FreeGrace2 said:
And refutes the idea of a pre-trib rapture. Because v.1 gives the order of things. The Second Coming is listed first, followed by "our being gathered" to Him. That's the rapture.
Verse 1 is not speaking of [what we call] "His Second Coming TO THE EARTH [Rev19]":
Of course it is. Ch 4 and 5 of 1 Thess are exactly about that.
--[I addressed this in an earlier post in this thread-->] v.1a's "the coming [/parousia] of OUR Lord Jesus Christ" [<--phrasing always pertains to "the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY" in association/connection "WITH Him"]
... is DISTINGUISHED in this very passage FROM v.8b's "the APPEARANCE [ / APPEARING / MANIFESTATION] of the presence [/parousia] of Him" [when EVERY EYE shall SEE Him;--1Tim6:15 "SHALL SHEW [/OPENLY MANIFEST--Rev19 "King of kings..."]"
--1Tim6:15 being one of only TWO references to "King" (re: Him) in all of the epistles;
--note even v.8a is seven years apart from v.8b;
Sorry, but what you 'addressed' is your opinion. You have not presented any facts that are apparent.
All you're trying to do is blend a pre-trib "event" and the Second Coming together in order to support a pre-trib rapture.
But, consider these verses that precede 2:1-
ch 4-
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
14 For 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.
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until
the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 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.
17 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.
In v.15, "the coming of the Lord" is obvious; it's the Second Coming. And v.17 says nothing about returning to heaven.
ch 5-
1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,
2 for you know very well that
the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3 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.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
v.2 refers to the Second Coming again. v.4 explains WHY believers shouldn't be surprised like the unbelievers. We aren't in "darkness". The living believers will easily recognize the evil of the Tribulation.
2 Thess 1-
6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you
7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.
This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
8
He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9
They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might
10
on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
This chapter precedes the mention of the Second Coming in 2:1.
The red words refer to the Second Coming.
The blue words refer to the unbelievers who will face God's judgment.
The green words explain what the judgment will be.
v.10 again emphasizes the Second Coming. So the context for 2:1 is the Second Coming.