When we talk about the rapture of God's Elect, scripture speaks quite clearly about the timing...directly in scripture.  Let's take a look below.

Revelation Chapter 14:

1And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundredand forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

These are the 144,000 Jews...without question.  There is only one other place where Jews are sealed in their foreheads, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel...this can only refer to them.

Next we have the angels flying through heaven.  Logically to me...due to the nature of the words the angel and also due to the target at which the words are directed.  Namely "them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred and tongue and people"

6And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

These words imply that there is still a choice and a directive given to the people on the earth, which means God's people have not yet been removed from the earth.  (via the rapture).

8And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Then we deal with the fate of Babylon...which goes along with "for the hour of his judgement is come" as noted above in verse 7.  The angel is simply announcing the coming destruction of Babylon which has already been judged by God.  The warning is that the time is coming for that judgement to be fulfilled because of the sins of Babylon...(dealt with more thoroughly in chapter 17 and 18 of Revelation.)

9And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If (here is the choice given... a BIG IF) any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, (The judgement for the action follows in great detail) 10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

And this is exciting...we know that the above idea is confirmed...because here we see a reference to the patience of the saints who must endure through this time and stay faithful to God, rejecting the temptation to take the mark of the beast. Keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

And this is even more exciting, because the angel is talking about those believers who will die in the resistance during this period of tribulation.  More confirmation that saints will live though the persecution of anti-christ which happens in the midst of the last 7 years of Daniel's 70th week.

13And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

And next we have the return of Christ to collect his people.  This is the rapture.  The big clue here is the description of the one on the cloud, "like unto the Son of man".  This is none other than Jesus Christ the Son of God himself.  How do we know that this is the rapture?  Because there are two reapings here.  The first is the harvest that Jesus talks about on the earth for believers.  The second is the reaping of the "grapes of wrath" as read below.

14And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

This is the reaping of wrath.  The fire always represents judgement or cleansing in scripture.  It is also noted that Jesus will come back with the cry of the archangel which happens at both the first and second reaping as read above and below.

17And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.18And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Revelation Chapter 15:

1And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

This is God's wrath...just in case you did not get that from the last chapter...God is about to judge the earth after removing His people from the earth.  The trodding of the great winepress of the wrath of God is just another way to say that God is pouring out His wrath which is then done by the angels with their bowls.

2And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

And look at this!  Who could these people be except those who are believers who did not take the mark and worship the image.  These are the one that Jesus just rescued because we are not appointed unto God's Wrath which is dumping out of the angels bowls.  Where else do we see a "sea of glass mingled with fire"?  At the throne room of God.  Yes the saints that were just rescued are standing before the throne...watching as the wrath of God gets poured upon the earth.  I think right afterwards they are going to eat at the great supper of the Lamb with Jesus.

3And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

4Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

5And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 6And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 7And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 8And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Apparently after the wrath of God is poured out...His saints will be able to enter the temple.  That will be quite a party.  You want to be there?  Ask me how.  Or you could just go straight to God with that question.  Ask Jesus to give you understanding as to what is going to happen and how you can be saved.

Have a great day!

The Strong Watchman