1 Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1 Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1 Th 5:3 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.
1 Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Look at what Paul says to the Thessalonians - the day would not "overtake" them - in other words the fast approaching day would not surprise them when it came within their lifetime.e
If Paul was predicting the day of the Lord 1970 years and counting into the future his statements in the above would be pointless to write as they would be long dead.
1 Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1 Th 5:3 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.
1 Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Look at what Paul says to the Thessalonians - the day would not "overtake" them - in other words the fast approaching day would not surprise them when it came within their lifetime.e
If Paul was predicting the day of the Lord 1970 years and counting into the future his statements in the above would be pointless to write as they would be long dead.
Anyhow, is this what took place in Thessalonica in 70 a.d.?
1Th 4:15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
It also appears that Paul expected to be among the living at this events commencement.