Page 56 - Eschatology - Student Ebook

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).

2 Thessalonians 2:7–8 (NIV84)7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one
who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless
one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy
by the splendor of his coming.

The words “the one who now holds it back” and “he” refer to a person who is presently holding back
Satan’s evil. This can only be accomplished by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. That restraining
effect of the Holy Spirit which is active today will be removed before the tribulation period so that the
antichrist can be revealed at the beginning of the Tribulation.

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