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IMNSHO (In my not so humble opinion), the rapture, as understood in popular theology, is a concoction of dispensational theology to try to reconcile scripture with the foundational assumptions of their system, (rather than reconcile their system with scripture). I have concluded that dispensationalism is incorrect and the "left behind" type of rapture is not going to occur.

There will be a rapture. It will occur when Christ returns to judge all men on the day of the Lord. I do not believe that that day is likely to occur soon. A lot of scripture seems to indicate some sort of Christianizing of the world; a process in which the kingdom of Christ is spread throughout the world fulfilling the great commission. Isaiah 11.9 says, "...the earth will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea". One commentator wrote, "How godly will the earth be in those days? How wet is the Pacific?"
So instead of staring into space waiting for some easy way out via the rapture, perhap the Church should be working to fulfill our commission.

Reading Revelation 4&5 describes the believers as being in heaven. Notice in CH.4 the 24 elders are clothed in white robes. The judgement of the believer has passed. I do believe in the rapture of believers before the Second Coming of Christ. During the tribulation the wedding is taking place in heaven. The dispensation of grace ends when believers are called out. At this time there about Israel signs the 7 year peace agreement with the Anti-Christ. Why are we called out? Biblical history says as much. When GOD was ready to pronounce judgement upon he called out his people. He called out Noah, he called out Lott, he called out Israel, he called out his son from Israel into Egypt while the males in Israel died. He called them all out before judgements came down.

Mysteries are answerable. How can the world be in the Great Tribulation and people marrying and be given in marriage. Such as was in the days of Noah when Christ returns? The calling out of the church is separate. He comes as the thief in the night no one knows the hour but the father. There's the key. Nobody knows the hour but the father.

Jesus used Hebrew traditions to teach by. One is the tradition of the Hebrew wedding. The first trumpet was sounded in a manger 2000 years ago. GOD sent Christ to earth. The father of the groom in Hebrew custom has to make a contract with the brides family and an engagement is announced the first trumpet as it is called is sounded announcing the engagement.

The father of the Groom then has his son to prepare the place suitable for his bride. Only the father of the Groom can declare the place sufficent and ready to meet their needs. He then will say Bring forth {home} your bride. Imediately the second or final trumpet is sounded announcing the wedding is occuring. These trumpet blast have nothing to do with the 7 trumpets of judgement.

Now we are told that after Israel signs the 7 year peace treaty we can literally count the days till Christ returns that is true. But who will be here looking for it? The unbelievers? They believed not in Christ. The first part of the tribulation begins upon the signing of the peace agreement the second part or three and a half years is when the treaty is broken. That is the Great Tribulation. There is no way I can comprehend weddings and feast occuring during this time. It will be literal hell on earth. But yet the Bible is clear that so were as in the days of Noah so shall it be...

Christ left us more to go on. The 10 virgins 5 were waiting for the groom and were taken & 5 were not and missed his return. I believe the believers will indeed be called out before the Anti- Christ is revealed and before Israel signs the agreement.

But then again that is not the basis of my salvation. I understand that I must be ready to be tested as well. I have read the trib theories and pre-trib rapture in the twinkling of an eye IMHO of the reading best fits scripture.

Oh, go ahead and say it! You're a Post-Trib! Im a Pre-Trib, and there are those out there who are Mid-Trib.

two will be standing in a field, and one will turn and the other will be gone..... two will be in bed and one will turn and the other will be gone....Where is the "church" no longer addressed after a certain point in the Revelation? Did God provide an escape prior to the distruction of Sodom and Gomorah for Lot and his family? Wasn't this escape beyond normal in that he sent special beings (angels) to see Lot?

Ill see you at the table, and remind you of this conversation! Enjoy!