These thoughts occurred to me while reading a letter on RITAN.

 

In the following passage from Isaiah we see what many describe as a prophetic description of the rapture.  If that’s true (which I believe it is) then notice that the rapture seems to have little impact on the nonbelievers.  They don’t “take it to heart” and “no one understands”.  Reinforcing that this might truly be a rapture passage the word translated perish can also be translated as vanish.  See the link to Strong’s H6 below.

 

The idea that nonbelievers won’t be impacted by the sudden departure of the saints at the rapture goes against what many of us have been taught to think, or read in fictional Christian novels.  The “sudden destruction” in 1 Thessalonians 5 might be an explanation for why nonbelievers have their eyes and minds focused elsewhere.

Isaiah 57

New International Version (NIV)

57 The righteous perish,
    and no one takes it to heart;
the devout are taken away,
    and no one understands
that the righteous are taken away
    to be spared from evil.

Strong’s Concordance

Isa KJV 57:1

¶ The righteous H6662 perisheth, H6 and no man H376 layeth H7760 it to heart: H3820 and merciful H2617 men H582 are taken away, H622 none considering H995 that the righteous H6662 is taken away H622 from H6440 the evil H7451 to come.

 

YBIC

Bruce Baber