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. 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. 32 Now learn  a parable  of  the  fig tree; When his branch is  yet  tender,  and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh: 33 So  likewise  ye,  when ye shall see all these things, know  that  it  is near, [even] at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

{The  fig  tree represents Israel which can only be  verified  by studying  Scriptures  relating to the  biblical  figtree.  "This generation" refers to the generation that is alive when Israel is reestablished.}

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not  pass away.  36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not  the angels  of heaven, but my Father only.37 But as the days  of  Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For  as in  the  days  that were before the flood they  were  eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered  into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came,  and took  them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son  of  man be.  40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall  be  taken, and the other left. 41 Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill;
the  one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch  therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know  this, that  if  the goodman of the house had known in  what  watch  the thief  would  come,  he would have watched, and  would  not  have suffered his house to be broken up.

{Who  is the goodman of the house? It can only be the  prince  of this world (see John 16:11) who guards this planet. He has  been judged but hasn't been removed yet. He is described in Ephesians 2:2  as the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that  now worketh  in the children of disobedience, dead in trespasses  and
sins, who want their planet to remain in tact as long as  humanly possible.}

44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as  ye  think not the Son of man cometh." (Matthew 24 AV)

This event describes the Rapture, which does not include a physical presence of Jesus. Luke 17 describes the day which is the day the Son of man is revealed in person.

30  "Even  thus  shall it be in the day when the Son  of  man  is revealed.  31 In that day, he which shall be upon  the  housetop, and  his  stuff in the house, let him not come down  to  take  it away:  and he that is in the field, let him likewise  not  return back. 32 Remember Lot's wife.

{The  biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah is in Genesis  18:20 "  ..  the Lord said, because the cry of Sodom  and  Gomorrah  is great, and because their sin is very grievous; .. 23 Abraham drew near,  and  said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous  with  the wicked?..  32  .. And he said, I will not destroy  it  for  ten's
sake.. 19:1.. there came two angels.. Lot told them about his two daughters and spoke to his sons in law, to get you up out of this place, and told that the Lord had sent the angels to destroy this city.  But he seemed as one that mocked. The angels urged Lot  to get his daughters and his wife 15 "Arise, take thy wife, and thy two  daughters,  which  are here; lest thou be  consumed  in  the iniquity of the city. 16 .. the Lord being merciful .. the angels brought  him forth.. and.. said, "Escape for thy life,  look  not behind  thee,  neither stay thou in all the plan; escape  to  the mountains  lest thou be consumed.. 24 the Lord rained upon  Sodom and  upon  Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the  Lord..  25..  he overthrew those cities.. 26 But his wife looked back from  behind him,  and  she became a pillar of salt.. 28.. the smoke  of  the country  went up as the smoke of a furnace... This is a description of Israel during the tribulation.}

33  Whosoever  shall  seek to save his life shall  lose  it;  and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

{Those who seek to save their lives will take the mark. Those who lose  their life in other words, those who are martyred  will  be saved.}

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 )

{Notice  here that it is night in some places and day in  others, in other words the event is global. When Scripture describes  the tribulation,  the Church, the Body of Christ is not mentioned  in the verses.}

In  Joel 3 we read: 12 "Let the heathen be wakened, and come  up to  the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge  all the heathen round about. 13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is  ripe:  come, get you down; for the press is  full,  the fats overflow; for their wickedness [is] great. 14 Multitudes,  multitudes  in  the valley of decision: for the day of the  LORD  [is] near in the valley of decision.

{Joel  describes  Gentiles (heathen nations)  preparing  for  war assembling themselves  in the valley of decision  (concision  or threshing).  Concision is described in Phillipians  3:2  (#2699) Beware of dogs, evil workers and the concision. They were destitute of the circumcision of the heart necessary for the quickening of the spirit and salvation.}

15  The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the  stars  shall withdraw their shining. 16 The LORD also shall roar out of  Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall  shake: but the LORD [will be] the hope of his people,  and the strength of the children of Israel.

