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288</p><p style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 51, 187);" align="center"><font size="5"><b><u><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">What Saith the Scriptures</span></u></b></font></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&nbsp; &nbsp;</span><b style="text-indent: -18pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">The
289"Rapture" or the "Apostasy" Verse?</span></b></h3>
290
291<p style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;
292margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal;
293mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
294font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">&nbsp;</span><b style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">For decades many have been confused by a
295statement in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4:</b></p><p style="text-align: left; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Now we
296beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and </span><b style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><i>by</i></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> our gathering&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">together unto
297him, t</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">hat ye be
298not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by&nbsp;</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">letter as
299from us, as that the day of Christ is at&nbsp;</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">hand.&nbsp;</span><span style="text-indent: -18pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Let no man
300deceive you by any means: for </span><b style="text-indent: -18pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>that
301day shall not come,</i></b><span style="text-indent: -18pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> except there come a&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">falling away
302(</span><b style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">apostasy</b><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
302) first, and that man of sin
303be revealed, the son of perdition;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Who opposeth
304and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">that he as
305God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.</span></p><p></p><p><b style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Confusing Interpretations:</b></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Post
306Trib Rapture</span></b><span style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;- For many, the above verse seems
307to say that the tribulation times (called "day of the Lord")
308including the appearance of the antichrist (called the "man of
309lawlessness"), will appear first,&nbsp;prior&nbsp;to
310the&nbsp;rapture&nbsp;event (called "our gathering together to Him").</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;
311font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><b>Pre Trib Rapture</b>&nbsp;- Yet at the
312same time, many have also used the same verse to teach that the
313"rapture" of the church will take place&nbsp;before&nbsp;the
314tribulation period. I suspect that many of these teachers may read 2
315Thessalonians 2:3 with a presuppositional meaning that they already understand,
316not by what the verse actually says grammatically. (Read the verse several
317times if necessary).</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Briefly explained, the
318"rapture" (a word derived from the Latin Vulgate translation) is a
319moment in time when Christians will be evacuated off of planet Earth prior to
320severe political, earthly and cosmic disasters. These events are described in
321Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21 and Revelation chapters 6-19. The horrific
322disasters appear to include violent earthquakes, brutal wars, massive pandemics
323and famines, tsunamis, economic collapse, asteroids, disturbances from outer
324space and a world dictator. During the rapture, both living and dead Christians
325will receive new, glorified bodies as they are gathered together with Christ in
326the air (1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Thess. 4:17).</span></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Greek
327Word "Apostasy" as it is translated Before KJV</span></b></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Part of the problem
328with correctly interpreting 2 Thessalonians 2:3 has to do with the translation
329of the word "apostasy."&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"></span></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
330line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-language:
331EN-GB">2Th 2:3</span></b><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
332mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">&nbsp; Let no man
333deceive you by any means: for that day
334shall not come, except there come a falling away <i>(Apostasy) </i>first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
335perdition;</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Let no one deceive you
336for the day of the Lord will not come unless the "apostasy" comes
337first. It's likely that the word "apostasy," translated from the
338Greek, may not be quite accurate. Let's look at some reasons why:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Surprisingly, the
339first&nbsp;15 centuries&nbsp;of translation use "departure" as the
340properly translated word for "apostasia" in 2 Thessalonians
3412:3&nbsp;(House 1995, 270). In fact, the first seven English bible translations
342of "apostasia" prior to the King James Version, rendered the word as
343"departure" (as in the "rapture" or "gathering
344together to Him"). Also, Jerome's Latin bible known as the Vulgate from 400
345A.D. used the word "discessio," meaning "departure" as
346well. This historical fact is meaningful. While noting that spellings and
347English have changed over the centuries, here are a few of those pre-KJV
348English translations:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">1. Wycliffe New
349Testament (1384): That no man deceyue you in any maner/for no
350but&nbsp;departynge&nbsp;aweye (or dissencon) schall come firste and the man of
351synne schall be schewid the sone of perdicioune.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">2. Tyndale N.T. (1534):
352Let no ma deceave you by eny meanes for the lorde commeth not excepte ther come
353a&nbsp;departynge&nbsp;fyrst and that that synfnll man be opened ye sonne of
354perdicion.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
355line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">3. Coverdale Bible (1535): Let no man disceaue you by eny meanes. For the LORDE
356commeth not, excepte the&nbsp;departynge&nbsp;come first, and that Man of Synne
357be opened, even the sonne of perdicion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">4. Cranmer Great Bible
358(1539): Let no man deceaue you by any meanes, for the Lorde shall not come
359excepte there come a&nbsp;departinge&nbsp;fyrst, and that that synfull man be opened,
360the sonne of perdicion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">5. Matthew's Bible
361(1549): Let no man deceyue you by any meanes, for the Lord comnmeth not, except
362there come a&nbsp;departyng&nbsp;first, and that, that sinful man be opened,
363the sonne of perdicyon.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
364line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">6. Beza Bible (1565): Let no man deceiue you by any meanes: for [that day shall
365not come] except there come a&nbsp;departing&nbsp;first, and that man of sinne
366be disclosed, [euen]the son of perdition.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
367line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">7. Geneva Bible (1575): Let no man deceiue you by any meanes for that day shal
368not come, except there come a&nbsp;departing&nbsp;first, and that man of sinne
369be disclosed, even the sonne of perdition.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">(House 1995, 270).</span></p><p></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Making
370Sense from Eight Pre-KJV Historical Bible Versions</span></b></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Simply put, if our
371modern English translations rendered the verse as it was in those eight pre-KJV
372versions, it would read something like this:</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">"Let no one in any
373way deceive you, for the day of the Lord (tribulation) will not come unless
374the&nbsp;departure (rapture) comes first&nbsp;and&nbsp;then the antichrist
375appears" (2 Thess. 2:3).</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
376line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">In other words, once the unbelieving population begins to witness the tribulation
377and identifies the world leader (called "antichrist" in the Bible)
378who declares himself to be "god" in the rebuilt Jewish temple, then
379they will know that the rapture has already occurred. It will be evident.
380Millions of Christians will have disappeared worldwide (2 Thess. 2:3-4; Daniel
3817:25; 1 Thess. 4:17).</span></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Swiss
382Reformer Creates New Word</span></b></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">No historian knows
383exactly why, but the Swiss reformer, Theodore Beza, was the first one to
384transliterate the word "apostasia" to "apostasy." Rather
385than translate the Greek word "apostasia," Beza
386"transliterated" or created a new word, "apostasy." Thus,
387the King James Version translators rendered "apostasia" to mean
388"falling away" rather than a physical "departure." Ever
389since, Protestant and Catholic translators have used the word
390"apostasy" or "rebellion."</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
391115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"></span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
392line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">This changed a once strong rapture verse which spoke of believers evacuated off
393the planet to be with Christ in the air, into a verse meaning defection from
394church teachings, morality and doctrine, i.e. a "spiritual" rather
395than a "physical' departure.</span></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Turning
396Bible Texts into Polemics</span></b></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">One theory proposes
397that Theodore Beza may have changed the word "apostasia" to mean a
398spiritual departure rather than a physical removal, for a good reason. Dr.
399Andrew Woods postulates that in the 250 years before the King James
400translation, there was a growing schism between traditional Catholics and the
401newly emerging "protestant" faction. Each group may have looked to
402the other as "apostate." Thus, translating 2 Thess. 2:3 as "apostasy"
403might have been their way of indicting those who strayed from their own
404position. They forgot to do good bible exegesis and turned the text into a
405polemic to support their own position (Woods, 2017).</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
406115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"></span></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Context
407Should Always Determine Meaning</span></b></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The careful Bible
408student may wish to refer to The Liddell and Scott Greek Lexicon which defines
409"apostasia" first as "defection, revolt;" then secondly as
410"departure, disappearance." The context of First and Second
411Thessalonians suggests that "departure" or "disappearance"
412is the correct usage - just as the eight translations before the King James
413Version had declared.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
414line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"></span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
415line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><b>Paul's Use of Synonyms</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">We need to remember
416that in his two letters to the Thessalonians, Paul utilized good writing
417techniques by using synonyms to describe the rapture in several passages. In 1
418Thessalonians he wrote of the "harpazo" which referred to a
419catching-up of believers into the clouds to join Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 4:17).
420In 2 Thessalonians he referred to the same event as our "gathering together
421to Him" (2 Thess. 2:1). So, it makes good sense that Paul used the word
422"apostasia" as meaning a "departure" to again refer to the
423rapture in 2 Thess. 2:3. Effective writers do the same sort of thing today.</span></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Theologians
424Who Hold to "Apostasy" as the "Rapture"</span></b></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Recent theologians and
425historians who have understood this and hold to "apostasy" as meaning
426"departure" rather than church "defection" include:</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"></span></p><p><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Kenneth
427Wuest. E. Schuyler English. Dwight Pentecost. H. Wayne House. Stanley Ellison.
