My last thread on here sort of took on a life of it's own. I'm hoping my questions here and the answers provided are a little more clean cut. I'm not looking to get into a "battle of bible verses." I just want the opposing (or shared) views in relation the specific passages I'm addressing. Besides we can all gather multiple verses to make our cases. I just want the views on the specific verse mentioned. I am using the NET translation. And I am a pre-tribber.

1) In Luke 21 Jesus answers that three part question of the disciples, which included the "end time" events. Concluding his discussion of all the events of the end time, I'll pick up at verse 35 - "For it will overtake all who live on the face of the whole earth. (36) But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."

My question here deals with the logic of what is said, and so I am looking for how others explain their view on these two verses. Here is how I understand it:

He first says the events (of the tribulation) are going to fall on everyone on the earth (which means no one escapes these events). He then says in the very next sentence that there are those who can escape "all these things" (this is not one single event, such as the return of Christ). What? You can't have both of those statements or events (not escaping, and escaping) be true if the only option is everyone dwelling here on earth. The ideas/events/statements are mutually exclusive. Either these events fall on everyone on the earth or they fall on some on the earth (and some on earth escape). He said it falls on everyone on earth so that rules out anyone on earth escaping. So the only way to avoid a contradiction and for his second statement to be true is for some to not be on the earth (ie, they escape to someplace else not on the earth). He goes on to say that those who escape these events on earth will stand before him. Since we know that he is in heaven while these events are taking place on earth, those who escape and are standing before him must also be with him in heaven. Sounds "rapture-ish" to me.

2) Why do you believe God has allowed such a divide over the understanding of a rapture or non-rapture event? And I have heard from others that those who hold a non-pre-trib view tend to "attack" or fiercely oppose the pre-trib crowd. Why is this? If such a doctrine has no salvation implication, why isn't there more of an "openness" to multiple views? The way I see it, if you're a true believer that holds a post-trib view and the rapture does take place, well, you're going up anyways. And if you're a pre-tribber and there is no rapture, God will still be with you during the times of trouble. Either way, God is still with us. Some believe that during the tribulation he'll be with us in heaven, others believe during the tribulation he'll be with us here on earth. We'll find out soon enough.

3) Let me put up a disclaimer: I am not saying that any non-pre-trib view is from the Devil! So please do not take that from this question. Now, we know that the Devil loves to "test" and distort the word of God. He did it in the Garden of Eden ("did God say"...) and even did it with Christ ("it is written"...). How do those who are non-pre-trib deal with the supposed "new age" ideas that not only seem to mirror the end time events as told in the bible, such as cataclysmic changes, but also account for a mass disappearance or "great evacuation." We know that demons exist and that people have and, I assume, still do communicate with evil spirits. If such an event as the rapture were to be true, wouldn't the Devil need a way to explain it away for those that are still on the earth? And I assume he would need to get the message out prior to the event actually happening, or at least the groundwork for an understanding of what's happening. The last thing he would want is for people to see it as the rapture and believe in God.

I dunno. I guess when I read of things written by spirit channelers, it seems a little odd that any time would even be spent on such a subject if these spirits were not aware of such an event or believe that it in fact was coming.

"The Great Evacuation will come upon the world very suddenly. The flash of emergency events will be as a lightning that flashes in the sky. So suddenly and so quick in its happening that it is over almost before you are aware of its presence..." - Project World Evacuation

"Many of these beings who are leaving this planet at this time have completed that which they came to do. It is a time of great rejoicing for them. Do not feel sad about their leaving. They are going home. Many are waiting to be with them again... Many beings must move on, for their thought patterns are of the past. They hold on to these thoughts that keep Earth held back." - The Time Is Now