Pre-Trib Rapture; Scriptural or Dispensational Fiction

You're right.

2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Re 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.


Re 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

It requires the "power of the spirit" to change a culture, not the "wisdom of man's words",

And without the Spirit, it's impossible to distinguish between the "Christ" and "ANTI" christ.

 

From the article: http://www.truthnet.org/endtimes/4/

"The 69th week closes with Messiah the prince being cutoff, but the 70 weeks are not yet complete. The killing of the Messiah, stopped the prophetic clock, before it was completed. There is one week or seven-year period remaining. This seven-year period begins with the confirming of a covenant with many regarding a future Jewish Temple."

It should be noted that Scripture does not say that Messiah was killed at the end of the 69th week as the quote above states. In Daniel 9:26, 27 we read:

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Verse 26 states that: after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off. The death of Jesus Christ could have occurred any time during the 70th week. However Scripture tells us that He was killed in the middle of the 70th week.

Daniel 9:26, 27 are perhaps the most difficult and controversial passage in this prophecy, if not in Scripture. Dispensationalist hang their doctrine on a dubious, actually false, interpretation of this passage. One must wonder why this doctrine was put forth some 1800 years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

 

Da 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city,

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

7+60+2=69

26 And after (The) threescore and two weeks (69th) shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:


Still missing a week.

 

From the article: http://www.truthnet.org/endtimes/4/

"The 69th week closes with Messiah the prince being cutoff, but the 70 weeks are not yet complete. The killing of the Messiah, stopped the prophetic clock, before it was completed. There is one week or seven-year period remaining. This seven-year period begins with the confirming of a covenant with many regarding a future Jewish Temple."

It should be noted that Scripture does not say that Messiah was killed at the end of the 69th week as the quote above states. In Daniel 9:26, 27 we read:

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Verse 26 states that: after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off. The death of Jesus Christ could have occurred any time during the 70th week. However Scripture tells us that He was killed in the middle of the 70th week.

Repeated for your edification!

 

Ed wrote -

Having been a church music minister, and now a pastor, I can tell you that, had someone suggested 40 years ago that the type of music popular with the lost world in their nightclubs and rock concerts would be the #1 most popular form of music in "Christian" churches in 2009, no one would have believed me - it would have been the biggest joke of the day!

It's SO sad how we're stripping away the spiritual heritage of our older saints as we abandon the great music of the Faith, and how we're robbing the newer generations of Christians of real, Spirit-filled music that doesn't violate biblical principles for music AND has Scriptural DEPTH at the same time!

It's all part of Satan's larger plan to prepare the world for the Anti-Christ and the apostate world religion of which he will be the head.

 

Off topic but I could not agree with you and Ed more. So Called music played in many churches today is a disgrace. You correctly state that: It's SO sad how we're stripping away the spiritual heritage of our older saints as we abandon the great music of the Faith, and how we're robbing the newer generations of Christians of real, Spirit-filled music that doesn't violate biblical principles for music AND has Scriptural DEPTH at the same time!

The church of which I am a member started a new program today: a "Celebration" service at 9:00 AM today followed by a "Contemporary" service at 11:00. I have some idea of what a "Contemporary" service but not a "Celebration" service. Perhaps the non-hymns are louder in one. There is some advantage to being old.

I haven't checked the Music forum yet. Afraid to go there.

 

What does the music style you listen to have anything to do with the rapture :confused:

 

This is not apostasia.

The greek means a departure or removal...and you have seen that definition used...you just used it yourself :D.
Where does the text allude to them "removing themselves"? Why couldn't God be doing the removing?

Look closely at my response. I didn't say apostasy...I said apostasia.

So the Holy Spirit has failed in equipping believers to fulfill the GC? Christianity is still the fastest growing religion in the world. There have been more martyrs this past century than have ever occured since Christ ascension. This is hardly apostasy. The phrase is overused, and wrongly defined, IMO. Just because the big mouth feel good people like Osteen get huge exposure, doesn't mean the Holy Spirit takes a back seat to him. There have been Joel Osteen's since the beginning of time, and just because with modern technology we have these people piped into our homes doesn't mean we are in this alleged "apostasy" that is occuring. It is perception, and not fact.

 

WD, I totally disagree. I haven't read anything by any commentator or dictionary that says the "falling away" is the rapture of the church. I asked Ed to post a definition as well, but he never did. If you have access to this definiton, please post it.

