Enoch and Elijah never died, but instead went straight to heaven.
Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away.
Genesis 5:24 BSB
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind.
2 Kings 2:11 BSB
So there have already been two raptures. Both were small, just one person in each, but they happened. Twice people have gone to heaven without dying.
Therefore, I don’t know why so many people seem to have their under ware all bunched up, insisting that there is only one rapture, be it pre, mid or post tribulation. I see two separate raptures in the book of Revelation. The first is in chapter 3.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Revelation 3:10 KJV
Clearly, being kept from the tribulation means this rapture is pre-tribulation. I greatly desire to catch this bus. 🙂
Then chapter 14 discusses the grape harvest right before and during the battle of Armageddon. I believe the grapes harvested by Jesus are not co-mingled with the grapes harvested by the angel, but are raptured out of harm’s way.
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.
Revelation 14:14-20 NKJV
Therefore I see Revelation 3 and 14 as different raptures. One is before the tribulation, and the other is at the end of the tribulation.
But wait! There’s more! In recent months I have been slowly coming to the opinion the pre-tribulation rapture might consist of several different rapture events. 1 Thessalonians 4 has the “classic” rapture Scripture:
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
I want to talk about verse 17.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV
For years, this is how I understood that verse.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (all at the same time, in one group) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
I now admit the possibility this might be the correct understanding.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (in several groups over several days) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
The 144,000-14 might go in their own firstfruits rapture.
Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Revelation 14:1-5 NKJV
There are many YouTube channels with videos on the possibility of the pre-tribulation rapture consisting of several rapture events. I suggest you start with these two: timfoster405, L LOTT. Note – I don’t agree with everything on these channels, but eat the cherry and spit out the pit. No one on earth has everything 100% figured out.
I don’t know if the pre-tribulation rapture is one or many events. But if it is many, I would see that as God’s great mercy. I’m not the judge, of course, but I know many people who don’t seem to be quite ready to be raptured. They seem to be primarily interested in this life. But if the 144,000-14 and/or all the children in the world suddenly leave, they would be ready for the next rapture!
Has the rapture happened?
You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?
You should.
Your plan is not going to work.
It is a really, really bad plan.
Please come to Jesus to escape your plan!
Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!
Jesus is coming.
Are you ready to meet Him?
Give your life to Jesus Christ.
Time is running out.
Lift Up Your Eyes! 