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WordExplain by James T. Bartsch |
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"For
then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the
beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be." Matt. 24:21
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Explanation of PreWrath Rapture
Part TWO: The Seven Trumpets Items 14-23 Item 14. First Trumpet. Rev. 8:6-7 a.
We are still in the Green
Color, indicating this is, according to Kurschner, the Parousia
of Christ. This appears to be implausible, because Christ's Coming (parousia, 3952)
for the Church occurred in Rev. 4:1. Moreover, His coming (parousia, 3952)
to judge unbelievers and commence His 1000 year reign does not occur
until Rev. 19:11-21. Moreover, the Parousia, in relation to Christ
in the NT, is an event, not a state.
b. The title that appears in the Pop-Up is "First Trumpet." c. The Scripture reference given is Rev. 8:6-7. This passage reveals that the Seven Angels who had the Seven Trumpets prepared to sound them (Rev. 8:6). The first angel sounded. Hail and fire, mixed with blood was thrown down upon the earth. The result was that a third of the earth was burned up, including a third of the trees, and a third of the grass (Rev. 8:7). This would have a devastating effect upon both man and especially upon livestock. Greatly diminished grass for cattle and nuts and fruits for man would be the result. d. At the bottom of the TimeLine appears the title "YHWH's Wrath." This is a meaningless title, because the whole of the Tribulation beginning with the First Seal (Rev. 6:1) is the time of Yahweh's Wrath. It is the time in which He tests the whole world, further defined as "the ones dwelling upon the earth" (literal translation) (Rev. 3:10). As mentioned before, it is Jesus who breaks every seal (Rev. 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1). How can that not be God's wrath poured out upon the earth? e. The time framework at the bottom of the Time-Line indicates that, according to Kurschner, we are now in Year 5 of Daniel's 70th Week. Item 15. Second Trumpet. Rev. 8:8-9. a.
We are still in the Green
Color, indicating this is what Kurschner describes as the
extended period of the Parousia of Christ (Item
10 to Item 31).
Apparently Jesus is already here, upon earth (see Item 10). Or is He?
Nowhere in the Text of Revelation does it suggest that Jesus is here
upon the earth during Item 10 to Item 31.
b. The Title in the Pop-Up reads, "Second Trumpet." c. The only Scripture given is Rev. 8:8-9. This passage reveals that when the Second Angel sounded, something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood (Rev. 8:8). Moreover, a third of sea creatures died, and a third of the ships were destroyed (Rev. 8:9). The effect upon the humans who make their living off the sea will be devastating. Additionally, the effect upon transporting cargoes, including manufactured goods, raw materials, and petroleum products, from one nation to another will be devastating. Not mentioned is the incredible loss of life. Item 16. Third Trumpet. Rev. 8:10-11 a.
Pop-Up Title, "Third Trumpet."
b. Scripture: Only Rev. 8:10-11 c. Title at the bottom of the Time-Line = "YHWH's Wrath" d. Time scale at the bottom: Still in the 5th Year of Daniel's 70th Week. e. Comments on the Scripture (Rev. 8:10-11): (1) The third angel sounded and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch (Rev. 8:10). (2) It fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters (Rev. 8:10). (3) The name of the star is called "Wormwood" (894) (Rev. 8:11) (4) A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from it because the waters were made bitter (Rev. 8:11). f. According to Kurschner, the Third Trumpet appears during the "Parousia of Christ," marked by the Green Colored Section. This does not appear to be plausible because Christ's coming is nowhere said to appear during the Tribulation. In fact, in the Book of Revelation He does not return to earth until the END of the Tribulation, Rev. 19:11-21. See the lexical occurrences of parousia (3952). See the present author's Glossary entry, Parousia. See the present author's Word-Study on Parousia. Item 17. Fourth Trumpet. Rev. 8:12-13. a.
