From: Marilyn AgeeHi:> > The "gathering together of the elect" is the 2nd Rapture eventI'm so glad that you can see that there are two Rapture events.> > The Five Foolish Virgins are unsaved. "Verily I say unto you, I know you not" Matt 25:12.Here is some food for thought.The word translated "know" is eido, which Strong's says means "properly to see".Do you think this could indicate that their light is not shining brightly enough to be seen at the time of the First-Trump Rapture, and that this is an explanation of why they were not raptured the first time?We need wisdom and understanding, and it isn't always easy.Pro 4:7 says, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.""AS THE STARS"Dan_12:3 says, "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."Strong's "G 1492, eido""A primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent, G3700 and G3708; PROPERLY TO SEE (literally or figuratively); by implication (in the perfect only) to know: - be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) known (-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wist, wot. Compare G3700."LITERALLY "OIDA" IN THE TEXTUS RECEPTUSTextus Receptus: "ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν οὐκ οἶδα ὑμᾶς "LITERALLY "OIDA" IN THE MORPHOLOGICAL GREEK NEW TESTAMENTmGNT: ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν οὐκ οἶδα ὑμᾶς"(OIDA) – PROPERLY, TO SEE WITH PHYSICAL EYES (cf. Ro 1:11) "Rom 1:11 says, "For I long to see (G1492, eido) you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established".G3700, optanomai"The first a (middle voice) prolonged form of the second (primary) which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as alternates of G3708; to gaze (that is, with wide open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from G991, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and"from G1492, which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision;"while G2300, and still more emphatically its intensive G2334, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; and G4648 a watching from a distance): - appear, look, see, shew self.""G3708, horao"Properly to stare at (compare G3700), that is, (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally); by extension to attend to; by Hebraism to experience; passively to appear: - behold, perceive, see, take heed."G3700, optanomai optomai"The first a (middle voice) prolonged form of the second (primary) which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as alternates of G3708; to gaze (that is, with wide open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from G991, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from G1492, which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision; while G2300, and still more emphatically its intensive G2334, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; and G4648 a watching from a distance): - appear, look, see, shew self."> > The Five Foolish Virgins are unsaved. "Verily I say unto you, I know you not" Matt 25:12.I don't know about you, but I think one has to be saved to be classed as a virgin.It looks like all virgins will be raptured, but all raptured will not be virgins.Of the 144,000 Israelites, Rev 14:1-5 says,"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God."Who are those that are raptured but are not virgins? many Laodiceans plus a great multitude that are saved during the Great Tribulation.Rev 7:9,14 says, "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands...14...These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."> > There is a PRIOR Rapture event scripture calls the "Open Door" found in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. The purpose of this 1st Rapture event is to escape the "tribulation of those days" for those found worthy to escape. Of the Seven Churches of Revelation 2 and 3, only Philadelphia, Smyrna, and a small remnant at Sardis were found worthy. Smyrna was told they would have tribulation "ten days" per Rev 2:9-10 ("Open Door" timing clue?). The rest were told to REPENT or they will have tribulation (but not the wrath of God). There is nothing about the dead being raised at the "Open Door".> > I happen to believe that the Laodicean church in Rev 3:14-22 best describes the majority of Christians. They will be left behind at the "Open Door" unless they heed the Lord's warning to REPENT!I John 1:9 takes care of that. It says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."Thanks for giving us your ideas.Agape,Marilyn Ageemjagee@verizon.netprophecycorner.theforeverfamily.com--------------------------------------------------------------Bill Griese (13 July 2013) "Reply to David Blackman"Reply to David Blackman http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/july2013/davidb711.htmHi David,The earliest future Rapture event where the Dead in Christ are raised is the "gathering together of the elect" preceding the Wrath of God and following the Sixth Seal in Rev 6:12-17, which is AFTER the "tribulation of those days" in Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27. The "tribulation of those days" refers to the persecution of the elect by Antichrist and his minions prior to the Sixth Seal. This persecution produces the Martyrs under the Altar in Heaven referred to at the Fifth Seal, Rev 6:9-11. The days of this persecution are cut short per Matt 24:21-22, at the Sixth Seal. The Wrath of God then occurs during the remainder of the 1260 day count and probably a 30 day extension, which several Old Testament verses refer to as the year of God's Wrath (Day of Vengeance, Isaiah 34:8, 61:2, and 63:4). The "gathering together of the elect" is the 2nd Rapture event, and it precedes God's Wrath which begins after the opening of the Seventh Seal. This event is the one that the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25 refers to, in context with the Matthew 24:27-31 Coming. The Five Foolish Virgins are unsaved. "Verily I say unto you, I know you not" Matt 25:12.There is a PRIOR Rapture event scripture calls the "Open Door" found in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. The purpose of this 1st Rapture event is to escape the "tribulation of those days" for those found worthy to escape. Of the Seven Churches of Revelation 2 and 3, only Philadelphia, Smyrna, and a small remnant at Sardis were found worthy. Smyrna was told they would have tribulation "ten days" per Rev 2:9-10 ("Open Door" timing clue?). The rest were told to REPENT or they will have tribulation (but not the wrath of God). There is nothing about the dead being raised at the "Open Door".There is a popular American teaching that all born again Christians are Philadelphians, so everybody will be raptured at the earliest rapture event. However, if you look at the scriptures you will see that Philadelphia was a persecuted church. They had little strength left, were faithful and had not denied the Lord's name. Rev 3:8 "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." and Rev 3:10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." The temptation during the "hour of temptation" (i.e."tribulation of those days") will be to receive the Mark of the Beast to avoid persecution and death. All those who receive the Mark of the Beast will receive the wrath of God per Rev 14:9-11.I happen to believe that the Laodicean church in Rev 3:14-22 best describes the majority of Christians. They will be left behind at the "Open Door" unless they heed the Lord's warning to REPENT!Rev 3:14-22 "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."Luke 21:31-36 "So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always (repenting), that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."YBIC,Bill Griese