When does the rapture occur?

 

The rapture takes place soon after Mystery Babylon the Great is burned.  She is first introduced as fallen in Revelation 14:8.

 

Rev 14:8

And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

 

Later she is introduced in detail in chapter 17.  In Revelation 18:4-8 she is about to be burned and is about to fall.  The rest of Revelation 18 to 19:5 is about her burning. Immediately after the burning of Mystery Babylon is the marriage of the lamb.

 

Rev 19:2-9

“For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”  Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!”  And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!”  Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”  And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.  Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

 

So when does the burning of Mystery Babylon take place?  It takes place back in Revelation 14:8 where she was first introduced.  

 

Rev 14:8

And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

 

Most make the mistake of putting this event at the end of the great tribulation because it is described right before Christ comes back on a white horse. Unfortunately, they have read the book chronologically.

 

Rev 19:9-11

Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”  And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”  Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

 

But if you read it again, you'll notice that the vision John saw was over.  He falls down to worship but is told not to do that.  That next event is not connected to the prior one in chronology.  John is about to be shown another event that will take place in the future.  And that is Jesus coming back on a white horse, with the armies in heaven on white horses, to rule the world.  

 

Some have viewed the rapture as a backward bungee deal, where at the end of the great tribulation, after Mystery Babylon is burned, we are immediately raptured to be with the Lord.  Then we immediately come back on white horses.  In this case, the wedding supper was simply to change clothes and come right back to earth.  

 

But let's put the burning of Mystery Babylon where it belongs, back in Revelation 14:8.  A few key verses will tell us the time frame.

 

Rev 14:6-13

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”  And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”  Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”  Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.  Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

 

1) ...for the hour of His judgment has come... - This tells us the great tribulation has come and is about to begin.

 

2) And another angel followed...a third angel followed them... - This tells us these events are sequential and follow one right after the other.

 

3) "Babylon is fallen, is fallen" - Babylon has just fallen.

 

4) ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ - Wait!  You should be thinking, "I thought after Babylon falls in Revelation 19:9 it was said, 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'"  Now the same event is happening here and it is said, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on."  What's going on?

 

The rapture just took place.  If you were one of the ready then it was said of you:

 

Rev 19:7-9

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”  And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ”

 

If you were among those who did not go up because you were not ready then it will be said of you:

 

Rev 14:13

"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on."

 

Now if the rapture just occurred shouldn't there be a mighty harvest of souls that follow?  Yes!  Look at the immediate event that follows.

 

Rev 14:13-16

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”  Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”  So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

 

The earth was reaped!  All those who did not believe in the rapture now believe!  It will be the biggest sudden harvest of souls in all of history.  The multitudes who said let's see if this rapture occurs should now be terrified.  And many will turn to the Lord.

 

Now before Babylon is burned a warning goes out first.

 

Rev 18:4

And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues."

 

I believe the last sign to the world that the rapture is about to occur is a mass exodus of believers out of Mystery Babylon.  After the exodus, she is burned.  It will be one of the final signs to the world that after the rapture, the world will be judged.  It is the final call to get right with the Lord.

 

I believe the Lord will send a mighty prophet to proclaim the exodus.  He will be a prophet that the people will hear and he will be the same prophet that warns the ten virgins that the bridegroom is coming.

 

So now one must ask, "Who is the messenger that comes at midnight to warn the virgins that the bridegroom is coming?