Personally, I wonder if we aren’t in the “post church” age. When The Truth can’t find it’s way out of the pulpit because the man in it fears he may offend and lose his tax exemption or wealthy donors, or both, the church has become just as irrelevant as our bankrupt politicians.
The question is academic, because we will find out for sure when the tribulation hits, won’t we?
Cheers!
I feel like I’m in the tribulation already.
Yes.
Exactly! I’m not Shery, but she is my mom, and I’m writing a response for us both. Like most Americans, I grew up hearing the pre-trib rapture ad nauseum. I’m now 40. But when I was 9 years old, I read that very passage in Thessalonians that you quoted, and it was that very verse that caused me to believe that we’ll be here for the tribulation. Not only that, but I’ve just had a strong feeling of warning in my spirit since that young age, that we’re going to go through some really bad times - which would be at least part of the tribulation. When people say “the church is not appointed to God’s wrath” they misunderstand - the tribulation period is not the time of God’s wrath. The end of the tribulation period is the time of God’s wrath, when Christ returns to set things straight. The tribulation period is the time of Satan’s wrath and God’s judgment - beginning with the church. Revelation talks about Satan being cast out of Heaven and how Satan’s wrath is ignited as a result, and it is unleashed against mankind. And Peter said, “It is time for judgment to begin with the house of God” and also “If it is difficult for the righteous to be saved, how much more so for those who are perishing”. Also, we moved overseas to both the Middle East and to Europe, when I was growing up. There we met Christians (as missionaries or local believers) from various countries. They were shocked to hear that Americans believe in a pre-trib rapture. They had never heard of such a doctrine, or if they had, they had only heard it from Americans or from American tele-evangelists. They couldn’t believe we would be so naive to believe such a doctrine, and they were grieved for American churches. They were concerned that many Americans would fall away when they realize the tribulation has arrived and the church is still here on earth. Hearing these fellow Christians share their views made me even more convinced we’ll be here. Later on, I discovered Marv Rosenthal of Zion’s Fire and Zion’s Hope. He is a messianic Jewish believer, who wrote a book called “The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church” which outlines that when Christ returns at the end of the tribulation, we will meet Him in the air as a welcoming party meets its guest of honour. Yes, we’ll meet Him in the air, but it will be to accompany Him as He is descending to earth. At that time is when God’s wrath will be unleashed against the Anti-christ and his false prophet and against all who oppose God. That is the time of God’s wrath, and that is the view we hold to in our family. Thanks for posting!
I would encourage you to watch this 3 part series
by John Hagee, in which he discusses the 4 blood moons
that will occur between 2014 and 2015.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM22diQnS6s
The bride of Christ will be taken from this earth prior to the tribulation. Scripture is clear. Not enough time right now but will check back in this evening.
There are almost no pre-trib scholars that see the rapture in Matt 24 ...
Matt 24 is a reference to the post Second Coming removal of unbelievers from the earth.
The problem with the analysis in this article is that you must accept that if the church is on earth during the tribulation, then God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will pour out their wrath (seals, trumpets, bowls) on the church ... which is patently absurd. The view expoused in the article fails to make a distinction between chastisement through trial ... and judgment through wrath ... the church can experience the first but not the second ... as per 1 Thes 5:9.
And the attempt by some to claim the seals and trumpets are NOT the wrath of God is easily dispensed with via Rev. 6 ... even unbelievers recognize the seal judgments as being the wrath of God.
Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2 Peter 3:4
Discussion PING
I’m leaving. This is getting to much.