The first occurance of the name "Jew" is in 2 Kings. 
Posted on 07/07/2007 7:48:37 PM PDT by tnarg
Mark it down as biblical truth: There is no pre-tribulation rapture.
However, untold thousands believe in the "secret rapture of the church" prior to the tribulation period. This is because untold thousands don't want to have to think of suffering through a tribulation time frame. The late Corrie ten Boom called this pre-trib rapture teaching the "American doctrine." Go figure.
The belief in a secret rapture of believers before the tribulation is also because of a best-seller, "The Late, Great Planet Earth," by Hal Lindsey which was set loose in the l960s. It has been a paperback aggressively pushed by practically every evangelical / fundamentalist engine going.
Theologians, videos, films and preachers bolster up this myth with their earnest preachings and teachings.
Yet this is nothing but a myth, accented as much by certain theologically conservative Protestant segments similar unto the Roman Catholic underlining of the immaculate conception of Mary. Nevertheless, if there is no biblical support for such a Mariology teaching, it is bogus. Likewise, the pre-tribulation rapture teaching is bogus.
The pre-trib rapture concept was manufactured in the 1800s in an 18 year old Plymouth Brethren girl's dream, told to her Pastor, John Darby, and then relayed to C. I. Scofield who bought into the dream as revealed truth. Scofield placed this pre-tribulation rapture notion as a footnote in his popular Bible, hence the spread of the myth.
However, just the opposite is biblical truth. In Matthew 24:29-3l, for instance, the rapture ("gathering together") is placed in the same time frame as the open second coming of Jesus Christ. And all of this is "after the tribulation" (verse 29). That is it in a nutshell!
Yet pre-tribulation rapturists sidestep this clear passage for more oblique passages. The latter are twisted and turned in order to fit into the "American doctrine." Yet such twisting is not sound exegesis. And for biblically-riveted evangelicals and fundamentalists to commit this drastic error is bordering on the horrific.
All other passages in Scripture relating to the "gathering together unto Him" must refer back to the literal time line provided by Jesus in Matthew 24.
One must not use a symbolic passage in the Book of Revelation or any other symbolically-based section of the Bible by which to draw a pre-tribulation rapture doctrine.
Further, one must not take words of the apostle Paul so as to insert them opportunistically into a conjured pre-tribulation string of Scripture references. Yet this has been done ad infinitum.
Instead, Jesus' literalism of Matthew 24 must be used as the benchmark for all other "gathering together" themes of Scripture.
One starts with literalism and moves into symbolism when seeking to understand Scripture; it is not the other way around.
During the 1970s and 1980s there was much written and preached about a pre-tribulation rapture. This has wound down some in the last decade or so. Why?
Today, with the world situation being what it is, there is not that much risk-taking in preaching dogmatically the pre-tribulation rapture. Why?
Is it because there are many who are beginning to question its validity? Is it because the world state is so uncertain that to go out on a limb with a false hope may ricochet?
One wonders, with world events progressively becoming more and more anti-Christian, why the pre-tribulation rapture persons are not celebrating each dawn as the day when Jesus may return to earth.
Such is not the phenomenon on a large scale. Furthermore, it may be because the next generation has not bought into this notion.
In any case, it is a myth, a legend of conservative Protestantism's own conjuring and has no base in the Holy Scriptures.
Yet these very Protestants are the ones who ardently point out the myths of Catholicism while holding to some of their own myths. Both segments of Christendom need to do some serious housecleaning of manufactured legends in order to return to the simple Bible truths; otherwise, the church suffers from severe lack of knowledge.
What is so frightening about holding to a pre-tribulation rapture? It is more than mere academic quibbling. Holding to such a notion is drastically weakening the church worldwide.
The church should be preparing for spiritual battle against the most evil forces arrayed by hell.
Instead, the church is languishing with a false hope. This is all orchestrated by the demonic powers in order to eventuate in a limp army of believers. And to see that through in this age of laxity in religion does not take much on the part of the dark powers. In addition, the apostate segment of religion is doing its fair share of blackening truth.
Does it take much intelligence to realize that there are awesomely wretched days yet ahead for the righteous remnant?
Those who are not strong will drop--fall away, as biblically predicted. They will be too numerous to contemplate. But for those who are truly into carrying the daily cross there will be nothing able to thwart their zeal for Christ.
