THE GOSPELS AND THE RAPTURE

Question - Why does the Bible not contain all 12 Disciples Gospels? 
Answer - For two reasons: The first is that they were not written by the disciples. The earliest Gospel (Mark) was written about half a century after the events. We do not know who the actual authors were and certainly not  whether they were written by any of the apostles---they were in fact unnamed for quite some time before they were associated with a disciple.

The Pauline Epistles actually predates the Gospels. There is a hypotheses that Paul's Epistles triggered other writers to write down the oral tradition of Jesus' preaching's in order to stop Paul from changing Jesus' teachings too much. 

The second is that the Bible is written and assembled by a committee. In Gnostic traditions, there are a few more gospels, including one by Mary Magdalene, the more famous Gospel According to Thomas and even a Gospel According to Judas. But over the centuries, the early church de-
cided which books were canonical and which were not, based on which fit the early Christian Theology, which had grown organically in the first three centuries. Only Mark, Matthew, Luke and John prevailed. (If that is the order of the four gospels, why weren't they put in that order in the Bible?)


This question was asked on christianity.com
Question - Where in the Bible does it explain or even mention a Rapture?
What is the Rapture? 
Answer - The word rapture is taken from the Latin word "rapio" in the place of two words "caught up", as used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. It has come into popular use today for the church, to lift her up into the heavens, and used today to refer to the Lord Jesus' Coming for the Church. It's true that the word rapture is not in the Bible. Neither will you find the Trinity by name, nor the word mission, and a number of other terms we use today to describe a theological concepts clearly taught in the scriptures.

The article goes on to say, When you are studying the rapture of the Church, there are several things you need to keep in mind. First of all, the second coming of Christ is in two parts, separated by a period of seven years. (I don't recall this part.) The first part is sometimes referred to as the "Rapture".  Two scriptures are mentioned, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, and I Corinthians 15:52-58. I do not agree that this is talking about a rapture. In 1 Thessalonians it is talking about the state of the dead.  When Christ returns to the earth for his second coming, the dead in Christ shall rise first from their graves (they are not in heaven) to meet Christ in the air. In verse 17 The righteous who are saved and remain alive will be caught up together with them that have came out of their graves in the clouds to meet Christ in the air. What isn't said is that the righteous will not remain in the clouds. One scripture says they will be with Christ where ever he is. I Corinthians 15:52-58 was the next scripture. In verse 52 it says, for the trump shall sound, and the dead (not from heaven) shall be raised (from the grave) incorruptible, and we (who are alive) shall be changed. (Note: This is the first resurrection mentioned in scripture.) 

The second part of Christ's return to the earth occurs when Christ physically, bodily returns to this earth and stands with his feet on the Mount of Olives, from which He ascended after his resurrection from the the dead. The interval between these two events is known as the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation is divided into two, three-and-a-half-year periods each. That is a total of seventy weeks and is described in Daniel 9:14-27.

Many churches believe that the righteous will not be on the earth when these tribulations come. They will be raptured up to Christ into heaven and be kept from this terrible time. The scripture in Revelation is quoted - Revelation 3:10 "Because they have kept the words of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."  This scripture doesn't refer to a rapture. God said he would keep his people from the tribulation, but doesn't mention where his people will be. 

The Church of God (Seventh Day) organization teaches us that God's people, the righteous, will not be judged with the world, when God pours out His wrath in the day of the Lord. The scripture teaches us to look for the Lord's Return, not for a rapture or be concerned about the Great Tribulation that will be poured out on the earth. Many scriptures tells us that no man has or will ascend to heaven. The only one who ascended to heaven was Only him who came down from heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the scriptures that people use to teach about a rapture, the one where two are in the field, one is taken and the other left, I believe it means one is taken in death and the other left alive. 

Jesus said regarding His second coming, "But the day nor the hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." We should live like Jesus's coming is today. It may be closer for you than you dare dream. For me it could be tomorrow or in the next second, when I pass away and be put in my grave to wait to be resurrected at the second coming of Christ. When I am awakened and come out of my grave in the earth, the first thing I will see is the Face of Christ.