Copyright � 2000
PART ONE
For the benefit of those individuals that may not be familiar with this theory, I will first briefly explain about the doctrine of the �pre-trib rapture� that is taught by various churches in our day. Not all churches that believe the pre-trib teach this doctrine in precisely the same form. There are only some slight differences in the doctrine depending on whom you are listening to. Consequently, I will not give explanation of this doctrine in depth. As a number of you are aware there are numerous resources available on this subject if you desire to study this topic further on your own. We have Hal Lindsey's book "The Late Great Planet Earth". We also have had the recent fame of the fictional book series �Left Behind� that many Christians are reading.
The rapture teaching holds that our Lord Jesus Christ will at �any moment� in the �twinkling of an eye� �secretly snatch� �the Church� (the ones that they believe that are saved) out of this world just before the tribulation begins, and that others that are not Christian or saved will be �left behind� to suffer the fury and torment that the tribulation will bring about. Some teach that there are no more signs or anything else that has to transpire as far as prophecy prior to the rapture of the Church.
Further, that the Lord is coming as a �thief in the night� to rapture His Church out of the world. So in theory, the Church is raptured and vanished away to be with the Lord on cloud nine. While on earth there are airplanes crashing to the ground, cars, trains, buses and whatever else crashing all around the world because of the fact that Christians operating these vehicles have unexpectedly disappeared into thin air. So, again in theory, the net outcome of that could be thousands of people killed. Subsequently, the tribulation begins and the anti-christ will rule for a season, then Jesus returns yet another time at the end of the tribulation period. Some also teach that the graves of the dead will open up and their flesh carcasses will be reclaimed from the grave and glorified.
Well, that is enough on mans theories, lets set out to our Fathers Word and learn it for ourselves when we shall all gather back to our Lord Jesus Christ. Or will Christ gather back to us? Does Jesus really come as a thief? What really matters is what our Fathers Word has to say regarding this.
I would like to point out that the word �rapture� does not even appear in the Bible and that may be a shock to some because when you continually hear a 'buzz' word you believe it to be in scripture. Its not even a Greek word as some might say.
Lets ask our Father for words of wisdom from Him.
Father we ask that you will lead us from beginning to end the truth of your scriptures and provide us the accuracy, knowledge, and wisdom on this subject. Father give us eyes to see and ears to hear the truth.We ask in the name of Jesus our precious King. Amen
Lets quickly examine a few scriptures to cheer our studies.
2 Tim 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Tim 4:13
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Acts 17:11
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (KJV)
We should stay in His Word day after day so that we cannot be deceived and to show thyself approved. We need to have the �seal of God� in our foreheads (minds) in these last days. This is mentioned in the book of Revelation.
When I mention the last days in this study, I am not speaking of the end of the world; I am speaking of the last days of this earth era or flesh age. This world is without end. Eph 3:21 and Isa 45:17
Eph 3:21
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Before we get into the rapture part of this study lets look first at the issue about our flesh bodies. Will we need our flesh bodies after death? Will these graves need to open up and discharge our bodies? Lets find out. In Corinthians Paul explains in detail our two bodies, our flesh body and spiritual body. It is important to understand our two separate bodies. Spiritual man currently dwells within the flesh body, but the spiritual body is a body that also contains the soul. Your spirit is regarded as immortal, separable from the body at death. Your soul is your central or integral part of the vital core of your being.
1 Cor 15:33
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Stay away from traditions of men or doctrines of men. Reside in Gods doctrines or you may be misled. Understand that some do not have the knowledge of God. This is 'to your shame' because the knowledge of God is available. Are you going to receive it ?
35 But some man will say, how are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?
Here are our two subjects for the following discussion, the above two questions.
1 Cor 15:36-37
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
Quickened means made alive.
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
If you were to plant a seed, that seed must die in order for the new plant to grow. So your flesh must die for that spiritual body to rise. When we die as flesh humans our spiritual body goes instantly to the Father. Flesh returns to dust.
