Page 5 - Daniel 7:9-11: The rapture; Satan's angels cast down to earth; the great 3 1/2 year tribulation;  Christ returns; Antichrist's Empire destroyed

Daniel 7:8
8 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.

  Summarizing Daniel 7:8 from our previous studies, Daniel told us the nation Antichrist would come from, what nations and wars we can expect at his rise and what both Jesus and Habakkuk added to Antichrist's rise (for review see page 2, page3, page 4). Antichrist, having formed his empire, speaks great flatteries and promises peace and safety to the whole world with the protection of the canopy of the gods. He exalts and magnifies his new god (Satan) above the others and honors a universal 'God of forces' (Daniel 11:36-39). The whole world being deceived by Satan's man goes through another great pre-rapture series of prophetic fulfillments connected with the mass return of the jews (see timeframe 2 and chart below). They are fulilled in a short time and the whole world slips into the longest pre-rapture timeframe (timeframe 3 - as the days of Noah - see chart below) before the rapture and this timeframe3 ends suddenly with the   rapture taking place.

Daniel 7:9,10 now sums up all the events that surround what happens at the rapture and God's judgments that follow which are explained much more fully elsewhere in scripture. This is very important to understand Daniel 7:9,10. Like Rev 12, Daniel 7:9-10 puts the rapture after the rise of Antichrist and the forming of his empire that took place for all the reasons in our previous studies of Daniel 7:8,20

The rapture and Satan's angels being cast down to earth.

Daniel 7:8
8 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.

Daniel 7:9, 10
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, 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, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Daniel 7:11
11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

   Notice from a straight reading of verses 8-11 that Daniel 7:9,10 completely breaks from the subject of Antichrist which is the subject of Daniel 7:8.  Daniel 7:9,10 rather jumps into scenes and events happening in the heavens above. Then, immediately following Daniel 7:9,10 comes back down to earth in Daniel 7:11 to pick up where he left off in Daniel 7:8 concerning Antichrist.

  What was so important that Daniel had to break into his chronology of events on earth to record in Daniel 7:9.10 scenes and events in heaven and record them between Daniel 7:8 and Daniel 7:11?.

  We studied in Daniel 7:8 Antichrist on the world stage ruling over his acquired empire. Antichrist is Satan's man speaking great flatteries and lies promising the universe to those that believe and follow him. Satan and his angels have pulled off the greatest deception ever perpetrated on planet earth as to who they really are. Because Satan and his angels have left their first estates (as they did in the past before the flood (Genesis 6) and those that did were judged - see scriptures below ) to visibly appear again in the affairs of men to help Antichrist form his empire. God now judges them at the time of the rapture and casts them from their positions in space (Bible calls heavenly or high places - Eph 6:12) down to earth.

Eph 6:12
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

  However, before they are cast down to the earth Satan and his angles witness the rapture where the dead in Christ are resurrected and the saved living are all caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The raptured saints becoming the priestly and kingly immortals that rule and reign with Christ in the ages to come and over all the territory in space that Satan and his angels will lose when they are cast down to earth. The raptured and resurrected saints are now the new powers of the air and Satan and his angels - the old powers of the air are about to be cast down to the earth (Glory to God! - see also Rev 12).

Genesis 6:4
4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

The 'sons of God' referred to in Genesis 6 are angels that took on human form and intermarried with the human race. Satan never knew which woman promised in Genesis 3:15 would bring forth the promised seed that would destroy him.

Genesis 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

  Satan's goal back then was to pollute the human race so God could not fulfill His promise to bring forth this holy seed. Satan almost had the whole human race wiped out except God found grace in Noah. Scripture records the angels that took part in unlawful appearances before the flood of Noah and afterwards are now suffering the torment of hell and will be loosed on the earth in the Day of the Lord as part of the 6th trumpet and number 200,000,000.

2 Peter 2:4,5
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Jude 1:6,7
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Rev 9:13 - 21
13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

  Since that time of Noah God fulfilled His promise and used Mary to give birth to Christ - the promised seed of Gen :3:15. We read in Matt 1:18

Matt 1:18
18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

  Almost 2000 years have past since the birth of Christ, and we are now down to one generation (about 40 years), that will witness the return of Christ to establish His long awaited visible Kingdom on earth. Satan and his angels are backed into a corner for they know their time is short. They must come up with a plan to deceive the world, retain their kingdom of darkness as long as possible and be worshipped, and yet take as many to hell with them when their time of judgment comes. Once again, as before the flood, Satan will use his fallen angels to deceive the world. He will need a world crisis and a person on earth he can put in charge. This man is the Antichrist of Daniel 7:8 of which we have spoken so much of already. Accompanying the rise and reign of Antichrist Satan and his angels are visibly and boldly reappearing again but in a much more modern deceptive star war role to deceive this generation (Daniel 8 has much more to say about this). The rapture then is a judgment on Satan and his angels. He will no longer be the prince of the air and his angels the powers of the air. Christ will now be the Prince of the air and the raptured saints the new powers of the air.

