Antichrist Before the Day of the Lord: What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Return of Christ

Many of us have been told that we will be "raptured out of here before the Antichrist arrives."But what if this is wrong? Is this really what the Bible teaches? In this thought-provoking and freshly examined account on the second coming of Christ, Alan Kurschner traces the key topics and passages, providing compelling biblical evidence that the church will first encounter the Antichrist's great tribulation before Christ returns to rapture his people and judge the world.Jesus warns us, "Remember, I have told you ahead of time" (Matt. 24:25). And Paul cautions us, "Let no one in any way deceive you, for that day will not arrive until the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness [Antichrist] is revealed, the son of destruction" (2 Thess. 2:3). Since Jesus and Paul ominously warn us "ahead of time," should this not be an urgent message the church needs to hear? Are we spiritually preparing our hearts to be "overcomers" for what may soon come to pass? Some topics include: Antichrist's Great Tribulation, Revelation of the Antichrist, Pre-Wrath Rapture of God's People, Celestial Disturbance Event, Sixth Seal Signals Wrath, Where Do Believers Go after the Rapture?, Four Reasons the Rapture Is in Matthew 24:31, The Day of the Lord that Jesus Knew, Seventh Seal Pronounces Wrath, Trumpets and Bowls Judgments, Battle of Armageddon, Structure of the book of Revelation. Kurschner also engages his end-time, pre-wrath perspective with other prophecy positions such as pre-tribulationism and post-tribulationism. CONTENTS List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction PART 1. The Antichrist's Great Tribulation A Literal Antichrist Seven-Year Time Frame Situating Jesus' Olivet Discourse The Beginning of Birth Pangs The Great Tribulation The Great Tribulation Developed Deception during the Great Tribulation Paul on the Apostasy and Revelation of the Antichrist A Rebuilt TempleMichael, the Restrainer The Antichrist's Ultimate Destruction Satanic Possession and Deceptive Miracles Book of Revelation on the Two Great Acts of Deception Situating the Seven Seals The Fourth Seal--Means of Killing The Fifth Seal--Result of Killing and the Promise of God's Wrath God's Good Purposes in Suffering Conclusion PART 2. The Rapture of God's PeopleThe Great Tribulation 'Cut Short' The Celestial Disturbance Event The Sixth Seal Signals Impending Wrath Shekinah Sign and Jesus Arriving on the Clouds 'Gather His Elect' Situating the Thessalonian Letters Correct Eschatology Matters Paul on the Resurrection and Rapture Harpazō --Snatching the Saints Where Do Believers Go after the Rapture? A Final Word on Biblical Hope Four Reasons the Rapture Is in Matthew 24:31 Reason 1: Jesus Uses 'Rapture' Language Reason 2: Jesus' Use of Daniel on the Resurrection Reason 3: Jesus and Paul Address the Inception of the Parousia Reason 4: Gathered 'Out of the Great Tribulation' The Jewish Remnant Protected The Innumerable Multitude Raptured Conclusion PART 3. The Day of the Lord's WrathTheophaniesThe Expression 'the Day of the Lord' The Day of the Lord that Jesus KnewJoel on the Day of the Lord's WrathIsaiah on the Day of the Lord's Wrath Obadiah on the Day of the Lord's Wrath Zephaniah on the Day of the Lord's Wrath Amos on the Day of the Lord's Wrath Jesus on Back-to-Back Rapture and Wrath Paul on the Day of the Lord's WrathThief-like SuddennessBe Watchful! God's Gracious Decree of Deliverance The Seventh Seal Pronounces WrathSeven Tormenting Trumpets of God's Wrath Three 'Woe' Trumpets Fifth Trumpet (First Woe) Sixth Trumpet (Second Woe) Seventh Trumpet (Third Woe)Seven Blitzing Bowls and Battle of ArmageddonConclusion Epilogue Appendixes 1. Key Terms Related to the Return of Christ 2. Parallels between Jesus and Paul3. Proposed Structure to the Book of Revelation4. Expectancy, Not Imminency 5. What Did the Early Church Believe? 6. Discovery of an Ancient Seven-Sealed Scroll Notes Scripture Index About the Author Read more