Lets turn to Eccl. 12
Eccl 12:6
6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
This silver cord is figurative of a cord that ties your two bodies together, this cord parts at your death. Please do not think for one minute we will need to reuse our flesh bodies that are laying in the grave and that have returned to dust. We are finished with them period. Never to be needed again. Our spiritual bodies will have similar appearances to our flesh bodies. But will not be flesh. Remember our flesh was made in the image of God and the angels (Gen. 1:26).
2 Cor 5:6-8
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
As believers we know that when our loved ones have passed on that they are not just lying in their grave. They go back to the Father, the one who originally gave it.
Lets go back to 1 COR.15
1 Cor 15:38-40
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
We have a celestial or heavenly body and a terrestrial or earthly body. Our soul occupies the terrestrial now, and occupies the celestial after death of the flesh.
Celestial in the Greek dictionary is: (Strong�s Concordance)
2032 epouranios (ep-oo-ran'-ee-os);
from 1909 and 3772; above the sky:
King James Version Translates to these words:
KJV] celestial, (in) heaven (-ly), high.
Terrestrial
1919 epigeios (ep-ig'-i-os);
from 1909 and 1093; worldly (physically or morally):
KJV earthly, in earth, terrestrial.
1 Cor 15:41-44
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
How are the dead resurrected? Corruption and incorruption, lets take these words back to the Greek meanings:
Corruption means:
5356 phthora (fthor-ah');
from 5351; decay, i.e. ruin (spontaneous or inflicted, literally or figuratively):
KJV corruption, destroy, perish.
From
5351 phtheiro (fthi'-ro);
probably strengthened from phthio (to pine or waste); properly, to shrivel or wither, i.e. to spoil (by any process) or (generally) to ruin (especially figuratively, by moral influences, to deprave):
KJV corrupt (self), defile, destroy.
Capable of perishing, a body that will not last.
Incorruption means:
861 aphthrsia (af-thar-see'-ah);
from 862; incorruptibility; genitive case unending existence; (figuratively) genuineness:
KJV immortality, incorruption, sincerity.
From
862 aphthartos (af'-thar-tos);
from 1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of 5351; undecaying (in essence or continuance):
KJV not (in-, un-) corruptible, immortal.
Incorruptible body, incapable of perishing, an everlasting body.
There is a natural body and a spiritual body.
1 Cor 15:45
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1st Adam= Adam 2nd Adam= Christ. Documentation 1COR. 15:47
Adam in the Greek
76 Adam (ad-am');
of Hebrew origin [121]; Adam, the first man; typ. (of Jesus) man (as his representative):
KJV Adam.
1 Cor 15:46
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
In the beginning it was spiritual, but Satan rebelled and deceived one third of God's children. This age we are in at this time is kind of a proving ground for God's children. It�s not all about what a goody-two-shoes you can be or how sweet you can be but are you going to believe and love God and stand against Satan�s deception, the false messiah and his children. Satan's motives are to overthrow and dethrone God. Are you going to allow Satan to deceive you? Learn God's Word for yourself and then you won�t be. Bring to an end listening to some of these one-verse preachers that do not teach, all they seem to want to do is read a verse or two and go on with their commentary which may not be about God's Word and maybe make a big name for themselves. Many are not teaching God's Word verse-by-verse. But this is not at all surprising since God told us in Amos Chapter 8: 11 that the famine of the last days will not be of bread or of water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.
1 Cor 15:47
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
This is speaking of Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 15:48
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1 Cor 15:49
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Everyone will be changed into that spiritual body. But it may not last if you permit Satan to deceive you now or at the end of the millennium.
We shall bear the image of the heavenly, even those that are dressed up for their judgment.
1 Cor 15:50
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Why? Flesh cannot walk in heaven. We must be changed into a spiritual body. The only other way is transfiguration. Enoch and Elijah were both transformed.
