The truth about the timing of the rapture.
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Brother Paul
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James 5:7 - Therefore, be patient brethren, until the coming of the Lord.
The answer to c, “until when” is “the coming of the Lord.” The word “coming” found here, is the Greek word “Parousia”
The dictionary definition of Parousia (not concerned with Christ) is this:
[Greek parousi, presence, Parousia, from parousa, feminine present participle of pareinai, to be present : para-, beside; see para-1 + einai, to be; see es- in Indo-European roots.]
Thus, the coming of the Lord (which we know is when He destroys the Anti-Christ by the “Brightness” of His effulgent Glory...2 Thess 2:8), is when He becomes “PRESENT”!
He will be present with us because we will be with Him, but apparently, according to the word of God, He is also present even to God’s enemies (this is when the scriptures say He destroys Anti-Christ and the enemies of God that have gathered in Har’Meggido to destroy them and the Holy City.
Here is the reference from God’s own word and please notice the underlined pieces:
2 Thesselonians 2 1 Now we beseech you, brethren (the church…the saved holy Spirit filled believers) by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (the gathering unto Him or Rapture occurs at His coming)
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (notice the two pre-rapture conditions)
A falling away “first” and the man of sin (Anti-Christ) must be revealed to these brethren (Church members...God’s Spirit filled children)
Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, shows himself that he is God.
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
And now ye know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now allows will allow, until he be taken out of the way.
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming
It is then the Parousia…the presence of the Lord on earth…that destroys the Anti-Christ…
So now back to James 5:7 which says
“Therefore be patient brethren (Church members) until the coming of the Lord”
Therefore the church will be here “until the coming of the Lord” which is when He raises the “dead in Christ” and gathers us unto Himself (Matt 24) and He destroys the Anti-Christ…which further follows that the Church is on earth throughout the reign of Anti-Christ (not throughout the pouring out of God’s wrath, but during the Anti-Christ’s time of persecution…
Now consider this in relation to the coming (the Parousia)...1 Thess 4
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [b]asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who [c]sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord (the Parousia) will by no means precede those who are [d]asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.
Now hear what the word says about the Parousia....
And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
So what people call the Rapture (the catching up to meet Him in the air) happens at the Parousia (which is also the first resurrection AND when Anti-Christ is consumed)
Now one last thing...the word for meet Him is the term apantesis...this means it is not a secret where He returns and comes back later...Apantesis is a word that describes when a group of like minded people go out ahead and meets and greets a hero or dignitary and follows with them to their destination. When He comes (the Parousia) the whole world will know it and He will appear as the lightening shines from the east to the west...every eye shall see Him...
This is the word of the Lord…Amen.
- James is Bishop of the 1st Church ever…in Jerusalem…He was appointed to be the Bishop according to tradition by Christ and the Apostles
- Seeing that earlier in chapter 4 James speaks of how we treat our neighbor (those not of our family or group who we live near and interact with), who are the “brethren” (a word used to denote family or close members of an order or group)
- When does James suggest to these brethren that they should stay patient until?
The answer to c, “until when” is “the coming of the Lord.” The word “coming” found here, is the Greek word “Parousia”
The dictionary definition of Parousia (not concerned with Christ) is this:
[Greek parousi, presence, Parousia, from parousa, feminine present participle of pareinai, to be present : para-, beside; see para-1 + einai, to be; see es- in Indo-European roots.]
Thus, the coming of the Lord (which we know is when He destroys the Anti-Christ by the “Brightness” of His effulgent Glory...2 Thess 2:8), is when He becomes “PRESENT”!
He will be present with us because we will be with Him, but apparently, according to the word of God, He is also present even to God’s enemies (this is when the scriptures say He destroys Anti-Christ and the enemies of God that have gathered in Har’Meggido to destroy them and the Holy City.
Here is the reference from God’s own word and please notice the underlined pieces:
2 Thesselonians 2 1 Now we beseech you, brethren (the church…the saved holy Spirit filled believers) by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (the gathering unto Him or Rapture occurs at His coming)
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (notice the two pre-rapture conditions)
A falling away “first” and the man of sin (Anti-Christ) must be revealed to these brethren (Church members...God’s Spirit filled children)
Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, shows himself that he is God.
Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
And now ye know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now allows will allow, until he be taken out of the way.
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming
It is then the Parousia…the presence of the Lord on earth…that destroys the Anti-Christ…
So now back to James 5:7 which says
“Therefore be patient brethren (Church members) until the coming of the Lord”
Therefore the church will be here “until the coming of the Lord” which is when He raises the “dead in Christ” and gathers us unto Himself (Matt 24) and He destroys the Anti-Christ…which further follows that the Church is on earth throughout the reign of Anti-Christ (not throughout the pouring out of God’s wrath, but during the Anti-Christ’s time of persecution…
Now consider this in relation to the coming (the Parousia)...1 Thess 4
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [b]asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who [c]sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord (the Parousia) will by no means precede those who are [d]asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.
Now hear what the word says about the Parousia....
And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
So what people call the Rapture (the catching up to meet Him in the air) happens at the Parousia (which is also the first resurrection AND when Anti-Christ is consumed)
Now one last thing...the word for meet Him is the term apantesis...this means it is not a secret where He returns and comes back later...Apantesis is a word that describes when a group of like minded people go out ahead and meets and greets a hero or dignitary and follows with them to their destination. When He comes (the Parousia) the whole world will know it and He will appear as the lightening shines from the east to the west...every eye shall see Him...
This is the word of the Lord…Amen.
Curtis
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During the times of the early Church, there were many false teachers who infiltrated the Church who looked like real Christians living among the children of God. Their purpose was to deceive the Church into believing something false. Most of these false brothers if not all were self-deceived, so what they taught they really believed to be true. This is how Satan works by blinding the minds, and the heart of the unregenerate man so that the light of the Gospel would not shine on them.
Paul the Apostle wrote first, and Second Thessalonians to correct false teaching that had spread throughout the Church. There was a false teacher(s) who wrote letter(s) to the Church(s) telling them something to the effect that they had missed the rapture, and that the second coming of Christ was the next big event about to happen soon. They even forged the Apostle Paul's name on these letters saying that it came from Paul. Obviously, this upset many in the Church, because this was completely opposite to what Paul had taught them earlier.
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, BY THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND BY OUR GATHERING TOGETHER UNTO HIM,
2Th 2:2 THAT YE BE NOT SOON SHAKEN IN MIND, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, NOR BY LETTER AS FROM US, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Notice: Paul is talking about two separate events that will take place at different times.
There has to be a falling away “first”, and then “second” the man of sin (Antichrist) be revealed!
It is very interesting that the word for, “FALLING AWAY” is the Greek word, “apostasia” which means, “DEPARTURE, TO DEPART”. There must be a “DEPARTURE” first, and then the man of sin be revealed second. In other words, the man of sin can not be revealed until there is a departure first!! Some people believe that the departure (falling away) would be some in the Church departing from the faith. Well, that has been going on since the beginning of Christianity, that's nothing new. Many, many people who have not “kept the Word of God in themselves”, who go to Church will always fall away eventually. Jesus tells us this in the parable of the “sower”.
In the Amplified Bible, in its footnotes, it says the word “FALLING AWAY” means “THE DEPARTURE OF THE CHURCH!! of course, if we do not believe it means this, we know for sure there will be a DEPARTURE of a certain group of people from another group of people so that what happens to one group of people, will not happen to the other!!! This is why Jesus told his followers to “watch, and pray that you may be counted worthy to escape those things that will come upon the earth”(Luke 21:36)
The tribulation period can not even begin to start, until the church is gone and then the Antichrist is revealed. If we don't believe verse 3 as the departure of the Church, don't worry, because the Apostle Paul tells us the exact same thing a couple of verses later.
2Th 2:5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And YOU KNOW WHAT IS RESTRAINING HIM NOW SO THAT HE MAY BE REVEALED IN HIS TIME.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only HE WHO NOW RESTRAINS IT WILL DO SO UNTIL HE IS OUT OF THE WAY.
