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 is at hand. (2 Thess. 2:2)
The King James Version has it as the day of Christ in this verse because the Textus Receptus, the manuscript the translators relied upon, reads as hemeran Christou. In later, more reliable, Greek manuscripts it reads hemera tou kyriou (the day of the Lord.) There are only three other occasions (Phil. 1:6,10; 2:16) in Greek where it shows up as hemeran Christou (the day of Christ.)
Paul had already given us the context to his mention of the day of the Lord in the previous chapter. Chapter one was the primer to what he wrote about in chapter two. He had already admonished them that the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven (1:7) along with when he shall come to be glorified in his saints . . . (1:10.) Certainly, just three verses later Paul’s mention of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (2:1) was intended as a reiteration of the same. Thus, in his effort to calm their fears over whether or not the day of the Lord had come, he assured them it hadn’t (2:2.)
It’s plain to see that Paul’s day of the Lord (2:2) is only another way to express, the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven (1:7.) Essentially, Paul was saying in 2 Thes.2:2 that the Lord Jesus had not yet been revealed. It’s important to fully grasp Paul’s intention here. His words give us reason to understand that the revealing (or revelation) of Jesus is synonymous with the day of the Lord. Whether it’s the day of Christ or the day of the Lord, both are referring to the day of Christ’s revealing.
It’s clear that the revealing of Jesus is interchangeable with the day of the Lord (or day of Christ.) It should also be noted that the appearing of the Lord (as mentioned in 1 Peter 1:17,13, 5:4; 2 Tim. 1:10-11, 18; 2 Tim. 4:1,8,18; 1 Tim. 6:14; Col. 3:4) is one and the same as the revealing of the Lord. The task at hand is to establish that the revealing (or appearing) of Jesus Christ intersects the mid-point of the last seven years, and I’ll use Jesus’ own words to do it.
In three of the four Gospels we have a record of Jesus’ take on the events of the last days; the most commonly referenced text being Matt. 24. Both Mark 13 and Luke 21 are tied for a close second place. The less examined Luke 17, however, contains more precise language in regards to the timing of Jesus’ appearing or revealing. When you compare the Luke 17 account along with Matt. 24, for example, you will find the cross comparison to be invaluable. The following will demonstrate why, and at the same time hopefully put to rest the debate over the timing of the rapture. (A bit ambitious, I know, but a guy can dream, can’t he?)
I want to draw your attention first to a few verses in Matthew’s account.
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house . . . For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matt 24:16-17,21)
Here, Jesus advises the Jews living in Judea in the last days to flee to the mountains because of the great tribulation looming just over the horizon. Back in verse 15 He gave them the signal that would forewarn them when to flee Judea. That signal was, when ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation. There’s little to no debate over Daniel’s abomination of desolation prophecy occurring half way through the last seven years. We find further proof of this from the reading of Rev.12. The woman (natural Israel) flees to the wilderness to escape the persecution of the dragon for precisely 3 1/2 years (Rev. 12:13-14.) Consequently, the Jews in Judea will flee to the mountains at mid-point (3 1/2 years prior to the 2nd coming) of the last seven years.
Turning our attention to Luke 17 we have a similar account of the same events, only with a little added twist. In Luke’s account, beginning in verse 26, Jesus starts by comparing the last days to the days just before Noah’s flood (Matthew recorded the same comparison, only he elected to record it later on in his account – vs. 37-39.) Then Jesus continues by saying,
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed (Luke 17:30.)
The mention of Jesus being revealed is not found in Matt. 24, Mark 13, or Luke 21. It’s unique here. It also proves to be vital in understanding when He will be revealed. Keep in mind, if we can determine when the Lord will appear or be revealed, we will also know the true timing of the rapture. As John said, when he shall appear, we shall be like him (1 John 3:2.) It’s imperative to consider the way in which Jesus marked the day of His own revealing. He began by predicting it would be proceeded by days similar to that of Noah and Lot, but He followed with something even more telling; even more precise.
IN THAT DAY, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back (Luke 17:31.)
Here, Jesus unveils an amazing truth. The day he warned of, when the Jews in Judea are to flee to the mountains, is in fact the same day that He will be revealed. Jesus, himself, linked His appearing to the day the Jews see the abomination of desolation, which also triggers their escape to the mountains. As we’ve already seen, the abomination of desolation prophecy and the fleeing of the Jews occurs, without controversy, at mid-point of the last seven years. It’s conclusive, therefore, that the appearing of the Lord, His revealing, is a mid-point event. And since the rapture occurs at the time of His appearing, the rapture must necessarily be a mid-point event as well. So here it is in full, and in His own words,
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back (Luke 17:30-31)
If you hold to a view that has the rapture occurring at a time other than the middle of the last seven years, what, I ask, will you do with these two verses?