It does not matter to bury the deceased facing to the East in the cemeteries like we do today, its nice to do that, but its simply tradition. It also does not make any difference to be cremated when you die, it will only speed up the process of your body returning to the soil, or dust from which your flesh body came from. We are more than through with that weak, aged, worn-out flesh vessel. God has an awesome creation with these flesh bodies but clearly not to take to the heavenly age.
All right, I think we have answered the question if we will need our flesh body and what will happen to it when the flesh dies. We will now move on to the rapture study.
These verses up ahead are where the rapture preachers maintain that Jesus is coming at �any moment�. But as you will discover they are taking the verse completely out of context. What the word is saying is that in a moment, in the twinkle of an eye is how long it will take for all bodies to be changed at the 7th trump.
1 Cor 15:51
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
All right, so called any moment rapture doctrine? Lets examine these scriptures thoroughly. What? Where? When?
Verse 51 says: How many shall be changed, ALL shall be changed, all souls. There will soon come a time when all people will be changed into their spiritual bodies, saints and sinners alike will be changed. I mean everyone, then the 1000-year millennium. Then judgment will take place. Judgment day does not take place until after the millennium, documentation Revelation 20:12. I know that is a tough one for some of you to accept as true when we have so many preachers today judging others and essentially telling people if they were to die tonight they would be lost and go straight to hell. I do not believe that God will sentence anyone until they have been judged at the appointed time.
When Christ returns at the last trump how long will it take? A moment, in the twinkling of an eye. It will happen that fast! When? AT THE LAST TRUMP. Not before. When is the last trump? The last means the farthest one out, lets look up the Greek dictionary for the word Last.
Last in the Greek:
2078 eschatos (es'-khat-os);
a superlative probably from 2192 (in the sense of contiguity); farthest, final (of place or time):
KJV ends of, last, latter end, lowest, uttermost.
It is clearly the final trump which is the 7th trump of the book of Revelation 11:15
This is the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ just before the beginning of the millennium, Revelation Chapter 20.
Rev. 20:5-6 says, (which is right after the last or 7th trump) that this is the first resurrection. You know why? Because this is the first. There is no prior rapture!
I cannot find anything here in these verses whatsoever about a secret rapture snatching that could happen 'at any moment' going on here. Can you? Matter of fact there is a trumpet sounding, which is the 7th trump of Revelation. And I assure you that you will know when this trump sounds.
Furthermore, I would point out that there is not anything mentioned about anyone departing up through the clouds or vapors or anywhere for that matter. Do you know why? Because you will uncover later on in this study that Christ is coming here!! To set up His kingdom. The destination is here my friend!!
Now we are going on to 1Thess. 4.
These following scriptures are where the rapture preachers get their base foundation for their theory. We are going to draw on God�s truth and destroy their false theory.
This letter is THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. This is the earliest of the writings of Paul at about the end of A.D. 52.
1Thes 4:13
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.
Asleep=dead
Paul does not want us to be ignorant where the dead are. And not to grieve as the some do, that do not believe in Christ and have no hope.
Now what is our subject so far? Where are those that are dead? Not flying away in rapture.
1Thes 4:14
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
How is it that God will bring �them� with Him? They have already died and are already with Him.
Now, �God bring with Him� bringing where? Here to this earth! He is bringing them with Him when He returns here, not anyone departing.
1Thes 4:15
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.
What word of the Lord? It is what we went over in Eccl.12: 7 and 2 COR.5: 6-8 this word prevent means precede in the Greek text (see below). At the coming of our Lord we can in no way precede them which are already dead because they are already with Him. To be absent from the flesh is to be with the Lord.
Also we now have another subject started here. We, which are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord. Make note it said we that are alive are going to remain unto �the coming�. Not two comings, only one, �the coming�
So, we are not going anywhere, He is coming here!
Prevent is the Greek word:
5348 phthano (fthan'-o);
apparently a primary verb; to be beforehand, i.e. anticipate or precede; by extension, to have arrived at:
KJV (already) attain, come, prevent.
