Paul preached the same faith he previously destroyed- Gal.1:23, Ac.6:7, 8:1-3, 15:2, 16:5, 20:21 Which is what the Old Testament taught- Rom.16:25-6, Ac.26:19-21, 22-3, Lk.24:44-5 The 12 Jewish apostles were commissioned to preach Jesus' words to Gentiles- Mk.16:15-6, Mt.28:19-20

The Folly of Soul Sleep https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY5BCW2fXCc&list=PL21jvLtxj92hziMzf8WHNLc3dRCkH4Jkr&index=8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnURElCzGc0 Jesus was very clear where he was going- to the Father in heaven. (Jn.14:12,28, 16:5,7,10,16-17,17:11,13) The Father’s house was the temple. (Jn.2:14-8, Dan.5:3, Psa.27:4, Zech.8:9) But the earthly temple was a pattern of the true. “It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us”. (Heb.9:23-4) Christ is the high priest over the house of God which is in heaven. (Heb.10:21) No man cometh unto the Father in the holiest except through the veil, that is to say, the flesh of Christ who is the living way. (Heb.10:19-21, Jn.14:6) “The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven”. (Psa.11:4) John saw “the temple of God was opened in heaven”. (Rev.11:19) He saw an “angel came out of the temple which is in heaven”, heard “a great voice out of the temple of heaven” (Rv.14:17, 16:17) and when “the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:” he saw “seven angels came out of the temple” (Rev.15:5-6) Isaiah “saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” (Isa.6:1) Moses said “Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven” (Dt.26:15) which would be “the third heaven”. (2 Cor.12:2)

They will inherit their promised land- Luke 1:67-75, Amos 9:14-5, Jud.2:1, Ezek.20:42, 36:25-29, 37:14, 22, Jos.1:3-4, Deut.1:7-8, 11:23-25, Gen.50:24, Ex.6:8, 32:13, Gen.12:1, 13:14-17, 15:18, 17:4-7. The promises and covenants are to Israel the nation. They are the descendants of Abraham Isaac & Jacob, according to the flesh and were given promises that they have yet to receive by faith; and still to “whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises”. (Rom.9:4) They did not receive the righteousness of God by faith in Christ (Rom.10:3-4, Phil.3:9) and the New Covenant was not established with the whole house (Ezek.39:25-9), “with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” yet. It will need to be. (Rom.11:26-7, Heb.8:8,13, Jer.31:31-6, 32:37-40, Mt.26:28, Ezek.36:24-28) Rather it was established with Gentiles and a small remnant of Jews in the non-nationalistic body of Christ, the church. (Eph.2:11-19, Rom.11:1-5, Gal.3:28, Col.3:11) But all Israel (without distinction not without exception- ) shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (Rom.11:25-9) Therefore, the church did not replace national Israel the seed of Abraham according to the flesh. The adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises still pertain to them. They will be saved and restored to their land. Even though now concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes, they will be grafted into Christ by faith during the time of Jacobs trouble. (Jer. 30:7, Deut.4:30) https://rumble.com/v6r7o2s-the-remnant-is-not-the-whole-house-of-israel.html?e9s=src_v1_upp_pl%2Csrc_v1_pl&playlist_id=VHmboO8mpEw https://rumble.com/v5ta35n-the-church-and-israel-the-reason-you-do-not-understand-the-pre-trib-rapture.html?e9s=src_v1_upp_pl%2Csrc_v1_pl&playlist_id=VHmboO8mpEw

Israel, the nation of descendants of Abraham Isaac & Jacob, according to the flesh were given promises that they have yet to receive by faith; and still to “whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises”. (Rom.9:4) They did not receive the righteousness of God by faith in Christ (Rom.10:3-4, Phil.3:9) and the New Covenant was not established with the whole house (Ezek.39:25-9), “with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah” yet. It will need to be. (Rom.11:26-7, Heb.8:8,13, Jer.31:31-6, 32:37-40, Mt.26:28, Ezek.36:24-28) Rather it was established with Gentiles and a small remnant of Jews in the non-nationalistic body of Christ, the church. (Eph.2:11-19, Rom.11:1-5, Gal.3:28, Col.3:11) But all Israel (without distinction not without exception- ) shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (Rom.11:25-9) Therefore, the church did not replace national Israel the seed of Abraham according to the flesh. The adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises still pertain to them. They will be saved and restored to their land. (Amos 9:14-5) Even though now concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes, they will be grafted into Christ by faith during the time of Jacobs trouble. (Jer. 30:7, Deut.4:30) https://rumble.com/v5ta35n-the-church-and-israel-the-reason-you-do-not-understand-the-pre-trib-rapture.html?playlist_id=VHmboO8mpEw

The church began to be built by Jesus (Mt.16:18) by the revelation of who Christ is (Mt.16:16-7, 1 Jn.4:2, Jn.8:24). This was after his appearing in the flesh. (Rom.16:25) Christ is the chief cornerstone (1 Cor.3:11, 1 Pt.2:4-8) with the apostles, prophets and teachers as the foundation (Ac.2:41-7, 1 Cor.12:28, Eph.2:20, 4:11-3). It is perpetuated by the ministry of the word of the gospel (Mt.28:19-20, Lk.24:46-7, Ac.2:41-7) since the church has the keys to kingdom of heaven (Mt.16:19, 18:17-20,1 Tim.3:15) and edifies and perpetuates itself (Eph.4:16). The church is the city/bride (Eph.5:28-32, Rv.21:2). The church is a mystery body (Eph.3:3-6, 5:32, Col.1:26-7, 1 Tim.3:16) which contains Jews & Gentiles made equal in standing (no genealogical significance) regarding covenants and promises (1 Cor.12:13, Col.3:11, Gal.3:27-8, Eph.2:14-15, Ac.15:8-11) until the fulness of the Gentiles are saved (Rom.11:11,25,28,30). It is not nor does it contain the nation of Israel who independently have a standing with God based on the fathers (Rom.11:25-31). The church embodies grace and prudence or wisdom not contained in the salvation of the physical descendants of Abraham; i.e. Israel (Eph.3:6,21, 1:6-13, 2:11-19, Rom.11:30-3). After the Gentiles are fully come in the nation of Israel finish their prophecies (Rom.11:25-7, Dan.9:24). The remnant (Rom.9:27, 11:5, 7) of the whole house of Israel cannot be the whole house of Israel (Ezek.37:11, 39:25-9). The remnant of Israel is in the body of Christ which is mostly Gentile. (Rom.11) This mystery of the Jews being cut off for an unknown and unspecified time (enter an imminent rapture) is for the Gentile gathering into the church which is the body of Christ (1 Cor.2:7, Eph.5:32, Col.1:26-7). The disciples did not know this during Christ's ministry, (Jn.16:12-3) Then Israel shall be saved and delivered according to Daniels prophecy as the final week of years concerning thy people and upon thy holy city. This will be an end of sin for Israel and Jerusalem and a finish to their transgression to reconcile them for their iniquity. Notice that it is not a general reconciliation made at the cross (after 69 weeks) but the particular application of his sacrifice upon the people of Israel (after 70 weeks). Christ has made reconciliation (Rom.5:10); it is our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (v11). Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? (Rom.11:12) If the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? (Rom.11:15) The fulness (bringing in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy) and resurrection of the dead is connected with their conversion at the last (Dan.12:1-3, Jn.11:24, 6:39-40, 44, 54) after the time of Jacobs trouble (Jer.30:7, Deut.4:30) and the final 70th week. The disciples did not understand these mysteries initially. Lk.18:31-4…And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. Lk.9:44-5, Mk.9:9-10, Jn.20:9, Mt.16:21-2 They will inherit their promised land- Luke 1:67-75, Jud.2:1, Ezek.20:42, 36:25-29, 37:14, 22, Jos.1:3-4, Deut.1:7-8, 11:23-25, Gen.50:24, Ex.6:8, 32:13, Gen.12:1, 13:14-17, 15:18, 17:4-7.

