[William Terrell]

Biblically, it seems to me, God has never spared those whom He sets to do His will and trusts with His work from discomfort. Death? It is the end of discomfort for those of the Lord. Discomfort, including pain, is a thing of the living material body, and He uses that body to temper the soul and spirit.

The church, the bride of Christ has yet to be tempered, and who'll say that those who wish to be jerked out of the fray to avoid discomfort have the mettle to be servants of Him?

I intend to remain and wield His sword as He wills and endure hardship as He wills. In my opinion, any rapture is the removing of the deadwood so that the Lord can reign among the faithful. I personally work to not be among the former.

We all differ according to our wants. In the end there will be only one truth and it will be unavoidable.

Just my heart on the matter.

[blue-duncan]

"The church, the bride of Christ has yet to be tempered,"

Not to belabor the point, I'm sure that the church in Nigeria, Sudan, Pakistan, India, Indonesia or China might see this a little differently as will the churches of Communist countries past. But you use the phrase "bride of Christ" to describe the church. In Ephesians husbands are told to love their wives even as Christ loved the church (His Bride). Now if you are right that Christ is going to take His bride through His wrath/judgments, not just the trials and tribulations spoken of in the Epistles and James, what kind of example is that for the husband and wife relationship? Is that really a demonstration of love to expose the "weaker" spouse to the husband's wrath?