On the Events Immediately After the Rapture
We know so far that the judgment seat of Christ will occur prior to the wedding. As for the second advent, Christ will only descend from heaven and make war on Earth after his marriage (Revelation 19:11-16). The advent is after the wedding. Immediately after we are raptured, we theorize that the church will have time to enjoy our mansions before the judgment.
This is supported by what Christ had said:
John 14:2-3 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
This implies we would meet Christ immediately at our mansions after we are raptured. For how long we would enjoy them we do not know. After this, comes the judgment seat of Christ, and following that the wedding.
How will God judge all the millions of Christians across time in under 7 years?
It is accounted for by the relativity of time, which is also common scientific knowledge. It suggests that time passes at different rates to that experienced on Earth when deep in outer space. God is way ahead of these scientists.
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
7 earth years would give God a large excess of time in heaven to do what is needed, including the judging of all Christians because time does not pass the same way as it does on earth.
Salvation of the Church and the Tribulation Saints
One group believes in a mid or post-tribulation rapture and denies a pre-tribulation rapture. Another believes that there will only be a pre-tribulation rapture. Both are wrong; there will be two raptures. They come to their conclusions from reading only a few verses and miss the whole picture. For the first rapture, the Church, who is Christ’s bride, must be brought up to heaven that they may proceed with their wedding. As for the second rapture, it will be for the saints to catch up to the wedding. That’s why there are two raptures. It is written in Luke:
Luke 12:36-37 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 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.
‘he will return from the wedding‘
He’s already having a wedding with His wife.
‘Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching‘
There are servants waiting for the Lord. This is the second rapture for tribulation saints. The first rapture of the church is also proven to exist as without it, there would be no wedding or associated feast for the tribulation saints to join.
Some use Matthew 25 to prove that a Christian can lose the Holy Spirit and miss the rapture. This is untrue because Matthew 25 applies to a different time period from that of the church. It is directed towards the tribulation saint, and tribulation saints have to work for their salvation, such as the avoidance of the mark of the beast. These people must have had the faith and strict abidance to the commandments of the Lord Jesus. (Revelation 14:12) Christians however are saved by faith alone without works.
The church is the bride, and the book of Matthew reveals that the tribulation saints are the bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13). When Jesus said to those without oil in their lamps “I know you not” (Matthew 25:12), it indicated that these people were not saved (cf. Matthew 7:23).
Matthew 25: 1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
‘Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. ‘
Watch, not sleep.
‘they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.‘
The door was shut.
‘ But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore,‘
I know you not. Salvation is different than that of the church.
There is a further distinction where the church of Ephesians 5 is referred to as a “virgin” (possibly 2 Corinthians 11:2) while the tribulation saints/bridesmaids are “virgins” (Matthews 25).
Finally, it is written:
Revelation 19:9 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.
Those who are called to the supper are blessed, and that is why God tells these people to be watchful and wait.