God Tells Us To Love; How Then Do We Love Homosexuals?

I appreciate this recent articleposted on this website for taking a stand against homosexuality. I agree wholeheartedly that homosexuality is a sin. The Bible is very clear in its position in this regard. From the Old Testament Levitical law (Leviticus 20:3) to New Testament Pauline epistles (I Corinthians 6:9), there is no argument against that homosexuality is a sin against nature and against God.

Our world today has experienced a paradigm shift of even more evil. The recent decision to "fix" the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana was telling. The law itself had no reference to

homosexuality. The bill only was made to reiterate support an already existing law. And yet it lost.

President Obama has called an end to any attempt or therapy to reverse a sexual orientation. In

other words, he has made it illegal to counsel someone that what they are doing is sin. It seems the

tide has turned against us. Homosexuality seems to be accepted by the society-at-large.

One thing we Baptists seem to get twisted about is how to treat a homosexual. Jesus told us to love sinners and our enemies. How do we do that? We always repeat the slogan "Hate the Sin, Love the

Sinner." but what does it actually mean? I will be using the word "homosexual" to cover all non-

heterosexual sexual sins, covering all of the so-called LGBTQ.

1. Lead Them To The Lord And Disciple Them

Homosexuality is simply one of many sins Jesus can forgive. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has the power to save homosexuals from homosexuality! It just might be that a homosexual's lusts for the same gender will be one of the sins that would disappear when a homosexual becomes a born-again believer. If so, rejoice!

Whether the sin disappears completely or not, encourage them to attend a discipleship class, such as the Reformer's Unanimous addictions program. Reformer's Unanimous is attended by those who have any addictions, from gluttony to alcohol to drugs to lust. It is a Biblically-based program to get closer to Christ, rather than believing on oneself and a deceitful heart. If your local church does not have one, no matter, the point is, disciple them, somehow.

If you are a pastor or leader or one who has been in the faith long enough, it is an option to

disciple them yourself. Get them to be baptized by their own conviction. Get them to read the Bible

for themselves and pray. Make sure they attend every discipleship session, and every time the church doors are open. If they refuse to work on their homosexuality, focus on the "smaller" sins: lying, stealing, coveting, pride, and so on. While one sin may overshadow others externally, as sinners, we have many sins. But even more, focus on getting closer to Christ through His Word. Before you know it, his old lusts of the flesh will be replaced with new convictions.

We cannot eradicate this sin ourselves. We must rely on Him Who created our bodies, sexuality, and marriage. It may take fasting and prayer on our part and the homosexual's part.

2. Determine How To Handle Each Person Individually

As much as one wants to broadbrush every homosexual into one large homogenized group, we cannot if we want to claim them for Christ. He that winneth souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30), and we would be wise to study the demographics of the homosexual population.

There are some that are outspoken defenders of their sin. The gay lobby, the gay activist, the gay paraders, the media - these are the voices that ring out against us. To use a "heterosexual" analogy, they are the equivalent of the porn industry or prostitution defenders. It is their identity. There are those that have homosexual lusts and thoughts from time to time. They do not act on it, but they may have fear and confusion.

To classify every homosexual as a defender is inaccurate at best. Just as not all fornicators and

adulterers are outspoken and rabid, homosexuals can also be quiet, stealthy, or ashamed. This is not to lessen the sin, but to refine our method of reaching them.

We can crudely split homosexuals into three groups:

A. Identifying as a homosexual: These are those that have identified themselves as homosexual, and

are unashamed of it. They parade themselves and flaunt their sin. It is their lifestyle, and they

see no evil in it. This is usually what we think of when we hear of the word "homosexuals".

B. Struggling with homosexuality: These are those that have acted on or planning to act on their

homosexual desires. They may not identify themselves as homosexual, however, they have an addiction

to the sin. They may have shame, or are just quiet about it. Make no mistake, they are engaged in

immorality, as much as a heterosexual adulterer is engaged in sin.

C. Attracted to homosexual desires: These are those that have homosexual desires and attractions,

however, but have not acted on them. They probably do not identify as a homosexual or are

confused by the desires. It is a much, much larger group than both of Group A and B combined.