1Thes 4:16
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:
All right, first we have the Lord himself 'DESCENDING' from heaven coming here, (not us leaving anywhere). With a shout, what shout? With the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God, what trump? The last, the final, the 7th trump, (Matt.24.31 & 1Cor. 15.52) and I assure you again we shall hear it! Nothing is silent or secret here! First the Lord Himself shouts it as He is descending, announced by the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. This aligns perfectly with 1COR.15: 52 that we have already gone over, go back and read it again. God�s word always aligns! This is the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!
1Thes 4:17
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.
This word �then� means �next in time or order�. So all this in verse 17 happens right after everything just mentioned in verse 16, which is the 7th trump when Jesus comes here.
What does this mean �caught up�? We know in English what it means right? You better get out your Webster�s and check it out. But lets go to the original Greek word for caught up.
726 harpazo (har-pad'-zo);
from a derivative of 138; to sieze (in various applications):
KJV catch
It means to seize.
All right what about clouds and air what do they mean? Lets take air first then we will go to Heb. 12: 1 for clouds.
Air in the Greek dictionary:
109 aer (ah-ayr');
from aemi (to breathe unconsciously, i.e. respire; by analogy, to blow); "air" (as naturally circumambient):
KJV air. Compare 5594.
***. atha. See 3134.
Lets see 3134
3134 mara natha (mar'-an ath'-ah);
of Aramaic origin (meaning our Lord has come); maranatha, i.e. an exclamation of the approaching divine judgment:
KJV Maran-atha.
Our Lord has come at this point!
Air in the Greek clearly means breath, or to breathe unconsciously, not sky or atmosphere as you may have thought. And what it�s referring to is our �breath of life� body, which is our spiritual body that we will be changed in when Christ returns here.
Lets look at Gen:
Gen 2:7
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Breath in the Hebrew dictionary:
5397 neshamah (nesh-aw-maw');
from 5395; a puff, i.e. wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. KJV blast, (that) breath (-eth), inspiration, soul, spirit.
After God made and formed man He breathed his spirit into his nostrils and he became a living soul.
Soul in the Hebrew:
5315 nephesh (neh'-fesh);
from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):
From:
5314 naphash (naw-fash');
a primitive root; to breathe; passively, to be breathed upon, i.e. (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air):
KJV (be) refresh selves (-ed).
Lets go to Psalms 33.6
Ps 33:6
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
Just for fun look up soul and spirit in the Webster�s English dictionary.
Now about the word cloud in the Greek that is exactly what it means, cloud.
And the King James only translates it into cloud.
3507 nephele (nef-el'-ay);
from 3509; properly, cloudiness, i.e. (concretely) a cloud:
KJV cloud.
But lets see what it can also mean in the English.
Lets check out Noah Webster's 1828 English Dictionary. He based the definitions from the Bible.
CLOUD, n. [I have not found this word in any other language. The sense is obvious--a collection.]
1. A collection of visible vapor, or watery particles, suspended in the atmosphere, at some altitude. A like collection of vapors near the earth is usually called fog.
I do set my bow in the cloud. Gen. 9.
Behold, a white cloud. Rev. 14.
2. A state of obscurity or darkness.
3. A collection of smoke, or a dense collection of dust, rising or floating in the air; as a cloud of dust.
A cloud of incense. Ezek. 8.
4. The dark or varied colors, in veins or spots, on stones or other bodies, are called clouds.
5. A great multitude; a vast collection.
Seeing we are encompassed with so great a cloud of witnesses. Heb. 12.
Cloud can mean a collection of people or a multitute of people.
Paul was a Hebrew scholar and of course he spoke Greek but it was colloquial Greek or as some might say street Greek or (writing what is familiar rather than formal speech). He also used figures of speech or idioms.
Have you ever seen a cloud of locust or bees? Paul used this word meaning a big group of people. A �cloud of witnesses�. Here is Paul the same writer of Thess. Lets bring up Heb.
Heb 12:1
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
I do not believe that most bible students would say Paul was talking about a nice white fluffy cloud compassing them, would you? Well then again some say that 1Thess 4: 17 that the word cloud means a white fluffy cloud. Furthermore, I do not believe we are going to have very many clouds in the sky on The Day of the Lord. We will all see Him coming clear as sunshine. Lets check out Revelation 1.7.
Rev 1:7
7 Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Read how clouds are used in this verse, will Christ be bringing white fluffy clouds with Him here? He is speaking of what clouds here?
Note that is says, 'Every eye shall see Him' Again, all people shall see Him at His return.
Cloud is an idiom used in those days and even these days. What is an idiom?
�An accepted phrase or expression having a meaning different from the literal meaning�.
Foreigners coming to the USA have a tough time learning our figures of speech, or street slang that we use in this country.
Lets read this verse again:
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.
1 Thess 4:17 could have read something like this, according to the Greek meaning:
Then we which are alive and remain on earth, shall be changed (or seized) together with them in groups, to be with the Lord in our spiritual bodies: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
More Documentation:
Read Verse 17 in the Greek Interlinear Bible and you will not find the word �the� in the phrase (�with them in the clouds�) this article is not present it was added to the English King James Bible and was not present in the Manuscripts. Without this article �the� it makes quite a difference. Because the word the in this sense �refers to a particular person or thing�. Without the article it would read �with them in clouds�. Then you would have to assume that you would then become part of the clouds, which would be absolutely correct in this verse. The term cloud is used in many places in the Bible to denote a group of people or things. You can check that out further on your own.
Always check it out for yourself and you will learn for yourself, and then it will be in your mind and you will then know when someone is not teaching our Fathers truth accurately. So always check it out for yourself. Remember your relationship with your Father is directly between you and Him. There are no middle-peolple.
In reviewing:
1) Christ is coming here. That He shall descend from heaven, we are not leaving.
2) That it is not secret or unannounced.
3) That it is not at any moment, it is at the 7th trump, the final trump. Looking back at 1COR 15.51 What it states is that all flesh bodies will all be changed in a moment in a twinkling of an eye, that is how long it will take, not that Jesus is coming 'at any moment'.
4) If you look at the main subject of these verses in 1Thess., it was not to be ignorant about where the dead are and Paul just briefly in passing mentions the Second Coming of Christ. Paul still has a lot of Bible writing ahead of him as he receives revelation from God. He is just getting started. Paul tells us in detail how that the Second Coming will happen in his 2nd letter to the Thess. in which we will be to going shortly in this study.
But first we need to continue on to Chapter 5. In 1 Thess.
We probably have all heard the rapture preachers teach that Jesus is coming as a 'thief in the night' to rapture his Church out of the world just before the tribulation. And that it could happen at 'any moment' (so you had better be ready, using those fear tactics). Well do you believe this to be true? I have heard this taught since I was a young child while in church and had always believed this to be true, (especially after viewing all those rapture films that they sometimes showed at church) until I stopped listening to man and their organizational doctrines and traditions, and started studying and digging deeper into God's Word for myself. God tells us to be seekers of the truth, there is only one. Do you have it in your mind?
Lets read these next verses then come back through them.
1Thes 5:1-8
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
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.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
I hope you did not read over the important statement in verse 4.
Lets take another look.
1Thes 5:1
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
We know perfectly that He comes as a thief only to those in darkness that are not watching. He will not surprise His elect that are in the light. We will document this.
'The day of the Lord' is only one day, 'the day'. This is not plural like the rapture folks would teach of two separate comings. These phrases are all through the bible and I suggest you study this in detail.
You know what is commonly taught, that He is coming as a thief. Most will stop right there. But lets watch close and read on.
1Thes 5:3
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.
The 'they' and 'them' in this verse are those who are in darkness. Not the children of the light.
