Boy can I identify with that! There are times I'm not sure about certain doctrines because I've been told so many different things. In the end the only place to find the truth is in God's word. Yes, it means relearning everything we thought we knew, but it's much more satisfying knowing the Holy Spirit Himself is the one doing the teaching.

God bless,

Mrs. R

Hi Sophia,

What great questions you do ask!! and what a teachable heart you have to be seeking the truth. A hunger from the Lord, to be sure. And one only He can satisfy!

Here is additional scripture on the Lord's return and the gathering of the believers to Himself:

2 Thessalonians 2:
1Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

I wanted to append this to the already great references sited; because this helps me have a greater sense of urgency to boldly proclaim the Gospel today; because I know that God wants no one to be lost.

I hope this is helpful to your quest. I apologize if you know all this already; Biblegateway.com and Crosswalk.com are very helpful Bible reference websites which help you look up almost anything in almost anyway and in many versions. There are commentaries there also to help elaborate; but my favorite part - after the different versions is the Interlinear Bible which helps with the meanings of words used in scripture based on the Hebrew and Greek translations - but it does not require me to know either Hebrew or Greek. I took a Hebrew class and YIKES!! This tool is much easier. Plus, I don't have to pronounce anything for a grade!

Well you have all been very helpful as usual. Thanks so much to all of you. I guess it is something I need to do more research on. As Mrs. R said, "relearning everything we thought we knew"will take yet more time.
I ask God for patience everyday.

Sophia

Okay .. I did NOT like this!!! YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Scared me so bad .. I probably will not sleep tonight!!!!!!
I am not sure I believe in the rapture.
I know something will happen but I really don't know what.
I just have no clue what is right and what is wrong anymore.
There are just so many interpretations and variations of what the end will bring. We all know its going to be unexpected .. but what happens after that?? Do we really know?
I personally can not dwell on it because it will drive me to drink .. Ha Ha! I have to find comfort in knowing that I do have faith in him.
I love a very loving, unconditional God, and he will do what is best for us. Rapture .. Armageddon .. God knows my heart better then I do .. and I hope and trust that he will have mercy for us!
He knows how thoroughly confused we ex-witnesses are. I am sure he will have compassion and understanding for us. I HOPE!!!

Take a video camera back through history and you would be able to make it look like an apocalyptic end would have come at any time during mans history....

There is a growing number of Christians who are using the rapture like the JWs use Armageddon. I just don't like it.

I agree.. it looks to me like the rapture is being used to frighten people. As far as im aware the rapture concept is fairly new. Really being formalized in the past hundred + years or so. I watched that video.. and the thing that struck me most was the "6000 years later" line... were they trying to say that tired old line that the earth is only 6000 years old?

Just strikes me funny.

Not long after i was baptized a jw, i was on a vacation and had a dream... it freaked me out.. it still does. I was sitting on the steps of the house i grew up in. I grew up in a small town on an indian reservation, right next to a dirt alley. There was a street light across the street always flickering. It was the middle of the night, and there wasnt any movement or sound, and the moon was full, and blood red, and it was so big it looked like you could touch it.

then it switched, and i was standing in this large room filled with people in brown hooded cloaks. there were some men on a stage in front in white robes, calling names from a large book. The people they called went off to to one door, and as the room cleared out, you could feel the tension of everyone waiting to be called, and being terrified if they werent. In the dream i wasnt called.. i think my heart trying to pound out of my chest woke me up.

Now i think about what the bible says about the end times. Hold up your head, and be joyfull because your salvation is near.

http://www.rusearching.com/leftbehind/index.html
interesting read

Blessings Be,
Amb.