Is Second Coming IMMINENT?

[Carry_Your_Name]

This is to the point of ridiculous. Honestly.

You have been shown the scriptures where Jesus is descending to earth from heaven.

On His way down He will resurrect the dead in Christ and those who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air, in the clouds.

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:17

What possible reason is there for you to deny this? Please be reasonable.

What is really ridiculous is to assume that folks will be altogether lifted into the sky by a magical anti-gravity force. No such thing is described in Acts 1:11, Matt. 24:30 or Zech. 14:1-5.

• shall be caught up together with them in the clouds

What does “caught up” mean to you.
Are you willing to acknowledge the word “up” in verse 17?

Where is “up” to you?

We don’t have any reason to doubt what up means since we have the phrase that is contextually connected to the word in the same sentence… in the clouds


Surely you agree that up means up?

Yes, GAZING up into heaven, as the Son of Man descends from heaven.

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. (Lk. 21:27-28)

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

Don't shift the burden of proof onto me. You're the one who claimed: "That is Left Behind movie script, not biblical prophesy, "air" is not high up in the sky. Satan is called the "prince of the air" (Eph. 2:2), that means this world."

That is what my question--“Air" here is a metaphor for "the world," which would include the air, correct?--was addressing.

Don't shift the burden of definition into "burden of proof". I know a loaded question when I see one, and the load here is "the world". Please specify the term "world", tell me what it means to you.

First, you haven't come close to showing there is a contradiction, based on a simple, literal understanding of 1 Thes. 4:17. You can't just go making connections because it suits your beliefs. You think there is a contradiction because you're making certain assumptions, which you haven't shown to be the case.

Is 1 Thess. 4:17 about the second coming of the Lord? Yes or no? If the answer is positive, it must be connected with other bible passages about the second coming, right? I think there's a contradition only when you bring in the ridiculous fantasy of the church rising up into the sky based on superficial literal reading, that's your assumption.

No, it isn't, and you haven't shown it to be. Stop making assumptions, for your sake.

At least I cited numerous Scriptures, you only squawk back with your own opinions.

I'm not sure what your point is, but okay.

My point is simple: show me where in these verses is that magical anti-gravity force that lifts "those who are still alive" into the sky to meet the Lord. Where is that message written between the lines.

All that is taken into account in what I've given. The main theme of 1 Thes. is eschatological, with Jesus's return being mentioned in every chapter. The point of which is to give encouragement to (likely) new believers amidst trials and encourage godly living.

Again, 1 Thes. 4:17 is a very plain, straightforward verse. There is no need to bring in outside passages to help understand it. The main context of that verse is found in verses 13-17: that those who died as believers will be raised again. More than that, they will be raised and be together with the alive believers to meet Jesus in the air.

There's always a need to bring outside passage for corroboration. A basic bibical principle is "two or more witness - "by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." (Matt. 18:16) Therefore it is necessary to back 1 Thess. 4:17 with other passages. If you can't or won't, your point is moot.

This is an epistle, not an apocryphal book, so there is no apocalyptic language, not even metaphor (maybe clouds--could be clouds of glory). There just isn't anything that gives difficulty. The main meaning would be that which the original readers would have understood. There wouldn't even be a need for the church at Thessalonica to read anything else eschatological.

And again, Paul doesn't give every detail possible; he's speaking in generalities. But, it is abundantly clear that all believers will be suddenly snatched up into the air to meet Jesus while he's coming down. Paul is not at all concerned here to say what happens after that other than very generally--"and so we will always be with the Lord."

Where is it written or implied that anybody is "snatched up into the air" in Acts 1:9-11, Matt. 24:30-31 or Zech. 14:1-5? Or 1 Cor. 15:51-52? Please, show me. The church of Thessalonica understood the core message of RESURRECTION and the second coming without digging into this rabbit hole of "rapture" theology.

1 Thes. 4:17 says both are true--Jesus is coming down and we're going up.

Zech. 14:4 says "His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives". Prove to me that Mount Olives is going up, in order for the Lord to stand on it.

And on it goes. It never refers to "gazing up into heaven," never to a mental state. It always refers to an outward force acting upon something to seize it, generally with a suddenness to it.