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(1 Th 4:16-17 NIV) “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
Please note the reason for this passage was that Paul was telling the early Christians not to be ignorant concerning those who have died physically (earthly life or mortal life is gone) in Jesus (having known Jesus) and that he was telling them that just as Jesus died and rose from the dead even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus (in that those who physically died in Jesus).
What he was trying to say was that there is a day God has set where He will gather the saints together, those who will be physical alive and those who will have died a physical death before the day as stated in:-
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
Why?
In “1Pe 4:17 it states that because the time has come to begin the judgment from the house of God; and if firstly from us, what will be the end of the ones disobeying the gospel of God? Rom 14:10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why also do you despise your brother? For all shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ, 2Co 5:10 For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to what he did, whether good or bad.”
What Paul and Peter were saying is that the House of God must first be judged before the nations and all (those who knew Christ) must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to what he did, whether good or bad.
Please note the Lord will come down from heaven with a loud command as stated in John 5:25 Truly, truly, I say to you that an hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the ones hearing will live. With a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, after that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Here the saints meet in the air with the Lord contrary to Revelation 19:14 concerning the dreadful day of the Lord where it states that and the armies in Heaven followed Him on white horses, being dressed in fine linen, white and pure. And as stated in Jude 1:14-15 “the seventh from Adam,” Enoch, also prophesied to these men, saying, Behold, “the Lord came with” myriads “of His saints, to do judgment against all, and to rebuke all” the ungodly of them concerning all their ungodly works which they ungodly did, “and concerning all the hard things ungodly sinners spoke against Him.”
Note He is followed by saints dressed in fine linen, white and pure and remember as Paul said stated in 1Co 15:49, 51-54 And as we bore the image of the earthy man, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Behold, I speak a mystery to you: we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet; for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality, then will take place the Word that has been written, “Death was swallowed up in victory.
All (those who believed in Christ) shall be changed and put on immortality and meet in the air with the Lord.
Also note as stated in 1Co 15:50 And I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood is not able to inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption in that only at the last trumpet; for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed putting on immortality. For this march with 1Jn 3:2 where it is stated beloved, now we are the children of God, and it was not yet revealed what we shall be. But we know that if He is revealed, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.
And this is what ties it with 2Co 5:10 where it says For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to what he did, whether good or bad.
For Paul said in 2Ti 4:8 For the rest, the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me in that Day, and not only to me, but also to all the ones loving His appearance. And as also Peter said in 1Pe 5:4 and at the appearing of the Chief Shepherd, you will receive the never fading crown of glory.
Ok let’s Jump a little as stated in Rev 20:4 and I saw thrones, and they sat on them. And judgment was given to them, and the souls of the ones having been beheaded because of the witness of Jesus, and because of the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor its image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
In this verse John saw thrones and they that sat on them and they were given power to judge, Please note that those John saw can only be given thrones and power to judge after what is stated in with 2Co 5:10 For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to what he did, whether good or bad. And also as stated in 2Ti 4:8 For the rest, the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me in that Day, and not only to me, but also to all the ones loving His appearance.
Please note that as stated in Revelation 19:14 the armies in Heaven followed Him on white horses, being dressed in fine linen, white and pure (they were like Jesus) and Rev 20:4 and I saw thrones, and they sat on them. And judgment was given to them, all this occur before the great white Judgment which is explained in
“Rev 20:11-14 And I saw a Great White Throne, and the One sitting on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled; and a place was not found for them. And I saw the dead, the small and the great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead in it. And death and hell gave up the dead in them. And they were each judged according to their works. And death and hell were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.”
The big question is when are those who love Jesus judged and given crowns, thrones and power to judge. When is this Day of Judgment for those who love Christ? When is the day of the Judgment seat of Christ?
Is there something called rapture?
Please note as stated in Heb 10:1 For the Law had a shadow of the coming good things, not the image itself of those things. Appearing year by year with the same sacrifices, which they offer continually, they never are able to perfect the ones drawing near.
