I have always wondered if Jesus made an oblique reference to the Rapture during the Olivet Discourse in Mt. 24.28 and Luke 17:37. His statement about “where the body is, there the eagles gather” appears to be a direct reply to the disciples’ question about the whereabouts of the woman grinding grain who was taken (Lk 17.35). That verse’s parallel is ordered differently in Matthew (Mt 24.41), and no interjected question is mentioned, so the connection may be less apparent in Matthew. I have never been very satisfied with other explanations of Jesus’ remark about bodies and vultures, and I would like to think He was not totally silent about the Rapture in the Olivet context, even if He left it for Paul to tell us the mystery.

I have been studying the emergent/friendly seeker churches and the chrislam churches and what they are doing. The pastors who teach this tripe are certainly in trouble for teachers are judged more harshly. In Galatians 1:9 Paul said that anyone who preaches a different gospel from the one he preached let him be eternally condemned. Does this mean they can lose their salvation?

Re: Who Is Tempting Us? You confused me when you said the fallen angels are locked up but Satan has his demonic horde. I have been under the impression that UFOs are fallen angels, but always confused about Tartarus. Please help me with this.

If the fallen angels are locked up in Tartarus ready to be let out during the great tribulation, presumably when Satan is cast down to earth, who is tempting us now – apart from our own flesh and the world, which is bad enough!

When looking through Revelation, there’s a partial explanation to Matthew 24:22 (shortened the days). In Revelation 8:12 the fourth angel sounded his trumpet and a third part of the sun, moon, and stars were darkened so that their light did not shine for a third part of it. Now, in Revelation 16:8 the angel poured his vial (bowl) upon the sun allowing it to scorch men with great heat. Could this be what Jesus was referring to when he talked of the shortening of the days (not the period of time for the tribulation)?

At the rapture the Word says that the dead in Christ rise first. If that is correct what happens to us when we die? Where do we go? Where are we if we need to wait to rise with Christ at the rapture?

For many years Christians have assumed that all the post rapture believers will need to do is repent and confess Jesus as their savior, and avoid taking the mark of the beast. But is going to the Temple to offer sacrifices the 3rd element and without it they are woefully without hope?

Matt. 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” How will this happen? Could you elaborate?

When Jesus was dying on the cross He cried to his Father to “forgive them Father for they do not know what they do”. Are these people saved because of Jesus’ asking the Father to forgive them?

Re: Seven Things Part 1. With all due respect, your order of end times event just can’t be correct. I don’t see how the Rapture can occur prior to the Battle of Ezekiel because scripture clearly states that Israel will be living in peace and security and without walls! The Rapture will foster anything BUT peace and security for anyone in the whole world so how then will Israel find itself peaceful for this battle to subsequently occur? It seems to me that Psalm 83 may just provide the cloak of protection Israel needs to be able to let down it’s guard, followed at some point by the Battle of Ezekiel when Israel is living peacefully. The Rapture may happen on the heels of this battle but I don’t see how the Rapture can occur first. There will be no peace after the Rapture.