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Hello Ropple,
Really? From Rev.1 thru the very end of chapter 3, the word "Ekklesia" translated "Church" is used throughout those chapters. Within those same chapters you will not find the word "Hagios" translated "Saints." Now, I challenge you to find anywhere where the word "Church" appears from Rev.4 throughout the narrative of God's wrath. The word used from Rev.4 thru 19 is the word "Saints", but you will never see the word "Church." Coincidence? or is it a clue from God within his word?
Really? From Rev.1 thru the very end of chapter 3, the word "Ekklesia" translated "Church" is used throughout those chapters. Within those same chapters you will not find the word "Hagios" translated "Saints." Now, I challenge you to find anywhere where the word "Church" appears from Rev.4 throughout the narrative of God's wrath. The word used from Rev.4 thru 19 is the word "Saints", but you will never see the word "Church." Coincidence? or is it a clue from God within his word?
Yes, and the clue is that God is making distinction between the church and the great tribulation saints. The reason why you see the word "church" mentioned 19 times throughout chapters 1 thru 3 is because the church is present before the events of "what must take place later." It is after the voice that sounds like a trumpet that says "come up here and I will show you what must take place after this" is why the word church is missing and that because Rev.4:1-2 is prophetic of the church being caught up to heaven. From that time on, believer's are never referred to as the church, but is in reference to those great tribulation saints that John sees in his vision in Rev.7, who are wearing white robes and which is too large of a number to count. This group is not the church, but those who will become believer's in Christ after the church has been removed. Therefore, every time you read the word saint from Rev.4 onward is in reference to those great tribulation saints.
No, the reason is not because God is not calling me now, it is because he has revealed these things to me from diligently searching his word. The church is not mentioned in Rev.12. The following is who is mentioned:
Israel = The woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and wearing a crown of twelve stars
The dragon = Satan, with the seven heads representing the seven hills upon which the woman of Rev.17 sits and which also represent seven succession of kings. The ten crowns are the ten kings under the beast
The Male Child = A collective name for the 144,000 who are the first fruits out of literal Israel who are caught up to God and his throne unharmed and out of the reach of the dragon.
Those above are who are mentioned in chapter 12. The church is nowhere mentioned either literally or symbolically.
Israel = The woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and wearing a crown of twelve stars
The dragon = Satan, with the seven heads representing the seven hills upon which the woman of Rev.17 sits and which also represent seven succession of kings. The ten crowns are the ten kings under the beast
The Male Child = A collective name for the 144,000 who are the first fruits out of literal Israel who are caught up to God and his throne unharmed and out of the reach of the dragon.
Those above are who are mentioned in chapter 12. The church is nowhere mentioned either literally or symbolically.
Apostle Paul's Actual Message Of "caught up":
1 Thess 4:13-18
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.
The subject? About the saints that have already died and are symbolically "asleep". Paul is saying to the brethren that he doesn't want them to be ignorant about the brethren that have already died in Jesus and not to sorrow for them.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
Paul continues; if you believe Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead, so likewise the saints that are asleep Jesus will bring with Him when He returns. That means from Heaven folks, because that's where our Lord Jesus is right now.
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.
To understand the "prevent" idea in that it's important to know that the actual Greek word in the NT manuscript means 'to precede, or go before'. Paul is simply saying we who remain and are still alive on earth up to Christ's coming shall in no way precede the asleep saints to Heaven which have already died.
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:
Jesus will "descend"... to where brethren? To this earth. Zechariah 14 reveals the location He descends to is the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem where He ascended to The Father from per Acts 1. But the asleep brethren which have already died will rise first, meaning they will be in the resurrection already so Jesus brings them with Him when He comes to gather the rest of His Church on earth.
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.
The we which remain still alive on earth to that final day when He comes, will be seized to meet Him and the resurrected saints on the way to Jerusalem on earth to begin His "thousand years" reign over the nations of Revelation 20. We aren't going to Heaven, we're going to the "camp of the saints" on earth to reign per Rev.5:10 and Rev.20:9.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
KJV
That is our comfort, not some fly away pre-trib rapture idea that is obsessed with trying to find a way to make God's Word say we don't go through the tribulation. Jesus comes only one time for His Church, and it's at the end of this world on the day of The Lord as written in both the OT prophets and NT writers.
