The description in these passages is the next major event that mankind is about to witness. The term commonly used is 'the Rapture .' Although that term never appears in Scripture, it refers to the experience of passing into God's presence, without going through death.

The meeting in the air is a 'Church age' or ‘Age of Grace’ event. But is also a signal to the world that judgment is about to come upon them. After years of minor miracles and magical sorcery, people will be awed by the genuine power of God. But the 'pre-tribulation aspect should be remembered, as some of the passages we look at will refer to the Tribulation as, 'The time prior to the coming of the Son of Man'...'the time of Jacob's trouble,' etc. It should be understood that Jesus will come two more times, once in the air, and then as described in Zechariah 14, verses 1 through 3, Behold, a day is coming for the LORD when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle to the earth to judge and reign for a thousand years.

What conditions will prevail? 'But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came....

This sounds about like the days we live in. The rise of Satanism and the occult in Western cultures has risen to the proportions that many leaders boast of going to Eastern and primitive cultures for their enlightenment. Science is attempting to create and engineer at the genetic levels of life. Cloning of a human being is no longer in the realm of science fiction but probably in tomorrow's headlines. From abortion, to rape and incest, to brutal murders, to doctor-assisted suicides...not to mention the continual rumors of wars, earthquakes, violent weather events, wars and acts of terrorism; violence fills our earth.

There are several movements that boast great numerical growth, primarily of course the Islamic Religion and its attempts at the Islamization of America. Some even boast that they are eventually going to become so strong that they will take over governments and prepare a world of peace for the return of Jesus. Believe it or not, there is actually a group of people attempting to find the cup Jesus used at the Last Supper so they can extract DNA, clone Him and thus hasten His return!

'Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies...' (1Timothy 4:1-2)

Satan's primary doctrine is 'I will be like God.' He teaches his followers that they are good, that they are god-like, that they should feel good about themselves, that they essentially have all of God's powers, if only they will recognize that fact and use them.

As you consider these points and compare them to these rapidly growing movements, also consider the words of Christ when He said

Any movement that grows rapidly by any means other than an outpouring of the Holy Spirit is highly suspect.

Those meeting the Lord in the air will be there by the millions. Large numbers of people from all of our cities will be disappearing.

But when they disappear, it will be remembered that they:

There is coming a time when those who have died in Christ will rise. These are not Jewish believers from the period of the Law under Moses. Christ had not yet come. These are not postdiluvian (after the flood) believers. Again, Christ had not yet come...they did not know Him by name. Those who have died in Christ are those believers since the day the Holy Spirit came to indwell the believer on the Jewish Festival of Harvest (Pentecost).

The Jews had rejected Christ by asking for His crucifixion during the Feast of the Passover. They were given another chance to repent at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came, but they also rejected Him (the Holy Spirit), and Jesus' curse was fulfilled by their dispersion for almost 2000 years.

There is one more Jewish feast to be fulfilled; the Feast of Ingathering. This will occur as a result of, and at the end of the Tribulation, a seven year period of God's judgment upon the earth, often referred to as 'Jacob's trouble.' Joel's prophecy (a prophecy to Israel) began to be fulfilled at Pentecost, but will be concluded at during the Tribulation, when again, Jewish people (the 144,000 evangelists that God will raise up out of the nation of Israel) will be filled with the Holy Spirit and will prophesy and have visions as the Lord displays His awesome power upon the nations.

Because of Israel's rejection of their Messiah, a new group of believers came about. The Church. Comprised of both Jews and Gentiles;

The shift was from predominantly Jews, to Gentiles. Paul exclaimed to the rejecting Jews,

This phenomenon of, the 'Church,' was not understood by ancient students of prophecy. Paul writes repeatedly about the 'mystery of the gospel’.

The Church is also alluded to as the 'Bride of Christ.' Jesus tells of the wedding feast in Heaven. Paul in Ephesians 5 compares the marriage relationship of husband and wife to the relationship between Christ and the Church.

