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.
Trying to compare the destruction of the Temple in the 1st century to what Danial predicted is simply nonsense.
The Tribulation is spoken of the worst times in human history (Matt.24:21), and that hasn’t happened yet and it certanily didn’t happen in the 1st century!
= = =
INDEED. UTTER NONSENSE.
Even UDDER NONSENSE—worse than a cow with mastitis.
GOODNESS NO!
TRIBULATION . . . is still future as far as I can tell though a friend of mine thinks we’ve started into it.
I think we are just in the birth pangs leading up to it.
How many of my posts have you read? I’m pretty well known for this perspective, hereon.
The Tribulation is spoken of the worst times in human history (Matt.24:21), and that hasn’t happened yet and it certanily didn’t happen in the 1st century!
= = =
INDEED. UTTER NONSENSE.
You need to re-read the parable of the wise virgins a few hundred more times, until it sinks in. Also read the letter to the Philadelphian congregation in Revelation. The message is there, and it is strong; you just don't want to believe it.
Amen!
The writings of occultists have planned for a response to that rapture for more than 1000 years. Do they know something that the A-mil gang doesn't?
Well, did I misunderstand this post?
The Tribulation is spoken of the worst times in human history (Matt.24:21), and that hasn’t happened yet and it certanily didn’t happen in the 1st century!
= = =
INDEED. UTTER NONSENSE.
= = = =
Sorry. I guess I was too cryptic.
I was agreeing with the poster that:
THIS POST BELOW WAS QUITE TRUE AND THAT ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY WAS UTTER NONSENSE.
The Tribulation is spoken of the worst times in human history (Matt.24:21), and that hasn’t happened yet and it certanily didn’t happen in the 1st century!
Amen.
The Nazi holocaust was far worse then the destruction of Jerusalem.
The future will be even worse.
Amen.
A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth, being condemned in himself. (Tit.3:10)
Amen.
First, no in is saying that the nation of Israel is the House of Israel.
The House of Israel and House of Judea are a divided kingdom.
Second, many people from the Northern Kingdom did in fact stay with the South.
Third, those same tribes, called the house of Israel are referred to by Peter as being responsible for crucfying the Lord. (Acts.2:36)
They couldn't have been responsible if they were not present.
Now, reuniting by the Lord of the two Kingdoms will occur when the Lord reestablishes the Davidic Covenant under Christ.
No Gentile nations are being blessed as Israel.
The Jews are composed of all 12 tribes, since Christ is King of the Jews, all 12 tribes, not just 3.
Thus, the notion that because Israelites are not directly called Jews is simply 'straining at a gnat' because they are indirectly called so.
My point being; is this a current map of Israel, the nation of Israel or is it one of long ago when all tribes were there? Even the name on your map separates them by saying - The kingdoms of Israel and Judah. There is a difference.
No one disputes the fact that Israel and Judah divided, but the fact is that when they returned, they returned with members from all 12 tribes, not just 3.
Likewise those Israelites who did not return to Israel, but remained in the Persian Kingom were also called Jews (Esth.3:13) and those lands were the same lands that the Assyrians had taken the original 10 tribes to.
Thus, by then, they were being called Jews also.
They are now intermingled together as one people.
In the future, they will be identified as by tribe and that is what is being discussed when the Kingdom is reunited both North and South.
What is most certain is that no Gentile nations are being blessed as Israelites.
Amen.
Amen to your post!
Aren't you tired of wresting scripture? (2Pe.3:15).
What I wanted to do, I have accomplished.
I have 'outed' all of you, Diego, you and 'truth' as British-Israelites, something you were trying to hide and deny, particulary Diego.
No Gentile nations are being blessed as Israelites, they are blessed for protecting and caring for them-which means all 12 tribes that we know as Jews.
Ofcourse the nation of Israel is Jewish, it is filled with Jews!
It just isn't the Kingdom of Israel yet.
Now, you keep talking about this 'plan' but seem very hestiant to state it clearly.
So why is the United States being blessed?
I say it is because they bless Israel (Gen.12)(Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob).
As for scripture, you don't have any scriptures, you have a bunch of Greek and Hebew lexicons of languages you can't even read.
Peter is not telling them those listening to witness to the house of Israel since those listening aren't even saved yet.
He is speaking to those of the house of Israel as the crucifiers of Christ since it is they who then ask what must they do.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Clearly, you lose-the house of Israel were known as Jews as well.
But your problem is clear from Scripture
2Tim. 3.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Alright, but that is the essence of British Israelitism.
Yes, America is here for a reason, but America has nothing to do with any lost tribes.
Not if your view follows the essential tenet of British-Israelism, that the 'lost tribes' are now Gentile nations.
You are arguing about particulars of that view, not the essential issue which is that Israelites are not Jews and they are now someone else.
And you consider the United States one of those nations.
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