This is a fascinating Bible study. It is very easy to wrongly divide the Word
of Truth if one fails to adequately examine the Scriptures. By God's grace I
have done my best. The last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation (known as the “Great Tribulation” or
“Time of Jacob's Trouble”) will be a time of woe that this world has never
known... “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it:
it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it”
(Jeremiah 30:7). The saints will be removed from the earth before
God's wrath is poured out...
1st Thessalonians 5:9, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
There is much confusion concerning the phrase “the day of the Lord.” From comparing and contrasting Scripture with Scripture, it becomes apparent that “THE DAY OF THE LORD” must include everything between the middle of the Tribulation until the end of the 1,000 year Millennium period.
It is midway through the 7-year Tribulation period that the Antichrist stands up in the Zionist Illuminati temple (not yet built), and blasphemes God by proclaiming to be God (2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4). This event is Biblically referred to as “The Abomination Of Desolation” (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Matthew 24:15). The restored daily sacrifices in the temple will cease. The Antichrist's peace treaty between the Jews and Arabs will be broken. It is after this blasphemous event that the False Prophet sets up an IMAGE of the Antichrist, which kills anyone who refuses to worship it (Revelation 13:15). God pours out His wrath upon the wicked world. This is inclusive of the term, “THE DAY OF THE LORD.”
Now, kindly, I disagree with some good pastors and Bible scholars concerning the meaning of “THE DAY OF THE LORD” in 2nd Thessalonians 2:2, “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that THE DAY OF CHRIST is at hand.” I've read numerous Bible commentaries and heard various pastors claim that “The Day Of Christ” is a mistranslation in the King James Bible and ought to actually be rendered, “The Day Of The Lord.” I just don't see a problem. That's my humble opinion. I think the King James Bible has it 100% correct with the translation of “The Day Of Christ.”
2nd Thessalonians 2:1-3, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for THAT DAY shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”
Respectfully, Pastor Texe Marrs and Pastor Steven Anderson both believe that this Scripture teaches something other than a pretribulation Rapture. I disagree. Brother Anderson believes in a PreWrath Rapture, and Dr. Marrs believes in a Postribulation Rapture. Granted, it is a controversial topic, and not essential to one's salvation. It does have an effect on how we live. 1st John 3:2-3, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” It is Christ's imminent, unpredictable and sudden return that keeps believers on our toes. Jesus could return now! If we compare Scripture with Scripture, we can only conclude a Pretribulation Rapture.
The key is to discern what the phrase “THAT DAY” means in 2nd Thessalonians 2:2. Let's go back a chapter to see 2nd Thessalonians 1:10, “When he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in 'THAT DAY.'” “THAT DAY” here plainly refers to the second phase of “The Day Of Christ,” which is the Second Coming of Christ at the close of the 7-year Tribulation period. The first phase of “The Day Of Christ” is the Rapture. So the “The Day Of Christ” actually refers to the entire 7-year Tribulation period, as relates to believers. The following sections of this article will help you immensely to understand the important distinctions between “The Day Of Christ” and “The Day Of The Lord.”
The Two Phases of “The
Day of Christ”
The Holy Bible teaches concerning 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-6 that the Lord Jesus Christ cannot appear at the Rapture until two things happen:
A common mistake that Bible students make is failing to understand that “THE DAY OF CHRIST” will happen in two phases; namely, Christ's appearing at the Rapture, and Christ's appearing at the Second Coming. Hence, the day of Christ refers to the entire 7-year Tribulation period. Note that this is not “THE DAY OF THE LORD.”
IMPORTANT!!! MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THESE THEOLOGICAL TERMS!
Here are the correct definitions of these Biblical terms (understanding these three terms will greatly help the Bible student “rightly divide” the Word of truth):
As you have just clearly seen, THE DAY OF CHRIST involves both separate phases of: the Appearance of Jesus for His own at the Rapture; and then the Lord's appearing in glory with His own, for all the world to behold Him, that “every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7).