The Church also has the distinction of being a group of saints who are continually filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

Which occurred during the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) in Acts 2. Prior to that the Holy Spirit came on people but was not in-dwelt in their hearts, and this act was limited to specially anointed people, for special occasions, for specific ministries.

When the meeting in the air occurs, two things will happen:

The Tribulation is a time when Christ is pouring out His wrath upon the earth in judgment. Does it make sense that He would subject His Bride to His wrath? Of course not. The idea that we must go through the tribulation to make ourselves fit for the Kingdom of God, nullifies the atoning shed blood of Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross. It is heresy from the pit of hell to suggest that the church must go through the tribulation.

Then, the Feast of Ingathering:

You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year. (Exodus 34:22) will be fulfilled.

This follows the tribulation period and is not descriptive of the Rapture of the Church. This is speaking of the Jews who will be saved out of the tribulation period. Do not be confused there will be many who are saved during the time of the tribulation. Revelation speaks of the Tribulation Saints whose robs are dipped in blood.

We have already noted the similarities between the 'Days of Noah' and today. The days of Noah relate to the time of God's judgment on the earth. The Meeting in the Air is to happen first...just like Enoch was translated before the flood.

We are often presented with several verses from 2 Thessalonians as proof that the pre-tribulation rapture is false. The only problem with this is all of the dissenters fail to read the verses in context with the chapter. They read a few verses but ignore the verses right after their 'proof'. Unfortunately for them, the verses that follow their claim also add additional information which they miss, and which confirms the pre-tribulation rapture.

Above verses 3 and 4 state that the return of the Lord will not come except first there be a falling away and the man of sin be revealed. Opponents of the pre-tribulation rapture state that this is proof that the pre-tribulation rapture is false. See above as it clearly states the Antichrist will come before the return of the Lord. That clearly disproves the pre-tribulation rapture according to many who wish to reject the concept.

Yes the Antichrist will rule and reign before the second coming of the Lord Jesus at the climax of the battle of Armageddon. There is no problem at all with that fact and with the fact of the pre-tribulation rapture. At the rapture the Lord comes to remove His Church. He does not return to earth to rule and reign but merely to meet His beloved Church in the clouds and to take her home to heaven.

At the Second Coming the Lord will return physically and His feet will touch down on the mount of Olives at the climax of the battle of Armageddon.

Behold, a day is coming for the LORD when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle to the earth to judge and reign for a thousand years. Zechariah 14: 1-3

This event will be seen and understood by everyone on planet earth. Quite a contrast because at the rapture only God's people will see the Lord Jesus as they are caught up to the clouds to be with Him.

So verses 3 and 4 above do not prove anything contrary to the teaching of the pre-tribulation rapture. These verses are talking about the second coming of Jesus at the end of the rule and reign of the Antichrist. Of course the falling away and the rising of the Antichrist occurs before the second coming of Jesus to earth. Those events do not occur before the Rapture, but they do occur before the return of Jesus at the climax of Armageddon as described in Revelation chapter 19: 11-21, And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, "Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great." And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Next, lets do what the Mid and Post Tribulation folks fail to do. Lets continue on in Scripture and see what additional information we are given.

Continuing on in Chapter 2 of II Thesalonians:

Very interesting passage of scripture. First notice the word 'And' beginning at verse 6. The 'and' is there to continue the thoughts previously mentioned (in verses 1-5). These verses are clearly talking about the Antichrist. But there is a problem. He cannot be revealed because he is being restrained by someone. Who is the restrainer?

The only logical person to restrain evil and the Antichrist is the Church, the body of Christ filled with the Holy Spirit. Verse 7 is interesting as it says that the restrainer will be taken out of the way. This means he will be removed. Some try to teach that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit. But there is a problem with that. The book of Revelation reveals that there are those who will be saved during the Tribulation, Jesus said that no man cometh to the father except the Holy Spirit draw him, so the Holy Spirit cannot be the restrainer. Thus it must be the body of Christ, it must be the Church, thus a Pre-Tribulation Rapture makes complete and total sense. However, there is a unique group of people on earth since that first Pentecost who are in-filled with God's Spirit. Spirit reborn Christians are the 'salt of the earth' and they are kings and priests unto God as they pray and serve the Lord in this evil world. It certainly makes sense that the restrainer mentioned above is the Holy Spirit working in and through the Church. At the rapture the restrainer (Spirit filled Church) can be easily removed and of course the Holy Spirit will still be present as He is an omnipresent being. Then the Antichrist will be free to rise to power to do his evil before the Second Coming as mentioned above in verses 3 and 4.

After the restrainer (Spirit filled Church) is removed here is what the devil will be free to do:

So to conclude, verses 1-5 do not disprove the pre-tribulation rapture. Verses 3 and 4 mentions that the falling away and the Antichrist will rise before the return of Jesus. I have no problem with that at all. We are not talking about the rapture here but we are talking about the return of Jesus in power and glory, the second coming as described in Zechariah 14: 1-3. In addition to that fact verses 6-8 describe what is currently restraining the Antichrist from being revealed and rising to power. It is referred to as a person or being and I believe the only person or being to be the body of Jesus Christ, the Church. However, the Holy Spirit cannot be removed from earth as He is omnipresent. But the Spirit-filled Church certainly can be removed and the removal of the restrainer is a clear picture of the rapture of the Church. Verses 1-5 does not disprove the pre-tribulation rapture as these verses are describing the physical return of Jesus to earth. Verses 6-8 describe the restrainer and the removal of the restrainer, which will allow the Antichrist to rise to power. This is a description of the rapture.

So the pre-tribulation rapture still stands against all those who wish to attack. As I've mentioned several times before, the post tribulation, the mid-tribulation rapture or even the pre-wrath rapture and other views are really waiting for the Antichrist and not the Lord Jesus Christ. They have lost their vision of the blessed hope, which is very sad indeed. For others there is still the blessed hope of the soon return of the Lord Jesus to rapture His Church and take her home to heaven. This event can happen at any time and will happen sometime before the Antichrist rises to power. The indwelling Holy Spirit through the Church is currently restraining the devil but soon that restrainer will be removed. At any rate as we see the events of the world line up just as the Bible says they will, we know the rapture must be very soon. The timing of the rapture cannot be known and no one can set the specific date. But God knows when it will happen and His people are simply told to be ready.

False teaching on this subject crept up first during Paul's time and he speaks,

Look at this subject briefly from three viewpoints: History & Israel, Scriptures & the Church, Prophecy & Logic.

HISTORY & ISRAEL:

In Matthew 24, Jesus is speaking to Israel primarily. He was born as a Jew, to the Jews. His disciples had asked Him a 'Jewish' question regarding the destruction of the temple and related events. When vs.31 says His 'elect' ...this is referring to Israel. (Compare if you will Isaiah 45:4 For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have not known Me. Then in Isaiah 65:9 "I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, And an heir of My mountains from Judah; Even My chosen ones shall inherit it, And My servants will dwell there, and then Isaiah 65: 22 "They will not build and another inhabit, They will not plant and another eat; For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, And My chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands. (The 'Church' therefore is not the only group referred to in this way.)

These 'elect' are gathered from the 'four winds.' A very interesting expression when we note that it was Israel who was scattered 'to all the winds.'

SCRIPTURES & the CHURCH:

Those who hold to the 'Post-Trib' view also believe that the Church is to be 'purified' through the Tribulation. What does Scripture say?

Who are the 'sons of Levi?' Israel; not the Church.

So, what of Jesus' words, '

Let us look at this word 'tribulation.' Tribulation = Great affliction, trial, distress, experience that tests one's endurance, patience or faith. Tribulation is something that Christians have experienced down through the centuries.

But this is different from The Tribulation as recorded in Revelation.

Wrath = Agitation, violent emotion, indignation, punishment.

