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be alert,
sober and watching | table of contents
I'd like to
make a few other observations from 1 Thes.
5:1-6. Let's read it again:
"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."
Paul states here that the Day
of the Lord will come like a "thief in the night."
The Day will begin very suddenly, like labor pains. However,
read what Paul says in the very next sentence:
"But you, brothers, are not in darkness so
that this day should surprise you like a thief...."
That's right, believers will not be surprised at commencement
of the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord will come 'life a thief' for unbelievers,
but NOT for believers. (Note 9)
Why not? Because, as Paul knows, Jesus
provided his disciples signs to watch for (Matthew 24)
so they will recognize when
his coming is near. Believers who are alert and watching
for these signs will not be caught by surprize. I'll talk more specifically about "the signs" as we progress in this study.
One final point on this passage. The fact that Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica to be alert so they will not be surprised by that Day also
tells us that believers will be here on Earth to witness
the commencement of that Day. This is important, as
some teach that Christians will be raptured prior to
the start of the Day of the Lord. However, if the rapture occurred
before the Day of the Lord commenced, there would
be no reason for Paul to warn the believers
in Thessalonica to
remain alert and be watching for it.
Think that
through. If the rapture occurred before the Day, then why is
Paul warning the Christians in Thessolonica to watch out for
that Day (Note
10)?
No, the
Day of the Lord commences before the rapture. First a) the Day of the Lord
commences, then b) Jesus decends from heaven and finally c) the Gathering (rapture) begins.
in
summary:
1) Believers will not be surprised by the Day
of the Lord. Paul warns believers to be watching for it -
If they are alert, they will recognize "The Day" when
it begins.
2)
Since believers are present on earth to witness the commencement
of the Day of the Lord, the rapture (and also the parousia)
must occur after the Day
of the Lord has begun. Otherwise no one
would be around to witness it, and there would be no point in Paul's
warning.
order
of events:
Again,
to emphasize...
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 Day of the Lord must
begin prior to the rapture? If not, go through what I've covered so far again.
It's important to understand this truth before moving on.
 next: our rescuer comes to SAVE us! 
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