Jim Bramlett wrote: "because the rapture, I believe, will be "as in the days of Noah" (Matthew 28), when thing are relatively normal and people are eating and drinking, marrying, etc., I believe it will be before things get really bad. I expect it could be, and will be, imminently."Yes, Jim, I think the reference to "as it was in the days of Noe" indicates a relatively "normal" period as we know it, at least in areas not being directly affected by events taking place. I think we have to stop and think, though, that what is coming will probably NOT be a widespread worldwide global catastrophic time....I mean, not for everybody, not for all the nations. Look, for instance, right now at the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan and other parts. Alot of carnage and terror going on -and yes, it touches those who are affected by it, for instance the military and their families. But for the majority of us - what is it to us, other than an outrage, a political platform, another reason to shake our heads and sigh, another blip on the prayer list. I mean, really. Things are pretty "normal" (for us) aren't they? I think that sort of goes along with that statement that people will still be carrying on their lives inspite of what is happening in other parts.
I also think that the reference to "as in the days of Noe" direct us to look at a specific timeline. For instance, what is the relativity of when the the flood began (Gen.7:11), how long it continued (Gen.7:12), how it increased (Gen.7:17), how long the waters prevailed (Gen. 7:24.) Look at the relativity of how God "remembered" those in the ark (Gen.8:1) and when the rains stopped (Gen. 8:2) and how the waters began to recede (Gen. 8:3). The flood itself lasted (prevailed) only 5 months - it was only then, as the waters receded, that the devastation was "seen." Is there something in Revelation that indicates "5 months?" Yes. When the fifth angel sounds the trumpet judgment, a star falls from heaven unto the earth and the bottomless pit was opened and out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth and unto them was given power......and they were commanded to hurt ONLY those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads....for 5 months. Unlike the men in Noah's time who perished during those five months of the flood, the men in Revelation will seek death and not find it.
Anyway, I am not dogmatic about it either - my understanding is not 100%....but I'm trying. I don't know how bad it will get before we are called home.....or if all of us will be affected in the worrisome way the Jews and those who come to believe will be...but I expect we only have at most about 3 years left here any which way you look at it.
As far as "imminency".....which I have also always embraced, which was also my "Blessed Hope".....well, is the rapture really always been an "imminent" event? I don't think so. It could not have happened until Israel was back in the land. I can understand how people embraced this hope down through the ages - but it's a fact that certain things needed to have happened before the rapture could happen....like Israel's rebirth, like Jerusalem once again united, like Jerusalem having to become that "cup of trembling" which would accelerate the end-time days.....so many factors that were unseen, but had to be in place before the rapture could have taken place. Can it even now? I suppose so. There is nothing that needs to happen now anymore......but even so, will it?...and why would it? And where is it said that the rapture will take place before the start of the 70th Week? It doesn't. It's the assumption we make based on that "God hath not appointed us to wrath" thing.
All I know is that at the time of the rapture there will be some living who will not taste death....and those who have died in the Lord will be resurrected and join us to meet the Lord in the air. When? Well, I already wrote about Rev. 15 and the sea of glass mingled with fire.
The truth is, God could call us up at any time now.....but will He? Many believers throughout the ages have lived with the hope of escaping the tribulation of this world.....but so far none have. Why should we? Maybe we will......maybe we won't. But the bottomline is this > The rapture is not the major theme of the Bible - the Kingdom is. The rapture is not the blessed hope (of escape) to look forward to - the Glorious Appearance & Second Coming of the KING of KINGS is!...along with the final redemption of Israel.
Maybe it is only now that I realize when I got off the "milk of the Word", and thought I was eating solid food, it was actually nothing but "babyfood." Maybe this is now the strong meat that needs to be chewed and digested in order to sustain us in the time we have left.
If the rapture does not happen like "now" when they expect it, can you imagine the feelings and thoughts and emotions of those who have focused on it as being their escape because they believed God would not let them "suffer" that which even His own chosen people are going to suffer.....and can you imagine if the two witnesses show up, and they see the plan coming together even as it is laid out in this Timeline......and can you imagine their despair, their confusion, their loss of hope because they find themselves still here and the covenant with ac has obviously begun??? Well, Jesus said "IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, EVEN THE VERY ELECT WOULD BE DECEIVED"......keywords > "IF IT WERE POSSIBLE"! But it is NOT possible. He will not lose one of us. And, nowhere does it say "we won't be deceived because we won't be here to be deceived"! That would be sort of like saying "Rescued by default or forfeiture." But I think NOW it's time to prepare. If He calls us home by the skin of our teeth just before hell breaks loose, good for us. If not, we'll still all meet in New Jerusalem.
Jim, I am leaving for Israel on April 17 and will be there till May 9 - working on an army base for Volunteers for Israel. I think it's going to be a fantastic experience! I'll send pictures when I return.
Shalom, Sherry Vance