{"id":414,"date":"2010-06-28T04:41:00","date_gmt":"2010-06-28T04:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.heavenslight.org\/?p=414"},"modified":"2010-06-28T04:41:00","modified_gmt":"2010-06-28T04:41:00","slug":"heavens-light-6-27-10-1-thessalonians-415-511-the-rapture-and-the-day-of-the-lord-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/2010\/06\/28\/heavens-light-6-27-10-1-thessalonians-415-511-the-rapture-and-the-day-of-the-lord-part-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavens Light 6-27-10 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:11 The Rapture and the Day of the Lord &#8211; Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"<div dir=ltr align=left><span> <\/p>\n<p  style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none\"  align=center><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 20pt; COLOR: black\">1  Thessalonians 4:15-5:11<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p  style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none\"  align=center><strong><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: black\">The Rapture and the Day of the  Lord<\/span><\/strong><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">&nbsp;<\/span><strong><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black\">  <\/span><\/strong><strong><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: black\">&#8211; Part  4<\/span><\/strong><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial\">&nbsp;<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p  style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none\"  align=center><strong><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black\">Mark 13:24, 27<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p  style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none\"  align=center><strong><span  style=\"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\">&#8220;But in those days, after that tribulation,  &#8230;&#8230;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p  style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none\"  align=center><strong><span  style=\"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\">He will send forth the angels, and will  gather together His elect from the four winds,  <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p  style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none\"  align=center><strong><span  style=\"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\">from the farthest end of the earth, to the  farthest end of heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;  <\/span>NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">1 Thessalonians 5:3-4 &#8211;<\/b><span  style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>3 While they are saying, &#8220;Peace and  safety!&#8221; then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a  woman with child, and they will not escape. NASU <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">A. Notice then, as the unbelieving world is caught in the  web of Antichrist&#8217;s deception, they actually think of it as <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;Peace and safety.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> Note the terms,  <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;While they are saying,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> seems to  indicate that right at the time of the <i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">parousia<\/i> they will be saying this, then  the Lord appears <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;suddenly.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> This happens as they do  not realize that the looming judgment of Christ which has been brewing for some  6000 years of man&#8217;s rebellion against God, is finally upon them. Paul describes  what happens next as&#8230; <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;then destruction will come upon them  suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not  escape.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> This is exactly how Jesus described His coming. On the very day  He rescues the righteous, then sudden destruction comes upon the wicked and  unbelieving. <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Luke 17:25-37<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">  &#8211;<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>26 &#8220;And just as it happened in  the days of Noah, so it shall be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 they  were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in  marriage, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">until the day that Noah  entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.<\/span><\/b> 28 &#8220;It  was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were  drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were  building; 29 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">but on the day that Lot went  out from <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Sodom<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>  it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 <u>&#8220;It will  be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.<\/u><\/span><\/b> 31  &#8220;On that day, let not the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the  house go down to take them away; and likewise let not the one who is in the  field turn back. 32 &#8220;Remember <st1:place w:st=\"on\">Lot<\/st1:place>&#8216;s wife. 33  &#8220;Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall  preserve it. 34 &#8220;I tell you, on that night there will be two men in one bed; <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">one will be taken, and the  other will be left.<\/span><\/b> 35 &#8220;There will be two women grinding at the same  place; <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">one will be taken, and the  other will be left.<\/span><\/b> 36 [&#8220;Two men will be in the field; one will be  taken and the other will be left.&#8221;] NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Not only is the Second Coming of Christ inevitable, but  when it comes, there will be no way of escape for anyone who is not ready (being  a born again Christian, living in Christ). Notice, <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;then destruction will come upon them  suddenly&#8221;<\/i><\/b> and the end of the world as we know it will be upon mankind,  and with utter finality and fierce judgment the wrath of God will come down upon  the kingdoms of this world, and upon all the ungodly and unbelieving sinners who  have ignored God&#8217;s warnings and rebelled against His authority and <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;they will not escape.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> Paul gives a  more comprehensive and vivid description of what happens here in 2 Thessalonians  1:7-10. <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">2 Thessalonians 1:7-11<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to  us as well <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">when the Lord Jesus shall be  revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out  retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel  of our Lord Jesus. 9 And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away  from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes  to be glorified in His saints on that day<\/span><\/b>, and to be marveled at  among all who have believed &#8212;<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>for  our testimony to you was believed. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Isaiah 13:9-13<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">  &#8211; 9 Behold, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">the day of the Lord is coming,  Cruel, with fury and burning  anger,<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">To make the  land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">. 10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations  Will not flash forth their light; The sun will be dark when it rises, And the  moon will not shed its light. 11 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">Thus I will punish the world  for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the  arrogance of the proud, And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless. 12 I will  make mortal man scarcer than pure gold, And mankind than the gold of  Ophir<\/span><\/b>. 13 Therefore I shall make the heavens tremble, And the earth  will be shaken from its place At the fury of the Lord of hosts In the day of His  burning anger. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">God has warned of this looming judgment from even before  the flood, as far back as 5000 years ago God&#8217;s prophets were warning of His  coming global judgment upon all mankind. <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Jude 14-15<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 14  And about these also Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied,  saying, &#8220;Behold, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">the Lord came with many  thousands of His holy ones, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all  the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way,  and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against  Him<\/span><\/b>.&#8221; NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\"><\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 &#8211;<\/b><span  style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>4 But you, brethren, are not in  darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons  of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us  not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.  NASU<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">A. <u>But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day  would overtake you like a thief<\/u><span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;  <\/span>&#8211; This important truth needs to be held in correct balance. On one hand  Jesus taught us that we do not know the day or hour, but at the same time was  saying that we should be aware of the events surrounding His coming so that we  would not be caught unaware. Jesus made explicit statements about the fact that  we were to <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;be on the alert&#8221;<\/i><\/b> and to pay  attention to the signs of His coming so that we would not be caught unaware and  that this day would not overtake us as a thief. <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Mark 13:23<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 23  &#8220;But <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">take heed; behold, I have told  you everything in advance<\/span><\/b>. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Mark 13:28-29<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211;  28 &#8220;Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become  tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 &#8220;<b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">Even so, you too, when you see  these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door.<\/span><\/b>  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Matthew 24:24-25<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 24 &#8220;For false Christs and false prophets will arise  and will show great signs and wonders, <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">so as to mislead, if possible,  even the elect. 25 &#8220;Behold, I have told you in advance.<\/span><\/b>  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Luke 21:27-36<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211;  27 &#8220;And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great  glory. 28 &#8220;But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up  your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.&#8221; 29 And He told them a  parable: &#8220;Behold the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they put forth  leaves, you see it and <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">know for yourselves that  summer is now near. 31 &#8220;Even so you, too, when you see these things happening,  recognize that the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place> is near.<\/span> <\/b>32 &#8220;Truly I say to  you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. 33 &#8220;Heaven  and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">34 &#8220;Be on guard, that your  hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries  of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap; 35 for it will come upon  all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 &#8220;But keep on the alert at  all times<\/span><\/b>, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all  these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.&#8221;  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">In fact the parable of the Ten Virgins was designed to  explain this truth very clearly. <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Matthew 25:10-13 <\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">&#8211; 10 &#8220;And while they were going away to make the  purchase, the bridegroom came, and <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">those who were ready went in  with him to the wedding feast<\/span><\/b>; and the door was shut. 11 &#8220;And later  the other virgins also came, saying, &#8216;Lord, lord, open up for us.&#8217; 12 &#8220;But he  answered and said, &#8216;Truly I say to you, I do not know you.&#8217; 13 <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">&#8220;Be on the alert then, for you  do not know the day nor the hour.<\/span><\/b>  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Other Apostles made it very clear  that this knowledge was to cause us to be alert and on our guard.<span  style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">2 Peter 3:17-18<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">  &#8211; 17 You therefore, beloved, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">knowing this beforehand, be on  your guard lest<\/span><\/b>, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men,  you fall from your own steadfastness, 18 <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">but <\/span><\/u><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">grow in the grace and  knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ<\/span><\/b>. To Him be the glory,  both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">On this basis then, Christians are to be well aware of the  signs of Christ coming and not be deceived by date setters or false teachers, or  to fall into a lifestyle of complacency or drunkenness and be caught in a state  not ready for the Lord&#8217;s return but in fact busy about the Master&#8217;s business.  Notice here, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;But you, brethren, are not in darkness,  that the day would overtake you like a thief.