The Return of Christ (Part 4 of a 5-Part Series) The Rapture of the Church

Transcription

1 The Return of Christ (Part 4 of a 5-Part Series) The Rapture of the Church Slide 1 Title: As stated in the last of this teaching series on The Return of Christ The Tribulation, the closely-related topic is the Rapture of the Church. In contrast to our review of the Tribulation, which some told me that it was a bit of a downer, though something we need to hear and understand, today s review of the Rapture of the Church should be an upper for those of us placing our faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ! Although some have argued that the term rapture does not appear in Scriptures, the Geek word for rapture is translated as caught up, and in the Latin Vulgate Bible it is translated as rapturô, from which we do get the word rapture. Most biblical scholars today believe that the Rapture refers to the premillennial time at which Christ calls His Church (believers) into Heaven. The main question about the Rapture, on which disagreement remains among Biblical scholars and students of the end-time events of Christ s return, is that of WHEN will the Church be raptured: before, during, or after the Tribulation. Slide 2: The Pre-Tribulation and Mid-Tribulation Rapture views suggest that Christ will come for His Church either before the beginning of the

2 seven-year tribulation period, or during it, respectively. If during, perhaps He will come at the important midpoint of three-and-a-half years, after what some believe to be the period of, in the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:8 the beginning of birth pains and before the beginning of what He calls the great tribulation (verse 21) that will follow, in which Antichrist begins his own self-exaltation. Then, after all the events of the tribulation period, Christ will come with His Church to reign for one-thousand years (the time period referred to as the Millennium ). The opposing view of a Post-Tribulation Rapture suggests that Christ will come to gather His Church only after all the events of the sevenyear tribulational period, and that the Church will be on earth to experience the events of that time of God s wrath poured out upon the earth. Slide 3: A common thread among all three views is that Christ will come to gather His Church unexpectedly, calling all believers to Himself, and they will be taken caught up ( rapturô ) into Heaven: For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thes 4:16-17 NIV, emphasis added). It is important to understand that from the viewpoint of pre- and midtribulationalism, an appearance of Christ to rapture His Church is added before His final coming at the end of the Tribulation. This viewpoint contends that Christ will not come to earth, but will remain in the clouds and that His saints will be caught up (raptured) with Him 2

3 there and thereby removed from the earth. Then later, Christ will physically return to earth in His glorified body with these raptured saints in their glorified bodies after the tribulation period to reign with them for one-thousand years. Pre- and mid-tribulationalists further contend that during the final 7- year tribulation period on earth, from which they believe that the Church has been removed or raptured, the Church will be held in heaven with individual believers standing before God s judgment seat as described by the Apostle Paul in Romans 14:10-12 and 2 Corinthians 5:10. This judgment is not for punishment, though, but rather to receive their rewards for how they lived their lives on earth in Christ s service. They will then join Christ to reign with Him when He returns with them to earth after the tribulation period. Slide 4: The historical view of the Church is that of the Post-Tribulation Rapture, which holds that Christ comes only once to call His Church after the tribulation period, immediately prior to the Millennium and His reign on earth with His saints. This positional view is based primarily on Jesus statement in Matthew 24:29-31, Immediately after the distress [tribulation NKJ] of those days they will see the Son of Man coming, with power and great glory and they [the angels] will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (NIV emphasis added). Posttribulationalists contend that the idea of a pre- or mid-tribulational rapture of the Church into heaven is not valid because it became popular only late in Church history, just in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. 3

4 Before my own study of these events, I had no foundation for a personal commitment to either a Pre-Tribulation or Post-Tribulation Rapture of the Church because I had not yet taken the time to investigate what God s word says about it all. Admittedly, I liked the idea of a pretribulation rapture because it was what I wanted to hear, hoping not to have to experience the events of the Tribulation should that time come in my lifetime! I believe that the Holy Spirit set on my heart a desire to better understand these events so that I might help others to understand them as well, so I began my study by reading what became to be a very good and logical scriptural support for the position of a Posttribulation Rapture. That reading convinced me so, that my thinking shifted toward that position for a while as I summarized this position for myself. Then, I read an equally good and logical scriptural argument that supported the position for a Pretribulation Rapture, and I saw how that position could also be the answer! So, I was back to a prayerful consideration of trying to determine which position is the more consistent with the whole of Scripture, and why? Slide 5: Not at all to discount the conviction of others, in my own assessment of what is presented by the several authors of the study references with their scriptural arguments that I have used for this summary, representing logical presentations of both views, it appears to me, that the pretribulation rapture of the Church seems to be favored by Scripture. Although there is disagreement within the Church, I believe that there is a strong argument that it is best to conclude that the Church will not be subject to the demonstration of the wrath of God during the 4

