1st Thessalonians 4:13-18, “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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Our text passage vividly describes the Pretribulation Rapture. Perhaps the greatest promise from God in the Bible, next to His promise “TO SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE” (1st Corinthians 1:21b), is the promise of Christ's return.
Pastor Jack Hyles used to explain it this way:
- Jesus came 2,000 years ago TO His own (John 1:11).
- At the Pretribulation Rapture Jesus is coming FOR His own (1st Corinthians 15:51-58).
- At Christ's Second Coming 7-years later, He is coming WITH His own (Jude 1:4).
I humbly think the following Bible prophecy chart is accurate. ...
I am firmly convinced that if one takes the inspired King James Bible at face value, we can only conclude a Pretribulation Rapture.
Reading Into The Scripture What It Doesn't Say
First, let me say that I don't like the way that some preachers wrestle the Bible to fit their agenda. A perfect example of this is found in Revelation 4:1, “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” I have heard numerous Baptist pastors, college Bible professors and evangelists claim that the phrase “Come up hither” refers to the Pretribulation Rapture. I have a big problem with that shoddy type of Bible interpretation, simply because the Word of God doesn't say that this is the Rapture. The invitation to come up hither in this passage is for the Apostle John alone. Dear reader, never assume (ass-u-me) what the Bible means. If we do, then we are no better than the pseudo-Christian cults (e.g., Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, et cetera).
Another popular example is found in 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-5, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 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. 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; 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. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” Like many other Scripture passages, this is one of the most controversial passages in the Bible. In 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-7, there is no exegetical or theological matter that makes a Pretribulation Rapture impossible, or even improbable.
I have heard numerous believers attempt to use this passage from 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 to errantly claim that the Rapture will happen AFTER the Antichrist appears, but this would contradict numerous other Scripture passages, which clearly indicate that the Rapture must occur BEFORE the Tribulation begins. Jesus made it clear that NO ONE knows the time of His return. Certainly, this must include the Rapture, lest we know when He would return. Thus, only a Pretribulation Rapture maintains this element of secrecy.
To be honest in Bible study, nobody can claim to be dogmatic on the intended meaning of 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-2, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 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.” I read Pastor Oliver B. Greene's (1915-1976) commentary for this passage and I agree with him. Dr. Greene thinks that the phrase “by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” refers to Jesus' Second Coming AFTER the 7-year Tribulation, while the next phrase “and by our gathering together unto him,” refers to the Rapture BEFORE the 7-year Tribulation period. Although we cannot verify that this is the intended meaning, Dr. Greene's interpretation agrees with the whole of Scripture.
There's Nothing 'Comforting' For Saints About The Tribulation
For example: The Apostle Paul plainly was teaching about the coming Rapture in 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18, “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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Now, Paul said in 1st Thessalonians 4:18 to “comfort one another with these words.” But what comfort would there be if saints living today knew that they would be going into the dire Tribulation period, when the sun and moon shall be darkened and billions of people upon the earth will be killed. In the book of Revelation 9:1-11, we read of terrifying creatures that will torment humanity with stings that will cause them excruciating physical pain for 5 months. The Bible says in Revelation 9:10 that these scorpion-like creatures will have the power to hurt men for 5 months. That is frightening, not comforting. What comfort would there be for the saints of Thessalonica, if Paul's intended meaning was for the Church to suffer through the horrors of the Tribulation?
In Revelation 16:3 says that an angel will afflict the sea and every living soul will die. Dear reader, remember that Bible prophecy is history written in advance. I agree with Pastor Max D. Younce that God created TIME, so that He could share with His friends (we the saints) what He is planning to do next on His prophetic calendar. Revelation 16:4-7 foretells that the third angel will pour out his vial of judgment upon the rivers and fountains, turning it all to blood. Is there any comfort in these words?