So, “what witholdeth”(v6) is “he who now letteth... until he be taken out of the way”. (v7) He is restraining the mystery of iniquity which emerged cancerously after the mystery of godliness as a contradiction to it. (1 Tim.3:16) The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Rom.16:25) centers on the fact that God was manifest in the flesh in Christ. (Col.1:19,2:9) The mystery of iniquity thus denies that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh and is antichrist. (1 Jn.4:1-4) The mystery of godliness we are stewards of (1 Cor.4:1) as we oppose the mystery of iniquity. The “mystery of iniquity doth already work” which is “that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world”. (2 Thess.2:7, 1 Jn.4:3) This spirit of antichrist and the depths of Satan (Rev.2:24) are seen fully developed in falling away from the faith. (1 Jn.2:18-9) This lower degree of apostasy already working will increase in intensity in the latter times. (1 Tim.4:1) And will become a large-scale apostasy when he who witholdeth is taken out of the way. Then the “many antichrists” make way for the antichrist who shall come. The restrainer is holding back the apostasy from the faith that Christ is come in the flesh, withholding the mystery of iniquity, and therefore the man of sin being revealed until the restrainer is taken out of the way. This restrainer would not be any governments as Christ’s kingdom is not of this world and thus not ordained to advance the preaching of Christ, but this whole world lieth in wickedness. (Jn.18:36, 1 Jn.5:19) They will become his in that day (Rev.11:15), but right now they are under the power of Satan (Lk.4:5-7) as God permits. Neither can it be understood that this restrainer is Michael the Archangel (Dan.10:13,21,12:1, Jd.1:9, Rv.12:7), for the selfsame reasons that he is not opposing the doctrines of the world denying Christ in the mystery of the gospel (Eph.6:19, Rom.16:25) “which things the angels desire to look into”. (1 Pt.1:12)

Resurrected and taken up to heaven: John 14:2-3, Col.3:1-4, 1 Thess. 4:16-17,1 Cor. 15:51-52, Phil. 3:20-21 Resurrected and stay on earth: Job 19:25-26, Ezekiel 37:12, Rev. 20:6, 5:10, Luke 1:33 Gathered on the earth: Matthew 24:31,25:32, Isaiah 27:13, 60:49, 66:20, 11:16, 35:8-9, Ezekiel 34:13, 20:34-8, 39:28-29 All the church resurrected and changed (thus do not marry and bear children): Luke 20:34-6,1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Philippians 3:20-21, 2 Corinthians 5:4-5 Jews who never die but endure to the end multiply in the land of Israel: Isaiah 59:21, 60:22, 65:23, Jeremiah 3:16, 23:3, 30:19-20, 32:38-40, Ezekiel 36:10-11, 37:25-26, Zechariah 8:3-6 Firstfruits: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: (Lev.23:10) And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. (Ex.34:22) Harvest: (of weeks- 7 weeks of harvesting) And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. (Ex.23:16) Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn. And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the Lord thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the Lord thy God, according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee: (Deut.16:9-10) see Matt. 9:37-38, Lk.10:2, Jn. 4:35 Gleanings: And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. (Lev.19:9) And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the Lord your God. (Lev.23:22) When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. (Dt.24:19)

These scriptures help distinguish the pre trib rapture with the post trib return (the church and Israel). The end is at hand- 1 Pt.4:7, 2 Pt.3:10, Rev.1:1,3, 1 Thess.5:1-3 The end is not at hand- Mt.24:6, Mk.13:7, Lk.21:9 We are to look up for Christ after the tribulation- Lk.21:28, Mt.24:29-30, Mk.13:26,2 Th.2:2-3 We are looking up for Christ now- Phil.3:20, Tit.2:13, Mk.13:36-7 The Lord is at the door after the tribulation- Mk.13:29, Mt.24:33 The Lord is at the door now- Jam.5:8-9, Phil.4:5 Be desiring the day of the Lord- Rv.22:20, 2 Pt.3:12, 2 Tim.4:8 Don't be desiring that day- Am.5:18, 2 Thes.2:2, Mt.24:19, Jer.17:16 All things continue as from the beginning- 2 Pt.3:4, Mt.24:37-8, Lk.17:26-8, 21:34 Tribulation as never was from the beginning- Mt.24:21, Dan.12:1, Jer.30:7, Mk.13:19, Lk.21:25-6 In this same line of reasoning the Millennial Day of the Lord and the post trib Day of Christ are distinct: “That day” (millennial day) will include “all these things that shall come to pass”, which means the beginning of sorrows or the things that “must first come to pass”. (Lk.21:9, Mt.24:6-8, Mk.13:7-9) “That day” also includes the rest of “all these things” listed in the sermon. (Mt.24:33-4, Mk.13:30,32-3, Lk.21:36) And 2 Peter 3:7-14 reveals that this day of the Lord which will so come as a thief in the night will include not just the last week of Daniel’s prophecy (that day- Zech 12:3-4,8,9,11,13:1-2,14:3-4,8-9), but that day is as a thousand years including heaven and earth passing away a thousand years later. Likewise, the resurrection of the just and the unjust are separated by 1000 years but are spoken of as occurring "in the last day". (Rev.20:4,5:11-12, Jn.6:39-40, 44, 54, 11:24, 12:48, 5:28-9)