428Allen McRae. Gordon Lewis. Tim LaHaye. Thomas Ice. Andrew Woods.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">There are others, but
429this is an impressive list of scholars. Although in the minority, their
430translation of "apostasy" as meaning "departure" in 2
431Thessalonians 2:3, is well supported historically.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
432line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><b>Thessalonica Believers Not Left Behind</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">After all, why
433shouldn't theologians consider "apostasia" in 2 Thess. 2:3 to mean
434"departure" (or the rapture)? Context should always determine
435meaning. Think about it. Here in his two letters, Paul was comforting the church
436against false teachers or a fraudulent letter that had frightened Thessalonica
437believers into thinking that the Day of the Lord had already come. Paul was
438assuring them that they had not been physically "left behind" to
439suffer through God's wrath.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">In fact, the apostle
440Paul had already clearly told believers that they were not subject to God's
441wrath (1 Thess. 5:9). Therefore, the common-sense interpretation of this
442passage reassures believers that they would be gone before the "great
443tribulation" (Matt. 24:21) and appearance of the antichrist. The "Day
444of the Lord" would not come until two events occurred:</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
445line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">1. The gathering of Christians to the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:17, called
446the "rapture").<br>2. Then, the appearance of the "man of sin" (2 Thess. 2:3, the
447antichrist).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">The next time your
448Reformed or post-trib friends try to spoil your joy, tell them about:</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
449line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">-&nbsp;Eight pre-KJV English translations and 15 centuries of
450translations&nbsp;that used the word "departure" instead of "apostasy"
451in&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">2 Thess 2:3. - Tell them about&nbsp;The Liddell and Scott Greek
452Lexicon&nbsp;that gives two definitions for "apostasia," one of which
453means "departure" or disappearance.- Name some of the&nbsp;reputable
454scholars&nbsp;who hold to this view.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Remind naysayers that
455context should always determine which definition of "apostasia" fits
456the passage best. Suggest that they study alternative views. Most of all, point
457out that this is not a "salvation" issue and Pre-tribbers and post-tribbers
458don't need to become angry or pushy about it! Arrogance and ridicule are
459foreign to spirit-filled Christians. They are encouraged to learn both sides of
460the issue and leave it to the individual to decide which makes more sense.
461Unrestrained mockery, anger and ridicule is not a fruit of the Spirit and
462Christians should refrain from indulging in it anyway (read Galatians 5:19-20).</span></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Squabbles
463Over 3 Year Difference</span></b></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">It's possible that we
464could be here for part of the first three years of the seven-year tribulation,
465although there are arguments against that as well. It's even possible that we
466could face the antichrist. (We're only talking a little over 3 years difference
467here).</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
468115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"></span></p><p><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;">Improved
469Odds</span></b></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">But, the chances are
470better that we won't face the murderous dictator called the
471"antichrist" in the bible. Chances are that we won't have to decide
472whether to accept a "mark," perhaps in the form of a bio-chip in our
473hand or forehead that allows us to purchase consumer goods and to be tracked
474worldwide - or be killed if we refuse it (Rev. 13:16; 20:4). Chances are that
475we won't face the worst of cosmic and earthly disasters, either - it's bad
476enough now. We can once again be comforted by the apostle Paul's words in 2
477Thessalonians 2:3 and 1 Thess. 4:18.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"></span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
478line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;"><b>Looking for Jesus Christ - Not for
479Antichrist</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Best of all, we can
480look forward to the soon return of our loving Saviour, Jesus Christ - not the
481antichrist!</span></p><p></p><p><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
482font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">1Th 4:14</span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
483&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">-17</span></b></p><p><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
484mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
485even so them also which sleep in Jesus w</span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
486mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">ill God bring with him. 15.&nbsp;</span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
487mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord,
488that we which are alive <i>and</i> remain u</span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
489mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">nto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them
490which are asleep. 16.&nbsp;</span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
491mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with
492a shout, with the voice of the&nbsp;</span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
493mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">archangel, and with the trump of God:&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
494mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">and the dead
495in Christ shall rise first:</span></b></p><p style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;
496margin-left:18.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;line-height:normal;
497mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
498mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">17. Then we which are alive <i>and</i> remain shall be
499caught up together with them in the&nbsp;</span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
500mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">
500clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall
501we ever be with the Lord.&nbsp;</span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
502mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Wherefore comfort one another with these words.</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Verse 16, ‘With a SHOUT’ ‘With the TRUMP’ these are military terms. With a
503shout is a loud command, with the trump is a trumpet/bugle call to rally or move the
504troops around the battle field. During the heat of battle these commands and rallying calls were so
505loud that even the enemy would hear them. The enemy may not have understood
506them but they definitely knew something was about to happen. This confirms to
507me that there is no ‘Secret Rapture’ The whole world will know that something
508stupendous has occurred. The world is the spiritual battle field, the enemy is the prince of this world, Satan.</span></p><p></p><p><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
509mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">1Co 15:50&nbsp;</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Now this I
510say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">doth
511corruption inherit incorruption.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Behold, I
512shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, i</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">n a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
513last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
514incorruptible, and we shall be changed.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">When The Lord <b>"Appears in the air to call His people"</b> to be with Him, this is "<b>NOT"</b> the second coming! The second coming is described in Zechariah 14 and Rev 19.</span></p>
515
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521<![endif]--><font size="5"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;language:EN-GB;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">To the Glory of God For His Continuous Testimony</span></font></p>
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