                                                       Back to Daniel 7:9

9 I beheld till the thrones were cast  down,

  Who are these thrones that are cast down?. It is clearly Satan and his angels. Thrones are for rulers. Eph 6:12 clearly tells us Satan's kingdom has princes, rulers, powers to be, that rule the darkness of this world. They dwell in high places (outer space).

Eph 6:12
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

  Do not confuse these powers with demons. They are a separate class of spirits that dwell on earth that completes the chain of command from earth to Satan's throne. Those are the small guys compared to the big guns Satan has in high places (outer space). Satan had a kingdom he ruled before Adam and Eve. His angels ruled with him. They ruled over some type of preadamite world. Satan' s preadamite kingdom was judged. The demon spirits of today were once the preadamites who, before they died, had a body.  Some may question the preadamite race theory but one has only to read what God said to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:27,28. He told them to be fruitful and replenish the earth. To replenish is to replace that which was there.

Genesis 1:27,28
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.


Jeremiah 4:23-26 talks of a time between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 when God judged the earth and all the birds were fled, and no man was to be found, and the fruitful places became a wilderness and all the cities were broken down.

Jeremiah 4:23-26
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce
anger.

  This could not refer to a time between the creation of Adam till now. There has always been a man on the earth. Who built the cities that were broken down? These verses are describing the judgment of the preadamite order under Satan and his angels. Compare Genesis 1:2 with Jeremiah 4:23 - both say the exact same truths

Genesis 1:1:2
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.


  God in Genesis 1:1 Created the original heaven and earth. We are not told the time though science says it could be about 15 billion years ago. This could be true and does not change anything about Genesis 1:1. Since Genesis 1:1 a lot of history has taken place between the original creation and recreation that lasted seven days. Scripture only gives us what God wants us to know by a glimpse into that time of history. We do know Satan was already fallen before God made Adam and Eve, because he appeared as the serpent. That the serpent was Satan is confirmed Rev 12:9 when Satan will be cast down at the rapture.

Genesis 3:1
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Rev 12:9
9 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.

Isaiah 14:12-14 records the preadamite time when Lucifer became Satan.

Isaiah 14:12-14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

  God judged that preadamite kingdom and the heavens became dark and the earth void as described in Genesis 1:2. Since the time of Adam and Eve their has been a cosmic battle of gigantic proportions for the souls and future destinies of men. Man continues to wrestle with these preadamite beings - Satan; his angels and demons. This explains in scripture why demons seek to possess a body because they once had one. Jesus commands his believers to cast out devils out of those who are possessed so that they may be free from demonic control (Mark 16:17 see also the great commission). 

Mark 16:17
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

  In the future restoration of all things, Christ replaces Satan, the church replaces the fallen angels, and the nations that are saved eternally replaces the preadamite world. Before Lucifer became Satan, the good angels bad angels, God worked with them and this preadamite race. Lucifer sinned, sin spread to 1/3 of the angels, and on down to the preadamite race. Today, God is using them as a tool in His hand to mold the clay of future nations and rulers for the Kingdom of God. There will be a new heaven and earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. When God is finished with that work all evil shall be judged (see Kingdom).


                                   Back to Daniel 7:9

  Satan and his angels will have deceived the whole world at Antichrist's rise. More than that, they have visibly left their heavenly positions and used their Satanic powers to do signs and lying wonders somewhat along the lines of star wars, ufo's, et's and so forth. Having done their massive deception they return back to their heavenly positions (Study of Daniel 8 has much more to say along these lines). Because Satan and his angels have done these things God goes into action and uses His holy angels to forcibly cast Satan and his angels down to earth. This is the event Daniel is recording in Daniel 7:9. Rev 12:1-5 records rise of Antichrist's Empire and the rapture first before the casting down of Satan and his angels right after the rapture. Satan's angels being cast down is recorded in Rev 12:7-12 and will be done by Michael and his angels.

