Paul explains these two separate events in 2Thessalonians 2:1-17
The Thessalonian believers were troubled by false teaching that the Day of the Lord [His hour of trial .... the coming tribulation period] had begun and was in process in the first century
Paul had to correct their thinking and to reassure them that the Day of the Lord had not begun
They were concerned that they had missed the gathering that Paul revealed to them earlier .... the Lord's "harpazo" action to immortalize them just before His coming judgment [1Corinthians 15:51-58; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 18:4]
Paul further explains that if the Day of the Lord was in fact in progress that this would be evident by the conditions of the coming tribulation period
He told them that the world would be ripe for judgment because of excessive intransigence and refusal to believe the truth about the Lord
He then links this condition with the coming of the lawless one who will do satan's bidding on the earth at the time [Revelation 12:12]
This gathering is not the same as the gathering that will take place after the tribulation period is over
This post-tribulation gathering will be one of the mortal survivors of the tribulation period .... the elect of national Israel and the Gentiles of the nations
This gathering is not a resurrection to immortality, but one for the purpose of separating mortal believers and unbelievers
The believing will enter His millennial kingdom on the earth .... the unbelieving will not
The Thessalonian believers were troubled by false teaching that the Day of the Lord [His hour of trial .... the coming tribulation period] had begun and was in process in the first century
Paul had to correct their thinking and to reassure them that the Day of the Lord had not begun
They were concerned that they had missed the gathering that Paul revealed to them earlier .... the Lord's "harpazo" action to immortalize them just before His coming judgment [1Corinthians 15:51-58; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 18:4]
Paul further explains that if the Day of the Lord was in fact in progress that this would be evident by the conditions of the coming tribulation period
He told them that the world would be ripe for judgment because of excessive intransigence and refusal to believe the truth about the Lord
He then links this condition with the coming of the lawless one who will do satan's bidding on the earth at the time [Revelation 12:12]
This gathering is not the same as the gathering that will take place after the tribulation period is over
This post-tribulation gathering will be one of the mortal survivors of the tribulation period .... the elect of national Israel and the Gentiles of the nations
This gathering is not a resurrection to immortality, but one for the purpose of separating mortal believers and unbelievers
The believing will enter His millennial kingdom on the earth .... the unbelieving will not
