Well, you're also someone who doesn't believe like a typical pretrib who would say there is one rapture and it will occur right before the tribulation, just as portrayed in the Left Behind fictional novels. There's no question that many people have been influenced by those novels.
I was prewrath which is really post trib as the tribulation is over at the 6th seal. But I kept seeing two raptures all over scripture. When I saw this I was sure and then everything fell into place.
Hosea 9
10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness;
I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
Think about this. How can "all these things" that we will escape include the things that Jesus said would tell us "that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand"? Jesus was clearly indicating that we will still be here when "these things come to pass" or else He wouldn't have said that when we see them we'll know His coming is near.
It is the Jews that will still be here. After the fullness of the Gentiles comes in God will remove the blindness from part of Israel.
You're missing that "all these things" that we will escape do not include the things mentioned in verse 31 which Jesus said believers will see and then know His coming is near. Rather, they the things that will occur on "that day" that Jesus comes:
One group the Church can escape the hour of testing that will come on all the world. The Jews will be in the hour of testing as the 70th week of Daniel is about the people of Daniel.
Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 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.
So, what Jesus was saying there was to pray to escape what will happen "that day" He comes which will include God's wrath coming down "on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth" and will result in "heaven and earth" passing away.
The things He describes as all these things...........................
Luke 21
8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
So, Jesus was talking about praying to escape this:
When Jesus said we can escape all these things, He was talking about the things He had talked about. However, there is a group that will see all these things. This following verse is the proof that you are mistaken.
Luke 21
31
So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
So how can someone see these things come to pass if the things that come to pass are heaven and earth passing away?
As I said, ALL the things that we can escape are the things that Jesus listed which includes the great tribulation.
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Paul wrote about that, too:
1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
So, Luke 21:34-36 is describing the day of the Lord as evidenced by the obvious similarity to 2 Peter 3:10-12 and 1 Thess 5:2-3. What we will escape, unbelievers "shall not escape". Agree?
This is common sense. Simple logic.
So how can someone see these things come to pass if the things that come to pass are heaven and earth passing away?
As I said, ALL the things that we can escape are the things that Jesus listed which includes the great tribulation.
So, what's left to discuss after seeing that scripture clearly teaches that sudden, unexpected global destruction will occur when Jesus returns is how long does the unexpected and "sudden destruction" last? It will involve fire coming down on the face of the whole earth and heaven and earth passing away. How long do you suppose that would take?
It will take at least 1 year as the Day of the Lord is one-year long. The things you want to do in 24 hours takes at least a year to do. It starts with this, the first trumpet of the wrath of God. The sudden destruction comes when Jesus returns with the armies of heaven at the end of wrath.
Revelation 8
5 And the angel took the censer
, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7
The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8
And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10
And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
Luke 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
I would say it will take about as long as it took for God to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah with fire, which happened on the same day that Lot went out of Sodom. I would think it will happen pretty quickly.
The very day Lot left Sodom destruction came.
The very day.............the Day of the Lord............the earth will be burning. And the very day........the Day of the Lord sudden destruction will come. These events happen in the one year Day of the Lord..........The day of His wrath...........the day of vengeance and the
YEAR OF RECOMPENSES.
Give some thought to what I am saying. How can we see all these things come to pass if those things are the destruction of heaven and earth? That would not be possible.