The Day is at Hand- This must therefore be imminent: (at hand means imminent Matt.26:45-7 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Mark 14:42-3 Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas...) Romans 13:11-12 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 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. James 5:8-9 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. (Note that ‘before the door’ is a phrase indicating imminence as here in Mt.24:33- So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Also see Mk.13:29.) 1 Pet.4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. Behold, I come quickly, suddenly, shortly. (Mk.13:36, Rev.1:1,3,2:5,16,3:3,11,16:15,22:6,7,10,12,20) 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. Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. v40-41 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? v46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. The admonition to watch is to watch for Christ himself to appear. (Mt.24:42-3, 50, 25:13, Mk.13:33-7, Lk.12:37-48, 21:36, Phil.3:20, 1 Thes.5:6, Tit.2:13, 1 Pt.4:7, 2 Pt.3:12, 1 Jn.2:28, Rv.3:3, 16:15)

Christ’s Coming for the Church at the Pretribulation Rapture. Jn.14:1-3 matches 1 Thes.4:13-18. And the plain reading of John 14 is Christ will come again (descend from heaven) receive us (alive and remain) unto himself (caught up) and go to the Father where he prepared a place for us (ever be with the Lord). Let not your heart be troubled (comfort one another with these words). Lest anyone should try and drag Jesus' words into obscurity, Jesus was very clear where he was going- to the Father in heaven. (Jn.14:12,28, 16:5,7,10,16-17,17:11,13) The Father’s house was the temple. (Jn.2:14-8, Dan.5:3, Psa.27:4, Zech.8:9) But the earthly temple was a pattern of the true. (Heb.9:23-4, 10:21) “The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven”. (Psa.11:4) John saw “the temple of God was opened in heaven”. (Rev.11:19) He saw an “angel came out of the temple which is in heaven”, heard “a great voice out of the temple of heaven” (Rv.14:17, 16:17) and when “the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:” he saw “seven angels came out of the temple” (Rev.15:5-6) Isaiah “saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” (Isa.6:1) Moses said “Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven” (Dt.26:15) which would be “the third heaven”. (2 Cor.12:2) This is not the New Jerusalem either in which there is no temple. (Rev.21:22)

Paul is beseeching the Thessalonians by the rapture “by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him” v1. Followed by him stating that “the day of Christ” is not at hand but is after the falling away and the man of sin being revealed. Post trib conflates ‘that day’ with our gathering unto him. Peculiarly they never seem interested in why the church would be “soon shaken in mind, or be troubled” at the prospect of Jesus’ return being at hand... really! One would think the biblical response to Jesus saying “Surely I come quickly” would be “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev.22:20) If Jesus coming and our gathering unto him was at hand we would ‘rejoice with exceeding great joy’. This is what Paul told the Christians after revealing the rapture in 1 Thess.4 to this same church; that “ye sorrow not” and “Wherefore comfort one another with these words”. (v13,18) Jesus told the disciples to not let their hearts be troubled and proceeded to tell them of his coming again to receive them unto himself and the place prepared in the Father’s house in heaven. (Jn.14:1-3) Had they been taught by Paul a post-trib rapture, they would not be troubled or terrified that they were in the tribulation prior to Christ's return (Mt.24:6, Mk.13:7, Lk.21:9). Rather they would know to "then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Lk.21:28) The coming of Christ would comfort them in that case. Furthermore the post-trib position would have Paul here comforting Christians with the coming of the man of sin, great tribulation, fearful sights and that the Lord delayeth his coming! This however, is why he was beseeching them in v1 by the rapture of the church so as to comfort them. They were confused (by spirit or word or letter) that they had been cast into great tribulation and were shaken in mind and troubled. In contrast to our gathering unto him, when Paul mentions “that day” or “the day of Christ” he is referring to “that day” in 1:10. This is the 24 hour day at the return of Christ to the earth, preceded closely with events causing men's hearts to fail. (Mal.3:2, 4:5, Joel 2:31, Amos 5:18,20, Isa.13:6, 9, 13) He comes in flaming fire taking vengeance with his mighty angels to punish with everlasting destruction (v7-9) when “he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe... in that day”. Some translations have v2 as 'day of Christ had come'. If the Thessalonians believed post trib this make even less sense. For then the saints would be troubled that Jesus had already come and returned to the earth to reign. How would they have thought they didn't notice the great tribulation described in Mt.24 and the return of Christ in judgment to the earth? And why would they be troubled at the idea that Jesus had already returned and was on the earth? If the Thessalonians had been taught pre-trib it makes perfect sense as to why they were troubled that the coming of Christ in wrath was imminent (at hand- KJV) and that the rapture of the church had already happened. And why he was comforting them with rapture in v1. And telling them why the return of Christ to the earth wouldn't happen before certain signs. This video and description info should also help- The Millennial Day is at Hand • The Millennial Day is at Hand