{Note  that the Gospel is talking about the DAY OF THE  LORD  and His  bride the Church which is not included in that  affirmation. Why?  Because the Day of the Lord and the Day of Christ  are  two different events.}

17  So  shall ye know that I [am] the LORD your God  dwelling  in Zion,  my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and  there shall no strangers pass through her any more." (Joel 3)

Israel  including Jerusalem, will finally be totally in the  possession  of  the Israelis. James in his book  also  assured  and encouraged  the twelve tribes "Be ye also patient; stablish  your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." (James 5:8)

The  following verses cover a period to the end of  the  thousand year  millennium and  describe the meaning of "the  Day  of  the Lord", which is a period of a thousand years, not just one day as many  believe.  Here is the assurance that we can  safely  assume that.  2  Peter 3:8 "But, beloved, be not ignorant of  this  one
thing,  that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and  a thousand years as one day."

The  promise  of his coming when God will bless  his  people.  In Isaiah  30:19-26 the light of the sun shall be as the  light  of the  sun sevenfold, as the light of seven days, the day that  the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the  stroke of their wound. They shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem and weep no more..

The  Apostle Peter added more assurance: 4 And saying,  Where  is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things  continue as [they were] from the beginning of  the  creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the
water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was,  being overflowed  with  water,  perished: 7 But the  heavens  and  the earth,  which are now, by the same word are kept in  store,  reserved  unto  fire against the day of judgment and perdition  of ungodly men. 8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one  day [is]  with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years  as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as  some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that  any should perish, but that all should come to  repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;  in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements  shall  melt with fervent heat, the earth also  and  the works that are therein shall be burned up.

{Again this refers to the Day of the Lord. The world will not  be burned up until the end of the Millennium. Psalms 102:25-27,  "Of old  hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the  heavens are  the  work of thy hands. They shall perish,  but  thou  shalt endure:  yea,  all  of them shall wax old like a  garment;  as  a
vesture  shalt thou change them, and they shall be  changed:  But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.. " Rev  20:11 "And  I  saw a great white throne, and him that sat on  it,  from whose  face  the earth and the heaven fled away;  and  there  was found no place for them."}

11 [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the  day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

{As already mentioned, changing the moon to the magnitude of  the sun  and  the sun seven times hotter than it is  now,  one  could easily understand how the earth will be dissolved.}

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new  heavens  and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  14  Wherefore,  beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be  diligent that  ye may be found of him in peace, without spot,  and  blameless.  15 And account [that] the longsuffering of our  Lord  [is]
salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom  given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also  in  all [his]  epistles, speaking in them of these things; in  which  are some things hard to be understood, which they that are  unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures,  unto
their own destruction.

{That  ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and  blameless,  sounds like an unreachable goal that God hath set for  us. Jesus told us that his yoke is easy. Ref. 1 Cor. 1:8,9 "Who shall also  confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless  in  the day  of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom  ye  were
called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."}

{"And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end he  may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before  God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with  all his saints." (1Thess. 3:13) This verse has to relate to the first resurrection  / rapture, because Paul is teaching Gentiles  about Christ's return. God expects of us is to love our fellow man  or woman so he or she can learn the truth and be set free and attain eternal life in Christ as well.}

17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things]  before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall  from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and  [in] the  knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him  [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3)

28  "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he  shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him  at his  coming.  29 If ye know that he is righteous,  ye  know  that every  one  that  doeth righteousness is born of  him."  (1  John 2:28,29)

1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon  us, that  we  should be called the sons of God: therefore  the  world knoweth  us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now  are  we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for  we
shall  see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this  hope  in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifest
ed  to  take  away our sins; and in him is no  sin.  6  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen  him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you:  he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil  sinneth
from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever  is born  of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in  him: and  he  cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10  In  this  the children  of  God are manifest, and the children  of  the  devil:
whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." (1 John 2,3)

{The  tribulation  referred  to in the following  verses  is  the advent of the Antichrist taking over the third temple in  Jerusalem  and the war on the saints who don't take the Mark.  The  ten virgins  refer to the Church of which five have gone to  be  with Jesus, notice past tense at that point. Those who do not have oil
in their lamps are the Jews who are sleeping. The Church is  made up of believers, Jews and Gentiles.}

27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.  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:... 45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his  lord  hath made  ruler over his household, to give them meat in due  season? 46 Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh  shall find  so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make  him ruler  over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant  shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin
to  smite  [his] fellow servants, and to eat and drink  with  the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when  he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

1  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten  virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  2 And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. 3 They  that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While  the
bridegroom  tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at  midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go  ye out  to  meet him. 7 Then all those virgins  arose,  and  trimmed their  lamps.  

8  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your  oil;  for our  lamps  are gone out. 9 But the wise answered,  saying,  [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them  that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to  buy, the bridegroom came; they that were ready went  in  with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11  Afterward  came also the other virgins, saying,  Lord,  Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Matthew 24,25)

{Notice  what we just read. The five virgins who  left  represent the Rapture which happens prior to Jesus's second coming.  Isaiah points to the Church as the body of Christ}

18 "Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these  gather themselves together, [and] come to thee. [As] I live, saith  the LORD,  thou  shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as  with  an ornament,  and bind them [on thee], as a bride [doeth]."  (Isaiah 49:18) 5 "For [as] a young man marrieth a virgin, [so] shall  thy
sons  marry  thee:  and [as] the bridegroom  rejoiceth  over  the bride, [so] shall thy God rejoice over thee." (Isaiah 62:5)

2  "For  I am jealous over you with godly jealousy:  for  I  have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:2)

 
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how  say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13  But if  there  be  no resurrection of the dead, then  is  Christ  not risen:  14  And if Christ be not risen, then [is]  our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we  have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if  so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead  rise  not,
then  is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised,  your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most  miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead,  [and] become  the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since  by  man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For  as  in  Adam all die, even so in Christ shall  all  be  made
alive.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward  they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then [cometh]  the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;  when he shall have put down all rule and  all authority and  power.  25 For he must reign, till he hath put  all  enemies
under his feet.

26 The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all  things are  put under [him, it is] manifest that he is  excepted,  which did  put  all things under him. 28 And when all things  shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him  that put all things under him, that God may be all in  all." (1Corinthians 15)

{The  Apostle Paul establishes in the following verses  that  the church  will be raptured prior to the appearance of Jesus  Christ to  the  Jews in the latter part of the tribulation  because  the saints come with him from heaven.}

23  "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and  [I  pray God]  your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved  blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Sanctification is necessary on our part, after we were  justified by  Jesus Christ crucified. He was the Lamb of God who laid  down his life to cover our sins. Jesus said in John 17:19-22 "And  for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth {Bible study} . Neither pray I for these alone, but  for them also which shall believe on me through their  word; that  they {believers} all may one; as thou, Father, art  in  me, and  I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that  the  world may  believe  that thou hast sent me. And the  glory  which  thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect  in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved  them,  as thou hast loved me." Jesus is the Word  and  the Word has to be in us to be one with Him.

Paul  said in 1 Corinthians 6:6-11 "But brother goes to law  with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there  is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with  another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather  suffer yourselves  to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and  defraud,  and
that  your brethren. Know ye not that the unrighteous  shall  not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor  idolaters,  nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor  abusers  of themselves  with mankind. Nor thieves, nor covetous,  nor  drunkards,  nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye  are
sanctified,  but ye are justified in the name of the Lord  Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

19 For what [is] our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?  [Are] not  even  ye  in the presence of our Lord Jesus  Christ  at  his coming?  (1 Thessalonians 2:19) Paul tells us believers  that  we are  the saints who come back with Jesus. Even the Old Testament prophet Enoch predicted the Rapture:

14  "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of  these, saying  , Behold,  the Lord cometh with  ten  thousands  of  his saints,  to execute judgment upon all, and to convince  all  that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly  committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (Jude 1:14,15)

Since  many conversions will take place during  the  tribulation, the Holy Spirit will not be removed. What remains of God, but the body  of Christ Jesus which is the Church. It will be removed  at the onset of the tribulation.

7 "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord  Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In  flaming  fire  taking vengeance on them that know not God,  and  that obey  not  the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9  Who  shall  be punished  with everlasting destruction from the presence of  the Lord,  and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come  to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all  them  that believe  (because our testimony among you was believed)  in  that day.

11  Wherefore  also we pray always for you, that  our  God  would count  you  worthy of [this] calling, and fulfill  all  the  good pleasure of [his] goodness, and the work of faith with power:  12 That  the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in  you, and  ye  in him, according to the grace of our God and  the  Lord
Jesus Christ.