The bible is clear that things do not better, but worse as the end approaches.

 

Ill find my notes later, but for now here is a link that does a good job explaining apostasia. Notice it's an event, not a general state or mood of Christianity
http://www.biblefood.com/apostasia.html

 

What I notice is that the article you linked is just another opinion.

The author admits that the word "apostasia" means departure. Departure from what? He uses Acts 21:21 to compare (which uses the exact same word) and admits that it means to depart from the teaching of Moses. So why does apostasia mean "church departure"??

Here is the verse in several translations.

KJV
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

NASB
2Th 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for {it will not come} unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

ESV
2Th 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

NIV
2Th 2:3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.



Rebellion??? Is the rapture of the church a rebellion?


I guess the translators of these bibles didn't understand the Greek very well.



The author of your article states:

I believe the KJV phrase "falling away", in 2 Thess. 2:3, refers to the "departure", or "Rapture" of the Church.


Just his opinion.

 

After reading the following, I realized that most will not make it through. I also realize that it will generate great controversy and much wailing and gnashing of teeth. ;)

Therefore, I suggest no one reads it.

However, because I feel a responsibility to God to make SURE that SOMEONE says these things before the rapture occurs and the AntiChrist can take over, I've decided to leave it, so that those in the Tribulation will know that a few of us prior to the rapture were TRYING to warn the rest of the church.

***********
The Great Falling Away is NOT a metaphor for the rapture. Didn't mean to give that impression.

With regard to music, Webdog asked -

Well, it actually has a LOT to do with it.

As the Church Age rapidly winds down, it is becoming more worldly and less Christ-like. This is one of the evidences that we live in the Laodicean era of church history-the lukewarm Church is nauseating to God and all who love His Word, and one of the visible proofs of that is the use of worldly methods in attempts to bootleg the Gospel, which is not God's will for his people. Most of the music being foisted upon unsuspecting church goers today is part of that process, which is one of Satan's preparatory steps to get the world ready for his universal religion.

The throngs that follow the Joel Osteen's of the world are being inoculated against real Christianity, so that the REAL THING, when encountered, is and will be rejected ("...that they should believe a lie" - II Thess. 2:11).

Truth, mixed with error, is Satan's biggest area of operation-and it is THE MOST DANGEROUS! There is NOTHING more dangerous than a teaching that contains SOME truth! Satan's been providing just that since the beginning of time: "...Yea, hath God said?..." (Genesis 3:1).

In order for the AntiChrist to be effective, he must be acceptable in the eyes of the world. It must be obvious that the elections of Bill Clinton and Barak Hussein Obama are part of his plan to get the masses to accept ANYTHING that LOOKS good on the surface.

This is how the AC will come to power-through lies, deception, signs & wonders (ie, "change"). But he has to be acceptable to the masses-& the only way he can be is for them to have no reference by which to measure him, Who is Jesus Christ!

Since Satan cannot get "at" Jesus Christ, he’s doing the next best thing: going after His church, which is here to present Christ to the world-the people cannot see HIM, but they're supposed to see Him through US.

If Satan can neuter the church-destroy our effectiveness in this world-then he can present the AC and no one will be able to stop him-he'll be accepted without question.

So - HOW can Satan neutralize the effectiveness of the church?

SIMPLE - All he has to do is to get the people of God to take their spiritual eyes off of Jesus Christ and get them onto THEMSELVES!

Now, HOW does he do THAT? By getting us to focus on earthly things, rather than things above-by getting us to accept as "normal" things that are abnormal, in our spiritual lives, and, thus, causing us to deteriorate, spiritually. When he succeeds in THAT, he's won!

There are many examples of this. Some that come immediately to mind are:

The acceptance on the part of modern Christianity -

* of the idea that Christians aren't really different from everyone else, just forgiven.

* that living The Separated Life is a bunch of nonsense dreamed up by overzealous, pious prudes who just don't want anyone to have any fun in this life.

* of situational ethics and humanism - that there are no absolutes: right & wrong is all dependent on ones' perspective/interpretation.

* that sensuality in the life of the believer isn't really bad - it's good, and those who say otherwise have issues, and, therefore, are trying to repress others.

