And? I always give my source...Gotquestions.org?
There is plenty of scripture to look up the authors are extremely knowledgeable.
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And? I always give my source...Gotquestions.org?
Why I reject the rapture theory:
The belief and teaching that all humans have natural immortality via an immortal soul can be traced back thousands of years. We can see from history that nations like Egypt and Babylon taught their people about an immortal soul in every human, that continued to live, to think and to experience life, after the body had died. Depending on the nation and on their spiritual theology they had, would come various teachings about where and under what conditions this immortal soul would experience after the death of the physical body. Some nations would bury the dead body in graves with all kinds of things for the departed to take with them and to use to enjoy in the afterlife.
Different nations may have had different places where the departed soul would live when it left the dead body, but to put it in simple language, the immortal soul was in a "heaven" of some sort. They even had gloomy underworlds for those not thought to have done enough good in their physical lives to warrant the prize of "heaven."
All this should start to sound somewhat familiar with certain teaching and beliefs of many Christian churches and organizations. Many have heard the "hell-fire and brimstone" sermons preached loud and vigorously by a Christian minister or Camp-meeting tent revivalist. Such preaching of course includes telling you that if you "give your heart to the Lord" and turn from sin, you can "go to heaven" and live in bliss, doing...well they are not sure, maybe singing and strumming on a harp?
Just about all Christians today believe they shall "get to heaven" one day. They firmly believe that going to heaven is one of the basic rewards of being Christian. To think, and to teach
otherwise, to them, is pretty close to being a nutty and strange heretic. They are convinced the Bible shows and tells us that going to heaven is the automatic reward of the children of God. And most believe that going to heaven takes place when the physical body stops breathing and dies. Yet this common and prevailing theological view was not the common view or teaching of the early New Testament Church of God.
The early NT church did not teach or believe in going to heaven at death, for those faithful Christians. Church history shows that it was only through the teachings of people like Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and others that most professing Christians gradually came to adopt the belief of the immortal soul, and going immediately "somewhere" after the death of the body. Many were coming into the popular church of the Roman Empire, founded in Rome, who already held to Hellenistic philosophy, Egyptian mythology, and Babylonian Mystery religions, with an after death life of some sort as the foundation of it all. They did not want to give up this teaching and belief, just as they did not want to abandon many other false teachings and practices. So, to accommodate them the large popular church took many of these old pagan beliefs and re-clothed them with Christian garments. Hence, as the millenniums came and went today's doctrines of the immortal soul as taught together with an ever burning hell fire for the wicked, a purgatory for those who may not have sinned unto eternal torment, and can possibly yet be granted heaven and a heaven where God is, for the righteous. All this came to be church doctrines.
Most Christians believe they will at some point "get to heaven" where God is dwelling. Some do not believe you go to heaven at death, but that death is a sleep until the resurrection, then when Jesus returns to raise the righteous dead, all go back with Him to heaven for a thousand years, until the new earth comes into being. Others believe that Christ returns to "rapture" His Church away from the terrible tribulation then taking place on the earth, and that they spent either 7 years or 3 1/2 years in heaven, before returning again with Christ to set up the Kingdom of God on earth for a thousand years.
Whatever the various beliefs of certain religious sects and denominations is on this matter, just about all of them teach and believe that the good Christian will someday, for some period of time "go to heaven" where the Father lives and dwells in the heavenly Jerusalem.
IF WE SHALL GO TO HEAVEN ONE DAY....
And if this is a fundamental plain teaching of the Bible, then surely we should be able to find many verses all over the Bible saying things such as: "When we get to heaven," "When we see each other in heaven," "They are up there in heaven with God," "We shall go to heaven at Christ's return," "We shall be in heaven where God is one day." BUT VERSES LIKE THIS CANNOT BE FOUND IN THE BIBLE!
BUT, what we do read in the Bible is the Words of Jesus: No man goes to heaven, except the One who came from there. John 3:13 Where I go, you cannot come. John 7:34 Your home is in this world, Mine is not. John 8:23 I do not pray, Father, that You take them out of this world.... John 17:15
So the truth is, the idea of a 'rapture to heaven', is a straight out Satanic lie; one of his most successful ones, that will cause many unprepared Christians to fall on the Day of trial. 1 Peter 4:12, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15
Most Christians think that heaven is our destination and preachers tout it from the pulpit. Why then didn't the people of the Bible use such language? Could it be that they knew that going off to heaven where God the Father now dwells was NEVER promised to any earthy mortal person?
The word "heaven" is used 570 times in the Bible. "Heavenly" appears 23 times and "heavens" is used 121 times. Surely, somewhere, in all those uses we can find a statement: "When we are in heaven" or "We are going to go to heaven" or maybe "He has gone to God in heaven." If you take a Bible concordance you can find all the verses where "heaven," "heavenly," and heavens" are used throughout the Bible. Look them up! See if you can find a verse that says, "We shall go to heaven," "Heaven is our eternal abode," "They are up in heaven" or any plain statement about Christians or children of God going to be with God in heaven for ANY length of time. You have over 500 places where "heaven" is used. Try to find any verse that tells us clearly we shall someday, sometime, go to live where God the Father dwells.
