The Rapture

[Drawmack]

Don’t make it sound like that is peculiar to Catholics. That is the Reformed position as well.

The only reason I posted the way I did is because this thread is discussing the Catholic stance on end-times. The Reformed stance on end-times doesn’t have anything to do with that. Are you postulating that in order to post on any topic I have to include a list of what every Christian community teaches on the matter? If you’re not then remember that context can influence these things and assume the person has a reason for posting the way they did before you attempt to invalidate what they say with unrelated information.

 

[Drawmack]

Hi, Drawmack.

Your logic and understanding of Catholic theology is misunderstood.

No, it’s honest!

The Church is only the humble bride of Christ (not Christ Himself), left here for us to teach and guide us.

I cannot count the number of times I have had a Catholic say to me the Church is Jesus.

Catholics do not worship anything or anyone but God himself. We venerate (honor) Mary and the saints because they were holy human beings that followed Christ’s example. We pray to them as you might pray for someone in need, as all prayers go to God alone, are acted on by God alone, for only He has the power to enact anything. The saints, as successes in God’s eyes, simply put in a good word for us and pass it along. If the saints have any powers at all, they were given to them by God to help them hear us as we pray to them in heaven.

I did not say anything about the saints. I defend Catholic prayer to saints because as the Catholic Church teaches it there is nothing wrong with it (it’s basically asking someone to pray with / for you). I do tell people that I’m not discussing the efficacy of whether or if the dead can hear you but I said nothing about praying to the saints. Then, stop assuming things people don’t say!

Catholics really mean it when we speak of the Body of Christ. You are always a part of the Body, living or in heaven, and we all work together to help each other to salvation by living our faith and not simply proclaiming it.

It is this belief that leads Catholics to make statements about the Church being Christ. I see it all the time. When I see it I simply point out to the Catholic who made the statement that if this statement is true then they must worship the Church. Your issue is not with me it is with the Catholic who misunderstood Catholic theology. Stop condemning me for pointing out that if what another Catholic said is true it leads logically to my conclusion.

The word “pray” simply means, “to tell.” Prayer, in and of itself, is not worship. (Recall the use of the archaic lines in romance novels: “Pray tell that…”). Same thing. Asking for a saint’s intercession (their good word) on behalf of a prayer offered to Christ (as all prayers to God are) is as good as asking a friend to pray for you when we or others are in a spot of trouble.

I DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT PRAYER IN MY POST. WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT IT FOR? You started off by saying that I misunderstand Catholic theology and then start talking about saints and prayer when I didn’t say anything about the saints or prayer. For crying out loud if I mention that I don’t like football are you going to start explaining specific rules to me be before you even ask why I said that?

Why do we pray often to saints and to Mary? Because, although Christ became incarnate for us to believe, it is still humbling to speak directly to God (the Jews had a big problem with that with God as they knew him in the Hebrew testament, and it still lives on today in some of our minds). We can and do pray directly to Christ, but the saints, as testaments to the many that did God’s will, also show us a path through their example.

I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT PRAYER TO THE SAINTS!!! THIS ENTIRE POST HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT I SAID. YOU STARTED OFF BY TELLING ME THAT I MISUNDERSTOOD CATHOLIC THEOLOGY THEN YOU TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY POST!!! IF THIS IS HOW YOU PERFORM APOLOGETICS COULD YOU JUST PUT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO SAY ON ANY TOPIC ON A CD AND THEN I CAN PUT THE CD-PLAYER ON RANDOM MAKE A STATEMENT TO IT AND IT WILL BE JUST LIKE TALKING TO YOU!!!

Here is what I said – in case you actually like to respond to what I said instead of something completely different!

