Introduction.

Today there are three doctrines that place the rapture event:

1. Pre-tribulation – before the tribulation.

2. Mid-tribulation – in the middle of the tribulation.

3. Post-tribulation – after the tribulation.

• The rapture and the tribulation have always been a subject of debate for believers of all doctrines.
• The majority of Christians of all denominations believe in the imminence of the rapture and that it will be before the tribulation.

What does imminence mean?

• Without any warning or without any sign. They say: That the rapture of the church can happen at any time, even at this very moment.
• The doctrine of imminence says that the rapture is pre-tribulational – that is, that the rapture occurs before the tribulation and that we will not see the antichrist.
• I would like us to think of another option, the option of what the Bible says and the pre-wrath which is before the wrath of God (Acts 17:11).

Another idea of ​​the imminent return is when Jesus said, “I am coming soon.”

• Many believed that it would be an imminent return, and that it could happen at any time when Jesus said, “I am coming soon” (Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12).
• The Greek word for “soon” is “tachu” – it means without unnecessary delay and not immediately.
• However, this soon coming refers to the second coming of the Lord Jesus to earth {Israel}, at the end of the wrath of God (Zechariah 14:1-4; Revelation 19:11-16, 19-21; I Thessalonians 3:13).

Will the church see the antichrist?

• I believe that the church will be around at the time when He appears (I John 2:18; Matthew 24:15; Daniel 12:11; II Thessalonians 2:1-8).

Several things from these texts of II Thessalonians 2:1-8:

1. Paul speaks to us of the rapture of the church (2:1).

2. Paul speaks to us of the day of the Lord (2:2).

3. Paul tells us that the Lord will not come until two things happen: Apostasy and the manifestation of the antichrist. (2:3-8):

• Apostasy {apoastemais} – “to turn away or be far from,” in the sense of a person who abandons something or someone.
• Apostasy literally means divorce, and also departure or turning away from something good to go to something bad (Matthew 5:31; Acts 21:21).

When would the rapture of the church be?

• The rapture of the church is known by six terms: The day of the Lord Jesus Christ; the day of the Lord Jesus the Christ {Messiah}; and the day of Christ {Messiah} (I Corinthians 1:7-8; II Corinthians 1:14; Philippians 1:6; I John 3:2-3).

At least seven events must occur that point to the rapture

1. The birth pangs must occur (Matthew 24:5-8; Revelation 6:1-7)

2. The event of the time of apostasy must occur (II Thessalonians 2:3)

3. The manifestation of the antichrist must occur (Matthew 24:15; II Thessalonians 2:3)

4. The time of persecution must occur (Matthew 24:9-10; Revelation 6:9-11; 12:13-17).

5. The abomination of desolation must occur (Daniel 11:31; 12:11; Matthew 24:15; II Thessalonians 2:3-4)

6. The sealing of the 144,000 must occur (Revelation 7:2-4).

7. The gospel of the kingdom must be preached to all nations (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 14:6-7)

The Lord Jesus’ promise is to keep us from wrath (John 3:36; Romans 2:5-6; 5:9; I Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9-10)

Conclusion

When does the wrath of God begin?

• This is where confusion arises, because many think that the wrath of God is the entire 70th week of Daniel, and from there comes the belief of the rapture before the tribulation {pre-tribulation}.
• Not all of Daniel’s 70th week is God’s wrath, there are two sources of wrath; one is Satan’s and the other is God’s (Revelation 8:5-13; 9:1-21; 16:1-17, VS:18- to Chapter 20, which is the last bowl that comes until the Lord’s second coming to earth and Satan’s judgment).
• If God did not have righteous wrath, He would not be a loving, holy, and righteous God. Why? Because God perfectly loves justice and righteousness, and perfectly hates injustice, wickedness, and evil. This tells us that the God of Love, Holy, Righteous, and Just cannot coexist with evil (Psalm 45:7; Romans 1:18).