Hi Bruce

I respect your opinion but let me please explain to you why this is not the rapture.

The rapture is found in the following

1Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

And in 1 Corinthians chapter 15

1Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

and now in Matthew 24

Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

With the rapture in 1 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians Paul mentioned both times the dead in Christ will rise first and we who are left will meet him in the air. There will be no angels sent down to gather the elect.Also notice that Paul says I shew you a mystery.The apostles were not being revealed the mystery of the rapture which is for the church while the Second Coming is for Israel when Jesus comes to rule the earth with his Saints.

So many have failed to accept the fact that Jesus was talking to the Jews in his ministry not the Church. The Bible truly does become much clearer when it is divided properly.The Jewish Apostles is whom Christ was talking to. At the time of the mystery of the rapture the Church will be taken not gathered and at the Second Coming in Matthew 24 Chrsit comes to earth to rule. The Jews are looking for the "earthly kingdom" and the Church the "heavenly kingdom".

I hope one day you will see this because you are so wonderful in your studying. Please know that I was swayed at one time by the teachings of Marv Rosenthal and others. It is a false teaching.

thanks so much

Mike W