If you read this you may identify with the fretful replies that Jan quotes here as well? Jan’s answer to them is from Scripture, but I am concerned for these, who feel this way as well, because they would have cricked necks from looking up. And they could be many. I know that that stated condition is hyperbole, but these, who are weary from looking for Jesus to come have every right to be asking the question: how long? I fear this to be true for many, because they may have been mistaken in just for what they are to be looking.

Why would one think that if God is “not wanting anyone to perish” right now, that He would remove the very ones who are to take His salvation message (His Bride) to them. And in so doing just quit being concerned about those same lost people and turn most of His attention away from the many and to just the tiny nation of Israel. There are 8 billion plus people on this earth, and possibly 8 million Jews in Israel. If He is focused mostly on Israel where do you think the multitudes, which no man can count, who are from every nation tribe and tongue will come from?

These are those, who are seen coming out of this soon coming Great Tribulation. And if these are losing hope now, what will happen one day, when they come under the control of the tyrant Antichrist.

Has anyone of you ever figured out why it will be that many will fall away at that time? And what is it that they will fall away from? They certainly will not fall away from Antichrist once he has them and their worship. They certainly will not fall away from the currently lost nation of Israel.

Are our teachers preparing these folks either mentally or spiritually for what is coming? If one is weary now, as these seem, what will be the depth of the depression when Satan’s wrath is poured out on the offspring, who name the name of Jesus, who claim His blood and bear testimony of Him as God trusts them to continue to by their witness bring repentance to at least some, who are not yet lost to the worship of Antichrist.

The question that Jan asks is one revealed as being asked by saints residing under the alter:

Revelation 6:9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (NASB1995)

These ones knew that their awaited time would not come until God’s wrath was ripe with vengeance. They are the dead souls, who died for Jesus during the Tribulation. We at this point need to consider what the teachings from Scripture are saying. These dead souls from under the alter: tell me, are they “in Christ”?

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man [came] death, by a man also [came] the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. (NASB1995)

Think about what Paul says here. It is “in Christ” that all who are dead will see resurrection. Keep that thought. Now with that truth firmly established, let’s consider the Rapture:

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep (sleep here is death), but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” (NASB1995)

Now consider: remember resurrection comes only “in Christ”. So, “the dead (in Christ) will be raised imperishable, and (then) we will be changed (Raptured)”. Only after this will it be said: “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.” Does the fact that death is swallowed up in victory mean that all the dead in Christ are raised? Think about that. Does it mean that those under the alter are still dead, if Death has been swallowed up in victory? Is it even possible for the Rapture to have happened before all who are dead in Christ are first raised?

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of [the] archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. (NASB1995)

Certainly there is much more for us to understand on this subject, and Scripture holds the answers. This is why I wrote the book, and started this blog. There are hundreds of articles here to help you with those questions.