5 tribulation times. Therefore, I now have a committed believe based on Scripture that the Church of New Testament believers will be taken away from earth before the unprecedented events of the Tribulation occur. The Tribulation, as we reviewed last month, is intentionally targeted at the still unbelieving Nation of Israel as well as other unbelievers of that time. I believe Scriptures support the view that the Church of New Testament believers is taken out of the world before this prophesied seven-year tribulation period of unprecedented trials of judgment intended for the Nation of Israel, the Jewish people to whom God initially entrusted the stewardship of His Law and promised to bring back to Himself, but who rejected Him. Because the New Testament Church already recognizes Christ as her Messiah and the Nation of Israel does not, this view considers that the Tribulation will be the time for Israel to finally recognize Christ as her Messiah as well. As we considered last month in our review of the events of the tribulation period, the intended result of the unprecedented trials during this time will be a widespread conversion of the Nation of Israel, and they will be saved as prophesied in Jeremiah 30:7; and then the end will come as spoken by Jesus in Matthew 24:14, and He will physically come to earth to stay and to reign. Because this view contends that Christ s rapture of the Church will precede the unprecedented events of the Tribulation, it equally holds that He could return unexpectedly at any moment, at an hour you do not expect according to Jesus in Matthew 24:44, as we have already reviewed in the last message of this this teaching series. 5

6 Arguments that separate a pre-tribulational timing from a midtribulational timing are in when God s wrath on the unbelievers is actually manifested. The pre -tribulationist s view contends that the outpouring of God s wrath begins at the beginning of the seven-year tribulation period with all the events being progressively intensified from those that are already occurring today. The mid tribulationist s view contends that the first half of the seven-year tribulation period is just a continuation of currently-occurring events of false prophets, wars, famines and earthquakes, and that Christ will call His church to Himself in the middle of this overall 7-year period before what becomes the significant outpouring of God s wrath during the second half of this period, which Jesus called the great tribulation in Matthew 24:21. It seems to me that Scriptures favor the position that the Church will be spared experiencing any of God s impending unprecedented demonstration of His wrath and will be raptured with the onset of the seven-year Tribulation the pre -tribulationist s view. Slide 6: Further arguments that support the pretribulational view of the rapture of the Church are several, beginning with: 1. The word church is used by John in Revelation multiple times both before and after the Tribulation, but never during the tribulation period itself, as described in Revelation chapters Nowhere during the entire tribulation period is there any mention about the Church being present on earth. 6

7 Slide 7: Another argument is that: 2. Tribulation references to earthly believers do not seem to be about the Church, but about the 144,000 Jewish converts from the twelve tribes of Israel described in Revelation 7:4-8. They are the Jews that first recognize Christ as Messiah and evangelize others to that same understanding during the tribulation period. They, along with those whom they bring to Christ through their evangelism during the Tribulation, appear to be among the tribulation saints. Slide 8: A third argument is that: 3. Pretribulationalists contend that God s promise to the church of Philadelphia to keep them from the hour of trial in Revelation 3:10, that is believed to be in reference to the tribulation period, is for the entire Church: Since you have kept my commandment to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. (NIV, emphasis added) Posttribulationalists, however, argue that this promise was made only to the Philadelphia church, and that it does not imply their rapture; but instead, that they will be kept faithful and guarded from being harmed during that trial period. 7