I like the concise way Dr. Merrill F. Unger explains this vital Biblical truth in Unger's Bible Dictionary (if you don't have an Unger's Bible Dictionary, I highly recommend that you go purchase one). . .
2:1-5. THE CHURCH'S OUTTAKING AND THE DAY OF THE LORD
A Misunderstanding Exposed, 1-2. The Thessalonians thought their sufferings (2nd Thessalonians 1:5-12) meant that the day of the Lord had arrived, 2, that the end-time period of worldwide judgment (Revelation 6—19) had dawned, making way for the setting up of Christ's kingdom (Revelation 19:16—20:10). The apostle pleads against this mistake by citing again the truth that Christ's coming would be before the day of the Lord, 1, a teaching he had outlined in the first epistle (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
He warns clearly against the speciousness of the error, 2-3a, and describes the first phase of Christ's coming for His saints as the personal presence (pasousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ, coupled with our gathering together to Him (episunagoge), as outlined in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.
The Error Refuted, 3-5. Before the day of the Lord bursts upon a Christ-rejecting world, there must first come the apostasy or falling away. This is not departure from the faith often characterizing the Church Age (1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-8; Revelation 3:14-22), but the wholesale rebellion and thoroughgoing lapse into error and demonism of the period just preceding Christ's advent in glory (Luke 18:8; Revelation 9:2-21). There must also come the revelation of the Antichrist, here called “the son of perdition,” the lawless one, the last great demon-inspired world ruler (Daniel 11:36; Revelation 13:1-10; 19-20; 20:10). He will arrogate to himself divine honors and deceive end-time Jewry regathered to Israel, 4. The apostle had plainly taught these truths when he founded the Thessalonian church, 5.
SOURCE: 'Unger's Bible Dictionary,' by Dr. Merrill F. Unger, pp. 711-712; Moody Press, copyright 1966
So the phrase “Day Of Christ” refers to two separate, yet related, events and everything in between regarding the saints (e.g., the Judgment Seat of Christ, Philippians 2:16). So, the Lord's Second Coming cannot happen until the world goes into rebellion against God (a modern day tower and city of Babel), and the Antichrist makes his appearing to the world. Biblically, the first appearing of Christ at the Rapture can happen at any time—suddenly, imminently and without warning.
We read in 2nd Thessalonians 2:6-8 that the Antichrist cannot be revealed as long as the Holy Spirit's influence through the Church is working in the world. Dr. Merrill F. Unger goes on to comment on 2nd Thessalonians 2:6-9 that the Church must be removed (raptured) from the world before the Antichrist can be revealed, just as the Bible proclaims.
Only when the divine Restrainer is taken away with the glorified Church can and will the Antichrist be made manifest, 6, and “the mystery of iniquity” come to the full.
SOURCE: 'Unger's Bible Dictionary,' by Dr. Merrill F. Unger, p. 712; Moody Press, copyright 1966.
If, as Dr. Marrs teaches, the Day of Christ only refers to Christ's first appearing at the Rapture, then 2nd Thessalonians 2:6-8 makes no sense. Why would the Restrainer have to be removed from the world so the Wicked One (Antichrist) could be revealed? If not the Holy Spirit's influence through the Church, then who is the Restrainer? 2nd Thessalonians 2:7, “For the mystery of iniquity [the ancient mystery schools and Satanic world dominion, aka, a New World Order] doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” There is no other logical conclusion to explain this passage of Scripture than the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is “He Who now letteth...”
Dr. Marrs criticizes Hal Lindsay and Dave Hunt, claiming that their teachings on the Pretribulation Rapture are “lies and theories.” Well then Texe is saying that about me too, because I also believe and teach a Pretribulation Rapture of the Church. I believe that it is OK to agree to disagree. Like Texe Marrs has often said, I also do not mind when people disagree with me and criticize me. That's to be expected. I have had countless people tell me how much they used to hate and despise me because of my bold website ministry, but then the Lord worked in their heart through the truth, and now they are gratefully born-again and serving Jesus. What a great ministry!!! There's nothing more blessed, fulfilling and enjoyable than to hear someone who used to hate me and despise Christ, now thank me and love Christ. There is no greater joy!!! That's what the saving-power of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ can do to change a person's heart and life.