Revelation 16:8-9 foretell that the fifth angel will pout out his vial upon the sun, which will scorch men alive with an intolerable burning heat. Humanity will blaspheme God, still refusing to glorify the Lord as all men ought to do. Revelation 16:10-11 says that the sixth angel will pour out his vial of judgment upon the Beast and his followers who all have the Mark of the Beast (in their right hand or forehead). They will be afflicted with sores and pain so excruciating, that the Bible says in Revelation 16:10b-11a that “his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”
Please understand that this is not referring to salvation by good deeds. When the Ninevites turned from their evil way, the Bible says that GOD SAW THEIR WORKS (Jonah 3:10). The Ninevites (the capital city of Assyria) didn't get saved, they just repented of their sinning. That is, they changed their mind about their wicked lifestyles and decided to reform, for which God spared their nation imminent judgment and annihilation at the time. We know that they didn't get saved, because from Genesis 15:6 to Revelation 7:14 we are taught in the Bible that salvation is by God's grace, through faith alone, without works (cf. Acts 10:43).
Revelation 16:20 says, “And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” Wow, say goodbye to the island of Guam during the Great Tribulation! In Revelation 16:21 we are told that during the Great Tribulation that 75 pound (one talent in weight) hailstones will fall upon the earth. To clarify, the last 3 1/2 years of the 7-year Tribulation period (i.e., the 70th week of Daniel's 70 weeks of Bible prophecy) is known biblically as the, “Great Tribulation.” Matthew 24:21, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
How do we know that the Tribulation will last for 7-years? ...
Daniel 9:27, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
So, during Daniel's 70th week of prophecy, in the “midst” (middle) of the week, the Man of Sin (Antichrist, or “in place of Christ”) commits the Abomination of Desolation (cf. Matthew 24:15), stopping the Jews from worshipping their Jewish God and demanding that instead they worship him (Antichrist) as God (cf. 2nd Thessalonians 2:4).
And also, please read:
Daniel 12:11-12, “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.”
In the preceding passage we see that there will be 1,290 days (3 1/2 years) from the Abomination of Desolation in the “midst” of Daniel's 70th week of prophecy (i.e., the Tribulation). Since there is 3 1/2 years after the “midst,” then logically there must also be 3 1/2 before, which equals 7-years. This is where we get a 7-year Tribulation timeframe. Pastor Steven Anderson says that he rejects the word “Tribulation” to describe this time period, because he says it is not in the Bible. Well, he chooses to often use the word “Rapture,” which is also not found in the Holy Bible. And for that matter, neither are the words “Trinity” or “Bible” found in the Bible, but he uses them too. After the Church has been removed at the Rapture from the world, things will start to turn ugly quickly.
Dear reader, are any of these words “comforting”? Does not 1st Thessalonians 4:18 command us as redeemed saints to “comfort one another with these words”? Yes, most definitely, the Scripture does! But what comfort is there if saints alive today must suffer through the Tribulation period? Kindly said, Pastor Steven Anderson is arguably the biggest denier today of a Pretribulation Rapture. Brother Anderson is also the biggest promoter today of postribulation Rapture, which is effectively a total denial of the Rapture altogether, since he teaches that Christ's Second Coming is the Rapture.
No One Knows The Time Of Jesus' Return
My biggest argument in support of a Pretribulation Rapture is the fact that Jesus repeatedly said that no man, nor even the angels in Heaven, know the timing of His return. ...
Mark 13:32-37, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”
Now, if the Rapture were to happen at any later time than the very beginning of the 7-year Tribulation period, then WE WOULD KNOW exactly when Jesus is coming back.
Whereas, Pastor Anderson claims that the Rapture will happen 75 DAYS after the Antichrist breaks the covenant with Israel, and professes to be the Messiah, God, demanding worship from the world, on penalty of death. The Bible calls this prophetic event the 'Abomination of Desolation' (or, the Abomination that Maketh Desolate - Matthew 25:15; Daniel 12:11). Daniel 12:11, “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” So, again, we learn here from Daniel 12:11 that from the event of the Abomination of Desolation until the end of the Great Tribulation (the last half of Daniel's 70th week of prophecy) will be 1,290 days (or, 3 1/2 years).
Daniel 9:27, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [7 years]: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
To recap my earlier point (because repetition is the key to learning), by doing some simple math we can logically conclude that if from the “midst” (middle) of Daniel's 70th week will be 1,290 days, then we can also know that there will be 1,290 days before the middle of the 70th week. This adds up to 2,580 days, or a 7-year Tribulation period. The preceding logic is how we can know that the Tribulation period will last for 7-years.
The preceding logic is also why we can safely deduce from these known facts, that the Rapture must happen BEFORE the Tribulation period, because any later time for the Rapture would allow us to track Christ's return to the very day!!! It disappoints me that Pastor Anderson actually SETS A DATE for Jesus' return, which is a big violation of the Scripture.
In the following chart from chapter 2 of Pastor Anderson's YouTube movie titled: 'THE BOOK OF REVELATION,' you can see in comment number 15 that he errantly teaches the Rapture will happen 75 DAYS after the Abomination of Desolation. This is DATE SETTING, a big no no for any preacher to do. Mark 13:32-37 plainly warns that NO MAN knows the time of Christ's return, not even the angels in Heaven.
The inspired King James Bible, if you rightly divide the Word of Truth, teaches a Pretribulation Rapture. That is, the timing of the event of the Rapture will happen BEFORE the 7-year Tribulation period (which is the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy).
The Bible plainly teaches God's promise of the coming unpredictable Rapture:
1st Corinthians 15:51-58, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
I cherish verse 58, which promises that all my hard and sacrificial ministry labor won't be in vain. Instead of boating, traveling, snowmobiling, surfing, partying, playing in a band, fishing and living large; I have spent the past 21 years buckling down in intense labor to build my website ministry for Jesus Christ, and by His grace I have done just that. I admit that I have lived a pretty boring existence, a total homebody, lonely without a wife all these many years, but God is my best friend and ministry co-laborer. 1st Corinthians 3:9, “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.” I now that it will be worth it all when I see Jesus. But for now I must suffer in bodily pain, loneliness and frustration, until my heavenly Father calls me home from my work. Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
We Are Commanded To Look For Jesus Christ, Not The Antichrist
Also, we're not supposed to be watching for signs of Christ's return; but rather, LOOKING FOR CHRIST HIMSELF!!! Respectfully, Pastor Steven Anderson is doctrinally wrong to teach that, “The Rapture simply cannot happen at any moment.” According to Pastor Anderson THERE WILL BE SIGNS before Christ's return; namely, the appearing of the Man of Sin. This is how we know that 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 cannot mean that the Antichrist must appear before the Rapture cannot happen, because this would be a dead giveaway of Christ's imminent return.
Understanding 2nd Thessalonians Chapter Two
I admit that trying to grasp the meaning of 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-7 is difficult as regards the timing of the Rapture. If taken by itself, one would naturally conclude that the Man of Sin must appear before the Rapture can happen. However, as I have shown you on a few different levels, such a claim would violate multiple other passages of Scripture. In this blog we've been addressing Paul's command in 1st Thessalonians 4:18b to “comfort one another with these words.” You absolutely cannot comfort a fellow shaken believer, who is worried that they may have missed the Rapture, by scaring them half to death with horrifying details of the Tribulation period.
Thus, in my humble opinion, the Apostle Paul was simply telling the saints at Thessalonica that they Christ's Second Coming cannot come until first the Man of Sin appears, and none of this can happen until first the Rapture happens. It is evident from 2nd Thessalonians 2:5 that Paul had orally taught them about the Rapture, Tribulation and Second Coming; but they either weren't paying close enough attention, were confused or had forgotten. 2nd Thessalonians 2:5, “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” Had they fully understood what Paul had told them, there wouldn't have been a need for Paul to further address these important issues in a second epistle. By the way, these are some of Paul's earliest epistles.
