Bible Studies

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We continue this paper here in Part 2

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEVEN YEARS THE SEVENTH TRUMPET WILL SOUND (Rev. 11:15):

The two witnesses (prophets) will be resurrected and raptured at that time (Rev. 11:11, 12). (Antichrist will come back from the dead in time to kill the two prophets three and one-half days before the rapture [Rev. 11:7-10; cf. 17:8]). The resurrection and rapture of the two witnesses in the middle of the seven-year period rather strongly confirms that the rapture will take place in the middle of the seven years, but Rev. 12:5 is the most important verse to show that the rapture will take place at that time. (Shorey believes that the three and one-half year ministry of the two witnesses will take place throughout the second half of the seven years and that they will be killed and rise from the dead just before the end of the seven years.)

The great earthquake (at Jerusalem) pictured in Rev. 11:13, which will take place at that time (in the middle of the seven years), undoubtedly equates with the great earthquake mentioned in Zech. 14:4 that will take place when the Lord Jesus (and the glorified raptured saints with Him) stands on the Mount of Olives shortly after the rapture. Apparently we can see the salvation (when they become Christians) of the elect, repentant, end-time remnant of Israel in Rev. 11:13 (cf., e.g., Zech. 12:10-13:1; Rom. 11:26, 27; 9:27-29). We can see this saved end-time remnant of Israel (along with the Gentiles who become Christians after the rapture) in Rev. 12:6-13:18, for example). Revelation 12:17 confirms that they are Christians in that it says that they "keep the commandments of God [which Christians must do (by grace through faith)] and hold to the testimony of Jesus."

It is very significant that Rev. 12:6 shows that three and one-half years are left after the birth and rapture of the "man child" of Rev. 12:5. (The man child is a symbol for the saints who will be glorified and raptured in the middle of the seven years. See the next few paragraphs.) In Rev. 12:6-13:18 we can see why it will be very difficult for the saints to live on the earth throughout the second half of Daniel's 70th week, and that there will be many martyrs (cf. Rev. 20:4), but some of these verses also demonstrate that God will be very involved with these saints and He will greatly limit what the devil and Antichrist can do against them. Otherwise those saints could be annihilated by the devil, evil angels, demons, and Antichrist in a very short period of time.

As I mentioned, I believe REVELATION 12:5 is the most important verse in the Bible to show that the resurrection and rapture will take place right in the middle of Daniel's 70th week. (Revelation 12:5 is discussed in significant detail in my "The Mid-Week Rapture," including three chapters that discuss three very important cross-references in the Old Testament that prophesy of this same birth into the fullness of eternal life [the resurrection and glorification of the believers] that will take place when the Lord Jesus returns. Shorey doesn't agree with any of this.) The location of this verse between the two verses that specifically mention the three and one-half years of the first half of the seven years (Rev. 11:2, 3) and the three verses that specifically mention the three and one-half years of the second half of the seven years (Rev. 12:6, 14 and 13:5), shows that the events of Rev. 12:5 will take place right in the middle of the seven years (at the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet (Rev. 11:15). However, it is much more significant that Rev. 12:6 goes out of its way to demonstrate that the spectacular things spoken of in Rev. 12:5 will take place right in the middle of the seven years in that it shows that there are three and one-half years to go after the all-important birth and rapture of 12:5.

I'll quote REVELATION 12:5, "and she [true Israel, which embraces all the believers from the days of the Old Testament and all true Christians] gave birth to a male child [[(This double bracket goes on for two paragraphs.) The "male child" embraces all the believers who have ever lived up until that time (right in the middle of Daniel's 70th week, at which time the Lord Jesus will return and the rapture will take place). The heading that was added right before 12:5 in my NASB Bible says "The Male Child, Christ." Large numbers of Christians agree with this, but I don't believe there is any possibility that this is correct. For one primary thing, as we have discussed, this birth is going to take place right in the middle of Daniel's 70th week, which doesn't fit the Lord Jesus in any way. As we continue with this verse, it will become obvious that the things that are said about the male child perfectly fit the view that the male child represents the people of God who will be glorified and raptured when the Lord Jesus returns in the middle of the seven years. (For the very large number of believers who will have died before the Lord Jesus returns they will be resurrected too.)

It is very significant that Isa. 66:7 prophesies of this same birth into the full glory of eternal life of the same boy/man child. And Isa. 66:8 goes on to prophesy that the end-time remnant of Israel will also participate in this birth into the full glory of eternal life after a time of substantial travail, which perfectly corresponds with the travail that they will experience throughout the second half of the seven years. Isaiah 66:1-8 is the topic of chapter 16 of my book, "The Mid-Week Rapture." Micah 5:3 prophesies of this same birth and the subsequent salvation of the end-time remnant of Israel. (Micah 4:9-5:6 are discussed in chapter 17 of "The Mid-Week Rapture.") And Psalm 2:7 includes this same birth into the full glory of eternal life. Psalm 2 is discussed verse-by-verse in chapter 18 of "The Mid-Week Rapture."]], who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron [[These words fit the Lord Jesus, but it is very significant that the Lord Jesus applied these words (in Rev. 2:26, 27) to the overcomers (the believers) who will be reigning with Him from the time we are glorified. And that reference is all the more important in that those words were taken from Psalm 2:9.]]; and her child was taken up to God and to His throne [[It is also quite significant that the Greek verb ("harpazo") translated "was taken up" here was used in 1 Thess. 4:17, translated "we will be caught up

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