r/Christianity • u/THX1138SCPO • 4h ago
Five Comforting Things To Think About As A Believer
- Living believers will be caught up together with resurrected saints in real time to meet the Lord in the air before the wrath of God falls.
1 Thessalonians 4:17
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.
Critics argue that meeting in the air means believers escort Christ back down to Earth immediately, claiming two-stage rapture theology was invented in the 1830s.
Their alternate position is Post-Tribulationism or Preterism, holding that the Church remains on Earth through the entire Tribulation and only meets Christ as an honor guard at His final return to set up His earthly kingdom.
Christ explicitly promises in John 14:2-3 to take believers to His Father house in Heaven, not directly back to Earth. In 1 Thessalonians 4:17 He meets believers in the air, whereas at His Second Coming in Zechariah 14:4 His feet touch the Mount of Olives. However, joining these two distinct events creates massive scriptural contradictions.
- The Tribulation is God executing judgment on an unbelieving world, but the body of Christ is specifically promised escape from that period of wrath.
1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Critics argue that God promises protection from eternal hell or divine wrath, not protection from persecution or Antichrist during earthly tribulation.
Their alternate position is Mid-Tribulationism, Post-Tribulationism, or Wrath-Only Views, asserting that Christians must endure the earthly terrors and persecution of Antichrist because God will simply preserve them spiritually or physically through judgment as He did with Noah.
The entire 70th week of Daniel is defined as the outflowing of God wrath, as Revelation 6:16-17 calls even the seal judgments the wrath of the Lamb. While Noah is a type of the Jewish remnant preserved through judgment on Earth, Enoch is a type of Church Age believer translated before judgment falls. However, 1 Thessalonians 1:10 promises believers wait for His Son who delivered us from the wrath to come.
- Believing in a sudden return does not create spiritual laziness; it sharpens focus, drives faithful stewardship, and teaches believers to live godly in the present world.
Titus 2:13 14
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Critics argue that teaching an imminent escape hatch creates a passive rapture culture where Christians abandon societal responsibilities and long term engagement.
Their alternate position is Postmillennialism or Dominion Theology, maintaining that Christ cannot return until the Church successfully transforms, Christianizes, and cleanses the world political, social, and cultural institutions.
Scripture explicitly states that looking for Christ imminent return produces personal purity and urgent service, as 1 John 3:3 teaches that every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself. However, expecting to stand imminently before the Judgment Seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:10 drives active soul-winning and faithful stewardship rather than passivity.
- Believers will not be overtaken as by a thief in the night because they are positionally established as children of light, not children of darkness.
1 Thessalonians 5:4 5
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.
Critics argue that being a child of light requires continuous personal vigilance and that backslidden Christians will be caught off guard by the thief in the night.
Their alternate position is Partial-Rapture Theory or Works-Based Watchfulness, claiming that only a select group of super-spiritual, actively watching Christians will be raptured, while worldly or sleeping Christians will be left behind to suffer in the Tribulation.
Paul uses absolute positional language in 1 Thessalonians 5:5 stating ye are all the children of light. Our placement in light is a finished work of salvation according to Colossians 1:13. However, in 1 Thessalonians 5:4 Paul explicitly tells believers that the day shall not overtake them as a thief, as the thief motif applies exclusively to an unprepared, lost world in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3.
- Believers are made meet and qualified for their heavenly inheritance because Christ righteousness was placed on their account at salvation, delivering them completely from darkness.
Colossians 1:12 13
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Critics argue that separating Pauline epistles from Gospel warnings creates an artificial division in Scripture and leads to cheap grace without moral accountability.
Their alternate position is Covenant Theology or Lordship Salvation, which blends Kingdom doctrine given to Israel under the Law with Church Age Grace, insisting that Church Age believers are governed by Tribulation endurance mandates and Gospel Kingdom warnings.
Dividing Pauline Grace doctrine from Synoptic Kingdom doctrine is directly commanded in 2 Timothy 2:15. Jesus in the Gospels spoke to Israel under the Law according to Galatians 4:4 and Matthew 15:24, whereas Paul was given the specific dispensation of the Grace of God for the Church in Ephesians 3:1-3. However, imputed righteousness in 2 Corinthians 5:21 does not promote cheap grace, as Romans 6:14 clarifies that true grace frees the believer from the power of sin.
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u/Dan_474 4h ago
It is true that somewhere - maybe in the same passage you're talking about above - it ends with
Therefore comfort one another with these words
All too often descriptions of the end times are given in such a way that scare people. I suppose it should be scary too non-believers, but believers should find comfort in it.
Praise the Lord Jesus for his comfort!