Moment of the Rapture Undetectable to Secular People?

[Verisimilitude]

I'm leading toward the ground tore up thing. I believe the Lord will want to leave behind as much evidence as possible that a great Biblical prophecy was fulfilled. Going right through the graves would leave the world wondering what happened to x number of living people, not x number of living people plus x number of dead people. Again, I rely on Biblical precident, the empty tomb with the rock rolled away so that mortals could enter the tomb and see Jesus wasn't there, while His grave clothes were. The prophecy is for the dead and living in Christ to be caught up and the Lord is going to make sure people know it was a miracle of His doing, not a UFO kidnapping.

I don't know just when the rapture's coming, but I'm really ready to go. There's only so much evil and perversion a person should have to put up with and I'm way past my limit. My spirit is vexed and I know I am not alone. Come quickly Lord Jesus!!!

[cts racing]

I'm not so sure that we are going to ascend in the twinkling of an eye. The passage says that we are changed in the twinkling of an eye, not that we ascend in that same twinkling.

I think we can let our imaginations run away with Paul's metaphors:
I Corinthians 15: 51, 52 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be CHANGED, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the ...

Paul is talking exclusively about the mortal to immortality change over, at the time of the Rapture.

We further enhance our imagination with Matt. 24:27 "For as lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be."
Jesus is not referring to the speed of the Lighning Strike, but the flash that comes from Lightning; and how it is SEEN along ways off.

Paul also describes the Rapture Event as a 'PROCESS' in I Thess. 4: 15-17

I don't see a 'Nano-second' rapture fitting with the scriptures and the personality of our God. It certainly wasn't the case during Sodom & Gomorrah and Noah's events.

I know it is FUN to think of the ramifications of an 'instant Rapture'; but I rather let my imagintation dwell on a Rapture that takes place over several minutes. Could you imagine the Evangelism you could have with those near you at this perticular time, while it is taking place!!!

[IMSAVED]

AWWWW....the perfect body.I can not wait.

[tbrian40]

Too fast for the eye to see...faster than Annie Oakley. The 'wise' of this doomed age know in their clouded, dark minds that the rapture will happen. They have already made excuses or 'explanations' of it beforehand; the main reason being alien abduction. The anti-christ will undoubatably say that the 'devil' took these 'lost' ones away so that a universal New Babylon can begin. mho.

[Not Perfect, But Forgiven]

I'm not so sure that we are going to ascend in the twinkling of an eye. The passage says that we are changed in the twinkling of an eye, not that we ascend in that same twinkling.

Correct, however, a transformation so short that it is seemingly instantaneous is required if we are to ascend as the trumpt blows. We must be changed prior to ascenscion. If we are changed during or post ascension, the temperatures at the altitudes we would be at would make our gathering in the clouds very cold and uncomfortable, and the sudden change in altitude would leave us gasping for air. But yep, I see what you are saying, however, I think that could potentially leave us visible to the secular world as we fly up, especially since we'll likely glow due to our cells now being 100% efficient and empowered by the Spirit of God.

If we do ascnd slower than I think, that would be a VERY interesting like show and "sign in the Heavens."

[Not Perfect, But Forgiven]

Have you considered that when 1 billion + people are changed there will be a molecular mass balance issue in the universe. One could surmise that this could cause some ructions or instabilities that will wake up the secular world (earth quakes maybe),
Just a thought..

On a molecular level? Kinda! Due to our new bodies, we will have molecules and DNA, but not the kind we have here on earth. It will be completely devoid of the effects of sin and degeneration. It will be an absolute perfect genetic code. It will be you as if the Garden of Eden was never lost and man never sinned. Completely redeemed and perfect for you. There will be no cellular waste in any form of known physics, hence no mass effect at the Rapture, theoretically.

I say theoretically because a mass transformation, if energetic waste is emmited at the level of 1,000,000,000+, could have the same effect as an E.M.P. bomb. If that were to happen, it would knock out all forms of electronics and effectively put the left behind world in the 1800's level of functioning, thus returning us to an agricultural society. This may explain why Revelation describes the antichrist and his army using so many horses. MAYBE....

[Not Perfect, But Forgiven]

Wow! That was only a thought? Seriously though, you present an interesting scenario. I just wonder how all this is going to be explained. It will have to be explained away as some sort of "natural" event. All of the scientists, at that time, will be unsaved. They will have to find some sort of "natural" explanation. Personally, I don't believe people will accept that all of the missing persons were abducted by aliens. It will have to be something more believable. Some sort of global catastrophe like an asteroid strike, extremely massive solar flare, or even some sort of cosmic event. It will be interesting. I'm glad I won't be here to hear the explanation.

