They is referring to those in darkness, those lost and persecuting the Saints and happens at the return of Jesus.
I never said they are "saved" persons, did I?
And it is your presupposition (an incorrect one) that this "happens at the RETURN of Jesus" (if by that you mean: Rev19 / Matt24:29-31 / 2Th2:8b, etc);
Paul very clearly says that the ARRIVAL of the day of the Lord is "exactly like [hosper]" the INITIAL "birth PANG [SINGULAR]" and he is talking about what Jesus had referred to when in His Olivet Discourse He spoke of "the beginning of birth PANGS [PLURAL]" which ARE the "SEALS" of Rev6 at the START of the Trib, the "BEGINNING" of these are followed by MANY MORE "birth pangs" (it is NOT just "ONE and DONE" when it comes to "birth PANGS"!! ); they are not what start at the Trib's conclusion!! but well-prior to the MID-point, even!
Study out about the "birth pangs" which the OT prophesied about also... you can start with Isaiah 26:13-21 (about Israel), which passage starts out with, "O Lord our God, other lords beside thee HAVE HAD DOMINION OVER US..." and further down, v17 starts by saying, "Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, IS IN PAIN, and CRIETH OUT IN HER PANGS..." ; and then take note of Hosea 5:14-6:3, where 5:15 says (re: Israel), "IN THEIR AFFLICTION, they shall seek Me early [/earnestly]" (and note also the TIMING issues spelled out in that context, from the perspective in time from His ascension... "after TWO DAYS" and "IN the THIRD DAY"--again, re: Israel).
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