rapture - false
as we all know, people who believe in a "rapture" use 1 thessalonians 4 as the foundation for that teaching.
we know we are to rightly divide the word of truth, so as not to be ashamed.
in 1 Thessalonians, paul is answering a question: WHERE ARE OUR DEPARTED LOVED ONES?
in answer to the question, THE COMING OF JESUS WITH HIS SAINTS (the departed loved ones asked about) BECOMES THE SUBJECT OF THE 1ST LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS.
listen to paul:
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.
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:
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.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
so, the SUBJECT of the 1st letter to the thessalonians is THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST. THE SECOND ADVENT.
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now, to understand that a pre-trib/secret/any-kind-of rapture is FALSE, simply read the SECOND LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS written by paul, to address that very ISSUE!
the thessalonians got upset and believed the SECOND COMING WAS IMMINENT....that it could happen AT ANY MOMENT, that a rapture could take place with they themselves not ready.
again, rightly divide the word of truth and let CHRIST (through paul) dispel that false teaching. paul is very concerned that they so quickly forgot what he had told them about The Lord's Return. he was especially concerned about them listening to "spirits", "words" of men, or even being confused by the first "letter as from us" (or a possible counterfeit)
because of their error, paul's second letter STILL ADDRESSES THE SECOND COMING, but clarifies WHAT MUST TAKE PLACE FIRST
remember, the SUBJECT of this letter is no longer where are the dead, but it is about the Second Coming IN MUCH MORE DETAIL regarding what must happen BEFORE CHRIST RETURNS
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
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.
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;
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.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
so, the man of sin, the son of perdition has to stand in jerusalem claiming to be God, performing miracles in the sight of men, and all the world will worship him (except those whose names are in the Lamb's Book of Life).
look again at what paul says happens at that time, by the Hand of God, to those who refused knowledge of Christ - God sends strong delusion so that they WILL believe the lie: this happens to them for one reason: because they received NOT the love of the truth.
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
as for all the other places rapturists use to twist scripture, they are easily dispelled by careful study.
John (Revelation) is taken in the spirit TO THE LORD'S DAY (2ND ADVENT) and shown what takes place just before, during and after.
it is JOHN who is called "come up hither"
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Rev 3:9 Jesus promises to keep the faithful from the hour of temptation.
He means to keep them from being tempted to worship antichrist, He does NOT mean He will remove them from the earth.
and so on......
HeismyRock
