><>... Good Morning James, I'm glad that you are willing to be....><>
Open-minded, and since you decided that it was open for discussion, consider this.
Paul did not teach the "rapture theory".
The rapture theory is taught by some ministers of the gospel.
They teach that it is a means of escape from the coming wrath of our God.
They believe that it is the only way we christians can be protected from the wrath of God. They say in effect, that only we christians are good enogh to be zapped out of here, and all others will be left behind to be tortured, maimed, and murdered by the wicked leader of the one world goverment, known as the antichrist. They say that all this torturing and murdering of those left behind will be going on, while we christians are enjoying the wedding banquet with our Lord Jesus.
And then some time later about 7 yrs, that Jesus and all of His saints will return again for the 3rd time, to finish the battle
Instead Paul teaches....That the Lord will return, and when He does all those saints which are already with Him will return with Him.And that Our Lord will return at the 7th trump, and all will be changed into our spirit body. And that two very important events must happen first.
1Thes 4:13-18
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.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
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.
Prevent #5348 Grk. (Strongs Concordance), a prime verb; to be beforehand, i.e. anticipate or precede.
We who are alive shall not precede them who are already with our Lord.
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:
They shall rise first because they are already with Him.
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.
Air #109 Grk. (strongs concordance), = to breathe unconsciously,i.e.,by analogy to blow air....Not Atmosphere.
Compare to:
Air #3772 (through the idea of elevation), the sky, by extension the heavens, the abode of God, air, heavenly sky.
Air #109 is the air that Paul was using, it is translated the spirit, not atmosphere as is meant when one speaks of the rapture.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Paul started out by saying don't be ignorant as to where the dead are, don't worry, they are with Jesus and will return with Him, so comfort yourselves.
Our Lord cannot return at any moment.
Look at the subject, it is, Where are the Dead?
According to scripture our Lord returns at the 7th trump, not a moment before, if we are to believe scripture.
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:.....
What trump?
Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 15:51-52
1 Cor 15:51-52
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.
The last trump is the 7th.
Paul also teaches us in 2 Thess.2:3, where the subject matter is the return of our Lord,that 2 (two) things must happen first
before His return.
II Th 2:3
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;
1.Many beleieve that the first,(the aposttasy) has already happened, and is still happening.
2.The second has not yet happened.
Perdition #684 Grk. Apoleia- ruin or loss, perish, waste, from a dir.#622= Apollumi- to destroy fully, perish, the base of----
#3639= Olethros- to destroy, ruin, i.e., death, punishment, destruction...cross those names with Rev.9:11.
There is only one entity that fits the above description given to us by Paul. There is only one who has already been judged to death and ruin. There is only one who has already been condemned to perish.Ez.28 the condemnation of satan.....
Continuing in 2 Thess.2:4
II Th 2:4
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.
(KJV)
This is the abomination of desolation spoken of by daniel the prophet.
Paul teaches us in the above scripture who this son of perdition is and how he will be revealed.
Our Lord Jesus also warns us:
Matt 24:15
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
All of Matthew 24 and Mark 13 concerns end times, Jesus Himself warns us, what we shoul look for as signs before His return
1...Yes we will meet the Lord in the air...spirit!
1 Thess. 4:17
2...But it will be all people, not just us christians.
1 Cor 15:51
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
3...And it shall happen when scripture teaches, at the 7th trump.
1 Cor. 15:52.
The antichrist is not some ugly monsterous man just waiting to take over the world by using strongman tactics. He is not a charismatic leader waiting to move in for the kill....The antichrist is satan disguised as Jesus who will come in his own beautiful body.(Rev.12:9). he is the most beautiful of God's creation, (Ez.28:12. he will come in peace (Dan.8:25), he will claim to be God.(2Thess.2:4). The whole world will believe that he is God, (Rev. 12:9)All except those who do not run out of (oil) God's truth, (Matt.25:1)And have the seal of God in their forehead, (Rev.7:3)they are the ones who are not in darkness, (1 Thess.5:4).
satan has always wanted to be God, it was that wicked desire which caused his destruction and condemnation in the beginning. Now his last ditch effort becomes magnified and accelerated(Rev.12:12).
Also consider
2 Cor 11:13-14
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Transformed #3345 Grk= Disguised.
No marvel.!
There is a lot more to be said on the return of our Lord but for purpose of this post I will just say that God is perfect and His plan is perfect, He does not need to Zap us out of here to protect us, His wrath is not against us.
I have an open mind and this subject is open for discussion.
Have a blessed day Shalom....><>
BTW...
An emotionally disturbed young girl by the name of Margaret McDonald from scotland in the year 1830, while in an almost trance-like state and while speaking in "tongues"at least momentarily,then back to english, sputtered out what we now call the "rapture theory". |
