Most of us in Christendom do comprehend the simplicity of salvation; that we can expect to go to Heaven when we die, but when we study the Rapture, we are afforded even more exciting details regarding salvation; one that happens while our still walking around in our earthly bodies:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead of Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1Thessalonians 4:16-18)
NOTE: “We shall not all sleep” refers to those of us who are alive when the Rapture happens:
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed.” (1Corinthians 15:51-52)
Pastor and Prophecy Teacher Tom Hughes has pointed out an important distinction between the “Day of the LORD” and “the Day of the Lord Jesus.”
Many Scriptures declare the Day of the Lord; a seven-year period known as the Tribulation that will be ushered in by whisking away Christians and small children, and God’s Judgment will be upon all of the remaining inhabitants of the earth. Here are just a few of those passages:
“Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.” (Zephaniah 1:7)
“The great day of the LORD is near; it is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness,” (Zephaniah 1:14-15)
“For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” (1Thessalonians 5:2)
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming.” (2Thessalonians 2:19)
Also See: Isaiah 13:9-11 & Jeremiah 46:10
These verses refer to the Day of the Lord’s Wrath on the earth for all those who have rejected Him. It is a time of great mercy, however, since it will be a last chance for those who have hated Him to come to His Throne in repentance. Even though they have neglected to accept the Lord Jesus as the Savior of the world during the Church Age when salvation was so much more readily available. God is still approachable, but there will be so much hardship and suffering for those who wait until the Church Age passes by; the Dispensation of Grace does indeed have an expiration date:
“Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)
Also, essential to this topic is the fact that God made a way for us to escape His Wrath by sending Jesus to die for our sins. His Death and Resurrection was the only way to satisfy God’s Wrath. The Blood of Jesus has saved us from the Wrath of our Father. Hallelujah! But, we would be wise to come to His Throne before the Church Age comes to a close, as we read in Matthew 25:1-13. Especially ominous is what Jesus told the five unwise virgins, who were carnal believers: “I do not know you” and “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:12b-13)
With so many references in God’s Word to the Day of the LORD that reference the Tribulation, it’s highly poignant to note that there are those Scriptures that highlight Jesus’ Declaration of our rescue in the Rapture, in contrast to His Wrath, He proclaims our Rescue!:
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” (Philippians 1:6)
“that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ,” (Philippians 1:10)
“holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or laboured in vain.” (Philippians 2:16)
“who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Corinthians 1:18)
“deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1Corinthians 5:5)
“(as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (2Corinthians 1:14)
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming.” (1Thessalonians 2:19)
