1 Thessalonians 4.13-5.10 teaches a pre trib rapture

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<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>1Thessalonians 4:13-5:10 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will <!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline">God bring with him.</span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END--></strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->(prophecy indicates that the saints will return with Jesus (Jude 14, Col.3.4, Rev. 19.14, but first He will 'come' for them, the following verses describe this )<br>
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<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. 16For 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; 17then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>
(Notice the differences between this 'coming' at the rapture than the 'coming' of Jesus when He physically returns to earth. <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>1.)</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> Jesus comes as far as the air (vs 17), at His physical return to earth He will touch the earth (Zech 14.4) <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>2.)</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> The raptured elect rise up to meet the Lord directly. At Jesus' physical return the elect will be gathered by angels(not a rapture, but a gathering of the remnant that survived the Great Tribulation to Jerusalem by means of the 'highway of holiness') That Jesus 'comes' at the rapture <!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline"><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>for</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END--> the saints some time before He 'comes' <!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline"><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>with</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END--> the saints is a better interpretation of scripture than one where the saints go up and come down at one event)<br>
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<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>5.1But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.<br>
<!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline">2For yourselves know perfectly</span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END--> that the <!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline">day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the nigh</span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END-->t. 3When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and theyshall in no wise escape. 4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>
(Notice: 1.) rapture is associated directly with the 'day of the Lord' they are simulataneous. 2.) brethren 'know perfectly' the seasons and signs of the rapture and that day will not come upon them as a thief in the night 3.) but the non-brethren (they, them, they of vs 5.1-3) will be caught unaware 4.) this scenario cannot fit at the end of the 7 years at Jesus' physical return to earth for Matt 24.30 says every eye shall see , and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn His return 5.) The 'day of the Lord' here is best interpreted as being the 7 year Tribulation and Great Tribulation period and the 'coming of the Lord' is the rapture of the elect which begins it.)<br>
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<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>5for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness; 6so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober.<br>
7For they that sleep sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. 8But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.<br>
<!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline">9For God appointed us not into wrath</span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END-->, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>
(amen: we are not appointed to be a part of the wrath poured out on the sinful unbelieving world of the last 7 years!)<br>
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<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p203.ezboard.com/bherbsdiscussionboard.showUserPublicProfile?gid=brower>brower</A> at: 11/29/05 5:57 pm<br></i>