Why Rapture?

[billy-brown 2]

The restrainer is the Holy Ghost - whom after the Holy Ghost is removed, during the rapture - Satan and his ilk have free reign over the whole world.

People seem to forget the Jewish context in regards to the Tribulation. The church has NOTHING to do with the events of the Tribulation. You can't mix the Jewish and Christian programs.

II Thessalonians 2

3. 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;
4. 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.
5. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6. And now ye know what (the Holy Spirit) withholdeth that he (Antichrist) might be revealed in his time.
7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he (Holy Spirit) who now letteth (restrains) will let (restrain), until he (Holy Spirit) be taken out of the way.

Hi Toady,

Are you aware that Paul told the Thessalonians the things of II Thess. 2:3-4 while he was with them?

(And of course, this letter was written after he was with them--ca. 52 or so.)

Also, the Thessalonians knew what "withholdeth"--the language of II Thess. 2:6 is evident: "And now ye know . . ."

Would it not be useful to determine what the Thessalonians knew?

[SirToady]

Hi Toady,

Are you aware that Paul told the Thessalonians the things of II Thess. 2:3-4 while he was with them?

(And of course, this letter was written after he was with them--ca. 52 or so.)

Also, the Thessalonians knew what "withholdeth"--the language of II Thess. 2:6 is evident: "And now ye know . . ."

Would it not be useful to determine what the Thessalonians knew?

The Thessalonians, because of their persecutions - thought that they were in the last days, as did many of the early Christians.

[billy-brown 2]

The Thessalonians, because of their persecutions - thought that they were in the last days, as did many of the early Christians.

Yep.

But what did the Thessalonians know?

Well, they knew "what withholdeth" indeed, yes?

And apparently, Paul told them:

II Thess. II
3 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;
4 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.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

Yes?