Then I ask you again, what is this force, and where is it in Acts 1:9-11, Matt. 24:30-31 or Zech. 14:1-5? There's only a gathering of the saints.

As nicely as I can say this: you think you do, but you don't; at least you didn't in this case. You didn't even bother to do a basic word study, but based it all on your own reasoning and assumptions. If you had done proper study, you would see that "caught up together with them in the clouds," literally means what it plainly states. And that is further supported by "to meet the Lord in the air," which is where clouds are, up in the sky.

It is you who have failed on word study by letting the bible interpret itself. You're following these examples below with your "plain reading".

Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”(Jn. 2:20)
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old?" (Jn. 3:4)
The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?" (Jn. 4:11)
The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”(Jn. 6:52)
Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”(Jn. 7:35-36)
Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”(Jn. 8:57)

Again, they're not mutually exclusive, and you haven't shown them to be otherwise. I've already given stated how this can be the case, but you didn't bother to address it.

No you haven't. It is you who insist that "air" is the atmosphere but refuse to address what Zech. 14:4 "plainly states" that "His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives." Unless the Mount of Olives can rise up into the atmosphere, they are mutually exclusive.

 

[Free]

Don't shift the burden of definition into "burden of proof". I know a loaded question when I see one, and the load here is "the world". Please specify the term "world", tell me what it means to you.

That isn't relevant to 1 Thes. 4:17.

Is 1 Thess. 4:17 about the second coming of the Lord? Yes or no? If the answer is positive, it must be connected with other bible passages about the second coming, right? I think there's a contradition only when you bring in the ridiculous fantasy of the church rising up into the sky based on superficial literal reading, that's your assumption.

A plain reading of the text is what it is--the dead in Christ will rise first, then those believers who were alive will join them as they all rise "to meet the Lord in the air." There is no assumption on my part; no contradiction with any other verse.

At least I cited numerous Scriptures, you only squawk back with your own opinions.

Keep it up with the personal attacks...

My point is simple: show me where in these verses is that magical anti-gravity force that lifts "those who are still alive" into the sky to meet the Lord. Where is that message written between the lines.

That you can't see the fallacy of your own reasoning is rather stunning, because it is such poor reasoning, but not surprising. You're arguing out of both sides of your mouth. This is the point I brought up before, but you didn't seem to understand it.

In reference to Jesus at his ascension, you have no problem--no argument from you to a "magical anti-gravity force." Yet, when it comes to all believers going up into the air to meet with Christ as he descends, suddenly there must be a "magical anti-gravity force" mentioned in the verse or it's false.

There's always a need to bring outside passage for corroboration. A basic bibical principle is "two or more witness - "by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." (Matt. 18:16) Therefore it is necessary to back 1 Thess. 4:17 with other passages. If you can't or won't, your point is moot.

That is a misuse of Scripture. However, there are many passages that talk about the return of Christ. There are passages about angels gathering together the elect from all over the earth. There are passages that mention we'll be with Christ forever. None of those passages has all the details about the sequence of events. I don't see what the problem is.

Where is it written or implied that anybody is "snatched up into the air" in Acts 1:9-11, Matt. 24:30-31 or Zech. 14:1-5? Or 1 Cor. 15:51-52? Please, show me.

That is the whole point! You're misusing the Bible to give a word a definition it has nowhere else, all so that you can be right in your opinion of what 1 Thes. 4:17 means.

The church of Thessalonica understood the core message of RESURRECTION and the second coming without digging into this rabbit hole of "rapture" theology.

Why bring rapture theology into it? Paul very clearly means that all believers, newly raised and already alive, will be suddenly snatched up in the air to meet Jesus as he descends. Your beef is with Paul's wording.

Zech. 14:4 says "His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives". Prove to me that Mount Olives is going up, in order for the Lord to stand on it.

Then I ask you again, what is this force, and where is it in Acts 1:9-11, Matt. 24:30-31 or Zech. 14:1-5? There's only a gathering of the saints.

It is you who have failed on word study by letting the bible interpret itself. You're following these examples below with your "plain reading".

Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”(Jn. 2:20)
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old?" (Jn. 3:4)
The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?" (Jn. 4:11)
The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”(Jn. 6:52)
Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”(Jn. 7:35-36)
Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”(Jn. 8:57)

None of the above is relevant.

No you haven't. It is you who insist that "air" is the atmosphere but refuse to address what Zech. 14:4 "plainly states" that "His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives." Unless the Mount of Olives can rise up into the atmosphere, they are mutually exclusive.

No, they are not mutually exclusive and I've already explained why they're not. Please, read more closely what others are writing and stop making assumptions. You're getting too worked up and making personal attacks.

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

That isn't relevant to 1 Thes. 4:17.

It is highly relevant as long as the term "air" is laden with a specific reference.

A plain reading of the text is what it is--the dead in Christ will rise first, then those believers who were alive will join them as they all rise "to meet the Lord in the air." There is no assumption on my part; no contradiction with any other verse.

I have shown you a handful of examples in the gospel of John where "plain reading" is utterly erroneous. As long as you refuse to address these examples and explain how yours is any different, you're making assumptions.

That you can't see the fallacy of your own reasoning is rather stunning, because it is such poor reasoning, but not surprising. You're arguing out of both sides of your mouth. This is the point I brought up before, but you didn't seem to understand it.

In reference to Jesus at his ascension, you have no problem--no argument from you to a "magical anti-gravity force." Yet, when it comes to all believers going up into the air to meet with Christ as he descends, suddenly there must be a "magical anti-gravity force" mentioned in the verse or it's false.

The two sides according to the word of God are Jesus's ascension in Acts. 1:9-11 and DEscension in 1 Thess. 4:16-17. There's no problem in 1 Acts 1:9-11 because therein Jesus was going UP, it is a problem in 1 Thess. 4:16-17 he's coming DOWN, all the way to the firm ground of Mount Olives, the real meeting place.

That is a misuse of Scripture. However, there are many passages that talk about the return of Christ. There are passages about angels gathering together the elect from all over the earth. There are passages that mention we'll be with Christ forever. None of those passages has all the details about the sequence of events. I don't see what the problem is.

The problem is that all these passages share a consistent message, that the saints will be gathered at Mount Olives to meet the Lord, not high up in the sky. It is not misuse of Scripture to demand corroboration. Other details may vary, this one detail of Mount Olives is consistent, which you don't bother to address.

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately ... (Matt. 24:3)
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet ... (Acts 1:12)
And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives ... (Zech. 14:4)

That is the whole point! You're misusing the Bible to give a word a definition it has nowhere else, all so that you can be right in your opinion of what 1 Thes. 4:17 means.

What 1 Thess. 4:17 means is the second coming of Christ, and the terms therein are positively defined elsewhere in the bible, you just stubbornly refused to acknowledge them.

Why bring rapture theology into it? Paul very clearly means that all believers, newly raised and already alive, will be suddenly snatched up in the air to meet Jesus as he descends. Your beef is with Paul's wording.

No, my beef is with your diversion. Paul was teaching resurrection and the second coming, that's the core message of the chapter, you twisted it into Left Behind fictional fantasy.

None of the above is relevant.

They are, as long as you keep pounding on "natural and plain reading". You've been assuming literally "caught up in the air" in the same way the Jews were assuming Jesus will build up the literal second temple in three days.

No, they are not mutually exclusive and I've already explained why they're not. Please, read more closely what others are writing and stop making assumptions. You're getting too worked up and making personal attacks.

God's people either meet the Lord on Mount Olives according to Zech. 14:4 or in the "atmosphere" according to you, there's literally no mutual ground. The only reconciliation of the two is to apply the definition of "air" from Eph. 2:2, which you have refused to acknowledge.

 

[Alfred Persson]

What you've described is the entire theology of the rapture, which is all developed upon 1 Thess. 4:17, this one cherry picked verse, everything else such as Enoch being taken and the Philadelphian church being spared are seeing faces in the clouds.

Rapture is taught in only one verse?

To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Heb. 9:28 NKJ)

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
(1 Cor. 15:51-52 NKJ)

14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."
16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
(Rev. 14:14-16 NKJ)


13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 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.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
(1 Thess. 4:13-5:1 NKJ)

Many miss the detail "God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus". Christ brings all in Third Heaven/Paradise/Abraham's bosom with Him, because they will be resurrected with the entire church, AT THE RAPTURE.

