he

GREAT ESCAPE
The second coming of christ defended and expounded

BY
Tyrone Aaron Harbert
O.C.M
 For unto you it is given,that
not only ye should believe on christ:
but also*suffer for his sake..
*Tribulation is a token of salvation to the believers.
-William Tyndale
Translation and note of
PHILIPPIANS 1:29
A.D.1534

I'd be very emotionally strained if I felt that God

had selected his son's blood bought bride
to suffer the tribulation....
I wouldn't have faith that i'd have to face the tribulation...
-David Phillips
Author of
"WHAT JOHN SAW:REVELATION MADE EASY"
A.D.1998

How much she hath glorified herself and lived deliciously,

...She saith in her heart,I....
SHALL SEE NO SORROW.
-THE HOLY BIBLE
REVELATION 18

An hundredfold...with persecutions;
and in the world to come eternal life.
-Jesus the Christ
MARK 10:30
 PREFACE
During the time of the apostles, they were comforted and encouraged by the prospect of
the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ. An angel had said to them on one occasion
"Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken
up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven."
(Acts 1:11) This was the hope of the church and thus it ought to remain till he does in fact
come again (1Cor. 11:25). In many doctrinal creeds this fact has only become a statement,
not a reality and an influence upon the Christians life. The Lord Jesus Christ intended that
his church, his called out ones, should look for him and that we should watch and wait for
his return. Over and over our Lord foretold of his return- and the apostles referred
continually to it after his ascension, such as: "When the son of man shall come in his
glory and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory"
(Matt. 25:31) "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that
look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin unto salvation." (Heb. 9:27,28)
"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: 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 we shall ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess.4:16,17) Our hope lies
in the visible, personal, return of our Lord Jesus Christ! This is what we do indeed wait
and watch for!
"Behold, he cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see him."(Rev. 1:7)
Our Lords second coming encompasses the whole of prophetic scripture. Any student of
prophecy will find at once that the Messiah's return is a central theme and focus through-
out Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, Joel and so on, you find our Lords reign from the
throne of David as the hope of Israel as well as the gentiles. So, it is of vast importance; it
indeed is not a minor doctrine of Bible study. The blessed hope is a major prospect of our
faith!
The Lord in his own teaching of his return warned his disciples of many things and instructed
them of things to watch for. Among these words our Lord warned against three false beliefs:
1) That his advent would be at any moment (Matt. 24:4) "Take heed that no man deceive you"
as he gives many events prior to his return. (V. 5-25 etc.) 2) That it might be a secret advent
(Matt. 24:27) "For as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth unto the west so shall the
coming of the son of man be." (V.26) 3) That it might preceed the tribulation (Matt.24:29-31)
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days...then shall appear the sign of the son of man."
In this booklet we shall be looking at what the bible reveals of our lords return.
 CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

SCRIPTURAL CHRONOLOGY
The Bible only knows one sequence of events
THE SAINTS
The Bible only knows one class of saints
THE RAPTURE
Just what is the event we speak of?
THE WRATH
Will we be here on earth in the midst?
THE TAKEN
In judgment or the rapture?
THE WATCH
Scriptural watching explained
THE RETURN
The grand event expounded
TWO STAGES?
THE DAY
The opponents imaginary chronology
events at his return
A PRIOR "SECRET" RAPTURE?
A look at Revelation 19:14
CONCLUSION
QUESTIONS
appendix
 INTRODUCTION
Whatever your beliefs on the timing of the personal visible return of our Lord Jesus
Christ-whether you are uncertain, or you think it will occur before the tribulation, in the
middle of this period ,or after it-you should look into the contents of this book and the
biblical evidence it presents.

This work is written and designed to be read and studied with the authorized King
James Bible in hand. many verses of scripture are not quoted but rather only refered to, so
that the sincere Bible student may see for himself the precious truths of the holy
scriptures, which of course is the only God given authority we have. It alone is our sole
foundation of hope and doctrine. As the apostle Paul says; "All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteusness"(2 Tim.3:16).

The pre-tribulation rapture I say is a false doctrine and I will set out to prove so in
this booklet. Some may wonder why I am so strong here against its teaching, so let me
briefly give to you a few reasons: 1) It is a new teaching only a little over 100 years old
that was unknown prior to a "revelation" given in the 1800's, so it ought to be treated with
caution. 2) It lacks sound biblical support, it smacks of assumptions, inference, and
twisting verses and emotional content over reason thus it is unscriptural. 3) It is taught as
if some replacement gospel; you hear alter calls to come to the Lord in order to escape the
tribulation; (If the church does face the antichrist, what will happen to those poor souls
that trusted their sincere pastors?) It has become another gospel that is not another gospel
as Paul states. 4) Plainly, it is propagated to tickle the ears of its hearers, boosting
membership and income as well as book sales. After all, who wants a hope that involves
persecution, suffering, torment, and death? People don't want to hear "you will suffer"
they want "you will escape" in coming to Christ; so it misleads people.

I sincerely hope the reader will take a moment and consider certain texts that clearly
show that the Bible does NOT teach us Non Confrontationalism in regards to False
Doctrine..take a moment and read 1 Timothy 1:3, Ephesians 5:11-13, and Titus 1:9-
11..and ask yourself does Paul here teach us to leave others alone and let preachers and
teachers instruct as they please?..read Galatians 2:11-14, and ask yourself, Did Paul avoid
Confrontation over differing beliefs?

I hope with a refreshed mind, you the reader will carefully consider the scriptural points
raised here in this booklet.
(2 Timothy 4:2)
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
 SCRIPTURAL CHRONOLOGY:
The Bible only knows one sequence of events

Let us now take a look at the order of events which the Bible lays forth plainlyfor a
moment.
Our Lord for instance in his teaching of his second coming and the events preceeding
it in Matthew 24 sets forth a very plain sequence:
1) v.15: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel
the prophet, stand in the holy place...
2) v.21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the begining of the
world to this time, no, nor ever shall be...
3) v.29: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and
moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the
powers
of the heavens shall be shaken:
4) v.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 glory.
At once the arrangement of events according to our Lord is simply put:
A...ANTICHRIST/TRIBULATION
B...HEAVENLY SIGNS
C...SECOND ADVENT
The whole of scripture backs up the same chronicle:
In the Prophets-Joel 2:30,31;
"I will shew wonders in the heavens...the sun shall be turned into darkness
and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the lord..."
By the Apostles-2Thess.2:1-5;
"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and by our gathering together unto him, 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.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;who opposeth and exalteth himself
above all that is called God, or that is worshipped;so that he as God sitteth
in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God..."
The Lord himself-Mark 13:24,25;
"But in those days after the tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the
moon shall not give her light and the stars of heaven shall fall and the
powers that are in heaven shall be shaken."
The Prophets;Heavenly signs before the day of the Lord.
The Apostles;Tribulation/Antichrist before the day of the Lord.
The Lord Jesus;Heavenly signs before the tribulation.
A B C
Tribulational career of Celestial Day of the Lord
the man of sin, the Heavenly signs The second coming
Antichrist of Christ

"A" comes before "C" according to the Apostle Paul.

