The Stages of Christ's Ascension and Return (Part 10)

The return of Jesus Christ is in stages that symmetrically correspond to the stages of His ascension. Because of this pattern (as with many other types and patterns in the Word), it helps us to gain deeper insights, and piece together scriptures, that provide a bigger picture of the redemption plan of God throughout the ages. Connecting the dots on past events is easy due to hindsight, but the types and patterns in the Word really do assist in building a more insightful understanding of future events, as what we are discussing in this series of posts.

In part 8, we put focus on the position of Christ as he returns for the church, which is His Body, before the 7-year Tribulation. Our focus was on a 'silent' rapture based on underlying points of study we expounded on in that post. In this post we will continue to the next stage of Christ's return, being the stage when 'he' appears in the clouds at the mid-point of the Tribulation. Unlike the previous stage, which was silent and 'uneventful', if I can use that term, considering the disappearance of millions from earth, the next stages to come, are full of visible and mind-blowing events, both in heaven and on earth. 

This might also be a good time to remind you that I do not claim to be dogmatic about the content of this study. The material is presented as I understand and interpret it at the time of writing, as mentioned in my opening acknowledgement in the beginning of this series. I trust that you will use this as a guideline and do your own study concerning these events to allow the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures based on your views.

Let us now continue with the next event in the details of Christ's multi-stage return.

1 Thess.4:16  refers to 'the voice of the archangel', and 1 Cor.15:52 mentions 'in the twinkling of an eye'. Unlike the phrases, 'with a shout' and 'in a moment', that are connected to the imminent rapture of the Body of Christ, these next phrases in our key verses represent descriptions for the mid-point resurrection of 'a special group of people' into the heaven.

Now, based on my bolded statement above, we need to stop the boat right here! There is a lot of detail in that sentence, and, where on earth did I get all that? I agree. This is a lot to unpack! I can't recall if I have even mentioned any of this detail at any point in this series, so, let's get into proving that this detail is in the Bible, and that this interpretation becomes clear and evident when you divide the scriptures and understand that Christ's whole return is in stages and across the whole 7-year tribulation event.

About half way through the tribulation, we find some incredible activity documented in scripture. We learn that from the fifth seal, a resurrection/rapture occurs, a heavenly war is fought, and the throne of the Lord appears in the clouds, .

A mid-tribulation resurrection and rapture

Rev.6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal [a little while before the mid-point of the tribulation], I saw under the altar [the "altar" here is an allusion to the altar of the temple or tabernacle where blood sacrifices were made] (1) the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: [the ACTS church]. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them [resurrection and rapture occur]; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until (2) their fellowservants [tribulation martyrs] also and (3) their brethren [great tribulation martyrs], that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Rev.7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude [of all the martyred saints], which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; ... 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation [not 'the great tribulation' but who have endured great tribulation, even to death], and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

[The souls of them slain] These are the 12-apostles and the 'little flock', the ACTS church saved under the gospel of God during the period of 30AD to 70AD. These faithful Jewish servants are those who endured to the end and who 'loved not their lives unto the death' under 1st century torture. At this fifth seal mark, a little before the mid-point of the trib, they are inquiring of the Lord regarding the avenging of their blood and of judgement.

At this mid-point of the tribulation there is a heavenly call ('the voice of the archangel') that goes out that initiates an ascension (not a rapture) of the 2 witnesses. 

Revelation 11:11-15 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

About this time there is also a resurrection of the 'little flock', the ACTS church, the believing remnant of Israel in that day who died for their faith. At this mid-point, a rapture also takes place, 'in the twinkling of an eye' (*See addendum at the end). Those who participate in this rapture are the 144000, a very unique and special group who's role is to prepare Israel's remnant to receive their Messiah when He comes at the end of the Great Tribulation. It is interesting to note that the role of this group of 144000 is parallel to the role that the ACTS church had in the first century to prepare Israel for the coming of the Kingdom in that day. (Of course, this event was put on hold due to unbelief).

Israel in the Tribulation (Group 1 - occupying the heavens)

The 144000 who minister the gospel of the kingdom throughout the first half of the tribulation are raptured into heaven according to Rev.14:1 [mount Sion is the heavenly Jerusalem]. We notice that at about this mid-point time they are said to be with the Lord (the Lamb) in the heavenly city. Since they presumably could not be harmed during the tribulation, they are raptured up into heaven. This special group of saints may be the ones to serve in the temple of heaven, the New Jerusalem, since they are not defiled by the whore system of Babylon.

[Fellowservants] We can speculate that a resurrection event also occurs here to include the martyrs who become believers through the ministry of the 144000 and who give up their lives within this first half of the tribulation. They will be martyred for their testimony and their identification to Christ. They are portrayed in prophecy as slain souls that were reached with the gospel of the Kingdom during the first half of the tribulation. At their resurrection, they join the 'little flock' before the altar in heaven, waiting for the rest of their brethren martyrs to come in from the great tribulation.

[The Brethren] These are people who become believers during the second half of the Tribulation period, i.e. the "Great Tribulation", under the eternal gospel preached by the heavenly angel, Rev.7:9-17 These are the ones who do not receive the mark of the beast and are killed for their faith and testimony under that antichrist system, and who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev.20:4 tells us that they will be resurrected at the end of the Great Tribulation and will join their resurrected brethren in the heavens to serve Him day and night in His temple, Rev.15:2.