The most effective scientific explanation, apart from God, would be a cosmic shift which resulted in destabalizing the atomic structure of "certain" individuals, causing them to scatter at the proton level and seemingly disappear. These individuals would compose of those who were inherently inferior in structure, and possibly even intellect. To the secular world, that would mean Christians. In that fashion, raising your kids to be Christians would mean reducing their mental stability at the level of quarks, one of the smallest known forms of matter that some studies show even the energy from thought waves can effect. Could science try to explain the disappearances by using quantum physics to say that a longterm entrainment of Christian thoughts and beliefs could degrade a person at the atomic level? I don't know, but that's the explanation I'd use. Either that or alien abduction. Then the anti-christ appears to explain to the world that we have been visited by extra-terrestrials, and the aliens have removed all those unfit for the coming utopia. It may sound far fetched and insane, but what else do you say to a world in chaos by the disappearance of millions and Russian/Palastinian fighter planes shot out of the sky for no apparent reason by giant flaming rocks?

[Steve53]

I think we can let our imaginations run away with Paul's metaphors:
I Corinthians 15: 51, 52 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be CHANGED, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the ...

Paul is talking exclusively about the mortal to immortality change over, at the time of the Rapture.

We further enhance our imagination with Matt. 24:27 "For as lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be."
Jesus is not referring to the speed of the Lighning Strike, but the flash that comes from Lightning; and how it is SEEN along ways off.

Paul also describes the Rapture Event as a 'PROCESS' in I Thess. 4: 15-17

I don't see a 'Nano-second' rapture fitting with the scriptures and the personality of our God. It certainly wasn't the case during Sodom & Gomorrah and Noah's events.

I know it is FUN to think of the ramifications of an 'instant Rapture'; but I rather let my imagintation dwell on a Rapture that takes place over several minutes. Could you imagine the Evangelism you could have with those near you at this perticular time, while it is taking place!!!

A couple things cts - Matt 24 is not describing the rapture and 1 Thessalonians 4:15–17 finishes with "Then 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."

The Greek word harpazo was used in the original text and denotes
1) to seize, carry off by force
2) to seize on, claim for one's self eagerly
3) to snatch out or away
the implication clearly being a very rapid event.



http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/...ngs=G726&t=KJV

[Grtful1]

You always astound me when you have your "thoughts". The scientific mind of yours brings so much wonder to me since you break your thoughts down to the most basic level (scientifically speaking) and I enjoy every single post of yours when you do this.

It's like having a via your brain.

[Shonsu]

I've often wondered, also, about the effects of the circumference of the earth on our trip "up". If Jesus appears at one point above the earth then those on the other side of the earth will have to travel "up" then all the way around the earth to meet up with Him. Or will Jesus appear at one point then travel the circumference of the earth rapturing people as He goes?

Things that make you go

[Florian9]

You always astound me when you have your "thoughts". The scientific mind of yours brings so much wonder to me since you break your thoughts down to the most basic level (scientifically speaking) and I enjoy every single post of yours when you do this.

It's like having a via your brain.

Indeed! He's got an imagination that would make George Lucas blush! Don't even get him started on the subject of eternity and what we may be doing then He should start writing books for sure!

[Raphael]

I agree that our wordly clothing will be left behind, along with:

Titanium knees with identifying numbers (enough titanium to make a squadron of F-16s)
False teeth that can be compared with dental records
Wigs
Internal circulatory shunts
Artificial hearts/valves
Glass eyes (no good as marbles due to oval shape)
Artificial limbs:
(I once knew a man with an artifical leg named Smith - but I never found out the name of his other leg)

Will those denying the Rapture have a leg to stand on?

[Patti311]

Undetectable...maybe, but if they do observe us rising....what popped into my mind was that some will compare it to that ridiculous movie "Skyline". Boy, talk about Hollywood trying to explain the Rapture as anything more than what it truly is.

[fan4sure]

All I can say is, "now you see me.......now you don't!!!"

[Carrie Grace]

I agree that our wordly clothing will be left behind, along with:

Titanium knees with identifying numbers (enough titanium to make a squadron of F-16s)
False teeth that can be compared with dental records
Wigs
Internal circulatory shunts
Artificial hearts/valves
Glass eyes (no good as marbles due to oval shape)
Artificial limbs:
(I once knew a man with an artifical leg named Smith - but I never found out the name of his other leg)

Will those denying the Rapture have a leg to stand on?

Just a few more to add to your list:

braces/retainers
Fillings
dental crowns
Any kind of implant
splints
casts
stitches/staples
colostomy/ileostomy "accessories"
female "accessories" (please don't make me spell this out *blush*)
diapers--perfectly formed and fastened
glasses
contact lenses
jewelry
hearing aids
artificial fingernails
hair extensions/weaves

Just think how the world would be "littered" with all these objects. It would be really something to see the looks of confusion on people trying to figure out or explain how all these things--especially the surgically implanted things-- could be "left behind". The more people hear *NOW* how not just unsaved people, but also everything that is not naturally part of the human body, MIGHT also be left behind, the more people will remember hearing just that as they are staring at Grandpa's clothes, fillings, pacemaker, and wedding band lying in a heap. How quickly will those that realize exactly what just happened drop to their knees?