Pop-Up Title, "Fourth Trumpet"
b. Scripture given: Only Rev. 8:12-13. c. Title at the bottom of the Time-Line = "YHWH's Wrath." d. Time scale at the bottom of the Time-Line = still in the 5th year of Daniel's 70th Week. e. Comments on the Scripture (Rev. 8:12-13): (1) The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun, moon, and stars were darkened. There was an obscuring of light for a third part of the day and of the night (Rev. 8:12). (2) An eagle flew in midheaven crying, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth because of the remaining three blasts of the trumpet (Rev. 8:13). f. According to Kurschner, the Fourth Trumpet appears during the "Parousia of Christ," marked by the Green Colored Section. This does not appear to be plausible because Christ's coming is nowhere said to appear during the Tribulation. In fact, in the Book of Revelation He does not return to earth until the END of the Tribulation, Rev. 19:11-21. See the lexical occurrences of parousia (3952). See the present author's Glossary entry, Parousia. See the present author's Word-Study on Parousia. Item 18: Fifth Trumpet. Rev. 9:1-12 a. Pop-Up Title: "Fifth Trumpet."
b. Time notice at the top of the Pop-Up: "5 months of time passes by (Rev. 9:5) c. Scripture given: Only Rev. 9:1-12. d. The time scale at the bottom of the Time-Line reads, "Lasts 5 Months." According to Kurschner, this occurs towards the beginning of the 7th Year of Daniel's 70 Weeks. e. Summary of Rev. 9:1-12: Demonically-controlled, scorpion-like locusts from the abyss afflict near-death torment for five months on those without the seal of God! (This marks the completion of the first woe.) f. According to Kurschner, the Fifth Trumpet is blown during the "Parousia of Christ," marked by the Green Colored Section. This does not appear to be plausible because Christ's coming is nowhere said to occur anywhere in Rev. 6:1-19:10, during any portion of the Tribulation. In fact, in the Book of Revelation He does not return to earth until the END of the Tribulation, Rev. 19:11-21. See the lexical occurrences of parousia (3952). See the present author's Glossary entry, Parousia. See the present author's Word-Study on Parousia. Item 19: Sixth Trumpet. Rev. 9:13-21. a. Pop-Up Title: "Sixth Trumpet."
b. Scripture given: Only Rev. 9:13-21. c. The Title at the bottom of the Time-Line reads "YHWH's Wrath" d. The Time Scale at the bottom informs the reader that this event takes place in the 7th Year of Daniel's 70th Week. We cannot know that for certain, of course. It is merely Kurschner's guess. e. Summary of Rev. 9:13-21: (1) When the sixth angel sounded his trumpet, he was told to release the four (fallen) angels bound at the River Euphrates who would kill a third of mankind (Rev. 9:13-15). (2) The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million (Rev. 9:16). (3) Out of the mouth of the horses proceeded fire, smoke, and brimstone (Rev. 9:17). (4) A third of mankind was killed by these plagues (Rev. 9:18). (5) The rest of mankind did not repent of their evil works. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols built of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood. Nor did they repent of their murders, their sorceries, their immorality, or their thefts (Rev. 9:20-21). f. According to Kurschner, the Sixth Trumpet is blown during the "Parousia of Christ," marked by the Green Colored Section. This does not appear to be plausible because Christ's coming is nowhere said to occur anywhere in Rev. 6:1-19:10, during any portion of the Tribulation. In fact, in the Book of Revelation He does not return to earth until the END of the Tribulation, Rev. 19:11-21. See the lexical occurrences of parousia (3952). See the present author's Glossary entry, Parousia. See the present author's Word-Study on Parousia. Item 20. Death of the Two Witnesses. Rev. 11:7-10. a. Pop-Up Title: "Death of the Two Witnesses."
