Anastacia
Let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him 2Sam15
Pete Garcia and Tyler of Generation2434 Recently did a video discussing this topic.
www.rev310.net
It is quite long and a lot of the beginning is spent justifying that we can examine this even though it will be assumptions on our part. Just like at one time, students of prophecy had to try to figure out what the image of the beast or the mark of the beast may entail. We have the prophetic outline of things given to us in the Bible, and because we love His coming, we are always watching to see how things develop.
I jotted down Pete's main points for and against a gap. I find this topic interesting and admit that I'm hoping there is a gap because that would mean we won't have to see much more happen and we will be even sooner with Him! And since the Rapture is a sign-less event, we don't necessarily need to check off all the prophecies still to happen since some could be fulfilled in a "gap" of time between the rapture and the beginning of the Tribulation
Around the 32 minute mark, Pete gives reasons there could be a gap:
- There is nothing specific connecting the rapture to the AC's signing of the covenant (Dan 9:27). There is nothing specifically connecting the rapture to 1 Thes, 4:14-18 or 1 Cor 15:51-52.
Perhaps the rapture is a part of 1 Thes. 5:1-5 when sudden destruction comes on them and everyone is calling for 'peace and safety.'
- From Pentecost to the Rapture is the Church Age which begins with believers being given the Holy Spirit and will end with the Holy Spirit being removed via the believers being removed. The rapture is not what starts the Tribulation but it is the end of the Church Age. (The AC signing the 7 year covenant is what begins the Tribulation. Dan. 9:27)
- The rapture itself will be a form of judgment tying in 1 Thes. 5 and Rev. 3:10-- the sudden destruction/the hour of trial that comes upon the whole world (which we are kept from). There will be so much chaos from the rapture that it will take time to rein in and get a global system in place that brings the AC front and center.
- The 10 Kings over ten regions (Daniel 7) will not be formed instantaneously. Likewise, wars, governments, military strategies, logistics, and other details all take time to get into place.
- Assuming Ezekiel 38/Gog-Magog war is pre-trib, the need to move massive armies (whether horseback or tanks) toward Israel will take time.
- At the end of the the Gog-Magog war there is an earthquake (Ez 38:19) which could bring down the al-aqsa mosque at the Dome of the Rock which would then allow the Jews to rebuild their 3rd Temple. Even if the Temple is pre-fabricated and could be built rather quickly, the earthquake rubble will still have to be cleaned up and the Temple built, which could all be done in the gap period before the AC is even on the scene.
- The building of the commercial city of Babylon would fit nicely in a gap (or otherwise, aren't we waiting to see that before the rapture?). Interestingly, a massive city near Baghdad is being built by China and Iraq and they just broke ground in December 2023! China, Iraq begin construction of new city near Baghdad
- The physical headquarters of the world religious system will need to be built (could be within the city of Babylon or separate, depending on how you interpret it).
Around the 44 minute mark, Pete gives reasons there may Not be a gap, or at least why that gap may be shortening (weeks or months rather than years):
- Each passing day of the Church Age is setting up the Beast Kingdom's infrastructure, technology, alignment of nations, economic conditions etc.. ...less to accomplish on the other side of the rapture.
- When the Holy Spirit is removed (via the believers), there won't be restraints on man's capabilities. Progress will be unlimited, intelligence systems will speed up to help solve the after-rapture chaos.
- After the rapture, there will be nothing to hold back the wave of supernatural intervention, so most likely, demons will be helping to set of the AC's kingdom.
- Pete brought up the verse in Matt. 24:22 that says "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened." And he wonders if that might mean that during the Trib, it will shift from the Gregorian calendar being used to the Hebrew calendar which is 35 or 36 days less.
Pete and Tyler also mentioned that when the door to the ark was closed, the rain didn't start for several days (seven?)-- supporting the idea of God using gaps. I never noticed that before.
So if there is no gap, then the above points are the events we will see come together.