Already the remnant is being strengthened by the Spirit of light. He is gathering His own together in the power of the resurrection and the might of the revealed Word. There numbers are few; but their ardor before the Father is lovingly honored.
Set your vision upon the difficulties yet to be. They are but the trials permitted by the coming Christ.
At the close of the tribulation period, then there will be the gathering together of the believers from the four corners of the earth. They will greet Jesus in the clouds as He descends through space, having left the right hand of the Father in heaven.
The gathering together ("rapture") and the second advent then will be realized as one and the same event occurring at the end of the tribulation time frame. Jesus' declaration in Matthew 24:29-3l states it clearly.
“Our Lord directed the twelve to go where??? Israel....not the Gentiles....but to Israel! [Matthew 10:5-6]”
No, He directed them to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the utter most part of the earth (Acts 1:8). When He sent the 12 in Matthew 10, the Holy Spirit was not extant. He came on them as in the Old Testament eeconomy.
You are correct....plus the fact that it is no where mentioned in scripture that they returned.....while two entire books (Ezra & Nehemiah) are devoted to the return from Babylon of the Jews about 525 B.C. This would have been about 200 years after the Assyrian exile of Israel.
It is after the Babylonian captivity that the Books of the Kings and the Chronicles are written and the Southern Kingdom is hereafter referred to as Jewish. The Northern Kingdom continues to just be called Israel.
Remember.....during the first century Josephus records that the people of the Ten Tribes, beyond the Euphrates, are so numerous....they cannot be counted!
Acts 21:27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
Who were these "Jews of Asia?"
I'm sorry....you are wrong. They were not directed to go there. They were told to stay out of there [Matthew 10:5-6], but like most human beings.....when it comes to the Word of God, they ignored it.
[Acts 1:8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The one place this scripture (in violation of the command in Matthew 10:5-6) that says they would be a witness to fulfill this prophecy, was Samaria. The reason Peter and John went to Samaria was because Philip....a non Apostle [Acts 6:5] went to Samaria [Acts 8:5] to preach the gospel. Peter and John were summoned (in violation of Our Lord's command) to bring the Holy Spirit [Acts 8:15-17]. Philip, a Grecian Jew [Acts 6:1-6], was not able to summon the Holy Spirit. Thus, he called for Peter and John. They should have stayed in Jerusalem because this is exactly where Simon Magus and his Babylonian Mystery Religion gets its start. We all know where Simon ends up being treated like a god.....don't we?
There were problems from the start with the Grecian Jews and they almost killed the Apostle Paul [Acts 9:26-30]. This foray into Samaria was not the work of The Lord! It was the work of these Septuagint indoctrinated Jews who had a completely different vision of this cradle of Christianity.
The rest of your scripture [Acts 1:8] indeed tells us that the Israelites had been dispersed and had immigrated all over the known world at that time.
First of all....you must understand that Jerusalem is in Asia.....Asia Minor....but nevertheless Asia. Babylon is also in Asia and a great number of Jews did not return from Babylon. Nevertheless they retained their religion and still traveled to Jerusalem for the Festivals.
In the Book of Esther is a great example of a population of Jews electing to stay behind. [Esther 2:5-7] Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
Shushan is another name for Susa....the capital of Persia during the reign of Xerxes....also known as Ahasuerus. Xerxes was the Greek spelling. He was king in Persia about 424 B.C. This would have been 100 years after the return from Babylon spoken of in Ezra and Nehemiah. Persia had been part of the old Babylonia empire and Mordacai's parents, grandparents and a multitude of other Jews had elected to stay in Babylon. This is a good example of the Asian Jews spoken of in your scripture.
The Talmud....revered by many modern day Jews had its beginning in Babylon.....after the exile. You can read of some of that history right here. In [Acts 22:3] the Apostle Paul speaks of studying under the great Hebrew scholar "Gamaliel". Gamaliel's grandfather was another great Hebrew scholar called Hillel the Elder.
There were many Asian Jews in and about Jerusalem during the first century.
The first occurance of the name "Jew" is in 2 Kings.
I agree with you in that many will be caught unprepared and the reason, as you say, is that they are being taught they will be raptured.