As stated above the law is a shadow of the coming good things:-
Note there are festivals that were directed by Jehovah God to Moses in the book of Leviticus 23 not according to the other Jewish traditions. All these feast are according to the Law had a shadow of the coming good things, not the image itself of those things as presented in Leviticus 23 which has the Sabbath, the Passover and the feast of unleavened bread, the firstfruits of harvest, Pentecost, the feast of trumpets in the seventh month, the day of atonement, and the feast of tabernacles.
For a shadow of the coming good things is the Passover wherein Jesus was crucified on the eve of Passover at the same time that the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in Jerusalem in preparation for the festival, as stated in Peter:18-19 knowing that not with corruptible things, silver or gold, were you redeemed from your worthless way of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.
In Lev 23:23-27 the word says And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first of the month, a sabbath shall be to you, a call to a memorial, a holy gathering. You shall do no work of service and you shall bring a fire offering to Jehovah. And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying, Also, on the tenth of this seventh month shall be a day of atonement; there shall be a holy gathering, and you shall humble your souls and shall bring a fire offering to Jehovah.
Please note there are two ceremonies in the seventh month as the Lord directed one is the first day of the seventh month known as Rosh Hashanah and the second ceremony is the done on the tenth day of the seventh month known as the Day of Atonement.
According to Jewish scholars Rosh Hashanah is the Day of Judgment. Note according to Wikipedia in the Talmud tractate on Rosh Hashanah it states that three books of account are opened on Rosh Hashanah, wherein the fate of the wicked, the righteous, and those of an intermediate class are recorded. The names of the righteous are immediately inscribed in the book of life, and they are sealed “to live.” The middle class are allowed a respite of ten days, until Yom Kippur, to repent and become righteous; the wicked are “blotted out of the book of the living forever.
Also according to Wikipedia it is the “coronation” of God as King of the universe in preparation for the acceptance of judgments that will follow on that day, symbolized as “written” into a Divine book of judgments, that then hang in the balance for ten days waiting for all to repent, then they will be “sealed” on Yom Kippur.
Please note the sequence according to Jewish tradition the names of the righteous are immediately inscribed in the book of life, and they are sealed “to live.” Then ten days later those who failed to live a righteous life and are willing to change, repent and become righteous are given ten days until Yom Kippur which is known as the Day of atonement and the wicked who refuse to repent are “blotted out of the book of the living forever.
Also a major thing that should be noted is the shofar also known as a trumpet is usually blown on the day of Rosh Hashanah known as the Day of Judgment and Yom Kippur also known as the Day of Atonement. As stated in Wikipedia the sound of the shofaris is intended to awaken the listeners from their “slumbers” and alert them to the coming judgment.
Note that before this day Jewish people are warned to turn away from wickedness and repent so that they could welcome the new year with blessings from the Lord.
I would like to say that our God is mighty and He hides things in Law so that they are only revealed to those who seek Him and pursue Him. I wish you could see the significance of this day which is known as the Day of Judgment also known as Rosh Hashanah.
If you look at this Day of Judgment as practiced by Jews it is the same as the Day of Judgment seat of Christ which is different from the Day of the Lord as stated in Joel 1:1-2 and Revelation 19:14
“Joel 2: 1-2, Blow a ram’s horn in Zion, and shout an alarm in My holy mountain. Let all those living in the land tremble. For the day of Jehovah approaches; it is near, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the dawn spread out on the mountains, a great and a strong people. There has never been the like, nor shall there ever be again to the years of many generations. And Revelation 19:14 and the armies in Heaven followed Him on white horses, being dressed in fine linen, white and pure.”
It is a mystery as Paul stated it for in that Day of Judgment in a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet; for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
That you may see the mercy and wrath of God just like when He was fighting Pharaoh, the Israelites were protected and hidden from His wrath as He destroyed Egypt, and He again promised He would do the same.
And as stated in Isaiah 26:17-21 As a woman with child draws near to bear, she writhes and cries out in her pangs. So are we before You, Jehovah. We conceived; we writhe; as it were, we gave birth to wind. We have not worked salvation for the earth; and those living in the world have not fallen. Your dead ones shall live, my dead body, they shall rise up. Awake and sing, dust dwellers; for the dew of lights is your dew; and the earth shall cast out departed spirits. Come, My people, go in your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide for a little moment, until the fury passes. For, behold, Jehovah comes out of His place to visit his iniquity on those dwelling on the earth. The earth shall also reveal her blood, and shall no more cover over her slain ones.