We have another account of this resurrection and rapture in Revelations chapter 12. The passage reads as follows,

Rev.12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven [the corrupt angels], and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child [1st part of Israel's restoration: the resurrection/rapture of the kingdom saints], who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne [resurrected and raptured up into heaven].

Isa.66:7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child [before the great tribulation, the kingdom saints [listed above] are delivered]. 8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

So, at the mid-point of the tribulation there will be a rapture of the 144000, who will serve in the temple, which is the New Jerusalem. There is also a resurrection of those who were killed for their faith. They are the ones under the alter who wait for the great tribulation martyrs to join them before God takes vengeance on their blood.

Additional scriptures to support these saints [the 144000 and the martyrs of ACTS and the tribulation] who are now in heaven,

Rev.3:12 Him that overcometh [the martyrs of ACTS and the tribulation, "those who loved not their lives unto the death"; dying for their faith in the gospel and not giving up their testimony] will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Hebrews 12:22-23 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

War in Heaven

Following the mid-tribulation resurrection and rapture, we hear of a war that has broken out in the heavens, and Satan, including the corrupt angels that followed him, a 1/3 part of all the heavenly hosts, are judged and cast down to earth. We read the details as follows,

Rev.6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth [corrupt heavenly hosts], even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Revelation chapter 12 repeats the vision again with additional details,

Rev.12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon [Satan], having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven [the corrupt 1/3 part of all the angelic hosts of heaven], and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. ... 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

This war is one-sided and Satan and his hosts cannot prevail. It is interesting to note that at this point they were cast down unto, [or towards] the earth (Rev.6:12; Rev.12:4), but after this short-lived war and judgement, they are cast down into [or onto] the earth, (Rev12:8-9).

Verse 10 above results in praise in heaven as it is at this point, after Satan is cast out of the heavens, that the first part of God's great restoration plan is complete. The heavens, which were corrupt, are now cleared out and are vacant for God's heavenly people to fill. The purpose of the Body of Christ was always to fill the heavens with the glory and majesty of Christ. This happens at this point and is the cause of praises in heaven. The rest of the activity continues to clean out the earth so that Christ can fill ALL things with His glory.

The appearance of Jesus Christ in the clouds

With the heavens now cleared of corruption and evil, Jesus descends down into the clouds. The victory is now complete in the heavens and it now belongs to the Son. All the focus will now be on earth as events of the great tribulation resume as planned by God.

Rev.6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Up until this time, the 'spiritual world' has been hidden from view. Since the start of the tribulation, all that has happened up till this point has been natural and visible. The revealing of the antichrist and all the plagues, till now, have been earthly and natural. But things seem to change at the sixth seal. We see the heavens depart, being rolled up like a scroll, to reveal a frightening and real visage of the throne of the Lord appearing in the clouds. For the first time the spiritual world becomes undeniably visible and real to the whole world. We know it becomes visible to the human eye, as men fear the sight of it and hide their faces from the One that sits on the throne, (Rev.6:16). It is evident that this sight brings a dramatic escalation of the reality of Christ and of judgement and wrath. This first physical sighting of the throne of the Lord brings men to the reality that the hidden things of God are real and that their scoffing and mockery of bible prophecy and truth have been vain and consequential.

Israel in the Tribulation (Group 2 - a remnant that flees in the wilderness)

Israel, at this mid-point in the tribulation is clearly divided into two groups. Group one is a special group of saints that will occupy the heavenly city. The purpose behind this could be connected to the temple, but I will need to look more into these details before I add anything here regarding that.

The second group are the 1/3rd of Jews that recognize the abomination of desolation, the defiling act by the antichrist in the temple in Jerusalem. When this happens, as per prophecy, Jews would have to flee to the mountains. It is here that God will protect them in the wilderness during the Great Tribulation period. These are the Jews that will recognize Jesus when He comes at His second coming. These are the ones who will be filled with the Holy Spirit when Jesus pours out His Spirit upon all flesh, (Joel 2:27-29). These are the ones who will enter into the Millennial Kingdom as preeminent Jews who will bring the Word and salvation to the nations in the Millennium.

Rev.12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness [2nd part of Israel's restoration: 1/3 of Jews who fled into the wilderness], where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days [through the great tribulation].

See also Matt.24:15-21.

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* Addendum to 'Twinking of an eye'

With regard to the phrase, "In the twinkling of an eye", the following is taken from the Strongs Lexicon,

Strongs Greek 4493: "In the twinkling of an eye"  - ῥιπή rhipḗ, phonetic: 'hree-pay';

—description: a jerk or wink of the eye, i.e. (by analogy) a moment, an instant.

—expression: least conceivable duration of time. twinkle or flash of the eye; any rapid movement.

'Eye' also denotes: "To see, or being visible".

In the context of the description above, the rapture of the saints that occurs at the mid-point of the Tribulation can be depicted as an instant movement (or removal), by means of being snatched away rapidly, in a flash of the eye. Given that the descriptions point to a very quick event, my opinion is that it is a similar experience to that of the Body of Christ, discussed in part 8. Having said this, and without claiming to be dogmatic about it, I do want to add that the reference to 'eyes' is intriguing. Although I believe that the rapture of these saints will be too quick for the eye to see, I do want to add that there will definitely be a visible nature to these transpiring event; (1) the appearing of the throne of Jesus Christ, visibly in the clouds, (2) the physical resurrection of killed saints, and (3) the disappearing of living saints as they are caught up into the heaven. There most certainly will be a visual drama unfolding before the eyes of unbelievers in that day!

God bless.