1 Thess 4:13-18
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.
The subject? About the saints that have already died and are symbolically "asleep". Paul is saying to the brethren that he doesn't want them to be ignorant about the brethren that have already died in Jesus and not to sorrow for them.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
Paul continues; if you believe Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead, so likewise the saints that are asleep Jesus will bring with Him when He returns. That means from Heaven folks, because that's where our Lord Jesus is right now.
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.
To understand the "prevent" idea in that it's important to know that the actual Greek word in the NT manuscript means 'to precede, or go before'. Paul is simply saying we who remain and are still alive on earth up to Christ's coming shall in no way precede the asleep saints to Heaven which have already died.
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:
Jesus will "descend"... to where brethren? To this earth. Zechariah 14 reveals the location He descends to is the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem where He ascended to The Father from per Acts 1. But the asleep brethren which have already died will rise first, meaning they will be in the resurrection already so Jesus brings them with Him when He comes to gather the rest of His Church on earth.
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.
The we which remain still alive on earth to that final day when He comes, will be seized to meet Him and the resurrected saints on the way to Jerusalem on earth to begin His "thousand years" reign over the nations of Revelation 20. We aren't going to Heaven, we're going to the "camp of the saints" on earth to reign per Rev.5:10 and Rev.20:9.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
KJV
That is our comfort, not some fly away pre-trib rapture idea that is obsessed with trying to find a way to make God's Word say we don't go through the tribulation. Jesus comes only one time for His Church, and it's at the end of this world on the day of The Lord as written in both the OT prophets and NT writers.
Order Of Our Gathering Per Apostle Paul:
2 Thess 2:1-12
2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him,
The subject? The coming of Christ Jesus and gathering of His Church. That's what this matter here Paul is covering here to the brethren is all about, because some false brethren among them were confusing the order of events to happen.
2 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.
Don't be troubled or worried he's saying, and he points to others who "by letter as from us" were distorting the true order of events for Christ's coming to gather us. That means some false one among them was trying to pass off fake letters claimed be written by the Apostles. The word for "Christ" in the Greek there is actually kurios which means 'Lord'. That is the Day of The Lord timing Paul is pointing to with when Jesus comes to gather us, i.e., the last day of this world.
3 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;
Paul reveals 2 events must... occur first prior to Christ's coming on the day of The Lord to gather us. A great falling away from Him and the man of sin must be revealed. The falling away idea is about apostasy per Greek apostasia, so that's about leaving something one once believed in. It's about leaving the Faith in Christ to worship something else. The man of sin being revealed Paul links with that apostasy event. Because of what false is to do here, it should be obvious how and why many will become apostates away from Christ in that time:
4 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.
That false one is coming to play God in Jerusalem. There's no Jewish temple built there in Jerusalem today for this to occur, but Scripture shows it will be built for the trib because the "abomination of desolation" idol in the temple that our Lord Jesus foretold of for the end must be manifest at the end (Matt.24; Mark 13).
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Paul had evidently told them about all this before. Per the above letters he remarked about someone was distorting these things among the brethren.
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
This is dependent upon knowing your OT prophecies. The one doing this withholding is most likely the Archangel Michael, because of what's shown in Daniel 10 and the one who casts Satan out of heaven per Rev.12:7 forward. So this false one Paul is speaking of most definitely is about Satan, the dragon, cast to earth for the end, de facto. Many find that difficult to accept per Scripture, but proper understanding of the endtime events won't be fully understood without realizing it.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
The mystery of iniquity is about the "workers of iniquity" mentioned back in the OT, the "tares" in our Lord Jesus' parable of Matt.13, and the certain men crept in unawares ordained to condemnation per Jude 1. It flows from Cain's murder of his own brother all the way down to the end of this world. These are the "many antichrists" Apostle John mentioned that he said were already at work. They're the children of darkness, the devil's servants here on earth. The coming false one to sit in the temple here is The Antichrist they follow, i.e., Satan himself. At Satan's original rebellion he tried to exalt himself as God and our Heavenly Father cast him down. For the very end of this world, God is going to allow Satan to try that again but use it to test us with. If you're not aware of this for our times, you've got some catching up to do.
