The uniform understanding of the texts by all Christians until the mid 19th century was that they described the experience those alive at the time of the General Resurrection will have. This is still the teaching of the Holy Orthodox Church on the matter.
Actually the 'rapture' hasn't been debated for centuries, perhaps a century and a half tops. It is purely a recent protestant invention.?
I guess this is why the Thessalonians thought it had already occurred.
The point here is not whether it has been debated, but a clear and consistent reading of all the end time prophecy because things are lining up as they have never lined up before in history.
Israel is now in existence after nearly 1900 years. The capability exists for the False Prophet to cause "fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men." The 20th century, besides killing more in war than the previous 19 combined, has brought into play -war- on a truly global scale. And China boasts an army of hundreds of millions.
After much study, I am of the opinion that the first four Seals have already been opened. The rise in animal crossover diseases and insect borne diseases along with drug resistant bacteria and new strains of viruses like HIV which causes AIDS (which has decimated Africa and is on the increase in other parts of the world) is evidence for the fourth horseman. This is a fitting combination of plague and having wild beasts do the killing.
I think we are witnessing the formation of the third beast of Daniel. The Church of Laodicea is plainly evident as mainstream Christianity tries to deal with modern Western culture. With the war on terror, battle lines are being drawn that divide the world into North and South, between the developed countries and the Muslim world. Even old adversaries are united as witnessed by the unprecedented cooperation between the CIA, M-5 and what was the KGB to capture a rogue Muslim arms merchant last year. The Israelites have built a wall in Jerusalem (which figures in specific end-time prophecy) and they have found the red heifers they need for the sacrifice under the Law.
There are more things needed to occur before we are propelled into the seventieth 'seven,' which is only defined to start with the elusive Middle East Peace treaty, but events are coming along nicely inline with Jesus' conditions for the end times. I think these conditions have to be present and for people to become acclimated to them before the Antichrist can exert his power and in doing so, gain the respect of the world. But still, the end is not yet. As Jesus said, they are only the beginnings of birth pains.
My concern from my study is that the 60% that think the "Left Behind" series' pre-Trib position is Biblically correct, may be sorely tested when they are faced with oppression from the Demonic. To them, I say: stand firm, or more properly; keep the faith. If you try to save your life, you will lose it, but if you lose your life you will gain it for eternity. Fear not those that can destroy your body, but the One that can destroy both body and soul.
From Jesus’ Olivet Discourse a point for the Church needs to be brought out. It is the instruction in each synoptic Gospel account to "stand firm." This command is repeated twice in Revelation to "endure patiently." The verb for stand firm or endure patiently is hupomeno. The idea of standing firm in the English of being adamant in resolve, or steadfast, does not have a basis in the Greek. Rather this word means to stay behind, to await or endure. Instead of having an iron will as a new basis for salvation, Jesus words are communicated in terms of patiently waiting, or to endure. In a theological context, the admonition is not to stray from the faith in Him. This removes salvation from an individual’s will to faith in God, and so Paul’s preaching that only by faith are we saved is inline with Christ’s words.