Dispensationalist rapturites believe the "secret" rapture is coming this year, maybe summer or fall. I would be fine with that, but I think it is a little early.
My husband thinks Christ will come within 5 years. We are in process of moving. I think he wants to enjoy his new house for a bit.
I think Christ's second coming may be within 6 months to just a few years. My reasoning is because the prophetic countdown is near the end of Revelation, and it matches with current events.
Those of you waiting for Christ, what do you think about the timing?
I think no man knows when Jesus will return. I am watching and waiting though. I very much look forward to His soon return.
Jesus clearly states that no one will know the exact time of his return (Matthew 24:36). Therefore we should remain in a state of anticipation and readiness (Matthew 24:44)
I’m busy building the Kingdom of Christ and not worrying about what the dispensationalists think anymore. I gave up the rapture about 10 years ago. I’ve come to understand that the bad guys disappear and the meek inherit the earth.
Look up preterism for an idea of what I might be talking about although I’m not sure I believe in pure preterism either.
I am a work in progress and don’t assume I know exactly what I believe or should believe.
I've also been wondering, based upon certain scriptures, for example the bundling of the tares and others, whether at Christ's coming, the enemies will be zapped away and the "left behind" will actually be the Lord's people. But that is not a popular teaching. The pre-trib dispensationalist futurism is the most popular in the US based upon the Scofield Bible, but I think it is heretical, and came from the Jesuits.
The reason I am hoping Christ will return soonish is because things are really getting bad out there. I am much too old to think that things are anywhere approaching "normal."
Full Preterism teaches that everything was fulfilled by 70 AD. Partial Preterism allows for some unfolding of prophesy later. I have been studying Historicism lately, which is what the Reformers believed--that prophesy unfolds over time and history.
I like that you even know the differences between these beliefs. Glad you took time to explain a bit very kind of you.
I take the Bible pretty seriously and I am just not feeling like I am leaving. God made promises which are as good as any prophecy, we may agree they are better than prophets! Those need to happen. I don’t see God’s people leaving. Wheat and tares is a big clue as is Josephus and his history of what happened in 70AD.
The leaving belief made the church weak. We should’ve influenced and occupied our world but we “waited” like since 1844 we waited. Scofield is a poison to the doctrine of the church. Also, we are all Mormon since 1844 bc our denominations are all heavily influenced by the 1844 Great Disappointment.
I hope my paragraphs stay when I hit send.
A lot of cult groups formed in the 19th century. The "Great Disappointment" reminds me of now with the pre-trib rapture frenzy. They already missed the 7/26 "rapture date" and they have a lot more coming. I myself could not sleep that night "just in case." They can make people depressed with a lot of failed dates. So Paul said this:
2 Thessalonians 2
1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness [1] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Thank you for the deeper discussion of this topic. I wish the church could come to unity and look forward to a future where this topic is common knowledge.
Everyone trying to guess the date of the rapture.
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Matthew 24:36
Anyone who has done any kind of research in the Bible knows that it has been messed with. From Roman times to king James the Mason. Have any of you thought that maybe rapture is opposite of what they preach? Maybe the bad will disappear and we will be left here on earth in peace. Heaven on earth.
I have been considering that scenario of late. There are some scriptures which point to that as a possibility.
Soon.
Thank you! I was hoping someone would cheer me up. I look at the sky a lot.
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, Romans 11:25 NIV
https://romans.bible/romans-11-25
Israel's hardening stops post rapture (think 144K) after the Church has been taken home. So the question is, what does the fullness of the gentiles mean?
Matthew Poole's Commentary:
https://www.bibleref.com/Romans/11/Romans-11-25.html: However, Paul now states outright that this is a temporary season. Israel's hardening will end when the "fullness" of the Gentiles has come to God through faith in Christ. Does this mean that God is waiting for all Gentiles to believe in Jesus? That's not likely, nor does it fit the words used here. The "fullness of the Gentiles" means "as many as will believe," or "the complete number." When that mysterious point has been reached, the Jewish people will no longer be hardened in their unbelief in Christ. This does not mean, necessarily, that every Israelite will come to faith in Christ, but perhaps that a representative proportion of living Israelites will do so. Nor does it mean that no Jewish person, prior to then, can come to faith—but most will not.
He comes when you're ready. He comes when you're in a spiritual state of rapture. The second coming is not like the first.
