Before I knew better back in my day, Hal Lindsey peddled this sensationalism. He fleeced buku filthy lucre from the sheep with it and other fairy tales.
I guess I was one of the lucky ones, because our church never taught it, I only heard it when I got here... I only heard the resurrection and the only rapture I ever heard was when Saul/Paul was caught up into the third heaven... I go with Biblical History not future fantasy... I know what's going to happen, the LORD, is going to return again and resurrect us and take his children to heavens glory... Brother Glen:)
About the only thing that we were told in church as I was growing up was that the wrath of God was meant for sinners. When they did mention the book of Revelation it was only to say it was the time of Jacob's trouble, the tribulation or when Gods wrath would be poured out on the world.
So my conclusion was that since I was a Christian and we are not to see wrath then when 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 spoke about us being caught up with Christ that would have to be before the wrath to come. Thus pre-tribulation.
But I have to agree with Glen. I know what's going to happen, the LORD is going to return and call us home whether that is pre, mid or post is not a matter of great concern, well not to me anyway.
The rapture is indeed prior to the wrath of God on the world.
The tribulation Matthew 24:29 and the wrath of God Revelation 6:17 are two different events.
I was born into it. Indoctrinated in it and had no idea that there was a different interpretation. Then...I started reading the Bible and understanding God's covenant with his children. I started looking at context and I couldn't justify a pre-trib rapture.
Yeah... My Dad was the same way... I asked my Dad one time, so what stance do you take on the mil doctrine?... He looked at me and said, son I'm the rarest of the mil believers there are... I'm a Panmil!... Dad, I said I never heard that one?... He said Panmil believers believe, that whatever is going to happen will happen according to how God wants it to happen and no man will change what will happen... And God is in complete control of the happening... Brother Glen:)
I think you are because you said: is not a matter of great concern, well not to me anyway... Its not to me either... If its a concern to anyone are they afraid (said with tongue in cheek)... They will be "Left Behind!"... Brother Glen;)
how cold this be? WW1 and WW2 both made what happened in the first century look like a walk in the park.. It is supposed to be the greates tribulation (trouble) the world (Israel) had ever seen..