I think that the reason why Christians some of them anyway are so concerned with the rapture teaching and whether or not it is true is because they are afraid. Yes afraid. Because when you read about the horrible things that Christians are going to be delivered up, killed, or you won't be able to buy or sell unless you take the mark of the beast it instills FEAR into the minds of Christians to read these things. So to believe we are going to be delivered is very desirable teaching. I have heard all the teachings.
Again what I think the root problem here is FEAR. Living and growing up in America I am not in fear of being put to death for being a Christian. So when I read about the possibility of me being put to death for my testimony in Christ Jesus, well, heck yeah, the idea of being raptured out of all of that is most desirable! Whether that is the case or not there are good debates on either side is the problem leaving it truly a mystery.
So the root problem here is fear of being put to death or tortured for your testimony in Christ Jesus and whether or not you can stand up to it. Remember Peter was so fearful he denied Christ three times before the cock crowed just as Jesus prophesied he would. Later Peter was crucified upside down for his beliefs in Christ Jesus.
So yes it is fear that is causes these debates for we would much rather be raptured out than go through those horrific things. But consider this. There are Christians in other countries that are going through these very things as I type this. People being tortured and put to death for their testimony in Christ Jesus and their refusal to deny HIM.
So bottom line I think we all need to examine ourselves and ask the question, "What would we do if persecuted?"
That is the real issue here.
What is the truth? Why not just read the truth and BELIEVE it?
Luke 21:36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man
What does Luke mean by "all these things?" To get the complete answer we need to read this Olivet discourse in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Here are some of the things we can escape.
Luke 12:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luk 13
14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,)...
19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
Matt 24
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
God is telling us through Luke that there IS A WAY OF ESCAPE! What is that way? Of course it is the PRETRIB rapture of the church. HERE is the escape! Read it!
1 Thes 4
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:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Please note, just 3 verses after the classic rapture verse, Paul speaks of the "Day of the Lord." Why would he do that? It is very simple: the rapture is back to back with the Day of the Lord. The signs of the Day of the Lord come immediately after the rapture. (see the 6th seal) In fact, what Paul is really teaching here is that the rapture is the TRIGGER for the day of the Lord.
There is a SUDDENLY coming - at a time of peace and safety - like today. It will be a WORLD WIDE earthqake worse than anything this world has experienced. Now, Paul gives us a paradigm: he will compare TWO different groups of people at this sudden event, and show us TWO DIFFERENT outcomes.
First, those living in darkness GET THE SUDDEN DESTRUCTION.
Second, those living in the light ESCAPE this sudden destruction by way of "salvation" meaning rapture, for Paul writes that we get to LIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM (rapture.)
So don't EVER think that Paul did not give us the TIMING of the rapture! It will come at a time of peace and safety (like today) and JUST BEFORE the Day of the Lord begins.
So there is NO NEED for any kind of fear: if you BELIEVE in the pretrib rapture and are WATCHING for Him, you will "escape all these things."
Coop