☝️I like this.
No one knows.... Not even Jesus.... He said so Himself...
Instead of end times, I think God is making a course correction. He does this from time to time throughout the Bible. And boy do we need a course correction. If the DS/cabal/democrats knew who Q is, they would crap their pants and assume the fetal position.
Since 2020 I have been telling my husband that either God would make an adjustment at some point, or else Christ will come back. After all, other crises have resolved in the past one way or another. The thing that makes this era different for me is that everything seems set to implode worldwide. It feels like we are on the edge of destruction and few would survive, which I guess WEF is hoping for. However, I think they would not really like the dystopia they are setting up. I know they have their operating motto of "order out of chaos," but I feel the amount of chaos that may take place will be more than they bargained for. What I am currently looking at in the Bible is some hint of global upheaval (financial/economic plus war, which matches with current events) followed by the destruction of Mystery Babylon. We are shown in scripture that some form of Rome lasts until the Lord's return. He will smash it, deal with his enemies, and then the kingdom promises will unfold. I am just wondering about the severity of the storm that appears we may pass through. Even though I think the "7 year dispensational tribulation" is a Jesuit deception, that doesn't necessarily mean no tribulation is coming. It already started at least 3 1/2 years ago by the looks of things, and it is still developing.
So, do you know the identity of Q? I'm already in the fetal position.
NCSWIC
We, (Christians), have been waiting for over 2000 years. Hope it's soon.
Why is it secret?
It isn't actually secret. I used to believe in a pre-trib rapture because I was told so. However, I never thought it was a "secret appearing." Somewhere along the line, preachers started saying and writing that Christ would come in the clouds "invisibly" to the world, but only visibly to the Church. Then believers would be "invisibly" raptured out, and everyone left behind would be freaking out about the disappearance of millions and cars and planes would be crashing. Tim LaHaye wrote a whole series of "Left Behind" books about the "secret rapture." He made a lot of money. Christ will not come "in secret" at his second advent. Everyone will definitely see him in the clouds with a host of angels. In Mexico at sunset, I once saw a huge "flying Jesus" cloud. I don't know how large Christ will appear on the day, but you won't miss him.
The biggest question I have. How will we be able to verify who Christ is?
He'll handle that for you.
Remember when you were young and asked your parents, "how will I know when I'm in love?" Then they gave you an answer that wasn't very satisfying, like, "you'll just know."
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me...”
Read Thessalonians 4:
The Comfort of Christ’s Coming
13But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
In other passages it says things like, "every eye shall see him," so it's not secret, but it is unmistakable. I think he will light up the entire sky, even the portion that is at night when he returns.
Bright
Noisy
Visible
In the clouds
Saints and angels all around
God's biblical calendar was determined by the moon cycles. The new moon would signify the beginning of the Sabbath cycles, day 1, day 8, day 15, and day 22. This happened every 7 days, except at the last Sabbath of the month which could be 1 or 2 or 3 days until the next new moon appeared. Two witnesses had to report to the Sanhedrin to announce the new moon. Rosh Hashanah or the Feast of Trumpets was the only festival to fall on the 1st of the month, and no one could plan for the celebration because "no one knew the day or hour" until the new moon appeared. The Feast of Trumpets foreshadowed Christ's return. Jesus told his disciples many times that he would come soon, in their lifetime. I believe he kept his promise. I believe the millenial reign already happened, Satan was loosed hence the evil state of our world. Our history has been erased, and we were told we are still waiting on the 2nd coming. We are in Rev 20 waiting on the New Earth which is being transformed right before our eyes. I'd love to read the history books recovered under the Vatican.
But I thought Satan's loosing was supposed to be short?
I do believe true history has been erased to some degree. There are a lot of videos about ancient Tartaria, which some believe was the millenial reign. I have watched some of these. It's very mysterious! We used to have an amazing architecture and technology, amazing art. It has been covered up. There are some who say 1,000 years of our past has been hidden. Well, more things to ponder . . .
We aren't in 2023. Years have been added to our calendar. We consider a season as 1/4 of a year. If the millenial reign was 1000 years, then a season is 250 years. If "Satan's time is cut short," then less than 250 years. Is it possible that the year known as 1776 wasn't our independence? 1776+250= 2026 cut short...any day now his time is up??? Hopefully, the truth will be revealed soon.