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NASB | 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then 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 shall always be with the Lord. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord! [John 14:3; 1 Cor 15:52; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; Col 3:4] |
Subject: Order of events at the 2nd Coming? |
Bible Note: Greetings EdB! I am definitely intrigued by your theory about the focus of Israel. However, I do think that God's mercy will still be available for all those who would respond to the Gospel. Part of my reasoning for this is based upon Rev. 14:6-13: "6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, ‘‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” 8 A second angel followed and said, ‘‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” 9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: ‘‘If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, 10 he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” 12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” ‘‘Yes,” says the Spirit, ‘‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”" This passage seems to indicate that God will still be reaching out to the lost. I agree with you that the odds of someone accepting then may be much lower than accepting now. But, there might be something to be said for the "shock" factor. After everything they will have seen at that point, they might be more receptive! :-o Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |