The Rapture Puzzle

This is describing locusts – before them the land is like the garden of Eden and behind them a desertwaste, nothing escapes them.Now let’s read from Revelation 9 again: The fifthangel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star thathad fallen from the sky to the earth. The star wasgiven the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When heopened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like thesmoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and skywere darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. Andout of the smoke locusts came down on the earthand were given power like that of scorpions of theearth.OK, going back now to Joel 2: They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along likecavalry. With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fireconsuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle.So, Joel tells us that they have the appearance of horses. And going back to Revelation 9 again: Thelocusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something likecrowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women‘s hair,and their teeth were like lions‘ teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and thesound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.Joel is describing the first alien invasion of earth that happens at the first woe, or first rapture event.Let’s see what else Joel tells us about this day: At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; everyface turns pale. They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march inline, not swerving from their course. They do not jostle each other; each marches straightahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. They rush upon the city; theyrun along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows.Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and thestars no longer shine. The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyondnumber, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the LORD is great; it isdreadful. Who can endure it?Joel tells us that they are like thieves entering houses through the windows. Jesus told us the samething in Matthew 24: ―Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lordwill come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night thethief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be brokeninto. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you donot expect him.And Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 ―For you know verywell that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in thenight. While people are saying, "Peace and safety,"destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains ona pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you,81