Several dozen people — including a pilot, county constable and business owners — insist they have seen a large silent object with bright lights flying low and fast. Some reported seeing fighter jets chasing it.

Quote: "People wonder what in the world it is because this is the Bible Belt, and everyone is afraid it's the end of times," said Steve Allen, a freight company owner and pilot who said the object he saw last week was a mile long and half a mile wide. "It was positively, absolutely nothing from these parts."

Fourteen percent of Americans polled last year by The Associated Press and Ipsos say they have seen a UFO. The question is, is there a major change coming? Decades ago, Juhan af Grann of Finland, a New Age "prophet", proclaimed that one day flying saucers would rescue a part of mankind and transport them to other planets. And in 50's the US is said to have such technology (e.g. testimonies of Stan Deyo, US Air Force). Is it time to condition the common people to the existance of "these things" - when the "catching away" is so near?

There are events not easily explained as everyday occurrences, and there are even such ones which have caused severe threats to life. I don't know why, but one thing usually comes into my mind when a new UFO sighting is announced... Hitler once said, "Make the lie big enough, so that nobody can believe it to be a lie". All in all, there will be one big lie to explain the Rapture of the Church. The Scriptures state that during the tribulation period, God will send unbelievers strong delusion that they should believe a lie (2nd Thessalonians 2:11). And already there are "solutions" to explain an event in which millions of people will go missing. The "Zeta's" are "singing the same tune" as the Muslim - Imam Mahdi is coming soon.

Quote: "Many major religions expect the return of a religious teacher, who will inaugurate a new time and/or religion. Hindus await the coming of Kalki avatar or Krishna, shia Muslims the Imam Mahdi, Jews the Messiah, Christians the Christ, Zoroastrians the Peshotan, and the Buddhists expect the Maitreya ("The Buddha of the Future."). Benjamin Creme claims that these are one and the same person, namely Maitreya the World Teacher."

Some people claim this man has made supernatural appearances already. Will the next one be out of the well of Jamkaram in Iran? Is history repeating itself? Once again we have a devout nation - Iran, already brainwashed for the appearance of their "godly" leader. The mission is already set too, to wipe out 6 million Jews... again. The only thing they need now is for a charismatic leader to appear, shouting the word, "Go!"

"yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (Joh. 16:2)

But what made me wonder with the Texas story was the comment, "this is the Bible Belt, and everyone is afraid it's the end of times". How come?! Is it so that the Bible-believing Christians don't know the Scriptures anymore? What I have seen in my country is, that, even the basic doctrines are not clear enough for many. Let me explain. Although many people don't want to waste their "quality time" in thinking, the meaning of the Old Testament's "Day of the Lord" is the key to understanding 2 Thess. 2. correctly.

- if you think about 2 Thess. 2 - keeping the view that the Rapture happens first and after that the falling away and so on - that entire message of chapter 2 makes complete sense.

But, if the Church will be taken away only at the end of the Tribulation, the message of Paul is senseless, even weird. He should not have been calming them down, but further strengthening them, "Yes, you are in heavy persecutions (2 Thess. 1:4) already, but as you know, much much more worse is yet to come. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. Man will be made more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Yes, it will be horrible. I'm sad to say, but you just have to endure it somehow"...

If the "post-trib" theory was the view which the apostle Paul held and taught, wouldn't the Thessalonians have had the right to ask these questions from him...

(Paul, figuratively): "Ah, you are asking that what did I mean with my words in 1 Thess. 4:18, to comfort one another with these words of Rapture? I meant what I said, that if you have stayed alive, you will be raptured without seeing death - otherwise from the grave... Ah, you say, that then we should actually be hoping for a sudden, painless natural death, to avoid all those horribilities on you, if that time starts already in your lifetime - especially when you already are having such hard times ... well, I have to say that undeniably you are right ..."

Blessed Hope? Not at all the one the Bible is offering to us! It will be indeed a time of great sorrow and pain, the Day of the Lord, when the righteous wrath of God will fall upon the wicked. But the blessed hope of the true Christian is His soon return to gather all His saints to His Father's House. And when the Church has gone, a new dispensation will emerge, one in which the Lord will restore His relationship with the remnant of the Jews. But that will be the time of Jacob's Trouble - seven years of escalating horror described in the Book of Revelation, starting from chapter 4.

There's no prophecy yet to occur before the Lord's coming for His saints. What a wonderful moment it will be, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor. 15:52) we'll be together with Him forever!

He may come tonight. Come, Lord Jesus!