On my home page, I conveyed that I am pre-trib in my rapture view.  But, as should now be very evident, I interpret many of the related scriptures differently than those who embrace the common pre-trib view.  This has resulted in what I believe to be a sound, but totally different, pre-trib view.  While some may believe my interpretations to be wrong, it is hoped that it has been found that what I have put forth will harmonize with Scripture.  In other words, while you may be iffy about my song, I hope that you have found it to at least be in tune.

     Especially important concerning the timing of the rapture is The Revelation and its order.  I stated very early that I have long been inclined to believe that it was given to John in true chronological order.  If indeed it was and I have been successful in making this order more observable, I am both humbled and thankful for having been so used, for I have yet to find another chronology presented and expounded on like what I have set forth here.  In my experience, when The Revelation is understood to be in true chronological order, everything begins to fall into place and it becomes like a prophetic grid into which all end time prophecies can be organized.

     In my thinking, the biggest hurdle in recognizing the order of The Revelation is cleared when it is realized that Christ's return after the opening of the 6th Seal will be for a sign appearance that He will make at the time of the gathering of the Church.  This makes the prior seals more apparent as belonging to the Church Age and the activity of the four horsemen more apparent as relating to the liberties that have been granted to Satan to effect tribulation during this age.  The correctness of this interpretation is reinforced by the observable trail these horsemen have left down through the corridors of the Church Age, even unto our present time.  As it has been truthfully said, "Sometimes we don't realize that prophecy has been fulfilled until we look over our shoulders in retrospect."  Beyond this, the unfolding of the Seven Sealed Book (which can happen the same day as the rapture) then becomes easier to see as representing the time of the beginning of the last days' Day of the Lord judgment.  The correctness of this interpretation is reinforced by how everything then begins to fall into place related to Daniel's 70th Week, as I have shown.

     I would like to point out that the above major pillar of my pre-trib view is really just an 11 verse section removed from an equally major pillar of the common pre-trib view.  How's that?  The common view has the Church raptured by Revelation 4:1, before the opening of the seals in chapter six, which it has as belonging to Daniel's 70th Week.  But, whereas John is told in 4:1 that he is going to be shown things "which must be hereafter,"  the rest of chapter four and all of chapter five concerns what he beholds happening in Heaven, before anything actually begins to happen on the earth.  It is not until the opening verse of chapter six, when the Lamb begins to open the seals, that anything actually begins to happen on the earth.  So, for the common view, whether the rapture is seen as occurring by Revelation 4:1 or before Revelation 6:1, it's about as broad as it is long.  On the other hand, I have the Church raptured at Revelation 6:12, just after the 6th Seal is opened.  Perhaps the biggest difference between the common view and my different view revolves around this 11 verse section of Revelation 6:1-11 and whether it pertains to Daniel's 70th Week or the Church Age.  Hopefully our focus upon this section has made the possibility that it pertains to the latter more evident.

     It is understood that the prospect of the first four trumpets resulting in the destruction of what is in our Western Hemisphere is so huge and unheard of that it may seem really "out there" to some.  Nevertheless, when a possibility will line up with God's Word and the geography of God's World like this one does, it must be worthy of serious consideration.  The flood of Noah's day was huge and unheard of too.  We should all understand that things can turn out differently than any of us have been able to conceive.  Just know, whatever comes to pass, it will line up with God's Word perfectly, the same as when Jesus came the first time!

     In the course of this study, I have likened prophecies of the end times to various things, like pieces of a puzzle that are meant to fit together to form a complete picture.  Will the way I have fit the pieces together match the picture that will one day be revealed?  Or, those keys I have worked on, do they really open any of the locks to the mysteries of The Revelation?  Have I notched them correctly?  Or, that wheel I spoked, will it truly roll without wobbling?  While I do not see any of these endeavors as a "mission impossible,"  I am hesitant to regard them as a "mission accomplished."  Really, I am still on a mission, studying, comparing, praying, working, wondering, listening, notching, watching!  Isn't it interesting how things are shaping up?

     You know, this thing has gotten pretty big for this unknown country boy trying to peck out all of these letters on his word processing machine.  As a part of Christ's Church, it would thrill my heart to be used of the Lord to make a contribution to our understanding of His Revelation to us.  I find hope in this possibility when I read words like Paul's from I Corinthians 1:26-31.  If I am so used or not, on that day when I stand before the Lord, I want to be able to say, "I did the best I could,"  for I want to hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."  As of the year 2024, this is the best I can do.

     In closing, I would like to leave the reader with the last two verses of The Revelation and the Holy Bible:

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 20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

 21  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.

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