Here's how I've seen it (then, I welcome hearing your take on it):
Among other points of "connection" I've previously mentioned, another one I see relates in the following way... Consider: "[the DOTL time period ARRIVES] as A THIEF [G2812] *in the night*..." (1Th5:2-3)...
... so (as I see it) we should notice this:
Jhn 12:4-6 -
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot [and in Jn17:12 he is called "the son of perdition," just as is also the one known as "the man of sin"-2Th2:3c], Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was A THIEF [G2812], and had the bag [also Jn13:29], and bare what was put therein.
Like I've said in past posts, the INITIAL birth PANG [SINGULAR; 1Th5:2-3 & Matt24:4/Mk13:5 - G5100 - tis - 'A CERTAIN ONE' ('a certain one' bringing deception)--and equivalent to SEAL #1 ('bow'='deception' in many cases)], at the ARRIVAL of the DOTL time period, IS "the man of sin"... his "whose COMING / ARRIVAL / ADVENT / PRESENCE / parousia" (IN HIS TIME... i.e. for the "IN THE NIGHT" [aspect OF the DOTL] time period, which is the 7-yr Trib, so at the START of that).
My two cents cast in... = )
[note: I am not suggesting that the "man of sin" will literally be "Judas Iscariot"]
Do you really KNOW what the
THIEF in the NIGHT is all about ? ? ?
In the RAPTURE, it is part of the Jewish Custom of have a Representive of the Wedding Party of the BRIDEGROOM, come, UNANNOUNCED, to Call the Bride out of her old Dwelling Place, to COME MEET THE BRIDEGROOM in the Clouds. That unannounced Calling (Shout with the Voice of the Archangel) is to Snatch the Bride Away, like a
THIEF in the NIGHT. It may begin around Midnight, but it will be FAST, as lightening flashes across the Sky, in ISRAEL, so part of the world will be at Various times of the day time. READ THE CONTEXT:
Matthew 24:36-42 (NCV)
36 “No one knows when that day or time will be, not the angels in heaven, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.
37 When the Son of Man comes, it will be like what happened during Noah’s time.
38 In those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving their children to be married, until the day Noah entered the boat.
39 They knew nothing about what was happening until the flood came and destroyed them. It will be the same when the Son of Man comes.
40 Two men will be in the field. One will be taken {to Heaven for the Wedding of the Lamb}, and the other will be left.
41 Two women will be grinding grain with a mill. One will be taken{to Heaven for the Wedding of the Lamb},
and the other will be left.
42 “So always be ready, because you don’t know the day your Lord will come.
43 Remember this: If the owner of the house knew what time of night a thief was coming, the owner would watch and not let the thief break in.
44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at a time you don’t expect him.
ALSO SEE: Matthew 24:44 (ESV)
. . . . . . . . . . . 44
Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
IT IS NOT THE SECOND COMING, that is approximately 7 years later.
HOW DO I KNOW ? ? ? IN VERSE 44, it says "Son of Man will come at a time you don’t expect him."
1 Thessalonians 5:2 (HCSB)
2
For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
The WHOLE WORLD will expect HE IS COMING, because of the Signs in the heavens. HE IS COMING TO MAKE WAR,
so they send their ARMIES to ISRAEL to STOP HIM, and put an end to ISRAEL, while they are at it.
Revelation 19:11-21 (NCV)
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there before me was a white horse. The rider on the horse is called Faithful and True, and he is right when he judges and makes war.
12 His eyes are like burning fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him, which no one but himself knows.
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and clean, were following him on white horses.
15 Out of the rider’s mouth comes a sharp sword that he will use to defeat the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will crush out the wine in the winepress of the terrible anger of God the Almighty.
16 On his robe and on his upper leg was written this name:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called with a loud voice to all the birds flying in the sky: “Come and gather together for the great feast of God
18 so that you can eat the bodies of kings, generals, mighty people, horses and their riders, and the bodies of all people—free, slave, small, and great.“
19
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth. Their armies were gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. {Therefore they were expecting HIM a couple Months before He Arrived.}
20 But the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who did the miracles for the beast. The false prophet had used these miracles to trick those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his idol. The false prophet and the beast were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
21 And their armies were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate the bodies until they were full.
In my opinion, that should put an end to the "Speculative" Discussions about any Mid-Trib or Post-Trib so-called beliefs.
But I do not think it will.
