Last night I was teaching from Matthew, Chapter Twenty-four. You may remember that this is probably the most complete description in the Bible of the Lord's return.

One point I emphasized was that the Greek term parousia used in Matthew 24 for "coming" ("what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?") is the only Greek term used for coming in the Books of First and Second Thessalonians.

For example: "we who are still alive, who are left till the coming [parousia ]of the Lord, . . . ." (I Thessalonians 4:15).

The common use of parousia in Matthew Twenty-four and First Thessalonians Four tells us that these are setting forth the same event.

Which brings us to a problem, because Matthew Twenty-four informs us that the coming of the Lord will occur after the great distress, or great tribulation, and this is not commonly taught.

Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.  (Matthew 24:29)

"Immediately after the distress (tribulation) of those days."

I went on to say that it does not matter whether the great tribulation comes before or after the catching up ("rapture") of the dead in Christ because the Bible teaches that the wheat and tares will come to maturity side by side. Where sin abounds grace shall much more abound. As Antichrist comes to maturity in the wicked, Christ will come to maturity in the righteous at the same time.

Our protection during the great distress will not be that of escape but the filling of us with the fullness of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19—NIV)

The filling of us with the fullness of God fulfills the type of the feast of Tabernacles that follows the feast of Pentecost (Leviticus, Chapter Twenty-three). After we have experienced Pentecost we need to press forward to Tabernacles.

God walked with the three Hebrew young men in the fire. He did not rescue them by removing them.

God was with Daniel in the lions' den, and the lions became as pussycats—until the wicked were thrown in. Then the lions got their appetite back.

God did not have to remove Shadrach or Daniel. He was with them in the fire.

What have we to fear?

Then we come to the actual "rapture" passage—First Thessalonians, Four, starting with Verse 13. What is this passage about anyway?

The central emphasis of the "catching-up" passage is: "we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep."

"Will not precede."

This is the emphasis of the catching-up passage. The passage has nothing to do with rescuing believers from the great tribulation, so it does not matter whether the catching up comes before or after the tribulation.

To be continued.