Texe says that Christ's return is “imminent,” but then contradicts himself when he says that the Lord cannot return until after the Antichrist appears. As Christians we are supposed to be looking for the Lord, not the Antichrist. Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Now if Texe is correct that the Lord cannot return until after the Antichrist APPEARS, then as believers we should all be looking for the Antichrist, which would be a dead give-away of WHEN Christ shall return. Of course, this goes totally contrary to the plain teaching of Mark 13:32-37 when the Lord said that NO MAN knoweth the time nor the hour.
Dr. Marrs believes that Isaiah chapters 26-27 teaches that the Church will enter into and suffer during the Tribulation, as a pregnant woman travailing in labor pain . . .
Isaiah 26:17-21, “Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD. We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”
Although Isaiah 26-27 is definitely a prophecy concerning the Tribulation period, there is nothing definitive to teach the timing of the Rapture. The passage is too vague. There will be people saved during the Tribulation, and Jesus said that the Great Tribulation would be shortened, lest everyone be destroyed from the horrific events. Again, the presence of saints during the Tribulation is no indicator of the timing of the Rapture, because the Bible plainly teaches that people will be getting saved in the Tribulation. Revelation 7:14, “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Please note that in sharp contrast to speculation about Isaiah 26-27, we have Christ's plain words in Mark 13:32-37 teaching that no man, not even the angels in Heaven, know the timing of Christ's return. If Texe is correct that Isaiah 26-27 refers to the Rapture, then we would know WHEN it occurs, because the Church would enter into the sufferings of the Tribulation period. Of course, that will not happen, because the Bible teaches that the Church (saints) will be removed before the Tribulation period begins and the Antichrist is revealed.
There is no debate concerning whether the event of the saints being caught up (i.e., rapture) will happen. Dr. Marrs and I agree 100% on that. The debate is over the timing of the Rapture. I am convinced of a PREtribulation Rapture from Jesus' plain statements in Mark 13:32-37 that NO MAN, not even the angels in Heaven, know WHEN the Lord will return. I think even if we could narrow the timing of the Lord's return down to the 7-year-Tribulation, it would be a total violation of this truth. The horrific and vividly detailed events of the coming Tribulation, as outlined in Bible prophecy, clearly tell us that Christ must appear BEFORE any of these things start happening. You decide my friend!
Please consider the
Following 28 Contrasts Between the two distinct phases of The Day of Christ.
The Great Tribulation
The apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 13:8 in 1st Thessalonians 5:3, likening the fearful men of the day of the Lord as being in great travail, as a pregnant woman in travail. Revelation 13:8 teaches that the sun and moon will be darkened during The Great Tribulation (the last 3 1/2 years of the 7-year Tribulation). In Revelation 9:10, deadly scorpion-like creatures from Hell will aggressively bite and cause their victims to suffer and seek death for “FIVE MONTHS,” but they won't be able to die. Creepy!!! It sounds like an episode of “Creep Show” or “Tales From The Darkside!” People will be tormented and unable to commit suicide for 5 MONTHS. This horrifying time is Biblically known as “The Great Tribulation.”
Thus, “the day of the Lord” is no doubt referring to both the Great Tribulation, Christ's Second Coming, and (according to 2nd Peter 3:10) also the millennial kingdom. 2nd Peter 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
Jesus referred to “the day of the Lord” in Mark 13:24-26 and related it to His second coming (notice the phrase “after that tribulation” below)...
Mark 13:24-26, “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”
Isaiah 13:10-13 confirms that Mark 13:24-26 speaks concerning Christ's Second Coming...
Isaiah 13:10-13, “For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine (see Revelation 8:12). And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.”
This prophetic event happens after the 1,000 millennial reign of Christ (known as the “MILLENNIUM”). Hence, as you can see “the Day of the Lord” has a very broad application to numerous prophetic events, but all pertaining to the Lordship and preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who “is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). The “DAY OF THE LORD” refers to God's time of taking action. Enough is enough! What a great day it will be when Jesus reigns over the world!
