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What are your beliefs/thoughts on the rapture?
Since we started talking about this in another post, what are you thoughts/feelings/beliefs on the rapture? Do you believe in it, why? Are you post,pre,mid trib, why? Are you scared of it? Etc... anything you want to share.
Well Charlotte, I said I would post if you started it! LOL!
I said earlier that I am not totally convinced of the rapture, and after you asked why, I had to really think about that. I guess the reason I am not 100% convinced is the same as why I am not 100% sure it is hogwosh...I just haven't delved enough into it myself, the Rapture as its own topic and event, to say "Absolutely I know that the true believers will be wisked away at some point"..I couldn't argue the point to someone like I could the basics of the Gospel..I am not solid in it, so I don't debate it... I hope that it is coming soon, I hope that it is true and we will be spared the ugliness to come, but I just haven't studied that alone enough...
But I do absolutely totally 100% believe that there will be a period of great turmoil, that is the enemy having his last heyday before Christ returns. I also believe 100% that we are very close to that time period, if not in the early phases of it. I have studied Biblical prophecy enough to know for myself, not enough to tell every skeptic here why I believe it,,but I have great hope that in my lifetime, Christ will return. I do hope that somehow those who have accepted Christ into their hearts will be spared the trials ahead,,I hope that desperately....
Am I afraid? not in the least! I am joyful, I am eager, there are days when I ask "Why not today Lord? Today would be lovely"... There are days my heart flutters in anticipation, seeing events that I believe are the "labor pains" that grow closer and closer together as that glorious time approaches...there are times I pray that my children will not endure too much of the ugliness that this world can hold...I long for the day I will see my savior face to face...
I love in the last book from the Left Behind series, how they portrayed the personal intimate time each beliver got to have with Christ, all at the same time, but personal and intimate for each...I can't wait for my turn!
I don't believe in it, but I guess I really don't care either way. I don't get too caught up in thinking about end times because it's something so entirely outside my control, I figure I am happier not worrying about it. From what I've heard though, the idea that there will be a rapture is pretty recent phenomenon, originating in the 1930s.
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Maryalene
Proud Mama to Madeline, Donny and Max
I don't worry because I'm Buddhist, lol! The Rapture to me just means shorter lines at my local coffee shop.
Exactly. Since I'm Pagan, I relate.
I do not discout the possibility of the end of things as we know it one day, at the hands of humanity, but I do not adhere to the beliefs of a "rapture."
I used to think the idea of the rapture was a way for the enemy to trick people into thinking they didn't need to be aware of the signs of the times.
However, I started studying revelations and now I am more inclined to believe in the rapture than before. There is a lot of scripture to support this point of view, but my main reason for believing it is the attitude it creates. Are you living like Christ could return at any moment, or do you have at least 7 more years?
I've been listening to Jon Courson's thru the bible mp3 study on revelations but below are some excerpts from Revelation Unveiled by Tim Lahaye.
"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth."(Rev. 3:10) The absence of any mention of the church in the rest of rev. indicates that it is not on the earth during the tribulation. There are 16 referenences to the church in chapters 1-3.
The extensive use of old testament language and symbols in chapters 4-18 is an indication of israel, not the church. This is understandable since the church age is the time of the Gentiles, whereas the trib. is the time of Jacob's trouble or the sevientieth week of Daniel, determined by God for His dealings with Israel.
"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." (1Thes 4:13-18)
To appreciate the contrast between this event and the Glorious Appearing at the end of the trib. we should read our Lord's own description of that event in Mat. 24:27-31:
"For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."
The Glorious Appearing could not come today! It is at least 7 years from today. The rapture could come at any moment:
"...for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and tru God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."(1thes 1:9-10)
These thessalonian Christians were not sitting around waiting for the rapture, they were "serving the living and true God" in an attitude of expectancy "to wait for his Son". That is as it should be, for it could take place at any moment or it could be a generation or more away....that rapture is scheduled prior to the Glorious Appearing.
Location: True health flows from loving relationships, good food, time spent in nature, daily hugs, inner work, meaningful work and breathing thankfully for the richness of this life.-Kate Gilday
Posts: 22,857
Not convinced on the rapture either. Been said for...over 2000 years now. I would love it if God was coming to take his people, but people like to capitalize on Gods favorites on this planet. They all think it is THEM!
If rapture does happen, I think we will be surprised at who is left behind.....
