Which One Occurs First?

You may ask, which one occurs first, the catching up (1 Th 4:16-17), what we call the Rapture (Latin: rapiemur), which is the resurrection of the Saints, or the Great Tribulation?

Let us see what the Bible shows. Click here to go to the first things to occur!

After [Post] the Tribulation

Matthew 24:29 KJV

"Immediately after ² 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:" ³

Mark 13:24-25 KJV

"But in those days, after ² that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, {25} And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken." ³

Isaiah 13:10 KJV

"For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine."

Isaiah 13:13 KJV

"Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger."

Luke 21:25-26 KJV

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; {26} Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."

Revelation 6:12-14 KJV (John)

"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; {13} And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. {14} And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Isaiah 34:4 KJV

"And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree."

Isaiah 24:23 KJV

"Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously."

Acts 2:20 KJV (Peter)

"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:"

Joel 2:31 KJV

"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come."

Joel 3:15-16 KJV

"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."

Click hear to go to second things to occur!

Matthew 24:30 KJV

"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 ⁴ of heaven with power and great glory."

Mark 13:26 KJV

"And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds ⁴ with great power and glory."

Luke 21:27 KJV

"And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."

Revelation 14:14 KJV (John)

"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle."

Click here to go to the third things to occur!

Matthew 24:31 KJV

"And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, ⁵ and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

Mark 13:27 KJV

"And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven."

Luke 21:28 KJV

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

Revelation 14:16 KJV (John)

"And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped."

Isaiah 27:13 KJV

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem."

Click here to repeat first things to occur!
Click here to continue!

Tribulation Occurs First

If you need to read again the Bible passages, in which some people probably will not read for the first time, please do so. Jesus' own words reveal the truth (Mat 24:29-31). The Tribulation occurs first before His coming. And after the Tribulation when the trumpet sounds, He sends His angels to gather together His elect, the wrath of the LORD (Isa 13:13) comes -- and then we go in with Him (Mat 25:10) to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:6-9), which occurs only when the kingdom of God comes (Mat 26:9). Remember in Luke 22:16 He said, "I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come." I believe some form of wine will be served there at the Supper.

Every Eye Will See Him (Rev 1:7)

It will be a spectacular sight. No secret Rapture. ³⁴ Every eye will see Him (Rev 1:7) when He comes and the trumpet sounds. He will come in the clouds of heaven (Dan 7:14 ⁴) and in like manner as He left (Acts 1:9-12).

Appear the Second Time (Heb 9:28)

There will be only one catching up, not two. I have heard other interpretations and use to believe in a secret pre-trib rapture until God's Holy Spirit first led me to the Bible passage of 1 Corinthians 15:52. With that key passages, I begin studying (2 Tim 2:15 ²²) along with Matthew 24:29-31 and related passages to unlock the truth, searching for the things that will occur in and around the second coming of Jesus Christ, and not for the day and hour (Mat 24:34-37) of His return. ³⁵ The truth is so vividly seen in the sayings of our Lord. When I started putting things together, I realized that I had been deceived (2 Th 2:3), believing a lie for years.

Into the Good Ground

If you understand and are one who received seed (Word) into the good ground (Mat 13:3-9, 18-23), my studies will make sense.

Note: But then, if they do not and your spiritual eyes have not yet opened, you will need to study the Bible as much as needed to gain your sight. As you do, although we have translations of the vernacular language, you will see God's infallible, inerrant, inspired Holy Word come through for you.

Read the following passages, to let the Lord speak to you, and more of my brief statements on the next page.

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New Testament Passages:

Paul

Caught up together

(1 Th 4:16-18 KJV) "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. {18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

Latin Vulgate

(1 Thes 4:16) quoniam ipse Dominus in iussu et in voce archangeli et in tuba Dei descendet de caelo et mortui qui in Christo sunt resurgent primi (17) deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus

Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

(1 Th 3:13 KJV) "To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."

Revealed from heaven

(2 Th 1:6-10 KJV) "Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; {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."

Gathering together

(2 Th 2:1-3, 8 KJV) "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... {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:" ³⁴

Appear with Him

(Col 3:4 KJV) "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

At the last trump

(1 Cor 15:51-54 KJV) "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, {52} In a moment, ¹ in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, ⁵ and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. {53} For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. {54} So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." ⁷

Day of the Lord

(2 Cor 1:13-14 KJV) "For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; {14} As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus."

(1 Th 5:1-4 KJV) "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. {2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief  ⁹ in the night; ¹⁰ {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. {4} But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief."

Peter

(Acts 2:16-19 KJV) "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; ¹¹ {17} And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: {18} And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: {19} And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:"

Day of the Lord

(Acts 2:20-21 KJV) "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: {21} And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

(2 Pet 3:8-13 KJV) "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  ⁹ in the night; ¹⁰ 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. {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? {13} Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

John

Day of the Lord

(Rev 11:18 KJV ⁸) "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth."

Wrath Is Come

(Rev 14:14-16 KJV ¹⁹) "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. {15} And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. {16} And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped." Other Verses!

Old Testament Passages:

Job

(Job 19:25-27 KJV) "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: {26} And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: {27} Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."

David

(2 Sam 22:7-18 KJV) "In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. {8} Then the earth shook and trembled; ³⁷ the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. {9} There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. {10} He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. {11} And he rode upon a cherub, ⁴⁰ and did fly: ¹² and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. {12} And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. {13} Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. {14} The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. {15} And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. {16} And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. {17} He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters; {18} He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me." ¹³

Asaph

(Psa 50:1-6 KJV) "A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. {2} Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. {3} Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. {4} He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. {5} Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. {6} And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah."

Isaiah

(Isa 2:12-21 KJV) For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: {13} And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, {14} And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, {15} And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, {16} And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. {17} And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. {18} And the idols he shall utterly abolish. {19} And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. {20} In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; {21} To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth."

(Isa 25:8 KJV) "He will swallow up death in victory; ¹⁴ and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; ¹⁵ and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it."

Dead men shall live

(Isa 26:17-18 KJV) "Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD. {18} We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen."

(Isa 26:19-21 KJV) "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. {20} Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. {21} For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain."

(Isa 27:1 KJV) "In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea."

(Isa 66:15-16 KJV) "For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, ¹⁶ and with his chariots ¹⁷ like a whirlwind, ¹⁸ to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. {16} For by fire and his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many." Other Verses!