1 Thessalonians 4

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Here's what I want to focus on out of this passage:

that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

we which are alive and remain.......what do we know about the timing

2 Thes 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;

We know it will be a time of DECEPTION and APOSTACY, so what does this have to do with "we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord?"

Some suggest that the words "alive and remain" have something to do with christians being killed in the tribulation, I counter that with the word of God which says at the time of the anti-christ being revealed, there will be few true believers left due to deception and apostacy. The REMAINING FEW (Matt7:14), who are still true to the Lord and His Word will be raptured in order to ESCAPE ALL (Luke 21:36) that's about to happen.

More Pre-Trib Thoughts

I guess watching at EVERY season, means watching today...and tomorrow, and the next day...for what? For the great ESCAPE.

Luke 21:36
But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

More Pre-Tribulation escape thoughts...

1 Th 4:16-17

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.(KJV)

Rev 3

8 I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut),
10 Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Rev 4

1 After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, a voice as of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter.

And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold.

white garments? crowns?

Only men wear crowns

Only men wear white garments

Only men sit on thrones (except God and Satan)

Only men are elders

Revelation 3:21 says, "He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."

Revelation 3:5 says, "He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."

Revelation 2:10 says, "Do no fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Revelation 3:11 says, "I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown."

Rev 5
Redeemed men in heaven, it's crystal clear:

for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Hmmmm, let's see....REDEEMED MEN out of EVERY KINDRED, TONGUE, PEOPLE AND NATION....

Gosh, how did redeemed/rewarded men show up in heaven in Rev 5? Only one way..A PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE....

Thoughts for 2008

Maybe......WE ARE OUTA HERE. Maybe not, regardless, time is short. How do I know those who are truly "in Christ" will leave BEFORE sudden destruction comes on this world? The Lord could'nt have been more clear about how He operates. Consider:

From the Luke 17 neighborhood....
until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: 30 after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed.

The righteous entered into, or went out to safety, they DID NOT stay put and take the destruction in the face as some would have us believe. There is an escape for those who will obey and believe the Lord's command to be watching for His return and praying for escape from all that's about to happen. (Luke 21:36, Rev 3:10)

This year promises to be a bumpy ride for many people. Could one day this year be the day that puts us face to face with our beloved Savior? Maybe so...