more info: Who are the Two Witnesses? more info: ‘Antichrist page’ (next in series) Related page: Will people be saved after the rapture? *Proof that the rapture happens in the morning, in Judea. (Isaiah 13:9-11) Meaning of 666 God’s Timeline of 37’s Proof of God’s riddle in Revelation 13 The Trumpet Plagues    The first trumpet plague was mentioned at the start but other ‘trumpets’ will continue through the first 42 months.  If they are equally spaced, which is no given, they would happen about every 9 months.  (Note: The ‘mark of the beast’ doesn’t come until after the trumpet plagues are over, but before the start of the Bowl plagues.) 1. First, “Hail and fire mixed with blood are hurled upon the earth”.   That causes a third of the earth’s trees and all the green grass to be burned.  2. Secondly, “something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea.”  It sounds like a meteor but it will cause a third of the sea to turn to “blood”, a third of the sea creatures will die, and a third of the ships are destroyed.  3. Third, “a great star, blazing like a torch, will fall on a third of the rivers and springs”.  The name of the star is “Wormwood”, which means bitterness. Note: Revelation 9 explains that a “star” can be an “angel” but this particular angel brings a plague upon the rivers.  It causes a third of the waters to turn bitter and many people will die as a result.  4. Forth, “a third of the sun, moon, and stars are turned dark”.  A third of the day and night will be without light. (Revelation 8: 7-12)      Obviously, the first four trumpets affect ‘one-third’ of the earth.  However, it’s impossible to know exactly how the plagues will be distributed: equally or more concentrated in the Middle East.    5. The fifth trumpet is very different from the others.  An angel will open the Abyss and “smoke will rise like a gigantic furnace”.  “The sun and sky will be darkened by the smoke” but then stranger things begin to happen.  A unique swarm of locusts will come out of the smoke and sting people like scorpions.  People will not die but be subjected to agony for five months.  People will actually “long to die but death will elude them”.  (Revelation 9: 1-6)    Note: The description for the fifth trumpet, above, specifically says that the 144,000 will not be bitten so the smoke must be near the Middle East.  The 6th Trumpet   The sixth trumpet is a huge war, which coincides with Daniel 11:40-43, so that is continued on page 5 (middle events), as shown below.  The time-frame for the sixth trumpet can be pin-pointed because the two witnesses are killed during the invasion but only after they have finished prophesying, which takes 1260 days. Revelation 11:2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will ‘trample’ on the holy city for 42 months. Revelation 11:6  (two witnesses)  These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. Initial Events after the Rapture (Daniel 11:32-35 + Revelation 8, 11, & 13) Introduction    The rapture will be an exciting time for those who participate, namely Christians who have a sincere relationship with Jesus, because they will participate in the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.  It will be a banquet for the ages with food and celebrations, lasting up to 2300-days.  Of course, there will be no concept of day and night or time, just love and joy, as we meet loved ones, old friends, and new friends.  I’ve imagined many things about the Wedding Supper and Heaven but I know none of it can compare to the real thing so there’s no point in trying to describe it in words.  I know we will have new ‘imperishable’ bodies, and sometime during the festivities, we will prepare ourselves to return with Jesus when He defeats the beast and sets up His kingdom on earth for 1000 years.  Even after all that, the best will be yet to come because God will create a new heaven and new earth for us to explore and enjoy for all eternity.  The Wedding Supper of the Lamb is just the start.  Meanwhile on Earth   Needless to say, morale on earth will be just the opposite as God’s wrath begins, as described in Revelation.  The first ‘trumpet plague’ will begin, after a half-hour of silence in heaven, and there will be wide-spread fires on earth.  There has been an increase in droughts and fire, during the last few years, but it will get exponentially worse, until a third of the trees and all the green grass is burned. (Revelation 8:1-7)  [Perhaps the grass is dead from drought and burned by the sun or it could be literal.] “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.”    The above phrase was spoken by Jesus, after He mentioned that His appearance during the rapture would be like lightning, which is visible from east to west.  I always took the saying to mean that there would be signs in the distance, which people could see, signifying that we were close to the rapture, even though no one knew the exact day.  Well, I still think it means that but I also think it has a second meaning, which is quite intriguing.    Ever since I was a child, I’ve always believed that people will just disappear, during the rapture, like a Hollywood movie, leaving nothing behind.  More recently, I began to contemplate the details, such as whether our clothing would be left behind for others to find.  Now, I’ve come to the conclusion that our natural bodies will be left behind, which Paul so eloquently explained in 1 Corinthians 15: 35-44, but I guess old ideas are hard to forget.   Paul explained that we have a natural body and a spiritual body. (v44)  He used the example of a seed that has one kind of body when its planted but then other kind when it springs forth with new life.  Likewise, humans have an earthly body that is perishable and dies but also a spiritual body that is imperishable and is resurrected.  He went on to say that not everyone will sleep (die) but we will be ‘changed’, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye.  He said that we will be raised ‘imperishable’, which means that we will change into our spiritual bodies, at the rapture, and leave our earthly bodies behind. (1 Cor 15:51-52)  After all, we are to meet those who have passed away, in the air, so it stands to reason that we will have the same spiritual bodies that they will have.  In fact, we will possess a new, glorious, and powerful versions of ourselves. (v43)   That leaves the grim scenario for those on earth, who will have to deal with millions of dead bodies, before they start to decay and cause health problems.  Can you imagine the ordeal?  Even if most bodies are cremated, it will still take some time and dead bodies start to smell.  Can you imagine the search?  It will be similar to the house-to-house searches, after Hurricane Katrina, but on a global scale.  I’m sure that some people, in remote locations, will be missing for quite some time.  How will all the bodies be found?  That’s how the mysterious prophecy that Jesus spoke of will come true.  “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.” (Matt 24:28)  Other considerations   Christians nations will not only have a health emergency but also a financial crisis as life insurance companies struggle to pay benefits, if beneficiaries can even be found.  Stocks will be in freefall as other businesses assess who is left to run the companies.  Finally, the militaries of Christians nations will be severely diminished but those of Muslim countries will be unaffected, thus giving rise to the beast.  The Two Witnesses   Another thing that will happen immediately is that the two witnesses will appear in Jerusalem and begin prophesying for 1260 days.  Notice that it’s roughly half of the 2300 days because many changes will take place near the middle of the ‘tribulation’ period.  Many people will flock to Jerusalem to see the two witnesses but their message will not be comforting to people as they desire.  On the contrary, the two witnesses will “torment” those who live on the earth, to the point that they will celebrate and send each other gifts, when the beast kills them, at the end of 1260 days.  Yet, after 3.5 days, they will stand up and ascend to heaven, as their enemies watch, and a huge earthquake strikes Israel. (Revelation 11:1-13)    One reason that I think the two witnesses will torment people, rather than comfort them, is that they will be telling them the truth about their grim prospects for the future.  The prospects will seem grim because many people have been taught that they have a second chance, after the rapture, if they refuse the mark of the beast, but I don’t think that’s true.  I think certain people have mis-interpreted Revelation and done others a grave injustice by giving them false hope, which causes complacently and procrastination.  I think the second chance is only for the 144,000 Jews, in Rev 7, because they are sealed for that very purpose (to be martyred as ‘firstfruits’ in Rev 14), and become priests during the 1000 years. (Rev 20:4-6)  Perhaps I’m wrong but I would rather encourage people to be saved before the rapture, so to be sure, than give them false hope on a second chance that doesn’t exist.  The two witnesses will set the record straight, once-and-for-all, but remember; they won’t likely be delivering good news, if people celebrate to see them dead. The Antichrist and Kingdom of the Beast   Another thing that will happen in the first 3.5 years of tribulation is the rise of the beast, which is a group of nations led by the antichrist.  Unlike the two witnesses, who will be sent from heaven, the antichrist is already on earth.  He will rise to power, after the rapture, and eventually declare himself above God, as described by Daniel 11:36.  Yet, before that happens, there are other verses in Daniel 11 to come true, which are also post-rapture because they are after the abomination in Daniel 11:31.  Daniel 11:32 “With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant,  but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.”    I have found that the pronoun “he” in Daniel 11 can refer to many different entities.  This verse is undoubtedly related to verse 30, before the abomination, when “he” will show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant.  Right now, it appears as though that is the UN who is forsaking the holy covenant because they could vote on a resolution to designate part of Jerusalem as belonging to the Palestinians.  Notice that this verse uses the past tense “violated” so it could actually happen, perhaps being related to the abomination itself.  I can’t be sure because no one knows exactly what the abomination is, and verse 30 is not fully done.  Yet, Gabriel said, “the end will come like a flood” (Dan 9:26) so several verses, around this time, could happen very quickly.  Daniel 11:33-35 “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.” 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.  35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.   I think the “wise who instruct many” are the best of the Haredi Jews who “know their God” (vs 32) and form the 144,000 by word of mouth.  Of course, the 144,000 are symbolically ‘sealed’ in Rev 7 but that could be done spiritually rather than physically.  I know the Haredi don’t believe in Jesus but I think they will after the rapture because Rev 14:4 says that the 144,000 will “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (symbolically I guess).  