If youre speaking of the church of Philadelphia and Smyrna, they are NOT denominationsthese are not their names or their denominations—they found favor with God in Revelations because they teach the word of God from scripture-NOT mans interpretation of it, for example: the rapture; that word doesnt even exist in the scriptures.
Revelations 2-11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+2&version=KJV
(and arrow up to Revelations 3 and read.)
they will be killed off for not receiving the mark of the beast.
If satan is coming as anti- (instead of in the Greek language) christ and his purpose is to deceive people into following him AS christ, why would he act as a butcher toward people? Wouldnt this blow his cover? Wouldnt this frighten away the people he is trying to convince into following him?
The mark of the beast is to be received IN the forehead and the hand.
Your brain is IN your forehead; those that understand that the anti-christ comes first to deceive, will NOT receive the mark of the beast, nor will they receive the mark in their hand; the hand represents doing WORK FOR the anti-christ; helping him to deceive others by telling all their friends and relatives that he really is Christ and has come to rapture us away. They praise him and try to get their friends and relatives to praise and follow him, too.
(prep for the bad times aheadhave extra food and barter items, as the 3 ½ years has been shortened to 5 months for the sake of the elect5 months being the lifespan of the locustthe elect being those that will witness against the anti-christ.
What is God rapturing them for if theyve made it to the end?
If theyve made it to the end, they have waited for the TRUE Christs return and they are rewarded for following His word we are in Heaven with Him-Heaven IS wherever God is, and He returns to earth for the millennium, where those that have never been taught will be taught for a thousand years-Gods Day is as a thousand years.
I have a sister that does not believe because she cannot imagine a loving God that would cast non-believers into the pit; (she references those in the jungles of Africa whove never had the opportunity to learn.) He will NOT-not until they have the opportunity to be taught. That is what the millennium is for; to give those that didnt have the chance to learn the opportunity to learn and to CHOOSE, whether to follow God or satan, who will be loosed a short time, at the end of the millennium.
Metmom, you will LOVE reading Revelations 20but, be sure to read the King James version, as the NIV has had some erroneous translations added to it.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2020&version=KJV
But, dont trust me; I am just starting to learn from a pastor that has taught and researched for 60 years; he teaches the Bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse and urges people to use a Strongs Concordance to help with their learning the Wordit has the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic root meanings of words to help you.
He is amazing and many other pastors and priests dont like him because he forever reminds people (especially senior citizens on a fixed income) that God does NOT send out beggars so many churches depend on $$$ and want people to give-give-give, even when they cant. (think of the gold faucets in the evangelists homes and the wealth of the churches!) He asks for tithes IF he has helped you and urges seniors to spend their money on their food and medicine. He is a blessing to listen to.
I was raised a Catholic and will forever be grateful to my mother for my religious upbringing, but we never studied the Bible in this manner, and I feel I have so much to catch up on in very little time. So, please, read the Bible yourself with the aid of a Strongs Concordance
http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html
and pray that God watches over us all!
You are all over the map on the and going off the subject.
In post 12 you said not all churches are the bride of Christ.
HELLO!!!!!!!
By definition, the Church IS the Bride of Christ. If it is not the Bride of Christ, then it is not THE Church, no matter what label its members slap on the outside of the building.
That, by default, implies that you think that organizations or denominations, are the Church. There is no getting around that one.
The churches in Revelation have nothing to do with it and your bringing them up is nothing but a red herring.
As far as the word “rapture” not appearing in Scripture, that is a very weak argument. The words “ trinity” and “incarnation” don’t appear either. Do you reject those doctrines as well?
Your arrogance in thinking you know where other people are at and where they’re coming from is staggering. What makes you think that I haven’t already read and studied all that material just because it differs from your opinion?