20 June 2025: The Beyond Prewrath view proposes seven distinct eschatological "Days of the Lord," in contrast to the more commonly accepted singular, generic length of time. Two of these will be discussed here, which are unique with each featuring a concurrent gathering.
Chapter 1 describes Jesus’s return from heaven to earth, in the same manner as His ascension (Acts 1:9–11), specifically to the Mount of Olives (v. 12). At this time, a gathering is inferred of those on the rooftops in Jerusalem who witness His return (Matt. 24:15–21). Notably, the terrain of Israel—except for Jerusalem—is transformed into a plain (Zech. 14:10), which may not facilitate widespread visibility of this event.
This event occurs at the midpoint of the 70th week (Dan. 9:27), as indicated by the call to flee to the mountains in both the Old Testament (Zech. 14:5) and the New Testament (Matt. 24:15–21). Essentially, people are fleeing through the wide valley created when the Mount of Olives splits in two (Zech. 14:4)—possibly toward Petra, as some suggest.
Before this flight, those on Jerusalem's rooftops (on the ground) are presumed to gather to marvel at King Jesus on the Mount of Olives (Isa. 33:17). Figure 1 (referencing Acts 1:9-12; Zech. 14:1–5; Matt. 24:15–16; Dan. 9:27) defines this moment at the midpoint as a "Day of the Lord" (Zech. 14:1), directed against the wicked who are attacking.
The second, chronologically later, gathering involves the elect meeting Jesus in the sky (Rev. 1:7, 8:5; Matt. 24:30–31), followed on the same day by another "Day of the Lord" (Rev. 8:7). This introduces a contrast: the first gathering occurs on the ground; the second, in the air. These two distinct events, separated in time, necessitate at least two eschatological Days of the Lord.
2 Thessalonians 2:1–4—which mentions both the gathering and the Day of the Lord—should be understood as referring to the midpoint event (Fig. 2), rather than the later Prewrath rapture of the elect. Prewrath interpret this at the rapture, though neither the Greek word Harpazo for rapture, nor meeting Jesus in the sky can be explicitly found.