The state of the world at the time of the Rapture.

This is how I see it, that the man of lawlessness is revealed and the apostasy comes first, although I know there are those who disagree. Many believe we are already seeing apostasy now, but I would argue that people are not "departing from faith" but rather never had faith to begin with. I believe there will be tribulation before the rapture, and I believe we are raptured out of it. Jesus says, "They will put some of you to death". (Luke 21:16) But He says that this day will suddenly come over the whole world and will come like a trap for those who are not watching. I see it as, one day, all of a sudden, there will be a decree against Christians, much like the decree Haman issued to kill the Jews in the story of Esther. I think some people will be taken by surprise and will be unprepared for the temptation to deny their faith, having been sleeping instead of praying like Mike pointed out. But it sounds like only a few are killed... Jesus says, "some", not "many". I think that, also like the story of Esther, there is a last-minute salvation that comes.


“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:9-14

In Matthew, the order of events sounds like: "tribulation and some are put to death -> hated by all for His name's sake -> many will fall away -> many false prophets -> salvation for those who endure -> Gospel preached to all nations (the angel flies through the air in the tribulation) -> the end

The word for "saved" is not a spiritual salvation-type of saving but a saving from danger. Being delivered into safety. (4982. sózó ) I think this is the moment when we are snatched away. If you think about it, being snatched indicates that you perhaps are being pulled from harm. Also in Rev 12, the church is the dragon's first target, but the church is harpazoed. Those who are harpazoed seem to be the ones who don't deny their faith, according to Matthew 24- those who endure to the end. This is said of them: "And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!'” Revelation 12:10-12

I think that, before the catching away, the word of our testimony will need to conquer the dragon. We need to testify that Christ is our savior and not deny Him. I think the rest of the world may be saying, "now we will have peace and safety because these Christian trouble-makers are about to be out of the way". Just like in the story of Esther, there will be tribulation, but at the last minute our help will come, and satan will hang himself on the gallows he built for us. Stay awake and pray, that you may not fall into temptation!