Why do you think certain groups like to hype up the apocalypse?

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

wow, you all have made such a mess of this thread...I feel compelled to clean it up.

1) the explanation of the end times is not suppose to scare Christians, it is suppose to comfort them "when you see these things taking place, look up for your redemption draws nigh"

2) the Apostles did NOT believe the end was imminent - rather they taught certain events must occur first

3) the identity of the figures symbolized will not be knowable until the events are unfolding

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

I thought the reference to the rapture was supposed to come out of First Thessalonians, not Revelation, is that not correct?  However, I am aware that those pushing the rapture are big on Revelation.

you can teach the rapture from several books of the NT, including Revelations...but 1Cor ch 15 and 1Thes ch 4 give the most detail as to what the individual will experience.