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The only answer that makes sense
is that they were worried, that they had missed the “gathering
to Him” - the Rapture They thought that they missed the Rapture
and were living in the period called the “Day of the Lord.”
Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is a phrase found in both the Old and
New Testaments. The Day of the Lord includes both the first part of the Tribulation
period and the last part. The Tribulation starts with peace and ends with
war and terror. The Day of the Lord even includes the kingdom that Jesus
told His disciples was yet to come (Acts 1:6-7). Jesus’ point is that
it was not going to occur soon! The Day of the Lord starts with the Tribulation
and ends after the kingdom.
When the Apostle Paul encouraged the Thessalonians with the fact that the “coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ” or Rapture, occurs before the Day of the
Lord, he revealed that the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” is
not the second coming of Christ, since the second coming occurs during the
Day of the Lord and not before. The Rapture is for Christians but the second
coming is to make war.
Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction . . . (NASB) 2 Thess. 2;1-3 What other scriptures teach that the Rapture occurs before the Day of the
Lord? The answer is found in a statement that God made to the church at Philadelphia.
In Revelation 3:10 He told them that He would keep them from the hour of
testing that would come on the whole world. We will see in our coming study
of Revelation 6:1-2 that this hour of testing includes the first part of
the Tribulation - the time of “Peace and Safety.”
Conclusion. The Rapture is the next event in God’s plan for us. John
the Baptist came preaching the kingdom of God (Matt. 3:2; 4:17). Jesus’ disciples
were wondering when the kingdom would come (Acts 1:6-7), but apparently they
had forgotten that Jesus had told them that they would not see it. And He said to the disciples, “The days shall come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. (NASB) Luke 17:22
Jesus has returned to heaven, and we are still looking for the kingdom.
But God is not late, nor did He make empty promises. The Holy Spirit
reminds us in Heb. 10:36-38 that God made the same promise to Israel
in Habakkuk 2-4, which was written long ago - about 600 B.C. To this
the apostle Peter says, The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (NASB) 2 Peter 3:9-10 Is Jesus coming? The answer is yes. For the world, Jesus’ second
coming will be judgment and suffering. But for Christians, the Rapture
is escape from this world into the presence of God. Are you ready? Do
you believe that Jesus is the Savior-God of this world? If you do, eternity
with God will be great. Think of -
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