#3.1 THE RAPTURE OCCURS AT THE SAME TIME AS THE FIRST RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD

#3.11 The rapture coincides with the first resurrection

1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-23 (Paul)
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of those who slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward those who are Christ's at his coming.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:15-17 (Paul)
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: so shall we ever be with the Lord.

REVELATION 20:4-6
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given to them: and I saw the souls of those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years .

Note 1: These first two scriptures refer to the resurrection of the church at the rapture, because they mention "those who are Christ's" (1 Corinthians 15:23), "the dead in Christ" (1 Thessalonians 4:16), and they are both addressed to churches. However, the last scripture (Revelation 20:4-6) places this resurrection after the tribulation, because the people who are involved in it have overcome the mark of the beast, and were killed for their witness of Jesus. A literal interpretation of "the first resurrection" would be a single event, when all the righteous dead are raised together, on the last day of this pre-millennial age. It is the first in order of the two mass resurrections that remain. It is first in quality also, because it is called "a better resurrection" (Hebrews 11:35), but if God had only meant "better in quality" (Revelation 20:5), he could have said so without causing such confusion: "for God is not the author of confusion," (1 Corinthians 14:33). This literal interpretation causes the case for a pre-tribulation rapture to fall flat on its face, because a pre-tribulation rapture includes a part resurrection of the righteous dead seven years earlier, and that would then have to be "the first resurrection".

Note 2: To get round this, pre-tribulationists usually forsake a literal interpretation of "the first resurrection", and count it as two or more events taking place over a period of about seven years. Let them speak for themselves:

(Gerald B. Stanton KEPT FORM THE HOUR p240) "Pretribulationists believe that the term "first resurrection" indicates that those raised are the FIRST IN KIND, and that such a distinction is far more important than the time factor involved. They believe that the first resurrection speaks, not necessarily of an event, but rather of AN ORDER OF RESURRECTION. It may occur in several stages, ..."
(GBS p315) "there are many stages in the "first resurrection," for it is first in quality rather than in time,"
Their "first resurrection" therefore starts with the rapture, it may have several stages (throughout the seven years of the tribulation period presumably), and ends on the last day of this pre-millennial age. There are several objections to this:

    (1) The scripture clearly contradicts it:

(1 Corinthians 15:51-52) "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

The word "all" (1 Corinthians 15:51) obviously refers to both the dead and living in Christ, and how long does it take to resurrect and change them? Does "a moment", or "the twinkling of an eye", sound like a seven year period of time? If not the pre-tribulation rapture theory is false. Does "at the last trump" sound like a seven year period of time? If not the pre-tribulation rapture theory is false. The phrase "at the last trump" is dative case in the Greek, which indicates a point in time (See #3.13 Note 1), again showing that the pre-tribulation rapture theory contradicts scripture.

    (2) I do not know of anywhere in the scripture where the word "resurrection" is interpreted in this way, where in its singular form it can represent several resurrections spread over a period of years. Pre-tribulationists have therefore based their argument on an interpretation which has no scriptural precedent, and without which it fails. The word of God does not say that the resurrection has more than one stage, so they have added to God's word here. Their doctrine in based therefore on what God's word does not say, rather than on what it does say. Surely this is wrong. If it did have several stages, then it should have been translated in the plural, "the first resurrections", because it would literally refer to several resurrections, but it wasn't.

    (3) The word "this" (Revelation 20:5) refers back to people who had come through the tribulation (v4). They had overcome the mark of the beast, been beheaded for their witness of Jesus, and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years . Notice, "lived with him a thousand years ", but if they had come up in a pre-tribulation rapture they would have lived with him a thousand and seven years, wouldn't they? Again, the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine contradicts scripture.

