Replies

>>> I believe that the first two and possibly three of the seven seals are already opened. I could be wrong I admit, but I definitely believe that in our time...

Not Possible. The Bride of Christ is still here... The Holy Spirit is still here... it is He that holds back the antichrist. When He is removed, the Bride of Christ goes WITH Him. The following passage addresses believers concerning those who have died, and those who are alive when the tribulation begins. Note that this time (tribulation period) is a TIME OF WRATH... and that the body of Christ is NOT APPOINTED UNTO WRATH.

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:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

2 Thessalonians was written in response to the fears of the church when they read the first letter.

chap 2
2 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

The Day of the Lord comes after the apostasy. The dead in Christ rise upon His one return to rule after He destroys the man of lawlessness. Those dead in Christ are those who participate in the first resurrection of Revelation 20.

At least that is how I see it.

**Note that this time (tribulation period) is a TIME OF WRATH... and that the body of Christ is NOT APPOINTED UNTO WRATH.**

I agree. But to think that it means you won’t feel any pain is not so certain. I don’t doubt that many in bombardment zones during WW2 thought, “This is the END!”