The gospels alone provide much info on this. Consider the timing of Christ's coming and the gathering of believers in relation to the tribulation period.
Matthew tells us that:
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened... And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect...” (Matt. 24:29-31).
Mark likewise tells us:
“after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened... And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost parts of the earth...” (Mark 13:24,26-27).
Although Luke does not use the word tribulation, he describes these events in the same order (see Luke 21:25-27). In each case, the second coming follows the tribulation and the gathering of the elect follows his coming. Not only is there no mention of Christ's appearance before or during this tribulation period, but believers are warned by all three writers that false Christs will appear to deceive many (Matt. 24:5,23-24; Mark 13:6,21-22; Luke 21:8).
Further, Matthew quotes Christ as saying that except the “great tribulation” were “shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matt. 24:21-22). This is also the theme of the parable of the wheat and the tares (Matt. 13:24-30,36-52).
John the Revelator also makes it clear that the saints will pass through the tribulation period prior to Christ's coming. In Rev. 7:13-14 an elder asked John, “What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And [John] said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
John goes on to speak in chapter 13 of the period in which the beast would reign (42 months or 3 1/2 years - Rev. 13:5). During this period we are told that, “it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them” (Rev. 13:7). Directly following this, Christ comes with his elect to Mount Zion (Rev. 14:1) and in the clouds to execute judgment (Rev. 14:15-16). Note that in chapters 14 through 19 the Lord executes judgment. Chapter 15 speaks of the exaltation of the just who “had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name” (Rev. 15:2; compare Rev. 13:7,15-17). Chapters 16 through 19 detail the “wrath of God” poured out upon the wicked (Rev. 16:1) and at the end of chapter 19 the beast is defeated by Christ (Rev. 19:20-21).
We must remember the beast's reign was previously identified as 42 months or three and one-half years (Rev. 13:5), and this seems to be the last half of the tribulation period. This is therefore further confirmation that these chapters describe events at the end of the tribulation. Compare also Dan. 7:25; Dan. 12:7; Zech. 13:8-9; Mal. 3:2,5-6; Mal. 4:1-3; Rev. 20:1-7 with 1 _Thess. 4:16; and Rev. 12:14 with Rev. 12:17 and Rev. 13:5.
Thanks for the opportunity to share the LDS perspective on these verses, and thanks for the thread.
Sevenbak
I should clarify to the RM, that ST personally invited me to this thread, I’m not attempting to butt in, thanks.
Hi, I read it and appreciate you spending the time. Right now I can’t respond too much, being out on the road and writing from a phone, but will write a bit more when I get back (about a week). Anyone else..., please feel free to reply (from our caucus).
It directly correlates to some of your verses:
And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost parts of the earth...” (Mark 13:24,26-27).
As noted in the article. The rapture has already occurred and the gathering together of elect in this case would be Israel.
(I will post the portion here...)
We see here that immediately after the tribulation of those days, Jesus appears to the whole world. Then He gathers together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
But some say, “Isn’t the church the elect?” Yes. The church is the elect, but Israel is also the elect. This is a reference to Israel, and you can cross-reference it with several passages of the Old Testament where the same thing is declared. God will gather together the Jews from all over the world. In this passage, Jesus is speaking about His elect, the Jewish nation, not the church.
Isaiah said, “And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (11:12).
Israel will be re-gathered.