"B" comes before "C" according to the Prophet Joel.
"B" comes after "A" according to the Lord Jesus.
That is the simple a-b-c's of the whole matter. The scriptures set foth that by the witness
of 2 or 3 is a thing established(Deut.17:6,Matt.18:16,2Cor.13:1);So it is at once
established in plain terms the arrangement of events in the bible exclaim a post-
tribulational return of our Lord Jesus Christ. I challenge anybody to set forth so plainly
anything contrary! You will not find our Lord setting forth any other coming of himself
than after the tribulation;you will not find the secret any moment escapest doctrine taught
in the scriptures by the prophets, apostles, and our Lord! You will need the teachings and
doctrines of men who tickle the ears of the people with a false hope of security from the
tribulation-2Pet.3:16,2Thess.2:10-12,2Tim.4:3!
Any study of the plain word of God will bear out no other chronology than the same A-
B-C order of events. Just look at the book of Revelation for instance;Look at chapter six
on the seals and compare our Lords teachings of Matt.24/Luke 17,21/Mark 13. You find
the same order:1-wars,2-famines,3-pestilence,4-earthquakes;the first four seals are side
by side with Matt.24:4-8,and then you find;
A-5th SEAL....THE TRIBULATION
B-6th SEAL....HEAVENLY SIGNS
C-7th SEAL....THE DAY OF THE LORD
No, my friend, it doesn't get any plainer than all of this!Our Lord and the whole of
scripture show the same A-B-C order. Besides, if the secret coming of the
pretribulationist had any ground it would make void and false one of our Lords simplest
exposiitions on the matter;his parable of the wheat and tares from Matt.13:24-30,37-
43,"Let them both grow together until the harvest",the pre-tribs say the wheat (the
saints/the church) is gathered out from among the tares at some time before the
tribulational period."Gather ye together first the tares"; although it is plain the judgment
of tares first the pre-tribs would still have us believe the wheat gathered first before the
judgment upon the tares!
In light of the plain scriptures the secret return of Christ before the tribulation becomes
no more than an oz-land fairy tale escape from reality!
 THE SAINTS:
The Bible only knows one class of saints

The pre-trib escapist would have us to believe that at some point before the tribulation
Christ will return for his church in a secret escape to heaven, and then makes the
distinctio
between the saints in heaven and the tribulational saints. Of course, this is all without any
plain valid scriptural truth and once again I would point out that it ignores Matt.13:24-30,
and 37-40 by removing the wheat first and confounding the tares.
The book of Revelation for example, knows only one class of saints and makes no
distinction such as the pre-tribs exclaim so boldly. The saints are spoken of often such as
in 5:8, 8:3,4, 11:18, 13:10, 14:12, 16:6, 17:6, 18:20,24, and 19:8, they are clearly
identified as those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus
as in 1:9, 6:9, 12:17, 14:12, 19:10, and 20:4. Here you will find the over and over again
the saints presence during the tribulation, especially 13:10, 14:12, and 20:4. When viewed
in light of the apostle Pauls exhortation of those who die in the Lord at 1 Cor.15:18 and
1Thess.4:16-18, Rev.12:11 and 14:13 becomes all too clear on this point,"These are they
which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in
the blood of the lamb."-Rev.7:14 and 12:11;"They overcame him by the blood of the
lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
Remember our Lord in Matt.24 set forth a certain order of events, placing firstly the
antichrist and the tribulation (not his secret coming!) in verses 15 and 21 "When ye
therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet..." and
Paul keeping our Lords doctrine in 2 Thess.2:1-5 "That man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself..." so let us look at Daniel's divine
revelation
"He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god..."(Dan.11:36) Looking at
all the scriptures in Daniel on the subject such as 9:27, 11:21, and 12:11, one fact amidst
all the events screams out to us ; the persecution of the saints of God! Notice "They shall
place the abomination that maketh desolate:and such as do wickedly against the covenant
shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do
exploits and they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall
by the sword, and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall
fall, they shall be helped with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries
and some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them
white even to the time of the end because it is yet for a time appointed. And the king shall
do according to his will and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every
god..."
(Dan.11:31-36) Suddenly, Paul's doctrine becomes clear in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 of the
falling away and the man of sin revealed first before the day of the lord, and plainly
includes the persecution of the saints! In the very same prophecy the mark of Revelation
13 becomes clearly set forth in Dan.11:42-44, just take a look at verse 44 and Rev.13:15-
17;you can't get any simpler on the matter!
"He shall speak great words against the most high and shall wear out the saints of the
 most high"(Daniel 7:25)"...made war with the saints and prevailed against
them"(7:21)
"It was given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them..."(Rev.13:7)

Since the whole of scripture sets forth one class of saints;Gods people,and nowhere puts
forth the fictious claims of the pre-tribs,and the bible plainly puts the saints as persecuted
and slain under antichrist; One can only conclude the post-tribulational return of our Lord
for his church. However, the Pre-tribulationist will resort to their interpretation of the
restrainer in 2 Thess.2:6,7 to say the spirit in the believers is spoken of and thus the
church must be removed. They click their heels toward Oz turning their back on all the
evidence against such as secret escape with this defense of theirs.
Without even pointing out how much assumption and interpretation is given to this
theory of theirs, I must ask what meaneth our Lord in his exhortation to us, his saints, of
the persecutions of Matt.24/Luk.17,21/Mrk.13: "When they shall lead you and deliver
you up take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but
whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that ye speak ye: For it is not ye that speak but
the Holy Ghost...Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake: but he that shall endure
to the end, the same shall be saved"(Mrk.13:11-13) Obviously spirit filled believers are
present during the tribulation! One thing is certain the Holy Ghost from Acts 2 onward
has not restrained the spirit of Antichrist (1 Jhn 2:18)
We are told to comfort one another with the hope of his coming, looking for that
blessed hope (1 Thess.4, 2 Thess.1, Titus 2:11-14). Our Lord tells us we are blessed to
suffer for him (Mat.5:10,11, Luk.6:22,23). By Peter we are told to be happy in this (1
Pet.3:14, 4:14). By Paul we are told it is given us not only to believe but to suffer for his
names sake (Phil.1:29). We are told of continuing to bear his suffering in fellowship with
them(1 thess.1:6,Phil.3:10,Col.1:23,24). Escape from the tribulation for the saints
according to this almost gleams of another gospel!(2 Tim.2:12)
 "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: 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."(I Thess. 4:16,17)

In these words of Paul, Timothy, and Silas (1 Thess. 1:1) you have
the apostle Paul and the prophet Silas proclaiming a vital truth
of our Lords coming and our meeting him; that the dead in Christ
shall rise first then we which are alive and remain. Elsewhere
Paul speaks in detail of this event: "In a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this
mortal shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have
put on immortality. Then shall be brought to pass the saying that
is written, death is swallowed up in victory. 0 death where is
thy sting? 0 grave where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:51-55)
In those texts is what the church has called the "rapture" of
the saints. To this event every bible believing Christian can
sigh an "Amen, Praise the Lord!" Our controversy is in the timing
of this event, not the event itself!
In the text to the Corinthians, Paul first of all quotes the prophet
Isaiah from 25:8. In Isaiah's revelation of ch. 24-26 you find "then
the moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed. When the Lord of hosts
shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients
gloriously :"(24:23 ) then onward "he will destroy in this mountain the
face of the covering cast over all people and the veil that is spread
over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory and the Lord God
will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people
shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it".
Thus it becomes (Isaiah 25:7,8) a plain fact of revelation that at the
time of Israel's restored blessing and not some period previous shall
the resurrection take place. There can be no coming of the Lord, much
less some secret coming, until he appears for the accomplishment of his
promises to his people Israel "when the Lord shall build up Zion, he
shall appear in his glory" (Ps. 102:16) Any hope of some previous
coming/resurrection is'nt based on scripture at all but rather some
thought formed in contradiction to revealed truth! This portion of
Isaiah's revelation goes on further: "Thy dead men shall live(the
believing dead of Israel, the so called Old Testament saints) together
with my dead body shall they arise (the church, his body: Eph. 5:30, the
so called New Testament saints) Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust
for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out the
dead" (Is.26:19). All of this Hosea 13:14 confirms undoubtedly for
"repentance shall be hid from mine eyes" means "I will not change my
mind about that" (see Romans 11:29)! As for "the dead in Christ shall
rise first" of 1 Thess. 4, Isaiah's prophecy which Paul quotes makes it
clear Israels part in the matter and the restoration of Israel at our
Lords coming in glory, but the book of Revelation makes another clear
time element for the event:
"I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto
them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the
witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not
worshipped the beast neither his image, neither had received his
mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and
reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead
lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is
the first Resurrection. Revelation 20:4
Obviously, the dead in Christ rising first is a post-tribulational
event here, and no twisting of verses could change this plain text! The
scriptures reveal the first resurrection of the saints will be when the
Lord has come forth as the conqueror in glory restoring Israel and that
those who are in the resurrection have suffered under the antichrist! If
the secret rapture escapeist doctrine was true then this resurrection of
Rev. 20:4 would have to be called "the second-first resurrection" for
they say the "first-first resurrection" would have occured prior to the
tribulation; no one could do this unless they take these words of
inspiration and toss them aside!
 THE WRATH:
WILL WE BE HERE ON EARTH IN THE MIDST?

