Will!! ~ I think any one of us could've written that! http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/july2008/willl729.htm

How often we have watched for the Lord -- so often thinking, "Okay, this is it! This is THEE year!" .... only for it not to be, time and again.

The message was/is clear though -- even in Paul's day when people thought Jesus would be coming along just any time: to ALWAYS BE READY regardless!

And we are to: exhort one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 I know you'll agree that we DEFINITELY CAN see that day APPROACHING, Will!

And: 1 Thessalonians 5

The Day of the Lord

1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

We are to COMFORT one another [remind each other of our SOON Blessed Hope!]

While God alone knows the day & hour of our redemption, Jesus reprimanded those who could not read the times of the season, [Matt 16:2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites!You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.]

And the ones who were WILLFULLY ignorant are in BIG trouble!! See: http://www.truthablaze.com/ignorant.html

If a person has told himself that the Lord will NOT come in my lifetime ~ he is in danger, this is the same trap that got people in Noah's Day. So, while no person knows the day or the hour, even so Jesus told us to be observant of the times, and we'd KNOW when it is near: "even at the doors"

And, from Luke 21:

28 Now when these things begin to happen,** look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

The Parable of the Fig Tree

29 Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

The Importance of Watching
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

** I think it's SAFE to say that ALL these things (all signs of the end ~ or of the tribulation) ARE upon us!! ~ therefore, we know it's time "to escape"!!

One of my best sisters in the Lord recently put it this way [when speaking of making immediate plans with her family]: Not much time left - if any...but we will rest in whatever the LORD has in store for us. Not by might, nor by power but by my Spirit says the LORD Almighty!! Zech 4:6

Any day now. Any day.

So Will, I honestly would have to pray & seek the Lord's wisdom & counsel to know if there's any CLEAR CUT answer to your question. Sure, we MAY be still be here by next year.... but then again, we MAY be gone before Bro. John can even get this posted to Five Doves site this morning!

FTR, here's how I personally view things: it's probably all right to plan for short intervals, although the Word clearly says we are not even promised "tomorrow".

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow

James 4:13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we willgo to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

But big, LONG chunks of time?? Whew, well, it's not for me! But that's just me, I can only think of time on earth in SHORT phases now -- esp. with all the signs surrounding us & the world leaders wanting SO BADLY to bring peace to the Middle East!!

And ftr, I've got (Christian) friends who DO plan way, WAY into the future.... but then, sigh, I get concerned if they will even make the rapture -- as I'm not fully convinced (one way or another) if *watching* for the Lord to come just any day is a REQUIREMENT to go or not. I know those who say He may delay His coming are in great trouble! per Luke 12. But for real honest-to-goodness... just don't have the sense to watch Christians...?? Jury's still out as far as I'm concerned, but we'll find out soon enough! Truth be told ~ if watching IS a requirement, then I'd sadly say that 98-99% of my Christian friends would not make the cut. But then, anyone who's a serious student of Bible teachings knows: we ARE commended MANY TIMES throughout Scripture to watch for Him; and that His coming will be like a THIEF ~ only to those who are NOT watching.

I think Alan Yusko of http://heaven77.50webs.com/ summed up the whole subject best when he wrote:

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The rapture is a blessed hope to the Christian. Watching for and expecting the rapture is a blessed hope that encourages a person to stay close to the Lord. A person watching daily for the rapture will go on with life but be constantly looking for the return of the Lord each day. This blessed hope also has a purifying effect. A person will not get caught up in worldliness or wrong things if he thinks His Lord could come back at any moment. ~ Alan Yusko

So ~ until that Great Day when we are whisked away!

Reva