As stated above and Jesus said before He comes they will be signs in the world which all these are a beginning of throes. Isaiah says the Lord dead ones shall live; my dead body they shall rise up and the earth shall cast out departed spirits. For just like He said in the Gospels He is going to prepare a place for us, He says in Isaiah Come, My people, go in your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide for a little moment, until the fury passes.
Please note our God never changes and just as He protected Israelites when they punished Egypt with plagues, He has also prepared a place for us in Heaven where He will hide us for a moment until His wrath is complete. And yes that Day that He decides to visit and take His people to Himself is what many people call rapture.
After this event a lot of people who never took Jesus word of repentance and holiness as important would want to turn to God and they are the ones who would now believe the message of Jesus. These are the ones the beast was given power to make war, and to overcome them as stated in Dan 7:21-22 I was looking, and that horn made war with the saints and overcame them, until the Ancient of Days came. And judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Also note it is the same as the day of Rosh Hashanah where people were given another ten days to repent before Yom Kippur which is the day of the Lord.
A lot of people are concerned and would rather have the fear of God and live a holy and righteous life than be caught unawares like the foolish virgins who did not carry extra oil and were left by the bridegroom who is Jesus to experience the fury of the Lord.
Kindly note that in the book of the Gospels Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13 all talk about the signs of the coming of our Lord and yet John who was with Jesus when He said this was not allowed to write about it in the book of John.
You might have asked yourself just as I asked why?
This is what I said is not shared in churches as you will notice that the book of revelation is a an explanation of what Jesus said to his disciples as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple giving what is called the Olivet prophesy.
Let’s take the book of Matthew 24 with the book of Revelation especially regarding the opening of seals.
Mat 24:4-5 and answering, Jesus said to them, See that not any leads you astray. For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ. And they will cause many to be led astray.
Rev 6:1-2 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals. And I heard one of the four living creatures, like a sound of thunder, saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold, a white horse! And the one sitting on it had a bow. And a crown was given to him, and he went out overcoming, and that he might overcome.
In Matthew it says see that not any leads you astray for many will come in the name of Jesus saying, I am the Christ. And they will cause many to be led astray and if you take a look at when Jesus was opening the seals one of the four living creatures calls the white horse with one sitting on it with a bow to come out and go to overcome.
Please note that the one sitting on the white horse is trying to imitate and be like Jesus who is to come in a white horse as stated in revelation 19:11 and thereby trying to deceive the church.
By the way you may ask why the church, please note it is only the church that believes in Christ and why would the world be deceived of Christ if they are already deceived, the warning not to be deceived was to the church and not the world.
Why? Because the churches had become luke-warm and God was now not interested in them and now was spitting them out of His mouth, by sending them a white horse with a rider who has bows who would separate them from God by deceiving them to accept another Gospel and another Jesus.
This remembers was to fulfill what is written in the bible that they will be apostasy that will lead to God sending them a delusion and leading them to accepting a lie.
Please note that first there must be falling away before the Anti-Christ is revealed for he will succeed only after there has been a falling away of the church and the power of God is no longer in church which is the Holy Spirit.
Remember this is the first trigger or what is called the first seal being opened leading to the return of Christ and thereafter six other seals must be opened before the actual return of Christ as stated in Revelation: 19:11-21.
In Mat 24:6 Jesus says but you are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See, do not be terrified. For all things must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will be raised against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
Rev 6:3-4 and when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come and see. And another horse went out, red. And it was given to the one sitting on it to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another. And a great sword was given to him.
This itself is self explanatory that when the second seal is opened a second horse went out who was given power to take peace and thereby bringing war as Jesus said that there will be wars and rumors of war.
Please remember that it is a dispensation where there is the fall of the church where the church has fallen from worshiping God and became luke-warm and this horse was sent to heighten and prepare the way for the rise of anti-Christ and that is why nations will raise against nations and kingdom against kingdom.
Mat 24:7 and there will be famines,
Rev 6:5-6 And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold, a black horse, and the one sitting on it having a balance in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A choenix of wheat for a denarius, and three choenixes of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.
What is the meaning of famines? It is a severe shortage of food resulting in widespread hunger and or extreme hunger and starvation.
Jesus is and was saying that just before His return there will be widespread hunger and starvation and as stated in the book of revelation a black horse, and the one sitting on it having a balance in his hand is released to the world. His release is to make sure that the economies of the world are broken creating a situation whereby a day earnings for an individual will only take care of his food and not family and this situation then therefore leads to a severe hunger as a great number of people cannot take care of themselves.
