I Don’t Believe In A PreTribulation Rapture! Part One
by Jeff Girling
I’m writing this article to give my opinion concerning the rapture. I don’t believe in a pretribulation rapture as many Christians do, because I see too many scriptures in the Bible which contradict the pretribulation rapture theory.
One of the first things I will do here is speak about the resurrection, because Paul said in 1Thessalonians 4:16 that the dead in Christ shall rise first, and after that in vese 17 he stated that those Christians still alive will be caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, which is what many Christians refer to as the rapture.
So the first point I will be making is that the resurrection will take place before the rapture. I will also be giving scripture that places the resurrection at the end of the tribulation period, because if the resurrection takes place at the end of the tribulation period, then so does the rapture, because the dead in Christ will rise first before the rapture according to Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
The Pretribulation Rapture theory is contrary to what Jesus said in John 6:39,40, where Jesus said he would raise up all who the Father gives to him on the last day, which means he will raise up the Church on the last day. (Not seven years before the last day.) Remember that 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says the dead in Christ will rise first, or they will be resurrected first right before the rapture, but Jesus said he wouldn't resurrect them until the last day. (See John 6:39,40 below.)
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Now I will start with Revelation 20:4-6. I have underlined in blue color the key words I want the reader to notice. Notice in verse 4 those who have been beheaded, and who didn’t worship the beast, nor take his mark in their foreheads or in their hands, which would apply to Christians who went through the tribulation, because it’s during the tribulation when the beast will cause many to receive his mark.
Notice also that they shall reign with Christ a thousand years. Notice also in verse 5 and 6 that this is the first resurrection, which Christians who went through the tribulation, and didn’t worship the beast, or receive his mark are included in this first resurrection, which will take place before the rapture according to Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
This first resurrection in Revelation 20:4-6 follows the tribulation, because it includes Christians who had to go through the tribulation. The rapture can’t take place until the first resurrection has occurred.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and
I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the
first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
The next scripture I’ll give comes from the book of Daniel. If you notice Daniel 11:36 below and read it up through chapter 12:3, then you might notice that 11:36 starts speaking about a king who appears to be the endtime antichrist. Notice this wicked king, who I perceive as the antichrist comes to his end in Daniel 11:45, then Chapter 12 continues the story, and the resurrection happens in 12:2.
My Point: This resurrection takes place after the antichrist is destroyed, so it appears from this scripture that the rapture takes place toward the end of the Great tribulation, because the resurrection takes place after the antichrist is destroyed, and the resurrection is suppose to happen before the rapture according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16, when Paul said the dead in Christ shall rise first, and then in verse 17, Paul says those still alive will be caught up to the Lord.
Summary: Antichrist destroyed in Daniel 11:45, then the resurrection Daniel 12:2, and then the rapture has to follow the resurrection, which means the rapture has to happen after the antichrist is destroyed. Rememember that the division between Chapter 11 and 12 was put in by the Church later, so we should continue into chapter 12 after chapter 11 as if the division wasn’t there, looking at chapters 11 and 12 as the same chapter. Infact! Chapter 12 starts out saying “At that time” Well what time is it referring to? It’s referring to the time the antichrist is destroyed right before it at the end of Chapter 11. (Again! I have underlined and colored blue the scripture I want the reader to notice. I will insert into parenthesis helping words to bring out the point. Please notice that the resurrection follows the destruction of the antichrist, so the resurrection comes after the tribulation period, and the rapture can’t happen until after the resurrection according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Daniel 11:36
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished(antichrist): for that that is determined shall be done.
37 *Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
38 *But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
39 *Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
40 *And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
41 *He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
42 *He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43 *But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
44 *But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
45 *And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Destruction of the antichrist preceeding the resurrection in 12:2 below)
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 *And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life(resurrection), and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 *And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever
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I personally believe in the prewrath theory of the rapture, which means the rapture could take place right before Jesus Christ pours out His indignation unto a rebellious and ungodly world.
