Something I consider as I consider my views, are the implications of those views. So then, were I to hold to a rapture that occurs following the trumpet plagues, for instance, this would of course mean God's children will be subject to those plagues, unless there is some divine exemption.
Some consider this to be the case with the 5th trumpet, the locust-things, bizarre creatures which come from the abyss to torment mankind for 5 months.
Revelation 9:1-12 KJV
1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2) And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3) And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4) And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
5) And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
6) And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
7) And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
8) And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
9) And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
10) And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
11) And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
12) One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
"And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."
This takes us back to,
Revelation 7:1-8 KJV
1) And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2) And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3) Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4) And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
5) Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6) Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
7) Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
8) Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
In this passage, the "seal of God" is sealed onto 144,000 Israelites. This seal . . . don't gloss over this part . . .
An angel ascends from the east, having a seal, the seal of the Living God. Angels seal these Israelites, with the "seal of God" in their foreheads.
These are the only ones exempt from this plague.
Some make the argument that the Church will be present in this time, but will likewise be exempt, being sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Is a seal brought by an angel from the east to seal the foreheads of 144,000 Israelites the same thing as believers being sealed by the Holy Spirit Himself as He lives in them? Is the Holy Spirit brought by an angel from the east?
Who is it that the Bible says will be exempt? Those with the Seal of God in their foreheads.
Could God have said, all who are not sealed with the Holy Spirit? Certainly He could have. Is that what He meant though He said something else? I'd ask the same question I always ask.
Were God wanting to say that He was going to have angels place His seal on 144,000 Israelites, and were He later wanting to say that all but those with His seal would be subject to a certain plague . . . how would He need to say it so you'd believe it?
Much love!