Mat 24:7 and there will be famines and plagues
Rev 6:7-8 And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard a voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold, a pale green horse, and the name of the one sitting on it was Death; and Hades followed after him. And authority was given to them to kill over the fourth of the earth with sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
Jesus is and was saying that time before His return (in the falling away dispensation) there will be widespread hunger and starvation and a rise of epidemic diseases and this is explained in the book of revelation where it states a pale green horse, and the name of the one sitting on it was Death; and Hades followed after him. And authority was given to them to kill over the fourth of the earth with sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild beasts of the earth. Basically this pale horse was given power kill with sword which is war, with famine which is severe food shortage and with death be it diseases.
It should be noted that all these horses are sent to do the will of God preparing the scene for Anti-Christ rise who would delude the world and because of the apostasy he would lead the people to himself, because of war he will promise world peace, because of famine and plagues he will promise a system that would take care of the needs of the people and people needed to receive a mark on their head and hand to transact in business.
All these horses were sent because people hearts had became hardened and just like Israelites when they fell during the reigns of their kings He told them that they would die by sword, famine and death. It is a time when the Lord is asking people to turn away from evil just as He warned the Israelites with the prophets.
Please note these people have hardened hearts and have seared their consciences.
All these triggers or four seals prepare for the coming of the anti-Christ and once he is on the throne please note what powers he has been given as stated in revelation 13 : 7 And it was given to it “to war with the saints, and to overcome them.” And authority was given to it over every tribe and tongue and nation. Dan. 7:21
If we go back to Paul in his writing he says that for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work only He who now restrains will do now so until He is taken out of the way.
Basically the authority given to anti-Christ will only be exercised after the Holy Spirit is taken away with the Church that He will keep from great-trial.
I believe that after the release of the forth horse, the Lord will call His Church to Himself to allow for the reign of the anti-Christ.
This will now march with Matthew 24:9-14 and Rev 6:9
Where it states
Mat 24:9-14 then they will deliver you up to affliction, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And then many will be offended, and they will deliver up one another and will hate one another. And many false prophets will be raised and will cause many to err. And because lawlessness shall have been multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, that one will be kept safe. And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.
Rev 6:9 and when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those having been slain for the Word of God, and for the witness which they had. And they cried with a great voice, saying, Until when, holy and true Master, do You not judge and take vengeance for our blood, from those dwelling on the earth? And there was given to each one a white robe. And it was said to them that they should rest yet a little time, until might be fulfilled also the number of their fellow-slaves and their brothers, those being about to be killed, even as they.
Please note the beast was given power to war with the saints, and to overcome them, and this power can only exercised after the Holy Spirit has been taken away.
The fifth seal is opened and a command is given for the martyrs to wait for the number of those to be killed by the anti- Christ is attained and thereafter a sixth seal is opened where a great earthquake occurs.
In Mathew the earth quake is mentioned first in verse 7 and which I believe that plans would be already there on how to make war and between fifth and six seals there is great persecution for those Christians who were left and could not be taken away in rupture. And because of lawlessness many will be offended, and they will deliver up one another and will hate one another and those who are called by His name will be killed as stated in Rev 13 the beast was given power to war with the saints, and to overcome them.
For the seventh seal to be opened something terrible must happen that would make heaven go silent for half an hour which would allow God to tell His angels blow the seven trumpets.
I believe this is explained in Matthew 24:15-22 where it states
Mat 24:15 Then when you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (the one reading, let him understand), Dan. 11:31; 12:11then let those in Judea flee into the mountains; the one on the housetop, let him not go down to take anything out of his house; and the one in the field, let him not turn back to take his garment. But woe to the ones having a child in womb, and to those suckling in those days! And pray that your flight will not occur in winter nor in a sabbath. For there will be great affliction, such as has not happened from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. And except those days were shortened, not any flesh would be saved. But on account of the elect, those days will be shortened.
This is where the institution of worship of the beast is adopted whereby the beast causes the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to have a mark on their right hand, or on their foreheads, even that not any could buy or sell, except the one having the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of its name.
This is the abomination of desolation as the beast will cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed basically fulfilling the bible by stopping the worship of the Almighty God of Israel and causing many to worship the beast and thereby placing the abomination of desolation at the heart of man where God is supposed to reside.
This is what Jesus was saying that when you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place let the reader understand because those days will be terrible days considering the blowing of the seven trumpets. The first trumpet released hail and fire mixed with blood to the world, the second trumpet released And something as a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, the third trumpet released And a great burning star, like a lamp, fell out of the heaven. And it fell onto the third part of the rivers, and onto the springs of waters. The forth trumpet released And the third part of the sun, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars, was struck, that the third part of them might be darkened, and the third part of the day might not appear; and in the same way the night.
