BigD responds:
First of all, I have no fear of the Tribulation because I am a member of the Body of Christ, a child of the day. "For God hath not appointed us to wrath (the Tribulation), but to obtain salvation (via the rapture) by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1Thes5:9).
The Bible never says that Jesus Christ will come secretly for his people:
Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and [they shall see] the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
24:31 And he shall send his angels with a [great sound of a trumpet], and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The coming of Jesus Christ will be visible and noisy.
SS, You have demonstrated your inability to understand the context of Matthew 24:37-42. These verses have nothing to do with the Chruch, the Body of Christ, as it was not MADE until AFTER the Apostle Paul was converted.
The above verses are talking about what will happen when Jesus returns as the Righteous Judge.
Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
(NOTE: that Judgment is over with....then Christ says)
22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
(Note: man are either destined for heaven, or hell)
The ones taken out will be taken out to judgment and the ones remaining will inter the earthly kingdom that Jesus will establish.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,
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.
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.."
Verse 8...... 2 Thess. 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.."
We don't find any Scripture concerning the rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ, until After Paul is raised up.
John 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Paul tells us in 1Cor15:515-53 about the rapture, as a secret.
You're right !
1 Thess. 4:16 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:
4:17 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.
AND......
Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
IMHO there are not enough people living within a "sabbath days journey" of the church to possibly fill more then one pew. But, when I drive by on Saturday, the parking lot is quite full. I suspect that the majority of those car owners are violating the Sabbath Day travel (Man-made)Laws.......... PLEASE TELL ME what does the Bible teach about what their punishment should be.
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the City", (Revelation 22:14).
Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
66:23 And it shall come to pass, [that] from one new moon to another, and [from one sabbath to another], shall [all] flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
Looking forward to your reply.
God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!