Marilyn wrote:

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But, Lyle, you can't have a "LAST trump" without a first trump.

The word "last", adjective, means: "Coming after all others in time or order; final"

You quoted both scriptures yourself. I Thess 4:16 says "with the TRUMPET of God". That is the FIRST TRUMP.

I Cor. 15:52 says "at the LAST TRUMPET". That is the LAST TRUMP.

I am hoping for the FIRST TRUMP on the Eastern Orthodox Ascension Day, Thursday, June 13, 2013.
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Sorry, but you can never have true faith in this hope, because it is not based on scripture.

1Th_4:16 says, "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..."

I will agree, there is the word "first" in this verse, but it is NOT a "first trumpet" nor it is a "first rapture." It IS the dead in Christ rising first before those that are alive are raised up. One split second after the dead are raised, those alive and in Christ will rise up - and join the dead in Christ who rose an instant before.

I agree, for there to be a last trump, there must be a first trump. But if this last trumpet is the final long trumpet blast at the feast of trumpets, then there are around 98 trumpet blasts between these first and last. There will not be 100 raptures either. No, there is ONE rapture that Paul speaks of in both verses.

1 Corinthians 15:52
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.


1 Thessalonians 4:16
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:

Marilyn, these two verses are speaking of the SAME EVENT we call the rapture. It is the SAME TRUMPET in both verses. Your first and second rapture are a myth. These two verses speak of only ONE rapture.

Many people believe that it will happen on the feast of trumpets at the end, the long trumpet blast that ends the day. It has long been known as the last trump.

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AT THE FIRST RAPTURE, NO ONE IS MADE IMMORTAL.

AT THE LAST RAPTURE, ALL ARE MADE IMMORTAL.
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Sorry, only ONE rapture for the church.

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After the LAST RAPTURE, only the 144,000 Israelites can sing the NEW SONG.
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There seems to be a rapture for the 144,000, for they are seen around the throne in heaven shortly after the midpoint of the week. But this is NOT a rapture for the church. There is only a hint that these Jewish men are raptured. Our rapture will be at least 1260 days before this one.

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FIRST RAPTURE IN REVELATION

Rev 4:1 says, "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the FIRST voice which I heard was as it were of a TRUMPET talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."
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I am sorry, but this is NOT the rapture of the church or bride. Go and read it again. It is JOHN being called up to heaven to be shown things in the future. Trying to force a rapture in this verse is very, very sloppy exegesis. If we let a whole classroom of 5th graders read this verse, I am convinced they would all agree it was JOHN being caught up. Sorry, wrong verse for the rapture. When did this verse take place? About 95 AD. Sorry, but the timing is all wrong here for a rapture. It was only John called up.

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This Rapture comes before the Great Tribulation.
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Finally, Marilyn, something we agree on! Good job! Yes the rapture comes before the ENTIRE  70th week. The 70th week of Daniel begins at the 7th seal, not the first.


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LAST RAPTURE IN REVELATION

This Rapture comes on the last day of the Great Tribulation, the Day of God's Wrath.

Rev 7:14 says, "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
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Sorry, but this is the FIRST rapture in Revelation. And it is BEFORE the 70th week has begun. The week begins at the 7th seal. I believe there is another rapture in Revelation, ion fact two more. It seems the 144,000 are caught up before chapter 14. And I believe the Old Testament saints will rise from the dead at the 7th vial, which is "the last day." So they too get a rapture.

Lyle Cooper