Scriptural verses about the rapture

Short answer, Mike, is because Abraham is not part of the Church (so doesn't go up in the rapture) and he's not here during Daniel's 70th week (so he doesn't fit in the description of those in Rev 20:4), so the only other place I know to put him is Rev 20:5 and 20:12.

Ok, I'm going to give my personal opinion first, this way it is not mistaken what I “mean”.

I'm very saddened that I am forced to go to such great lengths here to prove what I'm not saying.

That said, I suppose a lot of “qualifiers are needed before I can do any explanations, so that I can ret to eliminate all the things I don't want inferred by people, which will not be directly stated, since they are not my opinions.

I cannot force anyone to simply accept my words as they are written, without assuming you understand the intent beyond what is actually stated.

I personally don't have any issues addressing a specific person, theory or topic, if I feel it is needed. So, I also tend not to assume offense at any statement made generally to “people”, if it doesn't apply to me.

My apparent mistake here, is I assumed this to be an “understanding” among all here. I have always considered that part of “rational” thinking. This means that if I don't specify you in particular, if the stated thought or description doesn't apply to you in particular, then it is not meant be me to do so.

When addressing a varied audience, such as this, there are going to be an entire host of viewpoints. Again, I thought this a known thing.

So, in expressing my personal view, opinion or thoughts, if I already am aware of some of the opposing positions, views, thoughts, I attempt to eliminate those specific objections up front. This is a very commonly done practice throughout writing. It keeps the amount of long follow up elaborations to a smaller amount.

Again, this was perhaps a mistake, even if it is commonly accepted in most areas.

I've done my best to avoid directly using personally held beliefs as an example when ever possible, so as to keep people from assuming I'm directing things in that way. I have apparently failed to do this adequately enough.

I have also specifically avoided using language like, wrong, right, and left these to the individuals to decide, as I again, thought was the best way to approach things.

Simply because I defend my personal view, doesn't automatically mean i'm putting yours down. This is what is commonly termed an “us and them” or “right and wrong” viewpoint.

It creates an atmosphere where any difference of opinion has to fit one or the other, and thereby eliminates all opinions but the one the person personally holds.

This is not my personal opinion, I don't think in this manner. Assuming so, is an error on “your” part, not on my views.

I do believe there are some right things and some wrong things. Again, I thought this idea was a “rational” one. I further thought that for the most part, we all agreed on the big ones. This is perhaps another mistake on my part.

When I say “you” or “people” or “many”, I do so in what I thought was generally understood to mean “whom ever this applies to” or the “royal” you. I see this done all across the boards and in real life.

Again, another mistake of mine possibly. When I personally don't follow these terms with naming a person or group, then it is not intended to apply to any specific thing, but rather generally.

I honestly do not know how to effectively communicate any thought or idea, if all these things are either ignored or not a common practice.

Again, this is my problem apparently. Which I have been earnestly trying to figure out, to no avail.

This board promoted challenging ideas and theories. But if the people involved in the discussion either intentionally or unintentionally, continuously make assumptions that are not directly stated, this makes effectively having any discussion difficult, if not impossible. At least for myself.

I can reword my thoughts in a host of ways, but if the tendency is still to view them in a manner that adds to them, or takes away from them meanings, the only alternative becomes simply to agree with any other persons viewpoints, or risk offending others.

I personally have done this as well, I'm not immune to misunderstanding. I do make a point to at least try to circle back and get clarification on those, when it is not simply causing even more offense.

I'm not clear on how else to cover this issue in a more clear and inoffensive manner to someone, as my track record in this area seems to show that the more I try to narrow my statements, the more they are misunderstood.

So, though I honestly didn't feel I have offended anyone, I also recognize people can take offense even when it is clearly stated as not meant this way. So, I will give a further apology to whomever has gotten offended unintentionally, for what ever reasons they have become so, by whatever wording I used, in whatever manner it was taken.

I will further consider whether stating an opinion at al merits the efforts involved at this time.

Be blessed!

servantofthelord , there are so many metaphors, types & shadows, similes, and other types of literary devices that it is near impossible to read or speak about scripture without some type of interpretation. It is like when the Savior said Lazarus was sleeping and meant that he had died. The Savior's entire vernacular is is based upon literary devises that we must try to understand and that involves interpretation.

So all you can do is give it your best shot and accept interpretations as you may decide to interject them; even though you may do your best to not interject them.

For me I interpret everything and then change that interpretation at will; it is so liberating.