I used to think the idea of the rapture was a way for the enemy to trick people into thinking they didn't need to be aware of the signs of the times.
However, I started studying revelations and now I am more inclined to believe in the rapture than before. There is a lot of scripture to support this point of view, but my main reason for believing it is the attitude it creates. Are you living like Christ could return at any moment, or do you have at least 7 more years?
I've been listening to Jon Courson's thru the bible mp3 study on revelations but below are some excerpts from Revelation Unveiled by Tim Lahaye.
"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth."(Rev. 3:10) The absence of any mention of the church in the rest of rev. indicates that it is not on the earth during the tribulation. There are 16 referenences to the church in chapters 1-3.
The extensive use of old testament language and symbols in chapters 4-18 is an indication of israel, not the church. This is understandable since the church age is the time of the Gentiles, whereas the trib. is the time of Jacob's trouble or the sevientieth week of Daniel, determined by God for His dealings with Israel.
"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." (1Thes 4:13-18)
To appreciate the contrast between this event and the Glorious Appearing at the end of the trib. we should read our Lord's own description of that event in Mat. 24:27-31:
"For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."
The Glorious Appearing could not come today! It is at least 7 years from today. The rapture could come at any moment:
"...for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and tru God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."(1thes 1:9-10)
These thessalonian Christians were not sitting around waiting for the rapture, they were "serving the living and true God" in an attitude of expectancy "to wait for his Son". That is as it should be, for it could take place at any moment or it could be a generation or more away....that rapture is scheduled prior to the Glorious Appearing.
There's lot more but hubby's on the phone