One reason I think it’s the Haredi is because the same verse says that they “did not defile themselves with women” and they separate women, during times of worship, as part of their tradition.  Another reason is that I found that there are approximately 1.3-1.5 million Haredi, world-wide, and Rev 14:4 calls the 144,000 “firstfruits of God and the Lamb.”  Well, ‘firstfruits’ are usually the best 10%, which are given back to God, and 10% of the Haredi would be about 144,000.  That would be the best-of-the-best, in regards to Jews who follow the law. (see note below)   I think the violence indicates that some people will try to hide the fact that the rapture took place at all.  [See bottom of page for more information.]  I think the ‘wise’ are the 144,000 Jews who are chosen in Rev 7.  They will spread the truth, for a while, and be killed for their efforts, but the majority of the 144,000 will be martyred, all at once, in the middle of tribulation, for not accepting the mark of the beast. (Revelation 14:9-20)  I think the “not sincere” are the gentiles who believe they can get to heaven on a ‘second chance’ by being martyred along with the 144,000.  Some will indeed be martyred but the fact that they are labeled as “not sincere” is not encouraging.    Note: Christians are not required to follow the OT law and should not try. (Galatians 3:1-14) Yet, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t do as Jesus says in the New Testament. (Luke 6:46)   I don’t want to scare anyone but some people could use a little ‘fear of the Lord’.  After all, isn’t ‘fear of consequences’ the thing that keeps most people on the straight and narrow, both Biblically and in society?  I think many preachers have watered down the gospel to the point that some people don’t take the consequences seriously.  I think many people who confess to be Christian haven’t really read the Bible to know if they are doing right or not.  I think many people have been told to rely on one verse, John 3:16, but there’s a lot more in the Bible than just one verse.  Jesus said, “If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14)  In other words, just because someone tells you that everything is just fine doesn’t make it true.  There are many passages in the Bible where people thought  they were going to heaven, but they were disappointed because they really didn’t know Jesus.  Matthew 25:1-12 (Parable of the wise and foolish virgins) [Believed for a little while but wasn’t ready when the time came] Matthew 25:24-30 (Parable of the talents of gold) [Buried his talent because he thought the Master was a hard man, or so he said] (i.e. made no effort at all) Matthew 25:41-46 (Parable of the sheep and the goats) [Showed no kindness to the less fortunate] Luke 14:17-20; 24 (Parable of the Great Banquet) [Valued their earthly possessions more than heaven] Luke 13:23-28 (People who tried but could not enter through the narrow gate) Revelation 3:1-4 (Church at Sardis: People who have ‘deeds’ and a ‘reputation’ for being alive but are really ‘dead’ and ‘won’t wake up’) Revelation 3:14-19 (Church of Laodicea: People who have ‘deeds and wealth’ but are ‘lukewarm’ and need to ‘repent’) Matthew 7:21-23 (“False Prophets” who prophesy in Jesus’ name but are really ‘evildoers’) Revelation 22:19 (Anyone who takes words away from God’s prophecy in Revelation) [Beware post-tribs who twist and overlap Revelation (see bottom of page)]    As I said, I’m not trying to scare anyone but people need to know the truth so they can be ready when the time comes.  If everyone would read the New Testament and take it to heart, most would develop some ‘fear of the Lord’ but that’s a good thing.  Over-confidence breeds complacency and that’s a bad thing.  Everyone should serve the Lord in their own way until Jesus returns because there’s no resting on your laurels until the Job is done. (Luke 17: 7-10)    Sure, I believe that everyone is saved by faith alone, not by works, but James was convinced that we need to back up our faith with ‘action’, such as love and kindness. (James 2:14-17)      Jesus said, “Why do you call me ‘Lord Lord,’ and do not do as I say?”  (Luke 6:46)  “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)  The best way to know God’s will is to read the Bible and ‘transform your mind away from worldly things’. (Romans 12:2)    I could go on and on but I think you get the message; I just want as many people as possible to make it to heaven because it will be better than anyone can imagine. (1 Corinthians 2:9)     Plus, heaven will be lot better than what’s happening on earth. False prophets in the Post-rapture (How some people will deny that the rapture ever happened)    As Peter noted, God doesn’t want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)  Yet, as God’s word indicates in the above passages, there will be some people who want to get in, after the rapture, but they will be disappointed.    One category that the Bible says are left behind are those who take words away from God’s prophecy in Revelation, which is expressly forbidden in Revelation 22:19.  That doesn’t mean a person must understand every word of Revelation but they shouldn’t knowingly omit things by re-arranging and overlapping major parts.  I’m talking about post-tribs who overlap the Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls, to make people believe that the antichrist and mark of the beast come before the rapture, which is just plain wrong.  It’s a dangerous practice because some people might procrastinate about accepting Jesus, until they see those things, but the rapture will come first and those people will be gravely disappointed.  The overlapping that post-tribs do, to account for the fact that Christians are in heaven in Revelation 7, inevitably leaves some things out because it introduces contradictions that just don’t fit.  