Rapture of the Church

I am doing a Bible study on the book of Revelation, which has always been a fascinating read for me. I feel like I am fairly knowledgeable of the book, yet am learning so much that I had never seen before. I would like to touch on a few things that are fascinating me, or questions that I had never considered before:

1. When will the rapture occur?
I have always been a firm believer in the pre-trib theory. While there is a great deal of controversy over this particular standpoint, I stand firm in my belief. Why? There are 2 major reasons why I feel that the Church will be raptured before the tribulation begins:

• Revelation 3:10--Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. If you look back on the original text of this verse, you will see that the Greek word for from is "ek". Literally translated, this means "out of." We must assume that "the hour of temptation" is the tribulation, but I feel that we will be definitely kept from or out of this!
• Matthew 24:36--But of that day, knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, only the Father. 1 Thessalonians 5:2--For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. Now, I do want to say that I think we are to know when the day is near. However, the Bible is clear that we will not know the day. If we assume that the tribulation will begin with a 7 year peace treaty (which I do), and that it will be broken 42 months into the tribulation (which it will), then we would know the day of the mid-tribulation. We cannot know the day of the rapture, so I believe, it cannot be mid-trib.
• Here is an interesting website to check out if you want more "proof" www.jesus-is-savior.com

Will there be people saved during the tribulation?

1. I feel that we know there will be 144,000 Jews saved. This is a point that no one can argue. However, recently, I have heard the question of whether or not anyone else will be saved. It is a more complicated discussion than I can get into here, but here is my simple-minded explanation. I believe that there will be!

• Here is my proof. Look at Revelation 7:9-14. After this I beheld and low a great multitude, that no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands....(feel free to read the verses in here) And one of the elders answered saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes, and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. This tells us in verse 9 that there will be a whole bunch of people (more than man can number) and in verse 14 we see that they are those out of the Great Tribulation. I could be wrong, but this seems pretty clear to me!
• Others think that this is the people who were raptured. They could be right. However, the rapture took place back in Revelation 4 and now we are up to Revelation 7! Revelation is not always chronological. It does jump around.
• I hope and pray that people will have another chance after the rapture, but don't hesitate. As someone once told me, if you are driving down the road when the rapture happens, and a semi-truck is following you driven by a born-again Christian, you will not have the opportunity to repent after the rapture!! Do not delay!
• Joshua 24:15 Choose you this day whom ye will serve!

I could go on all day with the controversies of Revelation, but this is enough for one day. This is what is pressing on my mind today. What are your thoughts? Do you believe in the Rapture? Are you saved? I love talking about Revelation, and would love to talk to you!

Dear Father, Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for keeping us out of your wrath. We are so undeserving! Your grace abounds in my life!