I think we are both pretty much on the same page now. I've had to adjust my thinking a little. One way people are caught off guard as you say is the shortness of time in which things go from bad to devastating. Not to mention the Rapture people expecting to be gone without seeing anything looking like the day of the Lord. Back to analogies...it began to rain, but took some time (not a lot) before they realize exactly what kind of danger they were in.....birth pangs on a woman come suddenly, but, still a little time before the birth...

The world being filled with violence is a good parallel...to some of us, Christ's coming doesn't seem far off. And as you say, even some of the best "Christians" are desensitized to things that would curl Christ's toes.

The Great Tribulation as you say, won't necessarily be on the world, but, on those who refuse to let the Witnesses die. Those who were tortured by them will have a lull in the action for the 3 1/2 yrs. Killing Christians, I'm sure, might be just as much fun today as it was in Rome--just being facitious.

Chris