2Th 2:8 And THEN THE LAWLESS ONE WILL BE REVEALED, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. (ESV)
There is a “POWER” that is “RESTRAINING” this man of sin (Antichrist) from being revealed in his time. Who could this person be who is “RESTRAINING” the man of sin from being revealed? It is the exact same people who have already departed the earth, who alone had that power over all the works of the evil one!!!
Jesus Christ himself gave his Church that “AUTHORITY” in his “NAME” to have dominion over all the works of the devil including the devil himself!!! (Luke 10:19) The “POWER” that backed up that “AUTHORITY” was the Holy Spirit, and he too was given unto the Church!! (Acts 1:8)
Someone might say, “it will the Holy Ghost (Spirit) who will be taken away, so the Antichrist can be revealed” There is only one small problem with that kind of thinking. Jesus said when the Holy Ghost (Spirit) comes he will abide with us forever!!
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER, THAT HE MAY ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER;
John 14:26 BUT THE COMFORTER, WHICH IS THE HOLY GHOST, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
If the Holy Spirit goes, so does the Church!
The body of Christ, which is the Church, is the only thing restraining and holding back the Antichrist from being revealed to this world. Once the Church is gone (raptured, taken out of the way) then the Antichrist can be revealed in his time!
Paul the Apostle wrote first, and Second Thessalonians to correct false teaching that had spread throughout the Church. There was a false teacher(s) who wrote letter(s) to the Church(s) telling them something to the effect that they had missed the rapture, and that the second coming of Christ was the next big event about to happen soon. They even forged the Apostle Paul's name on these letters saying that it came from Paul. Obviously, this upset many in the Church, because this was completely opposite to what Paul had taught them earlier.
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, BY THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND BY OUR GATHERING TOGETHER UNTO HIM,
2Th 2:2 THAT YE BE NOT SOON SHAKEN IN MIND, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, NOR BY LETTER AS FROM US, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Notice: Paul is talking about two separate events that will take place at different times.
- The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. (second coming of Jesus)
- Our gathering together unto him. (rapture, or catching away)
Paul again tells the Church that the second coming of Jesus Christ (not the rapture, which would be our gathering together to him) will not happen until a couple of things happen first.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: FOR THAT DAY SHALL NOT COME, EXCEPT THERE COME A FALLING AWAY FIRST, AND THAT MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, the son of perdition;
There has to be a falling away “first”, and then “second” the man of sin (Antichrist) be revealed!
It is very interesting that the word for, “FALLING AWAY” is the Greek word, “apostasia” which means, “DEPARTURE, TO DEPART”. There must be a “DEPARTURE” first, and then the man of sin be revealed second. In other words, the man of sin can not be revealed until there is a departure first!! Some people believe that the departure (falling away) would be some in the Church departing from the faith. Well, that has been going on since the beginning of Christianity, that's nothing new. Many, many people who have not “kept the Word of God in themselves”, who go to Church will always fall away eventually. Jesus tells us this in the parable of the “sower”.
In the Amplified Bible, in its footnotes, it says the word “FALLING AWAY” means “THE DEPARTURE OF THE CHURCH!! of course, if we do not believe it means this, we know for sure there will be a DEPARTURE of a certain group of people from another group of people so that what happens to one group of people, will not happen to the other!!! This is why Jesus told his followers to “watch, and pray that you may be counted worthy to escape those things that will come upon the earth”(Luke 21:36)
The tribulation period can not even begin to start, until the church is gone and then the Antichrist is revealed. If we don't believe verse 3 as the departure of the Church, don't worry, because the Apostle Paul tells us the exact same thing a couple of verses later.
2Th 2:5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And YOU KNOW WHAT IS RESTRAINING HIM NOW SO THAT HE MAY BE REVEALED IN HIS TIME.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only HE WHO NOW RESTRAINS IT WILL DO SO UNTIL HE IS OUT OF THE WAY.
2Th 2:8 And THEN THE LAWLESS ONE WILL BE REVEALED, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. (ESV)
There is a “POWER” that is “RESTRAINING” this man of sin (Antichrist) from being revealed in his time. Who could this person be who is “RESTRAINING” the man of sin from being revealed? It is the exact same people who have already departed the earth, who alone had that power over all the works of the evil one!!!
