you know, Ive put some thought into that one, what happens to the people who are left behind when we are all caught up in the air? Ive heard many different of speculations on the rapture, and the tribulation, what if we are supposed to go through the tribulation with everyone? wouldnt it make sense for someone who knows whats going on to be here to help those who dont know? Jesus talks a lot about trials and tribulation, and that we will have them, but not to fear right? Revelation is a scary book, but fascinating as well, Ive read it many times and very little of what i have read seems to stick with me. I pay close attention to what is said to the churches, and i love how it talks about God on the throne, and the angels praising him, even though all of the weird crazy and scary things are happening. Im not trying to start an argument or anything Im just doing my best to be transparent. My heart is torn there if it came down to my own decision, if God gave me a choice between going to heaven before the rapture, to be with him for all eternity, or to stay and help tell the world about him for seven more years...thats a tough one, but then again its not I dont want anyone to go to the other place, it makes me sad just to think of it.

WoW.Very real.Very moving.

I was writing a rather long reply to your post, and I wanted to pull a quote from the online Bible we have available here. I found the text, copied, and then when I came back to this screen, all that I had written was gone.

In a nutshell: I believe the church will go through the 3 1/2 year "tribulation of the saints". There are many good forums on this site where I have gone into some detail about what I believe. It seems a popular topic. Don't read Revelation with fear, but with joy. God bless you as you study the living Word of God.

Quite scary really. Deap breaths: