The 2 "Days of The Lord"

 

by

Jerome Gerbasi

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"But oh that God would speak,...And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is!..." (Job 11:5-6)

The mystery of God's secrets for his people is "double", twofold. This is "a secret of wisdom." And it is double to what may appear to be singular, on the surface. For many people who only see one single day of gathering or harvesting of God's people, I suggest, look again, for it is double to that which is.

 In order to understand the end-times, and God's dealing with his church, a proper knowledge of the two different dispensations between Israel of the flesh (the Jews-(1 Cor. 10:18) and Israel of the spirit (christians-Gal. 6:16) is vital. To mix the two together, and more to the point, to mix together God's dealing with both is a great error, and leads to much confusion as to how the last days  unfold . Although the church, as a wild olive branch, was grafted into the olive tree of  the nation of Israel (Rom. 11:17), and partakes of the root and fatness of the tree, God always has and always will (in this present age) deal with his bride of the new covenant in a totally different manner, on a totally different level, with a totally new law in and of the Spirit. During which time, Israel of the flesh is blinded to their Messiah and to his new covenant, until the fulness of the Gentile church has been reached:

Rom. 11:7-11
"...Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day."
 
Rom. 11:25
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in."

They are not of the body of Christ and do not partake of the promises given to that body; yet God has not abandoned them:

Rom. 11:11
"I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy."

Rom. 11:28-29
"As concerning the gospel (the New Heart Covenant), they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' (patriarchs) sakes. For the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance."

God has a future plan for the redemption of the nation of Israel, Israel of the flesh:

"And the Lod shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you. And there ye shall serve gods...But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them." (Deut. 4:27)

The story of Joseph is a perfect portrait the Lord has given as to how he is going to deal with this nation of Israel in the future. Joseph (as a type of Jesus) was persecuted and sold into slavery by his other brothers, who represent the tribes of Israel. They even "conspired against him to slay  him." (Gen. 37:18) He was separated from them and taken to Egypt where God rose him up to be a great leader over the Gentiles, unbeknownst to his brothers. They had no idea of the true identity of this Ruler. Then in process of time, a great famine (tribulation) came over all the face of the earth (Gen. 41:56), and his brothers journeyed to him for their survival, where he eventually revealed himself to them and forgave them for their rejection of him, it being the work of God to bring salvation to the earth. "Through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles." Just as the wickedness of the 12 brothers to Joseph was used of God to bring salvation to the earth, the same wickedness of these tribes to Jesus was used to bring salvation to the earth. And just as they received a final reconciliation to their rejected brother, after their affliction, so too will the nation of Israel receive their final Atonement and reconciliation to their Messiah, after the "great tribulation", the time of Jacob's trouble. You will find this last day redemption of Israel repeated all throughout the bible:

Hos. 3:3-5
"And I (Hosea) said unto her (his adulterous wife), Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. For the children of Israel shall abide many days (during the church age) without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David (Jesus) their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days."

This redemption of the physical nation of Israel is in no way the same event as the redemption that Christ promises for his Church, who has presently been "chosen through the furnace of affliction". The bride of Christ has been "tried by fire", and found acceptable. She has come to his new covenant through the strait gate and narrow way, accepted his offering and grace, and received Atonement. She has already rejected the slavery of Mammon and waged war on Satans dominion over her, and has overcome. Israel awaits the time of Jacob's trouble to accomplish this. That is what the 70 weeks of Daniel’s prophecy are to bring about for his people and their city of Jerusalem; "To finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness..." (Dan. 9:24) Which is why the bride of Christ, who has already accomplished this through obedience to the gospel, need not be involved in these weeks of years. "The first shall be last, and the last first."

 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience (the narrow way of tribulation), I also will keep thee from the hour (3 1/2 years) of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try THEM that dwell upon the earth." (Rev. 3:10)

We know how long this "hour" is by another verse, Rev. 17:12, that shows it's  the length of time that the antichrist reigns, which is 42 months (Rev. 13:5, Dan. 7:25, Dan 12:7), which is the length of the great trib. Notice that Jesus doesn't say he is going to just keep them from the temptation, or preserve them through it. He says he's going to keep them from the very time span, or duration of it. "I will keep thee from the hour." But God gave no such promise to the nation of Israel. To them he said: "...Behold, my servants (the christians) shall eat (at the wedding supper), but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit." (Isaiah 65:13-14) 

There are in fact, two gatherings of God's people; one at the beginning of the "great tribulation", and one at the end of it. Both these days involve the Lord gathering his people and bringing wrath upon the world. The Gentiles, which came into the household of God last, are redeemed first. And the Jews, which were first to do so, are last. The Lord's working in his Gentile church is on a spiritual/ heavenly basis; "who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." (Eph. 1:3) God's working with the physical seed of Abraham has always been on an earthly/carnal basis, and were given the first covenant, a carnal covenant. They were given "the law of a carnal commandment." Whereas the church, is given "the law of the Spirit of Life (Love) in Christ Jesus", a spiritual covenant. The harvesting and redemption of these two groups will also be according to this same working as well. The resurrection and gathering of the elect of Christ will be spiritual; the resurrection and gathering of Israel of the flesh will be carnal.

