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, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

 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?

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     If we compare what Jesus spoke with what John wrote, this is what we find:  They both refer to simultaneously occurring phenomena having to do with the sun, the moon, and the stars---and again, there is that sequential order.  Jesus spoke of a time when THE SUN would be "darkened," and John wrote, "THE SUN became black as sackcloth made of hair."  Jesus spoke of a time when THE MOON would not "give her light," and John wrote, "THE MOON became as blood."  Jesus spoke of a time when THE STARS would "fall from heaven," and John wrote, "THE STARS of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs."  Furthermore, Jesus also spoke of a time when "the powers of  THE HEAVENS shall be shaken," and John wrote, "THE HEAVEN departed as a scroll when it is rolled together."  Does it not sound like that what Jesus said would happen is here being fulfilled by what John describes as happening?  And most importantly, coupled with all of this, Jesus said that the appearance of "THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN IN HEAVEN" would occur at the time of these phenomena, which is also consistent with what John wrote:  "AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE, AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB."  The sequential order of these two accounts is like A,B,C,D,E---A,B,C,D,E.

     Reinforcing the relationship of all the foregoing, Mark and Luke's corresponding accounts of our focal passage also fit what John described.  But, something else very interesting and noteworthy is this:  Whereas Luke does not record anything concerning Jesus' sending of His angels to gather together His elect (as do Matthew and Mark), he does record some things Jesus said concerning the reaction of those left behind, or not gathered.  Notice what I have underlined from Luke 21 (and once again, note the BOLD):

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 25  And there shall be signs in THE SUN, and in THE MOON, and in THE STARS;  and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;  the sea and the waves roaring;

 26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:  for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

 27  And then shall they see THE SON OF MAN coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

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     Does this not sound like a paraphrase of John's account of the 6th Seal (see again above) and mankind's reaction at that time?  I hope you will closely review the accounts and compare.

     Again, it is evident that there will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars that will accompany some return or appearance of Christ.  This particular event is spoken of in our focal passage, in Mark and Luke's corresponding accounts of this passage, and in John's account of the 6th Seal.  In our focal passage, Jesus says of this event, "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven."  Because of this, we can rightly identify His appearance in each of the other parallel accounts as also being "the sign of the Son of man in heaven."  But, does this necessarily mean that this is the time of the rapture and a different event than His Second Advent?  Consider the following further evidences that it does, still relating to the above passages:

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FURTHER EVIDENCE ITEM #1

     In verse 30 of our focal passage, Jesus says, "and they shall see the Son of man coming..."  But, rather than this being for the Battle of Armageddon and His Millennial Reign, as His Second Advent will be, He qualifies this coming as being the appearance of "the sign of the Son of man in heaven,"  at which time "He shall send His angels" to "GATHER TOGETHER His elect" (vs. 31).  This surely rings of the rapture.

     Recall again how Paul's words in II Thessalonians chapter two harmonize with what Jesus said:  "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (for the rapture), and by our GATHERING TOGETHER unto Him (during the rapture), That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the Day of Christ (His Second Advent) is at hand" (vss. 1-2).  Paul is here clarifying for the Thessalonians that Christ's Second Advent was not "at hand" as some were saying.  Before this happens, the event of our being gathered together unto Him will take place, which is the basis for him telling them not to be "soon shaken in mind" or "troubled" over what they might hear.

     Further, because of Jesus' words in our focal passage and the context of Paul's words, we can understand that Paul's reference to "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" that coincides with "our gathering together unto Him" (II Thess. 2:1) will be for the sign appearance that He will make.  It is after this, after the Antichrist is revealed (vss. 3-4), and after Daniel's 70th Week is fulfilled that "the Day of Christ" (vs. 2), or His Second Advent, will take place.  What Paul says as he continues also reinforces this.  When the Church is gathered, the work of Christ's Holy Spirit through the Church will be "taken out of the way" (vss. 6-7).  "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming" (vs. 8).  When Paul's words are read with the above understandings, the truths of what he was inspired to write become more clear.

     Note also the kinship between the gathering together of the elect and what John beheld just after his account of the 6th Seal.  Right after his account of this seal---just before the opening of the 7th Seal---there is an interlude (all of chapter seven) where he writes of 144,000 Jews that are sealed (Rev. 7:1-8) and of a great multitude assembled in Heaven (Rev. 7:9-17).  Could this great multitude be these gathered elect or the Church?  If the rapture occurs after the opening of the 6th Seal, there's not a much better place to find evidence of the Church being now in Heaven than right here!

