upgraded October 2, 2011
In the Apostle Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul referenced the fact that someone had been teaching that, "the day of the Lord has already come" - 2 Thessalonians 2:2. Paul stated that someone had been teaching that Jesus Christ had already returned.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (NIV) Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
After the Apostle Paul wrote his second letter to the Thessalonians, and by the time that Paul wrote Paul's second letter to Timothy, Paul had learned that it was, among others, "Hymenaeus and Philetus", who were involved in godless chatter, teaching that, "the resurrection has already taken place". Paul stated that in teaching, "the resurrection has already taken place", "Hymenaeus and Philetus" among others, had destroyed the faith of some of the "Born Again" Children of God.
2 Timothy 2:16-18 (NIV) Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 printed above, the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, is edifying the "Born Again" Children of God. The Apostle Paul clearly stated that Jesus Christ's Coming, and "our being gathered to Him," will not occur until AFTER the Man of Lawlessness is revealed.
The Man of Lawlessness is the Antichrist.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 printed above, the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, has given the "Born Again" Children of God a crisis point in time to look for, that will occur prior to, "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him".
Since the Holy Spirit of God has given the "Born Again" Children of God a crisis point in time to look for, the Holy Spirit of God has also given the "Born Again" Children of God information concerning what circumstance will reveal to the "Born Again" Children of God, who the Antichrist is. If the "Born Again" Children of God do not know what circumstance will reveal who the Antichrist is, the crisis point referenced will be of no use to the "Born Again" Children of God.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NIV) He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
The Antichrist will set himself up "on a wing" of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, "proclaiming himself to be God", in the MIDDLE of the Seven Year "covenant" Period.
Daniel 9:27 (NIV) "He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
In the middle of the Seven Year "covenant" Period, on December 21, 2012; the Antichrist will disregard the "peace agreement", invade Israel, and conquer Jerusalem. On December 25, 2012, Christmas Day, the Antichrist will, "put an end to sacrifice and offering", by the Jewish people, and set himself up "on a wing" of the newly constructed Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, "proclaiming himself to be God". The Antichrist will become the "abomination that causes desolation," spoken of in Daniel 9:27 printed above. An "abomination that causes desolation," is set up, when either a Gentile sacrifices in the Jewish Temple at Jerusalem, or something unclean in accordance with the Levitical Law is sacrificed in the Jewish Temple at Jerusalem.
On December 25, 2012, the Antichrist will become, "the abomination that causes desolation," spoken of by Jesus Christ, referenced in the Books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke:
Matthew 24:15-21 (NIV) "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again."
Mark 13:14 (NIV) "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong--let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."
Luke 21:20 (NIV) "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near."
The Holy Word of God in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 printed above has indisputably stated that Jesus Christ WILL NOT COME, until AFTER the middle of the Seven Year "covenant" Period, when the Antichrist is revealed!
2 Thessalonians 2:8 printed below reveals that THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ANTICHRIST, AND THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST WILL OCCUR SIMULTANEOUSLY!
2 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 printed at the top of this document, reveals that Jesus Christ will destroy the Antichrist, at the Coming of Jesus Christ, WHEN WE ARE "GATHERED TO HIM."
Revelation 19:11-21 printed below reveals that the Antichrist is destroyed at the END of the Seven Year "covenant" period, which is also the END of the three and one-half year "great tribulation" Period!
Revelation 19:11-21 (NIV) I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great." Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
The "Born Again" Children of God get irrefutable confirmation concerning when the "Born Again" Children of God will be gathered to Jesus Christ when the "Born Again" Children of God analyze the trumpets. Every single letter of the original Hebrew or Greek text in the Holy Word of God is inerrant, and thereby important. There are many places where a single word in a particular passage of the Holy Word of God gives additional information that is not found anywhere else in the Holy Scriptures. An example of this is found in the trumpets referenced at Jesus Christ's Second Coming.
Matthew 24:31 (NIV) "And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."
1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Corinthians 15:52 (NIV) in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Jesus Christ stated, referenced in the Book of Matthew, that the elect will be gathered with, "a loud trumpet call" - Matthew 24:31. The Apostle Paul, in perfect consistency, writes to the Thessalonians that we will be gathered at, "the trumpet call of God" - 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Paul gives additional information to the Corinthians stating that we will be gathered at the, "last trumpet" - 1 Corinthians 15:52. John the Revelator further clarifies the Second Coming of Jesus Christ by revealing that Jesus Christ will begin His millennial reign on the earth at the time that the, "seventh angel sounded his trumpet" - Revelation 11:15.
Revelation 11:15 (NIV) The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."
There is no eighth trumpet referenced in the Holy Word of God! The seventh trumpet is the LAST trumpet! The seventh trumpet marks the conclusion of the Seven Year "covenant" Period, which is also the conclusion of the three and one-half year "great tribulation" Period; and the beginning of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ on this earth! Again, we can see a perfect consistency throughout the Holy Word of God, but have additional and more specific information given in some particular passages. The fact that Jesus Christ will come to begin His millennial reign on the earth, when the LAST (seventh) trumpet sounds loud and long connects 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, Matthew chapter 24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and Revelation 11:15 to the END of the Seven Year "covenant" Period, which is also the END of the three and one-half year "great tribulation" Period:
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (NIV) I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The LAST (seventh) trumpet, is simultaneous with the seventh bowl of wrath. There is no eighth bowl of wrath. The seventh bowl of wrath is the LAST bowl of wrath, and like the LAST (seventh) trumpet, also marks the conclusion of the "great tribulation" Period.
Revelation 16:17 (NIV) The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!"
Jesus Christ will return with His angels at the sounding of the LAST (seventh) trumpet, and at the pouring of the LAST (seventh) bowl of wrath; to gather the "Born Again" Children of God to Jesus Christ in the air, while Jesus Christ allows the destroyer to destroy the living bodies of the Antichrist and False Prophet; and then Jesus Christ will establish Jesus Christ's millennial reign on the earth.