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.
About rapture doctrine being dangerous, I think that a lot of people who argue against pretribulation rapture are a little overly obsessed with thinking that some will become apostates if they have to go through tribulation, but I would urge you to consider this passage:
1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. Romans 14:1-4
We all have to make sense of scripture for ourselves, and whether we are taken up before, during, or after the tribulation will make no difference to those who truly belong to Him. If anyone's name is written in the book of life, God will make him stand.
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.” John 10:25-30
Anyway, thanks for indulging me and watching the study. We might disagree about certain things, but we are still brothers in Christ. God bless.
yes we are brothers in Christ. amen to that. And those are encouraging words. I think Daniel's words are encouraging too.
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I don't think believing this doctrine would mean losing the Kingdom for someone like you or anyone willing to be persecuted to death for Him. I just think there will be a need for strong leaders in that time because it is God's will that none should perish but have eternal life. I think it is God's will that we help the lost in that day - not escape to the clouds and watch the beast consume them.
Even if we are taken up, God will raise up strong leaders for those who come to faith during the tribulation. I do think a lot about the people who will go through it.
As someone who believes in the rapture, I have asked myself many times - what are we leaving behind for those who will come to faith during the tribulation.
Yeah also, what's the worst that can happen, you suffer a fraction of what Christ suffered? You die? Like everyone else since the beginning? Why are today's Christians thinking that their faith won't even be tested if they are so lucky to be awake and looking up at the right time? It has never been about rescuing the flesh.
There are underground churches all over the world that are experiencing tremendous persecution right now, China, Iran, Lebanon, etc. I've seen beheadings and all sorts of terrible things happening to the church. America is caught in a normalcy bias thinking it can never happen to them.
Even aside from the Great Tribulation, things are going to get MUCH worse. Soon people wont be able to get food, even here in the US. It's gonna get bad. Really bad. Nothing is going to stop the antichrist system. It is coming upon the world even as we speak, and we don't have any more time.