1. Definition the eschatological term "The Coming Wrath" refers to the timeframe beginning after the Rapture of the Church, at the mid-point of Daniels Seventieth Week, concluding with the Second Advent and the start of the Millennium.

1. It is a time of unparalleled judgement on the inhabitants of the earth. Rev 3:10 " I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth."

2. It is to be distinguished from the term "the Day of the Lord", which includes this time period as well as the Millennium, the Gog-Magog Rebellion, and the Great White Throne judgement. 1Th 5:2 cp 2Pet 3:10

1. Technically, The Wrath, as well as the Day of the Lord, does not begin until the mid-point of Daniels 70^th Week. cp Isa 13:6, 9; Joel 4:15; Zeph 1:14-15

2. The Day of the Lord coming "like a thief" does not refer to sudden surprise, but to the lack of preparation by the world for its advent. cp Lk 12:39 "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into."

3. For the purposes of our study, the entire 7 year period will be considered the Church is delivered 3 ½ years prior to the Wrath, but the first half of the Week is necessary to set up the Wrath itself.

     C.  That the Rapture of the Church occurs first and before the preparation   for, or execution of, the Wrath is seen in the warnings given to the Church, to "be on the alert" or to "be ready", for the coming of the Day of the Lord (not to live through it). Mt 24:42-44; Mk 13:28f esp 37; 1Th 5:2-6

2.  Political/Religious entities

1. Satan the god of this world (Rev 12:3-10)

2. the Beast Antichrist (Rev 13:1-9)

3. the False Prophet deceives the world into worship of Antichrist (Rev 13:11-17)

4. the King of the South Egypt (Dan 11:6, 40, 42-43)

5. the King of the North Russian confederation (Dan 7:5, 11:40)

6. the Kings of the East Pan-oriental alliance (Dan 7:6; Rev 16:12)

7. Religious Babylon the Roman Catholic Church (Rev 17)

8. Political Babylon the United States (Rev 18)

9. National Israel composed of both believers and unbelievers (Rev 11:1-2, 8)

10. 144,000 male Jews the firstfruits of the Tribulational saints (Rev 7:3-8)

11. the Two Witnesses prophets who testify to Israel (Rev 11:3-12)

12. Elect Angels function as messengers of God to humanity (Rev 14:6-18, 19:10)

13. The Lord Jesus Christ the Administrator of the judgments, and Deliverer of the saints (Dan 12:1_b; Rev 5:9)

3.  A brief description of the major time periods includes:

1. The Rapture (the word rapture is from the Latin word "rapere", used to translate "caught up" (a`rpa,zw harpadzo) of 1Th 4:17 in the Latin version {Vulgate}):

1. The Rapture, Translation, or Gathering of the Church Universal is the event wherein the Lord will return to the upper atmosphere to remove all Church Age believers from the earth. 1Cor 15:51-52

1. believers who have died will be raised and given Resurrection bodies first. 1Th 4:16 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, and the dead in Christ shall rise first."

2. believers still alive will then be glorified (practically at the same instant). 1Th 4:17 "Then (e;peita epeita = "thereafter") we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air"

2.    The identification of the generation that will experience the Rapture is keyed to Israels reemergence as a nation, with Jerusalem as their capital.

1. Israel, and specifically Judah, is compared metaphorically to a fig tree, in Hos 9:10; Joel 1:7 (cp 2:22)

2. Jerusalem is called the "Fig Tree", in Jer 8:13 (cp vs 5)

3. this title was used by Jesus in His prophetic discourse concerning the destruction of Jerusalem Lk 13:6-9

4. the establishment of Jewish Jerusalem is the sign of the approaching 2^nd Advent Mk 13:4, 28

5. one generation lies between the appearance of the "fig tree" and the Second Advent Mk 13:29-30

6. unknown in our Lords day was the length of time until that generation began Mk 13:32

7. true imminency recognizes an unspecified time lapse until the Rapture generation Mk 13:33 "Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is." (time = kairo,j kairos = season)

8. false imminency denies the Church the ability to identify the Rapture generation (yet Scripture enjoins the Church to alertness lest that day overtake them unaware 1Th 5:4 "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief")

9. it also violates the typology of Noahs Flood, when 100 years advance notice was given Mt 24:37 "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah."