Nevertheless, the phrase “the day of the Lord” almost always refers to The Great Tribulation followed by Christ's return. This is the primary application of this term in the Word of God. There is theological debate whether or not “the day of the Lord” includes the millennial kingdom, but 2nd Peter 3:10 cannot be left out. We do know that “the day of the Lord” DOESN'T refer to the Rapture! In 1st Corinthians 5:5 we read the phrase, “in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Paul said to turn the man living in fornication over to the Devil for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit might be saved “in the day of the Lord Jesus.” This phrase applies only to the saved person, and refers to the Rapture.
So “the Day of the Lord” includes THE LORD
judging the world, coming again, defeating the Antichrist in the battle of
Armageddon, His millennial reign from Jerusalem and the final chapters of
humanity and the universe as we know it. There is no other conclusion that can
be reached if you view all the Scriptures referring to “the Day of the Lord.”
Keep in mind that the term “last days” has referred to the past 2,000 years of
history. 2nd Timothy 3:1, “This know also, that in the
last days perilous times shall come.”
Hebrews 1:1-2, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in
time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these
last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of
all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” We are living in the
LAST DAYS and have been since Christ walked this earth. We are now also
clearly entering into
the END TIMES!
We learn from the Old Testament in Zephaniah about the dreaded DAY OF THE LORD. This phrase “The Day of the Lord” appears 7-times in Zephaniah. Obadiah and Joel were the first of the writing prophets to use the phrase. Zephaniah uses the phrase more than anyone. Here it has a particular application to the Great Tribulation. The Day Of The Lord includes the Millennial kingdom. The theme of the little book of Zephaniah is “The Dark Side Of Love.” The Day Of The Lord is presented in Zephaniah as being dark instead of light, but it is both. Here is a wonderful exegesis of the book of Zephaniah and “the day of the Lord” by Pastor J. Vernon McGee.
1st Thessalonians 5:1-4, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”
“The day of the LORD” is mentioned 24 times in the Old Testament (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6,9; 34:8; Jeremiah 46:10; Lamentations 2:22; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1,11,31; 3:14; 5:18,20; Obadiah 1:15; Zephaniah 1:7,8,14,18; 2:2,3; Zechariah 14:1 and Malachi 4:5). “The day of the LORD'S anger” is used three times (lamentations 2:22; Zephaniah 2:2-3). “The day of the LORD'S vengeance” is used once in Isaiah 34:8. “The day of the LORD'S wrath” is mentioned in Zephaniah 1:18. Clearly “the day of the Lord” in part deals with God's fury being poured out upon the wicked world for their sins. God is sick of the world's wickedness. It is as in the days of Sodom. It wasn't even this bad 10-years ago. Every day this world gets more sick, more sinful, more perverted!
When I look around America and see the sodomy that abounds, that lewd nakedness and fornication in SIN CITY La Vegas, I realize that we are living in the times of Noah and Sodom. What happened to Sodom was an example of what will happen AGAIN! It will be PAYDAY SOMEDAY for the filthy, wicked sinners of this world! Get is going to settle the score, punishing the inhabitants thereof!!! God is going to punish the world! Jude 1:7, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” This describes the United States today, when everyone is going after fornication (immoral relationships) and strange flesh (homosexuality). Life is short, Hell is hot and eternity is a long time!!!
Isaiah 13:11, “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” This Scripture uses the law of Double Reference...
"Double references" are prevalent in scripture. A double reference is when generally when a prophecy has partial fulfillment at one time, but whose ultimate fulfillment occurs at a later date or is still yet future. Many of Daniel's prophecies are double references (i.e., the reference to Antiochus Epiphenes and the Antichrist) as are Isaiah's. SOURCE
Again, the preceding Scripture (Isaiah 13:11) uses the law of Double Reference, referring to the wicked who are cast into the Lake of Fire, as well as God's wrath which will be poured out upon the world during the Tribulation. This truth is confirmed by reading the surrounding passage of Scriptures...