 

THE GATHERING OF THE ELECT OF CHRIST

 

We find numerous instances where we are told that Christ removes his people, the christians, from earth at the beginning of his wrath being poured out:

"But as the days of Noah were, shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days BEFORE the flood (before God's wrath began), they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And KNEW NOT until the flood came, and took them all away (there was no judgment of God upon the earth until this day, this was it's beginning); So shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken (harvested), and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one taken, and the other left.Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come (to take you). But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch THE THIEF would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up." (Matt. 24:37-43)

Paul tells us very plainly that this is the "Day of the Lord", the day when God's wrath begins:

"For this we say unto you BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, that we which are alive and remain (survive the 5th seal persecution) unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the Trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. But of the times and seasons (of this event), brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that THE DAY OF THE LORD so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon THEM, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But YE BRETHREN, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake YOU as a thief. YE are all the children of light (born again), and children of the day (the age of Grace): We are not of the night, nor of darkness...For God hath not appointed US to WRATH, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess. 4:15-5:9)

And Paul just went over what "salvation" he was speaking of; The Lord coming for his true children on the "day of the Lord" and gathering them together into the clouds. And again, this occurs JUST BEFORE "SUDDEN DESTRUCTION" falls upon the world. It is so sudden to them because it is the very beginning of it's occurance. And Peter, as well as many many other old testament prophets confirms that this is the very day when God's wrath begins: He begins by addressing the question of the scoffers: "Where is the promise of HIS COMING?" (2 Pet. 3:4) So this is regarding the coming of the Lord. He makes reference to the flood as well and then says:

"But THE DAY OF THE LORD will come AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for AND HASTING UNTO the coming of THE DAY OF GOD, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?"

This is indeed an awful day of destruction, unimaginable how fierce it will be. However, Peter says we are to be "hasting unto it". That is, looking forward to it. And why would we be doing that? Well Paul just gave us the answer in Thessalonians; it is the very day when the Son of man is revealed, and gathers his true children; the day of "sudden destruction" from on high:
 
And we also know that the first destruction of America Babylon occurs on this very "day of the Lord" as well, and is very central to it. Isaiah chapter 13 describes the judgment upon latter day Babylon:

"They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth (2 Thess.5:3): they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. (6th seal) And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place (6th seal), in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger....And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." (Isaiah 13:5:19)

There is no question as to what this day means for the world, and specifically, the United States of America. But we are given a little clue here, by the reference to Sodom and Gomorah, as to what it means for Christ's true people:

"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they drank they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; (life was totally normal for them, no Divine judgment had come yet) BUT THE SAME DAY that Lot went out of Sodom (who was forcibly escorted by angels) it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. EVEN THUS SHALL IT BE IN THE DAY WHEN THE SON OF MAN IS REVEALED....I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall BE TAKEN, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall BE TAKEN, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body (of Christ) is, thither will the eagles (angels) be gathered together." (Luke 17:28-37)

Again, this involves the "Body" of Christ who is to be "taken" by the eagles from heaven, or the angel reapers. And this occurs  JUST PRIOR to ANY divine wrath being poured out from heaven upon the world. They did not endure through a series of divine judgments which culminated in this. This came at a time of relative calm and normalcy.  This must occur on the very day that God's wrath begins. And therefore it CANNOT be toward the end of the great tribulation. That's something we have to remember as we put all of these pieces together. And we can see in Rev. 19, that when Babylon America is destroyed by fire, it brings salvation to the Lamb's wife:

"And after these things (immediately after the destruction of Babylon the Great) I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; SALVATION, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever....And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB IS COME, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." (Rev. 19: 1-9)

 And the same thing is shown in Rev. Chapter 6 - 7, when the 6th seal is opened on the Day of the Lord:

"And I beheld when he had opened the 6TH SEAL, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountian and island were moved out of their places (partial polar shift). And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME; and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6:12-17)

 This is the arrival of the great "Day of God". This is the BEGINNING of his wrath upon the world. And we know this 6th seal includes WW3 at the same time, by cross comparing  Ezekiel 38, with Jeremiah, and with Isaiah here:

"For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree (6th seal)...For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion." (Isaiah 34:2-8)

And although WW3 has the actions of men involved as well, nevertheless, it is without question the very day when God's wrath comes. But what happens to Christ's people during this? Do they go through it? Are they just protected upon earth from it? Well, John, just after seeing these things happening on earth, and God once again turning his attention back to the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev.7:3), John looks up to heaven during this opening of the 6th seal and sees this:

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues (Gentiles), stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, SALVATION to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes (been regenerated - Rev. 3:4-5), and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore (because of them doing that) are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them (at the marriage supper), and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Rev. 7:9-17)

It's important to notice that these people didn't file into heaven one by one individually, but they were collectively taken out together when the great day of his wrath is come, at the beginning of the great tribulation , and proclaimed: "Salvation". It is asked: "the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?" Well, the only ones that are going to stand are Christ's elect that are counted worthy, just as he said:

"For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to STAND before the Son of man." (Luke 21: 35-36)

It's clear that this is the day of the Lord's coming from the prophecies in Malachi:

"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall STAND when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver (through the great trib.), that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness." (Mal. 3:2-3)

This is when God turns his attention back to Israel to purge them with fire, just as the christian must be purged now through the Narrow Way. These christians out of every nation and kindred are STANDING before the Son of man, when the great day of his wrath is come, and they were counted worthy to escape the "great tribulation". Standing before the Son of man is the very thing that enables them to escape all the things that shall come to pass. But this group is made up of both those living at that time, and those saints who had died previous to it, for "the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:" (1 Thess. 4:16-17) . Notice again that this involves only those "IN CHRIST". It is very exclusive. This is what Jesus promised to his obedient believers, who "keep the word of his patience", which is to endure the cross. His promise is to keep them from this hour, or 42 months, of temptation to try the world of Christ rejectors; and as it said in Malachi and also in Zech. 13:8-9, to purge Israel by fire. It says in Rev. 7:14-15 that the reason these Gentiles are in Heaven is because they "have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. "Therefore" are they before the throne of God..." This is  the Lord's promise to the overcomers:

"Thou hast a few names (the elect) even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, (is born again) the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Rev.3:4-6)

 

‘THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS’

 

Many might think that the 7 Seals spoken of in Rev. describe what they call the “tribulation” period in the future. But I tend to agree with the position that these first 7 Seals are involved in what Jesus called: “the beginning of sorrows” that lead up to the great tribulation; and that they transpire over a period of many years during the final generation of the end. We’ll compare each of the Seals with the statements that Jesus makes about this initial period before the wrath of God begins, and we’ll find that there is a precise parallel between the two sets of prophecies.

“And as he (Jesus) sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matt. 24:3)
It’s clear what the question put to him is about; so what Jesus is about to tell them pertains to the time of his coming and the end of the age. Here is his first statement:

1) “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”  (Vs.4) 

Many might think that he is speaking of false Christ’s rising up in the end claiming to be the Messiah. Although he does mention that later on in his sermon, this statement here nas nothing to do with “false Christ’s”. It is speaking of those that come in the name of Jesus as his representatives, and claim that Jesus is the Christ. He is talking of a rise in false Christianity in the last days, when there is a massive “falling away” from the truth within the church. These people come in the name of Jesus but they DECEIVE MANY. It should be obvious to any true watchful Christian that this has already been going on for many years now. We’ll find that this corresponds to the 1st Seal being opened:

1) “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” (Rev. 6:1-2)

 This is describing the initial rise of the antichrist powers in the world, which invade and infiltrate all governments and established instituitions on earth, as well as the Church. The church must first be subverted and neutralized by the enemy in order for the Antichirst to rise to power. Which is why Paul says that the day of Christ won’t come until there is FIRST a falling away in the church and the man of sin is revealed. (2 Thess. 2:3-4) The falling away MUST come first in order for evil to gain massive control over the minds and lives of men and stear them into allegiance to Satan. And this has been going on for a long time now, the antichirst spirit in the world has gone forth conquering and to conquer. Here’s the second statement that Jesus makes:

2) “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” (Vs 6-7)
He is decribing the rise of World Wars and conflicts, which probably began with WW1. This is the opening of the 2nd Seal:

2) “And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.” (Re.6:3-4)
The opposite of peace being on earth is war. So the 2nd Seal involves a great sword of war being unleashed over the world. Here’s the 3rd stage:

3) “…and there shall be famines.” (Vs 7)

3) “And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” (Rev. 6:5-6)

 So this 3rd Seal seems to involve food shortage and famine, possibly due to economic factors.

4) “…and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” (Vs. 7)

4) “And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” (Rev. 6:7-8)

This 4th Seal involves more deadly things unleashed along with more war and famine. It can be compared to what the Lord unleashed upon Israel in the past; these four deadly things:

“For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?” (Eze. 14:21)

Notice that in this passage “pestilence” is included where the term “death” is used in Rev. 6:8. This shows exactly what “death” this is speaking of in the 4th Seal; Pestilence, which again corresponds to the end-time prophecy sequence given by Jesus.

“All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Vs. 8)

Jesus says that all these things rise up but the very end is not yet. And the implication seems to be that it involves many years prior to the great tribulation. Here is the next thing he mentions which corresponds to the 5th Seal.

