Yes, I'm very disappointed in you...
There's plenty in the scriptures about that blessed hope...And we are encouraged to look for that blessed hope...And what is that blessed hope??? It's the return of Jesus to rescue His own from this evil world...
And if the idea of that happening in your lifetime doesn't get you excited, I don't know what would...
I've talked to a number of Christians who are deathly afraid of the Rapture...They're not ready for such an event...Their wives, husbands, children, jobs, next week's golf game, etc...
And others want more time to get 'fully qualified' so as to pass the judgement...They're not quite ready yet to get 'real' serious about Christianity...
But hey, all the prophecies had to be fulfilled for the Rapture to take place...And the last prophecy required to be fulfilled was the return of Israel to her own land...And NOW, that's a done deal...
It's true that people have been looking for this event for centuries...But they apparently didn't believe the scriptures and more than some on this thread do...The prophecies had to be fulfilled first...And that didn't happe til 1948...
1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Stand and watch...
Hmmm, so either you believe the “rapture” coincides with the Second Coming, or you think Jesus told Christians to look for something that's of no real concern to them.
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2)Christ's “appearing” is judgment day.
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ,who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: (2 Tim. 4:1)Judgment day is after the thousand years.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, F109 and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20)
And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; (Jude 6)
INDEED.
THX.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6The 'thief in the night' is swift destruction, not the 'rapture' of believers. For a thorough study as to why it does mean that, go here. Granted, I did the study, but I promise... it's thorough.
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.(bringing swift, unexepected destruction) While they (that is not "you" so, those who don't know) are saying, "Peace and safety!" ("Hey life is good, there's peace and we are safe") then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child (Paul, here, gives another description of what the day of the Lord will bring - that is destruction that is swift and unexpected), and they (same they) will not escape(all the unrighteous will be destroyed). But you, brethren (the church), are not in darkness (following the literally hundreds of similar uses of darkness in the Bible - darkness is lost to sin - the church is in the light, or saved), that the day would overtake you like a thief (the day of the Lord won't bring swift destruction to the 'sons of Light'); for you are all sons of light and sons of day (see?). We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober(don't be overcome by darkness, remain active in the light).