(9) TRIBULATION RAPTURE ?

I have never heard anyone teach that there would be a 'Tribulation Rapture', but I believe that this is taught in the book of Revelations. To begin with, I will attempt to explain 'Two Witnesses'. Commentaries suggest they will probably be Moses & Elijah. We know that Elijah was translated so that he didn't experience death. What about Moses? He appeared with Elijah at the Transfiguration. Both had their eternal bodies. I can only expect to get my eternal body at the Rapture of the Saints, when I will be changed or resurrected with an incorruptible body. The spirits of the dead in Christ are now in Paradise. (1 Thess. 4:14)- Jesus will bring them along to their ressurection. Back to Moses. Because of sin Moses couldn't enter the Promised Land. After turning the leadership over to Joshua, Moses was led up on Mt. Nebo -(Deut. 34:1-8). After seeing the Promised Land, Moses died (Dict. Ceased existing) & God buried him (Dict. Hidden from view).The Israelites couldn't find the body or grave of Moses. Some say, "He died and was resurrected". Impossible, because Jesus was the firstfruits of the resurrection. God is not going to take away the eternal bodies of Moses and Elijah to make them die in a physical, earthly body as martyred witnesses. The two ' Witnesses' in (Rev., Ch. 17) were two olive trees and also two lampstands. (Rev. 1:20) Lampstands/Candlesticks represent churches. The Jews were represented by an 'Olive Tree' (Rom. 11:23-25) and the Gentiles also, a wild olive branch that was grafted in when the Jews were cut off. The Two Witnesses will be Christian Jews and Christian Gentiles. NOTE:- Rev. does not follow a chronological order. (Rev. ch. 7)- This concerns the sealing of the 144,000 christians from the 12 tribes (omitting Dan) of Israel. In 722 BC the northern 10 tribes of Israel were defeated and dispersed by Assyria. At this time in history only those of the tribe of Judah were called Jews. Over a 100 yrs. later the southern two tribes were of Judea and were all called Jews, at the time of the Babylon Captivity. The general reference to Jews since then applied to only them (Judah,Simeon and a small part of Benjamin, near Jerusalem), and since anyone not a Jew is a Gentile, the 144,000 were 10 tribes of Gentiles And 2 tribes of Jews. The 'Two Witnesses' of Rev. were the the 144,000 in Chap.7 of Rev. NOTE:- (REV. 7:3-4)-These christians were sealed with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit just as Born-Again christians are today -(EPH. 4:30). (Rev. 6:9-11)- The souls (spirits) under the altar were the 1st martyrs (After the 'Abomination of Desolation') from among the Witnesses. They were in Paradise without a body. God gave them white robes (Righteousness) and told to wait until their fellowservants (other Witnesses) and brethern (converts) are killed. (Rev. 11:7-9)- The Antichrist wouldn't allow the bodies of these christians to be buried. The Witnesses were martyred during the second half of the 7 yrs. Tribulation. (Rev. 11:11-12)- At the end of the second 3 1/2 yrs. The Holy Spirit entered into their bodies and they all stood on their feet. A great voice from heaven said to them,"Come up here" and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud. This is the TRIBULATION RAPTURE. Con ANSWER TO COMMENT BY AlexS (Click on COMMENTS below to read.) 3/20/08 Thanks for a chance to explain. Ques.- Doesn't this interpretation stray somewhat from a literal reading of the book of Revelation? (for example, the Bible does say two witnesses.) There is no indication that the Two Witnesses must be individuals. The two witnesses are Two Olive Trees (Rev. 11:4) In Zech. Chapters 3&4 two Olive Trees represent 2 individuals. They are Zerubbabel (Leader of tribe of Judah) & Joshua (A Priest), but there is no connection to the Two Witnesses of Rev.11. The Jews and Gentiles were represented by an olive tree. When the Jews in general rejected the Gospel, they were cut off and Paul turned to the Gentiles, who were a wild olive branch grafted in where the natural branch was cut off. (Acts 13:46) (Rom. 11:17-24), and so both Jews & Gentiles were represented by olive trees. They are also two candlesticks/lampstands (KJV). (Rev. 1:20)- Seven lampstands are seven churches. I hope this clarifies my stand. I will welcome other questions you say you have. If I'm wrong, I want to know it and make changes. Who is right isn't important, what is right is important. Con PS- Check out the Weblog of AMSMITH. Click on Comments, Then Click on AMSMITH