On to the more interesting subject, Rapture.
You don't believe in the Rapture?
Don't get me wrong, I have heard there was a fissure in the Church about this subject, but have never actually heard anyone admit they didn't believe it.
The passage I come back to is;
Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
I don't believe any such thing about a land in the clouds. But you say God's plan is that all those who have been saved will have to stay around for the torture of the seven years of tribulation?
To what end? To further test saved Christians?
I don't buy it. God loves us and has made known that he wants no harm to come to His children. That if we accept his path to salvation, and live according to his Commandments, we will live eternally in paradise.
The equivalent would be the parent who forces his child to stand out side after dark in the freezing rain, after promising they could come in when the sun went down.
Would the child's faith in the parent be strengthened, or weakened?
Of course not.
Don't get me wrong, I have heard there was a fissure in the Church about this subject, but have never actually heard anyone admit they didn't believe it. The passage I come back to is; Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
He keeps the 7000 from the hour of trial through the Holy Spirit and through the study of His Word. The 7000 will not be tempted by the antiChrist. As Revelation says, the "whole world" will fall for the antiChrist. All but the 7000 that will either be thrown in a religious jail or given a place of safety to broadcast truth. You say that you've never heard of anyone that doesn't believe in the rapture, well by reading Revelation then, that should tell you that the antiChrist has everyone but the 7000 locked into his plan already.
I don't believe any such thing about a land in the clouds. But you say God's plan is that all those who have been saved will have to stay around for the torture of the seven years of tribulation?
It's not torture, it appears to be wonderful. The antiChrist conquers through prosperity as the bible says. Christ and antiChrist are like two suitors to a woman. Christ represents a good man, and antiChrist represents one who will become abusive after marriage. They both are wonderful to the woman during the courtship, but if the woman wrongfully chooses the abusive one, then as soon as she marries him the beatings begin over whatever little things the abusive husband obsesses over. You're going to think antiChrist is Christ here to take you to your clouds.
To what end? To further test saved Christians?
All throughout history Christians have been martyred, by the Romans, the babylonian Catholics, and now today by the Islamists. Why is it that you're so special that you can't simply be put in a position to chooses the right suitor?
I don't buy it. God loves us and has made known that he wants no harm to come to His children. That if we accept his path to salvation, and live according to his Commandments, we will live eternally in paradise.
He has to see who is truly one of His children.
The equivalent would be the parent who forces his child to stand out side after dark in the freezing rain, after promising they could come in when the sun went down. Would the child's faith in the parent be strengthened, or weakened?
How about a parent who lets his child play sports? The child will be on the losing end on occasion. Does that mean the parent is cruel to the child for not stopping them from participating? You act as if the thrill of victory is never worth the agony of defeat or the struggle to overcome your opponent.