    (4) The interpretation "first in kind", or "first in quality" rather than "first in order" is extreme. The word for "first" (Gr. prwtoj, Gtr. protos) occurs 165 times in the New Testament in its masculine, feminine, and neuter forms, and is translated "first" (136), "chief" (9), etc., but "best" only once (Luke 15:22). The understanding "first in quality" is not an impossible meaning for "protos", but it is most unlikely, especially as "first in order" is so obvious when there are two resurrections in view. Here again, the pre-tribulation rapture theory is supported only by very flimsy evidence, and falls down without it.

#3.12 The first resurrection of the dead occurs after the tribulation

JOB 14:11-12 (Job)
11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decays and dries up:
12 So man lies down, and does not rise: until the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

DANIEL 12:1-3
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth, shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

MATTHEW 24:29-31 (Jesus)
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken;
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

MARK 13:24-27 (Jesus)
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 Then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:15-18 (Paul)
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: so shall we ever be with the Lord.

REVELATION 20:4-6
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given to them: and I saw the souls of those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years .
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years .

Note 1: Job said that the dead would not rise until, "the heavens be no more," (Job 14:12), which indicates a time after the tribulation, and on the day of the Lord:

(2 Peter 3:7-12) "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved for fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men. ...
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons aught you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?"

In order to get round this, pre-tribulationists must again add to God's word, and say that Job didn't mean all of the dead. Again, their objection is based on what God's word does not say, rather than what it says, and this is not right.

Note 2: Daniel indicated that the dead would rise after, "a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation" (Daniel 12:1). Surely this is referring to the great tribulation, and shows that the resurrection of the dead, and thus the rapture, occurs after the great tribulation. This is confirmed by two gospel writers:

(Matthew 24:29-31) "Immediately after the tribulation of those days ... they shall see the Son of man coming ... his angels ... shall gather his elect ...".
(Mark 14:24-27) "But in those days, after that tribulation ... shall they see the Son of man coming ... his angels ... shall gather his elect ...".

Both of these scriptures show the same order, tribulation first, then Jesus coming, and his elect being gathered, which is both the rapture and the first resurrection. No gospel writer alters this order, showing that the rapture comes after the tribulation.
At the same time as the devil is bound, and cast into a bottomless pit for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3), the apostle John saw, "the souls of those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years ." (Revelation 20:4). These are obviously people who were killed during the tribulation, and had obtained the victory over the beast, but when did they resurrect? "This is the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:5), proving that the first resurrection cannot occur before the tribulation, otherwise theirs would have been the second resurrection. Thus it proves that the rapture cannot take place before the tribulation, because the first resurrection and the rapture occur at the same time (#3.11). Much rather this is the resurrection which occurs "at the last day" (See #3.13), at Jesus' second coming (#3.2), which will be after the tribulation as other sections show (See #3.4).

#3.13 The first resurrection occurs on the last day of this pre-millennial age

DANIEL 12:13
13 But you go your way until the end: for you shall rest, and stand in your lot at the end of the days.

JOHN 6:39-40 (Jesus)
39 And this is the Father's will who has sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him who sent me, that every one who sees the Son, and believes in him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

JOHN 6:44 (Jesus)
44 No man can come to me, except the Father who has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

JOHN 6:54 (Jesus)
54 Whoever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

JOHN 11:24
24 Martha said to him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Note 1: Paul made it clear that the resurrection of the dead in Christ, which is known as "the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:5-6), takes place at the same time as the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). These other scriptures indicate that this will happen "at the last day." (John 6:39-40; 6:44; 6:54; 11:24), which refers to the last day of this present age, after which the millennium will commence. Every one of these phrases, "at the last day", include the Greek words th esxath hmera (Gtr. tē eschatē hēmera) which are in the dative case; the case for indicating a point in time when an event occurs:

(DBW p155) "The noun in the dative indicates the time when the action of the main verb is accomplished. The dative routinely denotes point of time, answering the question, When?"
(WP p112) "A corresponding temporal use is the locative of point of time:"
(DFH p 105) "The dative means at a point of time."