Here we dispose of the misunderstanding that the last trump here is the 7th trumpet of Revelation 11. For the Lord had not yet come at the 7th trumpet but it was declared “Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come”. (Rv.11:17) The time for his coming had arrived; but he was still in heaven ready to descend (v16-7). Plus the vials of wrath are yet to be poured out. Another disqualifier was that the angel blew that trumpet where the Lord will blow the trumpet immediately after the tribulation of those days when “the Lord shall be seen over them”. (Matt. 24:30-31, Zech.9:14-16, Rev.1:7) The trumpet blown in the end is by the Lord and for Israel's and Jerusalem's atonement and their ingathering. (Lev.23:24-7, 25:9, Dan.9:24, Isa.27:13) Our post-trib brothers see this as an absolute last trumpet not last in a series. Oddly they don't see an absolute 'last day' in John7:37 but rather last in a series. But this is not the absolute last as there will be trumpets declaring the new moons in the millennium (Psa.81:3, Isa.66:22-3, Num.10:10) When we compare the 1 Cor.15 passage with the other last trump passage in 1 Thess. 4 we see this trump cannot be the same event as the trumpet at the end of the tribulation because there are no signs (1 Thes.5:1-3).

Paul shows according to the wisdom given unto him that the day of the Lord coming as a thief is without “the times and the seasons” even knowable, which is generally how thieves show up in the night; without signs or indications. (1 Thes.5:1-3) The times and seasons of the final week of Daniel 9 and the restoration of Israel was not for us to know. (Acts 1:6-7) When we compare Mark and Matthew’s accounts (Mk.13, Mt.24) about watching for the Son of Man, Jesus gave warning to watch for his sudden coming, and that he himself in the days of his flesh did not know when he would return. It could be as in any watch of the night, but that no man could know. (Mk.13:32-7) Matthew recalls that the sudden appearing will be like a thief, without any warnings or indications, as a snare. (Mt.24:42-51) “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” “Watch ye therefore... Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.” He spake this to all. (Mk.13:37) Paul said that they would think they are in peace and safety before the sudden destruction comes. (1 Thes.5:1-3) What we see from the context here in Luke 21:35 is that there is a day coming upon the entire earth which will be like a snare. A snare is set without any sign or indication of its presence; thus unawares as the text states. (Prv.1:17, 7:23, Ecc.7:12, Psa.142:3) This is the “hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” (Rev.3:10) The entire world will be overtaken by this sudden snare and sudden destruction, which is marked by the sudden appearing of the Son of Man and a conditional escaping all those things listed by those that are worthy to stand before him. (Mk.13:36-7) “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation... Behold, I come quickly”. (Rev.3:10-11) The admonition to watch is to watch for Christ himself to appear. (Mt.24:42-3, 50, 25:13, Mk.13:33-7, Lk.12:37-48, 21:36, Phil.3:20, 1 Thes.5:6, Tit.2:13, 1 Pt.4:7, 2 Pt.3:12, 1 Jn.2:28, Rv.3:3, 16:15) If I tell someone I am coming to their house next year as a thief, will they know when I am coming? If they watch for me and they catch me as I am coming because they are looking, did that mean I didn't come as a thief?