Remember Jesus said when 'ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.' Matt. 24.6. We are currently hearing rumors of wars now, how could Jesus come at 'any moment' its false, who do you think is the culprit behind this lie? It is when you hear 'peace and safety' and this is because the false messiah has came and deceived the world into worshiping him as Jesus and they believe it and everything is just wonderful don�t you see. 'All is well' 'we now have peace' and 'all is safe' will be on the lips of men, then sudden destruction.
The false christ comes in peacefully and scatters riches. Daniel 11: 24
They are no longer virgins, they have flew right into bed with the false messiah (Jezebel) thinking he is Jesus the Messiah. They have fornicated themselves and their minds have became impregnated with his cock-and-bull story and trickery. (In a spiritual sense). Christ is coming back for His virgin bride the Church. But some will not be virgins when He returns. At this point they cannot escape because Christ has returned. They will then wish mountains to fall on them knowing now what they have fallen for.
1Thes 5:4
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
But you brethren are not in darkness, that, that day should overtake you as a thief.
WOW! Did you catch that!
It states it clear. We are children of the light and of the day.
If you seek and study God's Word for yourself and pray that Jesus will bestow you �eyes to see and ears to hear� as Jesus quotes many times. I believe God will bless you with the truth and you will no longer be in darkness anymore.
In a sense the rapurist are not false when they say to their followers the Lord cometh as a thief because they are clearly misled and are in darkness and He will be coming upon them as a thief, and you as well if you do not get up and stop believing false teachings. Some will take these verses and put a spin on them, or read one or two verses of God's Word and then go into mans word for thirty minutes or more that suffocates and voids Gods words. It reminds me when Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days and Satan was quoting scripture to Jesus, but with a spin on them. That is why we must try to be well studied in the word, seekers of truth to know when Satan or some false teacher tries to hand you a bag of tricks. Satan is coming here to play Jesus and will tempt you with his words of deception. Will you be ready? You will have some say that you don�t need to know the book of Revelation we're going to be gone, flown out of here. Yeah right, nice dream! Wake up!
Jesus speaking to the church of Sardis in Revelation:
Rev 3:2-3
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
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.
Gods elect will be on guard and watching and will not be surprised.
But if you do not receive and hear, hold fast and repent and shall not watch, then will Jesus come upon thee as a thief. You will have been in darkness and not part of the people in 1 Thess. 5: 4. Also while we are here are you familiar with these seven churches in Revelation that Jesus spoke to? He only approved of two of them. Another study for another time.
1Thes 5:5-8
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
These are blinded of the truth; they are asleep and drunken with falsehoods.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
We are of the light and Jesus will be our salvation at this time. Just as the children in that fiery furnace trusted God to protect them in that massive fiery heat. We love our Father totally and completely and trust in Him 100%.
1Thes 5:9
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
This is telling us we have nothing to fear.
God is not mad at His children that love Him. But perhaps those who don�t love Him and would sleep, and not seek Him, which will be deceived by the anti-christ.
Now we move on to Paul�s 2nd letter to the Thess.
This is a Quote of the INTRODUCTORY NOTES from the Companion Bible.
�The Second Epistle to the church of the Thessalonians was, like the First, written from Corinth, and at no long interval after the earlier letter (First Thess.). Both Silas and Timothy being still with the Apostle. Apparently it was called forth, and sent, in order to repair for its recipients, and for us too, the mischief caused by the false teachers. And the new revelation made here by the Holy Spirit through Paul concerning �things to come� as promised in John 16.13, gives important details connected with the coming of our Lord and �the day of the Lord�. Paul reminded the Thessalonians (2.5) that he had told them these things, yet some part at least had taken up the belief that that day had already �set in� (2.2 and note). Hence the apostle�s warning that that day would not come unless the falling away came first, a warning much needed in these days when it was widely taught that the day of the lord will not come until the world is converted to Christ!�
Wow! Sounds like the same problem these days only much worse.