We can read in Revelation 19:11 and forward when Jesus sits on a white horse and goes out to make war, or pours out God’s wrath unto the nations, which I refer to as His indignation, but we clearly see the bride is already with the bridegroom in the beginning of Revelation chapter 19, so that indicates the Church has already been raptured before He pours out His indignation. That’s why I believe the Church will be raptured right before He pours out His wrath or indignation.
Having said all that I will make my next point, which will be just a small one, but I believe it says it all.
See Isaiah 26:20,21 below, where the Lord says Come my people into my chambers. (Rapture) But when does he say that? Right before the Lord is about to pour out His indignation or wrath upon the inhabitants of the earth.
So if you reread my other comments above and fit it with this scripture, then you will see that the Lord pours out his wrath upon earth in Daniel 12:1, right after the antichrist is destroyed in Daniel 11:45.
So I believe the indigation of the Lord will be His own doing, and not wrath He's using Satan to carry out through the tribulation, which pretrib preachers will preach.
I believe the Lord's indignation or wrath is poured out on earth after the antichrist is destroyed, as Daniel 11:45 and Daniel 12:1 indicate. I believe the Lord raptures His people right before He pours out His wrath on earth, like Isaiah 26:20,21 indicate.(Again! Notice the underlined and blue portions)
Isaiah 26:20
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers,(rapture) and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
I will now make my next point why I believe in a prewrath rapture, and not a pretrib rapture.
Look at 1Thessalonians 4:15 -18 below, where we get the rapture theory from. But then go on to read 1Thessalonians 5:1,2, because Paul is still talking about the same subject which continues into chapter 5, just like Daniel 11 continued into Daniel 12 above.
Notice in I Thessalonians 5:2 that the "
Day of the Lord" is the same event as the "Thief in the night." Most Prophecy experts I know will speak about the "Rapture" and "Thief in the night" as the same event. So Paul is indicating the rapture, thief in the night, and the day of the Lord are all the same event if you read from 1Thessalonians 4:15 through 5:2. Remember that the chapter breaks weren't in the original text, because chapter breaks were put in by the Church later.
Then notice in 2 Thessalonians 2:1(His second letter to the Thessalonians) That Paul is speaking about the rapture again, when he says "by our gathering together unto him."
Then still on the same rapture topic, he says in 2Thessalonians 2:3 that the day of the Lord can't come until the son of perdition is revealed, which means the antichrist has to be revealed first, before the day of the Lord comes, and the day of the Lord is the same event as the rapture according to Paul in 1Thessalonians 4:15 through 5:2. See scriptures from both 1Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians below. But also notice in 2Thessalonians 2:2, that Paul refers to his first letter to the Thessalonians concerning the rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 *For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 *Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 *Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (Now Continue Into Chapter 5. Paul Isn’t Finished yet!)
1 Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 *For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (Both the day of the Lord and thief in the night are the same event with the rapture, which he is still referring to from chapter 4.)
NOW LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURE BELOW FROM HIS SECOND LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (Rature)
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us (His first letter to the Thessalonians above), as that the day of Christ is at hand(Day Of The Lord).
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. (The antichrist will come and be revealed before the Day Of The Lord, which is the same event as the rapture and thief of in the night according to Paul in I Thessalonians 5:2 we studied from above.) Which means the antichrist will be here before the rapture.
Now here's another reason why I believe in the prewrath rapture theory.
See 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 below. Paul is referring to the rapture, when he starts talking about being changed in a twinkling of an eye in verses 51,52. You might also notice it will happen at the last trump.
But notice in verses 54,55, where Paul talks about "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
He's quoting fron Isaiah 25:8, but notice in Isaiah 25:7-9, that the words "He will swallow up death in victory" are in the context of when the cast over the Lord's people will be destroyed in Isaiah 25:7 (Israel!), and also all nations, which means the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord then.
