There are three separate times that people will be raised from the dead.

The first time is at the Rapture. This is found in I Thessalonians 4:13-18. This will include all of those that have died during the Church age that believed on Christ and accepted Him as their Savior. This happens just before the Tribulation.

The next event is called the First Resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6. This includes the Old Testament saints as well as those who accepted Christ during the Tribulation and were killed by the antichrist for their faith.

The Second Resurrection is spoken of in Revelation 20:11-15. This will encompass all of the people who rejected Christ throughout all the ages. They will be resurrected to face the judgement for their sins.

There are three separate times that people will be raised from the dead.

The first time is at the Rapture. This is found in I Thessalonians 4:13-18. This will include all of those that have died during the Church age that believed on Christ and accepted Him as their Savior. This happens just before the Tribulation.

The next event is called the First Resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6. This includes the Old Testament saints as well as those who accepted Christ during the Tribulation and were killed by the antichrist for their faith.

The Second Resurrection is spoken of in Revelation 20:11-15. This will encompass all of the people who rejected Christ throughout all the ages. They will be resurrected to face the judgement for their sins.

I believe that those who have heard the Gospel message and rejected it will NOT be automatically condemned after the Rapture. Joel 2:28-32 contains prophecies concerning the Tribulation Hour. It says “And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered”. Peter refers to Joel 2 in his sermon at Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. We also see in Romans 10:13 that God says: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”. We see through these texts a clear indication that in all ages God has allowed any one to be saved who would put their faith in Jesus, the Messiah.

Every believer will be evacuated at the rapture, but then the greatest revival in history occurs on earth as the 144,000 Jews begin to proclaim the message that the kingdom of Christ is at hand. (Revelation 7: 4-8) Those who were converted during the tribulation hour are “These which have come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes white in the blood of the lamb.” (Verse 14).

Many Christians have been taught that the Holy Spirit leaves the earth with the rapture. That’s impossible. The Holy Spirit is the 3rd member of the Trinity of God. God is omnipresent – He’s everywhere at all times. (Psalm 139:7) The confusion comes from a misinterpretation of II Thessalonians 2:7. “…He who now hinders will hinder until he be taken out of the way and then shall that wicked one, the antichrist be revealed”. The Holy Spirit is not the hinderer, Christians are. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. So when we’re the ones who will be taken out of the way. Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17 clearly state, “I will pour out my Spirit upon ALL flesh.” The book of Revelation is written chronologically. In chapters 2 & 3 we have the history of the seven churches. After chapter 4:1, (“Come up hither”), the term church is never used again. In verses 10 and 11, the elders are laying their crowns at Jesus’ feet. You can’t get your crowns before the resurrection of the dead – the rapture. In chapter 5, verse 9, they are singing about their return to the earth to rule and reign with Christ. You can’t come down if you’ve never gone up.

Two powerful prophets will appear in Jerusalem during the Tribulation period, guaranteeing the truth of the kingdom message of the 144,000 servants of God, adding to the irritation of the Antichrist. The message of Christ’s return will be preached throughout the world. All will be made aware of the timetable of the end, the eventual fall of Antichrist, and the coming kingdom of Christ.

These two witnesses will be miraculously protected for three and one-half years. Their power to bring plagues will draw the attention of the world (Revelation 11:6). They will likely repeat Old Testament prophecies concerning the kingdom of Christ (Daniel 2:44, 45).

When they have concluded their work, they will be slain and television will beam the sight of their dead bodies lying in the streets of Jerusalem to the world. After three and one-half days of the earth’s rejoicing (Revelation 11:10), they will be resurrected and ascend to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watch, paralyzed with fear.

In determining who the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation 11:3 are most biblical scholars have narrowed the choice down to either: Elijah, Moses or Enoch.

Malachi 3:2, 3 and 4:5, 6 predict that Elijah will come as one of those witnesses. It is corroborated by the fact that Elijah did not die a physical death but was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind and chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:9-11).

Moses appeared with Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3) which was a picture of future events. Many of the plagues of the Time of Jacob’s Trouble are similar to those brought by Moses in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. The Bible also tells us that Moses’ body was preserved by God (Deuteronomy 34:5, 6; Jude 9).

It is God's will for all Christians to love and pray for the Jewish people. It is true that no Jew can be saved apart from faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). This is true for both Jews and Gentiles. Romans 11:26 has to do with the conversion of Israel in the future when they turn to Jesus Christ. It does not guarantee salvation of all the Jews who have ever lived since salvation is only possible through Jesus Christ.

During the Tribulation there will be thousands of Jews converted. Revelation 7 speaks of 144,000 being saved and becoming the servants of God. That will be a great and wonderful day.

It is indeed possible that we will see the beginning of the glorious building of the Temple. When the Antichrist comes to power he confirms a seven year peace contract with the nations (Daniel 9:27).

In Matthew 24:3, Christ’s disciples asked, What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (literally the end of the age) The world never ends (Isaiah 45-17; Ephesians 3:21). The Saviour then proceeded to describe those world events which would both indicate His return and culminate in the Day of the Lord. He added in Luke 21:28, And when these things begin to come to pass (or begin to occur simultaneously), then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. These signs of Christ’s Second Coming are in evidence worldwide, and increasing both in frequency and intensity.

The actual Second Coming of Christ to the earth is the second phase, the Revelation, or the revealing of Christ. Since He came to earth at His First Advent, He must come to earth at His Second Advent. The Rapture is not Christ’s appearance upon earth, but a meeting in the heavenlies (1 Thessalonians 4:17), and intermediary evacuation of believers from earth before the storm (Tribulation). Seven years later, Christ does come to earth, touching down on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). The prophetical signs point to Christ’s return to earth with His saints at the close of the Tribulation Hour-not to the Rapture. Even if there were not a sign yet in existence, believers could be called home imminently because each of the signs could occur during the seven-year period following the believers’ departure.

