For all those who are reading this for the first time, I was one of the loudest voices on the newsgroups speaking about a "Rapture on Feast of Trumpets" this for Sept. 1999.

I'm sorry. I was wrong. I was a prideful idiot. I deceived myself. I have spoken presumptuously and deserve death under the Law according to Deuteronomy... And I deceived others who believed me. I lusted after the promise of the Kingdom, and through my pride and arrogance, I thought I could divine the time, and/or that I was worthy enough to be given divine revelation. Obviously, I was preaching out of my vain imagination, because I came to the wrong conclusions. Nothing happened! I was wrong! I'm sorry!

Do you want to know what happened? My thoughts on how I went so wrong?

This is really two questions, and the second part is the most difficult question of all, one that men might not have an answer to.

First, salvation:

This one is the easy part.  In case you missed it on the front page, I post it here again:

[Rom 10:9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [Rom 10:10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

[Mat 10:32] Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

[Luke 12:8] Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the
angels of God:

It seems almost too easy.  Well it's that simple.  It doesn't involve tithing or giving money to a Church that has pledged its allegance to following the guidelines of the IRS for tax purposes, nor does it involve declaring that you will be devoted to your local priest.  There have been books written on the confession, and all that is involved in it, because, believe it or not, there is a lot of fantastic Biblically legal and spiritual elements there.  In the past, the confession has been cheapened and degraded by Satan and the Inquisition, just like marriage and virginity and all other good things have been corrupted, but there it is.  Scrpture stands alone, and is clear.

If you are unsure of your salvation, it is probably because you have not told people what you believe!  Or, perhaps when asked, you hesitated, or denied that you were a Christian, or you said you were a Christian, but you denied believing that Christ died and was brought back to life for the forgiveness of your sins.  Don't worry if you've denied Christ in the past!  His most loyal follower, Peter, did the same thing three times before the cock crowed!  Read the last chapter of the book of John!  It's beautiful, and will make you cry if you are unsure of your salvation.

Learn a lesson from those who were raptured in the past; Enoch and Elijah!
Second, go up in the rapture;

Interestingly, the answer to this question is alluded to in the passage just prior to the famous Rom 10:9.

[Rom 10:6] But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to
bring Christ down)
[Rom 10:7] or "Who will descend into the abyss?" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
[Rom 10:8] But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we
preach);

It's interesting, but we are not supposed to ask that very question!  We are told over and over that our reward is to go into heaven, and yet we are told not to ask who will go there!  Amazing!  Salvation is talked about, and made clear, but this heavenly reward is mysterious and elusive.  But, really, we are not to judge this.  I think this is for Christ to do.

My thought is that not all who expect and desire to go up in the rapture will actually go.  This is from the 10 virgins parable of Matthew 25, and the review of the Churches in the beginning of Revelation.  Both of these cases forshadow the rapture, and in both cases, not all are deemed worthy enough to go.  Half of the virgins go, those wise with oil, and less than 2/7ths? of the Chruches are spared in Revelation.

So, in an effort to see what Christ expects of his followers, it is worthwhile to examine those verses, to determine the qualities we need to have and to see the things we need to do.  And believe me, this is an incredible point of contention among Christians.  Emotionally, people do not like to come to grips with the fact that they might not be "worthy" to escape in the rapture.  They really, really like the free gift of salvation, but bristle when you speak of works and deeds and actions.  It's easy to know you are sinful if you are a Christian, it's hard to admit you might not be doing what Christ wants us to do.

Originally, one of my online bible teachers was M Agee.  (I read her website for months.)  She has the idea that the oil in the ten virgins parable represents the Holy Spirit.  I do not think this is possible, and here is a letter I sent to her on Aug 8th, 1999.

To M Agee,

I do not believe that the oil in the ten virgins parable is the Holy Spirit, I believe it is representative of works, somewhat like stored up treasures in heaven.

1.  This oil in this parable is not "sharable" from the most spirit-filled believers to the "foolish".
2.  This oil is "buyable" from non-believers in the marketplace!-- while real Holy Spirit oil is given away freely by Holy Spirit filled believers, the exact opposite of what happens in the parable.

 How can you "buy" the Holy Spirit?

[Acts 8:18] And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles'
hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
[Acts 8:19] Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay
hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
[Acts 8:20] But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because
thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Here are the reasons why I think the oil in the lamps is more representative of our "works" that are the fuel for our shining light to the world.

This is oil that gets used up.  That the lights can go out if we do not have enough oil, and we fall asleep.

We are to be a light to the world with our deeds.  Yet, if we are to have rewards in heaven, then we are to do our charatable deeds in secret.

[Mat 6:2] "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
[Mat 6:3] But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
[Mat 6:4] so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
[Mat 6:5] "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

So, how do you do good deeds in secret, and yet, be a "light" to the world?

It's kind of a paradox.  As you tell people about the good works you've done, you "empty" your storehouse of treasures in heaven.  Conversely, as you preach the gospel, you replace your charatable deeds with other work, which also has its reward.

[1Cor 9:18] What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may make the gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the gospel.

But do not think I am preaching a "works" gospel here in my interpretation of the ten virgins parable.

The biggest work we can do, as the Bible says, is merely making the confession of our faith to a non-believer.    For when we do that, we accomplish several things.  First, Christ says he knows us to his father, and we are joined with him in the body of Christ and indwelt with the Spirit.  Second, we are literally preaching the gospel to the world.  Third, we are proving that we are not ashamed of our belief.

If we make a confession to a fellow believer, the second and third points are lacking, and we are not a light to the world.  That's why those believers cannot give oil to those foolish, who are caught unprepared.

The foolish never followed the instructions of the gospel concerning their faith, which is to be a light to the world, and tell unbelievers what you believe.

And how is belief proven and established before God? [Rom 10:9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [Rom 10:10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

[Mat 10:32] Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

[Luke 12:8] Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

This fits right in, lock step, with

[Mat 25:11] Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.
[Mat 25:12] But he replied, `Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

I think I made my case, but just in case you wanted to think about it some more here are a few more reasons that I came up with why the oil in the ten virgins parable is not the Holy Spirit.

1.  Lamp oil is the cheapest oil you can buy.
2.  This oil in this parable is to be burned.
3.  This oil in this parable is in the lamps, not in the people.

Then, and this is Most Amazing, I went to search out "lamp oil" in the scriptures, and I found that, in the Bible, lamp oil is not 'cheap oil' but rather,

[Lev 24:2] Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.

AND!!! This instruction is in accordance with celebrating the fall feast festivals of Rosh HaShana!

JUST DO IT!

I quote her first:

"What makes this so "dangerous" is that it is setting up the deception for after the Rapture has taken place...for those left behind to think that they are "Christians" anyway...but just...weren't prepared...so now, they've gotta "work hard" to get prepared for the second coming. Oh, the cleverness of the deceiver!! If they are already "Christians" they don't need to repent (Acts2:38) and be born again.(Jn3:3)"

So, then, how do you interpret:

[Rev 3:15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
[Rev 3:16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
[Rev 3:19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

How can you say Christians don't need to repent?  Is repentance done only one time?  If that is so, why does Jesus tell His Churches in the beginning of Revelation to repent?

How do you say missing the rapture is a separation of the love of God? Isn't that the opposite of Rev 3:19?

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Do you agree that there are the Tribulation Saints that come out of the Great Tribulation?
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How do you say there is no need to watch, prepare, or be ready, when that is the entire point made when discussing the 'no man knows' verses that show our Lord is coming like a theif.
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How do you interpret,

[Mat 20:16] So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
[Mat 22:14] For many are called, but few are chosen.

And these are scriptures that are specifically related to the wedding feast, which is the rapture!
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How is it dangerous to say there is hope for the lost if they miss the rapture?
How is that dangerous?  That is encouraging.  Hopeful.  A promise.
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You say the ten virgin parable is not regarding the rapture.
Yet it has 10 rapture symbols that are repeated elsewhere.
1. bridegroom,
2. virgins,
3. slumbering,
4. a midnight cry,
5. virgins "arose",
6. the wise and ready going into the marriage,
7. through the open door,
8. the lord saying "I know you not",
9. and a warning to "watch",
10. and a repetition of "ye know neither the day nor the hour".

We agree the rapture is the marriage of the Lamb to his Church?   1 & 2 check
We agree that slumbering is a rapture symbol?  those who are asleep shall arise first... Thess.
We agree that the rapture happens at the "last trump" or loud shout, or midnight cry?
We agree there is "rising up" at the rapture?
We agree the rapture is going through the "open door"? Rev. 4:10
Ok, I'm trying to convince you of 8 as a possibility you do not see, so I'm working on it!  8-)
9 & 10, check.

Now, I don't preach nor teach that people have to "work hard" if they miss the rapture, as you may suppose.  I teach [Rom 10:9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

And according to

[Rev 3:19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

God chastens and rebukes those whom he loves!  Going through trib is not a separation but a confirmation of love for those who know God but were not raptured, according to Rev 3:19

So, I guess that may clear up one of my concerns regarding whether or not "I" will make the rapture.

I don't have to worry about being "filled with oil" as oil being Holy Spirit..., according to make the "rapture cut" according to the 10 virgins parable..., but I should still strive to be filled with Holy Spirit at all times.

And I still have to make sure that Jesus does not have anything to hold against me, as he does with the seven Churches at the beginning of Revelation.

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And so, I maintain that after the rapture comes, there will be people screaming and wailing about why they didn't make it, wondering why Jesus says, "I never knew you."