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain

salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ..." (1 Thes. 5:9)

The apostle goes on to add "comfort yourselves together and

edify one another". Amen brethren! One fact of future dread
awaits this sinful world, the wrath to come; to which those of
us who are born again blood bought saints of God will have no
fear for we are not the children of wrath any longer! The events
of Revelation 15 and 16 stand as a dire warning to the children
of disobedience! God's plagues of this time can only be
compared to those upon Egypt; yet that was only one nation, here
God's sword sweeps over global fronts!
Let us turn back to these events for a time seeing that God
doesn't change (Mal. 3:6), read Exodus 6-11. Look at all of
God's wrath poured out upon Egypt. Read closely this horrible
time. God smote the Egyptians and the land of Egypt (see
7:18.19; 8:3,21 and so on)not his people; these plagues did not
touch them (see 8:22,23; 9:4,26; 10:23 and so on). His people
were right there in the midst of it all preserved even from
darkness! God did this to put a distinction between his people
and Pharoah's people (see 8:23, 9:4, etc.) God did not take his
people out of the plagues but delivered his people through it
all! And what of the judgement to come? Look at Rev. 15-18 on
God's wrath to come and you see "there fell a noisome and
grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast and
upon them which worshipped his image"(16:2) For they have shed
the blood of saints and prophets and thou hast given them blood
to drink; for they are worthy"(16:6) "Men were scorched with
great heat and blasphemed the name of God" (6:9). "The fifth
angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the
beast..."(16:10,11) And so on exactly like the plagues upon
Egypt! God's people are indeed not appointed to wrath! Just as
in the days of Egypt, we will be preserved and kept! But my
friend, another fact of scripture is also clear; during Egypt,
God's people suffered under Pharoah (see Exodus 5:4-17 for
example)! During this time to come we indeed will not suffer
God's wrath. But the great tribulation to come envelopes the
wrath of the lawless one/ to which we most assuredly must face
and endure (Dan. 11:31-36, 7:25,21, Rev. 13:7, 20:14). No where
do you find some escape from the antichrist beyond divine
preservation! Israel suffered a foretaste of the tribulation to
come; they endured persecution and slavery under Pharaoh, yet
were kept from God's plagues, and so it shall be for the church
in her final test!
Our Lord never asserts the false escapist doctrine of
the pre-trib teachers: Notice:
"I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the
world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil"
John 17:15 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them
also which shall believe on me through their word." John
17:20

Now the pre-tribs are praying contrary to our Lord, looking

to being took out of the earth to escape those evil days ahead,
("keep them" is the exact same "keep" in Rev. 3:10 "I will keep
thee...") I for one believe our Lord's prayer was indeed heard
and we will not be took out of the earth! Our Lord teaches
preservation of the saints from evil not removal! Some are
ignoring this fact! Turn to our Lord's words in Luke 21:36 of
escape (as if our Lord would be double-minded in the matter!)
Pray that ye would escape these things. Of course this single
text justifies them coming against our Lord's prayer in John 17.
How many knowingly and unknowingly bend the scriptures to their
own doctrine? This text is took out of the context which places
the church in the midst of the tribulation (such as v.12-17).
Our Lord again also shows preservation in v. 18,19 of the
saints! To have "escape"= "removal" ignores the entire teaching
of our Lord here and immediately is at odds with John 17/ Rev.
3:10!
Now just as the bible makes plain the true meaning of
keep/kept, escape likewise is shown out: Luke in Acts 17:21 uses
the same Greek word (str#1628): "had been fled" from jail,
plainly they were in the jail likewise Acts 19:16 "they fled
out" plainly they were in the house. So, not only does Luke
21:36 in context show the church in the tribulation, but even
its underlying Greek grammar!
 THE TAKEN:
IN JUDGEMENT OR IN RAPTURE?

"The one shall be taken and the other left. Watch therefore for ye know not what hour
your Lord doth come." •••• The Lord Jesus Christ ••••
The pretribulation escapeist spin a theory of our Lord's "secret" coming for his saints
prior to the tribulation taking them to heaven leaving others behind. They proudly assert
this as our Lord's doctrine and declare to those who believe otherwise that we do not
believe the scriptures! This scheme of theirs is bombarding unwitting christians at every
turn in the so called christian market: Billy Graham movies such as "A thief in
the night", best selling novels such as "Left Behind", best selling books such as
commentaries and studies by men such as LeHaye and Walvoord: "No Fear of the
Storm"/ commentary on the revelation", "The Blessed Hope", and even books such as Hal
Lindsey dishes out, on up into tape sermons by men such as Benny Hinn's "What to do if
you miss the rapture" and so forth all painting up this pretty escapeist picture while
condemning those of us willing to stand for truth as having some martyrdom complex or
heretics. The fact of the matter is these men are false teachers whom we expose plainly
and accurately!
First of all, to say "one taken" has our Lord teaching the escape to heaven in safety is a
false assumption. Many texts use taken in a totally different perspective, such as in Job
1:15, Jer. 6:11 and Ezek, 16:49.50 •. in all of these taken refers to those whom are the
subject of God's fury not protection or of those slain! So it is possible another meaning.
But let us leave assumption and presumption for a moment and look at our Lord's own
words more clearly. Let the bible interpret itself:
Mat.24:38,39-"Until the day Noah entered into the ark and knew not until the flood came
and took them all away."
Luk.17:26,27-"Until the day that Noah entered into the ark and the flood came and
destroyed them all”
Ezek.16:49,50- “Sodom…I took them away”
Luk.17:29- “Sodom…destroyed them all”
So, at once it is clear taken means taken may also mean in judgement. Most do not even
see the "knew not" while applying the took verses to Noah. In Luke's account in 17:37
our Lord adds in response to the disciples question "where?" of 17:36,37 "wheresoever
the body is ... "
Mat.24:27,28-"so shall also the coming of the son of man be. For wheresoever the
carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered .. "
Luk.17:37-"Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered .. "
So then, it is established by the scriptures that the one taken is taken in judgement. Let us
look at this and the coming of our Lord: "Blessed are they which are called unto the
marriage supper of the lamb •• I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse and
he that sat upon him was called faithful and true .•. He was clothed with a vesture dipped
in blood: and his name is called the word of God and the armies which were in heaven
followed him •. He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings,
and Lord of Lords .• I saw an angel standing in the sun and he cried with a loud voice,
saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven come and gather yourselves together
unto the supper of the great God:That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of
captains and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them
and the flesh of all men both free and bond, both small and great .. The beast was taken
and with him the false prophet .. and the remnant were slain with the sword …" (Rev. 19)
This fulfilling of the vision given in Ezekiel 39 (v,4,17-21) at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ shows plainly our Lord's teaching of one taken being taken in judgement, no
matter how hard this may be for one to accept, it is indeed "Thus saith the scriptures",
just as the horrors of hell . we do not discuss hell because of our own "likes and dislikes".
Our Lord plainly said "where the body / carcase is" (Mat.24:27, 28, Luke 17:37) and all
the taken in judgement is shown plainly by the prophets and Psalms: "seven months shall
the house of Israel be burying of them . He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill
the places with the dead bodies . there is a multitude of slain and a great number of
carcasses; and there is no end of their corpses, they stumble upon their corpses" (Ezek.
39:11-16, Psalm 110:5,6, Nahum 3:3). Friend, plainly in the midst of all the evidence our
Lord did not teach some secret taking of the saints to heaven but rather he taught a
coming judgement at his return! We should more clearly understand the wheat/tares of
MaT. 13 now. Besides, look again at our Lord's teaching in Matt. 24 ~- how it runs right
into chapter 25. And just as the case is in many texts, one chapter details the former (look
at Gen. 1 and then chapter 2. Chapter 2 is a detailed explanation of certain events of
chapter 1). Read Mat. 24: 39-42 "one taken", v. 43-51 "who is faithful" then into chapter
25 you will see that chapter 25 is an explanation of our Lord saying "one taken". In all
the parables you have two distinct groups together: Faithful/ evil servant, wise/ foolish
virgins, laboring/slothful servant and so on. Look at Mat.24:42,43 and 25:13 "watch
therefore", look at Mat. 25:12 and Mat.7:22,23, Luke 13:25-28. "I know ye not". Clearly
when our Lord uttered his words in 24:50,51 he then elaborated to make clear his point
and warning. Look at 24:51 with 25:12,30,46. It is plain and obvious two groups will
continue together until they are taken in judgment, once again confirming Mat. 13 v.I-9,
18 and 23 and 24-32, 36-43! Not some secret escape but taken in judgment.
The escapeist back their theory of assumption by the numerous verses of our Lord
coming as a thief, such as in Mat.24: 36-44. They plea for the any moment taking to
heaven singing the songs of a thief in the night. But in their assumption have overlooked
certain facts such as when our Lord speaks of "that day" he is referring to his previous
discourse of heaven/earth passing away, not his second coming; when one reads the
chapter our Lord gives a period to look for his coming as well as events prior to it (Mat.
24:18-31). So he knew of his return and "the rapture!" Besides the flood caught not Noah
by surprise but the rest of the world! Our Lord exhorted us to be watchful not of
an any moment coming but of those things such as Mat. 24:16-21) and then went on
contrasting the servants who are not watchful to those doing his will (Mat.25)! It is not
for us he returns as a thief as Paul clearly exhorts us "of the times and the seasons
brethren ye have no need that I write unto you for yourselves know perfectly that the day
of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they say peace and safety; Then
sudden destruction cometh upon them .. but ye brethren are not in darkness that that day
should overtake you as a thief ... Let us watch and be sober .. " (1 Thes, 5:1-11) We are to
be watchful that that day doesn't take us as a thief (REV.16:25; 3:3, 2Peter 3:10:. The
Lord gave to us clear statements of exactly what to watch for such as in Mark 13:4-27;
Why does our Lord exhort us with words of facing tribulation and persecution (Mark
13:9-19) if he was planning our escape? Where is the thief snatching us away to safety
from the tribulation in Mark 13:1-27 or Mat.24:4-31?
 THE WATCH:
SCRIPTURAL WATCHING EXPLAINED

