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the day,
the coming, the gathering | table of contents
Now, let's move on to Thessalonians,
chapter 5...
Please note that although we
are moving into a new chapter of Thessalonians, Paul's words
continues right where they left off. It is important to recognize that in Paul's
original letter there are NO CHAPTER BREAKS. The letter
was intended to be read in one sitting. So although
we start a new chapter, verse 1 of chapter 5 continues Paul's thought from the
end of chapter 4....
"Now,
brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write
to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord
will come like a thief in the night. 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. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so
that this day should surprise you like a thief. You
are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not
belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let
us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be
alert and self-controlled."
The 'Day of the
Lord' is mentioned specifically here for the first time in Thessalonians. Paul hasn't changed topics, however.
He is continuing the very same thought as in the previous chapter.
This is one ongoing
teaching about the Coming of the Lord.
Paul mentions the parousia (coming) and the Day of the Lord together time
and again in the
books of 1 & 2 Thessalonians. For example, read this passage
from 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2....
"Concerning
the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ
*and* our being gathered to him (again, the rapture is part of the parousia),
we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or
alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have
come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has
already come..."
Paul here, lumps
the
Coming, the Gathering and the Day of the Lord all in the same thought.
It really couldn't be much more clear. Paul teaches very specifically
that the parousia is directly
connected to a
period scripture calls the "Day of the Lord."
In
a like manner, Jesus' coming and the "Day" are linked together again
in 2 Thes. 1:9-10. If you'll allow me the liberty,
I'd like to switch to the New King James translation (NKJV)
here so you can see the power of the statement:
"These (who do not know God) shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His
power, When He comes, in that
Day, to be glorified in His saints and to
be admired among all those who believe..."
Jesus comes IN that
Day. Do you see it? Jesus' coming occurs within the Day of
the Lord. Thus, the rapture, which is part of the parousia,
also occurs within
the Day of the Lord.
in
summary:
The
coming of the Lord (parousia) and our being gathered
to him (rapture - Note
8) is directly connected
to a period of time that scripture refers to as the Day of
the Lord.
I like to think of it this way: the Day of
the Lord contains the Coming (parousia), and the
Coming of the Lord contains the Gathering (the Rapture).
order
of events:
At
this point, I'd like to begin a 'timeline' that
shows the order of events according to scripture. So let's
begin with these three:
1) The Day of the Lord commences
2)
The coming (parousia) of Jesus' in the clouds
3) The Rapture
(gathering) occurs as a part of the parousia - the dead rise, the believers who remain alive are gathered
together to meet him in the air.
Are you following
me so far? Can you see how the coming of the Lord (and thus
the rapture), occurs within the Day of the Lord? If not, go through what I've covered so far again.
It's important to understand this truth before moving on.
 next: be alert, sober and watching 
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