Jesus Christ himself gave his Church that “AUTHORITY” in his “NAME” to have dominion over all the works of the devil including the devil himself!!! (Luke 10:19) The “POWER” that backed up that “AUTHORITY” was the Holy Spirit, and he too was given unto the Church!! (Acts 1:8)
Someone might say, “it will the Holy Ghost (Spirit) who will be taken away, so the Antichrist can be revealed” There is only one small problem with that kind of thinking. Jesus said when the Holy Ghost (Spirit) comes he will abide with us forever!!
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER, THAT HE MAY ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER;
John 14:26 BUT THE COMFORTER, WHICH IS THE HOLY GHOST, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
If the Holy Spirit goes, so does the Church!
The body of Christ, which is the Church, is the only thing restraining and holding back the Antichrist from being revealed to this world. Once the Church is gone (raptured, taken out of the way) then the Antichrist can be revealed in his time!
Curtis
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Rev 21:1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth were completely gone. There was no longer any sea. (NiRV)
Rev 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem. It was coming down out of heaven from God. It was prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Rev 21:3 I heard a loud voice from the throne. It said, "Now God makes his home with people. He will live with them. They will be his people. And God himself will be with them and be their God.
Brother-Paul
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Emmanuel - God with us.
On earth which was created by God for humans.
PTL
On earth which was created by God for humans.
PTL
Alan McDougall
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I have real problems with the rapture? It has absolutely nothing to do with the Gospel of Salvation and in my opinion, it is a form of escapism.
Hekuran
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Me too. I used to think it was a silly but harmless belief. As time goes on I view it as a very real danger to the effectiveness of the church in the world.
If God is going to whisk the church away, then ultimately, what does it matter how much we creation is polluted, if people are oppressed, children die in poverty.
I don't know if anybody has die the research, but I'd be interested to see what correlation there is between belief in the rapture and a lack of concern about justice.
If God is going to whisk the church away, then ultimately, what does it matter how much we creation is polluted, if people are oppressed, children die in poverty.
I don't know if anybody has die the research, but I'd be interested to see what correlation there is between belief in the rapture and a lack of concern about justice.
Brother-Paul
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Although I take the point you are both making. Surely the true believers, the born again, who love God also love and appreciate creation he made for us.
Now we are not jet setting evangelists, we are not the hour and a half church (kuriakon) goers, I am talking about most of us on here who invest our time in God's Word, we love the Lord, we love creation, we care about it during our time on earth.
To me every verse in scripture is there for us to search, to try understand, to help us be ready for Christ's return in Glory, but till he does we are commissioned to learn from the scriptures, to go forth in Jesus Name, doing everything we can to bring lost souls to God through Jesus, explaining his love, Jesus, the cross, his blood, explaining sin and the need for forgiveness, explaining how to obtain forgiveness and Salvation in Jesus name, and explaining why we must be ready for his return.
Am I wrong, is every verse not important?
Shalom
Now we are not jet setting evangelists, we are not the hour and a half church (kuriakon) goers, I am talking about most of us on here who invest our time in God's Word, we love the Lord, we love creation, we care about it during our time on earth.
To me every verse in scripture is there for us to search, to try understand, to help us be ready for Christ's return in Glory, but till he does we are commissioned to learn from the scriptures, to go forth in Jesus Name, doing everything we can to bring lost souls to God through Jesus, explaining his love, Jesus, the cross, his blood, explaining sin and the need for forgiveness, explaining how to obtain forgiveness and Salvation in Jesus name, and explaining why we must be ready for his return.
Am I wrong, is every verse not important?
Shalom
Alan McDougall
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The proponents of the rapture care only for themselves! They rise up and leave the rest of humanity to rot below and I mean innocent men woman and children some of them their own wives children and grandchildren. Of course, if the people who do not qualify for the rapture can still be saved, that is is they agree to be decapitated "Let them burn below while we run around in some faraway paradise" The logistics of it also make no sense how can the entire planet which is round globe all see the Lord above at the same time? And once they meet the Lord in the sky how are they get to their destination does Jesus supply an ark like a spaceship. Up there in the total absence of an atmosphere how do they breathe? Some of those or most of those who believe in the rapture say aircraft will crash killing thousands if the pilot is taken in the rapture or someone driving taken their car will be left to crash into other vehicles with the knock-on effect of hundreds dying. If your local firefighters go in the rapture you just stand back and watch your home burn to the ground. On one side of our planet is will be midnight and another midday. is Almighty God a respecter of persons or nations did the Bible not say God so loved the World? It does not say god only loves a tiny percentage of people in the world Please make sense to the logical thinking mind and brain God gave me!
Brother-Paul
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Greeting Alan, I see the picture but cannot agree with your comments
Everyone has the option to accept Jesus and come to God through Him or reject him.
Scripture, God's Word, is available to all, regardless of sex, age, tongue, disability, ability, it is available to ALL. Scripture clearly tells us about sin, it tells us the wages of sin is death, it tells us there is only one way our sins can be forgiven and that is by coming to Jesus, repenting of our sins and truly meaning it, asking Jesus into our heart, being born again and taking up our cross daily to follow Jesus and God's commands. Jesus paid the price for our sins so we do not have to, Salvation is a free gift.
But many will not accept this free give of salvation, that Jesus dies on the cross for our sins, that he paid the price we should pay. John 3:1-21 gives us 'The Full Picture'. Three times Jesus says WE MUST BE Born Again, v16-17 tells of the Love of God for mankind that He allowed His only son to die, to be crucified, to suffer for our sins, but then comes the part many fail to read or take in,
John 3:16-21 (NKJV)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
God has not condemned the world, no, Jesus dies so the world could be saved from their sins, people choose themselves not to accept this, so they are condemned already by their own actions and decisions, they condemn themselves. There are two options in this life, which subject to 'our decision' lead to either Eternal Life or Eternal Damnation. But the choice is ours. For God so loved the world, the people on earth, that he gave His one and only son, so that whoever believes in Him and is born again, will have everlasting life.
Blink your eye Alan, Christ will come from the East to the West, the dead in Christ will be lifted up, followed by the living believers and meet the Lord in the sky, in the blink of an eye. He will have gone around the world in the blink of an eye, the Light of Christ will shine for all to see, we must not try understand these things with a worldly mind.
Our bodies die and go back to the dust of the earth, the saved soul's spirit goes to be with God. When Christ returns for the ekklesia in Great Glory.
On earth our bodies are corruptible, they go back to the earth, but when Christ returns we are raised incorruptible, we receive our new Glorious bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (NKJV)
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
Our bodies will be like Jesus' body after the resurrection, before his ascension. He was not a ghost, they touched him, he ate with then by the lake, his body was a Glorious body, our bodies will be Glorious bodies. We meet the Lord in the clouds Alan, so we are in the earths atmosphere, breathing will not be an issue where ever we are. You are trying to understand heavenly things in an earthly way it is not possible, God created the heavens and the earth, the sun, the moon the stars, earth and all on it. He will create a new heaven and a new earth, the New Jerusalem is being created as we speak in heaven, it will come down onto the new earth, the Holy City will be our home, Jesus is creating a place for us as we speak.
Dear Alan, I see what you are saying my friend, you have heard about the pre-trib rapture, you have probably read some of the books or seen the dvd's, so have I, I have read the full set by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B Jenkins. The full Left behind collection. But then I came back to my Bible, The Word of God and find it is not accurate, the timing of the rapture is wrong, I was taken in Alan, millions have, they have made a fortune though it, but it is not correct, what they portray, based on the pre-trib rapture is well put together, but then they are journalist, don't waste you money, The Truth is in the Word. Christ will return on 'the last day' many verses confirm this.
One thing we should always remember Alan, hearts have to change for people to come to Christ but nothing is impossible for God.
Another thing to remember is, it is God's will that we should be saved, he even let His Son die for our sins so that through him we can be saved.
