portmaster 1000 wrote:
What about those children that survive all the catastrophe and manage to become adults? What becomes of them?
In the scenario presented, I believe that it depends on whether they are wicked, repent, accept Jesus, etc.
But we are delving into a book that is the subject of much controversy.
I do not personally subscribe to the "Rapture" theory as presented in movies such as "Left Behind".
A scripture verse that is commonly referred to as support for a "hidden/invisible" rapture is:
2Peter 3:10-
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night..."
Some people interpret this to imply a secret rapture. However, Jesus said in Matthew 42-44:
"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
From these texts I believe Jesus is simply saying that his coming will be unexpected not secret.
Another verse that some people use to support a secret rapture is Luke 17:34-36:
"I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left."
This seems to imply that some are taken and some are "left behind". But, just prior to those verses, Jesus said [Luke 17:26-30]:
"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."
In the examples that Jesus gives, people were left behind, but they were left behind DEAD. Since sin cannot survive in the presence of God, those that are left behind will be destroyed [IMO]by the coming of Jesus.
This is, of course, my interpretation and there are people who have different interpretations.
The danger, though, is that some people are led to believe that they will have a "second chance", seven-year period to accept Jesus and it may not be so.
I would be interested in debating and studying the subject matter of the rapture and the book of Revelation with anyone. I am still learning -just like everyone else here.
™ Version 4.2