The rapture is close?

[biblestudent78]

I ALWAYS thank God, that I live in a free country, and I'm able to move around freely, and to come onto a forum, and freely discuss theology, or how my day's going, or the latest revelations God is showing me, or eschatology, without people telling me I can't do this, and can't do that, and if i don't do like they do, and lean one way or another, then I am a bad person.

that is a policeman in the body of Christ that is seeking to control others.

You really need to read your Bible and see the harshness and resolve of Jesus and the apostles when defending the truth.

I am a little teddy bear compared to them.

I have been both reading and studying the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament for 68 years. I must apologize as I have not yet got to the part of the New Testament were Jesus and the Apostles (we only have Peter, James and John) are ever "defending truth." They were documenting the truth that Jesus was the Son of God who gave his life that all who put their faith in Him will not perish. The truth that Jesus ate and socialized with totally corrupt sinners. The truth is that even when Jesus's closest Apostle denied Him 3 times Jesus continued to love Him. Jesus never had to defend truth. He was truth and revealed truth thus no other "truth" required harshness. Jesus strongest condemnation was for those who practiced a super-pious form of religion but had no heart or love for God of His creation. Jesus called them a den of vipers because they had a "form" of religion but knew nothing of love, forgiveness, mercy and justice. Perhaps a warning for today as well. If our "religion" is loveless (except theoretically or intellectually) lacking any concept of real forgiveness, mercy or justice that we too are but a den of vipers.

There is a pretty extensive corpus of instruction, mostly by Paul about Jesus's call for his followers to live a moral, serving and loving life. Jesus "truth" is that a rich man will have little or no chance of getting to heaven unless God intervenes in his life to convert him into giving away his riches. Jesus's truth is that we must take up our cross daily. Jesus truth is that you must love God deeply and your neighbor as yourself and in the parable of the Good Samaritan makes it clear that your "neighbor" is anyone needing your loving help. Jesus truth is that you cannot love money and love God. John's truth is that if you say you love God but hate any kind of neighbor you are a liar. Paul's truth is that no matter how much faith you claim to have, if you don't have love, your faith claim is just noise to God. Matthew recounts Jesus description of the criterion by which each person will be judged in chapter 25. That is the Gospel truth that almost no modern Christian has ever heard in a sermon.

There are many who claim their sect's, denomination's, or church is the arbiter of what is "true." Thus we have 450,000 different denominations, quickly dropping memberships driven by the adoption of politics as a means of power, perversion and corruption within the "church" on a equal level to non-Christians, billionaire pastors, the "prosperity Gospel," and the invisibility of Christianity in any community or country. Nobody could pick out Christians from Pagans if they only looked at checkbooks, dress, entertainment, business ethics, morality, marital fidelity and families. What more harsh truth is there than what is happening in our world today of invisible Christianity.

 

[Burn1986]

I have heard for a long time now that the rapture is close many have tried to predict it's timing but all have failed. but I had a dream and it makes me wonder about the rapture as I know everyone has different stances on it, but why give a rapture dream if it is not so?
This is the dream
a clock counting down and in this dream I somehow knew this clock was about the rapture I was on a pedestal and so were other people these pedestals rotated around the clock and then suddenly I was whisked away and the devil was searching for me hunting me down seeking to destroy me but he couldn't find me it was as if I was hidden or something.



Then another scene happens and I saw satan sitting on a throne and I said to a person next to me is that satan?



Then satan heard me and called me over by name I walked up the stairs where his throne was and he brought a women out who looked miserable and beaten he threatened to kill her if I didn't bow down to him.

I laughed and said if I recall I worship the God of the impossible anything you do he can undo then the dream ended

another user here mentioned the tribulation starting in september and then the rapture happening after a number of days and that got me thinking because I recieved this dream recently
is the rapture or the tribulation actually close? is there something that would imply this?

Yeah, I think it’s close. I always wanted it to happen when I was in trouble, but it never did. I could never count on it.