 

[JLB]

You don't know that, the "armies in heaven" are the angels, known as "heavenly hosts" in the OT prophecies.

Yes they are and are also in the scripture I quoted from Revelation 19.

But notice also the saints in heaven are with them and are identified as being clothed in white garments.


And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:8


And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Revelation 19:14


Paul makes mention of the saints coming with Him -

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:14

 

[JLB]

What is really ridiculous is to assume that folks will be altogether lifted into the sky by a magical anti-gravity force. No such thing is described in Acts 1:11, Matt. 24:30 or Zech. 14:1-5.

It’s plainly called out in 1 Thessalonians…

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. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17


You never addressed my question?

Does up mean up?

Up where ?… in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

I don't believe that the Lord's return is imminent, there are thing that has to happen before His return, as shown in Matt. and Rev.

Matthew 24:3. Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?''
4. And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.
5. "For many will come in My name, saying, `I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
6. "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
8. "All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.
10. "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
11. "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12. "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
13. "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
14. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
15. "Therefore when you see the `abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place'' (whoever reads, let him understand),
16. "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17. "Let him who is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house.
18. "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
19. "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those with nursing babies in those days!
20. "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
21. "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22. "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.
23. "Then if anyone says to you, `Look, here is the Christ!' or `There!' do not believe it.
24. "For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
25. "See, I have told you beforehand.
26. "Therefore if they say to you, `Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or `Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it.
27. "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
28. "For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
29. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30. "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31. "And 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.
Revelation 6:1. Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see.''
2. And I looked, and behold, a white horse. And he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
3. When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see.''
4. And another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.
5. When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see.'' And I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
6. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.''
7. When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see.''
8. And I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.
9. When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?''
11. And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. 12. I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.
13. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
14. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
15. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
16. and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17. "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?''

I believe that the Lord will return for us after the seals are opened and before God pours out his wrath. Which in my opinion the trumpet and bowl judgement is the wrath of God, not the seal judgement.

Compare what the Lord said in Matt. to what was said in Rev.

What if all the seals have been opened and the trumpets blown already during this age in that symbolic book? But if we ask if Jesus' second coming is imminent, we can say that from God's viewpoint, it is, but from ours in our reckoning of time, it isn't IMMINENT.

 

[reddogs]

What is really ridiculous is to assume that folks will be altogether lifted into the sky by a magical anti-gravity force. No such thing is described in Acts 1:11, Matt. 24:30 or Zech. 14:1-5.

Yes, GAZING up into heaven, as the Son of Man descends from heaven.

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. (Lk. 21:27-28)

We see at the second coming of Jesus that the saints in the grave are resurrected and rise up into the clouds as Christ did, and the living saints join them in the clouds and then are taken to the heavenly kingdom to be with Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

If you put it all together we are caught up and go up the same way Jesus did when He went up in Acts and has promised to come again, up into the clouds.

Acts 1:9-11
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Jesus was taken up into heaven by a cloud, and He will return in the clouds. The clouds refer to the angels of God that surround Him as can be seen in Hebrew parallelism.

Psalm 68:17
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the Lord is among them, as is Sinai, in the holy place.

Psalm 104:3
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariots; who walketh upon the wings of the wind.

Jesus Himself promised that He would return with the clouds, the angels.

Matthew 24:30
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.

2 Thessalonians 1:7
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels.

Matthew 25:31
When the Son of man shall come in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.

And its not any 'secret rapture', Jesus made clear the Second Coming will be universally visible by everyone on earth.

Revelation 1:7
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Christ also clearly warned against the comings of false christs that would not be universally visible.

Matthew 24:26-27
Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The Saints will be gathered together by angels and taken up into the air to meet the Lord in the sky. This is not a secret rapture as some believe.

Matthew 24:31
And He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

At the second coming, Christ calls forth the dead and sends forth His angels to gather the elect, and together they meet Him in the air. Christ Himself does not come down to the earth and His command to His angels is to gather up His saints from the earth.

Psalm 50:5
Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

So if we look and see what scripture tells us about Christs Second Coming, and understand how and what will occur, Satan will not be able to fool us not matter what he tries, and we will be prepared for Christ when He comes to take us to heaven as He promised.

John 14:3
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

With all the things happening we know His coming is imminent and soon.