  Laying to rest the idea of a pre-trib "rapture" Posted: Dec 1, 2003, 2:56 PM There are some matters of great import that need to be clearly explained. Read, test, and pray for understanding... Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other .
This is "The Day of the Lord"...after the tribulation. The Antichrist and all the military of the world will be gathered at Armageddon (see Isa 2:12, 13:6, 13:9, 34:8, Joel 1:15, 2:1, 3:14, Zeph 1:7, Zech 14:1, Jer 46:10, Ezek 13:5, 30:3, Ob 15, Mal 4:5, 1 cor 5:5, 2 cor 1:14, 1 thess 5:2, 2 pet 3:10) Compare these with: Matt 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27, Luke 21:25-28, Acts 2:19-21, 1 Thess 5:1-9, 2 peter 3:10-13, Rev 6:12, 8:12, 9:1-3, 11:15-19, 16:8-10, 16:17-21. 19:11-21 We are currently still in the "beginning of sorrows" described in Matthew 24:3-8 These sorrows may or may not (I believe it is likely with all things considered) coincide with the first 5 seals of revelation. I am also of the opinion that the trumpets and bowls run at the same time as they are nearly identical.
The 6th of each describe the euphrates and the army that crosses it. Cross reference this with the above "Day of the lord" references and with Ezek 38 and 39:1-16 as well as Dan 11:33-45 and Dan 12. Remember Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 “That which has been is what will be…” The 6th trumpet and bowl describe the army from the east coming to Armaggedon JUST PRIOR to “The Day of the Lord” or The 2nd coming. As for the sealed 144,000 of Revelation 7:1-8, these are Jews who become Christians during the tribulation, possibly because of the two witnesses. The “Church” as in the body of Christ is still on Earth (read Rev 7:9-17, 12:16). Read the references to being “sealed” or having the “seal” in: Romans 4:11, 15:27,28, 1 Cor 9:2, 2 Cor 1:20-22, Eph 1:13, 4:30, 2 Tim 2:19, Rev 7:3, 9:4. The seal is of our salvation through coming to Christ. I have been studying all these matters very diligently and hope that its seed bears some fruit with you. God Bless you all. http://jeremiah175.blogspot.com/ 
