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1/10/2021
The Doctrine of the Week for this Sunday is the Rapture and the Tribulation. The Rapture and the Tribulation. First, let's begin with what Jesus himself said in Matthew 24, verse 21. He said, For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
So we believe, based on Daniel's prophecy of the 70 weeks found in Daniel chapter 9, that there will be a period of trial that will last for seven years. The first half of the tribulation, 42 months, will be bad.
The second half, the second 42 months, will be much, much worse. And it will result in the outpouring of God's wrath upon the earth. At the midpoint of the seven years is the event known as the abomination of desolation, which Jesus speaks about in Matthew 24, verse 15.
Now concerning the rapture, that term simply means to be caught up. And this is clearly taught by the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, more specifically verse 17, that Christians will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
So 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 ends with the Apostle Paul speaking about the rapture of the church. And these are, of course, comforting words, but he continues by saying this, but concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
So it appears that it is the rapture that triggers the day of the Lord. Paul then states that those living in darkness, quote, shall not escape. But speaking to Christians, he gives these words of comfort.
He says, but you brethren are not in darkness so that this day should overtake you as a thief. And 1 Thessalonians 5, 6 says, therefore, let us not sleep, that is, let us not remain in darkness like everyone else.
Therefore, let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
