That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (2 Thess. 2:2)
The King James Version has it as the day of Christ in this verse because the Textus Receptus, the manuscript the translators relied upon, reads as hemeran Christou. In later, more reliable, Greek manuscripts it reads hemera tou kyriou (the day of the Lord.) There are only three other occasions (Phil. 1:6,10; 2:16) in Greek where it shows up as hemeran Christou (the day of Christ.)
Paul had already given us the context to his mention of the day of the Lord in the previous chapter. Chapter one was the primer to what he wrote about in chapter two. He had already admonished them that the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven (1:7) along with when he shall come to be glorified in his saints . . . (1:10.) Certainly, just three verses later Paul’s mention of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (2:1) was intended as a reiteration of the same. Thus, in his effort to calm their fears over whether or not the day of the Lord had come, he assured them it hadn’t (2:2.)
It’s plain to see that Paul’s day of the Lord (2:2) is only another way to express, the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven (1:7.) Essentially, Paul was saying in 2 Thes.2:2 that the Lord Jesus had not yet been revealed. It’s important to fully grasp Paul’s intention here. His words give us reason to understand that the revealing (or revelation) of Jesus is synonymous with the day of the Lord. Whether it’s the day of Christ or the day of the Lord, both are referring to the day of Christ’s revealing.
It’s clear that the revealing of Jesus is interchangeable with the day of the Lord (or day of Christ.) It should also be noted that the appearing of the Lord (as mentioned in 1 Peter 1:17,13, 5:4; 2 Tim. 1:10-11, 18; 2 Tim. 4:1,8,18; 1 Tim. 6:14; Col. 3:4) is one and the same as the revealing of the Lord. The task at hand is to establish that the revealing (or appearing) of Jesus Christ intersects the mid-point of the last seven years, and I’ll use Jesus’ own words to do it.
In three of the four Gospels we have a record of Jesus’ take on the events of the last days; the most commonly referenced text being Matt. 24. Both Mark 13 and Luke 21 are tied for a close second place. The less examined Luke 17, however, contains more precise language in regards to the timing of Jesus’ appearing or revealing. When you compare the Luke 17 account along with Matt. 24, for example, you will find the cross comparison to be invaluable. The following will demonstrate why, and at the same time hopefully put to rest the debate over the timing of the rapture. (A bit ambitious, I know, but a guy can dream, can’t he?)
I want to draw your attention first to a few verses in Matthew’s account.
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house . . . For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matt 24:16-17,21)
Here, Jesus advises the Jews living in Judea in the last days to flee to the mountains because of the great tribulation looming just over the horizon. Back in verse 15 He gave them the signal that would forewarn them when to flee Judea. That signal was, when ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation. There’s little to no debate over Daniel’s abomination of desolation prophecy occurring half way through the last seven years. We find further proof of this from the reading of Rev.12. The woman (natural Israel) flees to the wilderness to escape the persecution of the dragon for precisely 3 1/2 years (Rev. 12:13-14.) Consequently, the Jews in Judea will flee to the mountains at mid-point (3 1/2 years prior to the 2nd coming) of the last seven years.
Turning our attention to Luke 17 we have a similar account of the same events, only with a little added twist. In Luke’s account, beginning in verse 26, Jesus starts by comparing the last days to the days just before Noah’s flood (Matthew recorded the same comparison, only he elected to record it later on in his account – vs. 37-39.) Then Jesus continues by saying,
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed (Luke 17:30.)
The mention of Jesus being revealed is not found in Matt. 24, Mark 13, or Luke 21. It’s unique here. It also proves to be vital in understanding when He will be revealed. Keep in mind, if we can determine when the Lord will appear or be revealed, we will also know the true timing of the rapture. As John said, when he shall appear, we shall be like him (1 John 3:2.) It’s imperative to consider the way in which Jesus marked the day of His own revealing. He began by predicting it would be proceeded by days similar to that of Noah and Lot, but He followed with something even more telling; even more precise.
IN THAT DAY, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back (Luke 17:31.)
Here, Jesus unveils an amazing truth. The day he warned of, when the Jews in Judea are to flee to the mountains, is in fact the same day that He will be revealed. Jesus, himself, linked His appearing to the day the Jews see the abomination of desolation, which also triggers their escape to the mountains. As we’ve already seen, the abomination of desolation prophecy and the fleeing of the Jews occurs, without controversy, at mid-point of the last seven years. It’s conclusive, therefore, that the appearing of the Lord, His revealing, is a mid-point event. And since the rapture occurs at the time of His appearing, the rapture must necessarily be a mid-point event as well. So here it is in full, and in His own words,
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back (Luke 17:30-31)
If you hold to a view that has the rapture occurring at a time other than the middle of the last seven years, what, I ask, will you do with these two verses?
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