The point is, not everyone who has this sin is in Group A. Those in Group A, and to a lesser extent, Group B, must experience church discipline as both Groups A and B are actively committing the sin. Open immorality cannot continue in our churches. Those in Group B and Group C usually are ashamed to speak of their sin to get help, for fear of backlash. Those in Group B and Group C are rightly ashamed of their homosexual proclivities. If they want to change in Christ, you must have a willing and open ear. Listen.

We must identify in which group a homosexual resides in. Ask them questions. Do not load those questions with accusations. Use the answers they give you to win their soul effectively to Christ.

3. Do Not Have A Double Standard

Before one looks down on homosexuals, remember that lusting after the opposite sex is the same sin as lusting after someone with the same sex. Both that do commit adultery in their hearts. We cannot have a double standard.

Is it possible to be a "gay Christian"? Is that an oxymoron? I ask, is it possible for a

heterosexual adulterer, fornicator, porn addict, or someone who lusts after the opposite sex to be a

Christian?

There are clearly Christians in Group C, as there are arguably many Christians who have heterosexual lusts. If you believe there are Christians that can sometimes or secretly fornicate and commit adultery, then it follows that there are Christians in Group B. If you believe there are completely hellion and backslidden immoral heterosexual Christians who prostitute themselves openly, then it follows that there are backslidden Christians in Group A. It is unlikely, however.

Those that claim to be saved in Group B and Group C sometimes do make fruit, despite the temptations. Some of those who has struggled with desires have remained celibate, or have married opposite sex spouses to stave off their desires. If we pride ourselves with standards that prevent sin, then actions like these should be commendable.

The Bible says in I Corinthians 6:9-11 that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God, those that are fornicators, adulterers, effeminate, and abusers of themselves with mankind. It also lists thievery, coveting, drunkards, revilers, and so on.

Such were some of you. Such were some of you! We have a tendency to pass over heterosexual sexual sins more than we do homosexual sins! This must not be so, brethren.

Church discipline brings up another issue. If we treat homosexuals engaged in sin one way, and yet treat better a heterosexual couple engaged in sexual immorality, it will sow seeds of our downfall. If we deliver the homosexual outside our church, we must deliver up the sinning heterosexual couple in adultery or fornication, as well.

If the homosexual repents, we must treat him as we would treat an heterosexual adulterer or fornicator that repents. Likewise, if we hold up those who have heterosexual lusts but have committed to celibacy or marriage by conviction, we should hold up the same standard on those who have homosexual lusts that committed themselves to celibacy and heterosexual, traditional marriage. Consistency is key.

If you have heterosexual sins and lusts yourself, repent. If you have committed adultery against your spouse, repent. If you have fornicated outside of marriage bounds, repent. If you have touched the opposite sex to inflame them, repent. If you have looked on a woman to lust and committed adultery in your heart, repent. Are you not the same as a homosexual for lusting and committing these sins?

In this issue, we cannot be hypocrites. We must be blameless ourselves. Our double standard will be our downfall.

4. Some Practical Actions to Show Love

If a homosexual was hungry, feed them.

If a homosexual was thirsty, offer them a drink.

If a homosexual was drowning, save them.

If a homosexual was lost, offer to help them find their way.

If a homosexual asks for prayer, pray for them.

If a homosexual needs help, help them.

The principle on how to love sinners practically should be evident and intuitive by those examples.

5. Withhold Actions That May Seem To Promote Or Participate In Their Sin

One would say, if we can do the above things, it follows that we should attend and celebrate gay

weddings because we love them, right? Right?

Wrong!

Attending a wedding means you approve of the wedding between two people. We do not approve sin, nor its celebration. In addition, it might be tricky when it is asked who would object to the marriage. It would be the same if a Christian was invited to attend a murder. We will love the person, but we will not participate in the sin.

This is why businesses that refuse to bake cakes for gay weddings should be allowed not to bake cakes. It is against their consciences to bake a cake, as if they were participating in the sin.

There are times when we need to judge with holiness, and there are times when we need to have grace. The Bible gives us a rule of thumb to use which. They who sin willingly despite knowing the truth must be judged harshly. Those are ignorant must first be taught. Rely on the Bible and the Holy Spirit.

Like a parent of a wayward child, to homosexuals, we can say, "You're wrong" and "I love you", simultaneously without contradiction. We must be firm in both statements.

