Revelation 2–3 and the Timing of Our Departure

Last year, I came across an excellent article written by Robert L. Thomas entitled "The 'Comings' of Christ in Revelation 2–3," which was published in The Master's Seminary Journal (Fall 1996). Similar to a previous post, where I cited the timeliness of Michael Svigel's work on Revelation 12 and the Rapture of the Church, Thomas' work adds further insight in regard to the timing of the Church's departure and the beginning of Jacob's trouble. If you want to access the article for yourself, here is a link to find a copy online.

For those who want a review, here is the abstract, or synopsis of the article:

Six of the seven messages of Christ in Rev 2–3 contain references to His coming. In three instances He promises to come and deliver His faithful from persecution, and in three He threatens to come and judge the unfaithful. In all six His coming is imminent, whether for deliverance or for judgment. The only way this can happen is for the deliverance—the rapture of the church—and the judgment—the beginning of Daniel's seventieth week—to occur simultaneously. The two chapters provide three more passages that refer to His coming indirectly. The forecast in these too is for His return at any moment. A survey of other NT passages reflects the same dual imminence for the two events. The phenomena surrounding these predicted comings lead inevitably to the conclusion that Christ's return for His church must be pretribulational, because this is the only way to explain satisfactorily how the two future events can be simultaneous."

Thomas draws out further evidence from the book of Revelation that our rescue and departure from the earth occurs in tandem with the onset of the Tribulation period. This insight is another case of it's-right-under-our-noses-but-we-didn't-see-it. I had never even considered how Jesus' statements in the seven letters were illogical if we did not understand His imminent return to include a simultaneous rescue of believers (Rev. 3:10) and judgement against unbelievers (Rev. 2:16, 22-25). It's a simple yet profound insight which confirms what some of us already know and firmly believe about the sudden removal of the body of Christ immediately prior to, or concurrent with, the start of Daniel's 70th week (Rev. 12:1-5).


The letters to the seven churches must be interpreted in light of the book as a whole [a good rule of thumb for any serious study of a book of the Bible], and one can argue that the theme verse of the book is Rev. 1:7. You see the phrase "He is coming..." repeated and emphasized throughout, including chapters two and three. "He is coming" is the heartbeat and pulse of the book. But the question has always been, "When?" (Matt. 24:3; Acts 1:6). Well, Jesus has already told us what to look for, and He even said to look up, because there would be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars (Lk. 21:11, 25).

Given what has been uncovered and unsealed at this point in time, we are now able to see the great sign presented in Rev. 12. This is a great sign that heralds the Rapture of the Church and the beginning of Jacob's trouble. It looms before us and has been scrutinized meticulously...and it's not going away (see Gary's previous post here for a thorough run-down).

Recently, I read through Daniel Matson's latest summary (here), and I am in agreement that we are on high watch for the September 20-23 range around the Feast of Trumpets this year. Couple his findings with Gary's post "2017 to 2024 Tribulation Theory," and you have yourself ample evidence to get in gear, because our time is short. Really short. Based on the information gathered so far, if the Resurrection/Rapture of the Church occurs around the Feast of Trumpets, then there is likely to be a brief interim [possibly one or two months] until the official start date of the 70th week (October/November 2017). Overall, this rough timeline coheres with Thomas' assessment that the thief-like return of Christ includes both a simultaneous removal of the Church and the onset of His judgment against the nations (if, by simultaneous, we mean around the same time and don't split hairs over days, hours, minutes, seconds, etc.).

Of course, when it comes to interpreting specific signs and watching for the return of Christ, there will be scoffers. This is to be expected; even among our clan. Let 'em scoff, however. But, you, hold on to what you have. Don't doubt or waver in regard to what He has already revealed to you:

What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops" (Matthew 10:27 ESV).

I've often asked myself, "Why would anyone not take these signs seriously, especially a tried and true believer in Jesus?" Aside from common misunderstandings regarding the dispensations in Scripture, flagrant false teaching, and spiritual maturity issues, I am directed to Jesus' statement to the disciples in Matt. 11:14, where He interprets an Old Testament prophecy in light of current events at that time, "And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come," and then His familiar admonition, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Matt. 11:15 NASB).

The term "accept" comes from the Greek word dechomai, which has a range of meanings: to accept, receive, welcome, etc. Notice how accepting, receiving, or welcoming God's revelation is synonymous with "hearing." You'll find this same concept in John 6:60, where many of His disciples turned away, because the truth was obscured by their unbelief (c.f. John 6:64). Consequently, the threat of heart-hardening and unbelief is not just a problem for so-called unbelievers and unhinged apostates. It is a real threat to born-again believers as well (Heb. 3:12-13).

So, brothers and sisters, let's remain alert and watchful, not wavering or doubting any longer. What Christ has revealed to us in our private, personal study, we should proclaim from the rooftops. And I am exhorting myself as well...blessed, now, are those who hear, for the time is near (Rev. 1:3).

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