The Coming of the Lord
The question is asked, “Do you believe in Bible prophecy?” The resounding answer is an emphatic yes. However, what one believes about it is important.
The church in Thessalonica believed in it. They believed in it so strongly that many quit work and started looking for it. There are people today who have such convictions. Some even run up their credit cards believing Christ is coming and they won’t have to pay them off. Others suggest not paying taxes for the same reason.
This issue was addressed in the Bible in I Thessalonians 4: 11, “…aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.” (A Post on this text is forthcoming.)
There are several theories regarding the second coming. One is as follows.
Christ will come in the air for His saints, those deceased will rise first and be joined by the living saints to ascend into heaven.
“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” I Thes. 1: 17
The Greek word translated “caught up” was translated in the Latin Bible with “rapio,” from which comes the word “rapture” in connection with the Second Coming. The following phrase translated “to meet” is literally “for a meeting with the Lord.” It will be a grand day.“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (I Thessalonians 2:19)
There will follow a period known as the Great Tribulation. It will be for a period of seven years divided into two parts.
After the seven years Jesus will come back to the earth with His saints. He will reign on earth for one thousand years in a period known as the Millennian. Then comes the end. There is much more to this than can be described in these few lines, but that is a bare bones description.
There is no way to set the date of His coming in the air. Those who do assign to themselves the ability God has not and will not ascribe to anyone. Don’t follow them. Just know the day will come suddenly, “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” (I Thess. 5:2)
The “chicken” type of Bible students, that is those who hunt and peck, have a list of end time things such as the mark of the beast where persons can neither buy or sell without it. That is during the Tribulation which present day believers will be spared having been caught up at the time of the Rapture.
There are things to come during the Tribulation of which we can see a foreshadowing. The implanting of computer chips in individuals may be of help in enforcing the mark of the beast.
How then are we to live? Live expectantly, but responsibly. Carry on your responsibilities in a commendable way. Don’t try to read too much into what is happening, and “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10 : 25) Get in a church and get active.