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After the antichrist has come into his place of power and authority there are to be found two classes of people on the earth. There are those who follow him and worship him as very God. They are in total deception never having had their names recorded in the book of life, in which the Lord in His foreknowledge inscribed the names of all who would be saved in their sojourn here on earth. Then there are saints against whom he will make war and he will triumph over them, that is, he will have them killed. Rev. 13:7-8 So, we have a question. If the return of Christ is at the beginning of the tribulation and all are resurrected or transformed at that time, where did these saints come from, who are they? Lets go back to the words of the Apostle Paul and emphasize his words concerning the coming of Christ. It is an event which will not happen until the antichrist has been revealed. Paul used emphatic language by saying; That day SHALL NOT COME, except there be a falling away first and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who is the antichrist. 2 Thess. 2:3.
After the revelation of the antichrist and after he has run his course the Lord Jesus will return in what is called the rapture, according to Paul. He will at that time be consumed, destroyed by the brightness (epiphaniea) , the shining forth of the glory of the Lord which is in Christ at his coming (parousia). There is no question but what the Apostel is speaking of the magnificent return of the Lord Jesus at the close of the tribulation period. 2 Thes. 2:8 Brightness is a direct reference to the coming or the rapture for it speaks to His appearing , the revelation of His glory and the majestic manifestation of His person which will be seen by all who have ever lived on earth. Rev. 1:7 The very manner of His coming is in accord with the destruction of the antichrist by a brightness which will excede any ever seen in this world. Jesus is scheduled to come in flaming fire when He is revealed from heaven.
2 Thes. 1:7-8 He is coming with the dynamic and the brilliancy of lightning.
Mt. 24:27 Daniel saw Him and described Him, the appearance of His face as being like lightning, His eyes as a flame of fire and his feet like polished brass. Dan. 10:6 These manifestations of His glory are not minor but an enormous, gigantic display of fire, light and lightning such as the earth has never experienced before. Man has the knowledge to prepare devices which give off immense light and heat but they are insignificant when compared to that which will be seen when the Lord returns at the rapture. Can you imagine a conflagration which at one moment of time would engulf the whole of the heavens and the earth. 2 Pet. 3:7 This will take place when He comes to be glorified in His saints. An event which will happen at the time of the resurrection of the righteous dead and the transformation of the living. 2 Thess. 1:10.