Why Dating, Courting, And Generally Just Finding Someone To Marry Are Fundamentally Flawed

Because there are sinful people involved. Yep.

(Written in response to this article and its waves.)

But in seriousness, there are many ways men marry women, and one is not more fundamentally flawed than another. Dating, courtship, arranged marriages and betrothals - all have worked to produce both good, godly, and bad marriages. The whole thing itself always has been a mystery. But God is the one that brings couples He wants together, ultimately.

"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord."
Proverbs 18:22

“There be three things which are too wonderful for me, Yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent upon a rock; The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maid” 
Proverbs 30:18–19

About the article itself, it does make good points, but is overshadowed by bad observations and assumptions. I wouldn't say I wholeheartedly support his recommendation for traditional dating or condemnation purely on his grounds.

There are many Biblical principles that can be applied to any system of marrying. Particularly these important ones:
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"
2 Corinthians 6:14
Principle #1: Christians should marry Christians.

"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
Amos 3:3
Principle #2: Christians should marry Christians whom they agree with. Whether in theology, finances, children, etc.

There are more principles.

Rather than prescribing a system to marry or challenging the article's points, I will address what the article calls the problem: high divorce rates (presumably among homeschoolers, Christian homeschoolers that is).

The Bible is clear that fornication before marriage and adultery (which counts as fornication if it is practiced consistently and not repented on) after marriage is forbidden. Guess what? Those two things are the only things that the Bible allows for divorce.

"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."
Matthew 19:9

So, to keep a good marriage, avoid those things. But enough about the negative, there are positive things to avoid divorce and have a loving marriage, whatever system of marrying you used. Such as:
"21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."
Ephesians 5

Really, what I'm trying to say is, if you want to avoid high divorce rates, teach unmarried couples to apply Biblical principles to their pursuit and  married couples to have good marriages before and after they get married.

Seven Reasons Why I am KJV Only

This is an old post from a forums.

1. Translation, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is superior to the originals. 

The law of first mention in scripture bears witness to this fact. 

II Sam. 3:10
10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

As David's kingdom was superior to Saul's kingdom, the KJV is superior to the original.

Hebrews 11:5
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

As Enoch was superior to the original Adam, the KJV is superior to the original.

A perfect God can take a perfect Book and make a perfect Translation and will. And all evidence points that it being the KJV. 

A study of the KJV translators is amazing. They far exceed all our language(and other subjects) scholars of the day. It's been said that they debated about Greek in Latin (while speaking Latin). And yet they were the most humble men. Humility is sign of the Holy Spirit.

One can see this truth by reading the Prefatory and Dedicatory remarks in the Authorized Version. These men didn't believe they were handling "God's message" or "reliable manuscripts." They believed they were handling the very words of God Himself. As I Thessalonians 2:13 says, they ". . . . received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."
Like the serpent of Genesis 3:1, modern translators approach the scriptures in skepticism, saying, "Yea, hath God said?" This was the first recorded sin in the Bible, and it still runs rapid through the hearts and minds of most scholars and new versionpromoters.

2. The KJV is the only translation that fulfills the prophecy of the seven purifications:
Psalms 12:6
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

As any student of English Bible history knows, the Authorized Version of 1611 was not the first Bible to be translated into English. But even though hundreds of complete Bibles, New Testaments, and Scripture portions have been translated into English since 1611, it is obvious that the Authorized Version is the last English Bible; that is, the last English Bible that God "authorized."
...
And thus we have our answer. The seven English versions that make the English Bibles up to and including the AuthorizedVersion fit the description in Psalm 12:6 of the words of the Lord being "purified seven times" are Tyndale's, Matthew's, Coverdale's, the Great Bible (printed by Whitechurch), the Geneva Bible, the Bishops' Bible, and the King James Bible.

3. God does not respect the originals.
Jeremiah 36:22
Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.

In this passage, the originals of what is today the book of Jeremiah and Lamentations were destroyed by the king. And there were added many like words! And the originals were not.

And also, no one knows where the originals are. All our Hebrew and Greek manuscripts are simply copies. Anyone who tells you they are studying the original Hebrew and Greek is a liar.