Rev 12:7-12
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 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.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore 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.

  Rev 12:10 says now has come salvation and stength and the Kingdom of God and His Christ. This is because the resurrected and raptured saints are the new powers of the air ruling literally over the earth with Christ. They now occupy the positions just previously held by Satan and his fallen angels (see rapture).                                                           

REV 4:1-5

9 I beheld till the thrones were cast  down, 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, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

 

Daniel 7:9,10 summarizes what Revelations 4, 5 and 6 (click on chart of Revelations above) tells us in detail of events immediately following the rapture.   Revelations 4 records the rapture of the saints to heaven and Revelations 5 records the Ancient of Days (God sitting on His Throne) having in His hand the 7 sealed book of judgments to be executed upon the earth..

Rev 5:7-14
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

  No one is worthy to take the book except Christ. When He does, all the saints, angels,all creation rejoices knowing the time has come to evict Satan and his angels to earth; defeat Antichrist and his armies at Christ's visible return; judge and cleanse the earth; and to return and establish the long awaited eternal Kingdom of God with its earthly capitol in Mount Zion, Jerusalem - God's Holy hill and City (see Kingdom). Daniel 7:10 says the judgments were set and the books were opened. This would be the 7 sealed book seen in Rev 5, the book of life, and other books God keeps records in. Daniel divides the church into two groups - Thousands times thousands ministered to the Lord and ten thousands times ten thousands stood before Him. This is the raptured church which is portrayed in Revelations 4 and 5 symbolized by the 24 elders and 4 beasts (better translated living ones).

Rev 5:7-10
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

  The throne mentioned in Daniel 7:9 is a fiery throne meaning this is a time of judgment both for the church left behind after the rapture (see timeframe 4) and the nations (see timeframe 5).

Daniel 7:11 now returns back to Antichrist and what happens to him after the rapture.


Daniel:7:11
11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain,  and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

  Daniel 7:11 returns to where Daniel left off in Daniel 7:8 concerning the reign of Antichrist. Daniel 7:8 is pre-rapture but Daniel 7:11 is post rapture. Daniel 7:9,10 covered the mighty events in heaven where the raptured saints have arrived and Christ opens the books and judgements begin. Daniel 7:11 is post-rapture and back on earth records Antichrist speaking great words again like he was doing before the rapture. He has an explanation for the rapture and the resurrection that just took place but they are big lies. However, God answers the great words of Antichrist with judgments being executed upon the whole earth and especially  Antichrist's Empire itself (see time frame 5). It is in the days of these post- rapture judgments that the seventh seal is opened. When the seventh seal is opened Revelations 19 tells the story of Christ returning with His saints (see Kingdom). Christ and the saints defeat the armies of Antichrist. Then, Antichrist's Empire is destroyed much like Hitler's Germany that burned in flames. Key words found in Daniel 7:11 are: beast is slain; destroyed; burned. This beast is the same as the 4th beast with 10 horns in Daniel 7:7 (Page 1).  Remember, the Roman Empire was never destroyed but over time it evolved into it's final ceasar 'Antichrist' in the last days. Revelations tells us both the fate of Antichrist himself and the false prophet. The false prophet is Antichrist's religious ruler over his worldwide religious center in Babylon that rules over all nations worldwide. See the building of Babylon (time frame 3; and its destruction Fall of Babylon). The beast and the false prophet are both cast alive into the lake of fire (see Kingdom). 

Revelations 19:11-21 
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in
the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which
he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both
were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

  Two biblical images of Antichrist's Empire of the last days standing defiantly before a Holy God now come to their end.  The image of Daniel 2 and the beast of Rev 13:2 which is a composite beast of the beasts of Daniel 7

Image of Daniel 2	Rev 13:1,2 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Beast of Rev 13

DAN  7:13,14
13 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 .
14 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.

  Daniel is having more visions and sees Christ (one like the son of man) come with the clouds of heaven (Christ surrounded by the saints) and came before the Ancient of Days (Father) and Christ is worthy to receive dominion, glory, everlasting Kingdom of God over all nations, languages forever. This again is what happens in Revelations 5 when Christ before all the raptured and resurrected saints is the only one worthy to take the title deed to the earth (see Revelations chart above and timeframe 4 page 3) from the Father's hand(The ancient of Days that sits upon the throne).

