Multiple Advents

Multiple Advents When it comes to a teaching of a post-tribulation advent verses a pre-tribulation advent the deciding factor is, are there multiple advents. There are several different reasons why people claim there are several comings as opposed to one. Some believe the scripture teaches an imminent return therefore making the pre-tribulation rapture a valid concept based on that understanding. Others believe tribulation is a form of Gods wrath and is not meant for the Church, again another valid statement based on that belief. Others approach this issue from a dispensational view, and their belief is that the Church must be exempt from anytime decreed to
Israel.

Comparison My first objective is to compare scripture against scripture and try to find any contradictions in one passage relation to the advent of Jesus Christ and another advent. If there are contradictions then we can safely assume that one passage is referring to a different event then the other. In the Old Testament prophecy’s of the Messiah, we can find contradictory descriptions. Here is a commonly accepted rapture verse which is often associated with the first of the second Advent or the second advent. 1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming (advent) of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 1Th 4:16 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: 1Th 4:17 Then (thereafter) we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (rapture) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The word used here for coming is common in verses that speak of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word is parousia in the Greek. From these passages we can gather that the Lord Jesus has to come to earth or at least to the sky before the rapture. Those who hold the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture view have to admit a second and third advent (parousia). As you can see from the above passages the coming of Lord precedes the resurrection and the rapture.

Matthew twenty-four Post-tribulation advent Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (This parallels the nature of the rapture described in Thessalonians)Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Mat 24:30 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 great glory. (that word coming is not an advent but a different word which means in a sense to move towards an object) Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. The elect are likely not saints but rather the remnant of the nation of Israel. The reason being, that the remaining church is not gathered by angels but raptured or gathered onto the Lord in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, (1 Corinthians 15:51). We can read of the elect in Revelation being gathered by Anglels…. Rev 7:1,2 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: … These are the Children of Israel Rev 7:4. Paul writing to the Church says… 1Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 1Th 2:20 For ye are our glory and joy.

Paul’s teaching of the second advent compared to the Gospels. Comparing 1 Thessalonians to Matt 24, Paul’s description of the parousia (coming, advent) is from a different perspective describing the second coming in relation to the Christian. We know that because Paul says who he is talking about, In 1 Thessalonians 4:1 “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren”. Not only the Rapture verses but also the entire book is stated as being written to the church at the beginning of this first epistle. Whereas in Matthew 24 the question is general and the answer is not specific.Paul’s teaching does not contradict the teaching of Jesus concerning the rapture. Second Thessalonians Two and the Parousia It is often stated that Jesus did not talk about his other advent because that advent was a mystery. The idea comes from 1 Corinthians 15:51. But why does Paul write about only one advent or coming even after this mystery has been revealed? In 1 Thessalonians Paul writes about an advent does not disassociate it from any other advent but in fact calls it the same thing as it is always called the parousia Greek for advent or coming. Then in 2 Thessalonians after false doctrine was circulated Paul in fact does associate a time with the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ multiple times. Yet notice how Paul failed to make any distinction between this advent and any other advent of Jesus Christ. Twice Paul clearly states that the Lord Jesus will return after the antichrist falsely declares him self God. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 and verse 8 again both times Paul uses the word parousia, (coming, advent).

The distinction between advents is shockingly absent from the Biblical text.