Misconceptions about the Last Days (#1)

1: the rapture will come any moment

First of all, I am by no means a scoffer. I fully believe Christ the Lord is coming and that things are quickly moving that direction. The thing is it is said by many that He could split the sky any moment now- according to the scriptures and words of Christ Himself that cannot be. My main focus on this is the word of Christ to His disciples in Matthew 24. First and major warning from Christ: take heed that no one deceives you- there will be much deception in these times. We will hear of wars and rumors of wars. He says that all these things must come to pass, but the end isn’t yet. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are BEGINNING of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake (follow along in your own bible as I go). And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another (at this point there is no mention of church being taken yet). Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (He is saying that to His church). And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, AND THEN THE END WILL COME. Therefore, when you see abomination of desolation (the anti-Christ ending all worship to God and declaring himself God), spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in holy place, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be (still there is no mention of church leaving) . And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s (the church) sake those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says to you, ‘look, here is the Christ! Or there! Do not believe it. For false Christ’s and false prophets will rise and show great wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, ‘look, He is in the desert! Do not go out; or ‘look He is in the inner rooms! Do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. Immediately after tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens be shaken. Then (now the church is taken, after all these other things) the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then ALL the tribes of the earth will mourn (every eye will see Him on that day, so this won’t be an act that people just don’t know what is going on), and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn this parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you SEE ALL THESE THINGS, know that it is near- at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE. Heaven and earth will pass away, by MY WORDS will by NO means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father ONLY. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Taken from Matthew 24:4-44; finish 45-51 as you desire). 
Now, certain things have been made very clear just by Jesus’ word alone. Before believing that He is about to come, even could be at this minute- then remember His words here.