I accepted Christ as my savior as a teenager of 16. I was not brought up in a Christian home. The church that I first became a member of because of the missionary lady that led me to the Lord was a fundamental, right wing, KJV only church, but my pastor brought in Jack Van Impe for a conference. I was 18 and married at that time. It was a great “revival” and I heard about the rapture, thus began my journey. Interesting enough no one else in the church seemed to have been affected as I was. No one else seemed to want to talk about the rapture and those that did, said “that is probably not in our life time, not your focus, win souls and leave that future event to the Lord”. A few years later, my hubby and I headed to Bible College, also a “Far Right” teaching institution. We heard a lot about missions, evangelism, spreading God’s message, nothing about the rapture of the church, not during our mandatory mission conferences, our Bible classes, etc…. I asked questions and was told that is not the focus of a Christian. I learned what I could and remained on the “fringe” of knowledge. As I grew in my knowledge of our Grooms soon return, God led me to books, people, and peace that I was right to watch. I have traveled through many varied and changing thoughts on the rapture. I was eager for the 2012 sign, caught in surprise about 2023 like many (but the realization of the beast system was now visible), everything was falling into place and like no other time in my lifetime have all the pieces of the puzzle fit so well. I still get the look from God loving believers when I mention the rapture or that we are leaving soon, but I just smile as I know the Bride is about to leave and my ear, eye, and heart stay listening and longing for the “Cry of Command and the voice of the archangel. I long to see the one who gave His precious blood for me, I long for a kingdom that has a scepter of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. I am much older that 18 now and have a glorious life of service and family but as David said “Whom have I in heaven but you and there is nothing on earth I desire but you” PS 73:25. Get ready, our Groom has his hand on the door and the handle is lifted, ready to throw it open and come for his Bride — we are leaving and it is a now thing, not a far thing …. :yahoo: :prayer-hands: :flyup: :flyup: I have always enjoyed Jack Van Impe and Rexella. I appreciated their enthusiasm for the Rapture. Your story resonates with me Tammie. I could never figure out, and still can’t, others’ lack of interest in the Blessed Hope. Geri, you mentioned that you haven’t been able to find a good church. The church I attend now is exceptional. It took a lot of searching to find it. I was about ready to quit looking. I wouldn’t and couldn’t have stayed at the other churches; My current church enjoys looking forward to the Lord’s return and is focused on the important things that Kolleen had mentioned earlier. From what I have seen, there are very few Biblical churches out there. Maybe it depends on where one lives in the country. David Wilkerson’s book The Vision is what got me interested in the rapture back in the 70’s even though I thought a lot of things in his book were too far fetched, like children murdering their parents. Then came the Menendez brothers! I reread that book about ten years ago and it was like reading newspaper archives. In the late 70’s our pastor did a Wednesday night study on Revelation. My mom still has all of the cassette tapes from it. After that I was hooked but trying to find information was difficult. Thankfully, cable tv brought Van Impe and the LaLonde brothers. I couldn’t wait to watch their programs. I remember one time around 1997 or so Jack thought we’d be out of here by 2006. I think he was off a bit. But these days there are endless channels on YouTube catering to the rapture. It’s now the other side of the coin sifting through the junk for to good stuff. We’ve come a long way since the 70’s and all the signs are here and the world stage us set. Can’t be long now. I’m pondering this … Could it be those Christians that are just not into Bible prophecy and getting excited about end time events its because they just don’t have that spiritual gift to want to learn? :unsure: It seems like all of us on this forum … from the get go of salvation was into end times prophecy and embraced it. It’s in our blood and we can’t get enough of it. Even in college, if I had a choice of Bible classes to take, I made sure I enrolled in all the prophecy classes. One class the entire semester the teacher talked about the 3 main views .. pre, mid and post trib to give us a broad view of what was out there. The teacher felt the pre-trib was the best fit for the timeline God was going to go by, but he didn’t look down if others in the class held to the mid or post views. They would still pass the class. 😆 They were good class discussions and no road rage anger management arguments like you see today on various forum boards or YouTube channels. Check this passage out in I Corinthians 12 … perhaps the gift of prophecy is not just teaching/preaching it but also wanting to learn and follow end times events and fellowship with like minded believers? :unsure: And a crown is waiting for us because we long for His appearing! Its a win / win :yahoo: II Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. I Corinthians 12:1-14 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. :rose: :rose: Yes, that's such a good question Geri. How can people not see that this life is just an atom in a drop in the ocean compared to eternity? That there's a heaven to gain and a hell to shun? That there's another dimension that's so much more powerful and real and beautiful than our pitiful carnal existence right now? That the world is crying out for love and mercy and justice and peace? That the very creation is groaning and crying out for relief? That there's a loving Saviour whose arms are wide open, waiting for us to accept His glorious invitation? Only God knows, I guess. Good point Geri on maybe it’s a gift. I am thankful to have it. I remember when my mom delayed some thing or some event, she’d often say, “That’ll give you something to look forward to.” I cannot say how much I disliked hearing that. But I have not tired of looking forward to the Rapture for many years.....until lately. Things are nuts and I want outta here! I keep reminding myself that Christians are sojourners, and apparently we leave soon. Reminds me of the time my mom told me that no one ever died of hard work. My cheeky reply was: there's always a first time for everything. That didn't go down too well. Just imagine how people will feel when they realize they've just missed the rapture? That idea haunts me. It must be excruciating to think that you had so much time to get it right... so many warnings... and now it's too late. From Aaron … 10 minute clip More proof this could be our time to fly! 2023 Rapture Still Makes Mathematical Sense - Fair Use -
