Rapturous New Discussion
Hi Again,
There have been several requests to take on the issue of the rapture.
This is something that we cannot discuss from just an opinion viewpoint,
there must be scriptural references to work from. So, since this is the
issue of the hour, let's jump on it. On my front page, I have made this
remark:
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As you must know by now, I make some pretty strong statements on my
site. I do believe that the way that the rapture is being taught in the
church is false and a lie of satan. A pre-trib rapture doctrine is for
the church that will be asleep when the Lord comes, very dangerous.
There are however, I believe, conditions that meet the teaching of a
rapture doctrine from the Bible. I have put the following on my rapture
page. I do not like the way it is written, it looks very incomplete, but
I don't know what is wrong with it, so I am open to any interpretation
that comes in accord with the Logos and Rhema Word. As I mention, I do
not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. I used to, but that is when I
accepted more the traditions of men and what the church taught me on the
matter, before I was exposed to more of a prophetic witness.
There are five interpretations that I can see possible, pre-trib
rapture, mid-trib, post-trib, post millennial or no rapture at all. You
also see that I bring up the issue of "all Christians are saints,"
which I believe is an error. That not all Christians are saints is
nothing more than what Wesley and Whitfield taught and what brought in
the Great Awakening. It is Wesleyan doctrine before the Methodists
backslid and lost the revival fervor, the holiness movement separated
from the church and before Pentecostals became Calvinistic. Before
Calvin, it was always taught. At least that is the way I see it. It is
still being taught, but not at all in many circles. Most Christians are
content with sanctimonious pretense.
Jay.
"The rapture is the taking away of the saints. The problem today is that
false prophets and deluded thinking make the ignorant souls believe
themselves to be saints when they are not. Most Christians who think
they will be raptured, won't. There is a demon in the church that will
tell you that all Christians are saints, but that is the luke-warm
church talking and not the Philadelphian. Those in the open door of the
Holy Ghost trace their spiritual roots to the truths of justification
and sanctification, not Calvinism and will teach you the difference
between the two. The word rapture is not in the Bible but represents the
underlining fact that the church will go through the fire but the saints
will somehow avoid it. At least that's what the scriptures imply, and it
is a powerful message.
"Before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you, seek the Lord, all
you meek of the earth which have wrought his judgment. Seek
righteousness, seek meekness: it may be you shall be hid in the day of
the Lord's anger." To Philadelphia - "Because you have kept the word of
my patience, I will also keep you from the hour of temptation, which
shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."
Jesus did not pray that we should be taken out of the world: "I have
given them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not
of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that you should
take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them
through your truth, your word is truth."
It is hard to image the rapture being anything like what people are
expecting. Can you imaging hoards of people suddenly disappearing from
their driver's seat on the freeways? Many do, but it will be subtler
than that. The passage that refers to the catching away of the saints
places what is called the rapture after a resurrection of the dead in
Christ. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God and the dead
in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air
and so shall we ever be with the Lord." The resurrection is at the last
day, not seven years before the last day, or a thousand and seven. The
church at Sardis would be considered dead in Christ. They have
reputation of being alive but are told to strengthen what remains. "And
except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved:
But for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
We are not told what the rapture is, or when it will be taking place and
we are not sure how it will occur. I do not believe in a pre-tribulation
rapture but I do believe that the saints will be delivered and protected
from the wrath to come. "The day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the
night." "Then shall two be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the
other left. Watch therefore for you know not what hour your Lord does
come." What we must be sure of is that when He does appear that we are
not among the foolish virgins but are wearing wedding garments and have
trimmed our lamps with the oil of the Holy Ghost.
February 3, 2000
"If your pastor teaches that the rapture is the next event on God's
calendar, he is propagating a lie of satan so that you will be
unprepared. Judgment begins at the house of God and the Bride needs to
be readied before the Judgment Seat of Christ. We must speak as one
before Jesus can come back. Get out of the harlot church, my people!"
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