b. Scripture given: Only Rev. 11:7-10 c. Title at the bottom of the Time-Line: "End of the 70th Week." It would have been helpful if Kurschner would have placed the actual ministry of the Two Witnesses in his Time-Line (Rev. 11:1-6). It is stated there that they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days (Rev. 11:3), which is exactly 3 1/2 years, most likely the last half of Daniel's 70th Week. It also states that they will have power to emit fire from their mouths to kill their enemies (Rev. 11:5). Moreover, they will have power to cause drought during their time of prophesying, and to turn water into blood, and to strike the earth with any kind of plague as often as they wish (Rev. 11:6). The whole unbelieving world will be furious with them, of course. d. Summary of Rev. 11:7-10. (1) When they have finished their testimony, the beast from the Abyss will kill them (Rev. 11:7). (2) Their dead bodies will lie unburied in Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days (Rev. 11:8-9). (3) The "earth-dwellers" (code for unbelievers) will exchange gifts with one another, celebrating the demise of the prophets who had tormented them (Rev. 11:10). e. Once again, according to Kurschner, the two Witnesses are killed during the "Parousia of Christ," marked by the Green Colored Section. This does not appear to be plausible because Christ's coming is nowhere said to occur anywhere in Rev. 6:1-19:10, during any portion of the Tribulation. In fact, in the Book of Revelation He does not return to earth until the END of the Tribulation, Rev. 19:11-21. See the lexical occurrences of parousia (3952). See the present author's Glossary entry, Parousia. See the present author's Word-Study on Parousia. Item 21. Salvation of Israel and "Mystery of God Completed." Romans 11:25-32 a. The Title inside the Pop-Up reads, "Salvation of Israel and "Mystery of God Completed."
b. The Scripture is Rom. 11:25-32. No other Scripture is cited. c. Underneath the Scripture Reference is the Sub-Title, "The Mystery of Israel's Salvation." d. At the bottom of the Time-Line is the time framework, "End of the 70th Week." e. Summary of Rom. 11:25-32: (1) Paul cautions the Roman (Gentile) Christians not to be ignorant of a certain mystery (Rom. 11:25). (2) The content of the mystery is that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come about (Rom. 11:25). The "fullness of the Gentiles" refers to the full number of Gentiles elected to salvation will have been completed. At that point, in my judgment, the Church will be raptured up to heaven. (3) Subsequently, "all Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:26). During the Tribulation period, and by the time Christ returns (Rev. 19:11-21) millions of Jewish people will have become believers in Jesus as their Messiah, for God will have rectified their hardening and spiritual blindness (Jer. 31:31-37; Zech. 12:10-13:1). (4) This salvation of Israel is documented in Isa. 59:20-21; Ezek. 20:33-44; Isa. 27:9 (Rom. 11:26b). (5) The reasons for Israel's total salvation are explained in Rom. 11:28-32: (a) God's election of the nation (Rom. 11:28). They are beloved for the sake of the fathers. (b) God's unswerving character (Rom. 11:29). The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. (c) God's determination to show mercy to Israel and all other nations (Rom. 11:30-32). f. Once again, according to Kurschner, the "Salvation of Israel" and "Mystery of God completed" taking place at the end of the Tribulation during the "Parousia of Christ," marked by the Green Colored Section. In actuality, the full number of Gentiles completed takes place at the end of the Church Age, just prior to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. The salvation of Israel will take place during the Tribulation. This can be demonstrated from the sealing of 144,000 Jewish people (Rev. 7:1-8). These 144,000 are obviously "saved" because they have a special evangelistic mission during the Tribulation. The results of their evangelism are seen in an innumerable company of Gentiles who believed in Christ and were executed for their faith, and thus appear as martyrs out of the Tribulation up in heaven (Rev. 7:9-17). Again, to cite all the Green Portion as the Parousia of Christ does not appear to be plausible because Christ's coming is nowhere said to occur anywhere in Rev. 6:1-19:10, during any portion of the Tribulation. In fact, in the Book of Revelation He does not return to earth until the END of the Tribulation, Rev. 19:11-21. See the lexical occurrences of parousia (3952). See the present author's Glossary entry, Parousia. See the present author's Word-Study on Parousia. Item 22. Resurrection of the Two Witnesses. Rev. 11:11-14. a. The Title of the Pop-Up is the same, "Resurrection of the Two Witnesses."