Many misunderstood Paul�s first letter and he is going to repair it now with his second letter. Paul is going to lay it out for us real good about how its all is going to happen just before Christ�s return in his second letter. There were false teachers back then, as there are today, so read careful because he is going to straighten it all out perfectly right here, in a careful statement in plain terms.
II Th 2:1-8
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
Paul sets our subject here as to Christ�s return and gathering unto Him.
He is beseeching you; he wants you to listen earnestly.
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.
Its clear to me that Paul wants us to listen closely. And not let anything whatsoever get in our way of understanding this, no influence from spirits, mans words, even the first letter from him that he wrote meaning 1 Thess. Don�t take his first letter and apply a bunch of false teaching to it.
There are certain prophecies that must first be fulfilled prior to Christ�s return.
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;
LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU, THAT DAY WILL NOT COME EXCEPT FIRST THE FALLING AWAY, WHICH IS APOSTASY, (NOT �ANY MOMENT DOCTRINE�) AND SECOND THE SON OF PERDITION BE REVEALED which is Satan himself. The Apostasy is when Christians fall away to believe that Satan is Jesus our Messiah, this is a defection from the truth and from God. And then he will be revealed at Christ return, you see, that is why people would want mountains to fall on them, when they realize that they have worshiped the false christ. They listened to false teachers and their lamps run out of oil way to early in the night. (Matt.25 parable of the 10 virgins)
Satan is the only one that has been sentenced to death, as of yet, he is the son of perdition.
Check out the Greek meaning:
Falling away, in the Greek is apostasia:
646 apostasia (ap-os-tas-ee'-ah);
feminine of the same as 647; defection from truth (properly, the state) ["apostasy"]:
KJV falling away, forsake.
647 apostasion (ap-os-tas'-ee-on);
neuter of a (presumed) adj. from a derivative of 868; properly, something separative, i.e. (specially) divorce:
KJV (writing of) divorcement.
Christians have defected by deception to the counterfeit one Apollyon, and have separated or divorced themselves from the His Majesty, Jesus Messiah.
Lets check out John 17.12
John 17:12
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Son of perdition is currently the only one lost. You can read Ezekiel 28, this chapter tells of who Satan is and was (and it is very interesting), and that God has sentenced him to death. Perdition means to perish, no chance of salvation for Satan.
Apolia in the Greek:
684 apoleia (ap-o'-li-a);
from a presumed derivative of 622; ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal):
KJV damnable (-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste.
622 apollumi (ap-ol'-loo-mee);
from 575 and the base of 3639; to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively:
KJV destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.
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.
Satan will announce he is God and sit on Mt. Zion in the temple; he will perform miracles and lying wonders. Many will freely worship and adore him believing he is Christ, not by force, remember he is on stage as Jesus, and he will not be a flesh tissue man. Satan will be in his personal mystical supernatural body that will effect inhabitants to accept this falsehood. A good number of people currently believe that Satan will show up in a flesh mans body.
He is making it very clear that we must see these things before we will see the come back of Jesus.
2 Cor 11:14-15
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Satan HIMSELF IS DISGUISED AS THE ANGEL OF LIGHT. Lets look at the Greek word for transformed:
3345 metaschematizo (met-askh-ay-mat-id'-zo);
from 3326 and a derivative of 4976; to transfigure or disguise; figuratively, to apply (by accommodation):
Satan�s angels are coming with him, proclaiming Satan is Jesus and acting like they are ministers of righteousness.
Read Revelation Chapter 12, it tells of Satan and his angels getting cast down to earth.
Let�s read it.
Rev 12:7-10
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
There are many names that refer to Satan Revelation 9.11 tells us he is the angel of the bottomless pit, Abaddon and Apollyon. And he is the king over the locust army.
END OF PART ONE TO BE CONTINUED
Thanks for stopping by and reading my article, I hope you enjoyed it. I will be posting part two in the near future so stop by again.
God Bless, Patrick
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