Sorry friend. The bible does not mention the rapture anywhere. If you want to believe it great. Do so. But it is not an article of faith, and it is contradicted by Scripture. Furthermore, the Great Awakening is not a theology site. If you want to discuss theology, do so elsewhere.
Follow Jesus, not some guy from the 1800's who read things into the Bible that were not there.
Brother, do you really think that people will be encouraged to learn your views in that way. I realize you are merely doing what you were taught. But most people, myself included, are really turned off by religious people, in general. This is due to a tendency towards dogmatism. Religious folks tend to act the same way as @Jack (Twitter), @Zuckerberg (Facebook) etc. but in a way applied to religion. That is not conducive to learning. Most people will just be turned off.
My personal recommendation to you: 1. Share your views, when appropriate (i.e., when ASKED to do so), 2. explain politely why you believe what you believe, but without preaching. and 3. Show interest in the views of others.
In this setting, I am not sure why you presumed that I was interested in discussing religion, or especially in discussing the "rapture"--a word not even found in the Bible. What is the point? You are trying to fit a square peg into a round circle. As a result, in my opinion, you are going to scare people away especially when you are so adamant about issues not even found in Scripture, and which are of zero practical relevance. If you are not here when the Tribulation begins, ok great. But that is not going to happen. If you are alive, you will be here. Then what? It is so irrelevant.
Also, don't become adversarial about differences of opinion. That really turns people off. majorly. Most people here don't want to hear your religious views or to have them stuffed down their throat. You are focused upon something that is not even relevant. Especially as the martyrs will be many in the coming Tribulation. Martyrs in this sense refers to Christians.
Sorry friend. The bible does not mention the rapture anywhere. If you want to believe it great. Do so. But it is not an article of faith, and it is contradicted by Scripture. Furthermore, the Great Awakening is not a theology site. If you want to discuss theology, do so elsewhere.
Follow Jesus, not some guy from the 1800's who read things into the Bible that were not there.
You poor soul.
Brother, do you really think that people will be encouraged to learn your views in that way. I realize you are merely doing what you were taught. But most people, myself included, are really turned off by religious people, in general. This is due to a tendency towards dogmatism. Religious folks tend to act the same way as @Jack (Twitter), @Zuckerberg (Facebook) etc. but in a way applied to religion. That is not conducive to learning. Most people will just be turned off.
My personal recommendation to you: 1. Share your views, when appropriate (i.e., when ASKED to do so), 2. explain politely why you believe what you believe, but without preaching. and 3. Show interest in the views of others.
In this setting, I am not sure why you presumed that I was interested in discussing religion, or especially in discussing the "rapture"--a word not even found in the Bible. What is the point? You are trying to fit a square peg into a round circle. As a result, in my opinion, you are going to scare people away especially when you are so adamant about issues not even found in Scripture, and which are of zero practical relevance. If you are not here when the Tribulation begins, ok great. But that is not going to happen. If you are alive, you will be here. Then what? It is so irrelevant.
Also, don't become adversarial about differences of opinion. That really turns people off. majorly. Most people here don't want to hear your religious views or to have them stuffed down their throat. You are focused upon something that is not even relevant. Especially as the martyrs will be many in the coming Tribulation. Martyrs in this sense refers to Christians.