As much as our government has been infiltrated by the enemy, so has the church. Maybe even moreso.
This is a dangerous doctrine. IT IS NOT FROM SCRIPTURE.
I do realize some big lofty names in the bible scholar community are big time rapturists. Moody - for example. But I've been on a quest for a week or so to find anyone of them making solid arguments with actual scriptural foundation to support the dubious claims of the rapture doctrine - and they just simply cannot support it in the scripture.
If you want me to explain further I'll be happy to. But what you should do is go to the bible and find where it makes any claim that Christians will be removed from earth BEFORE or in the middle of the tribulations described in prophecy.
The oft cited verses in Mathew are literally right after Jesus warns you not to be deceived and explains how not to be deceived by knowing the signs of the season of His return. In Luke he even says that "two men will be lying in one bed, one will be taken the other left behind." I don't know why there are two dudes in one bed but I want the rapturist to question why someone sleeping in bed would be raptured (I notice many claiming that you must be alert and watching at the special time).
In Thesolonians 4: Paul clearly teaches that the dead in Christ will be resurrected before the beloved verse about we who are alive at the time going to meet Jesus in the air. I don't have a problem with that - just don't misunderstand that the dead in Christ go "FIRST".
In Rev 20 - Jesus gives us more clarity and explains that in the "First resurrection" people who refused the mark of the beast unto death would rise in that "First resurrection" too.
The rapture doctrine is dangerous for our generation. We appear to be appointed for this time, please do not be deceived.
Ah. Ok I'm familiar with this angle. Doesn't work. Who is Paul talking about rising first? Who is taking part in the first resurrection in Rev 20? That clearly includes people who are killed for refusing the mark of the beast.
This angle? What do you mean doesn't work? I was just answering your question. And I need references brother. The Rev 20 reference, as you said, clearly includes those who do not take the mark, but I won't be here to not take the mark :)
I think it's Rev 20, 4-6. It calls the resurrection which includes people who refuse the beast in the "first resurrection". This is a problem for your theology.
Why would that be an issue? So you're saying we won't be resurrected until the end of the 1000 year reign? haha
We who are alive when Jesus returns will be changed, you could call it resurrected and "gathered into the barn" as the wheat. In other words we will be collected and enter the Kingdom. Right after the first resurrection.
I know you referred to a resurrection about 2000 years ago and yes one of the gospels mentioned people rising from graves when Jesus rose. But it does not say that they get new living bodies. I don't know much more about that but I'm not inclined to create doctrine from it.
After the 1000 years is the second resurrection. Those who were dead in Christ or alive at the time of his return will have no need for further resurrection.