5) “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Vs. 9-14)

5) “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” (Rev. 6:9-11)

So there is a massive rise in Christian persecution just before the great tribulation begins. This has probably already begun, but has yet to reach it’s full magnitude in most developed countries. Jesus says this happens “and then shall the end come.” The beginning of sorrows is ending and the time of great tribulation is about to start.

6) “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Dan. 11:31, 12:11), stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Vs. 15-21)

This is the opening of the 6th Seal wich begins God’s wrath on earth and deliverance of his elect Christians. Those “which are alive and remain” through the 5th Seal persecution will be caught up alive to meet the Lord in the air. The first 5 Seals are not the wrath of God, which his true children are exempt from; these are “the beginning of sorrows”. We all are appointed to persecution and tribulation in this world ever since Christ came and preached; “for all that will live godly in Christ Jesus SHALL suffer persecution.” We are all appointed to suffer, and even die for him physically if need be, as he suffered for us.

6) “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev.6 :12-17)
The opening of the 6th Seal BEGINS the wrath of God on the first Day of the Lord, this begins the 3 ½  year great tribulation.

IS THE RAPTURE OR HARVEST OF THE CHURCH A SECRET TO THE WORLD?

Many might scoff at the suggestion that it is, but I wouldn't be so quick to. Afterall, this whole thing is a tremendous mystery to all of us, and therefore an open heart to the possibility is what we should have. We'll now go into the various reasons as to why it could very well be true. Throughout the gospels you will find that Christ would weave his teachings about regeneration and the final translation together. In one breath he would be speaking of regeneration, him personally coming to a believer, and in the very next breath he'd be describing his coming for the Church. We have to ask the question: Why? What was he getting at? Are these two experiences very similar? Here is an example:

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (at regeneration)" (Matt. 16:27-28)

Here he was speaking of his coming for the church, and then immediately shifts to his personal arrival to the believers. It's amazing how he talks about them in virtually the identical same way:

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom (at regeneration). Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves (all christians) like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh ("behold, I stand at the door and knock") they may open unto him immediately (at regeneration). Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them (this happens both at regeneration and at the translation). And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants." (Luke 12:35-38)

The description of this event to the believers, his personal manifestation to them, is described in the exact same manner, and with the exact same type of wording as it is when he talks about the day when he personally comes to collect them. Both events are a great mystery. In both cases he comes suddenly as a thief without warning to translate his people from darkness into the kingdom of light. "Watch therefore, for ye know not when your Lord doth come." In both cases it's a spiritual act of redemption. Both events are to change the sin nature of the believers. Both experiences involve resurrection, quickening, and hearing the voice of God. In both cases the Lord recreates the believer in his own image. Both events involve marriage, and supping with the Lord. And both events require a patient and faithful waiting for by his people. Are both events invisible to the world? "How is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, but NOT unto the world?" Judas, not Iscariot, asked of him. Does this hold true for the translation of the Body? If it is an absolute fact during the act of regeneration, is it such a stretch to think that it is for the translation as well?

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee (for the translation of the body)  in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so AS I HAVE SEEN THEE IN THE SANCTUARY (the holiest of holies during regeneration)." (Psalm 63:1-2)

The person is pleading; "Lord, I long to see your power and glory, in the translation of my body, just as I saw it in the sanctuary when I first met you."
 
Both events are tied together here as well:

 “And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day (through the narrow way), and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear (regeneration). But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come (rapture).” (Mark 4:26-29)

"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.(it's of the spirit) And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day (it's in the "twinkling of an eye")." (Luke 17:20-24)

Again, here Jesus is speaking of regeneration in the believer as coming "not with observation", that is, it cannot be witnessed by the carnal senses; and in the next breath goes on to speak about his coming, and warning about those who will say "see here" or "see there". Why did he do that? Is it only witnessed by the regenerated elect?

"Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness (Divine Agape): in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD (remain unregenerate). LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, THEY WILL NOT SEE: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us." (Isaiah 26:10-12)

When Enoch was translated, it says that "he was not found, for God took him." He simply wasn't there anymore. In the twinkling of an eye he was gone. And he is a type of faithful christian. Will our translation be the same? Stephen saw the glory of God and said: "behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." But the world could see absolutley nothing of it. The church has always been a complete mystery to the world, they see nothing of it's internal workings. We are going to find that the prophecies that say "every eye shall see him" are not refering to this event, but to his coming at the end of the great tribulation. (Matt. 24:30-31, Matt. 25:31-32, Matt. 26:64, Rev 1:7, Rev. 14:14, Luke 21:27, Dan. 7:13, Zech. 9:14)

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise IN your hearts:" (2 Pet. 1:19)

Although this event invloves the body, it is an internal working of the Spirit:

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you (by regeneration), he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Rom. 8:11)

So this is going to be done from the inside out. Not the other way around. Another good question to ask would be: If the world will indeed fully witness this translation and gathering, then why in the world would they then bow down and worship the dragon and wonder after the beast and his image, and receive his mark, which is precisely what the prophecies say will happen as the antichrist is given power to continue 42 months? Why would they do this if they had indeed just seen God Almighty in all his glory and power delivering his people? They are under the Strong Delusion at this point and have no knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is something to keep in mind as we study through this, as the mystery of this event is very much implied through the prophecies.