Isaiah 13:10-13, “For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine (see Revelation 8:12). And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.”
In the New Testament, there are five times when “the day of the Lord” is used (Acts 2:20; 1st Corinthians 5:5; 2nd Corinthians 1:14; 1st Thessalonians 5:2 and 2nd Peter 3:10). All of these Scripture passages clearly speak of God's wrath upon the ungodly. God's kindness toward “the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:35) will not last forever. God's day of wrath against mankind is coming! As in the days of Noah, the world today has no fear of God, living in utter wickedness (Matthew 24:37-39). 2nd Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Albeit, the DAY will come when God will say “ENOUGH!” In this present Church Age (the times of the Gentiles, Luke 21:24), we see God's grace manifested towards mankind in a way that it never was before. When the Great Tribulation comes, beginning “The Day Of The LORD,” it will be a time of woe as the world has never before known.
Isaiah 13:6-9, “Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.”
Isaiah 13:10-13 prophecies of the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars just as Joel did in Joel 2:31. Jesus also referred to this prophetic event in Mark 13:24-26 and related it to His second coming. Paul quotes Isaiah 13:8 in 1st Thessalonians 5:3. Thus, “the day of the Lord” is clearly referring to both the Great Tribulation and Christ's Second Coming. The Bible speaks of these separate prophetic events in the Old Testament as one event. The “DAY OF THE LORD” refers to God's time of taking action and exercising His Lordship over humanity. Enough is enough! We are living in times of God's great patience toward humanity. 2nd Peter 3:9 tells us why, that is, because God doesn't want anyone to perish but desires for all men to repent. Albeit, time is running out!
Like today, people during Zephaniah's time were saying that it doesn't matter what men do, because God doesn't do anything either way. Zephaniah 1:12, “And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.” Well, in the Day of the LORD, men won't be saying that anymore. They'll be hiding in the mountains in fear of God (Revelation 6:16).
The Bible teaches that The Great Tribulation is 3 1/2 years long, beginning with the Abomination of Desolation midway though the 7-year Tribulation. This entire event, from the Great Tribulation onto Christ's Second coming is all part of “the day of the LORD.”
Is “the Day of Christ” a
Mistranslation in 2nd Thessalonians 2:2?
Before I make my point, please let me say that I support the ministries of many great men of God, some of whom I don't agree with all their views, which is to be expected as human beings. My loyalty is to truth, principles and God, and not to any man or group of men. If we disagree, we disagree, and that is ok unless it involves the plan of salvation or the use of counterfeit Bible versions.
I have a copy of Dr. John MacArthur's revised and updated Study Bible. In his commentary for 2nd Thessalonians 2:2 concerning the phrase “the day of Christ,” MacArthur states: “the better text sources indicate 'the Lord' rather than 'Christ'.” Respectfully, MacArthur can put his “better text sources” (i.e., the corrupted Westcott and Hort manuscripts) where the sun doesn't shine. MacArthur often quotes heretic Brooke Westcott in his Study Bible. Although Dr. MacArthur does make some brilliant theological statements at times, respectfully, he is a reprobate concerning the blood of Christ and the simple plan of salvation. In my humble opinion, the phrase “day of Christ” is correct and it would be errant to use “day of the Lord.” I also love and respect Dr. J. Vernon McGee, but in his THRU THE BIBLE audio series, he states that “day of Christ” ought to be “day of the Lord.” I disagree. That's just my opinion. Does the King James Bible have any friends these days?
I have a thousand books which I've collected over the years since Bible college (about 30 small boxes), which have become a big burden to me lugging them from one place to another. I love books, but my space is limited. I don't have a book case, so I dig through the boxes to find them. A 106 M.P.H. typhoon named Dolphin just water-soaked a bunch of my books, and I mopped-up an inch of water from one end of the apartment to the other, but thankfully they're still readable. God is always good!!! My power is back on after two days in the dark. Amen! And so, I've been reluctantly giving many of my books away, because I need the space, but I'm holding onto most of my Bible commentaries as long as I can.