8 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:
When the war in heaven of Rev.12:7 between Satan and Michael happens, Satan with his angels are cast to the earth among us for the end. That is what the coming trib is going to be about, Satan coming to try and play God again here on earth. Will you bow in worship him, thinking he is our Lord Jesus? He's going to be very... convincing and will fool the majority of the world as written in Rev.13!
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
There's those same miracles, great signs, and wonders the one in Matt.24 and Rev.13 is to do. That's about a supernatural working of miracles on earth, works like our Lord Jesus would do. But this will be Satan doing it to fool you.
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
KJV
Satan coming to play God is that strong delusion Paul speaks of here. It's the highlight Message of warning by Paul in this chapter. Because many don't have a love of the truth, but would rather believe lies from men, listening to men instead of God's Word, they will believe the lie of Satan playing God for the tribulation. Will you brothers and sisters?
2 Thess 2:1-12
2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him,
The subject? The coming of Christ Jesus and gathering of His Church. That's what this matter here Paul is covering here to the brethren is all about, because some false brethren among them were confusing the order of events to happen.
2 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.
Don't be troubled or worried he's saying, and he points to others who "by letter as from us" were distorting the true order of events for Christ's coming to gather us. That means some false one among them was trying to pass off fake letters claimed be written by the Apostles. The word for "Christ" in the Greek there is actually kurios which means 'Lord'. That is the Day of The Lord timing Paul is pointing to with when Jesus comes to gather us, i.e., the last day of this world.
3 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;
Paul reveals 2 events must... occur first prior to Christ's coming on the day of The Lord to gather us. A great falling away from Him and the man of sin must be revealed. The falling away idea is about apostasy per Greek apostasia, so that's about leaving something one once believed in. It's about leaving the Faith in Christ to worship something else. The man of sin being revealed Paul links with that apostasy event. Because of what false is to do here, it should be obvious how and why many will become apostates away from Christ in that time:
4 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.
That false one is coming to play God in Jerusalem. There's no Jewish temple built there in Jerusalem today for this to occur, but Scripture shows it will be built for the trib because the "abomination of desolation" idol in the temple that our Lord Jesus foretold of for the end must be manifest at the end (Matt.24; Mark 13).
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Paul had evidently told them about all this before. Per the above letters he remarked about someone was distorting these things among the brethren.
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
This is dependent upon knowing your OT prophecies. The one doing this withholding is most likely the Archangel Michael, because of what's shown in Daniel 10 and the one who casts Satan out of heaven per Rev.12:7 forward. So this false one Paul is speaking of most definitely is about Satan, the dragon, cast to earth for the end, de facto. Many find that difficult to accept per Scripture, but proper understanding of the endtime events won't be fully understood without realizing it.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
The mystery of iniquity is about the "workers of iniquity" mentioned back in the OT, the "tares" in our Lord Jesus' parable of Matt.13, and the certain men crept in unawares ordained to condemnation per Jude 1. It flows from Cain's murder of his own brother all the way down to the end of this world. These are the "many antichrists" Apostle John mentioned that he said were already at work. They're the children of darkness, the devil's servants here on earth. The coming false one to sit in the temple here is The Antichrist they follow, i.e., Satan himself. At Satan's original rebellion he tried to exalt himself as God and our Heavenly Father cast him down. For the very end of this world, God is going to allow Satan to try that again but use it to test us with. If you're not aware of this for our times, you've got some catching up to do.
8 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:
When the war in heaven of Rev.12:7 between Satan and Michael happens, Satan with his angels are cast to the earth among us for the end. That is what the coming trib is going to be about, Satan coming to try and play God again here on earth. Will you bow in worship him, thinking he is our Lord Jesus? He's going to be very... convincing and will fool the majority of the world as written in Rev.13!
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
There's those same miracles, great signs, and wonders the one in Matt.24 and Rev.13 is to do. That's about a supernatural working of miracles on earth, works like our Lord Jesus would do. But this will be Satan doing it to fool you.
