The Rapture Will Be At The 2nd Coming
Note that no scripture promises anyone a rapture before the tribulation. Jesus says that he will come to gather us together "immediately after the tribulation" (Matthew 24:29-31), and Paul says that Jesus' coming to gather us together must "destroy" the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8). We Christians will go through the tribulation (Revelation 13:7-10, 14:12-13).
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 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. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matthew 24:29-31).
"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming" (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).
"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints" (Revelation 13:7-10).
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Revelation 14:12-13).
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:9-13).
"When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8).
I believe Jesus asks this question to remind us that we Christians will need to keep the faith during the tribulation, for "the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith" (1 Timothy 4:1), and this departure from the faith will happen before Jesus comes to rapture us: "We beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him... Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first" (2 Thessalonians 2:1, 3).
If Jesus must remain in heaven "until the times of restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21), how can he "descend from heaven" (1 Thessalonians 4:16) before that time?
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The Rapture Is A Coming
Note that the rapture is a coming:
"I will come again" (John 14:3).
"The coming of our Lord" (2 Thessalonians 2:1).
"The Son of man coming" (Matthew 24:30).
"The coming of the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:15).
"They that are Christ's at his coming" (1 Corinthians 15:23).
Note that the scriptures don't teach a 3rd coming.
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One Gathering Together
Note that gathering together means rapture in the context of Jesus' coming:
"The coming of our Lord... and by our gathering together unto him" (2 Thessalonians 2:1).
"The Son of man coming... and they shall gather together his elect" (Matthew 24:30-31).
The scriptures don't teach a 3rd coming, or a 2nd rapture of the church. Our "gathering together" in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 and Matthew 24:31 is the same as our being "caught up together" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
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One Coming And Rapture
I believe that all of the following passages speak of the same rapture at the same coming: John 14:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; Matthew 24:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:23, 52.
"I will come again, and receive you unto myself" (John 14:3).
"The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him" (2 Thessalonians 2:1).
"The Son of man coming in the clouds... with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect" (Matthew 24:30-31).
"We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord... with the trump of God... shall be caught up together" (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).
"They that are Christ's at his coming... at the last trump" (1 Corinthians 15:23, 52).
The doctrine of a pre-trib rapture requires that the 2nd coming be a 3rd coming (Hebrews 9:28), that the last trumpet be the 9th from last (1 Corinthians 15:52; Revelation 8:6; Matthew 24:31), and that the 1st resurrection be the 2nd (Revelation 20:4-6), so that it doesn't really make sense of scripture.
I believe that the pre-trib doctrine is a false hope held by some unwilling to endure the sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3-5) that we Christians must "endure to the end" in the tribulation (Matthew 24:13) with "patience and faith" (Revelation 13:7-10; 14:12-13).
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No Part-Way Coming
I believe that we will be caught up to meet Jesus coming "in the clouds" on his way down to set his feet on the earth:
"The Son of man coming in the clouds... with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect" (Matthew 24:30-31).
"We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord... with the trump of God... shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).
Note that the scriptures don't teach two different comings "in the clouds," and two different "last" trumps (1 Corinthians 15:52), and two different raptures of the church.
Note that because 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 shows Jesus "coming," but doesn't show him landing on the earth, this in no way requires that it be referring to a part-way coming of Jesus whereby he comes down only as far as the clouds and then returns to heaven, for Matthew 24:29-31 and Revelation 19 don't show Jesus landing on the earth either. Do some believe that Matthew 24:29-31 and Revelation 19 are also not the 2nd coming?
Note that 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 doesn't show Jesus returning to heaven. Acts 1:11 says Jesus will "come" just as he left. He won't come only as far as the clouds and then return to heaven again, just as he didn't leave only as far as the clouds and then return to earth again. Just as he went from the Mount of Olives to the clouds and "into heaven" (Acts 1:11), so he will come from heaven to the clouds to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4).
I believe that our being caught up into the clouds to meet Jesus at his coming and then returning back to the earth with him will be like the people coming out of Jerusalem to meet Jesus and then returning back to the city with him (John 12:12-13), and like the men of Judah coming out to the Jordan river to meet King David and then returning back to Jerusalem with him (2 Samuel 19:15, 20:2), and like the Roman Christians coming out of Rome to meet Paul and returning back to the city with him (Acts 28:15-16).
And like planes take people up from one place and bring them back down in another place, I believe the rapture will first take us up into the sky above the point on the earth where we'll be at that time, and then gather us together from all around the globe into the one place in the clouds above Jerusalem where Jesus will be, so that we all might descend together with Jesus to Jerusalem.
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Gathered From Earth And Sky
"They shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matthew 24:31).
Note that here "heaven" is the 1st heaven, the sky, where Jesus is revealed to the nations, as in Matthew 24:30's "heaven."
Note that we're gathered from the earth and the sky:
"And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the EARTH to the uttermost part of heaven" (Mark 13:27).
I believe the rapture will first catch us straight up into the sky above the point on the earth where we'll be at that time, and then gather us together from all around the globe into the one place above Jerusalem where Jesus will be.
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A Place Prepared
Note that no verse says that the rapture will take anyone any higher than the clouds.
Jesus says "I will come again, and receive you unto myself" (John 14:3). Note that he doesn't say he will come back before the tribulation or that he will take us into heaven.
Jesus says "I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3). Note that he says we will be where he is after he comes again. He doesn't say he will turn around and go back into heaven. And indeed we will be where he is after he comes again: on the earth during the millennium (Revelation 20:4-6, 5:10, 2:26-29).
I believe Jesus says "In my Father's house are many mansions... I go to prepare a place for you," to show why he is going away, not why he is going to come back, and to show that he still has great and eternal plans for us in New Jerusalem, where the Father will dwell with us after the millennium: "I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God" (Revelation 21:2-3).
I believe if we die before the 2nd coming/rapture, our spirits will go into heaven to be with Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:6-8, Philippians 1:21-24, Luke 23:43, Luke 23:46, Acts 7:59) until we return to the earth with him (1 Thessalonians 4:14) to reign with him during the millennium (Revelation 2:26-29; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:4; Matthew 5:5).
Note that Jesus told the thief on the cross: "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). If we compare the location of the tree of life in Revelation 2:7 (paradise) and in Revelation 22:2, 14 (New Jerusalem), we see that paradise is in New Jerusalem.
My true treasure in heaven is God himself: "I am... thy exceeding great reward" (Genesis 15:1), and my true mansion in heaven is God himself: "LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations" (Psalm 90:1); "A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary" (Jeremiah 17:12); and after the millennium, all of my treasure and my mansion will come down out of heaven: "I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them" (Revelation 21:2-3).
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Coming "With" Christ
Note that at the rapture Jesus will come back "with" all his saints: "Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him" (1 Thessalonians 4:14); "I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23), "to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints" (1 Thessalonians 3:13).
I believe that at the 2nd coming the spirits of the dead in Christ will return "with" Christ from heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:14-15) and their bodies will be resurrected (1 Thessalonians 4:16), "then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds" (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Note that while the Greek word "ouranos" (heaven) is sometimes used to refer to the 3rd heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2) where God resides, it's also used to refer to the 1st heaven, the sky, where the clouds reside (Matthew 16:3, Revelation 11:6), or the air, where the birds fly (Matthew 6:26; Acts 11:6), and it's also used to refer to the 2nd heaven where the stars reside (Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:13).
I believe that in Revelation 19:14, "heaven" is the 1st heaven, the sky, where Jesus is revealed to the nations, as in Matthew 24:30's "heaven."
I believe an important purpose of the rapture is to gather the resurrected dead and the transformed living (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) all together in the sky with Jesus so that we can be judged (Psalms 50:4-5; Mark 13:27) and married (Revelation 19:7) in the clouds, before Armageddon.
This is why the wedding's consummation isn't announced until immediately before we descend with Christ at Armageddon (Revelation 19:7-14). I believe that after we've been judged and married in the clouds, we'll all get on our white horses, the clouds will part, "heaven" will be "opened" (Revelation 19:11), we'll all descend from the clouds "with" Jesus (Revelation 19:11-14), Jesus will smite the nations (Revelation 19:15) gathered at Armageddon (Revelation 16:14-16) to fight him (Revelation 19:19), he will defeat them completely (Revelation 19:20) and then land on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:3-4), after which we will have the supper (Revelation 19:9, 17; Isaiah 25:5-9).