1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord  Jesus Christ,  and [by] our gathering together unto him, 2 That  ye  be not  soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit,  nor by  word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ  is at  hand.  3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for  [that  day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth  and exalteth  himself above all that is called God, or that  is  worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,  shewing himself that he is God.

5  Remember  ye not, that, when I was yet with you,  I  told  you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth  already work:  only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken  out of  the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed,  whom  the
Lord  shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and  shall  destroy with the brightness of his coming:

9 [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for  this cause  God  shall  send them strong delusion,  that  they  should
believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed  not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 1,2)

There  is proof of the disappearance of the bride and the  bridegroom in Jeremiah: 34 "Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of  mirth, and  the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and  the voice  of the bride: for the land shall be  desolate." (Jeremiah 7:34, see also Jeremiah 16:9, 25:10)

Paul  separates the unbelieving Jews from the  Gentiles  pointing out  the Gentile's plan is not the same as the Jews'. He  alludes to  the parable of the ten virgins here: 6 "Therefore let us  not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober." (1 Thessalonians 5:6)

He  addresses believers: ".. Why stand ye gazing up into  heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come  in like manner as ye have seen him go into  heaven."  (Acts 1:11) "For they.. show us what manner of entering in we had  unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living  and true  God;  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 Thess 1:10)

Can  the  Apostle Paul be any plainer, that notions such  as  mid tribulation  and post tribulation Rapture have no place  in  the Gospel.

Next  the Apostle Paul distinguishes between the Day of the  Lord and  the Day of Christ: 1 "Now we beseech you, brethren,  by  the coming  of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our  gathering  together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled .. that the Day of Christ is at hand." (2 Thess 2:1,2) 19 "For what is  our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even  ye  in the  presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20  For  ye are our glory and joy." (1 Thess 2:19,20)

Christ's  Return  for believers is the Day of Christ: 13  "But  I would  not  have you to be ignorant,  brethren,  concerning  them which  are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which  have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so  them also which sleep in Jesus {those who have died  in  him}
will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the  word of  the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the  coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a  shout, with  the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:  and the  dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are  alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
(1 Thess 4:13-17)

Again reassurance to the believer from Paul: 9 "For God hath  not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord  Jesus Christ.,  10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep,  we should  live together with him." (1 Thess 5:9,10) Again the  time element mentioned "wake or sleep" indicates a worldwide event.

The Day  of the Lord signified judgment for Israel  in  the  Old Testament: (see Isa 2:12-24; Ezek 13:5; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11;  Zeph 1:14;  Zech 13:1): 2 "For yourselves know perfectly that the  day of  the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For  when  they shall say Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh  upon them  as  travail  upon a woman with child; and  they  shall  not escape." (1 Thess 5:2,3)

Revelation addresses not a meeting in the clouds but a  physical appearance of Christ Jesus: 7 "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, sayth the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Rev 1:7,8)

12 "Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness [is] great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD [will be] the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 17 So shall ye know that I [am] the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall no strangers pass through her any more." (Joel 3)

Moses blessed the children of Israel before his death with this blessing, promising help for Israel from Jesus himself accompanied by his saints: 2 "The Lord.. shineth forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them." (Deut 33:2) 1 "Behold the day of the Lord cometh.. I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle.. those nations. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations.. And the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee." (Zech 14.1..5) The final battle takes place simultaneous with the conclusion of the First Resurrection.

1"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be filled; and after that he must be loosed a little season.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

{Taking God's time frame into consideration, a thousand years is one, the first resurrection began with Christ's and ended just before Armageddon. Many are saved during the tribulation including the two witnesses which are murdered, resurrected and translated in the middle of the tribulation.}

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Rev 20)

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." (Rev 21:7) This Scripture includes Israel. Jeremiah prophesied that Jesus is married to backslidden Israel as well as the church.

11"And the Lord said unto me,.. 12 ..Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep my anger forever. 13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. 14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married to you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:..

16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more. 17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of the evil heart." (Jeremiah 3)

Not until after the First Resurrection culminates is the bride of Christ complete.

7 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." (Rev 19:7) 9 "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (Rev 21:9) 17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev22:17)

12 "And,, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Rev 22)