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FURTHER EVIDENCE ITEM #2

     Closely akin to the preceding, in verse 31 of our focal passage, Jesus says His sending of the angels to "gather together His elect" will occur in conjunction with "a great sound of a trumpet."  This also harmonizes with what Paul said would happen at the time of the rapture.  In I Thessalonians 4:16-17 he writes, "For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the Trump of God:  and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:  and so shall we ever be with the Lord."  And again, in I Corinthians 15:51-52, he speaks similarly:  "Behold, I shew you a mystery;  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:  for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

     But there is something more.  Paul refers to the trumpet of which he speaks as "the last trump," and it is clear that this trumpet will be sounded at the rapture.  However, according to the common pre-trib interpretation, if what Jesus declares in our focal passage is of His Second Advent, this would mean that the trumpet of which He speaks will be the last trumpet, for it would be being sounded at least seven years after the rapture trumpet, making for another last trumpet.  Something here is not quite adding up.  Which trumpet is the last trumpet?

     Well, scripturally, a case can be made that there will be two last trumpet soundings.  Based in part upon Numbers 10:1-10, there could be a last trumpet calling an assembly and a last trumpet sounding an alarm.  What needs to be realized is this:  According to the common pre-trib view, for the trumpet Jesus spoke about in our focal passage to be sounded at His Second Advent would require that there be three last trumpet soundings.  Let's count them:

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     TRUMPET #1---The trumpet Paul referred to as the "last trump."  There is agreement that this trumpet relates to the resurrection and the rapture, and for those of us who are of the pre-trib persuasion, the event that will precede the time of Christ's Second Advent.  We could appropriately refer to this as the last trumpet calling an assembly!

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     TRUMPET #2---The 7th Trumpet, spoken of in Revelation 11:15.  This is the last in a series of seven trumpet soundings and the last one mentioned in the Bible.  But, this trumpet is not sounded at either event of Christ's return.  Rather, it is sounded to herald the period of which verses 15-19 are an overview.  A cursory reading of these verses will show that we could appropriately refer to this as the last trumpet sounding an alarm.

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     TRUMPET #3---The trumpet of our focal passage, IF our focal passage concerns Christ's Second Advent.  Yet, there is no evidence in The Revelation and its unquestioned account of His Second Advent for the sounding of a trumpet at this time.  Neither is there any clear evidence in all of Scripture for the sounding of a trumpet at this time.  The only evidence for a trumpet being sounded at the time of Christ's Second Advent happens to be in our focal passage, IF it is INTERPRETED to be of His Second Advent.  Hopefully it is being realized (more and more) why this must be a misinterpretation.

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     As we are seeing, there are solid reasons to believe that what Jesus spoke about in our focal passage concerns a sign appearance that He will make, which will precede His Second Advent.  Interpreted this way, there is perfect harmony between the trumpet of our focal passage and the trumpet Paul referred to as "the last trump," which we all know will be sounded at the rapture.

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FURTHER EVIDENCE ITEM #3

     Back to our focal passage, according to Jesus' words in verse 30, the return He is here speaking of will be seen or witnessed.  However, the coming of Christ for the Church is commonly believed to be an invisible coming.  Now, before I lose you (if you are pre-trib), I believe very similarly as far as what the experience will be for those left behind on our side of the earth, in our hemisphere.  But, because of the evidences in Scripture, it appears that at Christ's Sign Appearance, things are going to be a little different on the other side of the earth, in Israel's hemisphere.

     We will be looking at this further, later, but for now, according to Jesus, His return at this time will be seen or witnessed---at least by some.  Whether this is a rapture passage or not, we know that when Jesus returns for His Bride, He will be seen by Her!  However, Jesus here says that "ALL the tribes of the earth" shall mourn, "and they shall see the Son..."  This rings of the 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from EVERY tribe, which will be sealed during that same interlude mentioned earlier, between the 6th and 7th seals (Rev. 7:2-8).  Could it be that these 144,000 Jews will see Jesus during the rapture of the Church?  This would certainly fit what He says concerning this return being "the sign."  Does Jesus' words and John's vision link together?  Let's see:  If 12,000 Jews from every tribe get to see Jesus and are sealed during the rapture, Jesus' words in our focal passage would reflect THIS SEALING and THE RAPTURE, while John's vision in Revelation chapter seven would reveal THOSE SEALED and THE RAPTURED.  Looks like another parallel in sequence!

     Now, according to John's account of the 6th Seal, many others will also get at least a glimpse of Christ during this sign event (Rev. 6:15-17).  In my view, the nature of things at Christ's Sign Appearance will be such that the only ones for whom this will be possible will be those in Israel's hemisphere, similar to when He ascended (Acts 1:9-12).  Just be sure, at Christ's Second Advent, "every eye shall see Him" as will be made clear in PART II.

