[P-Marlowe]

You know one of the main reasons why no one ever thought that the church would be raptured was that Israel had ceased to exist before the New Testament Cannon had been completed. So most theologians thought, incorrectly, that the Church had replaced Israel and that the prophecies in Revelation had somehow symbolically taken place in 70 AD.

But Israel, as promised by God, has been restored. The time of the Gentiles is almost complete. The rapture is therefore imminent. The Rapture idea is clearly stated in Thessalonians. The Church is clearly taken out of the picture in Revelation Chapter 3 and does not appear again until his Golorious Appearing. God will deal with Israel during the period in between.

The bottom line is that you don't have to believe in the rapture for it to happen. And its going to happen. You will believe it when it happens. It probably won't go down like Tim LaHaye thinks it will. But it will go down. Or up, actually.

[Destro]

Criticism of the rapture are usually based on the idea that it is a relatively new theory in the history of Christian belief, and also on the principle that anyone left behind who had knowledge of the theory but didn't believe in Christ would essentially have full proof to be convinced of the necessity of believing and thus everyone left behind would essentially be forced to believe (this would prevent any type of Anti Christ from having any credibility).

Self defeating then ain't it?

[topcat54]

But Israel, as promised by God, has been restored.

There is no objective evidence to suggest that the modern, secular state of Israel is a legitimate expression of biblical Israel.

This is a fantasy invented by dispensational prophecy preacher to sell books to the unwashed.