I pray… Oh, I pray that people will open their eyes and be ready to meet the Lord. Today, tomorrow, in the future. Our nation has a core of salt — a preservative, if you will. I believe that while that preservative endures, there is hope. We are the salt and light! And that will not change!

Ah, you want the big guns, eh? Okay.

Theoretically, “The Rapture” is an event that will be surprising in its timing. The notion is that all those people who believe in Jesus as the Messiah will be taken by him into heaven. This number will include all “innocents,” including children.

Those who have not chosen to follow Jesus as Messiah will be left behind to suffer the consequences of the tribulationary period (mentioned in the post) and the wrath of God (which will come at the end of this tribulation period).

As to the mechanics of it, all I can say is what I believe the Bible says. The dead in Christ will rise first, so I am visualizing an evacuation of believers who have been buried or are otherwise disposed of at death (bottom of the sea, wherever). They will rise first, the Apostle Paul teaches. Then those who are still alive will be taken up to meet Jesus in the air.

How? Beats me. Except that we can read that there might have been two people working in a field, and then there will be only one, so sudden will the catching up of the believers be.

Now understand– I do believe in this great catching up of believers. I do. Scripture clearly teaches that this will happen. My gripe here is with the notion that all believers will escape such tribulation entirely, as they will be caught up and away before the trouble starts. Jesus himself clearly never said so.

Will there be a mess afterward? I do believe so, yes. But, by the time I believe it will happen, the world is going to be pretty messed up all ready!