First, the book of revelation was written for a specific audience- that particular audience were contemporary/living Christian’s when it was written and would have been understood to be referring to Nero- who at the time was persecuting Christian’s and blaming them on all the shit that was happening in Rome.
Secondly, the timeline is somewhat unclear even if you take it as prophetic and literal. Depending on who you talk to the resurrection comes before, during, or after the tribulations. (Pre trib, Mid trib, and post trib)
My personal favorite is the Any-Trib camp (that says it’s all of the options). Mostly because it’s their excuse to clear up that uncertainty in ordering, they just suggest it’s not a singular event.
(And are most certainly ignoring that it’s always a singular event.)
These are the kind of nonsensical arguments that pop up because you refuse to accept that the scriptures aren’t entirely literal or meant to be and instead absolutely must both be cohesive (aka consistent,) and correct…. And are literal prophecy.
Remember that to the original audience, this isn’t prophecy, but political-discourse-as-allegory…. Because open criticism would get you killed.
I actually don’t believe. I’ve only been exposed to this because of my born again sister. She cries when thinking about the “Rapture” because she’s afraid she won’t be near her husband when it happens. She loves my BIL very much. She thinks that everyone will be enthralled by Christ and will be praising him constantly for eternity. Like, literally that will be the only thought in anyone’s head. Like a cult. I was the last born and by the time I came around, my mother couldn’t be bothered to take me to church. She was too tired. I’m very thankful to her for that even if it wasn’t her intention to not indoctrinate me. Never been baptized either.