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
KJV
Satan coming to play God is that strong delusion Paul speaks of here. It's the highlight Message of warning by Paul in this chapter. Because many don't have a love of the truth, but would rather believe lies from men, listening to men instead of God's Word, they will believe the lie of Satan playing God for the tribulation. Will you brothers and sisters?
C
I believe in the pre-trib rapture so this is my position as well as many others.
Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
The church is in Revelation 5:9 singing the song in heaven. 23 out of the 24 manuscripts have Revelation 5:9 saying "thou hast redeemed us" so we are raptured before the tribulation.
We receive our resurrection bodies at the end of the age or last day:
New American Standard Bible
"But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age."
Daniel 12:13 "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 6:40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."
Revelation 4:1 ¶ After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
g3326 μετά meta (after) g3778 οὗτος houtos (these things).
The future age is after these things.
A study on meta tauta (after these things):
https://books.google.com/books?id=mx...atauta&f=false
Jesus Christ gives the division of the book of Revelation:
"Write the things which thou hast seen (1), and the things which are (2), and the things which are hereafter (3)" (Revelation 1:19)
The things which thou hast seen is the past, the things which are is the present and the things which are hereafter are the future.
After Revelation chapter 3, the church isn't mentioned anymore unless it is referred to as the Harlot but in Revelation chapters 4-5, the Church is in heaven and the Great Tribulation takes place. In chapters 6-18 and in Chapter 19, Christ returns to earth. Chapter 20 gives us the 1,000 year reign of Christ. The Great White Throne Judgment is set up and then in Revelation 21-22 Eternity with God begins.
Revelation 4:1 ¶ After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
After what? "After what" is meta tauta. Chapters 1, 2 and 3 discussed the Church so Revelation chapter 4 is after the Church things. The lie is to bring the Church into the future things because the Church is not here during the great tribulation.
When the Church gets to heaven, it loses its definition of the Church because heaven is represented as twenty four elders and translated in the resurrection:
Revelation 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
"The resurrection and the translation of the saints (see John 14; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-52)" are notes that I cannot pass up. To put the church on the earth "after these things" is to ignore the resurrection and translation of the saints because the rest of the book of Revelation refers to the ecclesiastical system left on earth as the Harlot.
(Use of material by Dr. J Vernon McGee used in this post.)
Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
The church is in Revelation 5:9 singing the song in heaven. 23 out of the 24 manuscripts have Revelation 5:9 saying "thou hast redeemed us" so we are raptured before the tribulation.
We receive our resurrection bodies at the end of the age or last day:
New American Standard Bible
"But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age."
Daniel 12:13 "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 6:40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."
Revelation 4:1 ¶ After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
g3326 μετά meta (after) g3778 οὗτος houtos (these things).
The future age is after these things.
A study on meta tauta (after these things):
https://books.google.com/books?id=mx...atauta&f=false
Jesus Christ gives the division of the book of Revelation:
"Write the things which thou hast seen (1), and the things which are (2), and the things which are hereafter (3)" (Revelation 1:19)
The things which thou hast seen is the past, the things which are is the present and the things which are hereafter are the future.
After Revelation chapter 3, the church isn't mentioned anymore unless it is referred to as the Harlot but in Revelation chapters 4-5, the Church is in heaven and the Great Tribulation takes place. In chapters 6-18 and in Chapter 19, Christ returns to earth. Chapter 20 gives us the 1,000 year reign of Christ. The Great White Throne Judgment is set up and then in Revelation 21-22 Eternity with God begins.
Revelation 4:1 ¶ After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
After what? "After what" is meta tauta. Chapters 1, 2 and 3 discussed the Church so Revelation chapter 4 is after the Church things. The lie is to bring the Church into the future things because the Church is not here during the great tribulation.
When the Church gets to heaven, it loses its definition of the Church because heaven is represented as twenty four elders and translated in the resurrection:
Revelation 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
"The resurrection and the translation of the saints (see John 14; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-52)" are notes that I cannot pass up. To put the church on the earth "after these things" is to ignore the resurrection and translation of the saints because the rest of the book of Revelation refers to the ecclesiastical system left on earth as the Harlot.
(Use of material by Dr. J Vernon McGee used in this post.)
