The S
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 King James Version
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
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.
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;
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.
The "Day of Christ" in v.2 is referring to the event Paul goes on to define: the Day of the Lord.
But that is not the only reason not to view Paul to be saying that the Rapture won't take place until the Day of the Lord is at hand: it is quite impossible for the Rapture to take place at Christ's coming due to the fact that a thousand year period follows His Return, and there will be physical believers that populate the Millennial Kingdom.
Secondly, Paul is comforting them that they be not troubled by those who say the Day of the Lord is at hand—specifically because we are going to be gathered by Him when He returns for the Church. In other words, don't be worried that the Rapture has taken place and you have missed it because the Day of the Lord—the Tribulation—will be readily discernible because...
He doesn't say,
"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 coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him is at hand."
Two entirely different events.
So I would just ask you, do you believe Revelation 20?
Revelation 20:4-6 King James Version
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Do you believe there will be a thousand year period? Will "the rest of the dead" not live again (be resurrected) until the thousand years are finished?
God bless.
The passage in 2 Thessalonians clearly states the coming of the Lord and us being gathered together with Him is one event and doesn't occur until the rebellion or apostasy and the revealing of the lawless one comes first.
"Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
It clearly states that that day will not come until those two events come first. This is clear as day.
What does "that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed. .?"
Furthermore, if it was two separate events, then Paul would distinguish what event would take place before, after or during these event. However, both the coming of the Lord and us being gathered together is joined together in the conclusion of the rebellion and revealing happening first.
In addition, when I discuss the "rapture," this is what I mean:
The "rapture" event is not a removal of believers from the earth, but a meeting in the air to then escort Jesus down to reign for 1,000 years.
It would be wise to look up the original Greek for "meet" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. It is apantesin. It means "the meeting". There is so much to delve into on just this one passage, but let's take this one step at a time to help being about unity in Scripture
The word apantesin is mentioned 3 times in the New Testament. It is mentioned in Acts, 1 Thessalonians, and for the 10 virgins analogy. In all three cases the events that occur is going out to meet someone, to then turn around and escort them back to where they came from.
In the case of the virgins, they went out to meet the bridegroom, to then turn around and escort Him to the wedding banquet.
The same occurs in the "rapture" event. We are caught up together to meet Jesus in the air, to then escort Him down to reign as King for 1,000 years.
This was also the tradition during the times of Jesus. When a dignitary was close to arriving, an escort would go out to meet the dignitary to then escort them into town.
So, when I say "rapture" this is what I mean.
Yes, I absolutely believe in Revelations 20:4-5.
This perfectly explains the rapture event. It is the first resurrection, which refutes a previous resurrection in a pre-trib doctrine.
Revelations 20 explains that the believers who lived through the tribulation and died during the resurrection will meet Jesus in the air to then escort Him down to reign in His kingdom.
They will be protected within His city as those outside experience the wrath of God.
Then the 1,000 year reign occurs. Then Satan is released and he gathers the huge army. Then Jesus destroys this army and throws Satan into the lake of fire
Then the white throne judgement occurs, where the dead before the tribulation are judged. Those written in the Book of Life are saved, those whose names are not in the book are condemned.
Then the earth and heaven are destroyed. Then the new heaven and earth are created. Then the bride of Christ is presented...
So anyway, true believers do not leave the earth during the "rapture," instead they meet Jesus in the air to escort Him down to reign as King of Kings for 1,000 years.