Replies

Of course belief/unbelief in The Rapture is not a Salvation issue.

We who are His Children are called to know the Truth about God. The Church was a ‘mystery’ to the OT Patriarchs/Prophets and even the Apostles until Pentecost and Paul elaborated on it’s destiny even further in his writings.

The Lord might discipline His Children, but He’ll never forsake or judge them with the ungodly children of the enemy.
Why would He?

Since we in Christ have already been judged and the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, there is no reason we would still be upon the Earth when GOD begins pouring out His wrath on the earth dwellers who refused His Grace. The rider on the White Horse comes with a bow but no arrows ... in our absence, in the absence of the Indwelling Holy Spirit restraints, the lawless one arises to herd the seas (peoples of the nations).

There is a reason the invaders are on horseback and it is linked to the cleansing of the first Heaven where we shall meet the Lord in the air.

Of course belief/unbelief in The Rapture is not a Salvation issue. We who are His Children are called to know the Truth about God. The Church was a ‘mystery’ to the OT Patriarchs/Prophets and even the Apostles until Pentecost and Paul elaborated on it’s destiny even further in his writings.

I'm glad you said that. Some people (Christians, even) have strongly asserted that belief in the Rapture is heresy and those who teach it are condemned. They mock and deride those of us who do believe in it as if we just swallow any and everything we are told or that we have neglected to study the doctrine and search out God's word for its proof. We arrived at this belief after prayerful and diligent examination of the ONLY source Christians have for our rule of faith - the Holy Scriptures. I certainly don't belittle those who may disagree and am happy to defend why I believe it is true. Nobody's eternal salvation depends upon their acceptance of it. It could probably be classified as a "disputable matter" and we are told not to quarrel or pass judgment on others over it (Romans 14:1).

Paul did indeed speak of "mysteries" that Jesus Christ revealed to him. Among them, I believe, is that Jesus WILL catch away (rapture) His church out of the world prior to the unleashing of the Time of Jacob's Trouble, the Tribulation. He spoke of it in several epistles including to the Thessalonians as well as the believers in Corinth. For example:

Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (I Thess. 4:13-18)

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (I Corinthians 15:51-54)

Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you. For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.
For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing. (I Thess. 5:1-11)

When it does happen, believers WILL be taken up whether or not they believe in the Rapture. We are to demonstrate respect, patience and love one towards another.

Live in peace with one another. And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people. (I Thess. 5:13-15)