[DreamWeaver]

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Mat 24: 38-42

[Fighting Irish]

Won't find one. All indications say we will be around when the stuff hits the fan.

Rev 13:7 "He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them".

A little note if you are studying the subject of biblical prophesy.....just before we invaded Iraq, Turkey built a very large dam which greatly restricted the flow from the Euphrates river into Iraq. Now see Rev 16:12 Then flip over to chapter 8 verses 10 & 11 ( a story about a little town in the former Soviet Union that had a slight nuclear reactor mishap).

So who are the "Saints" if we all got on the bus before the Taliban strike?

God however goes on to mention that He will send an angel to protect us from "...sickness... and none will miscarry or be barren in the land." Read Gen. 20-33. Yes I know Genesis was written before Revelations but the horror described in Revelations 16 is the same as Genesis 11.

The point is this, in my opinion (it's tough to discuss Revelations in a format as this)we are in the latter days of the End Times. The prophets wrote about overcoming and that abounding grace and strength was to be given to the saints. If we are gone.....why the outpouring of His goodness...and to whom is it bestowed?

[marbren]

The key is Israel. The Tribulation period has to do with Israel. Once the church is raptured God returns to the program for Israel's salvation.

[Walkin Man]

16 Proofs for a Pre-Tribulation Rapture

[artios]

I cor 15, II Cor 5, I Thes 4,5, II Thes 2 - Phil 3 - all the same message - we look for Christs return, not a bunch of signs or anything in Israel - Our hope is Christ himself. I John 3:1-3 etc etc

[poet]

Is it possible that only the 144,000 chosen elect will be raptured (12,000 from the 12 Tribes of Israel)?
While many of us profess our belief in Christ, can any of us say we are worthy of such a magnificent blessing?

Revelation Chapter 14: Verses 1-5:
"Then I looked and behold a Lamb standing on Mount Zion and with Him one hundred and forty four thousand having His Father's name on their foreheads:
And I heard a voice from Heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard
the sound of harpists playing their harps.
They sang as it were a new song before the throne,
before the four living creatures and the elders, and no one
could learn that song except the hundred and forty four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
These are the ones who are not defiled with women, for
for they are virgins, these are the ones who
follow the Lamb whereever He goes, these were redeemed
from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb
And in their mouth were found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

[TailspinJim]

MM, Read "The Pre-Wrath Rapture of The Church" by Marvin Rosenthal (1990). He's a graduate of Dallas Baptist Seminary and is director of "The Holy Land Experience" theme park in Orlando, FL. I met him there. He says that the rapture comes in the second 3 and 1/2 years of the tribulation, just before "God's Wrath".

Jim

[shield]

There is NO physical rapture. It is a spiritual movement. Moving in and out of the secret place of the most high. Your physically body is not leaving this earth. This teaching is another one of those 'doctrines and traditions of men' Jesus speaks about.

[Deanna Knapp]

NO Rapture...word not even in bible. Talk about adding to scripture. There will be alot of shaken people when they find out their doctrines of devils were grounded on sand.

[lockeliberty]

The rapture was first espoused by 19th century Millerite cult.