Frank typed on his computer keyboard in the Skype chat window while the thoughts of the Rapture raced in his mind. He saw a vision of himself rising with millions into the air to meet the Lord in the clouds. He had been so overwhelmed by all the colorful charts he saw the night before on how this event would take place

Frank, yet holding the vivid images in his mind, thought he would share them with his friend in Dallas. So, he pulled out his notes and decided to answer the questions Trevor (his friend in Dallas) sent him via Skype chat. He thought, oh this will be easy.

Trevor asked Frank why he believed in the Rapture? Frank replied, well, my minister showed us these charts he got from Jim Hagee and Tim LaHaye. They very nicely done he says. They really illustrate how the event will take place.

Trevor asked if he had ever seen those charts in the Bible? Frank, uttering to himself, "huh," why would he ask me something like that? Trevor typed back a swift reply, "Well have you?"

Frank responds, "no, I haven't." So Trevor asked, "Why do you believe them?" Frank had no real answer other than to say the charts were graphically appealing, the speaker who presented them were enthusiastic and said it was all in the Bible.

Trevor went on to ask, have you read the Bible for yourself? Frank said, well no. Why not?, Trevor asked. Frank typed, "I guess I depend on my minister to teach me all the hard things about eschatology and other matters in the Bible."

Trevor typed: You've got it all wrong, man. You're supposed to read for yourself and even question the message you receive from your ministers and teachers." He then asked Frank to open his Bible and read two texts. The first was 2 Timothy 2:15; the second was Acts 17:11-12.

So the chat board goes silent while Frank reads the first text.

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15).

Then he checked the table of contents of his Bible to find Acts. Noting the page number, he thumbed through until he found chapter 17, verses 11-12.

"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and search the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, and prominent women as well as men."

After he finished, Frank typed the words slowly on the screen. Ok, I'm done.

Trevor typed back, "Now, have you taken the time to search the subject for yourself? And, are you being fair-minded by accepting those charts blindly without asking whether they are really true or not?

Frank, a bit puzzled said, no, what do you mean? Trevor said, Did you know the Lord promised he would return in within a few years of his going away, to the same generation he spoke to while on earth? Go ahead, check it out. It's in Matthew 24:30-34.

Frank, shocked by his friends statement said, "What do you mean Trevor?, Are you trying to tell me there is no Rapture and that the second coming is already fulfilled in the past?

Trevor typed: I'm not trying to tell you anything other than to read your own Bible, have a fair and honest mind and listen to what the text says. Frank's heart now racing found the text in Matthew 24, and read beginning at verse 30. When he got to verse 34, he almost dropped out of his chair. He read,"For assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place."

Frank asked, What are you saying. Again, Trevor, said, what did you read? Frank said, well, if I take it like it's says in the Bible, it sounds like the Lord came back in the first century generation and the second coming is past. Then he typed. But that's not what my minister had on his chart.

Trevor again asked. Do you see your minister's charts in the Bible? Frank said. no. Then is it fair to believe them above what you read in the Scriptures? Frank was visibly becoming disturbed, even getting a little angry with Trevor because he really had no comeback for these questions. But Trevor couldn't see his reactions. He did noticed that there was more silence between Frank's replies.

Finally, Frank typed. I'm going to ask my preacher. I just can't believe this is what the Bible is saying. Maybe he'll have a better explanation. If I take this as it is written, then it teaches there is no Rapture we should be looking forward to. It says all these things already happened.

Trevor said, okay Frank. Ask your preacher, but remember. One of these days you're going to have to cut your umbilical cord from your minister and do your own independent study. About that time, the phone rang and Trevor had to excuse himself from the conversation. "Bye Frank, he typed, Got a phone call. Bye T. Talk to you next time.