Just thought I'd link to this video in case anyone wants to share their thoughts for and against the concept!
The Rapture Gap
www.rev310.net
It is quite long and a lot of the beginning is spent justifying that we can examine this even though it will be assumptions on our part. Just like at one time, students of prophecy had to try to figure out what the image of the beast or the mark of the beast may entail. We have the prophetic outline of things given to us in the Bible, and because we love His coming, we are always watching to see how things develop.
I jotted down Pete's main points for and against a gap. I find this topic interesting and admit that I'm hoping there is a gap because that would mean we won't have to see much more happen and we will be even sooner with Him! And since the Rapture is a sign-less event, we don't necessarily need to check off all the prophecies still to happen since some could be fulfilled in a "gap" of time between the rapture and the beginning of the Tribulation
Around the 32 minute mark, Pete gives reasons there could be a gap:
- There is nothing specific connecting the rapture to the AC's signing of the covenant (Dan 9:27). There is nothing specifically connecting the rapture to 1 Thes, 4:14-18 or 1 Cor 15:51-52.
Perhaps the rapture is a part of 1 Thes. 5:1-5 when sudden destruction comes on them and everyone is calling for 'peace and safety.'
- From Pentecost to the Rapture is the Church Age which begins with believers being given the Holy Spirit and will end with the Holy Spirit being removed via the believers being removed. The rapture is not what starts the Tribulation but it is the end of the Church Age. (The AC signing the 7 year covenant is what begins the Tribulation. Dan. 9:27)
- The rapture itself will be a form of judgment tying in 1 Thes. 5 and Rev. 3:10-- the sudden destruction/the hour of trial that comes upon the whole world (which we are kept from). There will be so much chaos from the rapture that it will take time to rein in and get a global system in place that brings the AC front and center.
- The 10 Kings over ten regions (Daniel 7) will not be formed instantaneously. Likewise, wars, governments, military strategies, logistics, and other details all take time to get into place.
- Assuming Ezekiel 38/Gog-Magog war is pre-trib, the need to move massive armies (whether horseback or tanks) toward Israel will take time.
- At the end of the the Gog-Magog war there is an earthquake (Ez 38:19) which could bring down the al-aqsa mosque at the Dome of the Rock which would then allow the Jews to rebuild their 3rd Temple. Even if the Temple is pre-fabricated and could be built rather quickly, the earthquake rubble will still have to be cleaned up and the Temple built, which could all be done in the gap period before the AC is even on the scene.
- The building of the commercial city of Babylon would fit nicely in a gap (or otherwise, aren't we waiting to see that before the rapture?). Interestingly, a massive city near Baghdad is being built by China and Iraq and they just broke ground in December 2023! China, Iraq begin construction of new city near Baghdad
- The physical headquarters of the world religious system will need to be built (could be within the city of Babylon or separate, depending on how you interpret it).
Around the 44 minute mark, Pete gives reasons there may Not be a gap, or at least why that gap may be shortening (weeks or months rather than years):
- Each passing day of the Church Age is setting up the Beast Kingdom's infrastructure, technology, alignment of nations, economic conditions etc.. ...less to accomplish on the other side of the rapture.
- When the Holy Spirit is removed (via the believers), there won't be restraints on man's capabilities. Progress will be unlimited, intelligence systems will speed up to help solve the after-rapture chaos.
- After the rapture, there will be nothing to hold back the wave of supernatural intervention, so most likely, demons will be helping to set of the AC's kingdom.
- Pete brought up the verse in Matt. 24:22 that says "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened." And he wonders if that might mean that during the Trib, it will shift from the Gregorian calendar being used to the Hebrew calendar which is 35 or 36 days less.
Pete and Tyler also mentioned that when the door to the ark was closed, the rain didn't start for several days (seven?)-- supporting the idea of God using gaps. I never noticed that before.
So if there is no gap, then the above points are the events we will see come together.
Just thought I'd link to this video in case anyone wants to share their thoughts for and against the concept!
