If it seems to us that the signs are more evident that we are getting closer to the return of Jesus ...to rule for a thousand years on earth, our focus should not change. Our focus should always be to do what Jesus has called us to do. There are some references to what we feel may happen to them who believe, but it is more important what may happen to those who don't.

When I was young, we really liked to play games that involved some version of Hide & Seek ...especially when our cousins from Ohio would visit every summer.  We lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan ...and it is not all woods up there, but we did have a healthy chunk of it by our house.  And our favorite outdoor game was Kick the Can.

I don't think it's best to brag ...but would prefer to just state the facts.  I could say I was really good at the game, but suffice it to say, I usually hid good enough to win.  At least it was that way at first. It is difficult at times to deal with losing, and the attention span of youngsters varies ...so, eventually becoming bored with the game, I was often left hiding, not knowing they were no longer playing the game.

I never feel it gets me anywhere ...anywhere that I'm proud of, to attempt to hide from God ....and there's no sense playing that game.  But, I sometimes wonder what it will be like if God decides to hide us, or more accurately, take us to a place where we cannot be found.  It's exciting to think about for a time, but I always have to revert back to the saying which prompts me not to be so heavenly-minded that I'm no earthly good.

Nor should I be so earthly-minded that I am no effective witness to Whom God would have us testify to.  We must always bring glory to God, and put our highest standard of credibility in the Bible.

I don't know how you interpret these verses, but let's look at portions of a few of them:

• 1 Thessalonians 4:17 -- "Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds ..."

• II Thessalonians 2:1 -- "Now we beseech you brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him ..."

• 1 Corinthians 15:52 -- "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

• II Thessalonians 2:10-11 -- " ...because they received not the love of the truth, that they may be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they shall believe a lie ..." 

It almost seems we are there one moment, and the next we are not. 

That is often called the rapture.  And those who aren't raptured ...it seems it is because they far removed themselves from believing the truth.  

So, how will they perceive it if many people suddenly are taken with God in a blink of the eye? Would they search within themselves about what could have gone wrong, or would they easily just believe another lie??