If you are a Christian in America, you have probably heard of the Rapture teaching.

Many Christians believe this teaching. Many just have not taken the time to really study and find out about this teaching. I, myself for many years pretty much held to the rapture bellief. Hoping that the pretrib view was correct, but really being unsure in my convictions.

The reason I accepted it for so long was mainly because that is what I was taught. That is what I heard the prominent ministers saying. Why almost every TV evangelist today preaches this message.  I just figured that these other men who spent so much time in the BIble must be right and know more than I. Perhaps they could interpret scripture better than I.

But I must admit, when reading Revelations especially and other books I kept seeing so many holes in the doctrine. In fact if you had never heard of the Rapture theory, you would not be able to come up with it for yourself by just reading your Bible.

There is an old saying "When the student is ready...The teacher will appear." Well I began searching for myself. And I began to see that there were other views about this theory I had not known before.

One of the biggest truths I found out about this teaching is where it began.  The rapture theory came from a 15 year old girl who fell into a trance.  (She was not under the covering of a local church.) Basically due to her vision, some men greedy for gain, began preaching a new message and Jesus coming in 2 parts.

Now today those thoughts and ideas have been added to many of our Bibles in notes.

Hmm Sounds similar to a teaching from Joseph Smith-saying the Angel Moroni appeared to him. Thus today we have Mormonism and a whole new book in addition to the BIble.

At anyrate-I am not trying to persude you. But I really do believe that as Christians we should study for ourselves to be approved. Get a variety of books on the subject, for and against the teaching.

But mostly pray to God for His insight into the teachings

I think as a Christian we should look at other views and not just take to a belief because it is what our church etc. has taught.

Did you know that the early church did not believe in the rapture. They believed Rome was the Beast.

So why is it that the early church has to go through the tribulation, but we American's get to escape it with a rapture? (I guess God likes us more.) Ridiculous! I wonder what they would think of our rapture teaching.

Another note. This is predominantly an American held belief. If you encounter other Christians around the world they don't have this teaching. (I guess they just are not enlightened enough.) I am being sarcastic here...

How long will we hold to the traditions of men?

(Just a little disclaimer here-I have not read all these articles thoroughly, and I don't believe everything I see in print.) So there may be some content that is infallible. I don't know there view on everything here. But the history is there-where the teaching came from and how it got into our Bibles etc.

But as Mary did, I ponder these things in my heart and then ask the Truth giver to show me the truth.) For it is He, Jesus that I put my trust in.

Luke 11:9  "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

http://www.light-n-life.com/newsletters/09-12-2005.htm 

http://www.angelfire.com/mi/Malkaynu/rapture.html 

http://www.askelm.com/doctrine/d760201.htm

http://www.reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/rapture.htm

And for the topic of a third temple...

Well here is some reading.

http://joeland7.blogspot.com/2007/10/third-jerusalem-temple-dome-and-rock-of.html

My hope here is that you don't just jump on a bandwagon without carefully knowing why you believe what you believe.