But to get back to the gathering itself: It is very telling that during this event of the 6th seal being opened, and the wrath of God beginning, the church age has ended and God reverts his attention back to the twelve tribes of Israel, and seals the 144,000 men in their foreheads. This is a change is divine dispensation. Throughout the entire span of the church age, God has not dealt with the physical nation of Israel in this manner. The fact that he is doing so here again shows why these countless Gentile believers in Christ are in heaven. Because their age has ended: "the harvest is the end of the age" (Matt. 13:39) At the end of this present age of the church, or "times of the Gentiles", Christ is going to harvest his true wheat:

"The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom (born again); but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world (age); and the reapers are the angels." (Matt. 13:38-39)

The word "world" here is #165 in the Strongs concordance, and it means: "age, course, a Messianic period." Therefore, when this present age is over and a new one begins, there must be the harvest of the wheat, the christians. And that is exactly what is taking place here at the beginning of the great tribulation. And these are not the tribulation saints either. Because their gathering into heaven occurs much later during the 7th trumpet, just before the last 7 vials of wrath are poured out:

"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto 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 that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped." (Rev 14:14-16)

This occurs during the 7th  trumpet and it shows right after who is involved in this harvest:

"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." (Rev. 15:1-3)

This is the harvest that Christ was refering to at the end of the great tribulation:

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect (the tribulation saints) from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matt. 24: 29-31)
 
And in Luke as well:

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring (polar shift);  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth (the 7 trumpet judgments): for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And THEN (afterward) shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things BEGIN to come to pass (the very beginning of the signs), then look up, and lift upYOUR heads; for YOUR REDEMPTION draweth nigh." (Luke 21:25-28)

There is a judgment and separation that Christ performs at the end of the great trib. that is wholly different to him sifting the wheat and the tares at the beginning of it. "For judgment must BEGIN at the house of God."

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:....Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" (Matt. 25:31-41)

When Christ sifts his church, and "thoroughly purges his floor" he FIRST binds the tares and casts them away, THEN he brings the wheat into his barn:

"Let both grow together until the harvest (the harvest is the end of the church age): and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." (Matt. 13: 30)

So we can clearly see that the judgment we are now discussing is totally different than the gathering of the church elect, and it takes place at the end. This is in full harmony with what happens during the 7th trumpet, where Christ is seen in a cloud ready to harvest the earth as we just read in Rev 14:14.

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry (all the tribes of the earth mourn), and thy wrath is come (the last 7 great plagues), and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." (Rev 11:14-18)

This sequence is again shown in Daniel 7; where there is first a mysterious gathering and judgment of his church at the beginning of the great trib., then followed by him coming in the clouds of heaven at the end of it. The prophecy concerns the 4th beast power and the events concerning it:

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast (UN), dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns (kings). I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, (the UN suffers a deadly head wound when America-Babylon is destroyed on the first ‘Day of the Lord’) and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame (Rev. 1:14), and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him (to judge the works of his elect when they are gathered – 1Cor. 3:13-15): thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him (the elect of the church): the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake (he blasphemed God and them that dwell in heaven – Rev.13:6): I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Dan. 7:7-14)

We see the very same thing here; the UN in Babylon is first thrown down, which will probably then relocate it’s headquarters in Jerusalem during the great trib., The Lord is on his throne as his elect stand before him with their works being judged for rewards when the 6th seal is opened. Notice that there was no visible gathering of them mentioned. They were just seen there in heaven, as Enoch was taken “and was not found, for God took him.” (Which is the same thing found in Rev. 6 when the 6th seal is opened; the group of people from every nation and kindred taken out when the great trib. begins is seen before the throne of the Lord proclaiming “SALVATION!”  There was no mention made there either of a visible appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven.)

Then after this judgment that Daniel sees there is a time span and THEN the Son of man is SEEN coming in the clouds of heaven, which occurs during the 7th trumpet, as we read earlier in Rev 14:14-16 and Matt. 24: 29-31. This is the visible appearing of Christ in the clouds toward the END of the great tribulation:

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him (The Jews): and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." (Rev 1:7)

”But he (Jesus) held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:61-62)

The nation of Israel, or it's remnant, and the 144,000 remain on earth during this time of the "great tribulation", or "time of Jacob's trouble", as we shall see in Rev. chapter 12, and in many other places in scripture. Revelation chapter 12 descibes the vision of the "woman" with a crown of 12 stars, which represent her 12 tribes:

"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron:..."