If rapture does happen, I think we will be surprised at who is left behind.....
I've pondered what the rest of the world would think if we were raptured. I could see survivors of the church (probably an enourmous amount) not acknowledging the event. My guess is that is how the truth of strange disappearances will be hidden from the masses... if and when.
I've got to pull the rest of those scriptures out. There are a bunch like the ones above that relate to sparing the faithful from wrath. If not by rapture, how will they be spared?
Not entirely sure I believe in the Rapture, either.
For instance, the mark of the beast of 666 was Emporer Nero-Roman numerals can stand for letters too. The visions wer so vague,I mean there are so many interpretations that are possible.
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Amy, abuser of quotation marks and parentheses,
Mama to five sprites
Since we started talking about this in another post, what are you thoughts/feelings/beliefs on the rapture? Do you believe in it, why? Are you post,pre,mid trib, why? Are you scared of it? Etc... anything you want to share.
I believe the rapture will happen before the tribulation, and no I'm not scared, I'm actually beyond thrilled for it to happen.
For instance, the mark of the beast of 666 was Emporer Nero-Roman numerals can stand for letters too. The visions wer so vague,I mean there are so many interpretations that are possible.
Bible prophecy is so real. There are hundreds of instances of fulfilled prophecy where after the fact it is totally clear what the prophecy was talking about. Until they are fulfilled, like the mark of the beast, one can only speculate. Did you know that the upc bar code is 3 groups of six?
Bible prophecy is so real. There are hundreds of instances of fulfilled prophecy where after the fact it is totally clear what the prophecy was talking about. Until they are fulfilled, like the mark of the beast, one can only speculate. Did you know that the upc bar code is 3 groups of six?
At the time the book of Revelation was written, Nero was in power, persecuting the Christians. It's just a coincidence that "666" stands for Kaiser Nero?? Maybe you think it can mean Nero AND the bar code thing?
The AntiChrist will come from Rome, too.
Thanks for posting-I love a good discussion! Usually the only thing I get to debate is the reasons for eating vegetables LOL.
Ok....is Revelation the main place in the Bible to look for information on this topic? Are there any other locations in the Bible?
Would one look up "rapture" in the topical index? Or are there other names commonly used?
Revelation reads to me like Dr. Suess wrote it while on a mind altering drug.
I don't want to read it with some Bible commentary because then I am getting some man/woman/human interpretation on it. I've only been really studying my Bible in-depth, (on my own with prayer as my study-guide), for the past couple months and have not even attempted to read Revelation after glancing at it!!
This topic is interesting. And maybe beyond where I am at in my own spiritual walk and study at this time. (hence the Dr. Suess on drugs feeling)
Well Charlotte, I said I would post if you started it! LOL!
I said earlier that I am not totally convinced of the rapture, and after you asked why, I had to really think about that. I guess the reason I am not 100% convinced is the same as why I am not 100% sure it is hogwosh...I just haven't delved enough into it myself, the Rapture as its own topic and event, to say "Absolutely I know that the true believers will be wisked away at some point"..I couldn't argue the point to someone like I could the basics of the Gospel..I am not solid in it, so I don't debate it... I hope that it is coming soon, I hope that it is true and we will be spared the ugliness to come, but I just haven't studied that alone enough...
But I do absolutely totally 100% believe that there will be a period of great turmoil, that is the enemy having his last heyday before Christ returns. I also believe 100% that we are very close to that time period, if not in the early phases of it. I have studied Biblical prophecy enough to know for myself, not enough to tell every skeptic here why I believe it,,but I have great hope that in my lifetime, Christ will return. I do hope that somehow those who have accepted Christ into their hearts will be spared the trials ahead,,I hope that desperately....
Am I afraid? not in the least! I am joyful, I am eager, there are days when I ask "Why not today Lord? Today would be lovely"... There are days my heart flutters in anticipation, seeing events that I believe are the "labor pains" that grow closer and closer together as that glorious time approaches...there are times I pray that my children will not endure too much of the ugliness that this world can hold...I long for the day I will see my savior face to face...
I love in the last book from the Left Behind series, how they portrayed the personal intimate time each beliver got to have with Christ, all at the same time, but personal and intimate for each...I can't wait for my turn!
Oh oh , I found you Becca! OT.......I just posted a thread here looking for you but not remembering your username.
I'm Pm-ing you now. Just ignore that other thread.....since I know who you are.
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