Pre-trib? Mid-trib? Pre-wrath? Post-trib?
Whichever of these positions you take, what does the word "TRIB" have to do with your position? The various positions on the timing of the Rapture place it at a certain point before, during, or after the 70th Week of Daniel's prophecy, concerning which most will agree is the great Tribulation that Jesus prophesied in Matthew chapter 24. So let's look at Daniel's prophecy of that last "week," or seven-year period.
"Seventy weeks are determined
Most believers will agree on the point that the "harpazo," commonly called the Rapture, will occur at some time relative to that last "week" of seven years which is yet to be fulfilled.
The timing of the Rapture is shown in this very passage in Daniel. And the key is -upon WHOM is this prophecy spoken?
Seventy weeks are determined:
This is a dispensational statement. The first 69 weeks of this prophecy ended with the crucifixion of Jesus. Then the story stops, and the "mystery of the church" is introduced, which began on Pentecost and will end with the "harpazo," the Rapture of the church.
The church was a "mystery" not revealed to the priests and prophets of the Old Testament.
"I now rejoice in my sufferings for you,
Jesus was rejected by Israel, and that ended 69 of the 70 weeks. The church age, the mystery age, was birthed on Pentecost, only days after Jesus was raised from the dead. It was a totally unexpected event. No prophet, no Old Testament holy man of God had any clue, any idea that there was going to be a dispensation separate from the Israel story. The "mystery" of the church age was birthed on Pentecost and came in by total surprise, and it will go out the same way. Suddenly and unexpectedly.
When the dispensation of the church age is over, the 70th week of Daniel begins. This period of time is determined upon ISRAEL, as stated very directly and very specifically in Daniel's prophecy. During the last seven years God will be preparing Israel to meet her Messiah, and will bring horrendous judgments upon the Christ-rejecting world; this seven-year period ends with the coming of Jesus Christ to this earth, and with Israel receiving him, the One she rejected.
The shock of recognition:
When their eyes are opened, they will greatly mourn:
As the Rapture ends the mystery of the church age, it takes place BEFORE the great Tribulation, BEFORE those last seven years begin. And then the focus goes back to finishing the Israel story.
Whichever of these positions you take, what does the word "TRIB" have to do with your position? The various positions on the timing of the Rapture place it at a certain point before, during, or after the 70th Week of Daniel's prophecy, concerning which most will agree is the great Tribulation that Jesus prophesied in Matthew chapter 24. So let's look at Daniel's prophecy of that last "week," or seven-year period.
"Seventy weeks are determined
FOR YOUR PEOPLE AND FOR YOUR HOLY CITY,
to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins,
to make reconciliation for iniquity,
to bring in everlasting righteousness,
to seal up vision and prophecy,
and to anoint the Most Holy."
Daniel 9:24
Most believers will agree on the point that the "harpazo," commonly called the Rapture, will occur at some time relative to that last "week" of seven years which is yet to be fulfilled.
The timing of the Rapture is shown in this very passage in Daniel. And the key is -upon WHOM is this prophecy spoken?
Seventy weeks are determined:
. upon YOUR PEOPLE - Daniel's people were the Jews,
. and upon YOUR HOLY CITY - and the holy city is Jerusalem.
This is a dispensational statement. The first 69 weeks of this prophecy ended with the crucifixion of Jesus. Then the story stops, and the "mystery of the church" is introduced, which began on Pentecost and will end with the "harpazo," the Rapture of the church.
The church was a "mystery" not revealed to the priests and prophets of the Old Testament.
"I now rejoice in my sufferings for you,
and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ,
for the sake of his body, which is the church,
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God
which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,
THE MYSTERY WHICH HAS BEEN HIDDEN from ages and from generations,
but now has been revealed to his saints."
Colossians 1:24-26
Jesus was rejected by Israel, and that ended 69 of the 70 weeks. The church age, the mystery age, was birthed on Pentecost, only days after Jesus was raised from the dead. It was a totally unexpected event. No prophet, no Old Testament holy man of God had any clue, any idea that there was going to be a dispensation separate from the Israel story. The "mystery" of the church age was birthed on Pentecost and came in by total surprise, and it will go out the same way. Suddenly and unexpectedly.
When the dispensation of the church age is over, the 70th week of Daniel begins. This period of time is determined upon ISRAEL, as stated very directly and very specifically in Daniel's prophecy. During the last seven years God will be preparing Israel to meet her Messiah, and will bring horrendous judgments upon the Christ-rejecting world; this seven-year period ends with the coming of Jesus Christ to this earth, and with Israel receiving him, the One she rejected.
The shock of recognition:
"And one shall say to him, 'What are these wounds in thine hands?'
Then he shall answer, 'Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.'
Zechariah 13:6
When their eyes are opened, they will greatly mourn:
"...then they will look on me whom they pierced.
Yes, they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only son,
and grieve for him as one grieves for a firstborn.
In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem,
like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
And the land shall mourn, every family by itself:
the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves;"
Zechariah 12:10-12
As the Rapture ends the mystery of the church age, it takes place BEFORE the great Tribulation, BEFORE those last seven years begin. And then the focus goes back to finishing the Israel story.