10/10/2026
Something I caution us about, we reading into a scripture, an implied meaning, that not directly said.
Never let personal opinions affect your faith, only doctrines backed up by scripture.
It is easy, letting one scripture lead you to add something to a scripture, that it is assumed and not directly said.
Ok Preacher, give me an example!
Not sure I'm following you?
1 Corinthians 15:52 NIV
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
*** Now the only "thing" this verse says is " in the twinkling of an eye" "we will be changed." It does not say how fast we accend to meet Jesus.
The next verse tells us what it changed.
1 Corinthians 15:53 NIV
53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
**** In an instant from mortal to immortal. Next verse gives the order that it it happens?
1 Thessalonians 4:15 NIV
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
*** Only information given here, is dead in christ are resurrected first, before we are called up.
No "time table" is given as to how fast it all occurs, only the conversion is called out "as in an instant" the "twinkling of an eye:.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 NIV
16 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.
*** While the resurrection of the dead in Christ is taking place, we will be in our glorified body, waiting our turn, since our conversion took place in an instant.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 NIV
17 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.
*** This verse says that while (the resurrected) are assembled in the sky, "we join them in the sky."
Again, It does not give us an exact time table as to how long that ascension will take. Also it "does not" tell us if the world, will witness the graveside opening, the resurrection and our ascension.
There are two scriptures, that most scholars agree refers to Jesus coming back with the Church to the Mount Of Olives and not refering to the Rapture.
(Revelation 1:7:"Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.")
(Zechariah 12:10:"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son...") Most agree this is when we come with Him at the end of the Tribulation.
Will the doctrine I was raised to believe happen? ("flash,' I'm in the air.)
That scenario, is not disputed in the Bible nor does it support it without doubt. Actually we aren't told.
So if the world "does get to witness" our departure, it could explain this group who are saved during the Tribulation.
(Revelation 7:9)
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.
Revelation 7:13-14
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
*** Can you imagine, if the world, is a witness to Jesus appearing in the sky, and with the voice of the" Ark Angel' says " Come " and the Graves pop open, dead people come out and start ascending. All the Christians are transformed before there eyes and follow the resurrected Christians in the sky. This would not be contrary to the bible either. If it happened, would many pretending Christians repent? Witnessing this, they would realize the Gospel was true, and they knew of Jesus but didn't know him personally.
I write this to say, (sometimes things we were taught), some teaching may have elements, that are not be addressed in the bible, but Christian have accepted as gospel. Another example:
Luke 17:34-36 KJV
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
*** once again, the only thing we are told is one is taken and one left, no other details are given.
Is this at the Rapture? Or is this after the tribulation? Maybe after the millennial reign, with the separating the goats from the sheep, at the Great White Throne of Judgement.
Most post-tribulational, theologians place this passage at the Second Coming of Christ, to earth, occurring at the very end of the Great Tribulation.
The Mechanics driving this view, those who are "taken" are taken away in judgment, while those "left" are the righteous who are left behind to enter and inherit the Millennial Kingdom on Earth.
Some theologian place it before the Tribulation (The Pre-Tribulation Rapture View) place this event at the Rapture of the Church, which they position, at the very beginning of the "End Times" timetable, prior to the seven-year Tribulation period.
The Mechanics driving this view, those who are "taken" are the righteous believers caught up to meet Christ in the air (as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:17), while those "left" are the unbelievers who remain on Earth to suffer through the Tribulation. They argue that the sudden, instantaneous separation of people in normal, everyday scenarios (sleeping in bed, working a mill) matches the "twinkling of an eye" description of the Rapture. They also point out that the text shows global simultaneity: one scenario happens at "night" (in bed) while others happen during the day (grinding grain, working fields), indicating an instantaneous global event spanning different time zones. While some theologian place it after the millennial reign, with the separating the goats from the sheep, at the Great White Throne of Judgement.
Ok Preacher, is there a position that is " Fail Safe" and where the theology doesn't matter?
Yes, there is!
It is being "Rapture Ready", so you are caught up and be with the Lord, to witness these happenings on earth from above.
As always, I encourage all, to use every spirutal tool God gives us. Wear the whole armor of God, be spirutally dressed as the awating bride, and share what God has done for you as the "Great Commission" commanded.
Maranatha
Rev. Jim