The Second Coming of Christ and the First Resurrection.

The Second Coming of the Lord and the Day of the Lord are one and the Same.
1 Thess 4 agrees with 2 Thess 2 agrees with 1 John 2:18 agrees with Matt 24 & 25 agrees with Revelation

The reason why tribulation grows into the Great Tribulation is this - Growth and Time is Running Out.

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

When Satan is first mentioned in the Bible he appears as a serpent in the Garden whereby he brought the world into his sin and became the god of this world over fallen man.

Well, that Serpent of Old had thousands of years to grow into a Dragon by the time we now find ourselves in.
This Dragon has great wrath and he will soon unleash it upon the world with his mark - this is the Great Tribulation.
The more satan imposes his influence upon the world the more chaos, destruction and disruption of the environment that pursues.

Would you rather face off with a serpent or Dragon???

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation;
but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Christ is our Peace our Joy and He gives us the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.


It says the rest of the dead lived not until after the 1000 years...that living again means a resurrection and this proves there was a resurrection that happened in the verse before as it is describing two days of resurrecting separated by a thousand years.

The first group to rise from the dead have no fear of the second death.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The only way the 2nd death has no power is if you are immortal and judged to life, never capable of dying. The first resurrection is also another way to say "rise first" which is also related to the first mass resurrection:

1Th 4:16 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:

This is also "the first resurrection" and happens at the same timeframe, the second coming. Some doubt they are immortal but scripture says they are:

1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The last trumpet sounds before the thousand years begins!

1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

It is swallowed up meaning for these people the second death has no power because they are resurrected into immortality and that is exactly the same for the smaller group that is focused on in Rev 20:4. They are not the only ones that resurrect to immortality, they are just what God wanted to focus on in that one passage. They are immortal. They were judged and resurrected BEFORE the thousand years as are all the dead in Christ.

first resurrection = rise first. Both address when the dead in Christ come back to life.

Satan's wrath is not Gods Judgment upon His Children.

Zepheniah 1 is not speaking to God's Children - It is God's Judgment upon the nation Israel for rejecting their Savior.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
Look, your house is left to you desolate.
And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.'
Luke 13

[
it’s awesome that we are offered what Enoch received

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

we can walk with him too and be translated also and never see death

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:51‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Question: Why did the Father focus on the our Brethren who died during the time of the Antichrist and his Mark?

ANSWWER: God knows all things from the Beginning - including false doctrines and heresies that would be targeted at His Church to disrupt and undermine our Faith and Trust in Him.
The foreknowledge of God focussed on this group because of the error of pre-trib and it's divisive and destructive purpose.

Scripture cannot lie and God is not the author of confusion.

Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit did not give us conflicting messages or prophetic words.

The account given of our Lord's Second Coming agrees with 1 Thess 4 agrees with 2 Thess 2 agrees with 1 John 2:18 agrees with Daniel 7 agrees with Revelation - these are Harmonious with one another and agree with one another.

Great stuff if only we would all accept what’s written there would be no division

it’s only when interpretations and theological arguments enter that it happens scripture is so incredibly cohesive and coherent it’s no wonder the lord caused by the spirit it to be written and preserved so we can all become believers of the same things that are meant to bring us together in faith

no matter the subject bro I always find some edification in your posts truly appreciate your time and effort here

I believe that we ought to always pray for pre- (Luke 21:36) and never give up on praying for it.

And if we pray for pre-, believing that we have received the thing that we have asked for, we shall receive it (Mark 11:24).

Rev 3:10, Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Here's another question I like to ask the pre-tribers? Look at what the Apostle John says at 1 John 2:18. "Children, it is the last hour and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrist have arisen; from this we know that it is the las hour."

Why does John tell the believers to look out for the antichrist if nobody is going to be around? And what did Jesus say at Matthew 24:15? "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, (let the reader understand) vs16, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." In other words, "Get out of Dodge."

Read what else Jesus says from Matthew 24:17-31. This is tribulation times, not a rapture, verse 31. Perfectly consistent with what Paul and John stated.

IN GOD THE SON,
bluto

i read your post here a third time more slowly to let it soak in, i have a tendency to skip read - my apologies.

Your post is beautiful and 100% - think archery - Bullseye shot and then a Robin Hood.

Thank you for the Scripture you shared

Yes, they all agree - Scripture cannot lie

Order of Scripture
woven throughout His Word
Clear to See if you bend the knee
not to me or to other men
but to God who Holds the Eternal Pen

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭

what if faithfully enduring whatever tribulations may come meant we were inheriting eternal Life and peace when it’s over ? Even if it took our worldly life , what if we’re going to be glorified and live together with Jesus for eternity in a place like this ?

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:3-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I believe the Day of the Lord is at the 7th Trump when Jesus returns (the Second Coming). There will be two tribulations, as I understand it.

Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

The word affliction = tribulation.