* that in order to reach the lost world with the Gospel, it is essential that the church use methods that appeal to them - in other words, that we must use tactics, tools, and gimmicks that speak to the depraved nature of the lost man in order to catch his attention and draw him away from the evil world system which has him in it's grasp. After we've done that, THEN we can give him the "life-changing Gospel" we SAY we have.

These are but a few of Satan's ways of getting God's children to accept LESS than God's BEST for their lives, and paves the way for the spiritual apathy and atrophy that is paralyzing the work of our Lord in this earth at this time.

What's this got to do with music? Everything!

Music is THE NUMBER ONE TOOL Satan uses to cause the minds of men to throw off their inhibitions and "go with the flow". And, if he can get the Christians to believe the LIE that music, in and of itself, is amoral, then he can trick them into listening to music that, though it may have good WORDS, is SENSUAL by it's very nature, which results in CARNALITY on the part of the listener, EVEN IF HE DOESN’T REALIZE IT!

Without the undergirding of fleshly music, Satan's attacks on the veracity of the Word of God in the hearts and minds of men are severely hampered! THAT is why he used MUSIC to entice Eve in the Garden of Eden:

"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; ...the workmanship of thy tabrets [percussion instruments] and of thy pipes [wind instruments] was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created" (Ez. 28:13).

How do you think Eve found that tree, anyway? Satan LURED her there using MUSIC!

How will the AC be accepted? Because the church of the Lord will have been neutered-rendered ineffective-in the years just prior to the Tribulation because, by then, for the most part, it will have become JUST LIKE THE WORLD!

No, friends, the Great Falling Away is NOT empty church buildings - it is and will be buildings filled with EMPTY PEOPLE! They will be empty, spiritually, because Satan has and will convince them that the FEELING they get from their so-called worship services is actually the FILLING of the Holy Spirit! They will be EMPTY because Satan will have convinced them that THE FEELING THEY GET FROM THESE THINGS IS THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN IT ISN’T REALLY THAT AT ALL!

Satan can mimic EVERY aspect of the effects of the true filling of the Holy Spirit EXCEPT the filling itself! He can make you THINK you are sensing the Holy Spirit when it is actually him sending that feeling up your spine! For every person, the physical sensation of the filling of the Spirit is different - it’s different for each person. It is an experience that is uniquely ours with God - one that is not shared exactly with anyone else.

But our feelings can be tricked. This is why we must NEVER allow ourselves to be under the control of our emotions-they are part of our fallen nature and can be manipulated! We must ALWAYS bring them in line with the Word of God! The BIBLE is the measure by which we examine them, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND! If your experience doesn't line up with the Bible, it is spurious and you are being tricked by Satan into believe HIS lie: that how you FEEL is the measure by which everything else is tested, even whether or not you are Spirit-filled!

Now, after having REALLY been filled with the Spirit, we know what it's like. But when the day comes-and it always does-when we sin in thought, word, or deed, that filling is no longer there. In order to return to it, we must confess, repent, then asked to be filled again. Thankfully, the Lord never tires of granting us mercy in this area.

But what if Satan can trick us into believing we're filled with the Spirit? Wouldn't THAT be one of his greatest deceptions ever? Wouldn't doing so make it possible to render a believer ineffective for Christ, all the while he's thinking he's right with God?

From Satan's viewpoint, the prospect of a Christian who THINKS he's right with God but really ISN'T is one that he just can't resist: churches FILLED with people like that would be a BOON to his efforts here on earth!

So Satan has to find ways to prevent us from being filled with the Holy Spirit, all the while thinking we ARE.

And music can do just that!

Music can cause your body to produce chemicals (drugs) & introduce them into your system until you become no different than a heroine user: totally under the influence of the feeling you get from the drugs in you, except you've not used a syringe!

Once he's duplicated the FEELING that you had when you really WERE filled with the Spirit, THEN he's GOT YOU, & he can keep giving you that until you die, Jesus returns, or you repent. Sadly, in most cases, the typical church member will never know the difference!

How does this fit in with our topic dealing with the pre-tribulation rapture? Again - everything!

The acceptance of the one-world ruler, religion, etc., hinges on that very thing: his acceptance.

By inoculating Christians prior to the rapture against the true filling of the Holy Spirit, he paves the way for carnal, flesh-centered Christianity. Christianity that is not Spirit-controlled is flesh controlled, and, therefore, no longer subject to the infallible, inerrant, inspired Word of God, but to the flesh-controlled minds of men that have been lulled into carnality by drugs of their own emotional creation.

