Raptures, and the Wraths they Precede

Raptures precede the Lamb's wrath and God's wrath, but may not precede satan's wrath.

Believers are not always protected from suffering persecution (satan's wrath).

Jesus, which [who] delivered us from the wrath to come 1Th 1:10

For God hath not appointed us to wrath,
    but to obtain salvation by out Lord Jesus Christ  1Th 5:9

The wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience  Eph 5:6, Col 3:6
 

"Pre-Trib Rapture"

A currently popular Christian belief is that "the Rapture" will occur just prior to the beginning of a "7-year Tribulation Period," that ends with Armageddon.

Since this "7-year Tribulation Period" is characterized as being a period of satan's wrath, this "Pre-Trib Rapture" would occur just before the beginning of satan's wrath (pre satan's wrath).

However, no such "Pre-Trib Rapture" event is mentioned in the book of Revelation.

Many today claim that the phrase "Come up hither" in Rev 4:1 is God speaking to all Christians to "Come up hither."  Hence, the "Pre-Trib Rapture" event is claimed to occur here.  However, a careful contextual review of Rev 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 reveals God, Jesus Christ, and an elder are only speaking to John, not to all Christians.  Therefore, no "Pre-Trib Rapture" event occurs in Rev 4:1.  This contextual review is shown immediately after the Rev 4:1 verse (see Rev 4:1).
 

Satan cast to Earth: the Great Tribulation begins  Rev 12:9

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

 Rev 12:11  And they [Christians] overcame him [satan] by the blood of the Lamb [Jesus Christ], and by the word of their testimony; and they [Christians] loved not their [own] lives unto the death [Christians willing to die for Christ, rather than live for satan (or rather than live in fear of satan)].

Rev 12:12  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time [3.5 years].

Dragon [satan] then Makes War with the Christians  Rev 12:17

Sea beast (the anti-christ) makes war with the saints and overcomes them  Rev 13:7.

4 Seals opened unleashing the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse  Rev 6:1-8

Martyrs for Christ killed until their number is fulfilled  Rev 6:9-11

Rev 6:11  ... rest yet for a little season, until ... [their number] that should be killed ... should be fulfilled.

4 Angels holding the 4 winds  Rev 7:3a

144,000 sealed, 12,000 from each tribe of Israel  Rev 7:3b-8

these are 144,000 male virgins  Rev 14:4a

who follow the Lamb (Christ) (144,000 born-again Christians, aka Messianic Jews)
 

Pre-Wrath Rapture (pre-Lamb's wrath, also, pre-God's wrath)  Rev 7:9-17

This Pre-Wrath Rapture occurs up to about 2 years (T+2.0) into the 3.5-year Great Tribulation Period, that ends with Armageddon.

An analysis of Rev 9:5-10 leads to the Lamb's wrath starting before July 23 of the year prior to Armageddon.

Using Resurrection Dating, the latest date for Armageddon would be 2029 AD.

Therefore, this Pre-Wrath Rapture could occur sometime before July 23, 2028 AD, just prior to the beginning of the Lamb's wrath (pre Lamb's wrath).

For a more traditional analysis using BC/AD dating, click here, or scroll to the bottom of this page.
 

Lamb's Wrath (Seal #7, Trumpet #1 - #5)  Rev 8, Rev 9:1-12a

144,000 Redeemed (Raptured)  Rev 14:1-5

Preaching the Gospel to every Nation (Angel #1)  Rev 14:6-7

Babylon is fallen, is fallen (Angel #2)  Rev 14:8, Rev 18

What if you Worship the Beast & Image & Receive his Mark?  (Angel #3)  Rev 14:9-11

Patience Endurance by the Saints  Rev 14:12-13

Loose 4 Angels (Trumpet #6)  Rev 9:12b-21

7 Thunders, Little Book  Rev 10

Final Rapture, Earth Reaped, The Harvest of the Saints  Rev 14:14-16

Martyred and Raptured Victorious Christians on the Sea of Glass in Heaven  Rev 15:2-4

7 Last Plagues (Vials, Bowls) of Wrath #1 - #7  Rev 15:1, Rev 15:5-8, Rev 16, Rev 19:2-3

Marriage of the Bride and the Lamb (Wedding Supper in Heaven)  Rev 19:1, Rev 19:4-10

Christ and Christians, Return to Earth Rev 19:11-14

Armageddon  Rev 14:17-20, Rev 19:15-21

Satan bound for 1,000 years  Rev 20:1-3

Called, Chosen, Faithful Christians Reign with Christ 1,000 years  Rev 20:4-6

Based on a more traditional analysis, using BC/AD dating, and then comparing it with Resurrection Dating

the earliest Rapture window might have been between March 21, 2000, and July 23, 2002;
 
but more likely now closer to, but before, July 23, 2017, 2018, 2019, ... July 23, 2028 AD.
 
Reasons for the delay:  The Bride (the Bride of Christ, Christ's church, which is made up of born again Christians who have asked Jesus Christ to be their Saviour and Lord, and who serve Him as Lord and Saviour, sometimes called the body of Christ) needs to endure (Mat 24:13) considerable purifying, repenting, and being tried in the fire (to overcome) here on earth before the Bride is as white as snow and ready for the Bridegroom (Christ), and the wedding in Heaven.
 
This purifying process could delay the Rapture for additional years (until July 23, 2017, or later).  or be right on schedule with Resurrection Dating a number of months before July 23, 2028 AD.
 
On Date Setting the Lord's return: I'll return when I choose.

When is the earliest date that Jesus Christ can return?

When is the earliest date that God's wrath can commence?

Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Rev 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Rev 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

The answer may be that, before Christ can begin to implement his 1,000-year rule here on Earth (the 7th 1,000 years), satan's rule of Earth must extend to the end of the first 6,000 years.  Only when 6,000 years have elapsed, can Christ physically remove people on Earth from satan's jurisdiction via the Rapture.
 
If we assume that the 6,000-year period begins with a creation week that includes the Spring equinox of 4001 B.C. (about March 21), then the earliest Rapture would not occur until after March 21, 2000.

In the same way that
 
Noah's family and the Ark were "raptured" just before and from the flood (God's wrath),

and Lot's family were "raptured" just before and from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (God's wrath),

we would conclude that the Pre-Wrath Rapture will occur just before the Lamb's wrath begins, and the Final Rapture will occur just before God's wrath begins (not months or years ahead of time):

 
1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Col 3:6  For which things' sake [Because of these] the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:  (also see Eph 5:6)

 
The early part of God's (or the Lamb's) wrath mentions a 5-month period:
 
Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Rev 8:6  And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Rev 9:5  And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

Rev 9:10  And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
 

By decoding the riddle of this 5-month period, we can conclude that this 5-month period begins on July 23.
 
Therefore, by using the first occurrence of July 23 after the 6,000 years has ended, God's (or the Lamb's) wrath could commence as early as sometime before July 23, 2000.

Based on the Countdown to the Great Tribulation's timetable, sometime closer to, but before, July 23, 2017 through July 23, 2028 is a more likely date range.

the earliest rapture window was between March 21, 2000?, and July 23, 2000?;
 
but more likely it will be in a date range beginning closer to, but before, July 23, 2017 through July 23, 2028.