Strong's # 2347
thlipsis, from 2346; pressure, ( Literally or figuratively); KJV—afflicted, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

This will be a tribulation like there never was since the beginning of time.

Mark 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved; but for the elect`s sake, whom He hath chosen, He hath shortened the days.

Mark 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, He is there; believe him not;

Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Mark 13:23 But take ye heed; behold, I have foretold you all things.

Now we come to the second tribulation. Notice it says after that tribulation.

Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

Mark 13:25 and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

This is the second tribulation at the 7th trump at the true Christ's return. This is God's tribulation (God’s wrath).

Mark 13:26 And then shall they see the son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Mark 13:27 And then shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

The four winds have to do with the moment of the end. That's the second tribulation, God's tribulation, when the battle of Armageddon and Hamon-gog take place. God fights those battles for us.

Well, we can pray for satan to be shut up in prison right now - but guess what - no matter how much or how many pray for that it will not happen until the Lord Returns.

If pre-trib were true i would be praying for it as well.

Rev 3:10 is Beautiful passage of Scripture - It is also a conditional Blessing = Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

No pre-trib rapture here - How do we know this?
Because our Lord has given to us His word and it is impossible for Him to lie.

By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.
After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

Do a word study on 'keep/keeping/kept in the Gospels and the Apostles Letters.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1

Yes, I have and do pray Luke 21:36 but look at what He says to us in the entire passage.

But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth.
So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36

Jesus is talking about having spiritual strength = keep watch and pray so that we are not entangled with the world and the things it can offer us to entrap us.

If you're really wanting to understand the pre-trib perspective on this point (even if you end up not agreeing), I'm pre-trib, and will (as I have in the past) address this by saying:

--"our Rapture" is NOT for the PURPOSE of "the wedding FEAST / SUPPER" taking place UP THERE (in Heaven) while the Trib years unfold upon the earth (NO);

--"the wedding FEAST /SUPPER" *IS* the promised and prophesied EARTHLY Millennial Kingdom (at the very least, its inauguration [celebration / festivities]... that is, it is COMMENCING upon His Second Coming to the earth, i.e. His "RETURN" to the earth [Rev19]; see Lk12:36-37,38,40,42-44 "when he will RETURN FROM the wedding"... THEN the meal [G347; see also Matt8:11 and its parallel, etc]);

--we ("the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY" to/for/of whom "Rapture [/caught up / snatch / harpazo]" SOLELY pertains, will be returning "WITH [G4862] Him" at that point (Rev19), Col3:4, etc;

--following "our Rapture," many more people will be coming to faith in Christ (IN / DURING / WITHIN the Trib years)--These are the "guests [plural]," the "5 [wise] Virgins [plural]," the "servants [plural]" of that time-period, AS WELL as the ones who it will be (at that time) that are DOING the "INVITING OF" the guests TO "the wedding FEAST / SUPPER [i.e. earthly MK age], aka the believing remnant of Jews/Israel who will be DOING the "INVITATION" msg (Matt24:14, 26:13... ; Matt25:40,45 "the least of these My brethren"; Matt22:9-14; etc etc);

It is not accurate to say that the "pre-trib" view says there will be NO SAINTS existing on the earth in / during / within the "7 yr period" (commonly called the Tribulation period)... it's that they will have come to faith in Christ FOLLOWING "our Rapture" (Paul is telling of the two CONTRASTING beliefs ppl WILL BE coming to, during that future specific LIMITED time period leading up to Christ's "return" to the earth; and many passages in the gospels accounts show their entering into the earthly MK age, variously called "the age [singular] to come," "the kingdom OF THE heavenS," "the wedding FEAST / SUPPER," the "MEAL [G347]," and regarding the "BLESSED" [in 8-10 passages, such as Dan12:12, for one, and Matt25:31-34 for another example], etc etc...)

--NO "SAINT" will be missing from "the promised and prophesied EARTHLY Millennial Kingdom, aka "the wedding FEAST / SUPPER / FESTIVITIES"... it is located ON THE EARTH, commencing upon His "RETURN" TO the earth (Rev19--NOT at the time of "our Rapture" nor ITS location and its own purposes, see...)



Hope that helps you see the pre-trib perspective on that point. = )

What Bible version are you using?

In the kjv:

Luk 21:34, And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35, For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36, Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

You should be praying for it as Jesus commands you to do so in Luke 21:36.

Again, the general tribulation that we experience as Christians is completely different from the Great Tribulation Period (the hour of temptation) that the church of Philadelphia will be preserved out of; at least, those of that church who keep Christ's commandment to persevere.

And yet, it still may happen as the result of our prayers for God to do that...in fact, Christ may return sooner as the result of such a prayer.

And therefore Mark 11:24 is certainly not null and void as it applies to our prayer that we may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that are going to come upon the earth and that we might stand before Jesus who is the Son of man.

Then what do you do with these verses?

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:

“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

Timing here has nothing with the Lord returning at the end of the Tribulation