Arlene (8 March 2007)
"to hhamlet & others,,,re:  Rapture FIRST before the man of sin revealed"

to hhamlet & others,,,re:  Rapture FIRST before the man of sin revealed
 
I tend to agree with you hh,,,,Paul in the passage was trying to comfort these people, who thought they might be in the tribulation themselves,,,,how NOT comforting would it be to tell them that a great apostasy would happen, and then they would see the very essence of evil himself…..in the garden of Gesthemane, our Lord prayed to His Father,,,”Father, I do not ask that they be taken out of the world (until the end),,,but that thou shouldst KEEP THEM FROM THE EVIL”,,,meaning that evil one, that evil time…..and the Philadelphian church is told that they will be KEPT FROM that coming hour of temptation,,,,,(tribulation),,,that would come upon the world..   And notice in  the two passages below,,,finding the deciples asleep, He warns them about that coming “hour” of TEMPTATION…..that they should instead “watch and pray”,,,so they don’t enter into TRIBULATION (temptation) ….and we should “watch and pray always that we be found worthy to stand…..”   But, notice in both passages,,,that the Lord tells them to “RISE and “LET US BE GOING”,,,(rapture?) for the man of sin, the one that betrays Him, is “AT HAND”
which would suggest that He is giving a hint at prophecy for the very end of the age…that we will “rise and let us be going”,,,some short time before that man of sin is revealed,,,when he is “at hand”………this coming Passover season, may be interesting? 
I think the Thessalonian apostasy, is not apostasy,,,for honestly, the church has gone through some pretty hair-raising apostacies in history,,,and how could you measure that which is subjective?   This message would leave the Thessalonians in no better shape than when Paul found them confursed at the beginning……  see the passages below…there are some huge messages in the Passover scenario,,,,so much of the Bible is multi-layered, with messages that telescope out in time, to our time…..
your sister in Christ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Arlene 

Matthew 26:36-46
36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
 
Mark 14:32-42
32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. 33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. 37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? 38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. 39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. 40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. 41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.