 

[2ndTimeIsTheCharm]

Yeah, I think it’s close. I always wanted it to happen when I was in trouble, but it never did. I could never count on it.

How close do you think it is? In your lifetime?

 

[Burn1986]

How close do you think it is? In your lifetime?

I’m not exactly sure.

 

[JohnDB]

Yeah, I think it’s close. I always wanted it to happen when I was in trouble, but it never did. I could never count on it.

That's escapist theology....
There is no scriptures that teach that....in fact just the opposite.

First comes judgement then comes blessing.

The bigger the blessing the bigger the suffering you must first receive.
And the blessings are usually slow....very very slow. Painstaking slow.

Just thoughts about revealed history of what God has done....

 

[OMC]

If you strip away every world‑system timeline, chart, model, and tradition, the only honest answer Scripture allows is this: the rapture is always presented as imminent, never scheduled, never date‑able, never tied to a visible countdown — meaning it could happen soon, but Scripture never lets you say “soon” as a prediction, only as a posture.
Jesus’ own language is the anchor:
“At an hour you do not think” (Matt 24:44),
“No one knows the day or the hour” (Matt 24:36),
“Be ready” (Luke 12:40),
“The Lord is near” (Phil 4:5),
“The Judge is standing at the door” (James 5:9).
Paul reinforces the same posture:
the rapture is a surprise event (1 Thess 5:2),
a sudden catching‑up (1 Thess 4:16–17),
and a twinkling‑of‑an‑eye transformation (1 Cor 15:52).
None of those texts ever tie the event to geopolitical triggers, temple reconstruction, feast days, or prophetic beasts.
So if you strip away world‑systems, you’re left with the apostolic tension: it could happen at any moment, and nothing in Scripture says it cannot happen soon. The NT keeps you ready, not calculating.

 

[JohnDB]

If you strip away every world‑system timeline, chart, model, and tradition, the only honest answer Scripture allows is this: the rapture is always presented as imminent, never scheduled, never date‑able, never tied to a visible countdown — meaning it could happen soon, but Scripture never lets you say “soon” as a prediction, only as a posture.
Jesus’ own language is the anchor:
“At an hour you do not think” (Matt 24:44),
“No one knows the day or the hour” (Matt 24:36),
“Be ready” (Luke 12:40),
“The Lord is near” (Phil 4:5),
“The Judge is standing at the door” (James 5:9).
Paul reinforces the same posture:
the rapture is a surprise event (1 Thess 5:2),
a sudden catching‑up (1 Thess 4:16–17),
and a twinkling‑of‑an‑eye transformation (1 Cor 15:52).
None of those texts ever tie the event to geopolitical triggers, temple reconstruction, feast days, or prophetic beasts.
So if you strip away world‑systems, you’re left with the apostolic tension: it could happen at any moment, and nothing in Scripture says it cannot happen soon. The NT keeps you ready, not calculating.

Might be headed for some tough stuff in the near future.

Groceries are rather inexpensive...when shipping by container they usually go in leftover spaces. Say a factory reserves 30ea 40 ft containers and pays for it by contract every month....but this month only uses 20....the extra ten are contracted but still have to be paid for even unused. (Like daycare for your kids)
However....on the way the ship can pick up loads....like sugar or coffee or vegetables. So the factory will sell unused space at half price to 75% price....on a different sort of spot market for container shipping pricing. This sort of market is what moves 90% of shipped groceries. But at the same time....10 days from any field in the world to any dinner table in the world is the standard and reality we have been living for decades now.

That standard is currently gone.

The price of marine diesel is outrageous....$6/gal+ means food no longer can afford to move anywhere except domestically by train not truck.
Under $5/gal and food is shipping....over $6 and we have famine.
Container price from China to NY is the highest it's ever been....in history.
And it's not exactly the price of oil itself....its the refined products that are in super short supply.....
Crude Oil we have....we dont have the refineries.

This is a problem that requires peace instead of war, manpower because steel pipe is heavy, and lots of various types of skilled trades.
Months and months.

