The above passage describes the Lord's people who have not prepared themselves for His coming.

When I had my heart attack I was rushed to the hospital. A young doctor assured me it was not a heart attack but acid reflux (come to find out I had that also). However, an orderly (without the doctor's knowledge) had ordered the standard tests.

The doctor was comforting me with the thought that with proper diet and rest I would be fine. He smiled at me cheerfully, a very pleasant, amiable young fellow.

But the orderly, an older employee, came back with the news that the test showed I indeed had suffered a heart attack and some damage already had occurred.

The young doctor was chagrined and embarrassed, as you might imagine.

I immediately was assigned a room in the cardiac ward. I have been in other wards in the same hospital for other reasons and I am here to tell you that the food in the cardiac ward is the worst. It is terrible! It is like they are trying to remedy all your dietary peccadillos in one week.

The point is, the young doctor's intentions were of the best. A more likable, helpful person could not be found. But the orderly knew the rules, the guidelines established by untold years of hospital experience. The young doctor was dead wrong and I could have died from his good intentions.

Do you see the point? I could have said, "Let me out of here. The food is awful. The doctor said it was reflux and I can take care of that at home."

If I had done that I would not be distressing you at the present time with this article.

It is my sincere belief that the teaching of the pre-tribulation, any-moment "rapture" of all believers in Jesus Christ, no matter how pleasantly presented, is one of the most destructive of the heresies that has at any time entered Christian thinking. I base this on what knowledge of the Scriptures I have (after fifty-two years of study), on the application of contextual and lexical principles of interpretation, on the basis of logic, on the basis of historical fact, in the light of the types of the Old Testament, in view of the plan and goals of redemption, and on my observation of the effect of the doctrine on Christians.

What is the Spirit of God saying? Get on your knees and ask Him.

Your commentaries will not help you as much as the Spirit of the Lord will. The Greek text will reveal to you that the parousia, the only term used for "coming" in First and Second Thessalonians, will take place "after the tribulation of those days," according to the twenty-fourth chapter of the Book of Matthew.

The Lord is near you. Ask Him what His will is for you right now. I do not think you will hear Him saying you are about to be caught up by grace to Heaven to live in a mansion so don't worry about a thing. More than likely He will tell you to prepare yourself and your family for the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth.

Ask Him and see for yourself. The Scripture teaches of the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth and the Spirit always agrees with the Word of God.

The Lord bless you as you sail out into new waters. Don't be afraid, the waters may be new to you but they have been charted by the true saints from the time of the righteous Abel. (from What Is Wrong With the Teaching of the Pre-tribulation Rapture)