The Return Of Jesus Christ, For Blessings And Judgments?
All Christians agree that Jesus keeps his promises
These are the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ to his disciples when he promised to return to take us to the Father's house so that we could be with him:
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:1-3)
1 Thess 4:13-18 Describes the Actual Event of the Departure of the Church To Heaven
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.
1 Cor 15:51-54 Describe the Nature of the Departure of the Church as an Instant Resurrection
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 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.
2 Peter 3:9 Gives the Reason For the Delay, God's Longsuffering
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Acts 15:14 tells us Of God's Intent To Save Gentiles, A People For His Name
Simon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Romans 11:25 Tells us that of the Gentiles there is a Fulness to Come in.
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
2 Thess 2:1,2 Equates the Departure to the Day of Christ
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. Paul had equated previously the "times and the seasons" to the day of the Lord, or the start of the 7th millennium post-creation, lasting 1000 years of man (1 Thess 5:1,2). The day of Christ is immediately followed in continuity by the start of the day of the Lord
2 Thess 2:3 Gives the Qualification for the Departure/Day of Christ to occur: a general apostasy must come first or Concomittantly
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;
These are the foundational verses that support the conclusion that the Lord Jesus Christ will come to take his church home to the Father's house as he promised, and there should not be much disagreements on this view of a church departure. And now let us look at the verses that speak of the early church's expectation with regards to the Departure.
*1 Cor 1:7-8 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
*1 Cor 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1 Cor 13:12 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
*2 Cor 1:14 14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.
*Phil. 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
*Phil 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
*Phil 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Phil 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
*Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Rom 13:10 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
*1 Thess 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
*1 Thess 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
*1 Thess 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Thess 4:15 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.
*1 Thess 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
*1 Thess 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thess 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2 Thess 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
*2 Thess 2:2 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.
*2Thess 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
1 Tim 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
*2 Tim 1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
2 Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
*Titus 2:12 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
*Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching
Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Jam 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
1 Pet 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1 Pet 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Pet 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
**1 Pet 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
2 Pet 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
We have looked at 38 verses or so that speak of a specific thing: that the apostles were waiting in their lifetime for the imminent return of the Lord. Even if one disagrees with a verse or two, when all these are looked at in the contexts in which they appear, it is indisputable that all these writers (Paul, Peter, James, John) expected the Lord to come for them (Peter alone being the exception for he knew he would be offered) during the time of their sojourning on earth. The one caveat to the idea of "coming at any moment" is the instruction from Paul that a time of apostasy must come first, when the Gentiles are no longer coming in or more are leaving, so that God will no longer have to be longsuffering nor wait any more.
Therefore to deny the Departure of the church is to stand not just on sinking sand but in quicksand. And there is more, for the day of Christ or day of Departure of the church verses in many occasions have the blessings of promised rewards alongside the length of the sentences. But note too that the period of apostasy is that in which the Departure will take place, and the restrainer be taken out of the way (he must step aside and let iniquity march through) so that the son of perdition or antichrist come on the world stage. Reason tells us that this can not occur at the final end of the great tribulation for it is clear that the antichrist rules for 1260 days exactly or 3.5 years and is on the world board of directors from the beginning. This fact alone refutes post-tribulationism all by itself. And the antichrist is around from the very beginning of the 7 year tribulation for he (the prince) must be the one who confirms the covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) at the very beginning of the 7 year period.
And if one reflects calmy on these matters, one can reach no conclusion other than the Departure on the day of Christ precedes the loosing of the antichrist, and given this man of sin and son of perdition, that Wicked, is around for then entire 7 year tribulation, one must be forced to conclude that the departure has to be a pre-tribulation event, one that comes before the tribulation begins. I report and you ask God if you embrace the post-trib view, to reason together with you. To be expanded....see the subpage now completed. End.
These are the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ to his disciples when he promised to return to take us to the Father's house so that we could be with him:
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:1-3)
1 Thess 4:13-18 Describes the Actual Event of the Departure of the Church To Heaven
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.
1 Cor 15:51-54 Describe the Nature of the Departure of the Church as an Instant Resurrection
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 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.
2 Peter 3:9 Gives the Reason For the Delay, God's Longsuffering
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Acts 15:14 tells us Of God's Intent To Save Gentiles, A People For His Name
Simon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Romans 11:25 Tells us that of the Gentiles there is a Fulness to Come in.
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
2 Thess 2:1,2 Equates the Departure to the Day of Christ
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. Paul had equated previously the "times and the seasons" to the day of the Lord, or the start of the 7th millennium post-creation, lasting 1000 years of man (1 Thess 5:1,2). The day of Christ is immediately followed in continuity by the start of the day of the Lord
2 Thess 2:3 Gives the Qualification for the Departure/Day of Christ to occur: a general apostasy must come first or Concomittantly
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;
These are the foundational verses that support the conclusion that the Lord Jesus Christ will come to take his church home to the Father's house as he promised, and there should not be much disagreements on this view of a church departure. And now let us look at the verses that speak of the early church's expectation with regards to the Departure.
*1 Cor 1:7-8 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
*1 Cor 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1 Cor 13:12 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
*2 Cor 1:14 14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.
*Phil. 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
*Phil 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
*Phil 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Phil 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
*Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Rom 13:10 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
*1 Thess 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
*1 Thess 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
*1 Thess 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Thess 4:15 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.
*1 Thess 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
*1 Thess 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thess 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2 Thess 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
*2 Thess 2:2 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.
*2Thess 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
1 Tim 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
*2 Tim 1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
2 Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
*Titus 2:12 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
*Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching
Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Jam 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
1 Pet 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1 Pet 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Pet 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
**1 Pet 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
2 Pet 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
We have looked at 38 verses or so that speak of a specific thing: that the apostles were waiting in their lifetime for the imminent return of the Lord. Even if one disagrees with a verse or two, when all these are looked at in the contexts in which they appear, it is indisputable that all these writers (Paul, Peter, James, John) expected the Lord to come for them (Peter alone being the exception for he knew he would be offered) during the time of their sojourning on earth. The one caveat to the idea of "coming at any moment" is the instruction from Paul that a time of apostasy must come first, when the Gentiles are no longer coming in or more are leaving, so that God will no longer have to be longsuffering nor wait any more.
Therefore to deny the Departure of the church is to stand not just on sinking sand but in quicksand. And there is more, for the day of Christ or day of Departure of the church verses in many occasions have the blessings of promised rewards alongside the length of the sentences. But note too that the period of apostasy is that in which the Departure will take place, and the restrainer be taken out of the way (he must step aside and let iniquity march through) so that the son of perdition or antichrist come on the world stage. Reason tells us that this can not occur at the final end of the great tribulation for it is clear that the antichrist rules for 1260 days exactly or 3.5 years and is on the world board of directors from the beginning. This fact alone refutes post-tribulationism all by itself. And the antichrist is around from the very beginning of the 7 year tribulation for he (the prince) must be the one who confirms the covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) at the very beginning of the 7 year period.
And if one reflects calmy on these matters, one can reach no conclusion other than the Departure on the day of Christ precedes the loosing of the antichrist, and given this man of sin and son of perdition, that Wicked, is around for then entire 7 year tribulation, one must be forced to conclude that the departure has to be a pre-tribulation event, one that comes before the tribulation begins. I report and you ask God if you embrace the post-trib view, to reason together with you. To be expanded....see the subpage now completed. End.