(the nation of Israel ,NOT THE GENTILES, produced Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Therefore this woman must represent God's Old Covenant wife, the Jews. Which is why she has a crown of 12 stars)

" and her child was CAUGHT UP  unto God, and to his throne...
 (which is a reference not only to Christ's ascension, but also to his Body's, at the beginning of the great trib., which we shall see right here:)

" And the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (the time span of the great trib. which just began) And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, NOW is come salvation (for the church), and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ (the power of resurrection and salvation): for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Just as Satan is removed from heaven, God's children are escorted into it) And they overcame him (THEY ARE OVERCOMERS) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.(They "kept the word of his patience" by dieing on their own cross) THEREFORE (Because they did this and were accounted worthy)  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.And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child (Israel remains on the earth to be tried).And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness , into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time (3 1/2 years), from the face of the serpent." (Rev. 12:5-14)

I think this "flying into the wilderness" is the same thing that Psalm 90 describes when the remnant of Israel must flee:

"The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow (which is what we are seeing right now) for it is soon cut off AND WE (ISRAEL) FLY AWAY." (Psalm 90:10)

This is exactly what Christ said in Matthew regarding the beginning of the great trib: "Let THEM WHICH BE IN JUDEA flee into the mountains (the wilderness)"

This is the same symbology that God used during the first Exodus of Isreal:

"Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself." (Ex 19:4)

"He (God) found him (Israel) in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:" (Deut. 32:10-11)

And we find that God is going to perform a second kind of Exodus for the latter day Jewish remnant:

"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence ("a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days") and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt." (Hos 2:14-15)

"And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." (Isaiah 11:16)

This is the time of their trial by fire, just as the narrow way is the trial of fire for the christian elect during the present church age:

"And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God." (Zech. 13:8-9)

"And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you. And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul (just as the elect of Christ must do on their narrow way). When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them." (Deut. 4:27-31)

The reason why Satan is now wroth with the woman, and goes to "make war with the remnant of her seed" is because the elect christians are no longer on the earth. "Now is come salvation" for them. The ones that "overcame"  are told: "rejoice ye heavens and ye that dwell in them." And this occurs just as the 3 1/2 year great trib. begins. They already waged their war upon Satan through the narrow way and overcame him, just as Rev. 12 was saying.

It can be seen throughout scripture that the Jews are refered to as "figs" or "olives", whereas christians are refered to as "wheat". I don't think you will find anywhere that the reverse is ever said; that the Jews are wheat, and christians are figs. And that is for a very good reason. The two harvests of these crops occur at very different times; The wheat is gathered and winnowed at the very beginning of summer, during Pentecost, just when the heat is approaching. "But the time of the figs is not yet", they endure through the summer heat and are gathered at the very end of it in the fall, during the feast of Ingathering.

Jesus's admonition to the church concerned his coming to them at the beginning of summer, not the fall:

"Now learn (understand) a parable of the fig tree (Israel); When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves (but the time of the figs is not yet), ye know THAT SUMMER IS NIGH (it is beginning): So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." (Matt. 24:32-33)

The time Christ comes for his Gentile Bride is not during the fig or olive harvest, but at the beginning of summer. Like it was with Ruth and Boaz, her Kinsman Redeemer, during the wheat harvest. He says this to his bride when he takes her away:

"My beloved (Jesus) spake and said unto me, RISE UP, my love, my fair one, AND COME AWAY. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds (angels) has come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; THE FIG TREE PUTTETH FORTH HER GREEN FIGS (they are not ripened, their time is not yet), and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. ARISE, my love, my fair one, AND COME AWAY. (Songs of Solomon 3:10-13)

And we are given a clue when the 6th seal is opened, and God's wrath begins, that it is not the time of the fig harvest:

"And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely (unripe) figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind." ( Rev. 6:13)
 

"THE CORN THE WINE AND THE OIL"

There are actually 3 groups of people involved in the  two gatherings at the end times, the church or christian elect (the "corn" which mean wheat), the tribulation saints (the wine), and the Jewish remnant (the oil). That is the order in which they are gathered as is shown throughout the entire old testamant. Here are just a few examples:

"And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil,..." (Deut. 7:13)

"Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil..." (Jer. 31:12)

"That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil." (Deut. 11:14)

"Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries." (Neh. 13:12)

"Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil..." (Joel 2:19)

"And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil." (Joel 2:24)

