I'm the same, Churchgal....always alert for any sounds that might indicate the imminent Rapture. I also prick up my ears when I hear the works "breaking news" on TV, in case it's an announcement that dead bodies all over the world have suddenly disappeared. Because we're all on Rapture high-alert lately, I got a fright when I came out of my bedroom a couple of nights ago and my adult daughter (who is saved), who lives with me, was nowhere in our home. She hadn't told me that she was going out anywhere that evening but I check the garage and was very relieved to see that her car wasn't there. She had popped out for a minute to the 7-11 store just down the road to pick up something. I know I won't be left behind in the Rapture, but I still felt a bit anxious for a couple of minutes! :wacko: :mdrmdr: That's funny Wendy! :mdrmdr: I saw a picture joke one time that told the story of a church meeting where the elders got together to pull a prank on one of the members that always fell asleep during their meetings.....they brought some extra suits of clothes and laid them quietly across the chairs in the meeting room after the gentlemen fell asleep, then they stepped out a the room and blew a trumpet, so his awakening was quite a startle hearing that trumpet, seeing all those empty suits of clothes and thinking he had been left behind.....that's a pretty harsh joke but I also bet he didn't fall asleep in meetings after that..... :mdrmdr: :mdrmdr: :mdrmdr: :mdrmdr: :mdrmdr: :mdrmdr: Hilarious!!! I would have loved to have seen the look on his face when they woke up. churchgal- i agree with you about the rapture being as late as it possible can be before the antichrist confirms the covenant of fake peace... only He knows exactly when that is, but He's definitely keeping us awake and alert to the season!! my hubby and i have had lots of discussions the past 2 months about God's timing in his dealings with mankind...He is extremely patient - not wanting anyone to live or die without knowing Him, agreeing with Him, accepting Him and being known by Him- united for all Eternity- for their good and His glory... we kept realizing how often God's seems to wait til the very last minute to act on our behalf/intervening directly in the affairs of man...i think it's really more the exact perfect minute and way that He knows all along...it's us that get nervous as we see the seconds ticking by and the revving up of evil, suffering, pain, fear anxiety, frustrations etc... our family has experienced this recently where we were very careful to ask God for clear guidance day after day and we'd follow in one direction then it'd get bumpy and we'd push forward and then it'd get rocky and steep and we'd wonder if the obstacles were a sign of guidance to us or opposition from the enemy...we realized anytime confusion and irritation prevailed, it was not of the Lord and not the way He wanted us to continue...it was a long wearying process that occasionally one or both of us "messed up" by leaning on own understanding/ability to "fix/figure out" things...but as soon as we turned back to Him, we had His peace and strength to move forward or do an about face and move forward, etc. today we are ending this part of the journey with a very different outcome than we had hoped for or expected, but we are full of His peace and joy and He's given us a thankful heart as He's shown us His way, not just blessing our own plans and ways. and we are blessed...and it is at what seems like the last minute on our timeline...but He is not bound by time and He is never surprised or fretful from unexpected things...He can handle everything...we just need to be a "weaned child" trusting in His provision- His way-His time... i do think the harpatzo "snatching away" is telling in the terminology that we will be rescued in the nick of time...so often it feels we can't go on, but He strengthens us and we do as we take one step at a time...maybe the Rapture is when we are all at danger at the same time as true Believers...of course, that can be at any time, because that will for sure be the case when things have gotten to the point where the AC is about to be revealed and make a covenant "better"...because that means he's out in the open active which is, I believe, part of God's wrath allowing him such power over people that they believe his lies of peace and safety and sign on to his plans that will swiftly lead to destruction of all that is good. p.s. before i could finish and post that, we experienced one last extreme bout of confusion and irritation w/ what we believed way His final answer/leading in the moving saga...i guess that can be allowed by the Lord, but is still from the enemy...maybe sometimes God does want it in order to break us to that point of reliance on Him instead of self-reliance...especially when the end is in sight and we are so ready to break thru the ribbon at the finished line- if we see it, or think we do...we kinda lose a little faith cuz of that "almost there" feeling and we just sprint w/ all our might when He still wanted us to rely on His provision of strength etc....He IS so patient with people...even His own who are sometimes slow learners like me....He got us through...no pride here...He rid me of my self-sufficiency...He is good and gracious...a perfect Heavenly Father! I just want to thank Him publicly for His provisions and remind us all to not quit, but to also not run ahead of Him and forget what we're running for...it's all for Him and by Him...let's finish strong in HIS strength, not our own!! To God be the glory!!!