And, by filling buildings with empty PEOPLE - people who have abandoned the Bible as the authority and standard by which all men shall live and be judged, Satan will have primed the world for HIS religion, which will take control once the REAL church is gone.

 

No offense, Todd, but opinions are like nostrils...we all have them.

Music has nothing to do with the rapture. It's silly to think it does. Because someone likes an electric guitar, drums, etc does not make one "worldly". You are applying a definition to the phrase that does not exist. I grew up in a church similar to yours...it lead to years of resentment and turning my back on the church and God. If anything, the hyper-fundamental view can lead to "falling away", as when you apply extra-biblical commands and mandates that God doesn't, friction builds against the church. It is a tool of satan, IMO. Trying to cram "worldly" into places it's not meant for is not of God.

Oh, and to say that music was involved in the fall of mankind was really funny. Never heard that one before...creative :laugh:

 

Music, like everything else, can be "Geared" to "move the body" or "move the soul",

And much of the music, not all, is Geared to "please the flesh", rather than the "Soul".

"Gospel" has taken on the "Appearance" of a "Rock Concert" in order to "Appeal" to young people and attract them into the church.

But "Rock Concert" only appeal to the "FLESH", there's no "SPIRITUAL" (soul) attraction about them.

 

Why either/or? This almost sounds like gnosticism, material = evil, immaterial = good. What do you mean "please the flesh"? If you like the sound of certain music, it's not of God? I can worship God listening to Third Day just the same as listening to How Great Thou Art sung acapella.

This is way off the OP now. We should get back to the rapture, not music...

 

They say if you put a frog in HOT water, he'll jump out, but put him in cold water, then heat it, he'll stay there until he is "COOKED".

The point is that evil encrouches gradually until people don't realized that their "goose" is about to be "Cooked".

They say if you tell a lie enough times, people will eventually accept it as "TRUTH".

A lie become truth, sweet become Bitter, Light become dark.

Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Isa 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

I like "Country/Southern Gospel", and do a little "pick'n grinning" myself, but I know the difference between "Honey won't you open that door" and "Where could I go but to the lord".

Just as the line between Country/Rock has been "Blurred", (Crossover hits), the line between Gospel/Rock has also been "blurred", and this "younger generation" doesn't know it.

 

Webdog said:

Not trying to give my opinion - sorry if you took it that way.

Then you said:

You may not agree with my points, but I'd hope you wouldn't think that I'm being silly - if you'd read what I wrote carefully, I'd at least think you'd come away knowing it's not a SILLY position. It may be one you don't agree with, but that doesn't make it silly.

Then you said:

Please explain.

Then you said:

I never said that - now you're applying someone ELSE'S attitudes/comments to ME, rather than listening to what I am actually saying.

Nor do I believe that, by the way...

Then you said:

I'm sorry you had a bad experience - that can happen anywhere, not just in "hyper-fundamental" churches.

Don't you agree?

Please tell me what extra-biblical commands I am applying, and where I am trying to cram worldly into places it's not meant for us.

I'm all ears...really.

Then you said,

Not done much reading on the subject of music have you?

As a musician, church musician, and a pastor, I find it amazing that most preachers don't know anything about music and most music people don't know anything about the Bible - you've obviously been hurt by people who, though perhaps well meaning, didn't know what they were talking about and tried to "cram" their opinions into your life, something I'm not trying to do at all.

Please don't associate me with them - I openly listen and try to learn from the positions of others without overlaying my own past experiences with idiots, nutjobs, and overzealots on them. Perhaps you could afford me the same courtesy.

 

I suggest we get back on topic or close the thread!

 

A now banned person said in
05-26-2004 at:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=25478&page=11

------------------------------
2Th 2:3

(ALT) Let no one deceive you* by any means, because [that Day will not come] unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction [or, the one destined to be lost],

(CEV) But don't be fooled! People will rebel against God. Then before the Lord returns, the wicked one who is doomed to be destroyed will appear.

(Darby) Let not any one deceive you in any manner, because it will not be unless the apostasy have first come, and the man of sin have been revealed, the son of perdition;

(DRB) Let no man deceive you by any means: for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition

(ESV) Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

(GNB) Do not let anyone deceive you in any way. For the Day will not come until the final Rebellion takes place and the Wicked One appears, who is destined to hell.