As Paul writes to comfort the 'Church' at Thessalonica,

And if we believe that the Christian experience is a 'love' relationship with God,

The time of God's Wrath will involve fear:

If one reads the whole of the Old Testament Prophets and compares it to the book of Revelation, one can see striking similarities...and one can come away realizing that this is a time of God's dealing with Israel. The Church needs to be out of the way for this. The Church, at one with the Holy Spirit because of the Holy Spirit's indwelling, is 'taken out of the way' (2Thessalonians 2:7) ...and then the lawless one will be revealed.

Why the 'last' trumpet CANNOT be the 'seventh'

But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. (Revelation 10:7)

Ok, this seems to say that the Rapture of the Church is at the last trumpet, which coincides with the Seventh Trumpet of Revelation. We now have the timing of the Rapture, then, to be at the end of the Tribulation right as Christ is coming as King of kings and Lord of lords. So sit tight and wait: you are going through the Tribulation unless you die first. At least this is what Post-Tribulation supporters teach assuming 1 Corinthians 15:51 and Revelation 10:7 mean the same thing.

But what about the 'prophets' mentioned in Revelation 10:7? Couldn't they refer to Old Testament prophets as well and therefore debunk this claim? Well, you must remember that the identity and Rapture of the Christian Church were revealed to Paul first. Notice the words of Peter in his first sermon given within minutes of receiving the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost:

Paul wasn't even converted yet so there is no way that Peter could be referring to the Rapture of the Christian Church. Instead, Peter is saying that at the Return of Christ, that is the Second Coming, everything predicted concerning Him in the Old Testament would be fulfilled.

Revelation 10:7 is saying the exact same thing: at the Seventh Trumpet everything predicted in the Old Testament concerning the Return of Jesus Christ would be fulfilled. This has nothing to do with the Rapture of the Christian Church. The Church, the bride of Christ, is not going to go through the Tribulation.

Through a false gospel, false prophets, occultic religious practices and lying 'signs and wonders,' today's churches are being filled with millions who call themselves Christians, but who are not! Left behind at the Rapture, and happy that the 'negative' influence of the vanished troublemakers has been removed, they will worship and follow the Antichrist, thinking he is the true Christ and that they have 'never had it so good.' An ecumenized 'Christianity,' in partnership with all religions as well as the political forces in the world in coordination with the "politically correct crowd", will carry on and prosper even more after the Rapture than before. The unifying factor will be concern for Mother Earth. Working for peace and ecological wholeness will have replaced truth as the basis of Christianity. The World Council of Churches has already decreed such, and as this rubbish is already being propagated through the curriculum being used in some denominational churches which espouses tree –hugging as a way to get a-hold of God through nature.

The Necessity for a Pre-tribulation Rapture

Far from being a cop-out invented by those who desire to escape persecution (which will become very severe in America and across the globe before the Rapture), a pre-tribulation Rapture is essential for a number of reasons: first of all, to remove true Christians from earth. If they were present when Antichrist was revealed, they would oppose and expose him. Such opposition must be removed in order to give Satan and man, under Antichrist's leadership, full freedom to prove that this earth can be turned back into a garden paradise without God. The Holy Spirit, who is omnipresent, will still convict and draw many to Christ during the Great Tribulation. The restraining influence, however, which He has wielded in this world through the millions of true Christians, will have suddenly been removed, leaving a moral and spiritual vacuum in homes, neighborhoods, businesses, and schools such as we cannot even imagine.

A pre-tribulation Rapture is also necessary because the Antichrist will be given authority by God 'to make war with the saints, and to overcome them'

Such a fate could not befall the church, for Christ said that the

Moreover, true Christians have authority and power to

So the fact that Antichrist is given power by God 'to make war with the saints and to overcome [i.e., kill] them' is proof that the true church is no longer present.

The 'saints' mentioned are those who have come to a saving knowledge and personal relationship with Jesus Christ after the Rapture during the Great Tribulation. They will pay for their faith with their lives. Those who take the mark of the beast suffer the wrath of the Lamb, while those who refuse the mark are slain by Antichrist. Thus a post-tribulation rapture would be a classic non-event, for there would be very few if any surviving believers to be raptured at that time. Surely those Christians who were left alive, seeing the judgment of God poured out upon mankind and earth's armies gathered for the battle of Armageddon in an attempt to destroy Israel, would know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Second Coming was about to occur and would be watching for their Lord to appear. Yet Christ declared that He would return at a time of such ease that even the 'five wise virgins' would 'slumber and sleep.' He warned,

Hardly likely in the midst of the greatest tribulation and destruction the world has ever seen or ever will see!