Anyway, I just dug out my water-soaked Dr. Oliver B. Greene commentaries for Romans, Hebrews and Thessalonians. Dr. Greene also thinks that “the day of Christ” in 2nd Thessalonians 2:2 is a gross mistranslation in the King James Bible. I'm no Greek scholar, but I know enough to know that only the modern corrupted Bible versions say “day of the Lord.” Call me what you will, but I'm tired of so-called arrogant scholars and pastors criticizing the King James Bible and calling it “horrible.” What they are really saying is that we don't have a perfect, inerrant, trustworthy, preserved, pure, holy, Bible today from God!!! What a sad thing it is to believe that the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, God of the universe is incapable of preserving an inerrant and reliable copy of His inspired Words for the world in modern times. Instead, we apparently need educated religious men to tell us what the Bible should actually say. The 53 men whom God used to give us the Authorized King James Bible weren't idiots.
Kindly, I'm tired of hearing preachers correct the Authorized King James Bible. By the new corrupted Bible versions changing the phrase “the day of Christ” to “the day of the Lord,” it has misled many Bible students to conclude a postribulation Rapture (e.g., Texe Marrs). Certainly, 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-3 can be a tricky passage to properly interpret. And may I say, you cannot decipher the correct meaning of 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-4 without cross-referencing this passage with other Scriptures, such as Mark 13:32-37 (where Jesus said no man knows WHEN He will return). I see absolutely nothing wrong with the phrase “the day of Christ” in 2nd Thessalonians 2:2. Remember, there were no chapter divisions in the original Koine Greek manuscripts, men added them. So when you read the first and second chapters of 2nd Thessalonians as being one, you get a clearer understanding. 2nd Thessalonians 1:10 plainly reveals “that day” to refer to Christ's Second Coming to earth, after the 7-year Tribulation.
I agree with Dr. Merrill Unger in his Unger's Bible Dictionary (as quoted earlier concerning the day of Christ). I thank God for gifted theologians like Merrill Unger, who God has given to help common men like me. 2nd Thessalonians 1:10 identifies “that day” as THE DAY OF CHRIST. I find no fault in the King James Bible!!! The specific term, “THE DAY OF CHRIST,” has its unique place in Bible prophecy. I believe that the term “Day Of Christ” relates to Christians, including the pretribulation Rapture and all related events which will occur during the 7-year Tribulation; such as, The Judgment Seat Of Christ and The Marriage Supper Of The Lamb.
In sharp contrast, “The Day Of The Lord” relates to coming judgment upon the Christ-rejecting wicked. This term includes the Antichrist's Abomination of Desolation, the judgments of God poured out upon the wicked world during The Great Tribulation, Christ's Second Coming in power, glory and eternal judgment, the Millennial reign of Christ and The Great White Throne of Judgment. It seems to me that the Day Of Christ is for the righteous, but the Day Of The Lord is for ther wicked. The wicked man living in fornication in 1st Corinthians 5:1-5 was to be given over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit would be saved in the Day Of The Lord (that is, he won't be condemned with the unbelieving wicked, because he has faith in Jesus Christ).
In 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 the apostle Paul teaches about the glorious appearing of Christ at the Rapture. This is the first phase of the day of Christ. Then in 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 Paul teaches about the dreadful coming of the day of the Lord, in which the wicked shall be judged (as in the days of Noah, Matthew 24:37-39). Dr. John MacArthur assumes, as many scholars errantly do (in my humble non-expert opinion), that the Thessalonian believers were worried about the day of the Lord, but that's not accurate. Why would they care about the coming troubles for the wicked? 1st Thessalonians 5:3 describes the day of the Lord as a time when the world will proclaim peace, followed by sudden destruction. This refers to the Abomination of Desolation (Daniel 9:27; 12:11; Matthew 24:15), when the Antichrist breaks his peace covenant with Israel and the Great Tribulation begins.