(GW) Don't let anyone deceive you about this in any way. That day cannot come unless a revolt takes place first, and the man of sin, the man of destruction, is revealed.

(ISV) Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day cannot come unless the rebellion takes place first and the man of sin, who is destined for destruction, is revealed.

(LBLA) Que nadie os engañe en ninguna manera, porque no vendrá sin que primero venga la apostasía y sea revelado el hombre de pecado, el hijo de perdición,

(MSG) Don't fall for any line like that. Before that day comes, a couple of things have to happen. First, the Apostasy. Second, the debut of the Anarchist, a real dog of Satan.

(WNT) Let no one in any way deceive you, for that day cannot come without the coming of the apostasy first, and the appearing of the man of sin, the son of perdition, who sets himself against,

-- Living Bible
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Don't be carried away and deceived regardless of what they say.For that day will not come until two things happen: first, there will be a time of great rebellion against God, and then the man of rebellion will come--the son of hell.

-- Revised Standard
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition,

-- Transliterated, Unaccented
2 Thessalonians 2:3 me-tis humas exapatese kata medena tropon. Hotiean-me elthe he apostasia proton kai apokalufthe hoanthropos tes anomias,{*} ho huios tes apoleias,

-- New American Standard
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for {it will not come} unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

-- New Jerusalem with Apocrypha
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Never let anyone deceive you in any way.
It cannot happen until the Great Revolt has taken place and there has appeared the wicked One, the lost One,

-- New American with Apocrypha
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For unless the apostasy comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one doomed to perdition,

-- New Revised Standard with Apocrypha
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one {Gk [the man of lawlessness]; other ancient authorities read [the man of sin]} is revealed, the one destined for destruction. {Gk [the son of destruction]}

-- Weymouth's New Testament
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for that day cannot come without the coming of the apostasy first, and the appearing of the man of sin, the son of perdition, who sets himself against,

-- New Living Translation
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Don't be fooled by what they say.
For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed-the one who brings destruction.*

-- Reina Valera Actualizada
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Nadie os engañe de ninguna manera; porque esto no sucederá sin que venga primero la apostasía y se manifieste el hombre de iniquidad, el hijo de perdición.

-- International Standard Version
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day cannot come unless the rebellion takes place first and the man of sin, who is destined for destruction, is revealed.

-- William's NewTestament
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Do not let anybody at all deceive you about this, because that cannot take place<b> until the great revolt<c> occurs and the representative of lawlessness is uncovered, the one who is doomed to destruction,

-- Montgomery New Testament
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means. For it will not come until after the Great Apostasy, and the revealing of the Man of Sin, the son of perdition, the adversary,
----------------------------

That is a much more impressive list of mistranslated Versions that above in this topic :)

Recall that just cause some folks think they can counter my 'point' I have a few thousand other points yet to make. Maybe someday I'll share how the Scriptural role of a Deacon proves the pre-Tribulation rapture2 of the Saints of the Gentile Age.

BTW, did anybody note that the oft condemned Dispies: Darby & Scofield did NOT use the 'departure' (6 early English versions) or the 'falling away' as a proof either for the Dispensation Theology, pre-tribulation rapture, or pre-millennial Messianic Kingdom Literal/physical Second Advent of our blessed Lord and Savior: Messiah Jesus? But Ed the Baptist - he does ;)


BTW, Mankind can now do all the bad stuff mentioned in Revelation. Mankind cannot perform the Rapture2 (shown by type in Revelation 4:1).

 

To say that Revelation 4:1 is a type of the "so-called rapture 1 or 2" is ridiculous. This is simply a continuation of the revelation to the Apostle John. The "so-called rapture 1 or 2" is supposed to be a physical resurrection. In Revelation 4:1, 2 we read:

1. After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
2. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

John was translated to heaven in the spirit, period!

Ed

The 2nd Epistle of Peter was written to the Church as the following Scripture shows:

2 Peter 1:1,2
1. Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

In 2 Peter 3:1-14 we read [again Peter is writing to Christians]:

1. This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2. That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Peter is obviously talking to Christians about their attitude concerning the return of Jesus Christ [Verses 11-14]. He is obviously not talking about the "so-called rapture" or he could not have written in Verses 3&4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. if the "so-called rapture" had occurred 7 years earlier. He is obviously talking about the Second Coming, not the "so-called rapture" [Verse 10] since: the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.