Dear John & Doves, I know that many of you know this but many Christians and others obviously do not.  People like to quote Mark 13:32 (But of that day and of that hour, knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.)
    But we cannot know what Jesus is talking about unless we look at the verses above.  The verse right before is Mark 13:31 (Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away).  Does that sound like He is referring to the Rapture of the church?
    In verse 28 the Lord starts talking about Israel.  He is talking about Israel in verse 28, verse 29, verse 30, verse 31 and verse 32.  In the verse that so many quote in Mark 13:32, He WAS NOT talking about the Rapture of the Church.  I don't know how much more plain it could be. Honestly, read that whole passage.  The Lord is not discussing the Rapture.
    In verse 26, the Lord says "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory."  Does that sound like the Rapture?  Will the whole earth see the Lord coming in the clouds at the Rapture?  Look at verse 24 (I think is the best evidence).  Jesus says "But in those days, after the Tribulation..."
    So now we see that the Lord is referring to the period after the Tribulation.  He's talking about the Tribulation in verse 24, 25, and so on until we get to the famous Mark 13:32.  This is not the Rapture he's discussing in verse 32.
    I don't know why people bother saying things like this.  People who don't want to believe what they read in the Bible won't believe it.  If you want to believe what you've been taught even when it conflicts with the Bible, then go ahead.  I would rather just read the Bible and believe it.
    The Lord didn't say we weren't supposed to set dates.  In either case whether we choose to believe that Mark 13:32 does refer to the Rapture or not, the Lord doesn't say it is somehow a sin to guess Rapture dates.
    But Mark 13:32 is about Israel and the Tribulation.  I think you would have to presume on the Lord to say that this verse is about the Rapture.  If there is a sin to be had, it is taking this verse out of its context and saying that this one verse applies to the church and the rest apply to Israel.
    Gosh, John,  hope I didn't do anything to irritate you.  I am a teeny bit ticked off because of the mis-use of this verse.  But I am definitely NOT ticked off at you.  You are a model of what we should be doing.  Thank you, John.  You make my day.
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Thanks, Carol. Actually, you doves make my day. :)
John