Popeye, I've often wondered who else was encouraged to know about the coming of Jesus for His bride before the tribulation too. As I see it outlined in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. [SUP]14 [/SUP]For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep [SUP][
a][/SUP]in Jesus. [SUP]15 [/SUP]For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [SUP][
b][/SUP]and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. [SUP]16 [/SUP]For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a [SUP][
c][/SUP]shout, with the voice of
the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. [SUP]17 [/SUP]Then we who are alive [SUP][
d][/SUP]and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. [SUP]18 [/SUP]Therefore comfort one another with these words.
I see this as a great comfort for us to read that many are missing out on being comforted.
Didn't consider yours an odd question at all. I'm so encouraged to know that we are saved by grace and kept by grace and dealt with according to grace. Because I believe that about the Lord's dealings with us so much I hold to the pre-trib rapture doctrine.
Judgment has already been dealt out for the believer and it was done in the body of Jesus. We are the bride of Christ and will not see God's wrath. I see many pictures of this in the old testament with God's mercy before the flood with Methuselah who was the oldest person in the world. This was God's mercy since it is His will that not all should perish.
I see it in Elijiah who did not see death but was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. I see it in the story of Noah and the Ark and how God was long suffering then as well. I see it in Luke where Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read Isaiah and He opened the book and found exactly the place where it was written about Him.
Isa.61:1-2a.
The Spirit of the Lord [SUP][
a][/SUP]God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the [SUP][
b][/SUP]afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And [SUP][
c][/SUP]freedom to prisoners;
[SUP]2 [/SUP]To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
Jesus then closed the book before reading anymore about the vengeance of our God. That is reserved for His second coming. Long suffering and the cross are associated with His first coming; judgment and a crown, with His second.
All of these Bible truths are so encouraging to read because it shows the long suffering of God and His love for us. I see this doctrine in keeping with God's love for us all through the Bible.