8 Pretribulationalists counter, though, that God did not promise to keep the Philadelphia church through the hour by giving them strength to endure as posttribulationalists suggest, but instead from the hour; and the only way to do that is to not have them be a part of that hour. Just a few verses later God spoke to the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:15-16, warning them that they were neither cold nor hot So because [they] are lukewarm neither hot nor cold [He is] about to spit [them] out of [His] mouth (NIV). So, just as these familiar but unpopular words about being lukewarm are considered to be for the entire church and not just the church at Laodicea, so the promise to the church of Philadelphia about being kept from the hour of trial equally should be considered to be for the entire church. Further, just as Christ s specific instructions to His disciples (e.g., the Great Commission) and the teachings of the various authors of the New Testament to the specific recipients of their letters (e.g., Paul s letters to the Corinthians and to Timothy, the book of Hebrews to the Hebrew Christians, and Peter s and James letters to the Jewish Christians scattered in Gentile communities) are considered to be for all believers, so should this promise to the church of Philadelphia be considered to be for all believers. Slide 9: A fourth argument for a pretribulation rapture of the Church, which is related to God s purpose of the Tribulation, is that: 4. Because Christ has already paid the price of punishment for the sins of those who believe in Him, and has already experienced God s wrath on the behalf of those believers, it does not seem consistent with God s character for the Church to be on earth at 8

9 Slide 10: the time that He is pouring out His wrath on all the earth. Scripture clearly describes the entire tribulation period as a time of intense suffering and hardship for all who are on the earth at that time, and the Tribulation is characterized by God s wrath which persistently intensifies. As we reviewed last month in our consideration of the Tribulation, the Tribulation is a time intended for Israel that will prepare her to receive her Messiah: to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophesy and to anoint the most holy. (Dan 9:24 NIV, emphasis added) Since the Tribulation is Israel s seventieth week as described in Daniel 9:27, which is decreed upon Israel a few verses earlier in Daniel 9:24, there is no reason that the Church should be included, because these prophesies are for Israel, not for the New Testament Church. Slide 11: Then, as Paul encouraged his readers, believers will be saved from God s wrath: For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath [not to pour out His anger on us NLT] but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thes 5:9 NIV). So, considering the whole of Scripture, it seems that Jesus Christ will rescue His Church from the coming wrath of God, because the 9

10 Tribulation is intended as a time for God s wrath on the Nation of Israel and other unbelievers at that time, not a time to punish believers since Christ has already borne His wrath for them. Slide 12: A fifth argument, which is closely related to the previous argument, is that: 5. God s divine pattern is not to judge the righteous with the wicked; so accordingly, it would seem consistent with His divine pattern that the Church will be removed before the events of the great tribulation, or the great distress, or the anguish, as Matthew 24:21 is variously translated in the NKJ, NIV and NLT Bible versions, respectively, or the great persecution, as Luke 21:12 is translated in the NLT Bible version. All these descriptors clearly depict a time of judgment on the wicked, which is specifically targeted toward Israel for her continued unbelief. Although believers today unfortunately experience collateral damage from the evil actions of unbelievers in this fallen world (e.g., child abuse, murder, wars, terrorism, etc.), it has been God s practice from the beginning to not judge believers with unbelievers. Slide 13: For example, in God s judgment of Sodom, Abraham pleaded for God s righteousness: Far be it from You to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from You. Will not the Judge of the world do right? (Gen 18:25 NIV). 10

11 So, God spared Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom, as He spared Noah and His family earlier in Genesis chapters 7-9 from the destruction of the wicked world of his day. Similarly, God did not destroy the faithful Israelites with unbelievers, but preserved Joshua, Caleb and the younger generation who had not been part of the rebellion against Him during the 40 years of wandering in the desert as described in Numbers chapter 14. Likewise, Moses and the faithful were saved when Korah and his followers were swallowed up in judgment as shown in Numbers chapter 16. Also, consider the Passover when the first-borne of God s people were spared, while those of unbelieving Egypt were killed. Therefore, it would be contrary to God s pattern throughout Scripture to judge the Church of New Testament believers with unbelieving Israel and other nonbelievers during the tribulation period, because Christ has already borne God s wrath for believers (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 3:18), and it seems to be His promise that they will not have to endure His wrath during the Tribulation. Remember, Paul told the Thessalonians that, Slide 14: God did not appoint us to suffer wrath (1 Thes 5:9, NIV emphasis added). A sixth argument is in regard to the coming of Christ twice, first to call His Church to Himself, and second to return with His Church to reign over the earth: 6. Posttribulationists contend that there is no scriptural reference to Christ coming twice. They argue that the pre- and mid- 11

