Does the Rapture Occur Pre-Tribulation and during Rosh Hashana or Pre-Wrath when the Seventh/Last Trumpet is Sounded in the Book of Revelation?

In Matthew 24:21-22, Jesus explains the seven-year tribulation and God's wrath to come, "for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days be shortened, there shall be no flesh saved: but for the elect's (Christians) sake those days shall be shortened". 1 Thessalonians 1:10 explains how God will not allow Christians to go through His wrath, “and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come”. 1 Thessalonians 5:9, “for God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ”. In Luke 17:34-37 Jesus describes who will be raptured and where we will be gathered to meet the Lord, "I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left". And they (his disciples) answered unto him, "where Lord?" And he said to them, "wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together (in the air)". But when exactly will Christians be raptured and saved from the wrath to come? Will we have to endure the whole seven-year tribulation, raptured before God’s wrath is poured out on earth, go though only three-and-half years of it, or lastly taken before it starts? I believe the placement of the rapture during the tribulation is extremely important for Christians to study and understand. Not only so we are prepared for the hardship we must face and endure in the near future, but so, we can warn others. The Bible specifically states, "no one knows the day or hour the Lord will return". But 1 Corinthians 15:52 indicates it will happen at the last trump, "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”. 1 Corinthians 15:52 gives us a hint when the rapture occurs but does not give specific timing of the trumpet or which trumpet it is. This article will delve into two rapture theories: pre-tribulation and pre-wrath and how they may correlate with two different ideas of what the last trump could be. For instance, some believe the rapture will be pre-tribulation and occur after the Rosh Hashanah Shofar is blown for the last time. Others believe, including myself, the rapture may occur pre-wrath, after the last trumpet in Revelation chapter 13 is blown and before the wrath of God is poured out on Earth. Also, the timing of the rapture also depends on one's view of the term Tribulation Saints mentioned in Revelation. The pre-tribulation theory holds to the view that the Church is no longer mentioned after Revelation chapter three, so this proves they have been raptured, and the people left behind and who become saved during the tribulation are called Tribulation Saints. I submit to the reader, rather, the title of Christians has simply changed from Church to Tribulation Saints, because during the time period John wrote Revelation, he was writing to his present-day Chruch about what will happen to the future Church now called Tribulation Saints. To explore these ideas, this article will discuss and refute the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Rosh Hashanah Shofar Theory; Explain and endorse the Pre-Wrath Rapture Revelation Last Trumpet Theory; and lastly discuss if Tribulation Saints described in Revelation, are actually modern-day Christians.

To begin, let's define the four theories of the rapture: pre-tribulation rapture, “this view maintains the rapture occurs when Jesus comes secretly to gather the Church prior a seven-year great tribulation which precedes the return of Christ to Earth” (Bandy, 2024). Mid-tribulation rapture, “…locates the rapture after the first three-and-half years at the point when the Anti-Christ assumes power” (Bandy, 2024). Pre-wrath rapture, “this position argues that the rapture will occur toward the end of the tribulation before the outpouring of God’s wrath with the bowl judgments prior to the return of Christ” (Bandy, 2024). Lastly, post-tribulation, “this view sees the rapture as occurring simultaneous to the return of Christ at the end of the tribulation” (Bandy, 2024). As mentioned in the thesis, this article will only focus on the pre-tribulation and pre-wrath views of the rapture, as compared to the last trumpet Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15:52, “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”

There is a popular theory held by Pastor Jimmy Evans (a renowned prophecy expert, whom I listen to often, and have learned a lot from) and others, which claims the rapture will occur pre-tribulation and during the Nation of Isreal’s New Year’s Holiday, Rosh Hashanah, and as I have named it: The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Rosh Hashanah Shofar Theory. This theory is becoming popular because during this holiday, they blow the Jewish trumpet, called the shofar, “a shofar is a trumpet made from the horn of a kosher animal with the marrow removed. The central mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah is to hear the shofar being blown—often in synagogue, ideally as part of the prayer service” (Chabad, 2024). Pastor Jimmy Evans and others believe The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Rosh Hashanah Shofar Theory is the correct view, because the Shofar is blown 100 times during the Israeli New Years Holiday, and the last time it is blown - the 100th time - is the last trumpet the Bible is explaining in 1 Corinthians 15:52, and therefore when the rapture must take place. Let's read the verse again, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead (in Christ) shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed". As defined earlier, believers of the pre-tribulation theory suggest the rapture must take place before the tribulation begins, because they believe God's wrath is poured out on earth for the entire seven-years, and God has not destined Christians to wrath but salvation. To prove this point, proponents of the pre-tribulation rapture will cite the stories of Noah and the Ark being saved from God's wrath in the 40-day flood, which ultimately destroyed the whole Earth and every living creature, except Noah and his family and the animals on the ark; or Lot being saved out of Sodom before God's wrath is poured out and destroyed the city and every living creature, even his wife. To be clear, I do not deny these Bible stories are a symbol of Jesus Christ saving his children from God's wrath during the tribulation, and ultimately Hell, and the second death. But do these stories prove the pre-tribulation view of the rapture? No, because I believe God's wrath is not poured out during the whole seven-year tribulation, but only during the hour of trial, which will be explained further in the article.