[Verisimilitude]

Just a few more to add to your list:

braces/retainers
Fillings
dental crowns
Any kind of implant
splints
casts
stitches/staples
colostomy/ileostomy "accessories"
female "accessories" (please don't make me spell this out *blush*)
diapers--perfectly formed and fastened
glasses
contact lenses
jewelry
hearing aids
artificial fingernails
hair extensions/weaves

Just think how the world would be "littered" with all these objects. It would be really something to see the looks of confusion on people trying to figure out or explain how all these things--especially the surgically implanted things-- could be "left behind". The more people hear *NOW* how not just unsaved people, but also everything that is not naturally part of the human body, MIGHT also be left behind, the more people will remember hearing just that as they are staring at Grandpa's clothes, fillings, pacemaker, and wedding band lying in a heap. How quickly will those that realize exactly what just happened drop to their knees?

Excellent question!! How many of you know at least one atheist or agnostic who have claimed that if the rapture happens, they will give their allegiance to Jesus and become a tribulation saint. I believe we recently had one on these boards named Zilch. I also believe some of these people will be sincere, see they've made the biggest mistake they could've, and drop to their knees, giving their lives to the Savior.

I often wonder about all the people that hear the Good News and don't act on it. We scatter the seeds about, and some of those seeds fall by the wayside where birds devour them. Those seeds are not necessarily gone. An example is what happened to my sister, she lived on the edge of Phoenix for a number of years. Sometime after she had moved there, a palm tree sprouted on her property. She hadn't planted it. Apparently a bird had eaten some seeds, at least one passed through the birds system whole and the bird deposited it on my sisters property. The tree grew tall and beautiful.

In my heart, I truly believe there are those who have heard the Word and haven't acted on it, because there hasn't been enough proof for them. When the rapture happens, when millions if not billions of people go missing, when the world is in a huge mess, when there are manmade limbs, false teeth, jewelry, clothing and what have you scattered all about with no owners, there are some who will keep their promise, drop to their knees and accept the Lord on the spot. The seeds we've scattered about that haven't seemed to prosper will not have all been destroyed, some will have just been held in abeyance, like a seed in a birds stomach, waiting for the right moment to be planted, take root, grow and flourish.

[Shonsu]

Excellent question!! How many of you know at least one atheist or agnostic who have claimed that if the rapture happens, they will give their allegiance to Jesus and become a tribulation saint. I believe we recently had one on these boards named Zilch. I also believe some of these people will be sincere, see they've made the biggest mistake they could've, and drop to their knees, giving their lives to the Savior.

I often wonder about all the people that hear the Good News and don't act on it. We scatter the seeds about, and some of those seeds fall by the wayside where birds devour them. Those seeds are not necessarily gone. An example is what happened to my sister, she lived on the edge of Phoenix for a number of years. Sometime after she had moved there, a palm tree sprouted on her property. She hadn't planted it. Apparently a bird had eaten some seeds, at least one passed through the birds system whole and the bird deposited it on my sisters property. The tree grew tall and beautiful.

In my heart, I truly believe there are those who have heard the Word and haven't acted on it, because there hasn't been enough proof for them. When the rapture happens, when millions if not billions of people go missing, when the world is in a huge mess, when there are manmade limbs, false teeth, jewelry, clothing and what have you scattered all about with no owners, there are some who will keep their promise, drop to their knees and accept the Lord on the spot. The seeds we've scattered about that haven't seemed to prosper will not have all been destroyed, some will have just been held in abeyance, like a seed in a birds stomach, waiting for the right moment to be planted, take root, grow and flourish.

I think the "strong delusion" is specifically for those who did not accept the truth when it was presented to them and it will be extremely hard for them to not believe the "lie". So I think very few will actually make the change of heart.

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, NKJV

[Lynn]

I think the "strong delusion" is specifically for those who did not accept the truth when it was presented to them and it will be extremely hard for them to not believe the "lie". So I think very few will actually make the change of heart.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, NKJV

Yeah, this is my understanding as well.

[Raphael]

There will be so many lies needed, Washington lobbyists and speechwriters will make a fortune.

Some of the biggest challenges could originate with live sports broadcasts:

"Mike, did you see that? As Herrington reached the top of his vault, only the pole came down!"

"Uh, no - I didn't see that."

[DragonTiger]

Just a few more to add to your list:

braces/retainers
Fillings
dental crowns
Any kind of implant
splints
casts
stitches/staples
colostomy/ileostomy "accessories"
female "accessories" (please don't make me spell this out *blush*)
diapers--perfectly formed and fastened
glasses
contact lenses
jewelry
hearing aids
artificial fingernails
hair extensions/weaves

Just think how the world would be "littered" with all these objects. It would be really something to see the looks of confusion on people trying to figure out or explain how all these things--especially the surgically implanted things-- could be "left behind". The more people hear *NOW* how not just unsaved people, but also everything that is not naturally part of the human body, MIGHT also be left behind, the more people will remember hearing just that as they are staring at Grandpa's clothes, fillings, pacemaker, and wedding band lying in a heap. How quickly will those that realize exactly what just happened drop to their knees?

What about during sugery....the doctor and nurse will be freak of when person gone(rapture)Plus the women who have pregency when labor time baby rapture??? Cause chaos???


I am way past limit of world hurtful my soul a grief.