A final thought, if a saved soul has prayed through Jesus for the salvation of his family, when God commands Jesus to return for his church, the ekklesia, the Holy Spirit will quicken. All the prayers previously received, that were prayed by us, interceded by Jesus, will also be quickened, because it is God's will none will be lost. Some will be lost we know that but if we have prayed in faith, through Jesus Christ our Lord, for salvation for all our family, those prayers will be answered in the same twinkling of an eye.
Bless you
Everyone has the option to accept Jesus and come to God through Him or reject him.
Scripture, God's Word, is available to all, regardless of sex, age, tongue, disability, ability, it is available to ALL. Scripture clearly tells us about sin, it tells us the wages of sin is death, it tells us there is only one way our sins can be forgiven and that is by coming to Jesus, repenting of our sins and truly meaning it, asking Jesus into our heart, being born again and taking up our cross daily to follow Jesus and God's commands. Jesus paid the price for our sins so we do not have to, Salvation is a free gift.
But many will not accept this free give of salvation, that Jesus dies on the cross for our sins, that he paid the price we should pay. John 3:1-21 gives us 'The Full Picture'. Three times Jesus says WE MUST BE Born Again, v16-17 tells of the Love of God for mankind that He allowed His only son to die, to be crucified, to suffer for our sins, but then comes the part many fail to read or take in,
John 3:16-21 (NKJV)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
God has not condemned the world, no, Jesus dies so the world could be saved from their sins, people choose themselves not to accept this, so they are condemned already by their own actions and decisions, they condemn themselves. There are two options in this life, which subject to 'our decision' lead to either Eternal Life or Eternal Damnation. But the choice is ours. For God so loved the world, the people on earth, that he gave His one and only son, so that whoever believes in Him and is born again, will have everlasting life.
Blink your eye Alan, Christ will come from the East to the West, the dead in Christ will be lifted up, followed by the living believers and meet the Lord in the sky, in the blink of an eye. He will have gone around the world in the blink of an eye, the Light of Christ will shine for all to see, we must not try understand these things with a worldly mind.
Our bodies die and go back to the dust of the earth, the saved soul's spirit goes to be with God. When Christ returns for the ekklesia in Great Glory.
On earth our bodies are corruptible, they go back to the earth, but when Christ returns we are raised incorruptible, we receive our new Glorious bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (NKJV)
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
Our bodies will be like Jesus' body after the resurrection, before his ascension. He was not a ghost, they touched him, he ate with then by the lake, his body was a Glorious body, our bodies will be Glorious bodies. We meet the Lord in the clouds Alan, so we are in the earths atmosphere, breathing will not be an issue where ever we are. You are trying to understand heavenly things in an earthly way it is not possible, God created the heavens and the earth, the sun, the moon the stars, earth and all on it. He will create a new heaven and a new earth, the New Jerusalem is being created as we speak in heaven, it will come down onto the new earth, the Holy City will be our home, Jesus is creating a place for us as we speak.
Dear Alan, I see what you are saying my friend, you have heard about the pre-trib rapture, you have probably read some of the books or seen the dvd's, so have I, I have read the full set by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B Jenkins. The full Left behind collection. But then I came back to my Bible, The Word of God and find it is not accurate, the timing of the rapture is wrong, I was taken in Alan, millions have, they have made a fortune though it, but it is not correct, what they portray, based on the pre-trib rapture is well put together, but then they are journalist, don't waste you money, The Truth is in the Word. Christ will return on 'the last day' many verses confirm this.
One thing we should always remember Alan, hearts have to change for people to come to Christ but nothing is impossible for God.
Another thing to remember is, it is God's will that we should be saved, he even let His Son die for our sins so that through him we can be saved.
A final thought, if a saved soul has prayed through Jesus for the salvation of his family, when God commands Jesus to return for his church, the ekklesia, the Holy Spirit will quicken. All the prayers previously received, that were prayed by us, interceded by Jesus, will also be quickened, because it is God's will none will be lost. Some will be lost we know that but if we have prayed in faith, through Jesus Christ our Lord, for salvation for all our family, those prayers will be answered in the same twinkling of an eye.
Bless you