12 tribulationists position of Christ coming once for His Church and a second time to reign is not a clear interpretation of being caught up in 1 Thessalonians 4: Although their argument as to any reference of Christ s coming twice is well taken, when Christ comes in Revelation 19, there is no reference to a call for His Church. So, the being caught up described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 does not appear to be a part of Christ s return to reign at the end of the Tribulation, as described in Matthew 24 and 25 and in Revelation 19. Rather, in light of the previous arguments, His call for His Church appears to be before the events of the Tribulation. The defending Scripture for posttribulationists in Matthew 24:29-31, that the angels...will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other would seem better to be a reference to His gathering of His Church together that He had already caught up prior to the Tribulation. Slide 15: It seems to be more consistent with God s nature, and therefore a better understanding of these and other passages, that the saints of Christ s Church are taken away (raptured) to be with Christ before God s wrath that is to occur during the Tribulation I will come back and take you with me that you will also be where I am. (John 14:3 NIV, emphasis added) and then, afterward, to be brought back with Christ to reign with Him at the end of the Tribulation: See the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones [the glorified Church] to judge everyone, and to convict 12

13 Slide 16: all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. (Jude 14 NIV, emphasis added). A seventh argument is that: 7. Because the Holy Spirit indwells believers, when the believers are raptured either before or during the Tribulation and taken away from earth, so is the influence of the Holy Spirit through those believers taken away. The Holy Spirit currently is restraining evil in the world. When He is taken away with the indwelt believers, there will be a much lesser degree of His restraining power on earth, and evil will be more free to run rampant than ever before, until the end. Slide 17: Paul told the Thessalonians that, the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the One [Holy Spirit] who now holds it back will continue to do so till He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one [Antichrist] will be revealed with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thes 2:7-10 NIV, emphasis added). 13

14 Slide 18: An eighth argument in favor of a pretribulation rapture of the Church is that: 8. Opponents of pretribulationalism argue that the concept is false because of the apparent lateness of its espousal in church history, suggesting that the concept did not arise until the late 1700 s or early 1800 s and was not popularized until the 19th century. However, lateness does not dispel truthfulness, for even the Protestant Reformation during the 1500 s, from which most or all of us here today have our basic foundational protestant beliefs, came hundreds of years past the time of the early church. Besides that, pretribulationalism teaching has been found to have existed even in the fourth century in that of Ephraem of Syria ( ). Slide 19: And, a final argument for a pretribulation rapture of the Church is that: 9. As far as any visible indication that man will see, the rapture before the Tribulation is a sign-less and imminent event that can happen at any moment to which numerous passages attest. Nothing needs to be fulfilled before it occurs. As Scriptures clearly attest, Christ will come unexpectedly to call His Church without warning of preceding events! 14

15 Slide 20: Let me now summarize what we have seen to date in this teaching series on the Return of Christ. I have developed a couple of schematic flow charts of the events surrounding Christ s return, of which I have copies with me should anyone be interested. A discussion of these flow charts is a complete message in itself, perhaps for another time. In these flow charts, I offer a suggested chronology of events that describe a Pretribulation Rapture of the Church and a Premillennial Return of Christ. Slide 21: I show one of the two flow charts here in case you might be interested in it for yourselves. I don t intend to go through it all today we would be here for another hour, and you can t read it from most parts of this room anyway. But let me just highlight some things that are included in this chart of what we have learned in this teaching series to date. I will include a similar, more descriptive chart at the end of my sermon notes that will be posted with the audio of this message on the Crossroads Christian Fellowship website. Slide 22: DEATH is the separation of our bodies from our souls/spirits, and is the end of our mortal life on earth. We die as one of only two types of people: believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, or unbelievers. Upon death, the souls/spirits of dead believers begin an eternal fellowship with God. In contrast, the souls/spirits of dead unbelievers begin eternal anguish. 15