            
       3 1/2 Christian tribulation after the rapture


Daniel 7:21,22Chapter 7 - Daniel's vision of the four beasts
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

  Daniel 7:20 covered the time when Antichrist would rise in the last days from the Roman Empire area (4th beast with 10 horns - see page 1). He would bring under his control three nations within the old Roman Empire land area (East and West Europe) with star war help from Satan and his angels (Page 2). He acquires his empire with lying signs and wonders, great lies and flatteries. The nations in East and West Europe being deceived join behind him. In fact, he deceives the whole world (Page 3, Page 4). Now we read

21 beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

  Daniel now is talking about the same horn (Antichrist) persecuting the saints. Christians call this time period - the great christian tribulation (see timeframe 4). How long will it last and when will it take place. The angelic messenger sent to Daniel interprets Daniel 7:21-22 in Daniel 7:23 - 26

Daniel 7:23,24 Angel interprets
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Daniel 7:25 goes along with Daniel 7:21
  Daniel 7:25 tells us Antichrist is speaking great words against the most High and he will wear out the saints and be given into his hand - time; times; and the dividing of time. Time is a jewish term equal to 1 year, the total length of the Christian tribulation is 1 + 2 + 1/2 = 3 1/2 years (see time chart above).

22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
  Antichrist is going to persecute the saints until the Ancient of days came, judgments were given to the saints, and the saints began to possess the kingdom. We just studied Daniel 7:9,10 above in which the rapture has taken place; the Ancient of days (Father) gives the title deed to His Son - the only one worthy which is expanded in great detail in (Rev 5) and the saints are told what judgments they are to carry out (Rev 6 - see timeframe 4 page 3 - six seals opened during the 3 1/2 christian tribulation period).

                         

  Antichrist will presecute the saints from the time Ancient of Days (Father) sits upon His throne which happens at the rapture as explained above until the saints possess the Kingdom. The rapture of course is when a great number of saints possess the Kingdom having received their resurrected bodies and now ruling with Christ but the complete number of saints to perfected the church in heaven and the bride of Christ awaits the resurrection of the tribulation martyrs. Rev 4 records the rapture, Rev 5 Christ taken the 7 sealed book from the Ancient of Days (Father), Rev 6 the opening of the first six seals during which time many on earth become tribulation martyrs and die for Christ as recorded in the 5th seal. Rev 7 records the tribulation martyrs being resurrected which completes the first resurrection, completes the church and bride in heaven, and the church age as well as the old heaven and earth ends (Click on chart below for full study). Rev 8 records the opening ofthe 7th seal which is now the terrible Day of the Lord or great day of wrath which is announced as been at hand at the end of the 6th seal (Rev 6:17).

Rev 6:9-11
9 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:
10 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?
11And 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 6:17
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

We see clearly then that first 6 seals are opened during the 3 1/2 year great Christian Tribulation period. What Daniel says is exactly correct and from the time of the rapture to the completion of the first resurrection is 3 1/2 years. It is clear from Rev 20:4-6 the tribulation martyrs are part of the first resurrection. The first resurrection then is not a single event at the rapture. It began with Christ's own resurrection and is complete with the resurrection of the tribulation martyrs 3 1/2 years after the rapture. T

Revelations 20:4-6
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his
mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

                     





In the study of Revelations 12 we see that after the woman (professing church) gives birth to the manchild (rapture of the true church -Rev 12:5) the woman (professing church) is left behind to go into great tribulation. Rev 12:6 say their tribulation experience will last 1,260 days while Rev 12:14 says time, times, and a half a time which again both add up to 3 1/2 years.

Revelations 12:5-6, 13-14
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
6 And the woman 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.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 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, from the face of the serpent.

  We are also told in Rev 13 that the beast had power over the saints for 42 months - again 3 1/2 years. Without a doubt the christian tribulation follows right after the rapture and lasts 3 1/2 years. A full study will be provided in time frame 4 .

Rev 13:4-8
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

*Note - from above scriptures it is clear the christian tribulation lasts 3 1/2 years (Rev 13:5,6, Daniel 7:25, Rev 12:6, Rev 12,14 and follows the rapture

Daniel 7:25
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.




                                                                                                                
                     
 

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel
had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then
he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, 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.
8 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.
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, 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, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth frm before him:
thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten
thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the
judgment was set, and the books were opened.
11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words
which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was
slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their
dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
13 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.
14 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.
15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked
him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which
was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the
other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints,
and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given
to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth
kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the
kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the
people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.