The Gathering of the Elect - Short Version

As a Thief?

Why would Paul tell the church to watch for an event, that according to pre-tribbers who separate the Day of the Lord from the "rapture", that the church would not be there to see? And, if one does not make the distinction, but makes the error of categorizing the entirety of Daniel's 70th week as the Day of the Lord(which will be one day, Zech. 3:9-10), why does Paul give them an event to watch for that will indicate when the Lord's return is truly imminent?


1Th 5:1 ¶ But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 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. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 ¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Here, we are given the sign to watch for indicating that the Lord's return is imminent. "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". Is that what you are watching for?

Lu 21:20 ¶ And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

No doubt, Israel will be saying "Peace and safety" by the time they are allowed to reinstitute sacrifices and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. This will be followed by the Abomination of Desolation, descrived above. After this,

Lu 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

"When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh", not beforehand. The of the depth of knowledge, instruction, and warning that the Olivette Discourse has for the saints is crucial to understanding these times, and our role in them. If you remove that by relegating it to Israel, when Scripture itself does no such thing, you remove the keys to understanding the last days before the Lord's millenial reign. What did He say?

Mr 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

"What I say unto you, I say unto all, watch." Those four disciples were, at this time(although this will be argued against by the Reformed and the Romish) part of His church. No longer a part of national Israel, mentioned as "they", and not "you", earlier in the discourse. The Lord Himself made the distinction between the disciples here and the nation of Israel, so when the Lord says "what I say unto you I say unto all", He can only be speaking of all the disciples. If you take the Word as it stands, without projecting a presupposition on top of it, there is no alternative to this truth.