It's very clear that Jesus refered to the gathering of his christian elect as the corn or wheat harvest in Matthew 3:12, Matthew 13: 30, Luke 3:17,  1 Cor. 15:37 and in many other places. This occurs on Pentecost in the third Jewish month of Sivan. This is at the very beginning of Summer, in accordance with all of the references he makes to that time. The wheat is gathered here and doesn't endure through the heat of the summer, however the tribulation saints (the grapes), as well as Israel (the olives or figs) must. It is very interesting, that in Isaiah 24 he describes the initial polar shift and the following destruction of the earth, and then talks about the remnant of olives and the remnant of grapes. But makes no mention of the wheat:

"Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof...The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word. The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left...In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction. When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree (the Jewish remnant), and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done (the remnant of the trib. saints). They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea. Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea." (Isaiah 24:2-15)

The wheat, the christian elect, are mysteriously absent here. They are already in heaven before this time; which is why no mention of them is made. Again, the wheat is harvested and winnowed at the very beginning of summer, but not so for the rest. Is this why the Jews say this?:

"We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble! ("the time of Jacob's trouble") The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured  the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein. For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD. (the great dragon is cast down who persecutes the woman). When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? The harvest (of wheat) is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." (Jer. 8: 15-20)

And we find a reference to a grape harvest and the wine press occuring during the days of the 7th trumpet; we read part of this before:

"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto 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 that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs." (Rev. 14: 14-20)
 
And we know that this grape harvest toward the very end of the great trib. is a time of both wrath and redemption from what Isaiah says here:

"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save (Jesus Christ). Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat. I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come." (Isaiah 63:1-4)

So this gathering or harvesting of God begins at Pentecost and is finished at the Ingathering:

"And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly...IN THE THIRD MONTH (Sivan - PENTECOST) they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month (Tishri - INGATHERING/ TABERNACLES)." (2 Chr. 31:5,7)

"Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:" (Deut. 16: 13)

These are the three offering brought before the Lord in their times:

"For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary (BEFORE THE LORD)..." (Neh. 10:39)

 

THE GATHERING OF THE JEWISH ELECT

Israel will only receive their Atonement and enter into the New Covenant AFTER they have been purged by fire, and received divine chastening, again, just as God requires it spiritually of the christian elect in this present age:

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth EVERY son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof ALL ARE PARTAKERS, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Heb. 11:5-11)
This is what is accomplished for the remant of Israel during their time of affliction:

"LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them. Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD. We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast (they are kept from the last 7 vials of wrath). For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." (Isaiah 26:16-21)

"And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God." (Zech. 13:8-9)

"And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people (Rev. 12), and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD." (Eze. 20:35-38)
 
"Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes (the new covenant), and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God." (Eze. 36:22-28)

This also involves their carnal resurrection toward the end of the great tribulation:

"Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD." (Eze. 37:11-14)

"O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king (antichrist) and princes? I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid. The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children. I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes." (Hos. 13:9-14)

Daniel also describes this, towards the end of the great trib, that there is a resurrection and deliverance of Israel from the last great wrath poured out. From the sequence given, we know it is not at the beginning of the great tribulation, because that is described a bit earlier in chapter 11:

"And arms shall stand on his (the antichrist's) part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate...." (Dan. 11:31)

That event, according to Jesus Christ in Matt. 24, and Dan. 12, occurs just before the 3 ½ year great tribulation. And so we know this is the beginning, and the whole duration of  "the indignation" now unfolds:

" And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. And the king (Antichrist) shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined (the 7 trumpet judgments) shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. AND AT THE TIME OF THE END (it is now at the end of the great trib.) shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. And at that time (the time of the end) shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people (the Jews): and there shall be a time of trouble (the last 7 vials of God's wrath), such as never was since there was a nation EVEN TO THAT SAME TIME: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book .And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake (resurrect), some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." (Dan. 12: 1-3)

Again, it parallels exactly what we read in Revelation about the 7th trumpet:

 "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come ("a time of trouble"), and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." (Rev. 11:19)

We get another clue that this is the 7th trumpet by Michael standing up, and the events here match precisely what the book of Revelation says about it:

"And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open (the book of Daniel?): and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,...And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." (Rev. 10:1-7)
 
Psalm 18 describes this salvation of the Jews in the last days, with the same events of the 7th trumpet as we just read:

"In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple,("the temple of God was opened in heaven') and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them...”

This is what happens during this 7th trumpet:

"And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." (Rev. 11:19)

 "...Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD (The Old Testament), and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight." (Psalm 18:6-24)

This is salvation through works, keeping the statutes of the Lord and fiding favour with him through that. This is speaking specifically about the deliverance of the Jewish elect at the very end, as does Psalm 144:

"Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;" (Psalm 144:5-7)

As well as Psalm 47:

"O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us (Rev. 11:18), the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted."

