[MHGinTN]

I believe, because the Bible teaches it, that The Lord will descend from HEAVEN with a shout, and we will be gathered IN THE CLOUDS to meet the Lord IN THE AIR, not on the ground. When the Lord comes to the planet surface the Mount of Olives will be split in two. When He comes in the air for the Bride, no such splitting happens. That is what happens at the end of the seven years of Daniel's seventieth week.

The confusion is centered upon misunderstanding why there is an interlude of the Age of Grace, and why that must end BEFORE the wrath is poured out to put an end to sin.

Short answer, no, I do not accept your characterization of two and then a third coming. The Rapture of the Saints during the Age of Grace is not a 'coming to the earth'.

Satan is the Prince of the power of the air. Jesus pierces that power and utterly destroys him at the end of the Tribulation, the end of Jacob's Trouble. The Rapture is for the Bride of Christ. The second Coming is for Israel and the rest of humanity who have rejected His Grace.

Until the Restrainer (Holy Spirit indwelling believers, acting as a restraint on lawlessness) is taken out of the way, the man of sin cannot be revealed (2 Thess 2). The Body of Christ IS the Restrainer, per se, due to the Presence of the Holy Spirit in each believer.

The Age of Grace is the mystery Paul spoke of that was hidden from the ages, the ages of Judaism advent and end. During the Tribulation it is Jews, not the Ekklesia, that will be evangelizing the world. The work of the Holy Spirit during the Age of Grace ends with the Rapture. The Holy Spirit is still here, but not indwelling the believers as He is today.

[Mrs. Don-o]

If I am understanding you correctly, you do not think coming to our lower atmosphere counts as coming to this planet.

It’s an interesting point of view, one which I’ll admit I had never heard of until literally today.

However it seems to me untenable. The lower atmosphere is quite plainly part of this planet.

Just to illustrate: if the North Koreans launched a devastating EMP bomb that detonated way above our heads, we could hardly reason that it’s OK because they never actually hit the United States.

If I saw Jesus on the clouds, I wouldn’t say “He’s ‘there’.” I’d say “HE’S HERE!!”

[Mrs. Don-o]

What?

???

I didn’t say that at the Rapture we are gathered together meet the Lord on the ground.

???

And the idea that there will come a time when the Holy Spirit will not be indwelling the believers ad He is today, seems dubious. The Spirit bloweth where He listeth. He can be inside of me and outside of me at the same time. Being God, Our Lord the Holy Spirit is everywhere.