At any rate, I one hundred percent reject The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Rosh Hashanah Shofar Theory. One reason I reject this theory is because Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected to fulfill the Old Testament Jewish Law, and established Christianity in its place - as the means of salvation and eternal life. So why would God implement the rapture during a Jewish holiday, especially since they are mostly unbelievers? Another reason, and one I mentioned earlier, is because no one knows the day or hour of Jesus Christ’s return, and since Rosh Hashanah is an established and planned event every Israeli New Year, this fact, in my opinion, ultimately discredits the Rosh Hashanah Shofar Rapture Theory. To explain my point further, if this theory is true, then Jesus could only return for his bride (believers in Jesus Christ – the Church) during Rosh Hashana in the month of October, in the early days, for example, this year, “the blowing of the shofar was on Oct. 3 and 4, 2024” (Chabad, 2024). Again, the Bible specifically states at least five times, that no man knows the day or hour of the rapture or Jesus Christ's return: Mark 13:32 and Matthew 24:36 states, “but of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone”; Acts 1:7 “He said to them, it is not for you to know times or epochs (seasons) which the Father has fixed by His own authority”; 1Thessalonians 5:2, “for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night” Revelation 16:15; “behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked, and men will not see his shame”.

To further refute The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Rosh Hashanah Shofar Theory, I submit a different one, which is not new to the world, but I created the theory name: The Pre-Wrath Rapture Revelation Last Trumpet Theory. I believe the last trumpet mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:52, may be the same last or seventh trumpet blown by the angel(s) during the trumpet judgements in Revelation 11:15. Let’s compare the two scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:52, “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” and Revelation 11:15, “and the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, 'the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever'”. I submit to the readers, once the rapture and the first resurrection happens, as mentioned above, the kingdoms of this world, instantly turn into the Kingdoms of Jesus Christ.

To explain further, compare 1 Corinthians 15: 51, “behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed” with Revelation 8:7, “but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets”. Notice how both scriptures are speaking of the mystery of God, the first explaining it and the latter saying it is complete. Also to note, many people who refute the Pre-Wrath Rapture Revelation Seventh Trumpet Theory say the Apostle Paul was writing to the Church of Corinth regarding the timing of the rapture in 1 Corinthians 15:52, and since Revelation wasn’t written until a few years later 1. How could Paul have known it was the seventh trump of the trumpet judgements and 2. He (Paul) made sure the readers, The Church of Corinth, would understand what he was referring to when He said, “at the last trump”. So, in their belief, Paul has to be referring to the shofar during Rosh Hashanah. But I submit that if we, The Church, do not fully understand the last trump of the rapture, why should we believe the Church of Corinth had the privilege to? All scripture is inspired by God, so why are they limiting His abilities to only being able to write in chronological order, and what people would understand at the time of the writings? I also believe there were many prophecies in the Old and New Testament which were not understood until after they were fulfilled. For example, in Matthew 24, Jesus was warning His disciples of the birth pains/signs that will and must occur before the tribulation begins, and the disciples believed He was speaking about their generation, and they would be the Christians seeing his second coming. Unbeknownst to them, he was speaking of 2000 years in the future.

Next to discuss, why I believe the references to Christians in Revelation switches from the Church to Tribulation Saints. Contrary to popular belief, I do not believe the Church is raptured after Revelation chapter three, but rather I believe Christians are now called Tribulation Saints. I strongly believe the Christians who are alive when the Tribulation begins, were born specifically to go through the last days of the end-times and the tribulation. Yes, we are the Church, and we are saved from God's wrath, but God placed us here during these ends-times, “for such a times as this” (Esther 4:14). To explain my point further, Revelation 18:24 says, “Babylon is made up of the blood of the prophets, saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth”. See how the verse says saints and not the Church. Also, the Saints in white robes described in Revelation 7:9-17 are the Christians who were slaughtered during the fifth seal, and Jesus is described as the KING OF THE SAINTS in Revelation 15:3. Lastly, Revelation 7:14 describes Christians slaughtered by the anti-Christ, "and he said to me (John), “these are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb". I believe these verses are proof that the title of Christians has been changed from Church to Tribulation Saints after Revelation chapter three.

