This is just my thoughts.......
 
Fisrt, alot of us are looking at 2007, as this is 40 years from the 6 Day War. (Those who follow Five Doves, know why this is so important....see previous posts, please.)
 
So, what IF....
 
At Ascension Day, the Dead in Christ DO rise FIRST as a final warning.....for 10 Days.
 
Then,
Rev 2:10;  You shall have tribulation 10 days (probably out of context.....but....)  There would be tremendous chaos if this happens.
 
Luke 14:15-24 Parable of the Great Supper;  In this parable, Jesus tells of a great feast, and many were invited.  The statement in Luke 14;15 is:  Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdon of God.  This statement preceeds the story.
 
The man who holds this feast sends his servant to tell the invited guests it is time.  (Jesus Christ at His first coming......or maybe, the dead in Christ just before His second coming?)
 
But the invited guests make poor excuses for why they don't want to come.  (The Jews at Christ's first coming.......or maybe Christians and non-Christians on earth at His second coming, if there is a warning, giving people a "choice" for the Rapture.) Let's face it, MANY Christians may not want to "go" and leave their lives here if they are more IN LOVE WITH THIS WORLD, than they LONG FOR THE NEXT WITH Christ in Heaven.........
 
NOW, Luke 16;19-30  This is the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.  A great story where the Rich Man, who went to Hades, asks Father Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to speak to his brothers so they won't have to suffer his fate in Hades after they die.  And do you remember what this man is told?
"Your brothers have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them." (In our day, let them read the Scriptures.)
 
And the rich man said "No, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent." But Abraham said to him,  "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rises from the dead."
 
Hmmmmmmm.  In the event the dead in Christ do rise first, (on Ascension day) and walk the earth for 10 days before a Rapture on Pentecost, (this year, or any year), think about how many people will still choose THIS world, rather than to be with Christ, at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb of God.
 
I know these passages also (if not solely) speak of the world at Christ's first coming.....but could they not also speak of His second coming as well??
 
And remember, Matthew 27: 52-53.  That great ONE sentence, when Christ died on the cross "and the graves of many were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many."
 
3000 people "came to Christ" at Pentecost........in part I believe......because they saw these dead, who had risen to walk among them for 40 days.
 
Soooo, what if God's Prophetic "time clock" RESTARTS right where it left off......on Ascension day????
 
And, one of my favorite parables:  Mathew 20: 1-16  The Parable of the Laborers.
As you remember the story, the owner of the vineyard chose to pay EVERYONE, those who labored all day and those who joined in toward the end of the day, the SAME wage.  In other words, he gave them the same REWARD.  (ie, whether they had believed in Christ ALL their lives, or accepted Christ at the very end of their life).  And the owner of the vineyard said "I wish to give to this last man the same as you."
 
How gracious of our Lord!!
 
The story closes with:   For many are called, but few are chosen.
 
Hmmmmmmmmmm.....I wonder.........
 
Thoughts anyone??

YFIC,
Randy