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I THESSALONIANS 4: 16, 17

"THE CHURCH"

Intro: The birth of the Church 1:5; The mark of the Church 1.3;The work of the Church  1:8;
       The Church and the Word 2:13;The crown of the Church 2:19, 3:13; The hope  and comfort
       of the Church 4:16, 17.

I . THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RAPTURE AND THE 2ND COMING.
        A. At 2nd coming Christ coming with the saints.
                1. 3:13.
                2. Col. 3:4 "When Christ who is our life shall ye appear."
                3. Behold He cometh with 10,000's of His saints.
                4. At 2nd coming whole world will see Him.
        B. At Rapture He is coming for His saints.
                1. I Cor. 15 "Behold, I shew you a mystery."
                2. Phil. "For our citizenship is in heaven."
                3. vs. 17 "Then we which are alive and remain."
                4. John 14 "And if I go, I will come again..."
        C. "The second coming is to establish His kingdom upon earth."
                1. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth."
                2. Isa. 9 "For unto us a child is born."
                3. Daniel "rock out of Mt."
        D. The rapture is to remove His saints before the great tribulation.
                1. Luke "Pray that ye will be accounted worthy to escape."
                2. Rev . 3:10 "Because ye have kept the Word of my patience."
                3. 5:10 "For God hath not appointed us unto wrath."
                4. Warning to Thyatira.
        E. The 2nd coming follows immediately the Tribulation.
                1. Matt. 24: 29,30 "Immediately after the trib."
                2. He will destroy the anti-Christ with brightness of His coming."
        II Thess.
        F. The rapture precedes the Tribulation.

II. THE SIGNS OF HIS COMING.
        A. No signs given for the rapture.
                1. "Watch ye therefore and be ye ready."
                2. Yet many signs of His 2nd coming and if rapture just precedes it by  7 yrs.
                   General signs of His 2nd coming excluding those of the  tribulation apply.
        B. Last days.
                1. I Tim. Perilous times. 
                        a. Rebellion against authority.
                        b. Civil disobedience.
                        c. Increase in crime.
                2. Daniel Increased knowledge and travel.
                3. James Labor trouble.
                4. Matt . 24 World war -pestilence earthquakes - famines.
                5. The re-establishment of Israel.
        a. May 10, 1948 - Fig tree bud forth. 
        b. July 10, 1967 - And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the  gentiles, until the
           time of the gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24.  "And when these things begin to
           come to pass, then look up."  (Luke 21:28..