11 - The Rapture and The Tribulation

The Thread - traced in The Rapture and The Tribulation

Image credit - Immo Wegmann - Unsplash.com

This timeline highlighs a thread of truth which runs throughout human history from creation, through every time period illustrated on this timeline, right through to the end times as recorded in the book of Revelation.

That thread is this:

God is Alpha and Omega; as creator, he has revealed himself to mankind as the only true and supreme God for all nations.

He communicates with us and desires to participate in our lives in order to have a relationship with us.

His ultimate goal is to prepare us to spend eternity with him in perfect holiness and happiness through salvation. This thread starts in Genesis chapter one and continues through all of human history as recorded in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

There are two opposing forces which can also be traced from Genesis to Revelation.

First - is the unrelenting sinful nature and stubborn rebellion of mankind refusing to submit to God's laws.

Second - is the constant stalking and harassment of that ancient serpent, the devil. He never gives up in his vain attempts to thwart the will of God in his dealings with mankind.

All through human history, God reigns supreme and in the closing chapters of Revelation, Satan finally meets his eternal doom while the saved of earth enter an eternity of bliss and happiness with God.

The Thread

Period 11: The Rapture and Tribulation

Here, in the Rapture and the Tribulation, we see how God removes his people from earth and finally unleashes his righteous judgement on mankind for all of man’s sinful rebellion against God’s laws.

Man’s sinful rebellion and Satan’s opposition to God reach a climax and merit the divine judgement that is finally meted out.

During the Tribulation, Satan will take control of a newly formed world religion and government. He will achieve this through a man who will rise to power during the first half of the seven years – he is the Antichrist.

At the midpoint of the seven years, he will set himself up as god in the temple in Jerusalem. The bible calls this; The abomination that causes desolation. 

This is the pinnacle of mans independence and stubborn rebellion against God. The three stages of God's judgement in the unfolding seals, trumpets and bowls expends God's judgement in full and paves the way for the Millennial reign of Christ on earth.