Most of this is due to Russian refineries getting destroyed by Ukraine. Venezuelan refineries dying by neglect....and Iranian refineries being destroyed while they (and Houthis) destroy everyone else refineries in that neighborhood.

 

[OMC]

Might be headed for some tough stuff in the near future.

Groceries are rather inexpensive...when shipping by container they usually go in leftover spaces. Say a factory reserves 30ea 40 ft containers and pays for it by contract every month....but this month only uses 20....the extra ten are contracted but still have to be paid for even unused. (Like daycare for your kids)
However....on the way the ship can pick up loads....like sugar or coffee or vegetables. So the factory will sell unused space at half price to 75% price....on a different sort of spot market for container shipping pricing. This sort of market is what moves 90% of shipped groceries. But at the same time....10 days from any field in the world to any dinner table in the world is the standard and reality we have been living for decades now.

That standard is currently gone.

The price of marine diesel is outrageous....$6/gal+ means food no longer can afford to move anywhere except domestically by train not truck.
Under $5/gal and food is shipping....over $6 and we have famine.
Container price from China to NY is the highest it's ever been....in history.
And it's not exactly the price of oil itself....its the refined products that are in super short supply.....
Crude Oil we have....we dont have the refineries.

This is a problem that requires peace instead of war, manpower because steel pipe is heavy, and lots of various types of skilled trades.
Months and months.

Most of this is due to Russian refineries getting destroyed by Ukraine. Venezuelan refineries dying by neglect....and Iranian refineries being destroyed while they (and Houthis) destroy everyone else refineries in that neighborhood.

Your economic analysis fits the NT tension and Scripture says the rapture is imminent, but it also says the world can absolutely convulse before it — and nothing in the NT promises believers a smooth runway before the catching‑up.

 

[Psalm1]

That's escapist theology....
There is no scriptures that teach that....in fact just the opposite.

First comes judgement then comes blessing.

The bigger the blessing the bigger the suffering you must first receive.
And the blessings are usually slow....very very slow. Painstaking slow.

Just thoughts about revealed history of what God has done....

With lot and Noah, they were gathered first, then judgement.
The removal of the baby Jesus, was also first and before judgment
The 5 wise virgins were taken first with no judgement anywhere.
(the ones taken first, in the parable, went to heaven with Jesus)

The "ones taken" ( half taken) of mat 24 are taken preflood.
(The righteous, again , removed first).

 

[OMC]

With lot and Noah, they were gathered first, then judgement.

You said "Gathered"
The word you should be using is "Preserved"
Because Lot and Noah were not removed.
The wicked were,
IN judgement.

 

[Psalm1]

You said "Gathered"
The word you should be using is "Preserved"
Because Lot and Noah were not removed.
The wicked were,
IN judgement.

Oh yeah.
I saw that version where lot stayed, and the city was not burned.
The wicked were removed from the city, and God burned them up after he removed them.

Yeah I threw that story away.

They were trying desperately to reframe that testimony of Jesus removing Lot, into some postribb rapture model.

Yeah...don't bite on it.

 

[OMC]

Oh yeah.
I saw that version where lot stayed, and the city was not burned.
The wicked were removed from the city, and God burned them up after he removed them.

That's not what I said, which is why I keep questioning your understanding of English.

 

[Psalm1]

That's not what I said, which is why I keep questioning your understanding of English.

Your foolish quote struggling with the English language:

Quote;
"You said "Gathered"
The word you should be using is "Preserved"
Because Lot and Noah were not removed.
The wicked were,
IN judgement."

How stupid.
Those left behind and burnrd to death ,WILL BE RESURRECTED , INTO JUDGEMENT, AT THE GWTJ.

The wrath of God HAPPENED TO THE INHABITANTS WHILE IN THE CITY.
Zero removal.
Zero gathering.

I question not only your grammar but the understanding of definitions as well.

Is English your first language ?

When exposed, you them claim you never said it.

 

[Psalm1]

I am so glad I do not adhere to a doctrine of ridiculous word games.