The fifth trumpet released and a star out of the heaven falling onto the earth was given the key to the pit of the abyss. And he opened the pit of the abyss. And smoke went up out of the pit, like smoke of a great furnace. And the sun was darkened, and the air, by the smoke of the pit. And out of the smoke locusts came forth to the earth. And authority was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have authority and their authority is to harm men five months.
The sixth trumpet released the four angels, those having been bound at the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were released, those having been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men. And the number of the armies of the cavalry was two myriads of myriads.
The seventh trumpet consist of seven angels with trumpets even angels having the last seven plagues, because the anger of God was completed in them.
The first went away and poured out his bowl onto the earth. And it came to be a bad and evil sore onto the men, the ones having the mark of the beast, and the ones worshiping its image. And the second angel poured out his bowl onto the sea. And it became blood, as of a dead one, and every soul of life died in the sea. And the third angel poured out his bowl onto the rivers, and onto the springs of the waters; and it became blood.
The fourth angel poured out his bowl onto the sun. And it was given to him to burn men with fire. And men were burned with great heat. The fifth angel poured out his bowl onto the throne of the beast. And its kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues from the pain. And they blasphemed the God of Heaven,
And the sixth angel poured out his bowl onto the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up so that the way of the kings from the rising of the sun might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons doing signs, which go forth to the kings of the earth, even of the whole habitable world to assemble them to the war of that day, the great day of God Almighty.
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a great voice came from the throne from the temple of Heaven, saying, It has happened! And voices and thunders and lightnings occurred. And a great earthquake occurred, such as did not occur since man came into being on the earth, such a huge earthquake, so great! And the great city came to be into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the anger of His wrath. And every island fled away, and mountains were not found. And a great hail, as the size of a talent, came down out of the heaven upon men. And men blasphemed God from the plague of the hail, because its plague is exceedingly great.
Please note during all this time Jesus was warning in Matthew 23-26 where it says. Then if anyone says to you, Behold, here is the Christ! Or, Here! Do not believe. For false christs and false prophets will rise up. And they will give great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I tell you beforehand. Then if they say to you, Behold, He is in the wilderness; do not go out. Behold, He is in the inner rooms; do not believe.
And yes just as the sounding of the seventh and a great voice came from the throne from the temple of Heaven, saying, It has happened! Yes the return has come for as stated in Matthew 24:27-30 For as the lightning comes forth from the east and shines as far as the west, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man. For wherever the dead body may be, there the eagles will be gathered. And immediately after the affliction of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give her light, and the stars will fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens. And then all the tribes of the land will wail. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and much glory. Dan. 7:13
Which is confirmed in Revelation 19:11-22 states And I saw Heaven being opened. And, behold! A white horse, and He sitting on it having been called Faithful and True. And He judges and wars in righteousness. And His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head many diadems, having a name that had been written, which no one knows except Himself; and having been clothed in a garment which had been dipped in blood. And His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in Heaven followed Him on white horses, being dressed in fine linen, white and pure. And out of His mouth goes forth a sharp sword, that with it He might smite the nations. And He will shepherd them with an iron rod. And He treads the winepress of the wine of the anger and of the wrath of God Almighty. And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name having been written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw one angel standing in the sun. And he cried with a great voice, saying to all the birds flying in mid-heaven, Come and gather together to the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of chiliarchs, and the flesh of strong ones, and the flesh of horses, and of the ones sitting on them, and the flesh of all, both freemen and slaves, even of the small and great. And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth, and their armies being assembled to make war with the One sitting on the horse, and with His army. And the beast was seized, and with this one the false prophet doing signs before it, by which he led astray those having received the mark of the beast, and those worshiping its image. The two were thrown alive into the Lake of Fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword of the One sitting on the horse, the sword having gone forth from His mouth. And all the birds were filled from their flesh.
Please see Jesus says in Matthew for wherever the dead body may be, there the eagles will be gathered. And immediately after the affliction of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give her light, which is confirmed by John in book of revelation where the Angel says in Revelation 19 come and gather together to the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of chiliarchs, and the flesh of strong ones, and the flesh of horses, and of the ones sitting on them, and the flesh of all, both freemen and slaves, even of the small and great and also the fifth angel of the last trumpet where he poured out his bowl onto the throne of the beast and its kingdom became darkened.