A Catholic said, “The Catholic Church is Christ” I said, “If the Catholic Church is Christ and you worship Christ then (ipso facto) you worship the Church” It’s a simple syllogism. The only way to prove a syllogism false is to prove one of the premises false or to prove that the conclusion does not logically flow from the premises. Now, if the Catholic Church does not teach that the Catholic Church is Christ then I am not in error the Catholic who posted it is. If the Catholic Church does teach this then prove me wrong with a valid syllogistic attack – talking about something not in the syllogism (i.e. saints) only says that you do not understand logical discourse.

 

[Timothy_Piper]

Dear friends of CAF,

A final wrap on the Rapture; you don’t need to worry about it regardless of when it occurs, just don’t be like those 5 Virgins or that lazy servant would be my advice.

PS Catholic Charities is the 5th largest with 1/3 coming from tax payer funding. Forbes Magazine, per capita - don’t ask don’t tell.

God bless and see ya around if the Lord wills.

 

[CentralFLJames]

Dear friends of CAF,

A final wrap on the Rapture; you don’t need to worry about it regardless of when it occurs, just don’t be like those 5 Virgins or that lazy servant would be my advice.

PS Catholic Charities is the 5th largest with 1/3 coming from tax payer funding. Forbes Magazine, per capita - don’t ask don’t tell.

God bless and see ya around if the Lord wills.

When the rapture comes please understand before you leave your rhetoric pilot-less and as a charitable contribution to those of us “left behind” that the organization “Catholic Charities” is but one of perhaps thousands of Catholic charitable organizations world wide that are charitable spending channels. Also know that USA Catholics are but one group of total Catholic charitable contributions and a fund source that has only been in operation for a mere 200 years (YOUNG by Catholic standards – but even in relative youth longer-lived in the USA than many of the new non-Catholic religions have even existed). And if you are right and Catholic-Christians are first to be raptured away to leave a vacuum of charitabe spending behind please know that there will be a huge deficit for the ungodly and the wrong-churched to make up since there are 1.2 billion Catholics world wide. Catholics have been donating and building Christendom one soul at a time and helping the needy for 2000 years. You do the math to see if per capita giving means anything over such a long period. If you know a little history you will also know that Catholics build western society before it was substantially hijacked and secularized by the kings and the Protestant reformation. You might also do a quick historical survey to actually learn about who started ALL the western hospitals and schools and fed the widows and orphans and converted and educated the barbarian-pagan cultures over these last 2000 years. Hint - it happened centuries BEFORE Luther, the Reformers started complaining about donating to the Church viz indulgences and giving the monarchs their vig and well before Forbes magazine had a printing press and a gullible audience who could actually read and misapply the same invalid principals of sola scriptura to personal interpretation of financial data and take stock in the wrong ideas…

But that’s all I can say here since this thread is about “rapture” and not about repairing * ruptured *statistics…

Pax,
James

 

[Louemma]

Dear friends of CAF,

A final wrap on the Rapture; you don’t need to worry about it regardless of when it occurs, just don’t be like those 5 Virgins or that lazy servant would be my advice.

PS Catholic Charities is the 5th largest with 1/3 coming from tax payer funding. Forbes Magazine, per capita - don’t ask don’t tell.

God bless and see ya around if the Lord wills.

This may be your final wrap
Not sure why Forbes Magazine is mentioned because that has nothing to do with the things of God

Now to set the record for anyone else who would like to continue talking on the Catching Away" this topic was not brought up because one might be worried.I find this a most interesting event because I for one can not wait to see the face of my Savior and I need help on discerning some of the scripture.
Bringing up the 5 lazy virgins served what purpose?

 

[Louemma]

Now that we MIGHT get the thread back on subject of the Catching Away I would like to know if Catholics think that The Nation of Israel becoming a state again in 1948 was a fulfillment in the prophecies leading up to the Catching Away.The regathering of God’s people,The Gentiles being grafted in and the falling way,which is occurring now,even in the non-Catholic Churches.
Dare I say,setting the stage for our Lord and Savior’s return?
Plain English,Could that day(catching away) according to scripture be at hand?Now we know that no one knows the day or hour and that’s a fact.However in Matthew 24 Jesus told us that when we see certain things then we know the time is at hand.Problem is there has always been wars and rumors of wars and earth quakes and various pestilence all through mankind’s history,so discerning the times with our given history can be difficult
Appreciate any replies to this.Of course I realize that there may not be too many that study prophecy and this subject to one who does not study the prophecies,this can get a little rough in understandingThank You

 

[archangel04]

On the contrary, that is the only Scriptural support. Maybe this is the problem; you do not understand Scripture.

