This I would agree with.
What I have issue with is the statement I was addressing
“I think rapture myths are being used to control gullible well meaning christians to not taking action”
Almost!
They are being used by Satan to prevent believers from doing what Yeshua asked them to do in order to be protected in the place he will prepare for that purpose in the desert.
Which to me is a blanket statement that all Christians, throughout the entire world, are going to go to Petra or where ever the protected place actually is.
I don't see this as being all believers. Revelation 12 is specifically addressing Israel, or at the very least Israeli converts.
If this were addressing all believers, we are currently looking at a world population of 7 billion.
Some people like to claim 10% of the earth are believers. That would be 700 million.
If we break it down to 1% instead, that still leaves 70 million.
Now we have the argument of are Christians affected by Gods seals and bowl judgements? Because one describes 1/4 of the planet being wiped out and another another 1/3. That means about 3.535 billion people will be wiped out by Gods wrath.
How many are believers? Or are the believers protected from God's wrath at this time.
Petra, if it is the protected place, is very small. Currently Israel 8 million people. But Revelation specifically mentions 144,000 jews, set aside by God.
My point being, I disagree with what the poster said. The place in the dessert isn't for all the current or surviving Christians, from all over the world. Revelation 12 is specifically for Israel in general or the 144,000 at the very least, that is who the protected place is for.
I agree with what you are saying.
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>> “Which to me is a blanket statement that all Christians, throughout the entire world, are going to go to Petra or where ever the protected place actually is.” <<
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No not at all!
Only those that “watched” (kept his appointed times, and thus understood when the call came to go to that place).
To those that do not watch, he comes as a thief. (Rev 3:3)
Yeshua makes the same point in the letter to the Philadelphians, praising them for having kept all of his commandments, thus gaining protection from the hour of temptation.
Obviously those expecting a never to happen secret rapture are not aware when the call comes, and thus must face tribulation and death at the hands of the man of sin and his government.
Israel, and the elect, Yeshua’s assembly, are one and the same. (not all of genetic Israel, but “the lost sheep of the House of Israel” and those others that sojourned with them)
All of the Bible is addressed solely to Israel, in that sense. Yeshua assured us that there would be “few” that would follow his way.
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YOU are either Israel, or grafted unto Israel... which would make you Israel, all the same. What does that do to your thinking?