The Stage is Being Set

To understand how the stage is being set for the final conflict between Christ and Antichrist, it is helpful to consider some comparisons and contrasts between these two antagonists. First of all, the procession of events is in God's hands. While we cannot know the day or hour of our Lord's return, the Bible does give us many clues as to the general timing of this great occurrence.

There is a precise time for Christ's second coming just as there was for the first:

The same is true of the Antichrist. Though already present in the world and waiting in the wings,

Timing and Rome

Interestingly, the Roman Empire plays an integral part in the timing for the revelation both of God's genuine Messiah and Satan's false messiah. Ancient Rome set the stage for Christ's birth:

It was this decree that caused Joseph and Mary to be in Bethlehem so that Christ would be born there in fulfillment of Micah 5:2. And of course He also had to be executed during the time of the Roman Empire, which introduced crucifixion, in order to fulfill Psalm 22.

For Christ to return, the Roman Empire must be revived. This is clear from Daniel's interpretation that the distinct parts of the image seen by Nebuchadnezzar

represent the fourth world kingdom revived in the last days is clear from the statement,

'And in the days of these kings [i.e., represented by the ten toes] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed...and it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever' (2:44).

Christ did not establish His earthly kingdom the first time He came, so He must come again to do so. When?

but now returning in power and glory to execute judgment upon those who crucified Him, Christ will destroy this evil empire in its revived form at His second coming. So although the date is not given, the timing of Christ's return is clearly indicated.

It is also essential for the Roman Empire to be revived in order for the Antichrist to appear. Daniel prophesied that

The Roman armies under the command of Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in a.d.70. It is therefore from these people that the Antichrist must arise. That doesn't necessarily mean that he has to be Roman, since her legions came from many parts of the Empire. It does mean, however, that he must come from that world kingdom—and for that to happen the Roman Empire must be revived. We are seeing the fulfillment of this most remarkable prophecy in our day.

Calling Antichrist 'the prince that shall come' indicates that he, like the ancient Caesars, will rule the Empire when it is revived. Moreover, the ancient Roman Empire was not only a political, economic and military entity, but also a religious one with the god-emperor the head of the pagan priesthood. So in conjunction with a world government, a world religion headed by the new Caesar, the Antichrist, must be established in the last days exactly as Revelation 13 indicates.

During the periodic waves of Roman persecution which the early Christians endured, all citizens of the Empire were required to bow down to an image of the current Caesar and worship him as god. Those who did not were killed. Such will also be the case under Antichrist in the revived Roman Empire:

Christ and Antichrist

The contrasts between Christ and Antichrist are also instructive. Our Lord was despised and rejected by Israel and by the world: the Antichrist will be hailed and embraced. Christ was mocked and jeered: the Antichrist will be praised. The cry of those who rejected Christ was, 'We'll not have this man to reign over us!' It is awesome to realize that in contrast the Antichrist will be accepted not only by the world but by Israel as well. Jesus told the Jewish leaders in His day,

Christ's kingdom of light and truth is heavenly ('My kingdom is not of this world'- John 18:36);

Antichrist's kingdom of darkness is built upon a lie and is totally of this world. It is sad to see so many evangelical Christians becoming increasingly entangled in this world, joining with, Mormons, Muslims and other cultists and occultists to pursue political and social agendas—and in the process losing their hope of heaven. It was characteristic of the early church that they knew they were the ekklesia, that is the called-out ones who were no longer of this world:

but were eagerly waiting

and watching for Christ to return to take them to heaven

That hope must be awakened!

