I do believe a rapture is coming but my readings in Revelation suggest a period of testing and persecutions by the Beast who would be “allowed to wear down the saints” and it talks about those” under the throne who had been killed for their testimony and who had not taken the mark”. My reading of Thessalonians doesn’t convince me that it speaks of the “church being taken up” as that “removal of He that restraineth”. It could just be that the Holy Spirit steps aside or what ever angel or spiritual entity is taken aside and the beast is allowed to take control. It doesn’t mean that Christians are abandoned for the Holy Spirit will keep them form “coming under that great delusion being sent by God that is coming that men should believe a lie’.
Now if I’m wrong, happy days! Yet as men of Faith we should be prepared for surprises and to be prepared to adjust some of our eschatology. We know Christ’s coming is nigh for we have entered into a period much like the “days of Noah”(so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man)....heck even the growing interest of UFO’s and increasing reports of “alien visitations” read much like the visitations of the Nephilim or “sons of God” as was described concerning the days of Noah. I’ve heard teachings suggesting that the rapture occurs, at 3.5 years into the final 7 years, with the death and resurrection of the 2 witnesses...they rise up, the dead in Christ rise up , then the rest of the living church follow suit.
I guess my caution about rapture timing comes down to what Christ said...”Watch therefore and be ready, for no man knows the time or the hour...” We evangelicals have set great store in the pre-trib rapture...would we be able to stand if we should have to endure some testing and persecution by the Beast system first?
Thanks for the food for thought.