The escapeist now hurl at us such exclaimations as: are not believers called on to watch?
Does he not say watch for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come? Doesn't this
apply to us? Doesn't this show that we are to momentarily expect our Lord to come?
Now of course these christians mean well, they are sincere while accusing us of not
being watchful. However, they simply have assumption not fact of an any moment secret
coming!
The Lord himself in reply to his disciples question what shall be the sign of thy coming
and of the end of the age? (Mat, 24:3) answered with many intervening events; deceivers
shall arise,there would be wars, persecutors of the servants of Christ, and the preaching of
the gospel should be carried on as a witness to all nations, all this must precede and
continue until then.(Mat. 24:6,14). The Lord did not view our hope as in any way
impaired by the knowledge he gave of certain intervening events, so obviously the
escapeist pre-tribs have adopted some incorrect opinion of "watching"! The Lord plainly
taught and gave us guidance of the time and events prior to his return in John 14-16 and
assures us of certain hope (14:3) and goes on to teach of persecutions (15:18,20,16:2).
The entire 3 chapters reveal proof after proof of a long departure time between his
ascention and return. The apostles were taught that there would be an interval and knew
his return could not take place until certain things had occured, such as persecutions.
(Mat. 24:9,10) The Lord gave us things to watch for such as th~ fig tree in Mat.24:33. Of
course the pre-trib escapeist will cry out at us the wicked servant says our Lord delayeth
his coming and all us (in spite of all scriptural evidence) false teachers, wicked servants,
false prophets, etc. But the admonitions of our Lord in Mat. 24 and Luke 12 show the
servants sin not to be the knowledge of certain intervening events but rather the mode in
which he acts having such knowledge: "My Lord delayeth his coming and shall begin to
smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken" (Mat. 24:49, Luke 12:45)
I tell you plainly friend the only way to watch unscriptually is to watch not at all but
rather substitute something of emotion and sentiment such as the secret any moment pre-
trib rapture!
Let me illustrate if I may my point to you:
If a wife has the promise of her husbands return from a distant country and she has his
written directions for the rule of the house during his absence and part of these directions
includes a statement how his return should be expected; that a letter will arrive first to say
by what ship he will come. There would be no lack of love on her part if she sought day
by day to be occupied as he directed and if she showed that she believed his word that the
promised letter should come and that then he would himself arrive by the appointed
vessel. She would be waiting according to his word and will; no one could reproach her
as having some lack of love to her Lord from not being on the tiptoe of expectation!
But, if the wife were to say part of her husbands directions respecting the promised letter
related to the servants of the house and not to her, and if she were to be constantly on the
shore, expecting her husbands landing in a way that he had not promised and if she
refused to be brought to attend simply what her husband has said, she would, while
professing to do this out of love for him, show that she was a visionary/dreamer, and not
one whose love was guided by simple intelligence of her husbands mind as distinctly
expressed: feeling would have led away from true obedience!
While we watch for the things our Lord plainly told us of such as the calling of the
Gentiles (Mat.24:14, Mark 13:10, Rom. 11:25, Mat. 8:11, 19:3~32, Luke 2:32, Acts
15:14, Rom. 9:24-26, Eph. 2:11-20 •• ) Conversion of Israel (Zech,12:10, 13:1, 2Cor.
3:15, 16, Rom. 11:16-29(at his coming) The coming of antichrist (1 John 2:19,22, 4:3,
2J~n.7, 2 Thes.2:3,4) The great tribulation (Mark 13:7,8, Mat. 24:15-22, Luke 21:22-24,
Mark 13:19,20) Signs in the heavens(Mark 13:24,25, Mat. 24:29,30, Luke 21:25-27) and
so on, we are waiting for our Lords return, looking for his coming just as he said he
would, not clicking our heels towards oz in the stars in some false hope that rests more on
sentiment rather than intelligent facts! We understand clearly our Lords words of "watch"
and "when you see", our minds are not darkened by this deception of an any moment
secret escape from tribulation!
 THE RETURN:
THIS GRAND EVENT EXPOUNDED