Mystery surrounds both Christ and Antichrist. Of Christ, Paul wrote,

And of Antichrist he wrote,

Each has a mysterious bride, one a virgin, the other a harlot. The mystery of godliness, which will be revealed in Christ's bride, the church, has been

and is

The mystery of iniquity, which could conversely be called 'Satan in you, the hope of damnation,' will also be revealed through a bride, the Antichrist's. She is called

As Christ loves and preserves His bride, so Satan will

The Second Coming

A major purpose of the Second Coming is to destroy Antichrist:

Thus it is clear that the Second Coming cannot take place until the Antichrist has been revealed and has established his kingdom upon earth. If the Rapture were not a separate event from the Second Coming before the Antichrist is revealed, then Christians would not be watching, waiting and looking for Christ, but for the Antichrist, which is unthinkable!

One of the growing delusions today is the belief that the church is not to be raptured at all, but that when we have taken over the world (and not until then) Christ will return to reign over the kingdom we have established for Him. Yet Christ promised,

Paul wrote that

Instead, many who claim to be Christians are looking forward to meeting a 'Christ' with their feet planted firmly on planet earth—a 'Christ' who has not arrived to take them to heaven but to reign over the kingdom they have established for him. What a delusion! Such have not been working for the true Christ, but for the counterfeit, the Antichrist. They have not been

but have been building an earthly kingdom. May our Bridegroom reawaken our love for Him, and may our hearts, as it should be with a bride, long to see and be with Him!

His Glorious Appearing

Lately as I've been observing world events, I've also been considering and meditating on what the nature of the next major prophetic event might be. Indeed, as I was 'nestling' myself into the computer just now to begin these observations, I read an e-mail from a friend who closed his note with,

'waiting for LIFT OFF when the TRUMPET is SOUNDED!'

When Paul speaks of the 'twinkling of an eye' (1Corinthians15:52-nkjv/kjv) combined with 'one shall be taken, and the other left' (Matthew 24) This will not be a 'quiet' event. Life will be going along, and suddenly without warning, the true Believers will just 'disappear'. There have been dramatic suppositions of buses crashing when the believing driver disappeared from behind the wheel, that airplanes would crash when a believing pilot disappears from the cockpit, etc. And those left would be rubbing their eyes, blinking, screaming ...wondering what just happened, along with the mayhem and chaos that would ensue. It is quite possible that many of these things will happen. I would invite the listener of this broadcast or the reader of this text version to view Left Behind I and Left Behind II – Tribulation Force on DVD or VHS tape, or to read the entirety of the Left Behind Series written by Tim LeHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.

Those who scoff at the idea of the rapture; or those who don't believe it will happen before the coming seven-year period which culminates in God's wrath poured out to judge the world; taunt Believers with the notion of the 'secret' rapture. As though it is an event where Believers are going to 'sneak out' quietly. And they say this with a tone of disdain.

What is the nature of this event? This 'lift off'? Is it going to be 'quiet'? Is it 'secret'? Is the Church 'slithering' away, 'afraid' of tribulation? You know, the Church has already had tribulation for 2000 years, as Jesus promised would be the case.

However, the coming seven-year period culminating in His

And this brings us to the first observation of current world events. People with even the most limited understanding of end-time events understand that the world religions will all be united as 'one'. They understand that the world governments will be united. They understand that world commerce will be unified. We have observed the growth and progression of the World Council of Churches, and the various pushes towards 'unity in diversity', ‘the cry for tolerance’. Several viable technologies are essentially -now- ready, and with a final go-ahead it would not take long at all to implement the Mark of the Beast. It is all right at the threshold. But have you noticed how it doesn't seem to quite get put together yet?

What is witholding all these events from taking off? Paul writes,

Who? The Holy Spirit indwelling the Body of Christ, the Church.

And the events yet to come are on a

This period of time cannot begin until God says, 'Now!'

How will creation know that 'it's time'? God is going to announce it. With 'fanfare'. Paul speaks of Jesus' 'Glorious Appearing'.

For you who are now scoffing as you read this, don't forget that Paul speaks of Christ judging

There are two events involving Christ's coming. In one case, His

This is His 'coming' to the Mt. of Olives

In His 'APPEARANCE' He will also come in clouds. But on this occasion He is coming FOR the saints.