Basically, they are changing God’s prophecy in Revelation, so by definition, they are making themselves false prophets.  Ironically, the post-tribs insist that everyone must live through God’s wrath in Revelation, which is not true, but since they are twisting God’s prophecy, it may be true for them.    A disturbing rumor that I heard through multiple people is that post-tribs say that in the event of a mass disappearance, it would be the bad people who are removed, not the good.  It’s like they are rehearsing what to say if they are left behind.  To support their theory, they pervert the scripture that says, ‘as in the days of Noah’ (Matt 24:37) to say that the bad people were taken away in the flood, not the good.  Of course, that’s not what that scripture is talking about because Matthew 24:29-31 indicates that Jesus will appear in the clouds and the chosen  will meet Him in the air. (1 Thess 4:17)  Yet, as Paul explained, the chosen will be changed to their spiritual bodies (1 Cor 15: 40-44; 50-53) so I assume the earthly bodies will remain and appear dead.  That makes sense to me because those who have passed away certainly wouldn’t  bring their decayed bodies along for the ride, and we would be the same as them.    Unfortunately, that will give the post-tribs who are left behind the perfect excuse to say that they were right and God killed the bad people.  I suspect that they will account for all the dead bodies by saying that the 4^th Seal just took place, which says that ¼ of the earth will be killed.  Note: Since, about 32% of the earth’s population confess to be a Christian, the number could be comparable.  Then again, it could be much lower than people expect, but it will still be a lot.  Of course, the post-tribs will be wrong because the 4^th Seal says that people will be killed by the sword, famine, plague, or wild beasts.  However, the dead bodies will have no wounds, no starvation, and no diseases.  Of course, they will ignore all that.  (In reality, the 4^th Seal was the Holocaust, where 6 million Jews were killed, out of 18 million on earth.  That’s too many but if the children are subtracted, 4.5 million adult Jews were killed, which is exactly one-forth.)    There will also be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, which match the 6^th Seal (and also the rapture in Matthew 24: 29-31), but I suspect that they will combine Seals 4-6 and say that everything happened at the same time, thus confirming their belief that the tribulation has started and the rapture will come at the end.  Ironically, they will be right about the tribulation because the trumpet plagues will start and the two witnesses will appear in Jerusalem.  Yet, the end of tribulation won’t be as pleasant as they expect.    Contrary to popular belief, a person is not assured a spot in heaven, for refusing the mark of the beast, unless they are one of the 144,000 Jews who are specifically chosen and sealed by God in Rev 7.  In other words, the only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ. (John 14:6)  So why would God provide a way around that, except for the 144,000 who are specifically mentioned in Revelation 7 and 14?  If faced with that decision, you might want to refuse and hope for the best but it’s a long shot because those who are martyred during the tribulation become ‘priests’ during the 1000 years. (Rev 20:4-6)  The 144,000 Jews are obviously chosen for that very purpose but why would gentiles who miss the rapture be given the same option?    In general, people will want to believe the post-tribs, because it will give them false hope, but the two witnesses will be giving the honest truth, which people won’t want to hear. (Rev 11:3-6)  The truth will be hard to swallow, which is why everyone will celebrate when the two witnesses are killed. (Rev 11:7-10)  However, that won’t help because that’s when the false prophet will show up and make things worse by enacting the mark of the beast.  On top of that, the Bowl plagues will start, which will be far worse than the trumpet plagues.  Obviously, a person wouldn’t want to put themselves through all that, especially if they have no assurance on getting to heaven afterwards.    The only way to avoid all this is to accept Jesus as your personal savior, before the rapture, so don’t take a chance, do it today.  Just get on your knees and tell God that you believe wholeheartedly that Jesus died and rose again, to atone for your sins, and that you want to go to heaven when Jesus returns.  Just ask for forgiveness of your sins and make an honest effort to change your ways, because everyone could use a little improvement. (Romans 12:1-3)  I suggest reading the New Testament, especially if you haven’t already, because that’s the best way to find where you need improvement.  Remember: “Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10)  Added: 12-15-2016 Related page: The Seals of Revelation Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. © Copyright 2010 - 2017   All rights reserved. Other “Post-Rapture” Pages: see “sitemap” for a complete list   -  Home 1. Tribulation ‘Initial’ Events (Daniel 11: 32-35) 2. Rise of Antichrist (Daniel 11:36) 5. Bowls & Armageddon     (Daniel 11: 44-45) 3. Who is the Beast? (Daniel 11: 37-38)  4. Kingdom of the Beast (Daniel 11:39-43) 7. Battle with gog & magog    (Ezekiel 37 & Revelation 20) 6. Jesus’ 1000-Year Reign (Revelation 20)  The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11)  Man of Lawlessness (2 Thess. 2)  Will people be saved after the rapture       Third Jewish Temple?    Daniel 12      The Trumpet Call vs. The Trumpet Plagues Related video: Post-Rapture Timeline (No 3rd Temple before Rapture) (51 min.)  New: 5-22-2018