Will the Rapture happen in Waves?

 The Rapture:  Definitely the most outrageous, exciting, and incredible event in all of human history outside of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  Funny how it's something so few pastors, churches, or Christians talk about. Interesting how the topic causes arguments and anger between believers. That says to me that the enemy also knows it's a very important event and he doesn't want believers to focus on it. Yet, Jesus and the Apostles gave us many signs to look out for that would occur right before. Because of that, we know we are very close to this magnificent event!

We are told in Scripture that 

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. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

We are also told that to be counted among those taken in the rapture, one has to be found worthy. So there seems to be some requirement necessary on our parts to be rescued.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36

 Jesus was talking to the disciples in the above Scripture so it's unlikely He was merely referring to them being born again. The following verse gives us more clarity.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Revelation 3:10

We also know from Scripture that those taken in the rapture are considered the Bride of Christ. We see this in several of Jesus's parables along with other references in the Bride

 Let us rejoice and shout for joy! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.  She has been permitted to dress in fine linen, dazzling and white—for the fine linen is signifies the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God’s holy people). Revelation 19:7-8 AMP

So we see that in order to be considered one of the Bride, we must live a certain way, follow Jesus, obey Him and be in right standing with God. We must have a relationship with Him and because of that, we live our lives FOR Him. I can honestly say that I know many Christians who do NOT live that way. They are probably born again, but they live their lives for themselves and for the world. They do not put Jesus first. Why would He want a bride like that? He wouldn't.

That is why I believe the Bride is a different group from the main Church. They are part of the Church but are a select group who truly worship Jesus and follow Him with all their hearts. Because of that, and what I see in the Scripture, I believe only the Bride will be taken in the rapture before the Tribulation. This would correspond with many dreams people are having about how FEW actually go in the rapture.

Now, here's where it gets a little tricky. I cannot prove this through Scripture and if what I'm about to say is in the Bible, I have not seen it yet. But if it is true, then it's in there somewhere. 

I believe the bulk of the church will be left behind. I also believe that some of the Bride may be asked to remain and help them out. I say this because several people I trust who have a prophetic gifting have had visions and dreams and Words about such a thing occurring. I do not say this lightly, but wouldn't it be just like God in His great mercy and love to ask those of His Bride who are good at evangelizing and who know their Bible to stay and help those who surely are going to be extremely confused and horrified at being left? Especially those who thought they were going!

My thinking is that during the first half of the Tribulation there will be a MASSIVE revival. This, of course, will occur in those who were left behind, but also many many others who never believed in God will be added to their numbers. Those of the Bride who were asked to remain will be aided by the two witnesses in Jerusalem and the 144,000 Jews who will be evangelizing as well.  Of course along with this revival will be great persecution and many will lose their heads for Jesus. 

 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: 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? And 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 fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Revelation 6:9-11

Then, sometime near the middle of the Tribulation, another wave of the Rapture occurs which brings home all those who are now following Jesus. This would occur right alongside the rapture of the Two Witnesses after they are killed and resurrected and the rapture of the 144,000. 

This actually corresponds nicely to the Jewish Harvest Traditions. There are three major harvests in Israel. Barley, Wheat, and Fruit.  If you read the instructions in the Old Testament, for every harvest, there is what they call First Fruits. First Fruits is the FIRST and BEST of the crop. People would bring the first and best of the harvest to the temple as an offering. Then later on, they would harvest the rest. 

We know from Scripture that Jesus is our Firstfruit. What if the Bride is the FirstFruit of the Rapture Harvest. Then after we enter heaven and are brought before the throne, the rest of the wheat (which in Scripture represents the church) is harvested and brought before God later on?

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 11 Corinthians 15:20

It's important to note the difference between Barley, Wheat, and Grapes

BARLEY. The barley is winnowed. That simply means that it is thrown up into the air, because it is easy enough to remove the chaff from the grain in this manner. This is traditionally done by repeatedly tossing the grain up into a light wind. And the wind gradually blows the lighter chaff away.

WHEAT. The process is different with wheat. Throwing it into the air would not be adequate to remove the chaff. So it is threshed. In other words, it is beaten because it requires more effort to remove the chaff from the grain.

GRAPES. The process with grapes is different.
Grapes are crushed.

It would make sense that the Bride would be part of a Barley Harvest. These are the people who have been tried, tested, tempted and proven in this life to be true followers of Jesus. The wheat, however, is not quite ready. It needs some more trials and tribulations to remove the chaff. Chaff in the Bible is sin. 

This would also explain all the different opinions about the timing of the rapture. What if all 3 were true? A pre-trib, mid-trib, and post-trib?

Here are a few of the Godly people who have gotten words and dreams about this very thing.

Behold I come Word Received in 2019

Pastor/Prophet Patrick Winfrey - This is the one guy on You Tube I listen to regularly. He recently told of a dream of the rapture where he was asked to remain behind to train those left behind.

Zab Paschke  - Very Godly woman on You Tube who gets dreams. I can't fine the specific video and it was quite a while ago, but she was going around ministering to people, healing the sick, casting out demons in a very dark, dangerous place. (Tribulation). Then she heard a trumpet and knew she had to leave ASAP. She felt a great urgency and finished her ministrations and ran to leave. 

There have been others too. A Godly woman named Glenda Lomax who I subscribe too, who gets prophetic words from the Lord. 

I say all of this for two reasons

1. To encourage you to purify yourself and follow Jesus with all your heart. It's not works, it's about knowing Him and loving Him above all else. 

2. To comfort you that those you love who will be left behind will have a great opportunity to become Tribulation Saints, to finally fully commit to the Lord and end up getting raptured later on!  To me, since so many in my own family fit this description, this brings me great comfort.