Notice what Paul says in 2nd Thessalonians 1:7 and 10, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. ... When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” Notice, “THAT DAY.” This refers to the second phase of “the day of Christ.” This is what Paul is referring to when he mentions “the day of Christ” in 2nd Thessalonians 2:2. This is the “THAT DAY” of 2nd Thessalonians 2:3, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” The Bible interprets itself. MacArthur and the so-called “better texts” are WRONG!!! The apostle Paul is comforting his converts in Christ by encouraging them. They were troubled that the Rapture had already came and then were left behind.
As I pondered this passage of Scripture in 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-3, and prayed for God to teach me His Word, I wondered why Paul didn't just tell the believers at Thessalonica that nothing can happen until after the Rapture happens first. But then I realized that Paul couldn't do that, simply because there are NO signs or indicators of WHEN the Rapture will happen. I think what troubled the believers at Thessalonica was what Paul said in 1st Thessalonians 5:1, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” I think they didn't know perfectly, which is evidenced by Paul's second epistle to them, addressing this very issue of WHEN the Rapture will occur. Since Paul cannot tell them what will happen BEFORE the Rapture, he tells them what events will happen AFTER the Rapture, during the Tribulation and prior to Christ's Second Coming (advent).
Now the saints at Thessalonica were troubled about WHEN Christ would return. As is commonly believed by Bible students, it is possible that someone even forged a letter in Paul's name to the church at Thessalonica, saying that Christ had returned (2nd Thessalonians 2:2). Deceivers have always been a threat to the churches. So Paul assures the saints in his second epistle that Christ has not yet returned, by giving them some signs of what must happen during the Tribulation and world rebellion prior to Christ's second Coming. Note that this is all AFTER the Rapture. It makes sense that Paul couldn't give them signs of what to look for prior to the Rapture, because there simple are none, as Jesus taught in Mark 13:32-37. Paul does begin 2nd Thessalonians chapter two by speaking regarding Christ's second coming and our gathering together unto Him (the Rapture). These are two separate events, 7-years apart.
Although the world has always been evil, and there have been rebellious nations against the Lord throughout history, there has never been a time since before the flood of Noah's day that the entire world united in rebellion against God. They were headed that way at the tower and city of Babel in Genesis 11:7-9, but God intervened and stopped them. Today, 4,500 years later, God is allowing mankind once again to come together under Satan's New World Order in rebellion against God. The Rapture must be oh so near!!!!!!!
I am going to teach you what I simply believe concerning the following controversial Scripture passage . . .
2nd Thessalonians 2:1-3, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”
First, the apostle Paul plainly mentions the “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.” I believe this refers to Christ's Second Coming and the Rapture. These two prophetic events happen 7-years apart from each other. The “gathering together unto Him” can only refer to the Rapture. Texe Marrs interprets this passage to mean that the Rapture cannot happen until after the Antichrist appears. I don't agree with that at all. I think it means the opposite, that is, since the Rapture must happen before the events of the Tribulation, you know that Christ hasn't returned—not because the Rapture happens after the Antichrist appears; but rather, because the Rapture happens before he appears! I hope this makes some sense.
I would not be dogmatic on the issue, because these passages are open to speculation. What I do know for a FACT is that Jesus said in Mark 13:32-37 that NO MAN knoweth the time nor the hour of His return, not even the angels in Heaven. It wouldn't make sense to apply this Scripture to Christ's Second Coming, since we know exactly WHEN He is coming (3 1/2 years after the Abomination Of Desolation). This can only mean that the Rapture happens in timing BEFORE everything else during the Tribulation. There is absolutely no way that Christ can return after the Antichrist appears (as Dr. Texe Marrs and Pastor Steven Anderson teach) and yet His return be imminent, sudden, unpredictable and without signs. We would know exactly when Christ will return, down to the very DAY. Pastor Anderson has even set a date, 75 days after the Abomination of Desolation. Kindly, this is totally unbiblical. It appears that Texe Marrs and Steven Anderson share almost identical beliefs concerning the Rapture. In sharp contrast, if you take the Bible at face value, you can only conclude a pretribulation rapture.
END
