And I don't agree that the rapture is going to be before the beginning of the great tribulation.
Amen.
It’s clear that the resurrection and rapture occur at His
coming.
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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
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. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15
- 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
We who are alive and remain refers to those who will be raptured.
The disciples plainly asked Jesus when His coming will take place, and Jesus plainly answered.
We as His disciples should turn to what Jesus plainly answered those who would become the leadership of His Church, for our answers today.
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?”
Matthew 24:3
“
Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 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. Matthew 24:15-21
“
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. 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. 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.
Matthew 24:29-31
This gathering together of the saints is the resurrection and rapture of the church which Paul taught in both 1st and 2nd Thessalonians.
- Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
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. 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
again
Now, brethren, concerning the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our
gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 Thessalonians 2:1
The resurrection, rapture as well as the destruction of the antichrist all take place at His
coming.
And
then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and
destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8
JLB