rapture questions

If you figure the tribulation will last seven years, one would think that marking the beginning would enable him to pinpoint the Second Coming.

If.....

I think it'll be a bit difficult to mark that moment where we can say, "uh-oh, the tribulation just began."

But the little problem in adding seven years from the beginning, even if we can pinpoint the moment, is that Jesus the tribulation won't last seven years.

Matthew 24:22

So the great tribulation will last less than seven years.

We don't know how much less, so we can't know the day and the hour.

And I won't even guess. I remember somebody wrote a book called 88 Reasons Why Jesus Will Return in 1988--or something like that.

Oops.

 

There is no figuring needed. It is written for us. The scripture is clear that the tribulation begins with the Antichrist revealed to the world and ends exactly seven years to the day afterwards.

There is no reason for adding this conjecture into this passage of scripture. Jesus already said that the tribulation will be shortened to exactly seven years. It will begin in the name of peace and end in more evil than the world has ever known. Thank God Jesus will keep it shortened to a total of seven years.

 

The *most* important issue is to be ready always...

To understand that whether we fly or die His Grace is sufficient...

There is enough uncertainty in Scripture about this issue that we need to remain dilligent and always prepared to look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of Our Faith.

As we begin to understand themanner of beheading during the tribulation the Rapture becomes even more a thing to be desired.

But, would you be willing to die for Christ? Or if faced with a pocket knife at your neck renounce him to gaim a few more moments of life?

Are we Vacationers for Christ? Or, are we Soldiers for Christ? Of who it is said,

Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Are we looking for an escape clause or a service clause?

I personally am looking for the upper-taker not the under-taker.

But, that may not be His will for me.

So, the best I can do is stay as close as I can and pray that I quit this life as True Christian.

 

Yes and No... :

That's one of the problems with End Times stuff. There are far too many renderings of God's Intent. I think that Our Father gave us clues. But, not enough to set down times and dates.

From my background I have come to believe that Revelations uses the OT method of telling a story by repeating it.

In this manner the Last Trumpet would be within the Tribulation.

I, personally, believe that the Modern Church will see the beginning of sorrows and that many will think that they are in the great tribulation and that will cause many of the Pre-Trib Pre-Millenialist to lose heart and faith.

I am not as sure about whether we will see the revelation of The Antichrist. Those events are so "cluttered" I am hard pressed to settle it in my own heart.

Items to consider: A seven year peace accord that will be broken after 3 and a half years. If Prince Charles or obama or another starts talking about a middle east peace accord that will be hammered down for 7 years. watch Out.

We will continue to have wars and rumors of wars until "Shiloh" brings Peace and rules with a Rod of Iron.

The Last Trumpet does not have to be the the Last trump of 1 Corinthians 15.

1 Thess 4 mentions a trump of God...

This has given rise to some speculation of a multi-part rapture. But, that gets really dicey.

There are also mid-trib rapture theories.

Irregardless... The key is to be Always ready...

 

The reason I am not debating you is that I do not believe any logical and scriptural argument will lessen your antipathy against those of use who are looking for the Upper-Taker not the Under-Taker.

I ask you this have you ever known any Bridegroom to beat the Bride up just before the wedding feast?

Of course that begs another whole conflict on who the Bride of Christ is and who the Friends of the Bridegroom are, doesn't it.

But, I can't see the Bridegroom beating up on his best men either...

We are subject to Discipline *not* Wrath.

The Tribulation is a time of the pouring out of God's Wrath...

Which is why I divide the Word of Truth such that God Provides us an Ark in the last days in the form of a catching away.

But, even if He doesn't... I intend to be ready always!

 

Yeah, just a little hide and seek and no Ark of Hope...

Tell me, you who look forward to going through the tribulation, do you really think that you will be able to play hide and seek with a satanically inhabited and inspired government?

Consider this:
2Th 2:6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
2Th 2:7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

This tells, me at least, that the Antichrist can not be revealed until "someone" who is holding him back is taken out of the way.

Now, I've always believed that was the Holy Spirit embodied in The Church.

Now, if it is the Holy Spirit and the church isn't taken out of the way with Him, then what do we do with this?

Rom 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

Which says if the Spirit does not reside in you you can not be a Christian...

Granted people will accept the Testimony of Christ during the Tribulation.

But, something has to be taken out of the way for the Man of Sin, The Antichrist, to be revealed.

So, will Christians lose their Comforter just when we need Him the most?

I think not.

 

1st post: OK if not the Holy Spirit. Who is holding the Antichrist back? We know it is a "who" because Paul writes about "the one" holding the lawless one back...

2nd post:
Rev 20:4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Protected by beheading?

If the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way, what's gonna be your source of guidance?

Where in the book does it say Jesus will be "here" during the Tribulation to protect you.?

If He is not here, how is He gonna protect you?

If He is here, how can The Righteous One stand back and allow evil to have its course?

He couldn't even let the money changers alone...

 

Just a couple of thoughts to share. I don't know who the who is. It could very well be an angel. In the book of Revelations I see that it is an angel that laid hold of the dragon (Satan) and removes him.

Even though God dwells in heaven He is quite able to protect his people. In prayer most people ask for God's protection continually.

Psa 91:9 You trust in the LORD for protection. You have made God Most High your place of safety.

Psa 91:10 So nothing bad will happen to you. No diseases will come near your home.

Psa 91:11 He will command his angels to protect you wherever you go.

Psa 91:12 Their hands will catch you so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.

 

Hey Dixieboy, how much of the tit for tat have you read?

I don't know where you are in regards to end times, rapture, etc. So, I am not sure how to respond to you.


I am having a very hard time framing my thoughts civily.

Because, I have a real problem with Christians who have the Truth of the Gospel of Christ and are (supposedly) empowered by the Holy Spirit sitting idly by while the Antichrist ravages this earth.

But, then I remember that it was such a church that kept silence during 2008 out of fear for their 503C3 status and let the truth of obama fail to be acknowledged in church.

I just have a hard time seeing the true church of Jesus Christ over run with evil.

But, it is with sadness I must acknowledge that it already has.

And, as such, such a church would not and does not need to be taken out of the way for the antichirst to rule and reign because it has already ceded the battle.

 

I still think I think the Rapture occurred and as he predicted, Jesus didn't find enough people "of faith" to be noticed. Is there any evidence that I am wrong?

 

2Th 2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers,
2Th 2:2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.
2Th 2:3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

 

Obama, right? <G>