'And if I go and prepare a place for you [in heaven], I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also' (John 14:3).

It should be obvious to even the most naive that these are two different events. And 'logistically' it should be apparent that this event (His 'appearing' at the Rapture of the Church) occurs prior to His 'Second coming'.

Do you get the picture? Christ will come in a 'cloud'; whatever that will look like! That cloud will be somewhere overhead 'in the air'. There will be some sort of LOUD trumpet blast. There will be a thunderous voice. Something, the likes of which, will make the observers and hearers be afraid and tremble. Will anybody understand what the 'voice' says? We are not told.

The Lord is going to come in the clouds and call the Believers to Himself.

Quite possibly the rest of the world will only hear 'thunder'??

But notice some other dramatic receptions into heaven. When Stephen was martyred, as God was preparing to receive him, Stephen saw 'into heaven' and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he told everybody around him what was happening. (Acts 7:55-56) When Elijah was whisked away into heaven, Elisha 'saw' him go, as Elijah's mantle fell behind. (2Kings 2) Details of Enoch's translation are not given. But it would seem to correspond with Paul's description of the 'twinkling of an eye'from 1 Corninthians Chapter 15, because he 'was not'. (Genesis 5:24) But his experience correlates in a direct fashion to the Church's coming rapture. God took him SEVEN hundred years prior to the flood. In some cases a hundred years was considered a 'generation'. In other cases, it would be looked upon as a 'period' of time. But there were 'seven' of them. Just as there are 'seven' years to Daniel's '70th week', or the 'one week'.

And just as Enoch [who 'walked with God'] was taken out 'seven' periods prior to judgment, so, too, the Church [who 'walk...according to the Spirit'-Romans 8:1] will 'come out of the midst' (2Thessalonians 2:7) 'seven' years prior to God's final outpouring of wrath.

The Church coming out, with the fanfare of trumpet-voice, along with its Companion, the Holy Spirit (2Thessalonians 2:7), will signal the beginning of the 'time' for the final events to begin. All those observations we began this writing with, which are not yet quite yet upon us, will then begin. There have been comments by many/various world dignitaries that the world is in need of a 'leader'. A 'champion' or 'hero'. It's as though they all realize the world is in a place of 'stagnation' right now, and all it needs is the right 'personality' that people will rally around and follow. The unveiling of that person is also waiting for God's announcement. God's time.

Just a personal observation here. Notice that when it all breaks loose,

I believe the world is already being set up and prepared for at least one of the lies. How often have you heard the expression that

'aliens live among us'?

Well, that's not so far-fetched. Remember that Jesus said the last days would like the 'days of Noah.' During Noah's time prior to the flood, there had been intermingling of spirit and human life.

Notice what Daniel says of the 'ten-toe' period...

Something [or someone] other than humanity will be joined with the seed of men.

You see, the Rapture will not be a silent, sneaking-away of Believers. It will be a major event that the world will be aware of. Now they will not refer to it as the rapture. In fact when those who understand what took place try to give credence to God’s Word, they will be rejected and possibly killed. And as God makes clear that judgment is coming, man will rebel. The 'alien' lies will already be implanted and in place. When Jesus comes in His 'cloud', all the 'science fiction' will have become 'reality' to the worldly mind. And the 'hero' that rises up will persuade humanity that this is truly a global threat. And then, all those plans that are -now- ready, will be implemented...for man's 'protection'. Trouble is, most of humanity will be deceived by the lie, because the reality will be that it is Satan's last push to be

Well, the world will be persuaded that it is a threat, and most of them will be destroyed. But notice the wording, again, that Paul uses.

One of the characteristics of a Believer, is that he is 'looking for...the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.' (Titus 2:13)

Those who were hedging their bets in unbelief will find that, after it happens, they will be amongst the number of those who believe the lie. They are those

and all the details of what that may mean, as the Lord knows each individual's heart.

But the Believer is 'not of the world'