Note that a novice can get on a well-trained horse and ride for the first time with others around him without any trouble, for a well-trained horse will basically know where to move as it should on its own, especially if it's surrounded by a vast company of other well-trained horses. I don't believe the white horses that Jesus and we are seen riding in Revelation 19:11, 14 will be a wild herd of physical horses, but will be a well-trained company of spiritual horses from heaven like the ones that were seen around Elisha in 2 Kings 6:17 and that caught Elijah up into heaven in 2 Kings 2:11.
The multitude in the third heaven referring to the "servants" and to the "wife" and to the "saints" of the Lord in Revelation 19:1-8 could be the same 100,000,000 angels seen in the third heaven in Revelation 5:11-12.
I believe that just as we don't need to read any hidden significance into the fact that 1 Samuel 17 refers interchangeably to Israel's "armies" and "army" (1 Samuel 17:8, 22), so we don't need to read any hidden significance into the fact that Revelation 19 refers interchangeably to the Lord's "armies" and "army" (Revelation 19:14, 19). Note that Christ himself is the only one said to fight and slay all of the armies of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:15-21).
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No Mystery Coming
Note that all Paul said was a mystery in 1 Corinthians 15:51 was that "we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed", that is, that not all Christians will have to die before being changed into their immortal bodies. The rapture and resurrection themselves weren't a mystery, for Jesus had clearly already taught both: "I will come again, and receive you unto myself" (John 14:3); "The Son of man coming... and shall gather together his elect" (Mark 13:26-27); "That every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40).
Note that while Jesus described his coming and the rapture and resurrection of believers in John 14:3, Matthew 24:29-31, and John 6:40, before the church had been formed, this in no way requires that the events he described won't happen to the church which now exists, just as his describing of salvation in John 3:16 before the church had been formed in no way requires that the salvation he described doesn't now happen to the church.
Note that there is no dividing between the prophetic writings and "the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets" (Romans 16:25-26); "The mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets" (Revelation 10:7); "The Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).
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No Secret Coming
Note that the Bible nowhere says that the rapture will in any way be secret. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God" (1 Thessalonians 4:16); "And they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven... with a great sound of a trumpet" (Matthew 24:30-31); "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him" (Revelation 1:7); "For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day... Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed... Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left" (Luke 17:24-36); "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13). Note that the rapture doesn�t happen secretly for the unsaved, for even the foolish virgins hear the cry announcing the bridegroom's coming (Matthew 25:6), and they are lost (Matthew 25:10-12; compare Luke 13:23-28).
Some believe Jesus' coming at the rapture must happen secretly because Paul said it was a "mystery" in 1 Corinthians 15:51. But note that all Paul said was a mystery was that "we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed", and his revelation of this doesn't require that this changing be in secret, just as his revelation of the mystery of the salvation of the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:3-6) didn't require they be saved in secret, and his revelation of the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19) didn't require the gospel be understood in secret, and the revelation of the mystery of faith (1 Timothy 3:9) and the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16) and the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ (Colossians 2:2) and the mystery of Christ being joined to the church as a man is joined to his wife (Ephesians 5:31-32) and the mystery of God's will (Ephesians 1:9) and the mysteries of speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2) and the mystery of iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7) and the mystery of the blindness in part of Israel (Romans 11:25) and the mystery of the 7 stars (Revelation 1:20) and the mystery of the Woman Babylon (Revelation 17:5) and the mystery of many other things in the Bible (1 Corinthians 4:1, Matthew 13:11) doesn't require they be fulfilled in secret. Indeed to the contrary; everything either has already or will be revealed openly to all (Luke 8:17; Matthew 10:27).
HEBREWS 9:28, MATTHEW 5:8, ETC.
"Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28). I don't believe Hebrews 9:28 means that at the 2nd coming Jesus won't appear to those who aren't looking for him, but that he'll appear to them unto damnation (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Matthew 24:48-51), for Jesus will appear to all people (Revelation 1:7).
I believe that Matthew 5:8 (the pure shall see God) and Hebrews 12:14 (unholy won't see the Lord) mean that only faithful Christians will go to see the Lord in heaven when they die (2 Corinthians 5:6-8), for everyone, even the impure and unholy, will see the Lord when he comes in the clouds to gather us together (Matthew 24:30-31; Revelation 1:7).