Christ went from the earth into heaven in bodily form (Acts 1:9, 2:29-36). He will return
from heaven to earth exactly as he went (Jon.14:1-3, Acts 1:10,11, 1 Thes. 4:13-18, Rev.
1:7). His coming will be personal (John 14:3) literal (Zech.14:4, Acts 1:10,11) visible
Rev.1:7) with power and great glory (Mat. 24:27-30) accompanied by angels(Mat.24:31)
to gather his saints to himself. (1 Cor.15:51-57, 1 Thes. 4:13-18) to bring the saints with
him (Mat. 24~31, Jude 14) to judge his enemies (1 Cor. 15:25) to set up his kingdom in
Jerusalem (Zec. 14:3-9, Luke 1:31-33) and believers are told to watch look, and wait for
Christ's coming (Mat. 24:36-42, Phil. 3:20,21 Heb. 9:28, 1 Thes. 1:10, Tit.2:13) but while
they are enjoined to watch incessantly, they are told to be prepared for a long delay (Mat.
25:19, Luke 20:9, 2 Thes. 3:5) The Master instructed his disciples in the same discourse
in which he exhorted them to watch for his return, that they were to have regard to certain
preceding signs(Mat. 24:32,33) Moreover we cited many events which would occur
before he might return (Mat.24:6-14) In addition, he declared that the antichrist would
appear and his persecutors prevail before he would come again (Mat.24:15-31) Pre-
eminately the sign of his coming would precede his coming (Mat.24:30) Christ was
addressing his disciples who were shortly at pentecost to be the first members of his
church and these events/signs foretold were to take place in the church period. (Luke
24:49, Acts 2:1-21)
In confirmation of these conclusions, it is a fact that Christ after his resurrection and thus
within the church period, prophesied certain events which were to take place prior to his
return (John 21:18, Acts 22:21, Rev. 10:10,11). A major preceding event was to be the
evangelization of the nations. Christ not only commanded this but also said it would be
accomplished. Which, of course, would take more time(Mat. 28:19-20) (Acts 1:7,8)
It is to be noted that the antichrist and his persecutions are to come just prior to the
coming of Christ and while the church is still on earth the Master said that his apostles
were to see the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place, which refers to the
image which the antichrist will set up at the close of the age in the restored temple at
Jerusalem(Mat. 24:15, Rev. 13:11-18, 14:12, 2 Thes. 1:5-12, 2:1-4) and finally, this is to
be specially observed: If the Lord should come for the church before the time and
persecution of the antichrist, there would be 3 resurrections; one before the tribulation,
one after it, and then one after the millennial reign of Christ. But the scriptures declare 2
resurrections, no other; that of the righteous before the millennium and that of the wicked
after it. In other words, there is but one resurrection for the saints and all the saved are to
be included in it. The book of Revelation makes it clear that the first resurrection, that is
of the saints, will embrace those believers who will live in the days of the antichrist and
be in the midst of his persecutions and that those who are killed by the antichrist will be
resurrected subsequent to these experiences. It follows that all of the dead saints will be
resurrected at that time, that is, subsequent to the great tribulation. This puts many events
between the present and the possible return of Christ (Heb.9:27,28, Rev. 20:4-6, 14)
Our conclusion from all of this is as follows: The watching and looking for Christ
spoken of in the New Testament is not an event which may occur at any moment of time,
but rather, will take place subsequent to certain predicted episodes, which means the
saints are to look for Christ, not directly, but indirectly, that is through the foretold events
as they are fulfilled. The only exception to this, so far as we understand the matter, is to
be on the part of those who will be in the midst of the great tribulation(Mat. 24:21-44)
Also, so it is that we watch and wait doing our Father's will in patient preparation for our
Lord's coming.
 Two Stages?
The Escapeist have asserted an imagined Chronology against the Plain Word of God; That although the
scriptures only speak of one indivisable return of Christ they have invented a two stage coming, they wrest
the scriptures to divide his Return into two events: The rapture and the Revelation. They boldly proclaim
this secret any moment rapture for the Church prior to the Great Tribulation and the Bright visible
revelation of Christ after the Great Tribulation to destroy antichrist and set up his kingdom. they proclaim
the First for/to the Church the next for/to the world. They quite unashamedly abash us with a web of half-
truths, presumptions, and assumptions contraryto the word of God, dazzling us with thier elegant teaching,
beguiling and wooing us into a false hope!
They begin this web of intrigue by putting forth a simple truth: that our Lord's coming, his second advent,
is spoken of in the greek text of our scriptures by three terms: Parousia (coming), apokalypsis (revelation),
and epiphaneia (manifestation). These terms describe his second coming <Heb.9:28/Acts 1:11>. From this
Plain truth they spin about text to text dividing his return into two seperate events, deceiving us as easily
as the spider does the fly, giving us a false hope of a clear path which shall prove to be our timely demise.
So, Let us look at these three pharses in the scriptures in order to show forth plainly what the bible
teaches of our Lord's coming;
The "Parousia" means coming/presence/arrival (Strongs #3952) it is used in connection with the
Rapture: 1 Thess. 4:15-17 : We that are alive, that are left unto the Parousia shall in no wise prevent them
that are asleep...the dead in christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with
them be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air/"We which are alive and remain unto the
Coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep...the dead in christ shall rise first, then we
which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air"
The "parousia" will not only occur to rapture the church and raise the righteous dead BUT also to destroy
the antichrist: 2 Thess. 2:8: Then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with
the breath of his mouth and bring to naught by the manifestation of his parousia/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" So, according to scripture, it is at our Lord's coming/parousia that the church will be caught
up (raptured) with the resurrected saints and judgement upon antichrist!
The "epiphany" means manifestation/appearing (Strongs #2015). The term is used in connection with the
parousia/coming. Paul exhorts us to keep the commandment without spot and without reproach "until the
appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ"(1Tim.6:14),"epiphany", "looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing of the great God and our saviour Jesus Christ"(Titus 2:13,14)"epiphany", the
Parousia/coming will be like a bolt of Lightning, glorious, visible, evident to all:"For as the lightning
cometh out of the east and shineth to the West; so shall also the coming (parousia) of the son of man be"
(Mat.24:27). In 2 Tim. 4:8 Paul near the end of his life said a crown of righteousness awaits those that
have loved his appearing/epiphany at that day. The blessed hope is the epiphany of the glory of our God
and saviour Jesus Christ, it is the time of redemption, purification, and rewards (Tit.2:13,14, 1 Tim 6:14,
James 5:7,8, 2 Peter 3:11) and let us Look further: 2 Thess. 2:8 "Then shall that wicked be revealed, whom
the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the Brightness (epiphany) of his
coming (parousia)". So not only at the parousia but with the epiphany shall judgement fall upon antichrist!
The "apokalypse" means revelation (strongs #602). Paul exhorts us by saying it is a righteous thing with
God to recompense affliction to them that afflict us. "Rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed
from heaven" (2 Thess. 1:6,7) According to the Pre-Tribs this rest from persecutin occurs at the rapture,
not the revelation. But here the scripture says otherwise. Peter assures us of perfection in grace brought at
the revelation (1 Pet. 1:7, 13, 4:13) These texts reveal praise , glory, and honor at the revelation, but the
Pre-tribs place this at the Rapture. Paul said we are "waiting for the coming (apokalypse) of our Lord
Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1:7). But according to the Pre-tribs the rapture is what we await. It is very perplexing
to distinguish a pre-trib coming and post trib revelation! The scriptures nowhere make this fairy tale
assertion of the Pre-trib escapeist! Looking further: 2 Thess. 1:7-10: when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed (apokalypse) from heaven...in flaming fire taking vengeance..he shall come to be glorified in his
saints..." 2 Thess. 2:8 "...shall destroy with the brightness(epiphany) of his coming (parousia)"
No where does the Bible put forth his coming, appearing, and revelation as seperate events!
In plain scripture no distinction can be made between Parousia/epiphany/apokalypse; they are all one
in the same event. The terminology suggests that the Revelation like the rapture is the day of the believers
consumated fellowship with the Lord in which he receives his reward at the Lord's hand. Any division of
Christs coming can only be done in ones imagination! There is but one second coming! He will come from
heaven to be present in the same body he left with (Acts 1:11) that he had in his first appearing. His next
appearing will be in glory to be revealed to all the Earth as the true Messiah (Zech.12:10, Rev.1:7,
Dan.9:26); next he will appear(epiphany) and will be present (parousia) in glory (Dan 7:13) revealed
(apokalypse)/unveiled to all by his glorious appearing (epiphany-parousia)!
All hope of any two stage return of our Lord is put to silence by all the grammatical evidence and
Phraseology by the apostles. The truth stands: Their is only one second coming of Christ for his church
and that according to scripture is AFTER the Tribulation under antichrist!
 THE DAY:
THE OPPONENTS IMAGINARY CHRONOLOGY

