man, i dont even know.
i try not to figure it out. 
ive found it to be a waste of time. :)

The "Rapture" does not exist. To be ready is be clean and worthy to be able to endure the presence of the Lord when He comes again. How do we do that? By loving the Lord (see John 14:15).

I believe in the rapture

Jesus is coming back

2 Peter 3:1-12 NKJV  Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), {2} that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, {3} knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, {4} and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." {5} For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, {6} by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. {7} But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. {8} But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. {9} The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. {10} But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. {11} Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, {12} looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

People may mock us and say that we've been claiming for years that Jesus would be coming back and yet things go on just like they always have been.

Peter says that this is what people said before the flood of Noah.

I'm sure this is the kind of thing that people thought in Jeremiah's day, "Hey old man, you've been saying that for years …"

And then it happened.

Our part is to be "looking for and hastening" the return of Jesus to the earth.

Each year we see that a few more pieces have fallen into place.  It will happen.

What kind of condition do you want Jesus to find you in when He comes back?

Matthew 24:45-51 NKJV  "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? {46} "Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. {47} "Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. {48} "But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' {49} "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, {50} "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, {51} "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

i can't say that i agree with it.  the writings appear to have been written at a very end-of-times period of early Christianity, and clearly it did not come about then (nor has it come about any other time it's been predicted).  besides, the writing most often cited was geared towards the church at Thessalonica... what better way to get people to shape up and fly right?

@esuzannah@xanga -  If you have never done so, try this:  Pray to God first before you read the bible and ask God to open your eyes to what He would say to you. Amazing things can happen!

@Kristenmomof3@xanga -  I like that scripture also.  It always reminds me of that sense of urgency God gives to us, so we will be mindfull of what  we are doing here, and why we are here.

@Pickwick12@xanga - You nailed it! Great scripture.

I believe in a rapture, and have studied eschatology incessantly for 7 years.  It took up all of my Christian life from 1992-1999.  We looked at the signs, we looked at the possibilities, studied the Scriptures and the net result was that I did nothing but look up at the skies - rather like the disciples as Jesus ascended into heaven in Acts 1.

Since that time I have listened to the voice of the angels who were present that day.  Why look up into the heavens hoping for the return of Jesus, when he has called us to reach out into the world.  What might be a glorious day for a follower of Christ, it should be remembered, is going to be a seriously bad day for anyone who isn't following Christ. 

2 billion people are still outside the reach of the gospel.  That does not mean that 2 billion are unsaved.  It means that if every Christian on earth shares the gospel with all their mates, there will still be 2 billion outside the reach of this evangelism.  Mission should be the focus, not eschatology - though it is interesting to look at these things, read the signs and be prepared.

Remember: One of the key tenets for the return of Christ is that the gospel should be preached to every ethnic group - don't leave it to the 144,000 signed and sealed Jews of Revelation.  Do it yourself!

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING

Steve

i've seen way too many forums about this topic.. this is gonna get intense. 

I do not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture.
I believe in a post-tribulation rapture.
All christians living on earth in the end times will endure the tribulation.

@mariahatescupcakes@xanga - Many people believe as you do.  In fact, I think the Catholics believe they will all go through the Tribulation?

It is only over the last several years in my study of the book of Revelation that I became convinced Christians would be gone during that 7 year time period.  Mainly because it is a time of "God's wrath", and His people do not receive His wrath, so we are either protected supernaturally, or gone.

@Biblerapture@xanga - I agree with you. The timeline points to us being gone, as does the concept of the judgment going on during the tribulation. It's not intended for pre-rapture believers.

I don't think so, the Bible clearly teaches that the rapture will occur after the tribulation.  The belief that it will occur before is just a form of escapism, and it is not based on Biblical teaching.  I will say more on this later.  Right now I'm about to fall asleep.

Post- or mid-trib rapture.  But I'm not solid on it.  If I'm wrong all I miss is the suffering.  But there's too much in there about belongers suffering through the tribulation and I don't go for the LaHaye version, although I'll have to admit it was pretty creative.