That is to say, practically every Bible language class of the Greek and Hebrew are based on the corrupt 5% manuscripts, not the established 95%. This is where our new translations come from, the Bible scholars of our day are scholars of the very corrupt eclectic texts of Wescott and Hort. If they make claims to have studied the originals, run. Run far away.

4. The power of the KJV across time and space.

Jesus said that every good tree will bring forth good fruit, and we can know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:17-20).

The KJV is the Bible of the Great Awakenings and the revivals after that. It is the Bible of our Founding Fathers and the American Revolution, a direct offspring of the Great Awakenings. Only with the KJV did we see great missionary movements. 

When the first English Revised Version in the 1900s, much revival work stopped. The ERV was made into the American Revised Version and the New American Revised Version, which is the root translation of the ESV. This was the start of the translation craze where we get all new versions. The chief editor of the NASV writes after the process:

I must under God denounce every attachment to the New American Standard Version. I'm afraid I'm in trouble with the Lord...We laid the groundwork; I wrote the format; I helped interview some of the translators; I sat with the translator; I wrote the preface. When you see the preface to the New American Standard, those are my words...it's wrong, it's terribly wrong; it's frightfully wrong...I'm in trouble;...I can no longer ignore these criticisms I am hearing and I can't refute them. The deletions are absolutely frightening...there are so many. The finest leaders that we have today haven't gone into it new versions of Hort and Westcott's corrupted Greek text just as I hadn't gone into it...that's how easily one can be deceived...Are we so naive that we do not suspect Satanic deception in all of this?
....
If we could hear His voice we would have no trouble learning His Word from the Authorized Version. Let me tell you this: You might not be able to answer the arguments, and you won't be [able to]. I can't answer some of them, either. Some of these university professors come along and say, What about this; what about that? They go into areas that I haven't even had time to get into.

As I said to you a couple of minutes ago. You don't need to defend yourself, and you don't need to defend God's Word. Don't defend it; you don't need to defend it; you don't need to apologize for it. Just say, "Well, did this version or this translation come down through the Roman stream? If so, count me out. Whatever you say about Erasmus and Tyndale, that's what I want."

And besides this, we've had the AV for 362 years. It's been tested as no other piece of literature has ever been tested. Word by word; syllable by syllable. And think even until this moment no one has ever found any wrong doctrine in it, and that's the main thing. He that wills to do the will of God shall KNOW the doctrine.

Well, time is up. Let's be people of the Book. It took my mother to heaven; and my dad, my grandfather, my grandmother. It was Moody's Book; it was Livingstone's Book. J.C. Studd gave up his fortune to take this Book to Africa. And I don't feel ashamed to carry it the rest of my journey. It's God's Book.

"Our Father, we thank Thee and praise Thee for Thy Word. Help us to love it, and preach it, and teach it, and tell everybody we can the Good News through thy Word. In Jesus' name. Amen."

Dr. Frank Lodgson

1 Corinthians 14:33
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

And what is confusion but many versions running around?

The King James Bible was not translated during the apostate and lukewarm Laodicean church period, like the new translations. The Laodicean period is the last church period before the Second Coming of Christ. It is the last of the seven church periods in Revelation chapters two and three. One can clearly see that we are living in the Laodicean period today by simply comparing modern churches to the church of Revelation 3:14-22. This lukewarm period began toward the end of the 1800's and will continue until Christ returns. The new versions fit well into the lukewarm churches, because they are lukewarm "bibles."

5. The KJV is the only one that claims full inspiration and preservation and infallibility.

What other version of the Bible can say this? None. There are no defenders of (insert corrupt version here) of its inspiration. Only the KJV boasts such members.

As one points out, all new translations compare themselves to the KJV first. Just the fact that the KJV is mentioned brings great emotional response. And emotional responses are a sign of spiritual warfare.

All apparent "errors" in the KJV can be explained through prayer and a careful study of the scriptures.
...
Ninety-five percent of all evidence SUPPORTS the text of the King James Authorized Version. The new versions are supported by the remaining five percent evidence.

I vouch for this. There is no other book I can feel the Spirit living within its pages. All "errors" I have now seen promulgated in the libraries of man I can easily show not to be an error by simply cross-referencing.

6. The English language dominates the world. The KJV was translated in the most perfect form of English.

God's Word is always primarily in the language His people will use it.

In Israel's time, it was in Hebrew, for it only applied to them.