In the same manner the escapeist try to rent parousia, epiphany, and apoklypse from the
same coming of Christ, they grasp at straws to somehow salvage their desperate doctrine
by separating the day of Christ from the day of the Lord; as if Paul would speak of
another Lord other than Jesus Christ! In a feeble frenzy they rip away at the plain
scriptures, pulling this way and that way saying "the day" here is the rapture, "that day"
here is the day of the Lord; the revelation of an earlier event for the church the other upon
the world, all under the guise fa "rightly dividing the word of truth". They disect and
mutilate plain and precious truths. They dazzle their unwitting students with a shiny web
of prophetic truths knit together in such a way to deceive and trap (2 Peter 3:15). Their
theory necessitates the distinction so they create their own proofs!
Let us take some time to examine the scriptures on this issue of "the day", "that day", "the
day of Christ", "the day of the Lord", and "Christs day" to see if we can untangle their
knotted web which they hashed up of pure assumptions that their theory must be right.
In 1 Thess. 5:4 it plainly says "the day" will overtake both christians and the ungodly, to
the ungodly as a thief, but the christians are looking for the Lord and his coming will find
them expecting him. The day will come suddenly on both, but it is only the ungodly taken
by surprise. There is only one coming but it has two different effects toward those who
watch and those who slumber (Rev. 3:3) To one blessing the other judgement. In 1 Cor.
3:13 it speaks of the day revealed in fire clearly the same event of 2 Thes. 2:8 where the
Lord is revealed in fire taking vengeance on the unrighteous and bringing rest to the
saints. So when is this rest? Is it not at the day of the Lord? At his appearing and reign (2
Tim. 4:1,8)at the parousia(lTim. 2:19, 3:13) At his coming to judge and reign(l Cor. 4:5,8)
According to John at the last trump (Rev. 11:18) at the beginning of the kingly rule of
Christ (Rev. 20:4-6) and at the day of judgement (1 John 4:17) according to our Lord at
the ressurection of the just (Luke 14:14). At the last day (John 6:39-54) at his coming
(Mat. 16:27) His coming for the church (Rev. 22:12) "I come quickly and my reward is
with me". The resurrection, judgement, and reward of christians take place at the day of
the Lord. In Rom. 13:11,12 Paul says the day is at hand, what day? The present age is
darkness, but that day will be day, the parousia. It is impossibl~ to think Paul would
speak of alertness, testing and hope in relation to the day if he believed christians would
be raptured away from the world before the day appears.
In the Old Testament the phrase "that day" has but one meaning--the day of the Lord. It
was the day when the outcasts of Israel would be gathered, Israel converted, the saints
raised, the Lord manifested in his glory, and the kingdom established. In the gospels you
find "many shall say to me in that day, Lord, Lord did we not prophesy by thy name?"
(Mat.7:22, Luke 17:31, Mat. 24:36) the day of the kingdom and of judgement (note Mal.
3:17,18), Zech. 12-14.
Can we find this expression associated with the hope and reward of christians? "He shall
come to be glorified in his saints •. in that day- 2 Thes. 1:10, "He is able to guard that
which I have committed unto him against that day- 2 Tim. 1:12,
"To find mercy of the Lord in that day- 2 Tim.I:18, and 2 Tim. 4:8: (quote). There is a
very clear meaning of "in that day" in all of this; the day of revelation, the day of his
glorious appearing, It is the day of rewards and resurrection, the day the saints love
because it is their blessed hope! (Titus 2:13). The escapeist contend only the rewarding is
in life not the rapture in all of these, yet evidence stacks high against them-Luke 14:14,
Rev. 22:12, 11:18, and 1 Cor. 4:5,8.
The expression "Christ's day" is applied to when the Messiah comes in glory to set up his
kingdom in the future age. (quote Luke 17: 22-30)
Phil. 1:6--clearly Christ's day terminates the service of saints on earth. Sanctification goes
on in them until the day Messiah appears and they shall be like him. (lJohn 3:2)
Phil. 1:10- The apostle prays here for the same grace in believers as he desires for them
elsewhere at the parousia as 1 Thes. 3:13 and 5:23 prove:
Phil, 2:16--Here the day is the same as the parousia of 1 Thes. 2:19,20 where the apostle
is also speaking of his reward. So Christ's day is the day of the resurrection (Luke 14:14)
Some mysterious interval between the parousia and first resurrection and Christ's day is
entirely without foundation.
Paul tells us to watch for the coming of the day of the Lord in 1 Thes. 5:6. One has but to
wonder why Paul would tell us to be watchful for the day if we are going to depart from
the world at some time before the day arrives. If you read 1 Thes. 4:14-5:11 together in
one context (since originally there was no chapter break) you will find Paul first speaks
of the comfort that the deceased christians will have a part in the coming of the Lord.
Describing the catching up of the saints to meet him as he descends (4: 16,17) ,. He then
goes on, "now concerning" to tell christians of the need to be watchful for the coming of
the day of the Lord. So, in context the day of the Lord is the day of his coming and of our
meeting him then.
Now as I stated earlier about the scriptual chronology celestial, heavenly signs precede
the day fo the Lord as per Joel 2:30,31, but also Isaiah 13:6-10, 34:4, and Ezek. 32:7;
but these things will not occur until after the tribulation as per Mat.24:29-31, Mark 13:24-
26, Luke 21:25-27, and compare Rev. 6:12-1' So, the day of the Lord Paul tells us to
watch for in 1 Thes. 5:1-11 doesn't even occur till after the tribulation, so Christians will
be on earth right through that period, otherwise they wouldn't have to watch for it! (Note:
read Joel 3:9-16 and look at REv. 14:17-20, 16:14-16, 9:11-16 on our hope and the day)
Notice further that in 1 Cor. 15:24 "the end" follows the coming of Christ, but elsewhere
the end and Christ's coming are indeed wrapped up in the same package: Mat. 24:3-
"What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age" Paul says in a certain place.
"so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; who
shall also confirm you unto the end that ye may be blameless in the day fo our Lord Jesus
Christ"(lCor,11:7,8). Here the revelation (coming=apokalypsis), the end of this present
age, and the day of the Lord Jesus Christ are all linked together. Where then is there room
for a previous rapture? The rewarding of the saints is clearly presented as at his coming; 1
Thes. 5:23, 2 Cor. 1:14, 1 Thes. 2:19, Rev. 11:18, Luke 14:14, 1 Thes. 4:15 at the end.
The scriptures tell us to endure until the end Rev. 2:25,26, Mat.10:22, 24:13 and Mark
13:13. The imaginary scheme of the escapeist is at once put into ruin, they surely built
their house of straw.
 Events At His Return
After all thus far stated, let us soberly look at the events to occur when our Lord comes
again. Just what exactly does the scriptures teach about the events at his return back to
this world for his church to set up his kingdom:

1) The first resurrection when the risen saints and the changed saints shall meet our Lord
on his approach in the air. (1 Thes. 4:16,17) The scriptures teach it is only those who are
Christ's and they alone, that is believers in the Messiah under the old covenant and the
disciples of the Lord Jesus under the new covenant together ""afterwards they that are
Christ's at his coming!' (1 Cor. 15:22,23) " •• The dead in Christ shall rise first:then we
which are alive and remain .•• "(l Thes,4:16,17). In Rev. 20:4-6 •. "I saw the souls of
them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which
had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their
foreheads, or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But
the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first
resurrection ••• "(see also Rev. 19:14, 6:9, 20:11-15 The solemnity and certainty of these
events should have each one of us seek upon scriptural grounds to settle for himself
that he is really Christ's; by nature we are lost, ruined, and undone, and deserve nothing
but punishment but we have at the same time to receive God's only remedy: salvation
through faith in the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom
alone spiritual life, pardon, and justification are obtained. (Eph, 2:1-9, Gal. 3:26, Acts
10:43, Rom. 5:1, John 3:16, Rom. 8:16,17)

2) The conversion and restoration of Israel nationally, who will have returned to their
own land in unbelief; in the scriptures, the glory and resurrection of the church is always
connected with the time when Israel "shall know the Lord" (Ps. 102:16, Jer. 30,31, Isa.
11,12, Isa. 24,25,26,27)

3) Another event the bible teaches that occurs at our Lord's return is that satan will be
bound: "He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil and satan and
bound him a thousand years .. "(Rev. 20:1-3) Right now satan is not bound; sin and
wickedness will continue as the world becomes worse and worse and satan knows his
time is short as he manifests his hatred against God and against his people! But when
Jesus returns satan will lose that power for a time!

