I know from reading a lot of the letters that a number of people have abandoned the pre-trib position. However, I still believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. To be more precise I believe both in a pre-trib and pre-wrath rapture (more on this last part at the end).
I don't want to add to the debate on this matter. I just want to go on the record and state my position. I probably won't respond to arguments to the contrary as I don't feel that would be productive, or brotherly. Bear with me as I try to explain my personal view and try to keep an open mind. I've spent the better part of my sixty years studying prophecy so there might be something to be gained.
My belief is that Psalm 90 is critical to understanding how to "number our days". "10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."
In this psalm, the only one attributed to Moses, we are told that man is given 70 or 80 years and then we fly away. Counting from the birth of Israel in 1948, I think many of us counted out 70 years and subtracted the 7 year tribulation which brought us to 2011 for the rapture. It was a disappointment when 2011 passed. The very idea that we would have to add 10 more years as Psalm 90 indicated was just too dreadful to contemplate so it seemed that some people were throwing it out.
Yet there is another key passage in Psalm 90 that I believe should give us hope that we won't have to wait until 2021. Though we have to allow for the destruction of Damascus, the construction of the temple, the allowance for 7 years for the burning of the weapons left over from the Gog Magog war and other important and yet unfulfilled prophecies it seem clear to me that the additional 10 year period will be shortened. The author of Psalm 90 gives us a clue in the 10th verse by saying..."for it is soon cut off." Now please read the following passage from Psalm 90.
Psalm 90...
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
(underline added for emphasis...text of KJV not changed)
The author of Psalm 90 seems to be indicating that there is hope for an early departure. That the 10 additional years are shortened out of mercy for the bride that is waiting. I know I have hope for that. World events, earthquakes, wars, rumors of wars, etc. leave me little doubt that Jesus will come for His bride any day now and most likely on a Spring feast day as it suggests in the Song of Solomon.
My personal belief is that there should be a high degree of hope for a pre-trib rapture this Spring. However, I will continue to watch all of the feast days as well, whether they be Passover, Second Passover, Pentecost, Ascension Day, Tu B'Av, Rosh Hashanah, Tabernacles, or Hanukkah. I probably left some out inadvertently. The point I want to make is that they all have parallels to the rapture hidden in them and should be considered as possibilities.
In the opening paragraph I said I believe in both a pre-trib and pre-wrath rapture. I explain this in great detail in The Two Feet of the Body of Christ. If your position is that we are already in the tribulation, I doubt you've bothered to read this far. If, however, you'd care to read The Two Feet of the Body of Christ, I would be pleased to send it to you.
May God's blessings be upon you. Take heart. Our Lord is coming soon!
A special big "thank you" to John Tng for having the kind of patience that only God can give.
YBIC
Bruce Baber