Note that John 11:40's "glory" refers to the raising of Lazarus (compare verse 4), not Jesus' coming at the rapture.
Note that 2 Thessalonians 2:11 doesn't say that Jesus will not appear to the unsaved at the rapture.
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No Instantaneous Coming
Note that the only thing the Bible says happens "in the twinkling of an eye" is the changing of the bodies of the living Christians into immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Jesus' coming at the rapture includes much more than that. It includes first the descent of Jesus from heaven with the saints who died (1 Thessalonians 4:14-15), then the sounding of the "last trump" (1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16), then the resurrection of these saints (1 Thessalonians 4:16), then the changing of living believers into immortal bodies, and finally the gathering together of all the resurrected saints, and all those changed in the twinkling of an eye, into the clouds where Jesus will be (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Some believe that Jesus' coming at the rapture must be instantaneous, like a flash of lightning. But note that the Bible says Jesus' coming as the lightning to appear to all people happens immediately after the tribulation (Matthew 24:27-31).
Note that at the rapture Jesus won't appear instantaneously, but will appear by descending, just as at the ascension he disappeared by ascending (Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:16).
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No Spiritual Coming
I believe we will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air when he will "descend from heaven" (1 Thessalonians 4:16) just as physically as he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:11). Note that no scripture refers to a spiritual coming of Jesus to rapture us before his physical coming.
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Vengeance On Unbelievers At The Rapture
I believe Jesus will take vengeance on unbelievers at the rapture: "When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).
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The "Appearing" Of Jesus
Note that the rapture will be at the appearing of Jesus, for we are to be looking for and remaining obedient until the appearing of the Lord (Titus 2:13; 1 Timothy 6:14); we are to be waiting with faith and hope and rejoicing for the appearing (apokalupsis) or coming (apokalupsis) or revelation (apokalupsis) of the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:7, 1:13, 4:13), for when Jesus appears we shall become like him (1 John 3:2; Colossians 3:4) and receive a crown of righteousness and glory (2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4).
NO PRE-TRIB APPEARING
Note that the Bible doesn't say that Jesus' appearing will be before the tribulation.
Paul said we're to wait for and remain obedient until the appearing (epiphaneia) of the Lord (Titus 2:13; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Timothy 6:14), and that this same appearing or brightness (epiphaneia) must destroy the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:8). There's no 3rd appearing (epiphaneia) of Jesus.
Paul and Peter said we're to wait with patience and obedience for the appearing (apokalupsis) or coming (apokalupsis) or revelation (apokalupsis) of the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:7, 1:13, 4:13), when he will appear or be revealed (apokalupsis) in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). There's no 3rd appearing (apokalupsis) of Jesus.
The Apostles promised that when Jesus appears (phaneroo) we shall be like him (1 John 3:2; Colossians 3:4; 1 Peter 5:4), for we shall see (optanomai) him as he is (1 John 3:2). And Jesus said he will shine (phaino) or appear (phaino) or be seen (optanomai) immediately after the tribulation (Matthew 24:27-31). There's no 3rd appearing or seeing (optanomai) of Jesus (Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:7).
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The "Revelation" Of Jesus
Some say the rapture is a different event than the "revelation" of Jesus. But then what is the grace that we must hope to the end for which will be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus? "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation (apokalupsis) of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed (apokalupsis), ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:12-13).
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing (apokalupsis) of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:7).
"So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming (apokalupsis) of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:7).
"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed (apokalupsis) from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).
Who are the ones taken and the ones left when Jesus is revealed? "Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed (apokalupto). In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left" (Luke 17:30-36).
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The Visitation
"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation" (1 Peter 2:12).
Here the Greek work translated "visitation" is episkope (Strong's #1984), which is translated "bishop" in 1 Timothy 3:1. The day of visitation in which the Gentiles shall glorify God (1 Peter 2:12) is the day of the revelation of Jesus the "Bishop" (episkopos, #1985, 1 Peter 2:25):
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).
See "The Revelation Of Jesus" section above.
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The Parousia
I believe that "parousia" means the 2nd coming in the context of Jesus' future coming, and note that the rapture will occur at the parousia:
"We which are alive and remain unto the coming (parousia) of the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:15).
