Rapture & the Second Coming of Christ

Monday, July 6, 2009: 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10

For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Background: Paul remembers how he transmitted the Gospel to the Thessalonians. Their faith and relaying the Gospel to others mirrors the former.
Whom do we wait on and wait for? We now wait on (serve) the living God (not idols) and wait for His Son who is coming from heaven to deliver us from the wrath of God.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009: 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.
Background: The conditional, ‘or’ is not employed as a choice. It is a progression from the future (hope) to the present (joy) to the past goal (crown).
What does Paul exult in? Paul’s glory is the presence of the Thessalonian believers at Christ’s Second Coming.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009: 1 Thessalonians 3:12–13

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
Background: Paul invokes God’s providence to increase our love towards believer and unbeliever alike.
What is the result of God’s increasing our love? He launches our holy, unimpeachable (blameless) hearts at the Second Coming of Christ with us, His saints.

Thursday, July 9, 2009: 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Background: The Lord will descend from heaven; we will meet Him in clouds.
Is this the Second Coming of Christ? No, this is the Rapture, when believers will suddenly vanish from earth.

Friday, July 10, 2009: 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the only difference in the two phrases of this invocation? It is the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.