The thing is: Isaiah chapters 25 and 26 are about a song that will be sung, when the Lord comes for His people, and then chapter 26 finishes with the Lord saying come into my chambers, while I pour out my indignation(wrath) on the inhabitants of the earth in Isaiah 26:20,21 which we read above.
Bottom Line: If the Church was raptured before a 7 year tribulation at end times, then there would still be death to Christians and Jews saved during the tribulation, so the song Paul quotes from Isaiah about death being swallowed up couldn't be sung yet during the tribulation.(It will be sung after the rapture)
Which means that the changing in the "twinkling of an eye" comes when death to all Christians and Israel is swallowed up in victory, when there won't be any death or tribulation for Jews and Christians after the rapture.
That's one of the holes in the pretribulation theory. Isaiah 25 is referring to the nation of Israel as well as Christians. Pretrib theory teaches that the 7 year end time tribulation will be a time of Jacob's trouble. (Israel's trouble) But Paul quotes from Isaiah 25:8, which also pertains to Israel, and says death is swallowed up in victory, so there isn't anymore death to Israel or Christians in Isaiah 25:8, which Paul quotes from in the same context as the "changing in a twinkling of an eye", which is the same event as the rapture. (See Scriptures below!)
1 Corinthians 15:51
*Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.(Rapture)
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
(The song the Jews will be singing along with Christians after the tribulation when death will be no more when Jesus Christ raptures the Church. Jews won’t be raptured until after the Tribulation) .
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding.
in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord
.
Now Read The Scripture Below, which Paul quotes from in Isaiah referring to a
time when we will be changed in a twinkling of an eye. (Rapture): But also remember it was in Isaiah 26:20,21 where the Lord says come into my chambers, while I pour out my indignation.
Isaiah Chapters 25 and 26 are both part of the same time when Israel will be singing because of her deliverance, and so will the Church be singing with Israel, because Isaiah 25 is all part of Isaiah 26:20,21
.(The Rapture)
Isaiah 25:7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation (All this part of Isaiah 26:20,21 below. Rapture)………………………………..
Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Please Continue With Part Two On A Different Page
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
My Point: This resurrection takes place after the antichrist is destroyed, so it appears from this scripture that the rapture takes place toward the end of the Great tribulation, because the resurrection takes place after the antichrist is destroyed, and the resurrection is suppose to happen before the rapture according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16, when Paul said the dead in Christ shall rise first, and then in verse 17, Paul says those still alive will be caught up to the Lord.
Summary: Antichrist destroyed in Daniel 11:45, then the resurrection Daniel 12:2, and then the rapture has to follow the resurrection, which means the rapture has to happen after the antichrist is destroyed. Rememember that the division between Chapter 11 and 12 was put in by the Church later, so we should continue into chapter 12 after chapter 11 as if the division wasn’t there, looking at chapters 11 and 12 as the same chapter. Infact! Chapter 12 starts out saying “At that time” Well what time is it referring to? It’s referring to the time the antichrist is destroyed right before it at the end of Chapter 11. (Again! I have underlined and colored blue the scripture I want the reader to notice. I will insert into parenthesis helping words to bring out the point. Please notice that the resurrection follows the destruction of the antichrist, so the resurrection comes after the tribulation period, and the rapture can’t happen until after the resurrection according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Daniel 11:36
37 *Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
38 *But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
39 *Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
40 *And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
41 *He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
42 *He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43 *But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
44 *But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
45 *And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Destruction of the antichrist preceeding the resurrection in 12:2 below)
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 *And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life(resurrection), and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 *And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever
See Isaiah 26:20,21 below, where the Lord says Come my people into my chambers. (Rapture) But when does he say that? Right before the Lord is about to pour out His indignation or wrath upon the inhabitants of the earth.
So if you reread my other comments above and fit it with this scripture, then you will see that the Lord pours out his wrath upon earth in Daniel 12:1, right after the antichrist is destroyed in Daniel 11:45.
So I believe the indigation of the Lord will be His own doing, and not wrath He's using Satan to carry out through the tribulation, which pretrib preachers will preach.
I believe the Lord's indignation or wrath is poured out on earth after the antichrist is destroyed, as Daniel 11:45 and Daniel 12:1 indicate. I believe the Lord raptures His people right before He pours out His wrath on earth, like Isaiah 26:20,21 indicate.(Again! Notice the underlined and blue portions)
Isaiah 26:20
21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Look at 1Thessalonians 4:15 -18 below, where we get the rapture theory from. But then go on to read 1Thessalonians 5:1,2, because Paul is still talking about the same subject which continues into chapter 5, just like Daniel 11 continued into Daniel 12 above.
Notice in I Thessalonians 5:2 that the "
Then notice in 2 Thessalonians 2:1(His second letter to the Thessalonians) That Paul is speaking about the rapture again, when he says "by our gathering together unto him."
Then still on the same rapture topic, he says in 2Thessalonians 2:3 that the day of the Lord can't come until the son of perdition is revealed, which means the antichrist has to be revealed first, before the day of the Lord comes, and the day of the Lord is the same event as the rapture according to Paul in 1Thessalonians 4:15 through 5:2. See scriptures from both 1Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians below. But also notice in 2Thessalonians 2:2, that Paul refers to his first letter to the Thessalonians concerning the rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 *For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 *Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 *Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (Now Continue Into Chapter 5. Paul Isn’t Finished yet!)
1 Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 *For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (Both the day of the Lord and thief in the night are the same event with the rapture, which he is still referring to from chapter 4.)
NOW LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURE BELOW FROM HIS SECOND LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (Rature)
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us (His first letter to the Thessalonians above), as that the day of Christ is at hand(Day Of The Lord).
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. (The antichrist will come and be revealed before the Day Of The Lord, which is the same event as the rapture and thief of in the night according to Paul in I Thessalonians 5:2 we studied from above.) Which means the antichrist will be here before the rapture.
See 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 below. Paul is referring to the rapture, when he starts talking about being changed in a twinkling of an eye in verses 51,52. You might also notice it will happen at the last trump.
But notice in verses 54,55, where Paul talks about "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
He's quoting fron Isaiah 25:8, but notice in Isaiah 25:7-9, that the words "He will swallow up death in victory" are in the context of when the cast over the Lord's people will be destroyed in Isaiah 25:7 (Israel!), and also all nations, which means the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord then.
The thing is: Isaiah chapters 25 and 26 are about a song that will be sung, when the Lord comes for His people, and then chapter 26 finishes with the Lord saying come into my chambers, while I pour out my indignation(wrath) on the inhabitants of the earth in Isaiah 26:20,21 which we read above.
Bottom Line: If the Church was raptured before a 7 year tribulation at end times, then there would still be death to Christians and Jews saved during the tribulation, so the song Paul quotes from Isaiah about death being swallowed up couldn't be sung yet during the tribulation.(It will be sung after the rapture)
Which means that the changing in the "twinkling of an eye" comes when death to all Christians and Israel is swallowed up in victory, when there won't be any death or tribulation for Jews and Christians after the rapture.
That's one of the holes in the pretribulation theory. Isaiah 25 is referring to the nation of Israel as well as Christians. Pretrib theory teaches that the 7 year end time tribulation will be a time of Jacob's trouble. (Israel's trouble) But Paul quotes from Isaiah 25:8, which also pertains to Israel, and says death is swallowed up in victory, so there isn't anymore death to Israel or Christians in Isaiah 25:8, which Paul quotes from in the same context as the "changing in a twinkling of an eye", which is the same event as the rapture. (See Scriptures below!)
1 Corinthians 15:51
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.(Rapture)
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
(The song the Jews will be singing along with Christians after the tribulation when death will be no more when Jesus Christ raptures the Church. Jews won’t be raptured until after the Tribulation) .
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding.
Isaiah 25:7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation (All this part of Isaiah 26:20,21 below. Rapture)………………………………..