Pastor Curtis Hutson Taught A Pretribulation Rapture
One of my favorite preachers, Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934-1995), believed and taught a Pretribulation Rapture. Dr. Hutson rightly said: “A good rule to follow when interpreting the Bible is to never use an obscure passage to contradict a clear one.”
Although 2nd Thessalonians might seem clear to some, any honest Bible student would have to readily admit that this is a very vague passage. Since we don't know what Paul orally said to the Thessalonian believers previously, we simply cannot know exactly what Paul means in 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-7 as regards the timing of the Rapture. 2nd Thessalonians 2:5, “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” We simply do not know what “these things” were. But I totally reject the plethora of bad theologians who assume (ass-u-me) that “a falling away” is definitely the Rapture. We simply cannot say with any certainty that this is the Rapture. I won't add to the Word of God where the Bible is silent, and neither should you (Proverbs 30:5-6).
Obviously Brother Anderson and the Bible are in conflict. I believe that Dr. Curtis Hutson did an excellent job explaining the matter, and I agree with him concerning the Rapture, because he agrees with the Holy Bible. You must decide for yourself my fine non-feathered friend. You have just read the Scripture for yourself, which plainly teaches for us to LOOK FOR JESUS, not signs. Brother Anderson is telling us to look for signs, saying that Jesus' return must be preceded by signs. Respectfully said, Pastor Steven Anderson is WRONG...“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.” —𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗟. 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 (01:27:05 video)
The inspired King James Bible teaches that Jesus COULD come back TODAY!!! Jesus could return this very moment. ...
𝗧𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘀 𝟮:𝟭𝟯-𝟭𝟰, “𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁; 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗺 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝘇𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀.”
Why would the Bible tell us to LOOK FOR JESUS if the Man of Sin (Antichrist) must appear first? Pastor Anderson errantly teaches that the Rapture will happen 75 DAYS after the biblical event called the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION in Matthew 24:15 (cf. Daniel 9:27, 11:21, 12:11), when the Antichrist shall stand in the future temple in Jerusalem and profess to be God, committing blasphemy (2nd Thessalonians 2:4). At this time the False Prophet will demand that the world worship the image of the Beast, or be killed; every human being will be required to have a mark, or won't be able to buy or sell to survive (Revelation 13:15-18).
The Forming New World Order Is Here To Stay
Already, we are becoming a cashless society. I only use cash now less than 5% of the time, all other financial transactions are electronically processed with either credit cards, debit card or online banking. The Beast system is already in place. The world is just awaiting the Man of Sin himself (the False Messiah). The Bible promises that Jesus Christ will return. Consider Acts 1:9-11, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” This cannot refer to the Rapture; but rather, Jesus' Second Coming after the Great Tribulation (cf. Matthew 24:29-51).
Some preachers say that the apostles in their four gospels weren't referring to the Rapture, because it was still “a mystery” until Paul revealed it in 1st Corinthians 15:51-58. However, did not Jesus provide vivid details of the Tribulation period, which had never been revealed before? Yes, I think He did. Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 (aka, The Olivet Discourse) contain new information about the Tribulation which were not known previously from the Old Testament. Jesus as God had knowledge of the future that no one else had. I will leave it up to you to decide dear reader, if The Olivet Discourage makes any mention of the Rapture. It would appear not, except that Christ said NO MAN knows the time of His return.
The 45 Day Judgment Of The Nations
As I have humbly mentioned numerous times, we KNOW that from the midst of the Tribulation to the return of Christ will be 1,290 days (3 1/2 years). The Judgment of the Nations will immediately follow, which is why the Bible says “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days” (Daniel 12:12). The extra 45 days is for the Judgment of the Nations, which will be a judgment of separating the tares (unsaved) from the wheat (saved). I do not think it will be a judgment of China, then Russia, then Ukraine; but rather, a judgment of the whole world who live in the nations.
