[SkyPilot]

A very interesting thread and debate.

I realize we have folks here on every spectrum of the debate: from Christians who disagree on the September 23rd sign, to folks who may not even believe in Christ.

So many salient points have already been made here by other Freepers, and I don't want to reiterate those. I would simply add that I am in the camp that Christ's words in Matthew 24: 36, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father", in context to the rest of Scriptures was stated before His death, resurrection, and of John writing Revelation. Moreover, I don't think it is a coincidence that Christ used the words "neither the day nor the hour" - which are a Jewish idiom for the Feast of Trumpet (Yom Teruah).

The next feast day on God's calendar to be fulfilled is the Feast of Trumpets. Given Scripture and its language, combined with Biblical hermetics, I believe there will be a Rapture (from the Greek "Harpazo"....literally a snatching away) of His true believers before the 7 year Tribulation, and I give credence to the theory that Christ will come for His bride on the Feast of Trumpets.

Regarding the celestial alignment this week, that some are calling the Revelation 12 sign. There is a lot of terrible reporting and outright lies being stated out there, both in the secular news and in the Christian community. One of the biggest falsehood out there are saying that this exact alignment has occurred 84 times in history. It has not. Period.

There are aspects of the alignment that have occurred, but not every facet of it. The Stellarium software has been run 10,000 years in the past, and 10,000 years in the future - and it is a unique event. When people state things that are not true, and then expect the rest of their argument to be given credence, they are demagogues or fools.

Does this sign mean the Rapture is upon us? I don't know. Who does?

But I do know this. 1 Thessalonians 5:4 states that true Christians will not be caught unaware like the rest of the world, or as lukewarm Christians will be. I also know that the world is going crazy and downhill - fast! The rest of Matthew 24, when He said "as in the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man" is upon us, or very close.

We all know this. Even a few years ago, things were not as bad as they are now. Even Hussein Obama was making statements against "Gay Marriage" a few years ago! Think about that.

I pay extra attention to God's feast days anyway. So yes, I am paying extra attention now.

Perhaps this sign means something else - that the last days are just around the corner.

[Hot Tabasco]

The true test of one’s belief that Jesus is returning on Sept. 23 is their willingness to turn over their earthly possessions of houses, boats and late model vehicles to the non believers such as me............

[mad_as_he$$]

Thank you for your measured response.

Only a few more days and we will know who is right.

[Sontagged]

As long as none of these calculations come from the pagan liars at NASA, you might have something there.

Otherwise, meh.

Has nothing to do with saving faith in Christ, at all. In fact, Christ would tell us to beware the lying delusions that mystery occultists at NASA are cooking up for us:

the Disciples; “What is the sign of your second coming and the end of the world?

And Jesus replied: “Beware deception...”

Believing in what men say about the Rapture has nothing to do with what God will or will not do at the time He returns for His church.

[WalterSkinner]

I pay extra attention to God's feast days anyway. So yes, I am paying extra attention now

..amen

[LS]

I would say this. If one reads the Bible literally, when Jesus says “But about that day or hour no one KNOWS” He said that 2000 years ago. It doesn’t necessarily mean no one WILL KNOW when the time approaches.

No, I’m not standing around waiting for the rapture. If it happens, I’m ready. If it doesn’t, I’m ready.

But the passage that always gets me, doing back to Matthew 24:36 are the multiple admonitions to “watch and pray.” Now, if you “don’t know,” all the “watching” in the world won’t clue you in. If it comes “as a thief in the night,” why watch? It’s still gonna surprise you. Mixed signals there.

Personally, and I’m not gonna argue, I believe in layered revelation, and that Jesus was right THEN, but if He were on earth today, He might not say that.