seeking the lost

By definition, the rapture is of those who have not seen death. 1 Thess 4 15According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words. Rapture is of those who are alive and remain. You do recall that the two witnesses were dead and came to life. Their going up is more like an ascension.

Thank you for your response. I am not sure that I understand all that you are saying. What does called to "prophesy"? Could it be as in II Corinthians 4 : 3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Finding truth is never a waste of time. Living in ignorance is a waste of life. Revelation 1:3Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and who keep the things which are written in it [heeding them and taking them to heart]; for the time [of fulfillment] is near. These three things lead to blessing: 1) read, 2) understand which us hearing and 3) keeping. These things together assume that you can hear and understand what the Spirit is saying. It is the will of God that we not be ignorant about these things as is stated in I Thessalonians 4. This is the stated will of God. I Thess. 4: 13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For 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: 17then 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. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The rapture differs from the death of believer that is present with the Lord. The rapture is of those who will not see death but are changed. The resurrection at the beginning of the thousand years is only of the tribulation martyrs. The new heaven and new earth are at the end of the thousand years.

The first resurrection is limited and specific as to the ones that are being raised and does not include all believers. Jesus said that those who believe will be raised at the last day which is at the end of the thousand years. The phrase, the rest of the dead addresses this.

The passage refers to the listener with itching ears that follow teachers that tickle their ears. 2 Timothy 4:3 (ESV) For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, II Timothy 4:3 (NKJV) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

The rapture can only take place after the resurrection of believers. Do you want to add a resurrection at this point?

Sound doctrine is not determined by popularity. Sound doctrine is determined by the unadulterated Word of God. Itching ears gives credibility to the things we wish were true without regard for revealed truth.

The purposes of God are established through the dream. 14For God speaks in one way, ver. 29and in two, though man does not perceive it. 15In See Num. 12:6a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, 16then he opens the ears of men and terrifies Or seals them with warnings, 17that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man; 18he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. The Lord will not hide this from you.

The texts that teach us that there is going to be a rapture indicate that the dead in Christ must rise first. Without controversy the dead in Christ must rise before the rapture. 1 Corinthians 15: 51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Thessalonians 4:16For 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: 17then 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. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. Jesus has told us when those who believe in Him will be raised. John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. The last day is the day after which there are no other days and thus last. There is a sever warning about adding to the revelation. Revelation 22:18For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. It is a violation of this warning to add a resurrection or rapture or multiple resurrections and raptures. There are only two resurrections listed in the words of this book. The context of these resurrections are recorded in Revelation 20: 4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. The first resurrection is of those who have lost their lives as martyrs This does not include all those who have believed in Jesus. By not mentioning them they are excluded from this resurrection. The second resurrection is inclusive of everyone else, rest of the dead. This resurrection is at the end of the thousand years.

I make no excuses for the failure. There remains much that we need to pursue with integrity. I think of the parable of Luke 18 which teaches us that we must not lose heart. We must keep praying and pursuing the Lord that we can heal the sick. At the end of this parable there is a question, "will He find faith on the earth?" The Parable of the Persistent Widow 1And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” There is a tendency to quit and give up when we do not see the answer immediately. The quitting or giving up on prayer is equivalated to no faith on the earth. The encouragement is to continuing to pray and meet the needs of people. There is a problem when this ministry is turned to theater.

There are some things in the book took place before the writing. The appearance of Jesus to share with John what must come to pass has taken place. The activity of the churches that are addressed has happened. Most are yet to come but not everything.

Mark 16:20 (KJV) And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. The word is preached and revelation is received the heart is transformed. Just as Jesus preached the Word and manifested the power of God so also the disciples preach the word and signs follow. Be careful not to deny the power of God. 2 Timothy 31This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Don't be that person and turn away from those who deny the power of God.

It is good to live by faith. The works or miracles do not seem to change the hearts of unbelievers if they will not believe the words of the prophets. This is from a teaching of Jesus recorded in Luke 16. 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Hearing the words of the prophets is the key to faith. Faith comes by hearing, hearing comes by the word of God.

That may fit your theology but that is not what Jesus said. The final authority is the scripture. Matthew 13: 24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Notice verse 30. The tares are gathered out first then the wheat is gathered.

That may be true but read the scripture and go by that. Matthew 13: 24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Notice that the tares are taken out first and burned. Remember that tares and chaff are not the same thing.

Isaiah 53:5 (ESV) But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Hosea 14:4 (KJVAE) I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. The work of the suffering deals with sin and the sin nature. This work touches on the condition of not being able to abide in Him. When our backsliding is healed we are able to abide in Him. This is the most important part of the sufferings. Physical healing is great and available but at best it is temporary. It is important for us to set priorities on the eternal.

You are missing out on so much if you do not know the presence of the Father and Jesus in this life. John 14:23 (ESV) Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. They can not make their home with us if He is not here. Of course you do have to obey and love Jesus then they take up residence. The part about is to come is not about His presence but a change in roll and activity. You may not know this but according to Isaiah 6 the whole earth is full of His glory. That will not change but we will be able to be aware of it. Isaiah 6:3 (ESV) And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Habakkuk 2:14 (ESV) For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Yes only a door. They are knocking and crying for the door to be opened to let them in but it is too late. There is a difference between the tares and the chaff. The tare are fake wheat these are gathered out first and burned. This leaves the wheat behind. When the wheat is gathered then the chaff is separated by winnowing.

There is nothing in the text to indicate that the people that he saw were raptured. The resurrection that proceeds the rapture is at the end of the thousand years. Thus the impossibility that these are raptured.

Notice the words of the scripture that refer to this number. Revelation 7:13 (NIV) Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” Revelation 7:14 (NIV) I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. They did not come out before the great tribulation. These came out of the great tribulation. I believe that these are martyrs. There is nothing in the parable that indicates the virgins have been raptured for only a door separates the wise from the foolish. The foolish were just on the wrong side.

Omnipresence is a term in theology that means present everywhere. That would mean that Jesus Himself is here just as He said. Matthew 28:20 (NIV) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” When Jesus appeared to John to give revelation this is how He identified Himself. Revelation 1:8 (NIV) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Not only is He to come but also "is". The one who promised never to leave us is not absent from us. He is here and it is impossible for Him not to be here.

Do you not believe that God is able to distinguish the difference between those that are His and those who are not? Revelation 9:4 (KJV) And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. When all of the trouble begins as stated here believers on the earth will have been sealed with the seal of God. This will be the safe place and they will not be harmed by those that are sent forth. God is our safety.

I agree that this is about the end. Does it not say that the harvest is the end of the world?

That is logical but that is not what the parable says. It clearly says that the tares are gathered out and burned first.