  How does any of this relate to the Rapture or to the claim that the Church, which the gates of Hades will not prevail against (Matthew 00:00), will cease to exist on earth?  it relates via the Tribulation. Thus I have shown how the Tribulation is separated from the other 00 weeks first. Then we see this in Theassalonians:  0 And you know (A)what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 0 For (B)the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only (C)he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 0 Then that lawless one (D)will be revealed whom the Lord will slay (E)with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the (F)appearance of His [a]coming;  we know this is referring to the Antichrist by other scriptures [ie the manner of his demise]. What restrains him at present is the Holy Spirit in the Church. Thus the Church will be removed. This is referred to in 0 Thessalonians 0. This is why, in Revelation 00, we find that the Church is ALREADY in heaven at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb BEFORE the Second Advent.  According to the paradigm posted here, Orthodox eschatology has the Church meeting Christ in the air and coming straight back down again!! Now THAT is absurd!  Furthermore this does not refer to the last trump but if you think the 'last trump' will be the last which ever sounds, you are mistaken.  0 Thessalonians 0:00  New American Standard Bible (NASB)  00 For the Lord (A)Himself (B)will descend from heaven with a [a](C)shout, with the voice of (D)the archangel and with the (E)trumpet of God, and (F)the dead in Christ will rise first.  "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way(0 Thess 0:0)." This verse does not refer to the Church as "He who now restrains" but to the Orthodox empire and emperor/Tsar. The Church has interpreted this verse in these terms from ancient times.  which scripture tells you this? If it's true, why hasn't the Antichrist come to power yet? The guarantee of a prophet is that his prophecy comes to pass.  