Perhaps you might look at 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, 1 Tim 5 & 2 timothy to understand why the necessity of congregation; especially the smaller ones, which are numerous to use the committees, usually made of the more mature Christians because they must be able to discern the nature and character of a pastor; these are in the Pastoral Epistles; note what is never mentioned as you read in relation to your own understanding of church selection. To exult Peter above the rest of the Apostles is contrary to the nature of God you claim to serve. Perhaps this is why we have the opposite way of thinking. Those you personally exult; I find offensive to God’s Word, which in turn offends God in my opinion.

Did you know that the laity of the Catholic church use to be the ones that selected the pope? That changed over time, which is why there are so many saints that were mere myths based on popularity and I the 1950’s or 60’s, the church had to purge many of these saints and that some that were deemed a myth; the church is still making money from? Did you know that? These are the aspects of history that seem to get overlooked.

I have been here a short time and have learned a lot and have had some very thought provoking questions come up, which i am very blessed to think about because these things often bring one even closer to God. I am thankful for this CAF; it is a very good and well thought out site and has obviously been a lot of peoples time, energy and money invested in strengthening the Catholic faith, and at the same time allowing a difference of opinion on the meaning of Scripture and how it effects us as people made in the image of God. So though our differences are great; thanks to places like CAF we are blessed to be able to speak about those differences and hopefully learn, even from the least of us.

Thank you to all of you that have provided, time, energy and money. I guess if i can hang in here long enough; god might put it on my heart to give financial support; we will see how He leads.

God bless each of you this day and this night…amen

Lol wow you make no sence at all. It never stops to amaze me how many people have the truth in front of them and never take it! But to each there own. Thanks for visiting a Catholic website we valued all your “opinions”.

 

[brb2]

I would like to know if Catholics think that The Nation of Israel becoming a state again in 1948 was a fulfillment in the prophecies leading up to the Catching Away.The regathering of God’s people,The Gentiles being grafted in and the falling way,which is occurring now,even in the non-Catholic Churches.
Dare I say,setting the stage for our Lord and Savior’s return?

Yes, clearly Christ has not rejected his Jewish Brethren. I believe the Church will be Raptured, then Christ will deal with the Jews in a special way … and his chosen people will finally accept him as their King. But, its my opinion … based on Protestant indoctrinations. I’ve yet to fully learn the Catholic belief on how the Jewish Nation is dealt with in the End Times.

However, I’d be surprized to learn if they don’t see the Jews getting a special presentation by Christ as King here on earth … for some period of time.

 

[Randy_Carson]

As I always do and believe; sometimes you have to take a step back to see the forest from the tree you are looking so closely at and apply some common sense to what the actual reality to something is.

The best example that come to my mind is the “keys to the Kingdom of God”; how many keys are their to heaven, since a key represents authority, how many authorities are there to get to heaven. One, the Lord Jesus. John 3:16. It makes more "common sense that Jesus had a the keys to heaven, and gave “each a key” to the Kingdom of God. This is where stepping back and looking at the whole picture and reality of what actually happened. All the Apostles began speaking in tongues and glorifying God at the day of Pentecost, then Peter gave his sermon. All the Apostles preached the word of God or the Gospel, which the power and authority is in the message or the messenger? The message, not the messenger - again just applying a little common sense.