There are THREE heavens mentioned in the Bible. 1) The heaven [atmosphere] where the birds fly. 2) the heaven [space] where the planets and stars are. 3) The heaven [spiritual] where God's throne is, where God is now.
I knew a man in Christ.... caught up to the THIRD heaven....He was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words....2 Cor. 12:2-4 The third heaven is where God dwells!
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ?
Some will say, "Well Christ talked about our being in the Kingdom of heaven. Surely that proves we shall 'go to heaven'. If it does, then some shall be in heaven while others are not. Matthew 5:3-5. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven....blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. The Kingdom OF heaven is the Kingdom that BELONGS to heaven. It is owned and operated by heaven. the Kingdom that BELONGS to God, not the Kingdom inside God. The Gospels according to Mark and Luke use "Kingdom OF God"
OUR REWARD IS IN HEAVEN
Is not our reward to go to heaven? Are there not some verses that say something to that effect? Here they are: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven.... Matthew 5:12 Do not display your religion before others, if you do you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:1 But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven.....Luke 6:23 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled…reserved in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:4
Now, let's be honest. Do the above verses say: "Our reward is to get to heaven" or "When we get to heaven we shall be given our reward." Do these verses say: "Our reserved inheritance is to get to heaven to be with God" ? No, they do not! Truly, Christians will receive rewards and we are to inherit eternal life, but when? Eternal life comes at the resurrection. Read 1 Cor.15; Rev.2:10; 2 Tim.4:8 Our rewards are to be given to us by Christ at His return. And, behold, I come quickly, and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev. 22:12 Our rewards and inheritance are reserved in heaven. They come down out of heaven with Christ at his return.
NAMED TO GO TO HEAVEN?
Are not Christians named and written down in a book to go to heaven? ….but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven Luke 10:20 To the general assembly and church of
the firstborn, which are written in heaven....Heb. 12:23
Do these verses say, "Because you will go to heaven" or "The church of the firstborn will one day get to heaven" ? No! Our names (God knows who are His) are written down in the book of
life, the book of life being in heaven. But we receive life eternal after the Great White Throne Judgement, when the Book of Life is opened. Revelation 20:11-15
Jesus Christ Returns In Fire And Final Judgement, Dissolving This Existing Earth By Fire, Immediately After The TribulationAwesome brother,
You have this stuff pretty well studied. It has been my belief for awhile now that no human being will be in heaven...as God is going to create a NEW Earth...and a New Heaven (not sure which "heaven" He speaks of here)
And yes, our "gift" is Christ in Heaven. Heaven is the home of God and heavenly creatures. Can you see the new Earth being as one big garden of Eden?
He will reign on the New Earth IMHO where all tears will be wiped away, no more sickness or death or evil. That sure sounds like heaven to me! :)
I'd like to comment on much more but, not as well versed on this.
Good post.
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ?
Is not our reward to go to heaven? Are there not some verses that say something to that effect? Here they are: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven.... Matthew 5:12 Do not display your religion before others, if you do you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:1 But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven.....Luke 6:23 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled…reserved in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:4
Now, let's be honest. Do the above verses say: "Our reward is to get to heaven" or "When we get to heaven we shall be given our reward." Do these verses say: "Our reserved inheritance is to get to heaven to be with God" ? No, they do not!
Revelation 1:7 Look; Jesus is coming in the clouds, everyone will se Him..... and the world shall lament in remorse.One thing I do know, Jesus wont be on this earth with mortal humans
The Kingdom of Heaven will be on earth, as Revelation 21:1-7 makes clear.Matt 7:
[21]Notevery onethat saith unto me, Lord, Lord,shall enter into the kingdom of heavenbut hethat doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Your In "Denial" Of God's Words Before Your EyesRevelation 1:7 Look; Jesus is coming in the clouds, everyone will se Him..... and the world shall lament in remorse.
What we all do know by now, is your forcefully promoted belief about the Return of Jesus and the Amil theory, is quite wrong.
The Kingdom of Heaven will be on earth, as Revelation 21:1-7 makes clear.
Before that, there will be the 1000 year Kingdom of Jesus.
But it is very evident that we must all pass thru His wrath. As 1 Peter 4:12 says: it will be our time of trial.Why I believe in the rapture.
OP ^
Inanutshell:
Read the wrath, wrath, wrath revealed in the account of the Tribulation in Revelations...
1 Thes 5:
[9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath...
Glory, Glory, Glory to Our Great God Almighty.
Taken
Explain then: Why must Jesus Return? If this world is never to be His Kingdom. Revelation 1:7Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36)
There are a lot of Questions when the rapture will take place, But the main reason i believe there will be a rapture is that this is how God has acted in the past.
The righteous chosen ones have never been allowed to see the wrath of God.
Noah was sealed in an ark, Lot and His family were told not to look back. Israel and their families were protected by the passover blood, and we as the church are made righteous by the blood of the lamb of God will be protected.
Whether this rapture is as they show in movies or some other form of protection I do not think Scripture is clear, but I do know the church, the saints will not witness the Wrath of God.... The wrath of Satan and the wrath of the lamb are two different things all together.
National Israel on the other hand will witness the wrath of God, and drink of the cup of the wrath of God till they are drunk and then be spared.
The Explanation Is Before Your Eyes, (Final Judgement)Explain then: Why must Jesus Return? If this world is never to be His Kingdom. Revelation 1:7
We Must All Pass Through His Wrath?But it is very evident that we must all pass thru His wrath. As 1 Peter 4:12 says: it will be our time of trial.
The (Two Witnesses) Rule The Tribulation, Not The Antichrist (Fact)That seems like a contradiction. The saints never experience God's wrath, and yet Israel, who will be spared, will indeed experience God's wrath? If Israel, who will be spared, will suffer God's wrath, why wouldn't the saints experience God's wrath, as well? What is it that exempts one people of God from God's wrath, but not another people of God?
If you are really saying that Israel will be *disciplined* by God when they experience God's wrath, then why wouldn't the Church also suffer God's discipline? In fact, we are told that all Christians *must* experience discipline, or be considered illegitimate children!
But I think that God's wrath and God's discipline are too separate things. And indeed, the saints are said to be spared from God's wrath in the sense of its being an eternal judgment. God's wrath may be expressed in different ways, and how it is used is determined by how the words are being used in context. If the context is discipline, then the saints do experience God's wrath temporarily. If the context is eternal separation from God, then the saints do not experience God's eternal wrath.
But I think it's a very different thing to say that the saints are exempted from God's wrath in the sense of going through a time in which God's wrath against the wicked also affects the saints. Certainly, when God sent the flood against the world in Noah's day, that same flood affected Noah's family as well! They experienced the time and effects of the flood, but they did not experience God's wrath directed against them!
So Pretribbers get all worked up believing that Christians cannot go through a time of wrath such as the time of Antichrist's rule. In fact, it is not Antichrist's rule that renders it a "time of wrath." Rather, it is the outcome of his rule that is considered a time of wrath, namely the bringing of his rule to an end.
Christians will, I think, go through this time of wrath because they will experience the effects of the outcome of God's wrath directed against the Antichrist. But this does not mean that God's wrath is being directed against the saints--only that God allows the saints to suffer the side effects of being in the same world the same time that Antichrist is waging war and ultimately coming under God's judgment.
That seems like a contradiction. The saints never experience God's wrath, and yet Israel, who will be spared, will indeed experience God's wrath? If Israel, who will be spared, will suffer God's wrath, why wouldn't the saints experience God's wrath, as well? What is it that exempts one people of God from God's wrath, but not another people of God?
If you are really saying that Israel will be *disciplined* by God when they experience God's wrath, then why wouldn't the Church also suffer God's discipline? In fact, we are told that all Christians *must* experience discipline, or be considered illegitimate children!
But I think that God's wrath and God's discipline are too separate things. And indeed, the saints are said to be spared from God's wrath in the sense of its being an eternal judgment. God's wrath may be expressed in different ways, and how it is used is determined by how the words are being used in context. If the context is discipline, then the saints do experience God's wrath temporarily. If the context is eternal separation from God, then the saints do not experience God's eternal wrath.
But I think it's a very different thing to say that the saints are exempted from God's wrath in the sense of going through a time in which God's wrath against the wicked also affects the saints. Certainly, when God sent the flood against the world in Noah's day, that same flood affected Noah's family as well! They experienced the time and effects of the flood, but they did not experience God's wrath directed against them!
So Pretribbers get all worked up believing that Christians cannot go through a time of wrath such as the time of Antichrist's rule. In fact, it is not Antichrist's rule that renders it a "time of wrath." Rather, it is the outcome of his rule that is considered a time of wrath, namely the bringing of his rule to an end.
Christians will, I think, go through this time of wrath because they will experience the effects of the outcome of God's wrath directed against the Antichrist. But this does not mean that God's wrath is being directed against the saints--only that God allows the saints to suffer the side effects of being in the same world the same time that Antichrist is waging war and ultimately coming under God's judgment.
His servants are certainly fighting over where they end up. On earth or heaven....Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36)
Or just those who claim to be, but are not will suffer the wrath.If you are really saying that Israel will be *disciplined* by God when they experience God's wrath, then why wouldn't the Church also suffer God's discipline? In fact, we are told that all Christians *must* experience discipline, or be considered illegitimate children!
Being burned at the stake is hardly the same thing as going through the final harvest of the Trumpets and Thunders.We Must All Pass Through His Wrath?
1 Peter 4:12 dosent show Gods wrath upon the "Church" as you claim, its speaks of trials and testing
Just more false claims added to the long list
1 Peter 4:12-14KJV
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
The (Two Witnesses) Rule The Tribulation, Not The Antichrist (Fact)Being burned at the stake is hardly the same thing as going through the final harvest of the Trumpets and Thunders.