Though I have already touched on the subject of this proposition a few times, let's now look more fully at the possibility and its implications.

     Concerning where we have come to, the appearance of the celestial phenomena that occurs with the opening of the 6th Seal (Rev. 6:12-14) happens in fulfillment of what Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:29-31, verses we have been referring to as our focal passage.  The phenomena that He here speaks of will occur in conjunction with the appearance of "the sign of the Son of man in heaven" (vs. 30).  Jesus says that at this time, "all the tribes" shall see Him.  This harmonizes with "all the tribes" of Revelation 7:4, the 12,000 from each tribe that will be sealed in connection with the opening of the 6th Seal.  These 144,000 Jews will have just witnessed what occurs at this time, meaning they will have just seen the Lamb too, right along with all the others of whom John writes (Rev. 6:15-17).  Moreover, the very next thing John sees is "a great multitude" in Heaven (Rev. 7:9), which I submit to be the just raptured Church.  This likewise harmonizes with the very next thing Jesus speaks of in our focal passage---the elect that the angels shall gather together (vs. 31)!  All of this also fits the blending of our focal passage with Mark and Luke's parallel accounts of it (Mk. 13:24-27 and Lk. 21:25-27).

     These prophecy pieces come together, interlock, and reveal a remarkably coherent section of our puzzle.  But, in my years of contemplating this section, I have noticed something that I believe needs to be understood just a little differently.  What I am referring to is the common belief that Jesus will return invisibly at the time of the rapture.  In my thinking, and seeking to bring our understanding into better alignment with Scripture, it needs to be understood that Jesus is going to be NOT visible instead of INvisible.  By this I mean, not visible to anyone outside of Israel's hemisphere.  What I am getting at is easily illustrated by something all of us observe regularly.  Let me explain.

     Because the earth is a sphere, the sun is not visible to everyone on the earth simultaneously.  For example, when it is noon in Israel, the sun is not visible to anyone in the United States, however, it is very visible throughout the hemisphere of which Israel is a part---and vice-versa.  So, while the sun is often not visible, it is never invisible.  Of course, THE SON can be invisible if He wants to be!  Or, visible to some while at the same time invisible to others or whatever He wants!  But, a lot of what He wants or intends to do is revealed to us in Scripture.  We just have to try to interpret it correctly.

     The belief that Christ will return invisibly at the rapture has been based upon His return as a "thief" (e.g., Matt. 24:42-44).  However, Christ's returning in this way at this time does not have to mean that He will be invisible.  No thieves have ever worked invisibly, but most do work in a manner in which they won't be seen or where their being seen will be limited.  And, if they are seen or glimpsed, it is often not realized what they have done until it is too late!  This is because they do what they do suddenly and unexpectedly, and then they are gone.  According to what we find in Scripture, such will be the case when Christ comes to steal away His Church (Matt. 24:40-41, I Thess. 4:16-5:4).

     In years past, when I would try to imagine Christ returning as a thief to take the Church out of this world, my only concept was in tune with the common pre-trib view and without any consideration of the sphere shape of the earth.  I too envisioned Christians disappearing the world over and none of those left behind getting a glimpse of anything, much less a glimpse of Christ.  I too could see Christian's clothes settling in a ruffle as their bodies disappeared from within them or something falling that a Christian might have been holding at the time or vehicles that Christians were driving, suddenly being driverless, and what that would mean.  In other words, I never saw a problem scripturally with how things are commonly imagined or depicted.  Believe it or not, this is still the way I see things happening, at least on our side of the earth.  I mean, we have Scripture that things in this world are going to be shaken up.  We have Scripture that this is going to happen without warning.  And, we have Scripture that when it happens, it's going to happen very, very quickly.  Hence, in my view, what is commonly imagined is simply a matter of doing the math.  But, do we really have Scripture that Christ is going to return invisibly at this time?  Let me suggest another equation.

     By my math, when it is time, the Lamb will open the 6th Seal, whereupon He will suddenly appear in the clouds over the land of Israel.  This is what Jesus is speaking of when He says, "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven" (Matt. 24:30).  And, barring a miracle to some other effect, it will not be possible for those left behind in our hemisphere to see this.

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NOTE:  The situation will be vastly different at the time of Christ's Second

Advent, when "EVERY EYE shall see Him,"  as will be made clear in PART II.

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     Back to our equation, in Israel's hemisphere, even if it's high noon, I can envision everything suddenly brightening up intensely, like in a blink!  Concurrent with this, there will be a great sound of a trumpet, whereupon the resurrection will occur, followed immediately by the rapture of the Church.  Even though multitudes of Christians, arguably most, will not be in Israel's hemisphere, the angels will gather them together so quickly that they too will see (and meet!) Christ in the air within a twinkling of an eye!  At this same instant, 144,000 Jews (in Israel's hemisphere) will get at least a glimpse of the Lamb (Jesus), a sight that will convict them of the realization that Jesus was indeed their Messiah.  These 144,000 will be converted and sealed (Matt. 29:30, Rev. 7:4), but left behind, evidently for the purpose of bearing testimony to the Lamb and warning everyone concerning the Antichrist during Daniel's 70th Week (Rev. 12:11, 17).

     For all the rest left behind on Israel's side of the earth, many possibilities exist.  Many will be in or near the land of Israel, but others will be at the far reaches of that hemisphere.  Those who are outside and not facing in His direction at the instant of His appearance may not get the same glimpse of Him as those who are.  It's not hard to imagine everyone that sees His brightness having to shield and shut their eyes, and opening their eyes, He may already be gone.  Some will be inside at the time and may only see the flash of brightness in conjunction with everything else that will happen.  Outside of the 144,000, there's no telling how many will get a glimpse of Him but won't survive all that will happen long enough to tell about it.  Of those missing, some will be gone who were known to be Christians, along with some who were not known to be.  On the other hand, of those left behind, there will be those who were thought to be Christians, but were not---those who were merely religious but lost.

     Meanwhile, on our side of the earth, in our hemisphere, those who are left behind will be left shaking their heads---IN MY THINKING, AS COMMONLY DEPICTED---left to experience all the aftermath of what will happen after the opening of the 6th Seal.

     As can be seen, my understanding of Scripture concerning what it will be like when the rapture takes place remains much like that of those who are still of the common pre-trib persuasion, as far as what it will be like for those left behind over here.  For those left behind in Israel's hemisphere, however, things will be somewhat different, for we can only imagine what the appearance of "THE SIGN of the Son of man in heaven" (Matt. 24:30) will be like, even if it's but a glimpse.  But, Jesus and John give us a little insight---Jesus, in Luke's account of His Olivet Discourse (Lk. 21:25-27), and John, in his account of the 6th Seal (Rev. 6:15-17).

     In PART II it will be seen that what all the day of the rapture entails is immense.  Suffice it for now to say, when the dust settles from it all, 144,000 sealed Jews and a multitude of unsaved people will be left behind who will witness the rise of the Antichrist---and things are not going to be good.

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