Hi John, I meant to include these comments about "midnight" in the scriptures with my post below that I sent earlier today. I've added the two posts together here. ********************** I took at look at some passages in the scriptures at when did God warn people it was time to leave? Since the "rapture" is a type of Exodus, I looked at any kind of leaving that I could remember. Noah: He preached to the people for several hundred years. He also invested a long time building the ark, and I would imagine, more time assembling the animals into the ark. But when it came down to entering the ark, it was the same day that the rain came, just right before: Genesis 7: 12, 13; Matthew 24:37 Lot: The angels came the night before and in the morning told him and his family to get up and get out. Genesis 17 Moses and the Israelites in Egypt: The plagues fell upon the Egyptians, so the Israelites knew the tide was turning, but when it came down to leaving, it was short notice also. It isn't exactly clear when Moses communicated to the people, but Moses had a two-week notice. I found it interesting that the Passover lamb was to be procured on the 10th day of Nisan (their 1st month) during the day, and just at the evening of 14th, they were to slay it. So this was 3-4 days that the lamb was to live in their houses, just as Christ was with the people in his ministry about 3 1/2 years. When they were given the instruction to slay the lamb, put blood on the house door posts, and not let the bread rise, eat in haste, etc. That was about a day's notice. When the Israelites left, they took about a month's worth of provisions with them. After a month they had ran out of food and the Lord provided manna. Exodus 12, Ex. 16 Joseph & Mary: Joseph was warned in a dream the night before to take Mary and Jesus to Egpyt. Matthew 2:13 There are also other extra-canonical sources where people were warned the night before in a dream or by the day before or night before by the voice of the Holy Spirit while awake. Additionally, in Exodus 11:4 & 12:29, (in Ex. 11:4 God tells Moses "about midnight"; then in 12:29 it says it happened at midnight), The LORD CAME and went and smote all the Firstborn of Egypt in that they died. In vs. 30 of Exod. 12, it says that there was a great cry (due to the discovery of the dead or dying) - not a home in Egypt was spared. In Matthew 25: 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (A type of Exodus) In both these scenarios it is at midnight, and a cry is made, except at the LORD'S COMING this time, it is a cry of announcement (and one could say, joy for those of the bridal party awaiting). Matthew 25 appears to be a continuation of Matthew 24 (all one speech by Jesus). Matthew 25: 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains: I see the parallel from Exodus 12 in that the abomination which made Egypt desolate were the plagues, culminating in the death of the firstborn. Hmmm. A type of firstfruits but not in the happy sense. Food for thought: So, will we see our own "abomination of desolation?" Will there a different kind of abomination of desolation depending on where you live in the world? Those who live in Israel would say that it's a nuclear bomb. Those who live in New York, New Jersey and the surrounding states, would say, It sure feels like that was Hurricane Sandy. Desolation of people, possessions or both? If you were God, and would save a tithe or 10% of your people, how would you do it? (Isaiah 6:11-13, a tenth shall return), 10% of 7 billion people = 700 million; or could it be only 10% of those he considers physically/spiritually Israel? = ? Ruby