Jesus says, “…as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matt. 24:27) This is the rapture, it all takes place SUDDENLY and IN THE AIR. Then Jesus gives us a hint as to when this will occur.
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and ITS LEAVES COME OUT (this is Israel, the only nation scattered out twice and coming together again), you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see ALL THESE THINGS, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation WILL CERTAINLY NOT PASS AWAY until ALL THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED. “But about that day or hour NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but ONLY THE FATHER.” (Matt. 24:32-35)
Isaiah said about Israel, “Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? CAN A COUNTRY BE BORN IN A DAY OR A NATION BE BROUGHT FORTH IN A MOMENT? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she GIVES BIRTH to her children.” (Isaiah 66:7-8) On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel. U.S. President Harry S. Truman recognized the new nation on the same day. “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years…” (Psa. 90:10) Uniquely among the Psalms, this is attributed to Moses.
So, if we live 80 years that would be 2028 when all would be fulfilled, included the 7 year tribulation. We get “caught up” (raptured) then the anti-christ is revealed. We see then that it could be soon and very soon!!! Some believe we have to go through the tribulation, well, Paul said “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition…And now you know WHAT IS RESTRAINING (preventing or restricting), that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who NOW RESTRAINS will do so until HE IS TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY (the Holy Spirit takes the Church at the rapture). And THEN THE LAWLESS ONE (antichrist) WILL BE REVEALED, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” (2 Thess. 2:2, 6-8)
Just to be sure Jesus says, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were EATING AND DRINKING, MARRYING AND GIVING IN MARRIAGE, up to THE DAY Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is HOW IT WILL BE at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matt. 24:32-39) If this happened during the tribulation where billions of people have died, the earth has been scorched with fire, most of the sea life has been destroyed, there will not be “marrying and giving in marriage” as we “wait for His Son from heaven, Jesus who DELIVERS US FROM THE WRATH TO COME.” (1 Thess. 1:10)
-Bill Stockham