Page 71 - Eschatology - Masters revised

Titus 2:13 (NIV84)13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God
and Savior, Jesus Christ,

James 5:7 (NIV84)7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits
for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

Paul and other apostles, other than Peter, were convinced the Rapture could happen in their lifetime.
They challenged Christians to eagerly wait for it. There can be no eager waiting for an imminent rapture
if the Rapture is to occur after all the events of the tribulation period.

As we have already learned, Matthew 24: 36-44 does not describe the Rapture happening in the middle
of the tribulation period. This passage is describing the Second Coming of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
could be interpreted as linking the Rapture to the judgement to occur at the Second Coming of Jesus
Christ. But “the day of the Lord” in this passage refers to the second coming, not the Rapture.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–3 (NIV84)1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to
you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While
people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on
a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

7. If the church is to go through the Tribulation, that is not a comforting hope. Yet we are to comfort
one another with the words about the Rapture (I Thess. 4:18). Paul said the Rapture (I Thess. 4:13-18)
would be followed by the day of the Lord (I Thess. 5:1-6).

1 Thessalonians 4:18 (NIV84)18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–6 (NIV84)1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to
you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While
people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on
a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this
day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not
belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let
us be alert and self-controlled.

8. Nowhere in all the scriptural instructions to believers are they warned to prepare for the Tribulation.
If the church would have to go through the Tribulation period, we would expect to read clear warnings
and instructions to the church about enduring that terrible time.

9. The Millennium will need to be populated by people with normal (unglorified) bodies so that they can
reproduce. These people will be living believers of Jesus Christ from Tribulation period. If the Rapture
occurs sixty days before the Second Coming of Christ, as the Pre-wrath Rapture view teaches, or at the
same time as the Second Coming of Christ, as the Post-tribulation Rapture view teaches, there would
not be enough living believers to enter the Millennium in order to populate the earth. The Mid-
tribulation Rapture view would provide some living believers. But the Pre-tribulation Rapture view
provides the most living believers to populate the Millennium.

10. The indwelling, restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit will be removed from the earth before the
Tribulation (2 Thess. 2:7-8).

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