What would this be called? Mid-trib rapture?
Greetings,
The on-going problem and confusion regarding the timing of the gathering of the church, is due to the continued misinterpretation of the wrath of God. The pre-wrath view excludes seals 1 thru 6 and that because of the announcement after the 6th seal is poured out which says "the great day of their wrath has come and who can endure it."
Their error is not understanding that the words "has come" is in the aorist tense which is referring to the wrath of God in its entirety "has come," which encompasses all of the seals that will have previously taken place, as well as the trumpets and bowls which are to follow. In fact, we can find the announcement that "God's wrath has come" in each set of seven judgments. So the words "has come" is not only referring to what takes place after that announcement, but includes the seals that will have previously taken place.
In further support of this, you have to take into account that it is the Lamb/Jesus who is opening the seals. Many people slice and dice the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments, when they are three sets of seven judgments that belong together and not some being tribulation of man or Satan and others God's wrath. The seals, trumpets and bowl judgments is how God is going to carry out the day of the Lord, that hour of trial, the wrath of God, that has been prophesied about from the OT prophets to the apostles.
Since the believer in Christ is not appointed to suffer God's wrath, the church will be gathered prior to the first seal being opened, which initiates God's wrath.
For those who would believe that the church will go through the seals and the trumpets, with just the 4th seal and the 6th trumpet, the fatalities would be over half of the earths population and that is not including the fatalities that will result from trumpets 1,2 and 3 nor from the seven bowl judgments.
Not understanding the severity and purpose of the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments, is also a reason for believing that the church will go through them. Yet regarding God's wrath, we have the following promises:
"Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!" - Rom.5:9
"They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath." - 1 Thes.1:10
"But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."
"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you out of the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth." - Rev.3:10
For those who would attempt to restrict the wrath spoken above as just referring to judgment and the lake of fire, it is referring to any and all wrath. And that because the believer in Christ has been credited with righteousness and has been reconciled to God. Therefore, there is no reason for the church to go through God's wrath, whether the wrath that is coming or the wrath at the great white throne judgment. We are not appointed to suffer any of it and that because Jesus already suffered it on behalf of every believer.