In the apostle's time, it was in Greek (both OT and NT). In the fulness of time when Greek was the trade language did Jesus come.

Today, what is the prevailing language of God's people? What is the trade language of the world?

This is why you shouldn't fear Chinese nor another language overtaking English. It is our Bible that holds that barrier.

Those that are scholars of Greek and Hebrew set themselves up as priests and interpreters and scribes. We have a living, breathing English Bible right here! It's alive, brother!

There is a common misconception that the KJV translators used the English of their day to translate the Bible. That is not true. "You" already replaced "thou". Words and usages in it were already archaic in their day(1611). In other words, the English of the 1611 Bible is not from 1611.

A serious, deep study of it leads to the fact that it is indeed the most perfect translation of the Hebrew and Greek in English. For example, "Thou" is a singular pronoun. In modern day English, we replace it with the word "you", which can be both singular and plural. However, in the Hebrew and Greek, there are singular pronouns, and "thou" is the correct translation.

Sounds trivial? NO! "You" can mean groups of people. When it replaces "thou", it removes individuality of a passage, and will lead to serious doctrinal errors.

Luke 22:31
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

The Greek is plural for you in 31, while thou is singular in Greek. In that light, we know that Satan was desiring of all the disciples, not only Peter. This passage is fulfilled in Acts when Peter rises up as the leader and indeed strengthens his brethren.

Exodus 4:15
15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

Thou refers to a singular Moses, but ye refers to Israel.

7. The KJV is the only translation which magnifies Him, Our Lord Jesus Christ, fully. 
There is no question that new translations always question the Deity, Virgin Birth, Death, Resurrection somewhere. 

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: And they are they which testify of me. John 5:39

With that I have no time left, I have to get to church. I still have more material to post.  I have written why the KJV is superior to other translations, and partly why it is superior to the originals, and I shall touch on more on the latter.

If the KJV is indeed the Word of God, and since it is the power of God in the Awakenings and the great Philadelphian Church Age of yesteryear, it would be more conducive to the Church to set it back on its rightful place. Of course, that will not happen in this lukewarm Laocidean Church, where people are forced to compromise for the sake of "fellowship". Having no rifts and no division sounds mamby-pamby, kumbayah, everyone loves everyone, and all that, but it's not the best, especially over a very, very important thing, which is the Bible and doctrine.

Matthew 10:34
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

That sword is God's Word. God's Word must divide. And indeed it will divide, divide us in doctrine, which gives rise to different denominations; and it will divide us in its words, which gives rise to opinions of translations. We must be divided on these issues because they are the roots, and without them, whatever we are means nothing. If we compromise on these things, corruption is quick to take over as leaven in bread and whatever peace we achieve is pointless. 

Over other non-important things we shouldn't be divided, but since in this issue, there is only one true Word and only one true doctrine. The only time we are to be united is under one true Word and one true doctrine. And history shows that the Church was indeed united under the King James Bible only for about 300 years. And those were the best years of the Church until He comes.

Thoughts on Bible Dispensations

The following is not structured well, I will fix that in a future post:

Salvation
1. Old Testament Salvation: Faith in what God said as shown by and resulting in works (Noah to John the Baptist, as shown by James, Hebrews Hall of Faith resulting in works. It's not faith automatically in the coming Son of God, but what specifically God said to that specific person, which included statements of the coming Son of God. For example, Noah was saved not because he believed specifically on Jesus the Messiah, but he believed God's pronouncement of the Flood, faith, and built an ark, works resulting in faith.)
2. Before Jesus was on Earth: Faith shown by water baptism of repentance by John the Baptist
3. When Jesus was on Earth: Faith in His physical Person, and water baptism (his disciples baptized)
---
The believing dead on times before this went to Paradise, Abraham's bosom under the Earth (Lazarus and rich man)
~~~ Jesus' Crucifixion ~~~
The believing dead on times after this went to the Third Heaven, above the Earth
---
4. When Jesus resurrected but before the Pauline letters were written: Faith as shown by water baptism of repentance (Acts)
5. TODAY: Pauline letters written until the Rapture: Grace through faith, works need not to be shown, no water baptism needed (Romans and rest of Paul's letters)
6. In the Tribulation: Faith as shown through keeping the commandments and refusing the mark of the Beast (most like the ten commandments, 
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 
22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.)
7. During and after the Millennium: Allegiance to the physical Son of God that can be seen. There is no faith in the Millennium or afterwards, as "faith is the substance of things not seen". This only applies to the Gentile nations who are left after the Tribulation. (refer to Old Testament prophecies of the Kingdom and the judgment of Sheep and Goats, a judgment of nations, not the Church)

I Corinthians 1:22
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

Signs and Miracles and the Word (Wisdom)
1. Old Testament before the Law: God appeared Himself, with all the trappings of miracles (Creation, Flood, plagues, pillar of fire and cloud)
2. Old Testament Israel: God appeared to the High Priest in the temple and prophets did miracles
3. Intermission, Silent Years (Malachi-Matthew): No Biblical records of signs or miracles
4.. Gospels: Jesus showed miracles to Israel, and made exceptions to only two Gentiles (the woman and the centurion)
5.Pentecost: Tongues and other miracles primarily a witness to the Jews
6. Pauline Letters: Tongues and other miracles started to cease, being replaced by the witness of charity/love (I Cor. 13)
7. Once Revelation was written, and the canon set: Wisdom was fully written down
8. TODAY: The entire Bible spreading this current Church age: God's primary mode of showing Himself is through the Word of wisdom. Where the Bible is, it takes precedence over miracles. Once a society is saturated with the Word of God, miracles completely cease. That's one reason why formely "Christian" nations today turn atheistic and secular, once the Bible is plentiful, overt spiritual activity that can be seen ceases, and secularism is a threat. (2 Pet. 1:19) False science tries to replace godly wisdom (1 Tim 6:20) 
9. The Rapture, Tribulation, Millennium: Signs and wonders, both holy and devilish, come back in full force primarily for the salvation of Israel, and to turn the Gentile nations into aiding Israel.

Rapture, the Day of Christ, and the Day of the Lord

(All emphasis is mine)

There is a difference between the "day of the Lord" and the "day of Christ".

In the Old Testament, the day of the Lord is God's wrath poured out on Israel. The NT expands it to the whole Earth.

In the New Testament, and specifically only Paul, reveals the phrase the "day of Christ". It is marked with a rejoicing for the saints. Wrath is not appointed.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

Jesus delivered us from the wrath to come.
I Thes. 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

We are present with Jesus Christ at His coming.
I Thes. 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

Jesus Christ comes with all of His saints.
I Thes. 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Jude makes a similar pronouncement:
Jude 1:14
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

We are alive in His coming. If we are alive at His coming, and we are with Him at His coming, then we are raptured before He comes. The sense here is that we are coming with Him, not to Him. He gathers before He comes. We who are alive are not preventing those who are asleep from coming with Him, but they rise first.
I Thes. 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which 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:

Cross reference Corinthians for the Rapture:
I Cor. 15: 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

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.

We are going to meet Christ in the air and the clouds, not on Earth.
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Paul does not use the day of Christ here, he uses the day of the Lord, along with wrath.
I Thes. 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Paul makes it clear we are exempt from the wrath.
I Thes. 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul then hopes our triune humanity is preserved until the coming.
I Thes.5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Onto the next book! The day here in verse 10 is the day of the Lord, not the day of Christ.
II Thes. 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Look at the verses beforehand. Remember, the Lord comes with all of His saints.
I Thes. 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not 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;

This is where it gets tricky.

Paul makes a distinction between His coming and His gathering of the saints.They are not the same thing.
II Thes. 2:2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

Paul says the day of Christ will come before the day of the Lord. Or else how can we comfort each other? In other words, he's telling Christians not to worry about the day of the Lord, as the day of Christ is coming before the day of the Lord.
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

The day here in verse 3 is the day of the Lord, not the day of Christ, because the antecedent is not the verse beforehand, it is in the chapter before it. "As that" means "because".
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

The KJV is correct in saying the "day of Christ" rather than "day of the Lord". This is how the verse means in the KJV:
Do not be troubled by the day of the Lord (1:7-10), because ("as that") the day of Christ is coming.

Modern translations that change the day of Christ to day of the Lord because of their ignorance in grammar make the following translation mean:
Do not be troubled by the day of the Lord (1:7-10), because ("as that") the day of Lord is coming.