4) In connection with the return of our Lord the scriptures teach the separation of the
wheat and tares (Mat. 13:24-30,37-43). Until our Lord returns the church continues in the
world amidst lawlessness and hypocrisy (2 Tim. 3:1-5). We preach the gospel
as witness unto all nations (Mat. 24:14, Acts 15:14) while wickedness abounds! Things
will not gradually improve, it is only at the Lord's return this may cease as the tares are
gathered in the harvest!

5) Perhaps the greatest event at the return of Christ is the destruction of the antichrist
foretold in 2 Thes. 2:1-8: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by (concerning) the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ and by(concerning) our gathering together unto him, that ye be not
soon (hastily) shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter
as from us, as that (as though we had said) the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man
deceive you by any means , for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away
first, and that (the) man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition: who opposeth and
exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God
sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that when
I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what with holdeth that he
might be reveated in his time. For the mystery of iniquity (lawlessness) doth already
work .•• Then shall that wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with
the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming" Here from 2
Thes. 2:3 we learn that the Lord Jesus will not come until after the falling away (apostacy)
has taken place and the lawless one has been revealed whom the Lord will destroy at his
coming! This one who will make war with the saints and to overcome them and who will
have power over thenations, and those whose names are not written in the Lambs book of
life shall worship him (Rev. 13:5-8). A time indeed is coming when no one can buy or
sell unless he has the mark or name of the beast (Rev. 13:17). Yet even further we
face losing our lives! The end however of this one is plainly foretold for the Lord Jesus
will destroy him at his coming (2 Thes. 2:8)!
 REVELATION 19:14
A PRIOR SECRET RAPTURE BEFORE HIS COMING?

"AND THE ARMIES WHICH WERE IN HEAVEN FOLLOWED HIM UPON WHITE
HORSES, CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN, WHITE AND CLEAN"
This verse is often used by pre-tribs to denote some obvious rapture to heaven prior to the
tribulation by assuming the clothing "fine linen white and clean" somehow necessitates
"raptured'* <see NOTE 1> saints in heaven prior to our Lord's return to destroy antichrist
(2 Thes. 2:3-13). The verse though is not their positions main text to use. It mainly is
used by those who hold the compromising position of mid-tribulation such as Gleason
Archer, Norman Harrison, Oliver Buswell, G.H. Lang, and Merrill Tenney. It often
seems to be their "stonewall" proof text of some mysterious "rapture" prior to the only
second coming and only first resurrection of scripture. You back them up against a wall
and that wall becomes Rev. 19:14 with nowhere else to go in their feeble attempt to teach
contrary to the plain word of God! Mr. Gleason Archer has gone as far as to say
posttribulationist have no answer to it and have not answered it!* <see NOTE 2>
yet leaving his mid-way best of both worlds doctrine intact and unscarred.
So, as to not leave no stone unturned please, allow me to humbly answer this text (as if I
need to in light of the dozens of texts against the doctrine) in some way. Emphasis in
their doctrine is upon the clothing of the armies from heaven: "fine linen, white and
clean" "the vesture of saints". They firmly exclaim contending for the "mysterious"
rapture of the saints prior to the second coming of Christ and first resurrection.
Now, since when or how is it proved that a rapture, a resurrection, and judgment of works
are pre-requisites to holiness? The garments theory quickly begins to crumble in light of
scriptural truth: Jesus appeared in dazzling white raiment with Moses/Elijah before his
death and resurrection. (Mat. 17:2, Mark 9:3, Luke 9:29) The Lord counsels the
Laodicians to buy and clothe themselves with white raiment while still on earth (Rev.
3:18, 16:5) and the martyrs under the alter; disembodied souls receive white robes (Rev.
6:11) They have been neither resurrected, raptured, nor judged; white robes do not
necessitate a prior resurrection, rapture, or judgment! Besides, Rev. 7:9, 13,14 indicates
these are post-trib saints.
Are we to think that Old Testament saints not yet resurrected are to be excluded from
these armies? Where are most of the saints, where is most of the church now? In heaven!
Either John does not distinguish between living christians because of the prepondering
number of deceased saints, or he sees Jesus described with the disembodied saints just
prior to those on earth being caught up to meet him. He uses the designation "in heaven"
to distinguish between the deceased in heaven from saints on earth who have not yet
joined the heavenly train!
Now, the opponents of truth do indeed try to change order of events by saying that the
first resurrection of Rev. 20:4-6 follows the second coming of 19:11-16, grasping at
straws. But, John is simply ticking off things that happen in one and the same episode of
the second coming (1 Thes. 4:16,17), not stringing them out always in chronological
succession. For example: Rev. 19:19 follows 19:11 yet the gathering of the
beast and kings and earthly armies connot follow the second coming because another
passage has put the gathering earlier in the sixth bowl (16:12-16). Furthermore, right
within Rev. 20:4-6 John mentions the saint's sitting on thrones to rule before he mentions
them having been resurrected, though obviously they have to rise before they can rule. So,
we shouldn't conclude that the first resurrection takes place later than the second coming
from the mere fact that the first resurrection isn't mentioned till after the second coming
as such has been described.
So, all in all the events of 1 Thes.4:16,17 occur at the Lord's second coming, which he
himself spoke of as after the tribulation(lThes. 4:16/Mark 13:24-27), the dead rise first
and accompany him (1 Thes. 4 :14) and there is only one first resurrection, which plainly
includes tribulation saints (1 Thes. 4:16, Rev.20:14) There is no other conclusion that the
armies in heaven are disembodied saints as per all scriptural evidence, The armies of
heaven accompanying our Lord in the triumphal procession which those alive will meet
(1 Thes. 4:17) on his descent.

NOTE 1-The word rapture occurs not in even one single passage of scripture. The word
was used solely by occultist and spiritist to describe a spiritual ecstasy: a "rapture". It
wasn't until the dawn of pre-tribulationist that the word became used by christiandom to
describe the catching up of the saints at 1 Thes. 4:16,17,; This event is not merely a
'rapture' of some spiritual ecstasy but a literal gathering and moving of the saints. So,
to say "I do not believe in a "rapture" of the church" must be an accurate saying, the word
itself denies the event of 1 Thes. 4:16,17: It doesn't speak of a spiritual being caught
up but a literal. The word is purely extra-biblical and rightly shunned, being not found in
any place anywhere in scripture. It is often a shame when one says I do not believe in the
rapture. Everyone assumes you deny 1 Thes. 4 :16,17.

