Hi James and the Doves, I like how these articles make us think and ponder - - and through that, we gain some insights. And we gain humility because most of us have been shown to be wrong from time to time.
James, I want to quickly discuss the Scripture -
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
People can say that Scripture hasn't happened. And it would take years to fulfill so the rapture cannot happen soon.
But I've learned to think outside the box.
First - God can do what we think is impossible.
What if there is a way that that Scripture could be fulfilled in much less than a week.
Follow me for a minute - -
We all know that sometimes a Scripture verse has the first part fulfilled and then many years later the second part is fulfilled.
So..... what if the dead in Christ are raised - and walk around for a period of days preaching to remote areas - maybe 5 to 7 days and then they go up and we then go up. (We may or may not know that the dead in Christ have been raised because they are being sent to remote areas.)
AND right after the dead in Christ are raised and walk around - what if THEY preach the Gospel to the outermost places of the earth?
My thought is - Romans 1 explains that people who do not know God CAN go to heaven. After all Psalm 19 lets us know that everyone has seen a witness of God. So what if one or more people from each "tribe / group" that have not heard of Jesus - encounter a person from their tribe/group who has gone to heaven. That "raised from the dead" person can speak in their tongue, knowing their customs, etc. And that person is remembered by many in the tribe / group.
My theory would result in that Scripture being fulfilled in a matter of a few days.
MY point - sometimes we don't think outside the box. If we are thinking that it will take years for all the world to hear the Gospel, we may just we thinking inside our box. My little theory may be totally wrong - but if I can think of a way that that verse could be fulfilled in a matter of a few days - then God could have another quick way that that verse could be fulfilled.
So...... when we encounter a verse that seems to make it impossible for the rapture to be soon (even though we see SO MANY SIGNS of the RAPTURE being SOON) - maybe we should realize that God MAY do things differently than we think.
I often remind myself that when Jesus came the first time, most of the Jews had their idea of what the Messiah would look like and act like. Jesus didn't fit in their box. So they missed him. Even though he fulfilled some of the Scriptures that they believed were Messianic Scriptures.
Sooo as far as the rapture, I am still thinking we are OUT - OF - HERE - SOON!..................No matter if my silly little theory is right or wrong.
Much love to all the Doves!Mary