10. The total number of days of the Week is given repeatedly, so believers will be able to determine the exact day of the 2^nd Advent therefore it is the Rapture, the beginning of the Week, that is unknown. Dan 9:27 ("the week" = 7 years), 12:6-7; Rev 11:3 cp 13:5 (two periods of 3½ years)

11. since Jerusalem and the Temple are seen immediately following the Rapture, the nation must exist beforehand, with control over Jerusalem necessary to set up the Temple and begin sacrifices Rev 11:3 cp vs 8

12. that Israel will be gathered and restored as a nation is the subject of OT prophecy (Eze 37:21f) and that it has occurred in unbelief does not negate the promise of regathering (Eze 37:1-11)

13. conclusion: the "Fig Tree" Generation began with the founding of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish nation, in June 1967.

       3.  That this event immediately precedes the 7 year period of Daniels 70^th Week is seen in passages such as:

1. 1Th 1:10 "Jesus, who delivers (lit the one delivering = P Ptc) us from the wrath to come"

2. Rev 3:10 "I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world" (notice He does not promise to protect us "in" it, but "out from" it, i.e. separated from it)

3. Rev 4:1 "After these things (the events of the Church Age) I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven" (notice also there is no mention of the Church on earth during the Week)

4. there is no mention of the experience of the Tribulation in any New Testament Epistles; we are taught about persecution and suffering, but never dealing with the components or suffering in the period of the Wrath.

1. It will include all believers of the Church Age, whatever their spiritual or physical condition (alive or dead). 1Th 4:13f

2. All Church Age believers will be given a Resurrection Body, like Christs glorified body. 1Cor 15:51-52; 1Jn 3:2 "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is."

3. The Church will be transported to the Bema Seat in the upper atmosphere, where our Ph₂ works will be judged according to their merit. 1Cor 3:11-15

1. works performed under the energy of the flesh or not in accordance with the Divine Imperatives will be destroyed as unworthy

2. Divinely authorized works, carried out under the Filling of the Holy Spirit, will be judged worthy, and we will receive reward for each application

3. the believer himself will not be judged, only the deeds performed in time (cp Rom 8:1)

1. The Marriage of Christ and the Church will then occur Rev 19:7-8

2. We will remain in the Throne Room of God to witness the judgements of the Wrath of God, returning with the Lord at the 2^nd Advent. 1Th 4:17; Rev 19:14

       B.  Daniels 70^th Week (erroneously called the Tribulation)

1. The 7 year period will begin with only unbelievers on the planet, but evangelization by angels and man will begin immediately. cp Rev 14:6 "And I saw another angel , having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people"

2. The Antichrist will appear after the Rapture, not before. 2Th 2:1-10

3. At the same time, the Two Witnesses of God will appear, and begin their 3½ year ministry. Rev 11:3-7

4. The first half of the 7 year period will be relatively quiet in relation to Israel, until the third year, when events and judgements will fall quickly and intensely. cp Mt 24:15-22 ("then there will be")

5. The 144,000 male Jews will begin their ministry, moving to Israel and evangelizing on the way. Rev 14:1

6. Positive Volition among the Jews will reach an all-time high, to be surpassed only by the positive volition of the Millennium. Eze 37:13-14

7. Satan:

1. as the god of this world, will seek to overthrow Gods Plan and destroy believers and national Israel Rev 12:4, 13:1f

2. at the mid-point of the Week, he and his demons lose the great war in Heaven against Michael and the elect angels, and are cast to earth for the remainder of the Week Rev 12:7-12

3. releases the demonic armies currently confined to Tartarus to torment unbelieving mankind for 5 months Rev 9:1-11