NOTE 2- The verse has been dealt with in recent times by Robert Gundry in both "the
church and the tribulation" and "First the antichrist" and in times past by _any such as
Nathaniel West, T. Zahn Van Dosterzee, George Ladd, J. Barton Payne, James McKeever,
A. Saphir, etc. So Mr. Archer is either willfully ignorant or purposely misleading people.
 CONCLUSION:
A LETTER TO THE READER FOR THOUGHT
MY DEAR READER,
I know that my language may have been a bit contempt able to some, yet I have told you
the truth, have I then become your enemy (Gal.4:16)? Our Lord in his great commission
tells us to preach the gospel and also to teach all nations. I have indeed here taught what
the plain word of God says and teaches:
THE BIBLE ONLY SPEAKS OF ONE SECOND COMING AND ONE FIRST
RESURRECTION, THERE IS NO IMAGINARY SECOND-FIRST OF EITHER.
THE RAPTURE OCCURS AT HIS COMING- 1 Thess. 4:16-18, WHICH IS ALWAYS
SPOKEN OF AS BEING AFTER THE TRIBULATION- Mark 13:24-27 TO DESTROY
ANTICHRIST- 2 Thess. 2:8,9, Rev. 19:11-21, AND SINCE PLAINLY THE DEAD IN
CHRIST RISE FIRST AND THE FIRST RESURRECTION IS A POST-
TRIBULATIONAL EVENT- 1 Thess. 4:14, Rev. 19:14, Rev. 20:4,5,7:14; YOU
WOULD HAVE TO TOSS ASIDE THE PLAINLY WRITTEN WORD OF GOD TO
CONCLUDE ANYTHING OTHER THAN AN POST-TRIBULATIONAL RETURN
AND RAPTURE, ANYTHING CONTRARY WOULD BE PHANTASMAL! I SAY
WITHOUT APOLOGY THAT THE THEORY OF A PRE-TRIB RAPTURE IS
ANOTHER GOSPEL THAT IS; NOT BUT A PERVERSION OF TRUTH (Gal. 16:9)!
Saying there is some sort of mysterious escape for the church prior to the wrath of
Antichrist, alter calls have gone from being repentance and remission of sins to come
escape the mark! They woo the people with a false (Anti) hope of not having to face
Antichrist or his Mark of the Beast. When the mark does come upon us, these
false teachers (who would hate to lose their income) will fall (Dan. 11:35) into deception
and lead multitudes into taking the mark as long as they do not worship the beast citeing
modern translations lie found in Rev. 14:1 and holding up by its side verses 9 and 10! Yet
the very next verse says "WHO WORSHIP THE BEAST AND HIS IMAGE, AND
WHOSOEVER RECEIVETH THE MARK OF HIS NAME". They will say so proudly
"this is not the mark because if it was we would have already been raptured to heaven.
Paul warned us not to think that, before having to make a choice to take it or not. "My
friend, I have told you the truth, please by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, do not take
the mark, do not be mislead by these dazzleing false guides who
can quote the bible chapter and verse to be damned! 2 Thess. 2:10-12!
The bible exhorts us at every turn to be ready to suffer for his names sake--Phil. 1:29,
Mat. 5:10,11, Luke 6:22,23, 1 Peter 3:14,4:14, 1 Thes. 1:6, Phil.3:10, and COl.l:23,24 for
example and also plainly shows the saints of God enduring the corning tribulation--
Dan.7:21,25, 11:31-39, 12:1, 10 and likewise see Rev.7:14, 12:11, 13:7, 14:11-13, 16:6
and 20:4 for examples. No amount of assumption, inference, or presumption could alter
this reality. Many of the escapeist appeal to sentiment and feeling to sway hearers to
grasp ahold to their theory of imagination, a typical attempt of recent days has been
"when you see your children happily playing in the sun can you honestly believe we will
have to endure the coming time of tribulation and horror? Christ loves his church, for
that to befall us is unthinkable! "My dear friend no amount of well meaning emotion will
change scriptural truth. Even today Christians allover the world suffer and die horribly
cruel ways under the loving eyes of its Bridegroom; why most all of christian history has
been a bloodbath under Christ's eyes and heart. A christian in a muslim country stands in
the street with his three children at his side watching their home and possessions burn,
the muslim zealot stands in front of them with sabre in hand and tells the father that if he
would renounce his faith in Christ and accept Mohammed as the true prophet they may
live. He looks down at his little sweet children in their tearful eyes and has to make a
choice, and he turned boldly standing in the storm and made his decision as his precious
ones watch his head topple to the ground in a scarlet rain as his fingers leave their
trembling hands. They are then dragged off to be tossed aside into the flames and the
fathers head becomes a trophy for allah. This oh dear one is a true story by Christ. Are
you better than this dear brother in the eyes of Christ? One of the children escaped the
flames, look into his eyes and tell him how Christ loves his church too much to allow it to
suffer. God will deliver his people just as in the days of Egypt we will suffer under the
tyrant. God will preserve us separate from his plagues, and at the end will gather us and
destroy the host of the beast!
I will remind you dear reader that not only will the wicked sinners have their part in the
lake of fire to come, but the FEARFUL as well--Revelation 21:7,8-- We must be
prepared to suffer and endure to the end as Mark 13:13 tells us. We must have the Holy
spirit in us and be fully armed and equipped to stand in that day. Read Mark 13:9-11,
Acts 2:1-4, 38,39, 14:3 and Eph. 6:10-18. God did not give us a spirit of fear (2 Tim. 1:7)
my friend, so do not be a coward and hide behind some whimsical conceit of the
escapeist doctrine of a fearful hope, rather stand on the rock of determined reality and the
trustworthy plain truth of scripture. If you still follow the imaginary escapeist doctrine
you may full well find yourself taking the mark of the beast into the damnation of eternity
as it says in 2 Thes. 2:10-12, Rev. 21:8, 14:11, but your precious blood will not be on my
hands! (Ezek. 3:18-21)
 QUESTIONS
for those who would hold to the Pre-Tribulational
coming of Christ to Rapture the church away
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1}Where does Jesus speak of himself coming before the tribulation?

2}Where does Paul teach of christ coming for the church prior to the Tribulation?

3}Where does any of the apostles teach of Christ coming before the Tribulation?

4}Where does the scriptures plainly show the "rapture"occuring prior to the Tribulation?

5}Where is it plainly found that Christ comes prior to the Tribulation for the church?

6}Acts 3:21-How could this be true if the coming of the Lord to rapture his church is to
be followed by the reign of Antichrist?

7}Psalms 110:1-If our Lord is to return from glory when the hour has arrived to put
down all opposition and destroy his enemies, How could it be that
Antichrist, his greatest enemy, should afterwards arise and flourish?
 APPENDIX A
OBJECTIONS-
1-"Does not Jesus say that no one knows the day or the hour Of his
coming(Mat.24:36,Mrk.13:32)though'?"
YES,HE DOES.
2-"If Christians are to enter the tribulation, then, could not they count seven years to the
end, or at least three and a half years to the end from the abomination Of desolation in the
middle, and by such simple arithmetic come to know the time of Jesus coming'?"
NO,THEY COULD NOT.
BECAUSE , He also says that those days of great tribulation would be cut off
(Mat.24:21,22, Mrk.13:19,20) for the elects sake, in other words, God will not allow the
seven years of tribulation to run their full course. How much He will cut off nobody
knows, and therefore nobody knows the exact time of the lords coming, day or hour,
Though alert and watchful Christians will know from the events of the tribulation that He
is near, at the doors. We Should not forget that He makes his statement about not
knowing the day or hour, just as He Issues the commands to watch, in immediate
connection with his coming after the tribulation.
FURTHER, Rev.10:1-4 backs up what Jesus says, there the seven thunders uttered their
sounds. Apparently these seven thunders consist of various tribulational plagues, as do
the seals, bowls, and trumpets among which the thunders are mentioned. But we do not
read of any description of the plagues under the seven thunders as we do under the other
series of seven. instead we read that when John is about to write them down he is told
to seal them Up. Now, the seals caused the plagues under them to take place-not merely
to be revealed by the predicted prophecy, but to actually take place in the vision
of the future (Rev.6:1,3,5,7,9,12, 8:1) so sealing up the thunders the opposite of unsealing
them, causes them not to take place thy are cancelled out, with the result Of "those days"
of the "great tribulation" are "cut Off "and nobody knows the exact time, "day or the
hour" of his subsequent coming, though it is OBVIOUS from the plagues of seals,
trumpets, and bowls ; and from the rebellion and revelation of the Antichrist that Jesus IS
going to return soon.
My friend, the secret rapture prior to the tribulation for the saints to be removed from the
earth is a plain out and out false doctrine through and through! And the churches comfort
zone attitude is condemned "woe unto them that are at ease in Zion...Ye that put far away
the evil day and cause the seat of violence to come near: That lie upon beds of ivory and
stretch themselves upon their couches…That chant to the sound of the viol and invent to
themselves instruments of music, like David... but are not grieved for the affliction of
Joseph" (Amos 6:1-8)
You who hold to the pre-trib lie have put the tribulation far from yourselves and sing
aloud "I'll fly away",; How sad that our Lord would speak of you all who do not cry out
and are grieved over the abominations (Ezek. 9:4,6/Rev. 14:1; 7:3)! Surely God's wrath
is coming as well as the antichrist's wrath, are we prepared?
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!"!#