16 Slide 23: As I have tried to show today, it seems consistent with the whole of Scripture that the Church will not experience God s wrath intended for the tribulation period, but instead be caught up in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture before the onslaught of His wrath, in order that the righteous are not judged with the wicked. In this rapture, the dead in Christ will rise first followed by the living believers at the time (1 Thes 4:16-17). Upon their rapture, the souls/spirits of the dead in Christ are reunited with their bodies, and together with the raptured living believers, ALL will be glorified and given their eternal resurrection bodies. While the raptured believers are away from the earth during the tribulation period, it is believed by many that they will stand before the judgment seat of God, not in condemnation, though, because Christ has already paid their death penalty for their sins, but instead to receive their promised rewards for the fruits of their lifetime on earth. These glorified, immortal saints will return to earth with Christ at the culmination of the tribulation period and reign with Him during the Millennium. Slide 24: For the living unbelievers left behind at the Rapture, including the unbelieving Nation of Israel, Scriptures describe the events of the final seven-year period of this age as that being decreed upon the Nation of Israel long ago, to put an end to sin, to bring everlasting righteousness, and to anoint the Most Holy (Dan 9:24 NKJ), Jesus Christ as Messiah. These final seven years for Israel s atonement is called the great tribulation, the great distress, and the anguish in Matthew 24:21 16

17 in the NKJ, NIV and NLT translations, respectively, as well as the great persecution in Luke 21:12 (NLT). The Tribulation (the green box in this schematic) will be a time in which the unbelieving Nation of Israel, along with all other non-believers living at the time, will suffer an unprecedented time of God s wrath for their unbelief in His Son as the Messiah. The time is decreed that the Nation of Israel will be subjected to a period of trouble and purification to convince and prepare her to receive her Messiah (Zech 12:10; Rev 11:25). Many will die during the Tribulation (the box marked DEATH to the left). A great number will have come to Christ (the blue boxes below DEATH), putting their trust in Him, and will either perish as believers in the destructive events of the time or be martyred as believers for their faith. But, an even greater number, though, will remain unbelievers, and will die as such (the dead-end red box above DEATH). The believers who either died during the events of the tribulation period or were martyred for their faith in Christ will be glorified with their immortal resurrection bodies and receive their judgment rewards. Then along with the mortal surviving believers of the Tribulation, they will enter together into the Millennium to reign with Christ. Sometime before the end of the tribulation period, the 144,000 Jewish converts, along with the two witnesses in Jerusalem during the last 3 ½ years, will evangelize the world. The still unbelieving Nation of Israel will be pushed to her limits before she will finally nationally recognize and trust Jesus Christ as her long-awaited Messiah. As a result, there will be many believers by the end of the tribulation period, both Gentile and Jew. 17

18 In an ultimate sign of defiance against God and the Nation of Israel, Antichrist will sit in the temple and claim himself to be God, an abomination that causes desolation (Dan 9:27; Matt 24:15), which will soon usher in the return of Christ with His Church, signaling the end of this age. As a prelude to the 5 th and final part of this teaching series on the Return of Christ in a couple of months, God willing, entitled the The Seventh Seal The Seven Trumpets and the Seven Bowl Judgments, the 6 th Trumpet with the 6 th Bowl Judgment will release two hundred million troops that will cross over the Euphrates River and descend upon Jerusalem. These are Satan s armies that will surround and capture Jerusalem as described in Zechariah 12:1-3 and 14:1-2. In a final battle of Satan s evil army against God s people, one-third of mankind will be killed as revealed in Revelation 9:13-19 and 16: But, the pouring out of the 7 th and final Bowl Judgment of lightening, thunder, and the worst earthquake ever, along with the collapse of cities and nations, and a plague of huge hailstones falling on men as described in Revelation 16:16-17, will signal an end to it all. According to Revelation 16:15-17, at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon out of the temple [will come] a loud voice from the throne, saying, It is done! (NIV), and Christ will physically come and miraculously intervene and destroy Satan s great army of unbelievers, and save Jerusalem as shown in Zechariah 12:4-8. Satan s entire army of unbelievers will be killed by the sword according to Revelation 20:21, indicating that ALL roads for ALL unbelievers lead to DEATH. Antichrist (the Beast) and the False Prophet will be overthrown and cast into the lake of burning sulfur to be tormented forever, as described in Revelation 19:20. 18

19 In the next and final part of this 5-part teaching series, God willing, I will review the event of Christ s actual return to earth to reign and those events that will follow. In conclusion, regardless of your belief in a Pre-Tribulation or Post- Tribulation rapture of believers (the Church) from the positions proposed today, the exact time of Christ s return is known only by God. But Scripture is clear that Christ s return will happen at any moment without any warning signs, at an hour we do not expect, and accordingly, we must not be caught off guard, but instead keep watch and be ready. What we do know for sure of His return is that His physical coming to reign will be indisputable when it happens, known simultaneously over all the earth, by the incredible events unfolding in the sky! Slide 25: So, let us conclude with a prayer in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 21:34-36, Be careful [take heed to yourselves NKJ], or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you [come on you unexpectedly NKJ; catch you unaware NLT] suddenly like a trap. For it will come [as a snare NKJ] on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on watch [keep alert at all times NLT], and pray that you may be able [be counted worthy NKJ] to escape all that is about to happen [these coming horrors NLT], and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. (NIV, emphasis added) Amen! 19

20 Benediction: THE MESSAGE TODAY OF THE EVENTS REGARDING THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH ARE NOT JUST A STORY OF EVENTS TO JUST LISTEN TO BUT NOT PAY ATTENTION! He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says, repeated 7 times in Revelation 2 & 3 to the 7 churches (Rev 2:7, 11, 17 & 29; Rev 3:6, 13 & 22). I am currently reading through the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. As I was in Jeremiah 34, thoughts for a benediction for today s message came to mind. From Jeremiah 34:8-11, we read that the people had made a covenant with God to free their slaves and no longer hold them in bondage They agreed, and set them free (v. 10). But afterward they changed their minds and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again (v. 11, emphasis added). In verses 15-17, God responded to their actions by saying to them: Recently you repented and did what is right in My sight: Each of you proclaimed freedom to his countrymen. You even made a covenant before Me But now you have turned around and profaned My Name; each of you has taken back the slaves you had set free You have forced them to become your slaves again So I now proclaim freedom for you freedom to fall by the sword, plague and famine (emphasis added) Now reading from the study notes corresponding to these verses from the Life Application Study Bible as they may relate to us today with regard to Christ s imminent Rapture of His Church and the events of the final 7-year Tribulation that will usher in Christ s millennial reign on earth: 20

21 The people of Israel had a hard time keeping their promises to God. In the temple, they would solemnly promise to obey Him, but back in their homes and at work they wouldn t do it. God expressed His great displeasure. [I encourage you to read the entire book of Jeremiah to see how this unfolds.] If you want to please God, make sure you keep your promises. God wants promises lived out, not just piously made (emphasis added). So, let us live the rest of our lives from this time forward, keeping our promises made to God, knowing that Christ may come at any moment, that we may be counted worthy to escape all that is about to happen May we all have a glorious week in the Lord. 21

22 Believers in Christ HUMANITY S ROADMAP Unbelievers Death (separation of body & soul/spirit) Instantaneously believers souls/spirits begin eternal fellowship with God Instantaneously unbeliever s souls/spirits begin eternal anguish 1 st Resurrection Pretribulation Rapture (all believers of all times caught up in the air with Christ the dead in Christ first then those living, are removed from the earth and ushered into the presence of God) Glorification (souls/spirits of raptured saints are reunited with their bodies, and along with the living saints, all are given eternal Resurrection Bodies) Goats The Tribulation (unbelievers & Nation of Israel; the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel saved along with other tribulational converts; ALL judgments of Revelation dispensed; Christ returns to defeat Satan at the Battle of Armageddon; Antichrist & False Profit overthrown and cast into the lake of burning sulfur ; Israel restored and God s covenants fulfilled) Sheep (mortal saints) Death 2 nd Resurrection Believers Judgement for Reward Immortal Saints Unbelieving Children Satan s Army Millennium (righteous reign of Christ with His Church & tribulational saints over mortal believing tribulational survivors; time of peace throughout the world; Satan imprisoned in the bottomless pit until the thousand years are ended) Post Millennium (Satan released & gathers an army of unbelievers for an assult against God s people, but without even a battle, the entire army is consumed by fire from heaven; Satan cast into the lake of burning sulfur along with death; unbelievers bodies are resurrected (the second resurrection ), reunited with their souls/spirits, then judged and condemned to eternal punishment in the lake of burning sulfur the second death ; believers ushered into the eternal New Heaven & New Earth with God, free from the effects of sin) 22