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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Sound the Alarm in the Churches, #3
Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. (Amos 5:18,19—NIV)
Now, as to the true nature of the Day of the Lord: I could present probably twenty-five passages that say the same thing as the above verses, concerning the Day of the Lord. The reader can seek these out at his or her pleasure. The Day of the Lord, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth, will be the most terrible of all times in the history of the earth—especially for church people. Remember, Amos is speaking to Israel, not to the nations of the earth.
More about this later.
As to the coming of the Lord to bring His Church to Heaven: I think this teaching is based on the fourth chapter of First Thessalonians.
But if one examines this passage, which indeed is speaking of the coming of Christ, the Day of the Lord, it can be seen that it is not a secret, invisible return of Christ to protect His people from harm. Rather it is an open revelation of Christ, summoning His warriors to meet Him in the air that they may descend with Him to the Battle of Armageddon.
It is, in fact, the time of the resurrection from the dead.
The passage in First Thessalonians was written to allay the fears of the living saints that the deceased Christians would not be present when Christ returned to set up His Kingdom on the earth. This is the stated purposed of the passage, and by all the laws of biblical interpretation we ought to interpret any passage of the Scriptures in terms of its stated purpose!
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. (I Thessalonians 4:13—NIV)
The above is the purpose for the passage and ought always to be considered strongly when interpreting the text.
We believe Jesus died and rose again and so we believe God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (I Thessalonians 4:14—NIV)
"God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him."
The passage has to do with the return of the deceased saints, I think the saints from the time of Abel—a mighty host of the righteous. Here is the army of the Lord.
According to the Lord's own word, 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. (I Thessalonians 4:15—NIV)
Again, the concern is that we who are alive at the coming of the Lord will not "precede" the deceased believers. Precede them where or in what? The following verses indicate the preceding has to do with the resurrection from the dead and being caught up to MEET the Lord at His coming; not to return with Him to Heaven but to meet him. We meet Him in the air.
To be continued.