." (Matthew 25:10).
The Mid-Trib Gathering Call:
(The Call To Invite More After the Wedding Ceremony Takes Place):
"And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." (Luke 12:36).
Important Note:
In Revelation 19, the body of believers are already called as Christ's bride or wife. It is a continuation of the wedding. Revelation 19 says the wedding is come. The wedding has now come to the world with a metaphorical wedding supper representing a real literal battle upon the Earth (i.e. Christ's 2nd Coming).