Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. [2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 NASB]
Let me start by saying that I don't believe the scriptures support a pre-tribulation rapture. In order to believe that, this and other scriptures have to be reinterpreted to mean something other than what they are clearly saying. You should never interpret scripture base on your preconceived theology. Rather, you should let the scripture define your theology.
The "coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him" is one event - not two. The "and" doesn't separate the events, but unites them. Consider the grandpa who, when he come to visit, always brings presents to the grandkids. The children may speak of the coming of Grandpa and the giving of presents. It's all one event.
This is consistent with Jesus' prophecy;
“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. [Matthew 24:30-31 NASB]
Jesus will appear, and we will be gathered together to Him. One event.
When will this happen? Of course, nobody knows the day and time, but Christians who know the scriptures will not be caught off guard. Paul said;
For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. [1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 NASB]
We know from today's passage that the day will not come "unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed." The "man of lawlessness" is the Antichrist who will set himself in the temple of God, demanding to be worshiped as God. This coincides with Jesus' statement;
“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. [Matthew 24:15-16 NASB]
In Daniels prophecy of seventy weeks, the seventieth week has not yet been fulfilled. Daniel prophesied of the Antichrist, saying;
“And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” [Daniel 9:27 NASB]
We see that the abomination of desolation will occur in the middle of the seventieth week of years - that is 3 1/2 weeks into the final seven years of this prophesy.
Jesus puts the order of event like this;
“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)...[Matthew 24:15 NASB]
“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. [Matthew 24:21 NASB]
“But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. [Matthew 24:29-31 NASB]
To summarize, the Antichrist will make a treaty with Israel and her enemies. Three and a half years later, he will proclaim himself to be God, and usher in the Great Tribulation (which begins midway through the seven years, not at the beginning). The length of the tribulation is unspecified, but it will be short. Jesus said;
“Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. [Matthew 24:22 NASB]
After the time of tribulation, Jesus will appear and gather his saints together to Himself (the Rapture). God's wrath will come on the earth after the church is taken out of the way.
Jesus, I thank You that You are coming back for Your church. Thank You that we will be spared from God's wrath. I pray that You will give me strength to endure the trials of this life, whether it be persecution or hardship. Please strengthen my spirit so that I will remain faithful to You.
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