There is nothing in Biblical prophecy that needs to happen before Jesus comes in the air to snatch up His Church. But there are at least 21 events that must happen before He actually comes touching the Mounts of Olives, from the appearance of the Antichrist until Armageddon.
Jesus' first coming has two parts: His birth and resurrection. His second coming will also have two parts: the snatching of the Church in the air - The Rapture - and His actual arrival, touching the Mount of Olives. The Rapture is expected to happen at any moment, but a series of events must occur before He touches the earth.
At the rapture, He is coming without warning. The Bible clearly teaches us to expect Him at any moment.
• 1 Corinthians 1:7 “Awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ."
• Philippians 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6 “So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
• Titus 2:13 “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
• Jude 21 “Waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”The Bible also teaches us to expect Him after all these 21 events take place: The Seven Seals: Rev 6
1. The White Horse (Antichrist-false peace)
2. The Red Horse (War)
3. The Black Horse (Drought/Famine/Economic disaster)
4. The Pale Horse (Plague/Disease)
5. Martyrdom of those who refuse to worship the beast (slaughter of the Tribulation saints)
6. A Great Earthquake that causes such a geological disturbance, the dust and smoke obscure the sun, stars, and moon
7. Silence in Heaven
The Seven Trumpets: Rev 8:11
1. Hail and fire mixed with blood
2. A great mountain cast into the sea
3. Wormwood- a meteor that poisons (makes bitter) a third of the drinking water
4. A third of the sun, moon, and stars darkened (great cold, darkness)
5. First Woe (Demonic Locusts plague those who take the mark)
6. Second Woe (one-third of mankind killed by a demon army)
7. Third Woe (Lightning, Voices, Thunder, an Earthquake, and Great hail)
The Seven Vials: Rev 16
1. Grievous Sores on those who take the mark of the beast
2. The rest of the seas turn to blood.
3. Rivers and fountains turned to blood
4. Great heat
5. Great darkness over the seat of Beast Kingdom
6. Euphrates River dries up
7. Massive earthquakes and vast earth changes.
If you are waiting for Jesus at the Second Coming you can go ahead and sleep in until the massive earthquake will wake you up to see Him descend in power and glory followed by the armies of Heaven - His Church - at the battle of Armageddon.
But if you are waiting for Jesus at the Rapture, so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober!
He's coming!! If you don't know whether the rapture is true or when it will happen—before, during, or after the tribulation—pray that the Holy Spirit guides you to the truth. It's crucial that you receive that revelation directly from God. The rapture is our Blessed Hope!
Also, if you are not in Christ it's time to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who died on the cross for our sins, He was buried and resurrected on the third day, so we can have eternal life with Him.
The moment you believe in Him and that He died for your sins - you're saved, justified, sealed until the day of redemption, and rapture ready!
The Holy Spirit will come to live inside of you - He will help you, guide you, change you, and be with you FOREVER!
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
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