seeking the lost

The purpose of the rapture is not to keep from harm. A greater purpose is to take us to a new heaven and a new earth. This earth will pass away. 2 Peter 3:8-13 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

I am wondering if it is OK to add to the writings of this book? There is a warning against doing so. Revelation 22:18, 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The rapture requires a resurrection, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 16 For 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. 17 After 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. The first possible time of rapture is then at the end on the tribulation. Revelation 20:4-6 4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God.They[a] had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. The first resurrection is of the tribulation martyrs in order to reign with Christ. In order to have a rapture before this time there would of necessity be another resurrection before the first resurrection. Is it OK to add one?

One Lord, One faith, One God and Father of us all. Disagreements can hinder if not shatter relationships. I think it is important to find common ground in Christ and stand together. I like the quote from 1 Peter 3:8 and say yes and amen.

I think that would be great. To many times we judge others as non believers unless they agree with us. The body of Christ is way to divided.

The point to ponder is, how do we determine that another person is wrong in what they believe and that we are absolutely correct in our beliefs?

There are many challenges to unity. One of the most often used is "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers." (2 Cor.6:14. This means that one has judged self to be believer, a true believer and the other is not worthy of being called a believer regardless of any confession. Psalms 133 indicates when we dwell together in unity it is there that the Lord commands a blessing, even life evermore. This would be another blessing beyond the John 17 prayer of Jesus which He asks the Father to make us one in order that the World may know.

Thank you. Just saw that anyone could post here and wanted to ask the question. If we find out what this is then perhaps the world will know Jesus.

Jesus prayed to the Father that they (we) may be one as you and I are one. The prayer indicates that when we are one then the world will believe that Jesus was sent by the Father. (John 17:20-23)