"We beseech you, brethren, by the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him" (2 Thessalonians 2:1).
Note that the resurrection will occur at the parousia:
"In Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming (parousia)" (1 Corinthians 15:22-23).
Note that the Antichrist will be destroyed at the parousia:
"Then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming (parousia)" (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
Note that it will be as the days of Noah at the parousia:
"As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming (parousia) of the Son of man be" (Matthew 24:37).
Note that we are exhorted to have long patience for the parousia, even though it draws nearer with each passing day:
"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming (parousia) of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming (parousia) of the Lord draweth nigh" (James 5:7-8).
Note that the scriptures don't teach a 3rd coming (parousia).
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The Erchomai
Note that Jesus made clear we must stay spiritually awake for his coming (erchomai, Matthew 24:42-48, 25:13; Mark 13:35-36), and that his coming (erchomai) to gather us would not be until immediately after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27). This is why we need patience and obedience until the coming (erchomai) of the Lord (Hebrews 10:36-37, Revelation 2:5, 2:16, 3:11, 16:15, 22:7, 22:12, 22:17, 22:20). There's no 3rd coming (erchomai) of Jesus.
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Revelation 19 -- No Rapture?
Note that John doesn't mention the "gathering together" or "catching up" of the rapture in any of his writings, but in Revelation 19 he clearly shows Jesus coming. Both Jesus and Paul said the rapture will happen at Jesus' coming (Matthew 24:29-37, Mark 13:24-27, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 15:23), and there's no 3rd coming. Do some believe Revelation 19 and Matthew 24:29-31 are different comings?
Note that every description of the 2nd coming and rapture doesn't include every element of it. For example, we don't find the shout or the voice of the archangel of 1 Thessalonians 4:16 anywhere in 1 Corinthians 15:52, nor do we find the white horse of Revelation 19:11 or Jesus' setting foot on the Mount of Olives of Zechariah 14:4 anywhere in Matthew 24:29-31. Do some then believe that Revelation 19 and Matthew 24:29-31 are two separate events?
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Matthew 24 -- No Resurrection?
Note that the Bible says the resurrection occurs immediately before the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), when Jesus comes (1 Corinthians 15:23) at the trumpet's sounding (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Jesus comes at the trumpet's sounding in Matthew 24:29-31.
Note that the pre-trib view believes that passages such as John 14:1-3 and Matthew 24:36-44 refer to the time when we will be resurrected even though these passages don't mention the resurrection. So the pre-trib view shouldn't require that Matthew 24:29-31 mention the resurrection for it to accept it as referring to the time when we will be resurrected.
ANGELS DOING THE GATHERING
Note that "caught up" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is in the passive; it doesn't say we'll catch up ourselves.
Note that 1 Thessalonians 4:17 doesn't say that Jesus himself will catch us up. Jesus will catch us up by sending his angels: "Then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect" (Mark 13:27).
I don't believe it's a question of our "needing" the angels at the rapture so much as that is how Jesus has chosen it to happen. Do we who have the Spirit of Jesus himself within us ever really "need" the angels -- couldn't Jesus do everything for us directly? Yet he chooses to use angels throughout our walk in him: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14).
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2 Thessalonians 1
Some say 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 means that all Christians must be "resting" in heaven during the tribulation. But 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 refers to "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed (apokalupsis) from heaven", which is the event we wait for: "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming (apokalupsis) of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:7).
Note that the same Greek word translated "rest" in 2 Thessalonians 1:7 can be translated as "liberty" (Acts 24:23) or "be eased" (2 Corinthians 8:13). And indeed believers will be free and at ease at Armageddon because they will be riding behind Jesus "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10); "For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many" (Isaiah 66:15-16); "And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations... and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Revelation 19:14-15); "Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed... The one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together" (Luke 17:30, 36-37); "And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh" (Revelation 19:21).
It is at the 2nd coming that Jesus "shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe" (1 Thessalonians 1:10), just as it is at Jesus' coming to gather us together that the Antichrist will be destroyed (2 Thessalonians 2:1, 8; Revelation 19:20).
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Rapture At 2nd Coming Cont'd
See RaptureAtComing2.html and No3rdComing.html.