The Not So Secret Rapture

reformed.org ^ | W. Fred Rice

[topcat54]

Evangelical book catalogs promote books such as Planet Earth: The Final Chapter, The Great Escape, and the Left Behind series. Bumper stickers warn us that the vehicle’s occupants may disappear at any moment. It is clear that there is a preoccupation with the idea of a secret rapture. Perhaps this has become more pronounced recently due to the expectation of a new millennium and the fears regarding potential Y2K problems. Perhaps psychologically people are especially receptive to the idea of an imminent, secret rapture at the present time. Additionally, many Christians are not aware that any other position relative to the second coming of Jesus Christ exists. Even in Reformed circles there are numerous people reading these books. Many of these people are unaware that this viewpoint conflicts with Scripture and Reformed Theology.

[metmom]

The Word of God is infallible.

Not according to the Catholic church.

From Catholic answers.com....

http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0510fr.asp

The interpretation of the word of God is infallible. That is the Catholic belief.

And a wrong one at that.

If you think that you hold the original writings of whoever Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were in your hands, then you are sadly mistaken. Hint: they didn't write the King James version.

Nor do Catholics have the original. They didn't write the Septuagint either. The Catholic Bible is a translation of a translation.

So the very criticism you level against the *Protestant* Bible applies at least equally to your own. On one hand, you appeal to the fact that Protestants do not have the original manuscripts in your argument against Protestants use of Scripture. OTOH, Catholics appeal to that very same Scripture, which is no more certain, to support their most cherished doctrines.

It's hypocritical to demand to have it both ways. It's disingenuous to try to use Scripture from sources you demean and expect others to accept them as authoritative after trashing the sources.

Therefore, all the doctrines that the Catholic church appeals to Scripture for authority of, like the papacy, and apostolic succession, the institution of the priesthood, their ability to forgive sins, etc, are all built on unreliable documents (by your argument) and therefore are no more certain that that.

[metmom]

[metmom]

That’s not what I asked.

Who r what decided to interpret the teachings of Jesus to come up with Catholic theology?

I want YOUR answer.

[count-your-change]

Infallible: "infallible [ɪnˈfæləbəl] adj 1. not fallible; not liable to error 2. not liable to failure; certain; sure an infallible cure 3. completely dependable or trustworthy n a person or thing that is incapable of error or failure infallibility , infallibleness n infallibly adv Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003 www.thefreedictionary.com/infallible -" On the other hand, from the link in your post: "The same can be said of a book. No book, not even the Bible, is capable of making a decision. This means it would be wrong to say that the Bible is either infallible or fallible—such terms should not be used about it or about any other book. ttp://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0510fr.asp" Redefining the English language to play word games. So what's new?

[Alamo-Girl]

Recall that the Pharisees also refused salvation, nor did they want anyone else to have it.

Indeed. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. - Matt 23:13

God's Name is I AM.

[count-your-change]

Infallible: "infallible [ɪnˈfæləbəl] adj 1. not fallible; not liable to error 2. not liable to failure; certain; sure an infallible cure 3. completely dependable or trustworthy n a person or thing that is incapable of error or failure infallibility , infallibleness n infallibly adv Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003 www.thefreedictionary.com/infallible -" On the other hand, from the link in your post: "The same can be said of a book. No book, not even the Bible, is capable of making a decision. This means it would be wrong to say that the Bible is either infallible or fallible—such terms should not be used about it or about any other book. ttp://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0510fr.asp" Redefining the English language to play word games. So what's new?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so very much for your wonderful essay posts, dearest sister in Christ, all of them!

Because on the one hand, Dawkins wouldn't/couldn't rail at God at all if, in fact, he did not already know that God IS. Dawkins knows very well that God exists: He just doesn't like Him very much — all those nasty rules that put a crimp on Dawkins' style in some obscure way. On the other hand, Dawkins is a theological ignoramus. He cannot open his mouth without confessing his ignorance on all questions of God and religion.

So very true.

It would be delusional to hate someone that doesn't exist.

And man is not the measure of God!

[metmom]

The pronunciation in online definitions is usually in HTML, which then screws up the formatting for the rest of the post.

I find that I have to edit out stuff like the pronunciations and replace the little arrows that they use for examples of how to use the word in a sentence.

[metmom]

Redefining the English language to play word games. So what's new?

There's nothing new under the sun.....

Or so I've heard.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your encouragements, dear brother in Christ!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for sharing your insights, dear brother in Christ!

The manuscripts attributed to Paul and those attributed to John go hand-in-glove revealing the deity of Christ, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Creation, etc.

They are not like words of men. They are divine revelations.

For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. - John 6:63

The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. – Psalms 12:6-7

God's Name is I AM.

[Alamo-Girl]

Why don't you tell me that the Holy Spirit, in opposition to the story of the tower of Babel, has led them all?

God always leads His own sheep.

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. - I John 2:27

And again,

To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. – John 10:3-5

And again,

[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. - Romans 8:1-9

God's Name is I AM.

[Alamo-Girl]

As someone said about Dawkins once, if there's ever proof that there can be an idiot with an IQ over 150....

LOLOL!

Thank you so much for sharing your insights, dear sister in Christ!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for all your encouragements, dear brother in Christ!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for sharing your insights, dear sister in Christ!

The "pink unicorn" comparison to God has been used by atheists to ridicule the Judeo/Christian God for nearly two decades all over the internet.

[Alamo-Girl]

For self-proclaimed Christians, God expects us to come to the right understanding of who He is and He has given us His Spirit to do so. We bring God's judgment down upon ourselves when we ignore or refuse a truth about God and His nature. It's not that we will lose our salvation but we stifle our growth and can ship wreck our faith. We become "stuck" in our Christian walk and will see little fruit in our lives.

SO very true. Thank you for sharing your insights, dear brother in Christ!

[Alamo-Girl]

I'll settle for those who have a child like faith in God's word any day then those who fancy themselves as "experts".

Ditto.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. - I Corinthians 1:18-25

Thank you for sharing your insights, dear brother in Christ!

[Alamo-Girl]

Very engaging. Thank you for sharing your insights, dear sister in Christ!

[count-your-change]

I kinda messed it up. Not thinking well so late at night. Thanks.