Dear Brother Jim:
That was an absolutely profound post indeed! http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/nov2006/jim1121.htm
Surely anyone taking the time to read your post would have to realize
we have arrived at the door of the fulfillment of Daniel 12:1-4:
1
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth
for the children of thy people: and there
shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was
a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered,
every one that shall be found written in the book. 2
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some
to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall
shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and
ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:
many shall run to and fro,
and knowledge shall be increased. (KJV)
That being said, I want to focus on the last two sentences
in your post:
“The orchestra has already warmed up, the curtain is being raised,
and the fat lady is walking out on stage. Can the return of Jesus for "His
church" be very far away? But the big question is, will we go in the
rapture, or will we be here when things REALLY get bad?”
There is no one that wants the rapture to take place first
more than me. However your last statement: “will we be here when things REALLY get bad?”
is I believe
in reality the truth. Just look at the text of Daniel 12:1-4 above Jim.
One of the first things it mentions in the context is trouble. Then it talks
about the wise alive at that time will be shine as a light turning MANY
to righteousness. Apparently those wise ones were here during the time of
trouble according to the text instead of being raptured.
I’m personally convinced the church will be on earth
for at least a few months
during this time of Jacob’s trouble. I’m glad I don’t
live in Israel, the Middle East, or Europe. I believe this area is the 25% of
the earth’s surface mentioned in Revelation 6:7-8 that is going to
go thru the brunt of the tribulation associated with this fast approaching
time of trouble. See
http://www.thewatchmanstime.com/images/The%204th%20part%20of%20the%20earth%20B.jpg
In
the new testament Jesus seems to imply his return will take place as it
was in the days of Lot: Luke17:29-30 29
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man
is revealed. (KJV) Lot was removed by the angels as the WRATH OF GOD fell
on the wicked. Even thus shall it be
in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Paul agrees with
Jesus by saying in 1 Thess 5:9:
