Well there are three theories: Pre, Mid, and Post so I guess it’s what verses you want to use to prove which will happen. As far as I’m concerned is not when He comes is >that< He comes.
I have heard all three preached, and witnessed it tear churches up. I thought the behavior to be really stupid. The point of it all is to be saved and ready regardless of which doctrine plays out. If you are saved why do you care? Is it not more important to see souls saved than debate doctrine?
Personally I guess I don’t fall in the millennialist view at all. I believe when Christ returns, it’s all over and done with.
Recently, many friends are leaning to accepting the ‘rapture’ teaching who otherwise did not accept it.
My only response is to use the words our Savior used in answering direct questions:
Matt 24:28 - For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles (vultures) be gathered together.
Luke 17:37 - And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles (vultures) be gathered together.
The Lord starts out prophesying to the disciples that are with him about things to come.
6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
The temple will be destroyed. The Lord making this pronouncement worried them and they asked:
7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
Interesting that this begins with Luke 21:6. The temple was destroyed in 70 AD. There was a fire, the gold in the temple melted and ran down into the rock rubble.
The Romans wanted the gold, so they went through the rubble stone by stone to find all the gold..."...there shall not be left one stone upon another..."
How does all this tie into end-times 2000 or more years later?