Oddly, there is no rapture to be found here in Mt.24:29-31. It is assumed and read into the text. According to 1 Thess.4 and John 14 (which we will detail) the rapture is when the living and dead members of the body of Christ are ‘caught up’ to meet the Lord in the air and received unto himself to be taken to the Father’s house in heaven and ever be with the Lord; where he is we shall be also. In this passage the gathering by the angels is upon the earth. Note “the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” is upon the earth. Notice how the phrase is used in Jer.49:36 “And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.” Verse 32 of the same expands the idea with this “I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the Lord.” The four winds are referring to all sides on the earth under heaven as is “the uttermost part of heaven” in Mark.13:27. Consider Neh.1:8-9 “Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.” “If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee”. (Dt.30:4) The reason for the gathering is because there was a scattering, of Israel. The reason this is missed, again is ignorance of the mystery regarding the church and Israel. (Rom.11:25) Keep in memory that seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city. (Dan.9:24) Needless to say Jesus’ warnings in the Olivet discourse (Mt.24, Mk.13, Lk.21) are Jerusalem-centric. Post tribbers forget that Jews will be reading Jesus’ words. He references “abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place” “Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains”, “pray ye that your flight be not... on the sabbath day” (Ex. 31:13-17, Ezek. 20:12), “when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies”, “there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people”, “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”. So, we see the inhabitants of Jerusalem fleeing, scattered and being carried away captive into all nations like the warnings God gave to Israel in the Old Testament. (Lv.26:33, Dt.4:27, 28:64, 30:3-4, Neh.1:8, Jer.9:16, 30:10-1, Ezk.5:10, 6:8, 11:16-7, 20:12,20-3, 41-2, 28:25, 36:19,24, Dan.12:7, Jl.3:2) A fact curiously unimportant to post-tribbers, apparently uninterested in this mystery. (Rom.11:25-9) This is why there is a gathering of the Jews (his elect Isa.45:4, 65:9, 22, Rom.11:28) to their inheritance when Christ returns. (Neh.1:8-9, Deut.30:3-4, Isa.11:11-2, Jer.23:3, 29:14, 31:8,10, 32:37, Ezk.11:17, 28:25, 34:13, 36:24, 37:21, 39:28) The living are gathered on the earth not in the air. (Ezek.20:33-8, Mt.25:32) This, by the way, is not a mystery as Paul points to in the New Testament regarding the Church and their gathering unto Christ in the air, to the place prepared in the Father’s house in heaven. The gathering of Israel at the end (Ex.23:16, 34:22) of their 70th week is no minor subject: Israel scattered around the earth in the tribulation by God (he will regather them). Joel 3:1-8, Luke 21:20-24, Deut.4:27-30, 28:64-5, 30:2-4, Rev.12:14, Lv.26:33, Jer.9:16, 30:10-11, 31:10-12, Ezek. Ch.5, 6:8-10, 11:16-21, 12:14-16, 20:33-38, 41-44, 22:15, 21-22, 28:24-6, 34:5-6, 12-17, 36:16-38, Dan.12:7, Zech.7:11-8:8 Israel is regathered by Christ at the end of the tribulation when he returns. Mt.24:31, Mk.13:27, Jer.31:8-10, 29:14, 30:10 , Isa.66:20, 49:22, 60:4, 9, 11:11-12,15-6, Isaiah 27:13, 43:6, 49:12, Ezekiel 34:13, 36:24, 39:27, Zeph.2:6-8, 3:19-20, Zeph. 3:10, 2:6-7, 8:7, 10:10, Psa. 14:7, 107:3, 126:1, Mic.7:12 (v19:20)

We are approaching this study as the 1st Century Jews should have approached the study of the first coming of Christ. There were 2 sets of prophecies which did not seem to be compatible but even contradictory (Jn.12:34, Mt.11:3, Ac.1:6) concerning Christ suffering and dying for sins but also destroying the wicked out of the land and reigning as King over all the earth. Both of these series of prophecies from the Old Testament were true but needed to be rightly divided. This is how we examine the returning of the Lord Jesus to earth. We do not use the verses we like to cancel the ones that don’t fit. We put them together and let God be true. In like manner the coming of Christ in the air to receive his mystery bride to the Father's house to the prepared place in heaven is not the same as his coming with the bride to the earth to reign.