God has two elect groups upon earth – Israel (Romans 11:28) and the Church (I Peter 1:2). The signs of Matthew 24 are presented to elect Israel. We know this to be true because of the regard for the Sabbath Day (vs. 20), synagogues (Luke 21:12), and because the setting is Jerusalem (vs. 20). These signs are for Israel who is looking for the return of her King in Revelation 19. They are not signposts for the Rapture. The gospel mentioned in Matthew 24:24 is the gospel of the kingdom that the King is about to return (Revelation 19:16).

Although the signs are completely fulfilled after the Christians are gone, we already see the beginnings of every one of these prophecies (Luke 21:28).

Matthew 24 is spoken to Israel rather than the Church. The signs are not pre-Rapture signals but post-Rapture signposts for Israel. They point to the coming of Christ to this earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:11-16).

Old Testament Signs of the endtimes:

• Horseless carriages or automobiles (Nahum 2:3,4)

• Airplanes (Isaiah 31:5)

• Desert blossoming as a rose (Isaiah 35:1)

• Alignment of a ten nation western confederacy (Daniel 2,7)

• Knowledge explosion (Daniel 12:4)

• Great increases in travel (Daniel 12:4)

New Testament Signs of the Endtimes:

• False Christs and False Prophets (Matthew 24:5,24;II Peter 2:1)

• Wars and rumors of wars (Mark 13:7; Matthew 24:6)

• Famines, earthquakes in divers places, pestilences (Luke 21:11)

• Iniquity abounding (Matthew 24:12)

• Gospel of the kingdom preached to all the world (Matthew 24:14)

• Signs in the sun, moon, and stars, sea and waves roaring (Luke 17:26-30; 21:25-27).

• Introduction of evil spirits which control cults and false religions (I Timothy 4:1,2)

The 19 signs of II Timothy 3:1-5, signs within man:

• Lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent (drunkenness, gluttony, deviate sex, drugs), fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.

• Hoarding of gold and silver, and its final demise (James 5:1-3)

• Scoffers mocking the Second Coming of Christ (II Peter 3:3,4)

• Lethargy and indifference among God’s people (Revelation 3:14-16)

• Invention of the atom bomb (II Peter 3:10)

• Jerusalem under Jewish control (Luke 21:24)

Judgment signs:

• As it was in the days of Lot (Luke 17:28,30; Ezekiel 20:47; Zephaniah 1:18; Malachi 4:1; Revelation 8:7, 9:18)

• As it was in the days of Noah (Gluttony, drunkeness, illicit sex, corruption, violence) Matthew 24:37; Genesis 6:11)

• Distress of nations (Luke 21:25)

• Hearts failing for fear (Luke 21:26)

Note: Most judgments described in the Book of Revelation, chapters 6-18 are identical to the signs found in Matthew 24 and Luke chapters 17 and 21.

For many years I believed that the earth would be destroyed at the end of the Millennium. But through further study of the Word, God has brought to light some verses that state that the earth will abide forever. One of these is Ecclesiastes 1:4 which states that the earth will abide forever. Also in Psalms 104:5: “who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever”.

So, after the one thousand years of the Millennium, there will be a renovation, a purging through fire. II Peter 3:10 says “The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up”. This means literally that the earth shall be purged with fire. This happens because when Satan is released from the pit, he will gather a multitude of people who will turn against Christ. Punishment will come and the earth is purged with fire, including heavens one and two, and that is why Revelation 21:1 says “I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away”. This is the purging through fire, but the globe still stays here because it is going to go on for ever.

It is easy to understand what is meant by the belief that Christ is coming back twice when explained as follows. The first time will be the Rapture, when Christ will meet his saints in the air and take them to Heaven with Him. He will not come to the earth at that time. This event will mark the beginning of a 7-year Tribulation time for those who have rejected Christ as their personal Saviour. At the end of the Tribulation Period, Jesus Christ will return to the earth, bringing His saints with Him. This will be the defeat of the Antichrist at the culmination of the battle of Armageddon. The 1,000-year Millennial reign of Christ will begin after this.

We believes that before the rapture of the Church, it is possible that we will see the beginning of the glorious building of the Temple. During the Tribulation period the Antichrist comes to power and confirms a seven year peace contract with the nations (Daniel 9:27).

It is midway through the Tribulation period that this monstrosity desecrates the Temple (II Thessalonians 2:3-4). This evil act is called the “Abomination of Desolation” (Daniel 12:11).

As born-again believers, we accept the Word of God in its entirety as divinely inspired and inerrant. During these last days, we are seeing a continual turning away from this truth.

Many have taken it upon themselves to reject the inspired Word of God. This rejection goes against what we know to be true and spoken of by the Word. II Peter 1:19-25 bears record of the fact that men of God were directed as to the words that they should write. II Timothy 3:16 tells us that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. This verse tells us that Scripture is literally “God breathed”. Other verses you may wish to study are Luke 9:26, Hebrews 1:1,2 and Zechariah 7:12. There are many verses that bear testimony of the record of truth.

The Word of God gives a direct warning to those who would tamper with His Word. Revelation 22:18,19 is a fearful admonition to those who would take away from the Word of God. As one begins to deny certain areas of the Bible, it leaves the door open for a further denial of God’s truth. Jesus spoke to this end in John 5:46,47 when he authenticated the words of Moses and the prophets. He said that if one would not believe this record, that same one would not believe His Words. It is a terrible thing to see men turning away from the Word of God. We know that this is a sign of the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Timothy 4:1).