In the days of the 7th trumpet  the 144,000 are redeemed from the earth, as the "firstfruits" of Israel:

"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand (of the 12 tribes of Israel - Rev. 7:4), having his Father's name written in their foreheads...And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." (Rev. 14:1-5)
 
And these are redeemed from the earth AFTER the Gentile bride of Christ is, as Psalm 45 also reveals:

"Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people (the gentiles), and thy father's house; So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour. The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins (144,000) her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing (singing-Rev14:2) shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace." (Psalm 45:10-15)

The term "follow" #310 literally means "follow afterward, or hereafter". The virgins, the 144,000, are brought before the king AFTER the gentile Bride is brought in.

THE TRUMPET

Here are two prophecies concerning this salvation of Israel at the end, in which God is seen over them and blows the trumpet:

"When I have bent Judah for me (after he purges them), filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man. And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land." (Zech. 9:13-16)

"In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up...And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem." (Isaiah 27:8-13)

This is when the blindness of the Jews will be lifted:

"Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Isaiah 35:4-10)

This gathering of Israel could very well occur on the feast of  Trumpets so that they can attain their final Atonement, according to the promises. For this is the time when God ordained for them to appear before him:

"And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:" (Deut. 31:10-12)

And this is the same time when they returned from their Babylonian captivity:

"And when the seventh month was come (which begins with Trumpets), and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening. They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required; And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD. From the first day of the seventh month (Trumpets) began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD..." (Ezra 3:1-6)

In the days of the 7th trumpet the "mystery of God is FINISHED". The mystery of his redemption. And when did it begin? Well, we have already seen that; during the 6th seal. That was when "the great day of his wrath is come" and a whole multitude of overcomers "came out of great tribulation" and Christ feeds them in heaven. There are in fact 2 "Days of the Lord". The  first begins the wrath of God, the last completes it. The first comes at a time of relative calm; "when they shall say peace and safety, then SUDDEN destruction cometh upon them.", the last is after the indignation upon Israel is accomplished by the 7 trumpets- Dan. 12:36.

THE 2ND “DAY OF THE LORD”

"Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones (angels) to come down, O LORD. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe (Rev. 14:15): come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining (Matt. 24:29). The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel (the Jews)." (Joel 3:11-16)

Here is the harvest spoken of in Rev. 14:15 that takes place during the 7th trumpet, and it is “the day of the Lord”.

"And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood (the 6th seal), BEFORE  the great and terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant (of Israel) whom the LORD shall call." (Joel 2:30-31)

Peter later quotes this prophecy of Joel on Pentecost, but adds a very important element to it:

“And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood (6th seal), BEFORE the great and notable day of the Lord come:” (Acts 2:19-20)
He calls it the great and notable day of the Lord. The word “notable” here is Strong’s #2016 and it means: “conspicuous,..” and it comes from the root #2014 meaning: “to shine upon, become VISIBLE or KNOWN, appear.” This is the “great and VISIBLE day of the Lord” which occurs after the 6th seal day of the Lord.

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet (one of the 2 witnesses during the great trib.) BEFORE the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." (Mal. 4:5)

So we can plainly see that this "day of the Lord" comes toward the very end of the great trib. as opposed to the first one. These two days are very similar in their events, but occur at very different times. They might appear to be one and the same, but we have shown that they cannot be. "For the secrets of wisdom are DOUBLE to that which is." They both bring God's judgment and wrath and gathering of his elect. They both involve the shaking of the heavens and of the earth. They both involve God coming in the clouds and blowing the trumpet. And they both follow right after the antichrist commits an act of desecration. At the beginning of it he "places the abomination that maketh desolate" in the temple, and at the end he "plants the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain." But the first day of the Lord applies to his bride and is secret, whereas during the 2nd day of the Lord every eye shall see him.

This first act the antichirst commits is the final sign the church is given to know when Christ comes:

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Dan. 12:11), stand in the holy place, (WHOSO READETH, LET HIM UNDERSTAND) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:...For then shall be great tribulation...." (Matt. 24:15-21)

Just as Paul said also:

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him (the wheat harvest), That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thess. 2: 1-4)

And we know that from this day to the end of the great trib. is 1,290 days:

"And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days." (Dan. 12:11)

And if the great trib. is exactly 1,260 days which we know from Rev. 11:3 and Rev. 12:6,

Then that means there is exactly 30 days from this event of the antichrist until the great tribulation begins on the Day of the Lord.

I believe this to be the midnight cry that all the virgins hear, and when the Holy Ghost is removed from the earth to do his work of bringing people to the Lord:

"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he (the Holy Spirit) who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way (is removed). And then shall that Wicked be revealed..." (2 Thess. 2:7)

This is when the lamps of the foolish virgins go out, the Holy Ghost has left them. "He is taken out of  "THE WAY". It is now too late for them to walk the narrow way. "For how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" The wise have their eternal oil in their vessels that can never leave them, for they "are sealed unto the day of redemption". But the foolish scramble in these last 30 days to go to them that sell and buy for themselves, but it is far too late. For the bridgroom comes, and they that are ready go in with him to the marriage, and the door is shut.