The Bible teaches us that there are two tribulations, the first is the one of Satan when he comes pretending to be Christ. Most of the world will follow him, including many Christians. The tribulation of Christ is after his. If we have not fallen for Satan's deceit and worshipped him then we will be brought through it as Noah, Daniel in the lion's den, God's children in the Exodus, etc., etc. There are many examples of God's protection of His children.
Prepare, or beware! The only thing anyone should be concerned with is leading the lost into Salvation!
Yes, and warning them that Satan comes first as Christ warned us in His Word.
“Thus, he called for Peter and John. They should have stayed in Jerusalem”
I don’t know what version of the bible this comes from but mine says they went to Samaria because the Jerusalem church sent them to confirm what was taking place there (Acts 8:12-14, “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:”) . If people were believing and being baptized, the Holy Spirit was there. They had not been “baptized” in the Holy Spirit, just like the 120 in the upper room before Pentecost.
As to Samaria, the Great Commission does not exclude it; it says go into all the world, with no exception. The persecution caused the disciples, including Philip, to disperse and carry the gospel to the uttermost parts, including Samaria, where Jesus taught.
I haven't read that. Thank you for posting it. There are also ancient indications of Israelite priests here in the United States. If you're at all interested I would look it up for you (I have a really bad memory) but the 10 commandments are carved in stone as well as other signs. One of the places is referred to as the "Bat Creek Stone".
Not to mention that Hosea 1:10-11 predicts the the two houses will reunite at some future time and get right with God.....There has been no evidence that happened.
Ez.37:22 also mentions them being reunited but it is yet future.
You are absolutely correct. [Acts 8:12-14] But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
This was done in direct violation of The Lord's command to them here: [Matthew 10:5-6] These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
I guess you have to ask yourself....."Who should I believe and trust in? The Jerusalem Church....or my Lord and Saviour?"
No one is saying that Samaria, or Outer Mongolia or any other place on this Earth would not be evangelized. The Lord saw to it when He selected Paul, Timothy, Barnabas and others.....not of "THESE TWELVE"!
I'm reading the same Bible you are. Why do you think this happened? [Acts 10:44-46] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter. And also this: [Acts 11:1-3] And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
Because.....The Twelve were told to not evangelize the Gentiles or go to Samaria. God would see to it that someone else would undertake that task! That is why they were so astonished and critical of Peter....until they understood that the Holy Spirit had directed him to do this to show a way for the Gentiles also.
Enter Paul!
Yeah, the Book of Mormon talks about that.
I didn't read it in the Book of Mormon. Do you discount it because it is there?
No, I discount it because both the Book of Mormon and the Bat Creek Stone were frauds.
“Why do you think this happened? [Acts 10:44-46]”
The gospel first went to the Jews, then to the Samaritans, Jews who had intermarried and produced mixed offspring of Jews and Gentiles, then to full Gentiles. It was a gradual acclimation of the gospel to all peoples and the Jews had to be reoriented to this in their thinking. That was what Jesus was saying in Acts 1:8. You can’t put new wine in old wineskins without first reconditioning the old wineskins.
I glanced through parts of the Book of Mormon once and there were things I didn't believe. Can you tell me about the Bat Creek Stone. Why do you believe it is a fraud?
You're the one who brought it up. Why did you bring it up and why do you think it's real?
I don't know much about it. I was about to write what I believe it says but I truly have a terrible memory. I'll look into it later and let you know what I find. It's just that I didn't realize there was any hint of it being a fraud.
I apologize. I just noticed you provided a link about the Bat Creek Stone and I skipped over it. I just read it and see why you believe it is a fraud. I’ll look into it a bit more. Sorry I missed your link.......Ping
The pre-trib rapture concept was manufactured in the 1800s in an 18 year old Plymouth Brethren girl’s dream, told to her Pastor, John Darby, and then relayed to C. I. Scofield who bought into the dream as revealed truth. Scofield placed this pre-tribulation rapture notion as a footnote in his popular Bible, hence the spread of the myth.
= = =
That’s the MYTH
as I’ve documented hereon before.
I forget which thread.
As you stated quite WRONGLY, untruely, AND historically very INaccurately.
It was clearly taught as early as A.D. 376 and in America as early as 1784.
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