THE DAY OF THE LORD: PART THREE

Two days ago, I wrote parts one and two of a short series on "the day of the Lord."  Today, as I begin my study of the Bible texts themselves, I believe it is necessary to view them in light of the sequence of future events, according to God's entire prophetic Word, so that I can understand the apparent contradictions found in the Bible's use of the phrase, "the day of the Lord."  Is "the day of the Lord" something for which to long, or something to dread?  The answer is both.

The next event on God's prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the Church (Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Thes. 4:13-18).  Notice verse eighteen speaks of the news of His coming for His own, as being a comfort to born again believers.  The next chapter of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians begins by showing the difference between the event of comfort (the Rapture), and the "day of sudden destruction" which is to follow (5:1-3).  As is often the case, the text, being divided into chapters, causes many to see God's comforting words of chapter four, as being a separate teaching from that found in chapter five.  By simply ignoring the chapter and verse references, it is clear that there will be a joyful event (the Rapture) followed by and awful even (the Tribulation).

  "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.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.  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.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thes. 4:13 - 5:6).

Solely based upon the grace of God, the Church will be removed prior to the seven year completion of the Dispensation of the Law known as the Tribulation, Daniel's Seventieth Week, and the Time of Jacob's Trouble.  The Rapture of the Church precedes the Tribulation of Israel and the lost world in which we live today.