Jesus Meets The Saints In The Air

It appears there are 2 periods of time when the saints meet Jesus in the air. His return at the end of the age when His arrival will be obvious to all on the earth, as lightning that strikes in the East and flashes to the West. There will be no doubt or question and every knee will bow.

But the Word implies He will meet us when we are raptured, though I believe this meeting will not be visible or obvious to any left upon the earth at that time.

Now about the 10 virgins. I have always pictured 10 females. God refers to the 144,000, whose foreheads will bear the mark (seal) of God, as virgins. What if the 10 virgins are symbolic of those saints who dwell on the earth at the time right before the rapture occurs. Oil has symbolized the Holy Spirit. Again, is there really any possible hope for rapture insurance as some believers are counting on their born again salvation experience as their guarentee they will avoid eternal damnation? Once saved always saved? Jesus mentions to one of the 7 churches of erasing their name from the Lamb's book of life unless they repent. Does being saved guarrentee candidacy for the rapture? Name written in the Lamb's book of life so it's in the bag no matter what? I think it is much truer to the character of God to require blamelessness as Job for deliverence from the great time of testing for all man upon the earth during the terrible tribulation.

And could the tribulation have already begun with all the persecution in other nations? Is the anti-christ revealed to the whole world or just a priviledged few at first? The first seal that the Lamb of God breaks is the anti-christ rising to power. And Jesus says to the church of Smyrna as knowing their suffering, poverty and tribulation, though they are rich. Then, encouraging them to keep enduring, with the announcement of 10 days of persecution they will endure by being put into prison and martyrdom before they are removed and spared the time of great testing? They have already proven themselves faithful and blameless. It stands to reason they would be spared the end of the age tribulation.

At this moment:
I believe only the saints who are blameless as they stand before the Lord will be raptured, and therefore, escape the time of great testing.
Jesus' return to this earth will be overwhelmingly obvious and awesome and saints from this earth will meet Him in the sky.
This will be the end of the age.

Could the beginning of a new age be when tribulation saints who endure to the end will reign and rule during the 1,000 years Satan is bound. They will rule over the tribulation oppressors and enemies of the cross of Jesus. These immoral people will not be allowed through the gates into the New Jerusalem.
These saints who died and endured during the tribulation will be of the first ressurection while others who died through the ages remain asleep. Blessed are those who are a part of the first ressurection.
When Satan is released, he will be allowed to rise to power, gather his armies and fight for one hour. His defeat will be total and complete.

Then, the second ressurection with the separation of goats and sheep and the great white throne judgment for all not covered in the blood of Jesus.
Satan cast into hell for all eternity.
I am sure my whole existence upon this earth will flash before my eyes to appreciate the horror of and the cost Jesus paid for my sin.
And the saints whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life attend an awards banquet where they are recognized and honored for all their deeds in the name of Jesus.
We could all have positions of varying degrees of authority according to our stewardship during our time spent here.

After evil is judged and cast away for all eternity, the new heaven and earth will be as it was with the garden of Eden before the fall.

Bottom line, Jesus is Lord and the Father is exhalted and glorified by Jesus and the sevenfold Spirit of God - the Holy Spirit, and through the saints who walk humbly with Him.