[sasportas]

My apologies to FReepers who are concerned with what this thread is supposed to be about. I apologize for helping MHGinTN hijack it.

But to insert a pretrib rapture in 2 Thess. 2, is to read into scripture something that isn't there. Jesus set the bar back in Matt. 24, no pretrib rapture there, Paul is merely following Jesus in 2 Thess. 2.

I quote here one of the foremost scholars of ancient times was Irenaeus, I am convinced he knew Greek at least as well as MHGinTN... and the pretrib preachers he follows! He said:

"The apostle thus speaks in the second Epistle to the Thessalonians: 'Unless there shall come [apostasia] first, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself as if he were God. The apostle therefore clearly points out his apostasy, and that he is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped... he will endeavor in a tyrannical manner to set himself forth as God."

[MHGinTN]

Rev 3:7 "To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: ... 10 Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

They are told they will be kept from even the hour of the testing, not just the testing. The seven years of Tribulation are the 'hour of testing'.

Now back to our program, 'Taking his seat in the temple of Gpd' ...