QUOTE (sergestorms @ May 22 2008, 07:10 PM)

question for ya preacher...where in the bible does it say there will be a rapture? I thought it was a literary creation. Should Revelations happen as in the bible, we will all be here for it and its not until after all is said and done is the triumphant re-entry to heaven.
There are many scriptures which pertain to the rapture, here is just one.
1 Thessalonians 4
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 bible clearly lays out that the the Lord with return in 2 different phases. The first time he will come for the church, before the start of the tribulation. And he will not come all the way to earth, but just to the clouds, and will call up the church to him.
luke 21
35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36Watch 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. In Rev when Christ comes down he will return with the saints who have been raptured.
9And he saith unto me, Write,
Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
10And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Matthew 24
36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38For as in the days that were before the flood they were
eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Clearly this isnt a time of tribulation, it says people will be eating and drinking marrying, and giving in marrage. In others words, it will still be sh**s and giggles when "2 will be in the field, one taken, the other left. It also says no one will know the day nor hour of this event. But from the time the tribulation starts, you can count down to the day the return of Chirst, from the day the Anti Christ is revealed. 2 seperate events, with the rapture taking place first.