(See also BAGD p260; DFH p105; JHT p212.) Therefore, the expression "at the last day", literally means "at some point in time during the last day". By way of example, when Jesus was raised "on the third day" (Matthew 17:23; 20:19; Mark 10:34) (all dative case), it was at some particular point in time on that day. When his body, the church, is raised at the end of the age, it will not take 7 years to come up. It will not be resurrected, a bit here, and a bit there, in several stages. It will all resurrect at a point in time on the last day of this present age, as the scriptures show:

(1 Corinthians 15:52) "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

This is obviously not some long drawn out period of time, but, as the dative case indicates, an event which happens at a point in time. Martha confirmed that "the resurrection" and "the last day" refer to the same time (John 11:24), when "every one who sees the son, and believes in him," (John 6:40), will be raised up. The term "every one" includes dead Jewish and Gentile believers, those who will be killed during the tribulation (Daniel 11:32-35; Revelation 2:10; 6:9-11; 7:13-14; 20:4), and the Old Testament saints. So the Gentiles will not be raptured before the Jews, nor will the church be raptured before the tribulation, but all believers will be raptured together on the last day of this present age. If we interpret "the last day" literally, as a single day, then the pre-tribulation rapture theory is destroyed, because it is obvious that many scriptures show a resurrection after the tribulation.

Note 2: Pre-tribulationists try to get round this by refusing to interpret the word "day" literally. We have already seen that they attempt to spread the first resurrection over a seven year period (See #3.11 Note 2), so "the last day", which is really synonymous with the day of the rapture, and is called "the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:10; 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:2), they again interpret to be a period of time:

(GBS p74) "the Day of Christ speaks of the period the Church spends in heaven with Christ between rapture and revelation,"

The problem with this interpretation is that nowhere in scripture is a day given to mean a seven year period of time. It can mean 12 hours (John 11:9), or a literal day of 24 hours, or even a year in prophecy (Ezekiel 4:6). In some sense it could be "as a thousand years " (2 Peter 3:8), and in some places it is not a literal day (Jeremiah 31:32), but here, far from the principle of literal interpretation, which they defend so vehemently, they now invent a new meaning for the word "day", for which there is no scriptural precedent. Their case completely fails without these unscriptural interpretations. As a post-tribulationist, I have no problem in seeing "the day of Christ" as a literal day, the last one of this present age.
Again, when they interpret the phrase "the day of the LORD", they try to make this spread over a long period also:

(GBS p75-76) "the Day of the Lord, in both Testaments, does not concern the Church but is the time of God's wrath and judgement upon the world. It is not a twenty-four hour day, or one single event, but a period of time which starts after the rapture of the Church and incorporates the entirety of the Tribulation period."

Again, they have gone far away from a literal interpretation, and now they have contradicted the scripture:

(Isaiah 2:12, 17) "For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day."

If "the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day", then it cannot refer to a period of time when the Antichrist will be upon the earth, demanding and receiving worship from "all that dwell upon the earth" (Revelation 13:8). Nor can it refer to a time when the Antichrist, "opposeth and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4). This is exaltation of man, not a time when every one who is proud and lifted up "shall be brought low" (Isaiah 2:12). They will all be brought low on the last literal day of this present age when Jesus returns to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). Then the Beast and the false prophet will be taken and cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20), and his armies will be destroyed by fire (Zechariah 14:12). The day of the Lord, in the context of the second coming of Jesus Christ, refers to the last day of this present age, when these things will come to pass, and the church will be raptured:

(1 Corinthians 5:5) "that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

#3.2 THE RAPTURE OCCURS AT JESUS' SECOND COMING

MATTHEW 24:29-31 (Jesus)
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken;
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming¹ in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

MARK 13:24-27 (Jesus)
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 Then shall they see the Son of man coming¹ in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-23 (Paul)
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of those who slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward those who are Christ's at his coming².