b. The Scripture is identical, Rev. 11:11-14, and no additional Scripture is provided. c. The Title at the bottom of the Time-Line reads, "Reclamation 30 Days." This is somewhat mystifying because Kurschner applies this title to every Item from Item 22 to Item 31. He does not state what this means, nor on what Scripture he bases his conjecture. The only thing I can speculate is that he is basing this 30-day period on the reference to 1290 days in Daniel 12:11. This is a period of time 30 days longer than the 1260 days implied in Dan. 7:25; 12:7, and more specifically predicted in Rev. 11:2; 12:6, 14; 13:5. I think he is mistaken in thinking that the resurrection of the Two Witnesses, along with the Seven Bowls of Wrath, along with what he terms "Armageddon" (Item 31) will all take place in a mere 30 days. I think it is more likely the extra 30 days will take place after the 7 year Tribulation period has been ended by Christ's return (Rev. 19:11-21). Perhaps the extra 30 days indicate the time during which the Messiah will judge Israel (Ezek. 20:33-38) and the Nations of the world (Matt. 25:31-46). d. Summary of Rev. 11:11-14: (1) After 3 1/2 days the breath of life from God is infused into the two witnesses. They stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon the ones watching them (Rev. 11:11). (2) The onlookers heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Come up here!" They ascended into heaven in the cloud while their enemies watched them (Rev. 11:12). (3) In that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. 7,000 people were killed in the earthquake. The rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven (Rev. 11:13). (4) The second "woe" is past. Behold, the third "woe" comes quickly (Rev. 11:14). I should like to note that the Greek words for "Come up here" in Rev. 11:12 are identical to the Greek words used in Rev. 4:1 to summon John up to heaven. John's ascension to heaven was a "virtual" ascent "in the Spirit" to be sure. But I believe that call symbolizes God's call to the Church to "Come up here!" at the Pre-Tribulation Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18, cf. 1 Cor. 15:50-53, cf. John 14:1-3). The two witnesses ascended bodily in their resurrected bodies to heaven (Rev. 4:12). That is exactly what will happen with the Church when Christ comes to retrieve His Bride from the horrors of the Tribulation, take her to heaven, and prepare and purify her for her upcoming marriage to the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9). e. Once again, according to Kurschner, the two Witnesses are resurrected during the "Parousia of Christ," marked by the Green Colored Section. This does not appear to be plausible because Christ's coming is nowhere said to occur anywhere in Rev. 6:1-19:10, during any portion of the Tribulation. In fact, in the Book of Revelation He does not return to earth until the END of the Tribulation, Rev. 19:11-21. Moreover, the parousia of Christ in the NT is an event, not a period of time. See the lexical occurrences of parousia (3952). See the present author's Glossary entry, Parousia. See the present author's Word-Study on Parousia. Item 23. Seventh Trumpet. Rev. 11:15-19. a. Title. Seventh Trumpet.
b. Scripture given: Rev. 11:15-19 only. c. Title at the bottom of the Time-Line: "Reclamation 30 days." This is the same time-designation as the one given for Item 22 to Item 31. It is doubtful that these 10 items can all be fulfilled in a mere 30 days. See further comments at Item 22, letter c. According to Kurschner, this Seventh Trumpet is blown right towards end of the 7th Year of the last "week" of Daniel's revelation of 70 Weeks (of years). d. Summary of Rev. 11:15-19: (1) The Seventh Angel sounded his trumpet. Loud voices in heaven proclaimed, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever" (Rev. 11:15). (2) The 24 Elders worshiped God, saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because you have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth" (Rev. 11:16-18). (3) The temple of God in heaven opened, and the ark of the covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm (Rev. 11:19). (1) The words "has become" are to be taken proleptically, looking ahead to what will become true shortly.
(2) This can be demonstrated because the dead have not yet been judged at this point, and the righteous have not yet been rewarded, and those who destroy the earth have not yet been destroyed. (3) It is worth noting that "those who destroy the earth" (Rev. 11:18) are not those who leave a carbon footprint, but those who are immoral, untruthful, and unrighteous, and who defy the King of kings and Lord of lords. e. Once again, according to Kurschner, the Seventh Trumpet takes place during the "Parousia of Christ," marked by the Green Colored Section. This does not appear to be plausible because Christ's coming is nowhere said to occur anywhere in Rev. 6:1-19:10, during any portion of the Tribulation. In fact, in the Book of Revelation He does not return to earth until the END of the Tribulation, Rev. 19:11-21. Moreover, the parousia of Christ in the NT is an event, not a period of time. See the lexical occurrences of parousia (3952). See the present author's Glossary entry, Parousia. See the present author's Word-Study on Parousia.
Updated March 13, 2021
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