My personal belief is that those who are alive in christ at the time will have to endure the tribulation. The term rapture itself never appears in scripture, and is a very recent teaching in the church. A guy by the name of Darby came up with it about a hundred years ago, prior to that everyone believed as I do. That's not to say I can't be wrong I don't think any of us really knows for sure and even those who study such things all the time can't seem to make up their mind about it. Including Howel Lindsay. The thing to do is simply trust God he knows what he's doing even if we don't. I think it's also good to not get too caught up in these kind of theological ;points.

IT'S NOT GOOD TO GET CAUGHT UP IN SUCH THEOLIGICAL POINTS....BUT IT IS SO MUCH FUN.

I don't generally put much thought into the rapture questions, just because there is so much in the current moment in terms of war to be waged for Christ.... so I'd rather fight the good fight in the moment I am in, and if it turns out to be a post-trib rapture, then I will have to fight along through that thing, by the power of HIS might, and the grace of HIS spirit. Its not that I don't appreciate debates of theology, but I have to work hard enough to stay anchored as it is!

I also think there is a tendancy among (some) who believe in pre-trib rapture to be more complacent when it comes to spiritual warfare, taken their belief that they will be exempt from such a battle as a means to relax when perhaps they should be putting on the full armor...

This is just my opinion/interpretation of what I think I see in some people I know, and its not grounds for me to condemn them...

I think more than considering "How do you think it will happen"... its more critical to consider, "How are you preparing to handle it no matter how it happens"

I believe that when Peter told the Lord that he would never betray Him, he wasn't lying. He believed he wouldn't. The Lord knew Peters heart and weakness better than Peter himself did. Peter was deceived in himself to the very point of ignorance of his own character flaws. But as (I believe) he wasn't aware of them, (I believe) when he spoke to Jesus of how he would NOT ever deny Him, it was sincere, to the best understanding he had of himself... which was lacking, it turned out.

So my prayer is that I may not suffer Peters lack when it comes to weighing my own character as it relates to how I will withstand to fight the good fight when the heat is on. Peter had no intention to ever deny the Lord. I believe this is why he is said to have "wept bitterly"... not just because of what he had done, but because of how he had shocked himself to learn that he wasn't who he thought he was... and yet the whole time, Jesus knew who he was, even in his own ignorance... but the beauty of it is... Jesus didn't fail to love Peter, even knowing the truth of Peters character better than Peter himself.

I find it interesting too, that Christ declared that the church would be built with peter as the cornerstone... and it makes me wonder if it wasn't because of peters flaws that Christ would choose him, that we might be able to relate to Peter and be convicted by the bit of peter in all of us? This way we weren't to have a leadership with a "holier than thou"-ness about them?

I'm sorry that my response is really rather a bunny trail which your question spawned.

I agree with ChrisR.The word Rapture is not in scripture.This is my thought if god allowed his son to go threw what he went threw why would he spares us from what is written in the book of revelation.From my understanding jesus only comes once.If you beleive in the rapture that means jesus has to come twice if i can remember right i think jesus only comes once.That's in the book of revelation.If anybody knows where it says he will come twice please let me know.I believe that we will be here to witness the tribulation thats what i beleive.I could be wrong.I don't worry about the rapture or what's to come,but i know people who do they live in fear and im talking about christain people.God can come for me anyday.so why worry about what's to come.If your right with God that's all that matters causes what is already written no one can change.

ledliyl, I admit that I haven't studied it out, and I don't really concern myself with whether rapture is scripturally based or not. I know there is no reference using that word, but whether the meaning which the word was designed to ellicit is in scripture, I haven't exhaustively studied. Its not the words presence, but the meaning which the word is meant to carry, which we need to study out as to whether it is biblical. I admit ignorance in this area.

I haven't really felt the need to study out whether or not it is there, because I don't think it is pertinent. IF the interpretation of rapture is biblical, it shouldn't change how I live my life. That my eternal security is found in Him is enough for me, and whatever happens between now and the moment He calls me home, I will have to walk out. I know a lot of people who believe in the 'rapture' concept, and a lot who don't. I know that whether we believe in it or not doesn't change what is going to happen, and I think that too much time focused on the future 'what ifs' stands to distract us from experiencing His presence in the moment we have right NOW. For me, when I get distracted and slip out of His presence, it starts a downward spiral...

I need His presence, and the only way I can draw on it is to stay in the present. Just knowing that God knows what is coming is enough for me... I don't have to try to figure it out in my own power or understanding. He's got it covered, and if I live for Him, my eternal destination is secure. That has to be enough, or else my peace could be stolen by distraction with thinking I should be able to know more than I can.

The word clearly tells us to not concern ourselves with tomorrow, for the todays issues are sufficient enough.

WELL, THIS IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE TOPIC BESIDES SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

I HAVE 2 THEORIES ABOUT THE RAPTURE THAT IS STRICTLY FROM A ROB(THAT'S ME) POINT OF VIEW.

1) ALL THOSE THAT HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS INTO THEIR HEARTS WILL GET CAUGHT UP AND COMPLETELY DISAPEAR FROM SITE WHEN THE TRUMPET(SHAFAR) SOUNDS IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. THEN THE ANTICHRIST WILL TAKE POWER FOR THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION.

2) I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE 2 TYPES OF CHRISTIANS THAT I AFFECTIONATELY CALL SAINTS AND SOLDIERS. SAINTS ARE GOOD LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS THAT GO ALONG WITH MORAL SOCIETY AND TYPICALLY JUDGE THOSE THAT DON'T THE MOST HARSHLY. NOW SOLDIERS ARE THE OUTCASTS OF SOCIETY AND TYPICALLY DANCE TO THE BEAT OF THEIR OWN DRUM AND DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN ALL OF THE LEGALISM OF CHRISTIANITY. THEY LOVE PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE AND ACCEPT THEM THE BEST THEY CAN AND LET THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB COVER THE REST.

OK, NOW THAT I DEFINED THAT, I THINK THAT THE SAINTS COULD GET CAUGHT UP IN THE RAPTURE BEFORE THE TRIBULATION AND THE SOLDIERS WILL GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION AND LEAD PEOPLE THAT ARE HEADING FOR HELL TO CHRIST, AND FIGHT THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON WITH CHRIST AT THE END OF THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION. MANY SOLDIERS WILL BECOME BEHEADED MARTYRS FOR PREACHING THE GOSPEL AND NOT ACCEPTING THE MARK OF THE BEAST.


OH, AND MY LOTTERY PICK FOR THE RAPTURE IS 2011, SO YOU ALL CAN STONE ME AFTER THAT IF I'M WRONG.

As I understand the word it says, we will be caught up to be with the lORD. Down through everyday language someone started saying rapture.

I understand through reading the bible and in revelation that Jesus will come Once, not through a rapture where people disapear out of no where. I am not too sure about the whole rapture thing just because i havent seen any biblical texts that support it. If anyone does, let me know i guess.