1 THESSALONIANS 4:15-17 (Paul)
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain to the coming² of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Note: Just as Jesus' elect are gathered from the four winds when the wicked see "the Son of man coming¹ in the clouds," (Matthew 24:30-31; Mark 13:26-27), so the dead, and those who are alive and remain also rise at "the coming² of the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). Also "the resurrection of the dead." (1 Corinthians 15:21) will be for "those who are Christ's at his coming²." (1 Corinthians 15:23), and "that Wicked", who is the Beast, shall be destroyed with "the brightness of his coming²:" (2 Thessalonians 2:8). This must be after the tribulation, because it is when "the Beast" is destroyed. (See also Revelation 19:19-20). The word translated coming¹ (Gr. erxomai, Gtr. erchomai) (Matthew 20:30; Mark 13:26) is a verb, and is often used elsewhere of the second coming of Jesus (Matthew 16:27, 28; 24:44, 48; 25:6, 10, 13, 31; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 14:62; 9:26; Luke 12:40; 18:8; 21:27; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 11:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Jude 14; Revelation 1:4, 7, 8; 3:11; 4:8; 16:15; 22:7, 12, 20). The word translated coming² (Gr. parousia, Gtr. parousia) (1 Thessalonians 4:15; 1 Corinthians 15:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:8) is a noun, and is also often used elsewhere of the second coming of Jesus (Matthew 24:3, 27, 37, 39; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 3:13; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; James 5:7, 8; 2 Peter 1:16; 3:4, 12; 1 John 2:28). Its use when destroying "the Beast" (2 Thessalonians 2:8) also refutes the erroneous teaching of some, that the "parousia" refers to a pre-tribulation rapture. It is always singular in the New Testament, the word "comings" does not appear at all, showing that these all refer to the same event, and take place at the same time. Those who erroneously teach "one coming, two aspects", or "one coming, two phases", have added to the word of God, because neither the word "aspect", nor the word "phase" appears in the scripture. We are told not to add to God's word (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6), and Jesus has told us what to expect if we do:

(Revelation 22:18) "For I testify to every man who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book:"

At the ascension of Jesus, the angel said to the disciples, "this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11). Did he go in two phases, or two aspects? No? Then he will not return in two phases or aspects either. They are really teaching two comings, and also at least, two resurrections: one at their pre-tribulation rapture, and the other for those killed during the tribulation (Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9-17; 13:7, 15; 15:2-4; 17:6; 20:4). When they try to make it one rapture spread over several years, then they make Jesus out to be a liar when he said:

(John 6:40) "every one who sees the Son, and believes in him, ... I will raise him up at the last day." (#3.13).

"Every one" includes all saved Jews and Gentiles, "his elect", who are gathered "from the four winds, from the uttermost part of earth to the uttermost part of heaven." (Mark 13:27), "the dead in Christ" (1 Thessalonians 4:16), "we who are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:15), and "those who are Christ's at his coming." (1 Corinthians 15:23). It is after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24), and in agreement with #3.13 Note 1.

#3.3 THE RAPTURE OCCURS WHEN JESUS DESCENDS FROM HEAVEN

1 THESSALONIANS 4:15-17 (Paul)
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven¹ with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: so shall we ever be with the Lord.

2 THESSALONIANS 1:7-9 (Paul)
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven¹ with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Note: Part of the false teaching about a pre-tribulation rapture is that when Jesus comes first (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), he does not come to the earth, but stays in the clouds. However, if we examine the words from heaven¹ (Gr. ap ouranou, Gtr. ap' ouranou) we can show that their reasoning is false from the very scripture that they use to promote their error. There are two similar prepositions in Greek that are frequently translated "from". The first is ek (Gtr. ek) which means "out of" or "out from", and refers to "motion from the inside of something to the outside of it" when used with a verb of motion. The second is apo (Gtr. apo) which means "from" or "away from", and refers to "motion away from the outside of something to somewhere further away", again when used with a verb of motion. "Ek" and "apo" can mean the same in many cases, but we may also consider the preposition "apo" to be an extension of "ek". "Apo" can begin where "ek" finishes, and is therefore a far more accurate word to use when we wish to indicate a complete separation from something. Bearing this in mind, when "ek" is used with a verb of motion of things coming "from" heaven, they arguably always come down to the earth. Here are the facts:

Gr. ec ouranou, (Gtr. ex ouranou) = "from heaven" or "out of heaven", occurs 15 times (Matthew 21:25 (2); 28:2; Mark 11:30; 11:31; Luke 3:22; 11:13; 11:16; 20:4; 20:5; John 1:32; 1 Corinthians 15:47; 2 Corinthians 5:2; Galatians 1:8; 2 Peter 1:18). One case which could be seen differently by some is Luke 11:13, where the word translated "heavenly" (Gr. o ec ouranou, Gtr. ho ex ouranou) refers to the Father. However, as he is God, and is omnipresent, he must be in heaven and on the earth also, even as he dwelt in Jesus (John 14:10-11; Colossians 2:9), and in all born again Christians (John 14:23; Ephesians 4:6). This is an exception, when it is used of an omnipresent Father, and without a verb of motion.
Gr. ek tou ouranou (Gtr. ek tou ouranou) = "from heaven" or "out of heaven", occurs 38 times (Matthew 16:1; Luke 10:18; John 3:13; 3:27; 3:31; 6:31; 6:32 (2); 6:33; 6:38; 6:41; 6:42; 6:50; 6:51; 6:55; 12:28; Acts 2:2; 11:5; 11:9; 22:6; Revelation 3:12; 8:10; 9:1; 10:1; 10:4; 10:8; 11:12; 13:13; 14:2; 14:13; 16:21; 18:1; 18:4; 20:1; 20:9; 21:2; 21:3; 21:10).

Every reference here used with a verb of motion refers to something coming down to the earth, and this being so, how much more would the use of the word "apo" refer to something coming down to the earth? Everywhere the words "from heaven" occur, using the preposition "apo", they indicate something coming down to the earth also. Here are the facts:

Gr. ap ouranou (Gtr. ap ouranou) = "from heaven" or "away from heaven", occurs 7 times
(Luke 17:29; 21:11; 22:43; Romans 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:12).
Septuagint (Job 7:9; Daniel 4:14 (4:10 in Septuagint, Brenton's version)).
When Job spoke about clouds vanishing "from heaven" (Septuagint Job 7:9), they do this by pouring themselves down on the earth as rain (Job 36:27-28).
Gr. apo tou ouranou (Gtr. apo tou ouranou) = "from heaven" or "away from heaven", occurs 4 times (Matthew 24:29; Mark 8:11; Luke 9:54; Acts 9:3).
Septuagint (Genesis 8:2).

The stars referred to (Matthew 24:29) may well be angels (Revelation 1:20; 9:1), but they definitely come down to the earth (Revelation 6:13; 12:4; 12:9).
We have now listed every reference for "ap ouranou" or "apo tou ouranou" in the New Testament, and possibly every one in the Old Testament also. In both of the scriptures which we are examining (1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7) the words translated from heaven¹ are the words "ap ouranou", showing that Jesus comes "away from" heaven, and therefore to the earth (Zechariah 14:4). He cannot stay in the clouds, because the clouds are in heaven (1 Kings 18:45; Job 35:5; Psalm 147:8), as is also indicated by the phrase "clouds of heaven" (Daniel 7:13; Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Mark 14:62). Clearly the second of these scriptures (2 Thessalonians 1:7) points to Armageddon when Jesus comes, "In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who know not God," (2 Thessalonians 1:8), and until that time he will remain in heaven:

(Acts 3:20-21) "And he shall send Jesus Christ, ... Whom the heaven must receive until the time of restitution of all things."

As this restitution of all things does not take place before the tribulation, so Jesus cannot return until the end of the tribulation. This bible study has given evidence that the rapture and resurrection occur on the last day of this present age, and so refutes both of the false teachings about a pre-tribulation rapture, or a mid-tribulation rapture of the church.

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