If it was written in the English translation as “I will give each of you the key to the Kingdom of God” ; it would not have any bearing on the Greek grammatical structure. looking at the whole scene, Jesus gathers all of them, asks what people are saying, then asks the Apostles why they say, Peter blurts out the answer and Jesus looks at Peter, knowing the rest are listening, and affirms what Peter said, then Jesus refocuses on all of them and say i will give you each a key, then as verse 30 tells us, Jesus warned ALL of them not to tell anyone the Good News, the Jesus is the Christ. So they all go the message, they all used the same message, no one was ever mentioned as superior over the other, but I do believe that Peter was a leader of the others. If you have a group of men on a specific mission, then you need at least one leader to make sure the orders are being covered and followed. Does this make the leader a better or more elevated person; no.

All of this has been refuted in other threads and has nothing to do with the rapture, but thanks for sharing.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Not to mention there is nothing in Scripture that speaks of “purgatory”; not even remotely unless you insert into Scripture directly. Also, a Christian is a New Creation" in Christ Jesus; he said He is always with the Christian and that the Christian is one with the Father and the Son, he promised never to foresake us.

The scriptures speak clearly on the subject of purgatory, and this is plain enough for those that have eyes to see. Again, we have addressed this at length in other threads.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Not sure what you mean by “primacy”, but there is no succession or office of Pope ever mentioned in the Bible.

Oh?

Acts 1:20
20For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

Peter interprets this passage from the Psalms to mean that the OFFICE of Apostle must continue through succession.

Further, we know that the passage from Matthew 16:18-19 refers to Isaiah 22:20 and the office of the royal steward - an office that did not pass away.

 

[Louemma]

Yes, clearly Christ has not rejected his Jewish Brethren. I believe the Church will be Raptured, then Christ will deal with the Jews in a special way … and his chosen people will finally accept him as their King. But, its my opinion … based on Protestant indoctrinations. I’ve yet to fully learn the Catholic belief on how the Jewish Nation is dealt with in the End Times.

However, I’d be surprised to learn if they don’t see the Jews getting a special presentation by Christ as King here on earth … for some period of time.

This is how I read scripture.This is what I believe according to scripture.

 

[CentralFLJames]

Yes, clearly Christ has not rejected his Jewish Brethren. I believe the Church will be Raptured, then Christ will deal with the Jews in a special way … and his chosen people will finally accept him as their King. But, its my opinion … based on Protestant indoctrinations. I’ve yet to fully learn the Catholic belief on how the Jewish Nation is dealt with in the End Times.

However, I’d be surprised to learn if they don’t see the Jews getting a special presentation by Christ as King here on earth … for some period of time.

In my prior post I gave a scenario that is consistent with Catholic belief. The Jews are given a final opportunity to convert to Christian-Catholic and most will.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=6085650&highlight=screaming#post6085650

The Catholic Catechism teaches this explicitly:

*674 The glorious Messiah’s coming is suspended at every moment of history until his recognition by "all Israel", for “a hardening has come upon part of Israel” in their “unbelief” toward Jesus.569 St. Peter says to the Jews of Jerusalem after Pentecost: "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old."570 St. Paul echoes him: "For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?"571 **The “full inclusion” of the Jews in the Messiah’s salvation, in the wake of “the full number of the Gentiles”,572 will enable the People of God to achieve “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”, in which “God may be all in all”.**573 *

And as a refresher here is the CCC that rejects millenarianism:
CCC 676
The Antichrist’s deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history* that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment. The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism,**577 especially the “intrinsically perverse” political form of a secular messianism.578 *

It is interesting to note here that the CCC relates to certain degree “millianirism thinking” with secular messianism – which is a pure Antichrist deception. There is NO messianic hope to be found within the domain of human time and history – the 2nd coming is after human time is OVER. The final victory comes AFTER time is suspended and ended when Christ reigns and supernatural judgement is the final word. The Jews are given the same requirement that all Christians have - to accept IN FAITH that the messiah is Jesus Christ. THEN time ends and Christ returns.

But let me also say that the Catechism does not require a sudden “mass conversion” of the Jews - and this can be done all through the current “Church Age” on an individual basis in addition to more at the very end. Let’s not forget that SOME of the Jews were the first to convert. No doubt more are to come. But there are many Jewish atheists in this day and age who believe not in God or Christ. There may or may not be a mass conversion at the end.

James

 

[CentralFLJames]

I misspoke above. The Church has NOT given explicit statement telling us HOW MANY of the Jews will convert just before the end of time.

As for the question of the Jews having a sudden last minute conversion the Church has not really given this teaching in explicit terms. The Church only quotes the apostle Paul’s writings. But In fact Paul only talks about “some” and a “remnant” and uses the “all of Israel” expression in ways that suggest that a “remnant” of Jewish-Christian converts is “the all” of Israel.

Here is an interesting link:
Will the Jews Convert in the Future? Robert Sungenis Responds to James Akin’s View of Paragraph 674 of the Catholic Catechism

There is a LOT of fundamentalist Evangelical thinking that has shaped many people’s, both non-Catholic and lay Catholics view of the eschatological times. BUT this non-Catholic teaching or perspective is NOT based on anything but new speculations and frankly is also based on a misread or over-read of scripture.

James

 

[Louemma]

I misspoke above. The Church has NOT given explicit statement telling us HOW MANY of the Jews will convert just before the end of time.

As for the question of the Jews having a sudden last minute conversion the Church has not really given this teaching in explicit terms. The Church only quotes the apostle Paul’s writings. But In fact Paul only talks about “some” and a “remnant” and uses the “all of Israel” expression in ways that suggest that a “remnant” of Jewish-Christian converts is “the all” of Israel.

Here is an interesting link:
Will the Jews Convert in the Future? Robert Sungenis Responds to James Akin’s View of Paragraph 674 of the Catholic Catechism

There is a LOT of fundamentalist Evangelical thinking that has shaped many people’s, both non-Catholic and lay Catholics view of the eschatological times. BUT this non-Catholic teaching or perspective is NOT based on anything but new speculations and frankly is also based on a misread or over-read of scripture.

James

Thanks for the link
You might be correct in saying that some views are based upon new speculations.However to read scripture in it’s context concerning end time events can be misread but some of the scripture is very clear.
The catching away is not a new teaching by any means and if one takes the word of God as meaning what it says,then we know this event will happen.
There is a huge amount of speculation on how this event of the catching away will actually occur.The one thing that we don’t have to speculate on is The Catching away will happen,the question is when?And that James,will be an hour that know one knows.So it would be wise to keep oil in your lamp so that when the bridegroom arrives we who are ready will be caught up.

 

[CentralFLJames]

Thanks for the link
You might be correct in saying that some views are based upon new speculations.However to read scripture in it’s context concerning end time events can be misread but some of the scripture is very clear.
The catching away is not a new teaching by any means and if one takes the word of God as meaning what it says,then we know this event will happen.
There is a huge amount of speculation on how this event of the catching away will actually occur.The one thing that we don’t have to speculate on is The Catching away will happen,the question is when?And that James,will be an hour that know one knows.So it would be wise to keep oil in your lamp so that when the bridegroom arrives we who are ready will be caught up.

Again, I would say that none of this “rapture” or “snatching away” portion of eschatology has any practical bearing at all on one’s salvation. It is only a specific detail about how divine providence will operate. The details have little importance to any but theologians. Most of us need to be more focused on the last 4 things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell and be prepared for the first of those at all times in the context of our own personal lives.

The OT figure Lot did not need to know the specifics about how God’s retribution would be invoked on Sodom and Gomorrah. In the end all that was important was getting his family safely out of the city and not look back to gawk at the actual detailed workings of divine chastisement in action. God made it clear that the details of His works are not meant for human eyes and understanding when He turned Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt for turning to look and observe it all.

