Understanding the timing of the rapture and its relationship to the tribulation requires clarity about where Jesus is now, what the tribulation is for, and when His enemies are fully defeated. The Bible provides a clear picture: Jesus is currently seated at the right hand of God, and He will remain there until His enemies are made His footstool. This victory does not occur at the beginning of the tribulation but at the end, when Jesus arises, gathers His people, and ushers in His Millennial Kingdom. Let’s explore these truths in detail.
Jesus at the Right Hand of God
The Bible is explicit about Jesus’ current position. After His resurrection, He ascended to heaven and took His place at the right hand of God. Hebrews 10:12-13 states:
“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.”
This reveals two important truths:
- Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father.
- He remains there until His enemies are completely subdued and made His footstool.
The term “footstool” symbolizes absolute domination and victory. This complete defeat of Jesus’ enemies does not happen until the very end of the tribulation, when He returns to establish His Kingdom.
The Purpose of the Tribulation
The tribulation is not the time when Jesus’ enemies are made His footstool. Instead, it is a period of judgment, refinement, and preparation for His ultimate return. The tribulation is directed toward humanity, not Jesus Himself. It serves three main purposes:
- To Judge the Wicked: The tribulation is a time of divine wrath on those who reject God. Revelation 6-18 describes a series of judgments that culminate in the destruction of the Antichrist and his followers.
- To Refine Israel: God uses the tribulation to bring the nation of Israel back to repentance, fulfilling His covenant promises. Zechariah 13:9 says, “I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested.”
- To Test and Purify the Saints: Believers alive during the tribulation are refined through trials, as described in Daniel 12:10: “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined.”
The tribulation reveals humanity’s rebellion against God and sets the stage for Christ’s return to defeat His enemies.
Enemies Made a Footstool After the Tribulation
The subjugation of Jesus’ enemies occurs after the tribulation, not at its beginning. The Bible consistently shows that Jesus does not arise from His seat until the moment of His return. Psalm 110:1 declares:
“The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’”
This prophecy aligns with the events described in Revelation 19:11-21, where Jesus returns to defeat the Antichrist, false prophet, and their armies:
“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet… These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” (Revelation 19:19-20)
This is the moment when Jesus’ enemies are finally subdued. The Antichrist and false prophet are destroyed, Satan is bound (Revelation 20:1-3), and the rebellious nations are defeated. Only then can Jesus’ enemies be considered His footstool.
Psalm 132: Arise, O Lord
Psalm 132:7-8 prophetically points to Jesus’ rising from His position at the right hand of God to establish His Kingdom:
“Let us go into His tabernacle; let us worship at His footstool. Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength.”
This call to “arise” signifies the moment when Jesus leaves His seat at the right hand of God and comes to establish His rest—His Millennial Kingdom. This rest does not occur during the tribulation but after it, when His enemies are defeated, and He begins His reign.
The “footstool” mentioned here is connected to the subjugation of His enemies, showing that this event is directly tied to His return. The Millennial Kingdom is His “resting place,” where He reigns in peace and righteousness, fulfilling God’s promises to His people.
The Rapture: Gathering His Saints
The Bible ties the rapture—the gathering of believers—to the return of Jesus after the tribulation. Matthew 24:29-31 clearly states:
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days… He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
This passage aligns with 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, which describes the rapture as occurring when Jesus descends from heaven:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
These events occur simultaneously with Jesus’ return at the end of the tribulation. They do not happen beforehand, further supporting a post-tribulation rapture.
Conclusion: The Clear Sequence of Events
The Bible provides a consistent timeline of events that point to a post-tribulation rapture and the final subjugation of Jesus’ enemies:
- Jesus Is Seated at the Right Hand of God: He remains there until His enemies are subdued.
- The Tribulation Purifies and Judges: This period is for humanity’s refinement and judgment, not for subduing Jesus’ enemies.
- Enemies Made His Footstool After the Tribulation: Jesus arises at the end of the tribulation to defeat the Antichrist, false prophet, and rebellious nations.
- Jesus Gathers His Saints: The rapture occurs as Jesus descends to establish His Kingdom.
- The Millennial Kingdom Is His Rest: After the tribulation, Jesus reigns in peace, fulfilling the call to “arise” in Psalm 132.
By understanding these events, we see that Jesus’ enemies are not made His footstool until the end of the tribulation. The rapture, therefore, occurs post-tribulation, aligning perfectly with the sequence of prophetic Scripture. Let us remain steadfast in our faith, looking forward to the glorious return of our Savior and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom. “Arise, O Lord, to Your rest!”
asathief.com 