The Day Of The Lord Sets The Day Of Christ's Return To Gather Us:
The 'day of the Lord' phrase God used in the OT prophets to proclaim the events that end this world on the final day.
It accompanies God's punishment of the wicked and Christ's gathering of His Church, and God's consuming fire that will burn man's works off this earth. It will end the tribulation by Satan and will establish all the kingdoms of this earth into the hand of The Father and The Son. It is the day when Jesus will reward His servants and begin His thousand years reign on earth with His elect Church in Jerusalem. All these things will start on that 'day of the Lord'.
Here is where the Apostles pointed to our Lord Jesus' coming to gather His on that day of the Lord:
1 Thess 5:1-4
5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
Here Paul is remarking how he had no need to go over the times and the seasons of Christ's coming with them, for they already knew those things. Therefore, he only lightly brushes over a few things about that timing.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
They already knew that the 'day of the Lord' will come 'as a thief in the night'. (The thief analogy is used to show surprise, like a thief breaking into your home at midnight while you're asleep.) There Paul is speaking of how the wicked and deceived will be surprised when that day of the Lord comes upon them as a thief in the night. That is when that "sudden destruction" on the 'day of the Lord' will come upon them, which was a matter God spoke of through His OT prophets like Isaiah. This is where Paul is teaching this from.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
KJV
Paul says that 'day' is not to take us by surprise as a thief breaking in at midnight. To be surprised by that event is to be in darkness he shows.
One of the main lessons that should be obvious from what Paul said there is when he showed that timing of the 'day of the Lord' will be. He showed the time of "sudden destruction" that's to happen upon the wicked will mean the end of the tribulation, because that's about the day God is going to deal with the wicked in ushering in Christ's future thousand years reign.
Do you remember our Lord Jesus using that 'as a thief' analogy about the day of His coming? (see end of Matt.24; Luke 12).
Apostle Peter also revealed the event of God's destruction upon the earth on that 'day of the Lord' that will come 'as a thief':
2 Peter 3:10-12
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
KJV
What that event is about is God's consuming fire that will destroy man's works off this earth on the last day of this present world. It is an event Paul spoke of at the end of Hebrews 12. It is written of a lot in the OT prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel, and also many of the Books of the Minor Prophets in the OT.
Did you know there's going to be a consuming fire event on the last day of this present world to end man's works off it and usher in Christ's reign with His elect upon this earth?
Don't let the soothsayers deceive you into thinking this is about the destruction of the planet, for it is not. They don't bother to look up that KJV word "elements" which Peter mentioned, which in the Greek means an 'ordinal' sequence and has nothing to do with the earthly material elements of matter.
God is not going to destroy the earth, but cleanse its surface using fire to end this present world. And per His OT prophets that event is going to happen very quickly, at an instant, suddenly (Isa.29).
Rev 3:3
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
KJV
That's our Lord Jesus speaking to the Church at Sardis, warning them that He will come upon them "as a thief" (by surprised) if they do not watch as He commanded.
Where else did our Lord Jesus link the time of His coming to gather His Church with that "as a thief" idea? Right here:
Rev 16:15-17
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
KJV
That's a Message to His Church still on earth to be on watch and keep your garments of Salvation, because He will come "as a thief". It's reveals His 2nd coming to gather us is not until that final 7th Vial. The events upon the wicked on that 7th Vial link with the time of "sudden destruction" Paul taught above, and the consuming fire event by Peter, and that's the timing they were speaking of that 'day of the Lord' will come "as a thief in the night".
So there's the Biblical evidence brethren for the timing of the 'day of the Lord' which will accompany Christ's coming "as a thief" to gather us, and make a sudden destruction upon the wicked ushering in His thousand years reign. That event clearly is at the end of the tribulation, and not at any other time.
The 'day of the Lord' phrase God used in the OT prophets to proclaim the events that end this world on the final day.
It accompanies God's punishment of the wicked and Christ's gathering of His Church, and God's consuming fire that will burn man's works off this earth. It will end the tribulation by Satan and will establish all the kingdoms of this earth into the hand of The Father and The Son. It is the day when Jesus will reward His servants and begin His thousand years reign on earth with His elect Church in Jerusalem. All these things will start on that 'day of the Lord'.
