Eternal Life, Resurrection of the Dead and the Coming Day of Judgment…Continued

As a follow-up to the last posting we will look at scriptures from the Books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians for a witness of the truth

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 1 Thess 5.1-2

Paul is telling the believers that they should already know the “times and seasons” of the Lord’s return. No man knows the exact day…but we, as believers should know the times and seasons. We already know He is going to come as a thief in the night and surprise the world.

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: Gen 1.14

I include this scripture from Genesis to confirm the scripture above. The feasts of the Lord as written in Leviticus 23 and Numbers 29 contain the secrets of the Lord’s second coming. Reference this blog for teachings on the feasts. As I write this we are entering into the fall feasts of 2016: Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles.

 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 2 Thess 1.7-9

On that day the Lord will return with his mighty angels in flaming fire. Where is He being revealed from? Heaven. Yeshua is returning from heaven with His angels. It does not say those who have died are with Him—only His mighty angels. Those who have died are asleep in the grave waiting to hear His voice (John 5.28-29).

…how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 Thess 1.9b-10

Those who are alive, along with those who are asleep, are waiting for “his son from heaven.”

To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 1 Thess 3.13

Again, Paul says, we are waiting for His coming.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 1 Thess 5.9-10

We are not appointed to wrath (Day of Atonement for those who are wicked) but we are to obtain salvation (redemption) when He returns (also the Day of Atonement).

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thess 4.13-17

This is pretty clear. Those whom have died (asleep in the grave) are waiting to hear His voice (John 5.28-29). Those who are alive at His coming will follow those who are asleep. The dead arise first (they are not in heaven, but asleep) then we who remain are caught up in the air with Him. This is after the tribulation…we are not appointed to wrath…but we are persecuted.

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2 Thess 2.1-3

Paul is explaining that before the Lord returns there will be a great apostasy in the church—then the man of sin will be revealed. He is telling us this so that when it is happening we will recognize it. The falling away must take place PRIOR to Yeshua’s second coming. There is only ONE second coming…no secret rapture.

And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 2 Thess 2.6-8

In other words, Paul is saying, “Now you know what is with-holding His second coming. He hasn’t come yet because these events have not taken place yet! He is telling them to watch for this. Then they will know the “season” has arrived.

We see these things are beginning to occur in our day. We can see the church turning away from the word of the Lord and re-interpreting the word to make it comply with human secularism.

 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thess 2.9-12

Now is the time to examine the traditions we have held unto for centuries. Do we believe the Word of God or do we cling to traditions of the church which are lies. Reference this blog for answers. It is up to each individual. Once a person hears the truth it is their responsibility to accept it. If not then they are open to deception.

A person cannot understand the end times until they understand God’s time and calendar as written in the Bible. The church has changed and substituted many truths for lies. Those who refuse to change will be DECEIVED as it says above. The truth will set you free!