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FURTHER EVIDENCE ITEM #4

     Because our focal passage is so commonly interpreted to be of Christ's Second Advent, some interpret His 6th Seal appearance (Rev. 6:15-17) as this also.  However, if so, John's account of this should align with his undisputed account of Christ's Second Advent given much later, in Revelation 19:11-21.  But, it doesn't.

     For example, after the 6th Seal is opened, John beholds celestial signs like those Jesus spoke of in our focal passage.  These celestial signs are also prophesied of by Joel in the prophecy of his that Peter quoted on the Day of Pentecost (Joel 2:31, Acts 2:20).  Yet, these telltale signs are absent in John's undisputed account of Christ's Second Advent.  Why is this?

     Further, when the 6th Seal is opened, John beholds the people's utter terror and flight as they say 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" (Rev. 6:16).  On the surface, this might be taken as some evidence of Christ's Second Advent.  Yet later, in John's account of that, he sees this:  "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army" (Rev. 19:19).  Here, the people are gathered in league with the Antichrist and expecting Christ's return, seemingly presuming that under the Antichrist's leadership, they might have a chance in this battle.  Another problem here, especially for those of the post-trib persuasion, is this:  How can such an expectation by those gathered with the Antichrist be reconciled with what Jesus said concerning His unexpected return as a thief?

     In light of what we are seeing, the account of Christ's 6th Seal appearance hardly aligns with that of His Second Advent.  Interestingly, teachings comparing the accounts of either of these with our focal passage are in a category of sparse or nonexistent by those who hold to the common pre-trib view.  Why is this?  As I see it, it is simply because our focal passage has been so long misunderstood.

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FURTHER EVIDENCE ITEM #5

     Looking once more at John's account of the 6th Seal, he records this response of all the people in their distress:  "For the great day of His wrath is come;  and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6:17).  It is of this very time that Paul writes the following, in I Thessalonians 5:3, "For when they shall say, Peace and safety;  then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child;  and they shall not ESCAPE."  Paul says this in reference to those who will be left behind at the rapture.  This ties in with what he says a few verses later to the Church, which will not be left behind: "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" (vs. 9).  Similarly, Jesus makes a statement, recorded in Luke's account of His Olivet Discourse, which also ties in with this.  In Luke 21:36, He says, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to ESCAPE  all these things that shall come to pass, and to...

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STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN."

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This escape of which Jesus speaks doesn't fit the timing of His Second Advent, but it fits the rapture and the timing of the 6th Seal exactly.  And in that interlude just after this seal, John beholds those who have just escaped!  Notice how his words, from Revelation 7:9, tie back in with those above that Jesus spoke:  "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,

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STOOD BEFORE THE THRONE, AND BEFORE THE LAMB..."

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     It should be realized that if Christ's 6th Seal appearance is still interpreted to be of His Second Advent, the 7th Seal must be dealt with, as well as the events surrounding the seven trumpets and the seven vials of God's wrath, not to mention everything else that takes place up until the time of the undisputed account of His Second Advent, given thirteen chapters later in Revelation 19.  In my mind, this makes for a chronological tangle that cannot be unraveled.  These prophetic puzzle pieces just do not fit together.

     However, if the 6th Seal appearance of Christ is understood to be of a sign appearance that He will make that will precede the time of His Second Advent, the pieces fall right into place.  This understanding would have this group of pieces...

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REVELATION 6:12-17

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going more to the left side of the picture with the time of Christ's return for the rapture, and the other group of pieces...

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REVELATION 19:11-21

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going more to the right side of the picture with the time of Christ's return to reign.  As for the other pieces we have looked at so far, they would merely go where the points of convergence indicate, as we have been seeing.

     In review, it is apparent that Jesus is going to make a return that will be accompanied by signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars.  In our focal passage, He says of this return, "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven."  We have looked at solid evidences that this concerns something that will take place well before His Second Advent, an appearance that He will make at the time that the 6th Seal is opened.  Moreover, it is in relation to this 6th Seal appearance that we see evidences of the just escaped Church in the presence of the Lord and the despair of those left behind.  I submit that everything to this point in our study fits very well.  But, will that wheel I am working on end up rolling without wobbling?  Relating to our focal passage, there is still one spoke left that I have yet to put in place.  It has to do with one other statement Jesus there made.  My next proposition is dedicated to that statement.  When finished with it, I trust that we will be able to really roll.  And not only that, but straight and true!

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