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Hi:
Recently I came across a post-trib site that claims a pre-trib rapture is
not possible.  While I disagree on many points in an email, these questions
were posed to me.  My original email to the Matt 24 question is at the
bottom; however, I wondered if you have an answer to these questions he
posed:
You find a separation between the Resurrection at the Second Coming and the
Rapture, some time before that?

The gathering in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and the gathering in Matthew
24:30-31 seems to me to be very similar in description.

Similarities:
          Jesus is in the clouds of the sky
          At a trumpet call
          Gathering of believers
                    Dead - heaven
                    Living - earth

How do you know one is different from the other? Couldn't they be the same
event?

How do you know the saints have been raptured before the Second Coming? Is
there anywhere in Scripture that states that?

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Hi Tim,
I read your post

Actually 1 Thess doesn't match Matthew 24 good at all when you take into
account Revelation 19 which is the Return of Jesus.

The truth is, Matthew 24, Revelation 19 and Ezekiel 39 all tell the same
story.
It is striking how similar they are in terms of His Return and the
"gathering of the elect."

Revelation was for Christian believers and that is why you do not see any
gathering.
Matthew 24 was to Jewish believers who knew the term "elect" to mean them
from Isaiah were it is said - "Israel My Elect"
To further emphasize this we have Ezekiel 39 where the angels go out and
gather "ALL OF ISRAEL" from the nations back to the Land.  This happens
AFTER the Messiah comes and destroys the armies gathered against Jerusalem.
With the dead bodies comes a shout from the Arch Angel to the birds of the
air (both in Ezekiel and Revelation) to come to the feast that the Lord has
provided them.  In Matthew 24 we get an odd comment - Where the carcass is
you shall find the eagles gathered together.

The three sections are sooo similar that it can hardly be a coincidence.
But rather God telling us what it is - Him calling all of Israel back and
restoring them.

In Jeremiah we get the coming of the Mesiah first and then the House of
Israel shall be with the House of Judah and they will say nothing of the ark
of the covenant nor will they remember it.  Because the Lord will be with
them and reign in Jerusalem.  I am paraphrasing because I do not have my
bible in front of me.

But none the less.  The gathering of the elect in Matthew 24 is none other
than the promise of the restoration of Israel fully being completed as
prophesied in Ezekiel 39. And is not as some call the Post Trib rapture.

God Bless
Mecha