Next, lets discuss why the timing of the rapture is so critically important for Christians to understand and plan for, as I believe Christians/Tribulation Saints will be tortured and slaughtered before we are caught up to be with the Lord. Let’s take a look at Revelation 13:1-10 (emphasis on verses 7-10) to understand my point of view: 1. And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea (the sea is the human race), having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints (Christians), and to overcome them (kill): and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. 9. If any man has an ear, let him hear. 10. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Again, and as I mentioned above, I believe, before the rapture, Christians/Tribulation Saints, will be tortured and slaughtered during for most of the tribulation, starting with the fifth seal, Which Revelation 6:8-11 explains: 8. And I looked and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 9. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 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; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

To explain further, even though I believe Christians/Tribulation Saints will go through most of the tribulation and will be tortured and slaughtered, that does not mean God's wrath has been poured out upon earth yet. That is still to come and Christians/Tribulation Saints will be raptured before the wrath of God and the hour of trial is poured out on the earth and on unbelievers as Revelation 3:10 explains, “because thou has kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth”. Notice Jesus says hour, not a week which would indicate seven years. And what patience is Jesus referring to? Maybe the one we just read in Revelation 13:10, "...here is the patience and the faith of the saints". Also, In Revelation 18, God destroys Babylon in one hour, which also coincides which Revelation 3:10.

Next, the following scripture shows how the wrath of God is separate than the tribulation: Revelation Chapter 11: 15-19, titled the Seventh Trumpet, seems to describe heaven opening and prophets, servants, saints, and those who fear God's name being rewarded, which may indicate the rapture has happened. Also, unbelievers are furious the wrath of God has now started, "and the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, we give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and was, and art to come: because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thundering, and an earthquake, and great hail. Revelation 15:1, titled the Seven Plagues, explains, "and I saw another sign in heaven great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up with the wrath of God”. Revelation 15: 7, “and one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever”. Revelation 16:1, “and I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God unto the earth”.

In conclusion, I hope this article explains why I believe the Pre-Wrath Revelation Seventh Trumpet Rapture Theory makes more sense than the Pre-tribulation Rapture Rosh Hashana Rapture Theory. Again, the reasons I reject the Pre-tribulation Rapture Rosh Hashana Rapture Theory are 1. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected to fulfill the Old Testament Jewish Law, and established Christianity in its place - as the means of salvation and eternal life. So why would God implement the rapture during a Jewish holiday, especially since they are mostly unbelievers? 2. No one knows the day or hour of the rapture, so saying it can and will only happen only during Isreal's New Year Holiday Rosh Hashanah is heresy and should be rejected by every Christian. 3. Revelation has several scriptures that places Christians/Tribulation Saints during times of intense persecution, and many being slaughtered, which clearly indicates the rapture will not happen before the tribulation begins, which in my opinion makes Thessalonians 4:15-16 make more sense, “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first”. Christians, please prepare yourself for extremely difficult times ahead; We must pray and read the Bible to grow your strength and relationship with Christ now, so when the tribulation begins, (read Matthrew Ch. 24, Mark Ch. 13, and Luke 21:5-38) we are ready and willing to keep the patience of his word and testimony and be prepared to die for Jesus Christ. I sincerely hope and pray this article encourages all believers to never stop, “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:13). Because as 2 Timothy 4:8 explains, “in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” Will you be receiving the Crown of Righteousness? To ensure your name is written in the Lambs book of Life and to not miss the blessed hope of the rapture and escape God’s Wrath - please give your life to Jesus Christ today! Contrary to what Pope Franics has recently said, not all religions lead to God; actually, only Jesus Christ is the way to God. If you confess with your mouth Jesus Christ is Lord and that He is God’s son and believe in your heart He died and was raised from the dead, you will be saved; and He will give you salvation and eternal life! Maranatha!

References

Bandy, A. S. (2024). The rapture question. The Gospel Coalition. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-rapture-question/

Chabad. (2024). Shofar – The horn blown on rosh hashanah. Chabad.org.

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4837/jewish/Shofar.htm

Evans, Jimmy. (2024, Sept. 18). Is the rapture happening this rosh hashanah? Tipping Point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyLGoHL-xBM

The Holy Bible. (1992). The New Student Bible. King James Version. Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids Michigan.