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> Paul&#8217;s point couldn&#8217;t be  clearer, the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">parousia<\/i> will not <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;overtake&#8221; <\/i><\/b>Christians <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;like a thief,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> but rather we will  be well aware that the day is upon us and expectantly waiting for it. This is  because <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> and have our hearts and minds  illumined by the knowledge of these things. Christ has brightly shown us these  things and we are not <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;in darkness&#8221;<\/i><\/b> and unaware, but  rather <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;sons of light&#8221; <\/i><\/b>and know full well  that these things are coming upon the world. In response to this then,  Christians are not to be slumbering or complacently getting drunk and living in  dissipation, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;so then let us not sleep as others do, but  let us be alert and sober.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> Paul gives an apt description of what our  lifestyle should be like in light of these truths in Romans chapter 13.  <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Romans 13:11-14<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">  &#8211; 11 And this do, knowing the time, that <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">it is already the hour for you  to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.  12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside  the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly  as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and  sensuality, not in strife and jealousy<\/span><\/b>. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus  Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">B. <u>5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We  are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but  let us be alert and sober<\/u> &#8211; Here the great contrast between the believer and  the unbeliever is seen. The unbeliever is <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;in  darkness,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> the believer has been transformed, <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;for  you are all sons of light and sons of day.&#8221; <\/i><\/b>Of course here <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;light&#8221;<\/i><\/b> and <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;darkness&#8221;<\/i><\/b> have to do with our <i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">illumination<\/i> to the soon coming of  Christ and destruction upon the wicked. Those who are <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;sons of light all sons of light and sons of  day&#8221;<\/i><\/b> are able to clearly see what is coming upon the world, the <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;sudden destruction&#8221;<\/i><\/b> of verse 3, to  which unbelievers are <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;in darkness&#8221;<\/i><\/b> and cannot <i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">see<\/i>. The contrast here is between those  who can see and will not be <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;overtaken by the sudden destruction like a  thief,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> and those who are <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;of night and of darkness&#8221;<\/i><\/b> who will  in fact be <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;overtaken&#8221;<\/i><\/b> by the sudden coming of  Christ, the great day of the Lord. Paul goes on here, <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;We  are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but  let us be alert and sober.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> His point here is, since we are <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;sons of light and sons of day&#8221;<\/i><\/b> and  can see clearly the looming judgment of the great day, and because we are <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;not  of night nor of darkness,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> that we should NOT behave like sons of  darkness but rather like <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;sons of light.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> This teaching is  very clear in other places in Scripture. <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Ephesians 5:5-14<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral  or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the  kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">because of these things the  wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be  partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in  the Lord; walk as children of light<\/span><\/b> 9 (for the fruit of the light  consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what  is pleasing to the Lord. 11 And <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">do not participate in the  unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is  disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But  all things become visible when they are exposed by the light<\/span><\/b>, for  everything that becomes visible is light.  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Jesus warned in the Olivet Discourse concerning His Second  Coming that His people should not be <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;weighted down&#8221;<\/i><\/b> by vain things or  worries of life or in <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;drunkenness.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> But in contrast to  that, we should be <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;alert at all times&#8221;<\/i><\/b> eagerly looking  for our <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;escape&#8221;<\/i><\/b> from these  things.<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Luke 21:34-36<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211;  34 &#8220;<b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">Be on guard, that your hearts  may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of  life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap;<\/span><\/b> 35 for it will  come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 &#8220;<b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">But keep on the alert at all  times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these  things<\/span><\/b> that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of  Man.&#8221; NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Matthew 24:45-51<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 45 &#8220;Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom  his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper  time? 46 &#8220;<b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">Blessed is that slave whom his  master finds so doing when he comes.<\/span><\/b> 47 &#8220;Truly I say to you, that he  will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 &#8220;But if that evil slave says  in his heart, &#8216;My master is not coming for a long time,&#8217; 49 and <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">shall begin to beat his fellow  slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; 50 the master of that slave will come  on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, 51  and shall cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the  hypocrites<\/span><\/b>; weeping shall be there and the gnashing of teeth.  