5-21-17
My thoughts today concerning the Rapture of the Church....

I gave my life to Christ on April 10, 1980 at 10:23 p.m. My life has never been the same. The day I got saved I surrendered all to him. That day was a day that I shall never forget. As a young Christian I found myself hungering for God and His Word. I couldn't get enough. I remember in my years of studying the Word that I would delve into the book of Revelation. It was my earnest desire to do the will of God and obey his commands. To this day I strive to learn more about him everyday. 
I am not a perfect person, but I am committed to being perfected in His will.
 In understanding the Rapture, you must understand the Jewish wedding ceremony. The Jewish boy or the bride never chooses his or her wedding date, that's up to his father. That's why Jesus says, "It is not up to me to know, only the Father knows." 
The bride maids were to stand ready constantly with lamps full of oil for the wedding ceremony. So it was that the foolish maids who didn't have oil in their lamps couldn't enter into the wedding ceremony. So the day of the Rapture is a wedding feast for those who know the Lord, but heartache for those who don't.
Just like in the days of Noah, before God brought His wrath upon the earth. He got the righteous safely on board before the wrath covered the earth. Noah was a righteous man and God made known his decision to him that He was going to flood the earth. In the ark there was plenty of room to board, but the unrighteous laughed at Noah and perished in the waters.
In the days of Sodom and Gomorrah before God showed his wrath for sin, he got the righteous out of the way. 
Many times in my life as a Christian, I find myself looking upward for His return. I do not claim to know all the mysteries on the Rapture, but I am learning. 
About 10 years ago I was outside hanging up wash on my clothes line. As I was standing there I heard trumpets sounding music in the air. I looked up and found myself looking for Jesus in the air. I was ready to go. I found out it was the Northwest High School band playing music outside, not far from my home. I thought it was the angels sounding their shofars. I have never forgotten that day, and find myself always looking upward for Him. I don't want to be like the virgins who forgot to put oil in their lamps. 
So for believers it is a day to look forward too, not a day to fear...

1 Thessalonians 4:17 
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

"The Lord will return, we know not the day or hour, only the Father knows. So that's the day when the Father says to the Son, go and get your bride."....