As an aside let me say that I don’t think that the parable about the 10 virgins and the oil lamps really comes into play with the sequencing and the mechanics of “the rapture”. This parable is much deeper than most realize. The 10 virgins symbolize those who strip themselves of all worldly concern and are in fact outwardly devotee’s of Jesus Christ. But the five foolish virgins who did not have an extra supply of oil are those who did not purchase for themselves lasting spiritual treasure by giving alms to the poor and performing other works of mercy – and no mercy was shown them.

The irony is that the 10 virgins who gave up worldly pursuits to become close to Christ 5 being foolish were treated as outcasts and not different than heathens and the ungodly left out of the marriage banquet. And the reason is because they had no spiritual works of mercy viz alms giving to the poor. This is an extremely important lesson to “cultural Christians” who “talk the talk” but do not “walk the walk” and DO (verb-work) ALL that Christ commanded. This parable demonstrates wonderfully why the poor are such a blessing among us - since through mercy shown to the poor (who Christ being of humble estate personally identified with) many “wise” Christians will be permitted to enter into the wedding. But those who dressed the part and professed the devotion to Christ via “lip service” and went through all the other motions will be denied entrance to the wedding since their lamps will go out and none will come to their aid since they came not to the aid of the poor.

You might enjoy reading the interpretation of this parable here: Parable of the 10 Virgins: Commentary By St. John Chrysostom

I tend to be very pragmatic here and again say that for 99.99% of humanity it is MUCH more important to be concerned with one’s own “end times” and being concerned with being in a regular and ready state of grace since just like the 2nd coming – ‘we know not the hour that The Son of Man comes to claim our soul like a thief in the night’. When that time comes - there is no more time to gather spiritual treasure and we must go with whatever we have collected. If it insufficient to carry us through the dark night of the soul we are lost.

James

 

[onenow1]

Apocolyptic = Unveiling !

Luke 21: 25-36"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,

men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees;

as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
onenow1's opinions:

Does anyone think Jesus was lying here ? None of this has happened and that generation has passrd away. Of course not he was talking about His death and resurection up to this point.

onenow1:

But next notice the change and the warning to all who dwell on the earth no one escapes The good and evil will stand before the Lord !

"But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.
But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.

Peace and God bless
onenow1 2 cents worth.

 

[CentralFLJames]

…
"But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.
But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.

Peace and God bless
onenow1 2 cents worth.

Good scripture reference.

I bolded a part of this that implies in this one verse alone that there is NO pre-tribulation rapture. I ask to the readership at large rhetorically "why would scripture have us pray to have the strength to escape “all these things” (tribulation) if it was pre-ordained for the elect to be raptured away before the persecution started’? Clearly the rapture/snatching-away is not a pre-trib event. Clearly the elect will be made to suffer the tribulation to greater or lesser degree in the same pattern that God had Jesus, virtually all the apostles and a great number of the early Christian martyrs suffer for God’s greater Glory.

We Christians have our lives patterned after Christ’s own passion and death. We are made to be “as sheep among the wolves”. All Christians alive at the time of the tribulation will suffer and many if not most will be sacrificed for their faith. In this way Christians become true partakers in Christ’s passion and suffering. Since the tribulation is to be greater persecution than the church has ever before experienced we can assume that we will have a great many more martyred in the last days than in the opening days of the early church.

James

 

[Louemma]

Apocolyptic = Unveiling !

Luke 21: 25-36"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,

men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees;

as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Some read this as meaning,"When these things start taking place,the generation in which these things begin in will be the generation that will see the end.
Some believe that Jesus was not meaning the generation that was right there with him,no some believe he meant the generation in which these things start taking place.
Like Israel becoming a nation,some think this was a fulfillment in prophecies,hence the beginning of signs.
I will admit this is a part of scripture that I am still searching through.

 

[brb2]

onenow1;6097851:

Apocolyptic = Unveiling !

And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees;

as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

.

The fig tree … is reference to the Nation Israel. So, perhaps this is suggesting that many Jews will turn to Christianity — just prior to the Rapture.