4. possesses Antichrist to complete his plan to replace God Rev 13:5

             8. Antichrist:

1. is also a resuscitated man, although an unbeliever Rev 11:7, 17:8-11

2. will rise quickly through the political scene, until he is given rulership of the Revived Roman Empire Rev 17:12-13

3. is genetically of European stock Dan 9:26

4. will destroy Roman Catholicism Rev 17:15-18

5. will be Satanically motivated, and in the 3^rd year will be possessed by Satan 2Th 2:9; Rev 13:2,4

6. will persecute and martyr the Two Witnesses, believers, and any others who oppose him Rev 11:7, 13:7, 20:4

7. will demand worship in the Temple as Israels God 2Th 2:3-4

8. will sign a 7 year treaty in the middle of the Week, promising to protect Israel from her enemies, thus seeking to "alter the times" Dan 9:27

9. will lead his armies against Egypt (the King of the South), then turn back to the Holy Land to fight the King of the North (Russia) and the Kings of the East (Oriental nations) Dan 11:40f

10. his end has is a part of the Divine Decrees Dan 9:27

           9.  The False Prophet

1. an unbelieving Jewish religious leader, who gives support to Antichrist Rev 13:11

2. performs miracles in the presence of Antichrist as "authentication" of the false Messiah Rev 13:12-14

3. sets up the image of Antichrist in the Temple, and demands Israel worship him as Messiah Rev 13:15

4. will forbid commercial operations without his approval (the Mark of the Beast) Rev 13:17

5. will be demon possessed Rev 16:13-14

           10.  Babylon (the name "Babylon" means "confusion", a reference to the rejection of Divine Viewpoint to the maximum degree):

1. religious Babylon:

1. will promote the rise of Antichrist, control the Revived Roman Empire (European Union), and be judged for participation in the persecution and martyrdom of Jews and true Christians. Rev 17

2. is identified as the Roman Catholic Church

3. the religion of the R.C.C. is in reality a re-packaging of the ancient Mother-Son cult, dating back to ancient Babylon (a detailed analysis of this material would be outside the scope of our study; however, the information can be documented from numerous sources for additional questions, refer to "The Two Babylons" by Rev. Alexander Hislop {http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/babylons/default.htm})

1. Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and the R.C.C. all worship an identical form of the Queen of Heaven and her son/reincarnated husband, whether Isis/Osiris, Marduk/Tammuz, Ceres/Bacchus, or Madonna/Child

2. Jesuit priests evangelizing China and India even found statues and idols that were identical in every detail to Madonna and Child

3. this Satanic counterfeit has placed the mother/queen above the son as an object of worship, and has replaced the father altogether

4. worship of the "Queen of Heaven" is forbidden Jer 7:18

1. Roman Catholicism has historically been the largest persecutor of true Christianity since its inception (cp the Inquisition)

2. thus the special judgment and destruction she has stored up, for the centuries of opposition to the Plan of God and believers

1. political Babylon:

1. is the subject of much OT prophecy Isa 13, 21:1-10, 47; Jer 50,51

2. is described quite distinctly in Rev 18

3. will be destroyed by Russia, and powers allied with her against this world super-power, via thermonuclear attack Jer 51:48

4. is identified as the United States of America

           11.  The 144,000 Jews

1. 12,000 from each tribe (excluding Dan, but 12,000 each from Ephraim and Manasseh as co-tribes of Joseph) Rev 7:4-8

2. cannot be harmed in any way Rev 7:4

3. meet with the Lord at Mt. Zion at the Second Advent Rev 14:1

4. receive special SG₃ for their faithfulness and application Rev

          12.  The Two Witnesses:

1. are resuscitated believers from the Age of Israel (Moses (implied) and Elijah (explicit)) Mal 4:4-5; cp Lk 9:29-31

2. cannot be harmed by men Rev 11:5

3. call down fire from heaven and plagues on the nations Rev 11:6

4. confine their ministry to Judea and Jerusalem Rev 11:8

5. will be killed by Antichrist Rev 11:7

6. will be brought back to life after three days Rev 11:11

7. will rise bodily into heaven Rev 11:12

          13.  Angels:

1. evangelize the world after the Rapture Rev 14:6

2. seal/protect the 144,000 Rev 7:3

3. announce the coming judgements Rev 8:13, 14:7-11

4. carry out certain judgements Rev 7:1,2, 8:1f, 9:1,13-15

5. all angelic activities are carried out as servants of God, they neither demand nor desire worship Rev 19:10, 22:9

          14.  The Lord Jesus Christ:

1. alone is worthy to open the scroll to begin the judgements Rev 5

2. as He breaks each seal, an event begins which sets up the final conclusion/judgement Rev 6

1. rider on the white horse represents the false disarmament/peace campaign cp 1Th 5:3

2. rider on the red horse represents war in various parts of the world, (especially the Far East, as inferred from the reduced number of the armies)

3. rider on the black horse represents economic depression and famine caused by destruction of crops (with notable exceptions)

4. rider on the ashen (grayish-white) horse represents human casualties (25%) due to war, famine, and the animal kingdom

5. represents the death of Tribulational martyrs

6. represents judgements, phenomena, and signs through the natural order

7. the introduction of the Seven Trumpet Judgements Rev 8-9

1. fiery hail mixed with blood

2. destruction of 1/3 of the sea (Babylon cp Jer 51:25)

3. contamination/poisoning of 1/3 of fresh water (a comet/meteorite)

4. reduced light from sun, moon and stars

5. release of the demonic armies

6. four demons (currently bound at the Euphrates River) are released to kill an additional 1/3 of mankind (evidently by possessing the 4 kings of the East and leading them to war)

7. the Second Advent Rev 11:15f

               c.   causes the seven bowl judgements, which fall in rapid succession, near the end of the Week Rev 16

1. boils/painful sores on unbelievers vs 2

2. destruction of all life in the sea vs 3

3. destruction of fresh water vs 4

4. sun scorches men vs 8

5. darkness on kingdom of Antichrist vss 10-11

6. Euphrates River dried up (to prepare for the Kings of the East) vs 12

7. most severe earthquake and destruction in history vss 17-21

C) The Second Advent

1. The Lord Jesus Christ physically and bodily returns to the earth Zech 14:4

1. every eye will see him Mt 24:29-30; Rev 1:7

2. He rides a white horse Rev 19:11

3. He is called "Faithful and True"

4. His armies accompany Him Rev 19:14 (fine, white linen = rewards given to the Church cp 19:8)

5. He single-handedly slaughters the enemy in righteousness Isa 63:1-4; Rev 19:21

6. judges Jewish survivors from all the nations Eze 20:33-38, 37:21f

7. judges the nations, separating believers from unbelievers (sheep and goats) Mt 25:31-46

1. Satan will be confined to Hades (not the Lake of Fire) for the duration of the Millennium Rev 20:1-3

2. Antichrist:

1. will be personally defeated by the Lord 2Th 2:8

2. will be cast alive into the Lake of Fire for the duration of the Millennium, along with the False Prophet Dan 7:11; 2Th 2:8; Rev 19:20

1. Old Testament saints and Tribulational martyrs will be resurrected and rewarded. Isa 26:19-21; Dan 12:1-2, 13; Rev 20:4

D) Applications to the Church Age:

1. We are obligated to take in the Doctrine regarding this prophetic time period, and observe the fulfillment of the prophecies surrounding it. 1Th 5:4-6

2. We are to thank God that He will deliver us from the Wrath. 2Th 2:13

3. Since it will cut short our Ph₂, we are to apply all the more steadfastly as we see it drawing near. Heb 10:25

4. We are to pray for the fulfillment and completion of the Wrath. Mt 6:10

5. Despite the horrific and unprecedented nature of the judgements, we are to glorify God because of them. Rev 14:7

6. We are to pray for the saints that endure the Wrath. Rev 6:9-10 cp 8:4

7. We are to eagerly anticipate the completion of the Day of the Lord and the ushering in of the Day of God. 2Pet 3:12

Hope Bible Church