Plain stupid

 

[Burn1986]

That's escapist theology....
There is no scriptures that teach that....in fact just the opposite.

First comes judgement then comes blessing.

The bigger the blessing the bigger the suffering you must first receive.
And the blessings are usually slow....very very slow. Painstaking slow.

Just thoughts about revealed history of what God has done....

Lol. It was usually when I was in trouble as a kid. I didn’t know there was actually a term for it.

 

[JohnDB]

Lol. It was usually when I was in trouble as a kid. I didn’t know there was actually a term for it.

It's kinda common....more common than you would think.

People go through a business failure and bankruptcy usually want to move drastically across the nation afterwards.

Same thing can happen after or during a divorce.

Or after the death of a close, personal loved one.....

It's a form of escape....as if moving will somehow lessen the pain. The problem with a rapture is that just because you are in Heaven the real pain for the lost on earth does not stop (Love thy neighbor) and in fact it gets worse because we are no longer there to provide comfort or sound advice.

 

[biblestudent78]

Yeah, I think it’s close. I always wanted it to happen when I was in trouble, but it never did. I could never count on it.

One of the BIG problem when it comes to interpreting apocalyptic literature is that you are either in or out. If you believe in the rapture that was popularized in the 1830's but reject that Jesus will return to toucher humans as never before. He will bring violence unspeakable on humans and kill them with a sword that will create a river of blood by putting people in a winepress and creating a huge river of blood bridle high to a horse 180 miles long. Anyone who receives the mark of the beast is "tormented with fire and sulfur."Jesus' Role: This punishment takes place directly "in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb" (Jesus). The smoke of their torment rises forever. Swarms of supernatural locusts with tails like scorpions are released from the bottomless pit. Five Months of Agony: They are explicitly commanded not to kill people, but to torture them for five months. The pain is described as so unbearable that "people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them." First Bowl inflicts ugly, severely painful sores on everyone. The rivers, springs, and oceans completely turn to blood, leaving humanity with nothing to drink except blood. He plunges the kingdom of the beast into total darkness, causing people to "gnaw their tongues in agony" because of their pain and sores. a severe global earthquake and giant hailstones weighing about 100 pounds crushing people below. God will bring global warfare, mass starvation, hyperinflation, and wild beasts to kill a quarter of the earth's population. A 200-Million Demonic Army: Released at the Euphrates River, these horse-like entities breathe fire, smoke, and sulfur, wiping out one-third of all remaining mankind.

But God "love you!" Pick one.

 

[Burn1986]

One of the BIG problem when it comes to interpreting apocalyptic literature is that you are either in or out. If you believe in the rapture that was popularized in the 1830's but reject that Jesus will return to toucher humans as never before. He will bring violence unspeakable on humans and kill them with a sword that will create a river of blood by putting people in a winepress and creating a huge river of blood bridle high to a horse 180 miles long. Anyone who receives the mark of the beast is "tormented with fire and sulfur."Jesus' Role: This punishment takes place directly "in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb" (Jesus). The smoke of their torment rises forever. Swarms of supernatural locusts with tails like scorpions are released from the bottomless pit. Five Months of Agony: They are explicitly commanded not to kill people, but to torture them for five months. The pain is described as so unbearable that "people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them." First Bowl inflicts ugly, severely painful sores on everyone. The rivers, springs, and oceans completely turn to blood, leaving humanity with nothing to drink except blood. He plunges the kingdom of the beast into total darkness, causing people to "gnaw their tongues in agony" because of their pain and sores. a severe global earthquake and giant hailstones weighing about 100 pounds crushing people below. God will bring global warfare, mass starvation, hyperinflation, and wild beasts to kill a quarter of the earth's population. A 200-Million Demonic Army: Released at the Euphrates River, these horse-like entities breathe fire, smoke, and sulfur, wiping out one-third of all remaining mankind.

But God "love you!" Pick one.

You left out “paper cut with lemon juice poured on it…”