Here is where the Apostles pointed to our Lord Jesus' coming to gather His on that day of the Lord:
1 Thess 5:1-4
5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
Here Paul is remarking how he had no need to go over the times and the seasons of Christ's coming with them, for they already knew those things. Therefore, he only lightly brushes over a few things about that timing.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
They already knew that the 'day of the Lord' will come 'as a thief in the night'. (The thief analogy is used to show surprise, like a thief breaking into your home at midnight while you're asleep.) There Paul is speaking of how the wicked and deceived will be surprised when that day of the Lord comes upon them as a thief in the night. That is when that "sudden destruction" on the 'day of the Lord' will come upon them, which was a matter God spoke of through His OT prophets like Isaiah. This is where Paul is teaching this from.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
KJV
Paul says that 'day' is not to take us by surprise as a thief breaking in at midnight. To be surprised by that event is to be in darkness he shows.
One of the main lessons that should be obvious from what Paul said there is when he showed that timing of the 'day of the Lord' will be. He showed the time of "sudden destruction" that's to happen upon the wicked will mean the end of the tribulation, because that's about the day God is going to deal with the wicked in ushering in Christ's future thousand years reign.
Do you remember our Lord Jesus using that 'as a thief' analogy about the day of His coming? (see end of Matt.24; Luke 12).
Apostle Peter also revealed the event of God's destruction upon the earth on that 'day of the Lord' that will come 'as a thief':
2 Peter 3:10-12
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
KJV
What that event is about is God's consuming fire that will destroy man's works off this earth on the last day of this present world. It is an event Paul spoke of at the end of Hebrews 12. It is written of a lot in the OT prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel, and also many of the Books of the Minor Prophets in the OT.
Did you know there's going to be a consuming fire event on the last day of this present world to end man's works off it and usher in Christ's reign with His elect upon this earth?
Don't let the soothsayers deceive you into thinking this is about the destruction of the planet, for it is not. They don't bother to look up that KJV word "elements" which Peter mentioned, which in the Greek means an 'ordinal' sequence and has nothing to do with the earthly material elements of matter.
God is not going to destroy the earth, but cleanse its surface using fire to end this present world. And per His OT prophets that event is going to happen very quickly, at an instant, suddenly (Isa.29).
Rev 3:3
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
KJV
That's our Lord Jesus speaking to the Church at Sardis, warning them that He will come upon them "as a thief" (by surprised) if they do not watch as He commanded.
Where else did our Lord Jesus link the time of His coming to gather His Church with that "as a thief" idea? Right here:
Rev 16:15-17
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
KJV
That's a Message to His Church still on earth to be on watch and keep your garments of Salvation, because He will come "as a thief". It's reveals His 2nd coming to gather us is not until that final 7th Vial. The events upon the wicked on that 7th Vial link with the time of "sudden destruction" Paul taught above, and the consuming fire event by Peter, and that's the timing they were speaking of that 'day of the Lord' will come "as a thief in the night".
So there's the Biblical evidence brethren for the timing of the 'day of the Lord' which will accompany Christ's coming "as a thief" to gather us, and make a sudden destruction upon the wicked ushering in His thousand years reign. That event clearly is at the end of the tribulation, and not at any other time.
Rapture:
Not taught or mentioned by Jesus.
Not taught or mentioned by the Disciples.
Not taught or mentioned by the Early Church Fathers.
A doctrine not really taught until the 16th-ish century.
1 debatable phrase in scripture that might have something to do with it.
I'm going to side with the "no rapture" crowd.
Even if it were real, the idea of a rapture has no bearing on my life and ministry today. It will have no bearing on my and ministry in the future.
Not taught or mentioned by Jesus.
Not taught or mentioned by the Disciples.
Not taught or mentioned by the Early Church Fathers.
A doctrine not really taught until the 16th-ish century.
1 debatable phrase in scripture that might have something to do with it.
I'm going to side with the "no rapture" crowd.
Even if it were real, the idea of a rapture has no bearing on my life and ministry today. It will have no bearing on my and ministry in the future.
