Bruce,

 

Its good to know that you (and hopefully others) understand the wisdom of not jumping on the Rosh Hoshanah bandwagon.  You said:

 

While we Christians are 'enduring patiently' to see if the rapture really is going to happen next week on Rosh Hashanah/Feast of Trumpets we will not be breaking scripture if we continue to study other options.

 

Some will strongly disagree, saying that those who believe that the Rapture could occur on any day other than Rosh Hoshanah are calling God a liar because the Bible "clearly" teaches otherwise.  But when we consider the fact that a Rosh Hoshanah Rapture is based on a particular interpretation of Scripture and some selective extra- Biblical sources, we realize that this interpretation could contain errors, and that the Rapture could happen on another day.  You are absolutely correct in saying that we have every right to consider other Rapture day options because the Bible does NOT clearly state that the Rapture will occur on Rosh Hoshanah.  I have read some very convincing information that shows that Rosh Hoshanah has nothing to do with the Church in particular.  The arguments for an Ascension Day/Pentecost Rapture are much more logical. 

 

But the majority can't bear the thought of having to wait that long.  They aren't interested in continuing to study to find out if maybe the Rosh Hoshanah Rapture theory could be incorrect.  I'm glad to hear that you understand that its better to let Jesus come for us when He is ready to, rather than pick a day according to our calculations and focus our faith and hopes on that day.  We agree that Rosh Hoshanah could be the day of the Rapture, but it seems more likely that it would be on Ascension Day 2009.  I don't really consider anything further on than that because of how rapidly prophesied world events are coming together.  But I am not dogmatic about the day of the Rapture.  I am perfectly content to not know or pretend to know, and to just keep on watching and feeling the joy that comes from knowing that the signs show that the Rapture is indeed very near.

 

Jeff,

 

Does what I said to Bruce make sense?  You said:

 

 Hope and pray for 2008 rapture!

 

In saying this, are you saying that you believe that if we hope hard enough and pray hard enough, that Jesus will come for us on the day we want Him to, even if its not the day that God originally had in mind?  Isn't the day that God planned before the foundations of the Earth for the Rapture to happen good enough?  If its Rosh Hoshanah, fine!!  If its Ascension Day or Pentecost 2009, fine!!  If its tomorror, fine!!  God wants us to be satisfied with His promise that Jesus will come for us, period.  I firmly believe that he is displeased with those who pick a day and focus completely on it, and then when the Rapture doesn't happen on that day, they are disappointed and even upset that Jesus didn't come when they wanted Him to. 

 

I know His Return is very soon, and I am happy and content with this knowledge.  And I will be just as happy the day after Rosh Hoshanah if we haven't left yet.  If we are still here the day after Pentecost 2009, I will still be happy that we are one more day closer, and I will simply seek to understand why we haven't left yet. 

 

Bruce is not wrong for considering other possible dates.  Who knows, he may find out other things he was unaware of in his studies.....things that others cannot discover because they are determined that Rosh Hoshanah will be the day and they have no desire to study further and find out that it may not be.  What if the day of the Rapture IS Ascension day 2009?  What if this is the day that God planned for all along?  If so, then isn't it wrong to hope and pray that He will come on Rosh Hoshanah instead??