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">The contrast between the <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;sons of light&#8221;<\/i><\/b> and those <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;in  darkness&#8221; <\/i><\/b>is one that can be clearly discerned by our lifestyle. True  Christians honor God by the way they live, both in their abstaining from sinful  activities like drunkenness and immorality, and live holy lives of purity and  sobriety before the Lord. <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">2 Peter 3:11-13<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">  &#8211; 11 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">Since all these things are to  be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct  and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of  God<\/span><\/b>, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning,  and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we  are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.  <span  style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">On this basis Paul tells the Christians to live <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;alert and sober,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> like people of  the day, not to be asleep and unaware, like people sleeping at night. We are not  to <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;sleep as others do, but let us be alert and  sober.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> His point is clear, in regard to the Second Coming of Christ, we  are not to be asleep, but awake and alert, paying attention to the events of  day, being sure to not be overtaken suddenly by His coming, but living in  holiness and eagerly awaiting our deliverance.<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">1 Thessalonians 5:7-8 &#8211;<\/b> 7 For those who  sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8  But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of  faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.  NASU<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">A. <u>For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and  those who get drunk get drunk at night<\/u> &#8211; His point again is clear, in regard  to the looming judgment of Christ&#8217;s Second Coming, we shouldn&#8217;t be unaware like  we were sleeping, or morally uncontrolled as if we were drunk, <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;For  those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at  night.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">B. 8 <u>But since we are of the day, let us  be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the  hope of salvation<\/u> &#8211; Instead, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;since we are of the day,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> we should  be aware and <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;sober.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> Then he uses yet another  analogy of the Christian life stating <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;having put on the breastplate of faith and  love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> Here he is describing  that our Christian faith is like being <i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">prepared<\/i> for battle with the all the  gear needed for warfare. The emphasis here is on <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u>being prepared<\/u><\/b>, as if for  warfare. This he describes as faith, love and hope, that beautiful triad of  Christian virtue which is the possession of all who trust in Christ. This kind  of armor imagery is common in Paul&#8217;s writings. <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">See Eph  6:11-18, Rom 13:12-14<\/span><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Romans13:12-14<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">  &#8211; 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">us therefore lay aside the  deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light<\/span><\/b>. 13 Let us behave  properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual  promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">But put on the Lord Jesus  Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts<\/span><\/b>.  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 &#8211;<\/b><span  style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>9 For God has not destined us for wrath,  but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us,  so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11  Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are  doing. NASU<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">A. <u>For God has not destined us for wrath, but for  obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,<\/u> &#8211; Here Paul is saying, <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;God  has not destined us,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> that is, the sovereign God is the One who holds  our destiny. And that destiny is absolutely clear, it is not <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;for  wrath, but instead for obtaining salvation.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> God did not save us to  destroy us, but instead to set His love upon us, deliver us and set us apart  from sin, and to glorify His greatness by a mighty salvation which has come to  us by His grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Here Paul is  continuing his thought from verse 5:1-2, describing what it will be like at the  coming <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;day of the Lord.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> The unbelieving  world will be unaware of His coming and <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;suddenly destroyed&#8230;..like a thief in the  night.&#8221; <\/i><\/b>But the Christians will not be <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;overtaken by that day as a thief,&#8221;<\/i><\/b>  but instead being <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;alert and sober&#8221;<\/i><\/b> will in fact be  delivered from the coming wrath, as verses 4:15-17 so clearly portray. <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u>First comes the deliverance and rescue,  THEN comes the wrath and destruction<\/u><\/b>. I repeat here that this is  abundantly clear in the teaching of our Lord. <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Matthew 24:37-42<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 37 &#8220;For <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">the coming of the Son of Man  will be just like the days of Noah. 38 &#8220;For as in those days which were before  the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in  marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not  understand until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of  the Son of Man be<\/span><\/b>. 40 &#8220;Then there shall be two men in the field; one  will be taken, and one will be left. 41 &#8220;Two women will be grinding at the mill;  one will be taken, and one will be left.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;  <\/span>42 &#8220;Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is  coming. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Noah was eagerly awaiting the coming judgment of God. He  didn&#8217;t know the day or the hour, but He knew that God had said he would judge,  and it would be in his lifetime. Therefore he was about the master&#8217;s business of  building an ark, all the while the mocking rebels of the world looked on with  amazement while he built the great ark in the middle of a place where it had  never rained. But when the judgment came, Matt 24:38 says, <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;Noah entered the ark.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> But the  people of the world <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;did not understand until the flood came and  took them all away, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> First  came Noah&#8217;s deliverance, then came the sudden destruction of God&#8217;s <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;wrath,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> of which the world was  unaware, likely thinking it was a time of <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;peace and safety,&#8221;<\/i><\/b> or at a minimum,  another day as usual, eating, drinking, marrying, etc&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">B. <u>who died for us, so that whether we are awake or  asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and  build up one another, just as you also are doing<\/u> &#8211; Can we have a greater  proof that God will not destroy us than the fact that He sacrificed His Son so  that we could live? Can He say in greater terms that He intends for our good and  that our salvation is of such importance to Him that He would sacrifice the most  valuable thing in the world to Him, even His only begotten Son? Indeed the  Christ <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;who died for us&#8221;<\/i><\/b> is proof of God&#8217;s  love toward His called and chosen people, and sufficient means to save us from  the wrath to come.<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">1 Thessalonians 1:10<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He  raised from the dead, that is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">Jesus, who delivers us from  the wrath to come<\/span><\/b>. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Paul now refers all the way back to 4:13-15 when he says,  <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;so that whether we are awake or asleep, we  will live together with Him.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> His point here is, whether we Christians  are alive now, or have passed away in death, <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;we  will live together with Him.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> Christian believers are now <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u>in Christ<\/u><\/b> and shall never be  separated from Him. Nothing in life, nor even death, can separate us from Him.  <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Romans 8:38-39<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">  &#8211; 38 For <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">I am convinced that neither  death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things  to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing,  shall be able to separate us<\/span><\/b> from the love of God, which is in Christ  Jesus our Lord. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Colossians 3:3-4<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 3 For you <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">have died and your life is  hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you  also will be revealed with Him in glory<\/span><\/b>.  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left><span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left><span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left><span>&nbsp;<\/span>You can hear this lesson taught on audio  here&#8230; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abqhcf.com\/sermons\/09-10\/abc\/05-02-2010_SundaySchool.mp3\">http:\/\/www.abqhcf.com\/sermons\/09-10\/abc\/05-02-2010_SundaySchool.mp3<\/a><\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left><span>and here&#8230; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abqhcf.com\/sermons\/09-10\/abc\/05-09-2010_SundaySchool.mp3\">http:\/\/www.abqhcf.com\/sermons\/09-10\/abc\/05-09-2010_SundaySchool.mp3<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left><span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left><span>Or the series here&#8230;.. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.abqhcf.com\/lessons\/09-10\/abc.html\">http:\/\/www.abqhcf.com\/lessons\/09-10\/abc.html<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><span> <\/p>\n<p  style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span><span><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><strong>If you would like to  know how to know Jesus Christ and be ransomed from your sins and&nbsp;<span>enter&nbsp;into<\/span> eternal life&#8230;..click here<span> to find out  how&#8230;..<\/span>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/span><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><o:P><a title=\"http:\/\/www.gty.org\/Resources\/Articles\/2425\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gty.org\/Resources\/Articles\/2425\">http:\/\/www.gty.org\/Resources\/Articles\/2425<\/a><strong><\/strong><\/o:P><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><o:P><\/o:P><\/span><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span><strong>Or read about the Christian  Gospel here:&nbsp; <a title=\"http:\/\/www.ligonier.org\/welcome_whatisthegospel.php\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ligonier.org\/welcome_whatisthegospel.php\">http:\/\/www.ligonier.org\/welcome_whatisthegospel.php<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><o:P><strong>If you have  comments or questions, please do respond to <\/strong><a title=\"mailto:shaan@heavenslight.org\" href=\"mailto:shaan@heavenslight.org\"><strong  title=mailto:shaan@heavenslight.org>shaan@heavenslight.org<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong><\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>If you would like to be added or add someone to  this email list, just reply with <strong>&#8220;sign me up&#8221;<\/strong> and the address  you want it sent to. May the Lord bless you and keep you!<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div><strong>Shaan Sloan<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong>Heritage Christian Fellowship &#8211;  ABQ<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong>505-<span>348<\/span>&#8211;<span>509<\/span>2<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong>The Lord is the Strength of My  Life<\/strong><\/div>\n<p><\/o:P><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:11 The Rapture and the Day of the Lord&nbsp; &#8211; Part 4&nbsp; Mark 13:24, 27 &#8220;But in those days, after that tribulation, &#8230;&#8230;. He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth, to the farthest end of heaven.&nbsp; NASB &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/2010\/06\/28\/heavens-light-6-27-10-1-thessalonians-415-511-the-rapture-and-the-day-of-the-lord-part-4\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Heavens Light 6-27-10 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:11 The Rapture and the Day of the Lord &#8211; Part 4<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=414"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/414\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}