Signs and sequence of the times
The
Bible tells us very clearly that some of the signs of the times will be
earthquakes, famines, plagues, weather changes, ethnic strife, hot wars, cold
wars, and a complete rejection of Biblical truth. Can anyone tell me that any
single one of these isn’t happening right now, and has been happening for some
time.
1
Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:11 “Brothers,
we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve
like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus
died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who
have fallen asleep in him. According
to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left
till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
First the Rapture
1.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a
loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God,
and the dead in Christ will rise first. He will come as He
left at the ascension
2. After that, we who are still alive and are
left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage
each other with these words.
Then Tribulation
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.
Stay Alert
So then, let us not
be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For
those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be
self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of
salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether
we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore
encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. “
Then the AntiChrist
2
Thessalonians 2:1-17
1
“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ and our being gathered to him, 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.
Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way,
for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He
will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is
worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to
be God.
Held Back by Holy Spirit
Don’t you remember that when I
was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know
what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who
now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
The Man of
Lawlessness revealed
And then the lawless one will be
revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and
destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the
lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds
of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort
of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused
to love the truth and so be saved.
Delusion
For this reason God sends them a
powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so
that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted
in wickedness.
But we are saved already – raptured earlier to spare us
the tribulation
“But we ought always to thank God
for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you
to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in
the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you
might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to
you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and
by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage
your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. “
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