rollinTHUNDER said in post 214:
The parable of the sower is not compatible with your ultimate salvation theory, but it fits mine like a glove.
Actually, the parable of the sower is compatible with the Bible's teaching that salvation can ultimately be lost, for the reasons given in post 206 and post 173. Also, the idea of ultimate salvation isn't just a theory, but is fully supported by scripture (see the 3rd section of post 192).
rollinTHUNDER said in post 214:
Again, there are three (3) different rewards for believers (see post #207).
Note that Matthew 13:23 and Mark 4:8 are clear that the 30, 60, and 100-fold fruit applies only to that fruit (i.e. good works) brought forth by those believers on good ground.
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rollinTHUNDER said in post 207:
(2) ON ROCKY PLACES: [falls away]- weak believer / must try to survive after tribulation / sheep or poor in spirit
Regarding "sheep", see the 2nd to last section of post 193.
rollinTHUNDER said in post 207:
(3) AMONG THORNS: [lukewarm] - unfruitful / left behind, but repents later and refuses to take the mark / martyr
Regarding "left behind", see the last section of post 193.
rollinTHUNDER said in post 207:
(4) ON GOOD SOIL: [disciple] - very fruitful / ready / will stand before the Son of man in the rapture
Regarding "ready", see the 1st section of post 193.
Regarding "will stand before the Son of man", note that Luke 21:36 doesn't require a pre-tribulation rapture, for some in the church will escape all of the future tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 by dying before it begins (Isaiah 57:1), and others in the church will escape all of it by being physically protected on the earth during it (Revelation 12:14-16, Psalms 91). Those who will escape it by dying before it begins will stand before the Lord in heaven (Philippians 1:21,23; 2 Corinthians 5:8). And those who will escape it by being miraculously protected on the earth during it will stand before the Lord in the sky at the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17), which won't occur until immediately after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Revelation 19:7 to 20:6).
rollinTHUNDER said in post 207:
(4) ON GOOD SOIL: [disciple] - very fruitful / ready / will stand before the Son of man in the rapture
Regarding "in the rapture", that will only be at Jesus' 2nd coming, for the reasons given in the 3rd section of post 193.
rollinTHUNDER said in post 207:
(4) SEED SOWN ON GOOD SOIL: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Revelation 3:10-11
Regarding Revelation 3:10-11, the 7 epistles to 7 churches in Revelation chapters 2-3 were sent to 7 literal, first century AD local church congregations in 7 cities in the Roman province of "Asia" (Revelation 1:11) (what's today western Turkey).
Revelation 3:10 meant that the literal, first century AD local church congregation in the city of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7) in the Roman province of "Asia" (Revelation 1:11) would be kept safe from a persecution which came upon all the Roman world during the time of the Roman emperor Domitian. For the apostle John saw his Revelation vision (Revelation 1:1) near the end of Domitian's reign (Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5:30:3c), and Domitian persecuted the church toward the end of his reign. The righteous, literal, first century AD local church congregation in the city of Smyrna (Revelation 2:8) in the Roman province of "Asia" (Revelation 1:11) had to suffer and die in that persecution over a period of 10 literal days (Revelation 2:10).
The first century AD church in Philadelphia didn't have to be taken out of the world to be kept safe from (Greek: "ek") that persecution. For, as Jesus prayed for the church in general: "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from (ek) the evil" (John 17:15,20). Also, the first century AD church in Philadelphia didn't have to be removed from time itself, or from the earth, in order to be kept from the "hour" (or the "time") of that persecution, just as, for example, a student in a classroom who has been excused from taking a test doesn't have to be removed from time itself, or from the classroom, in order to be excused from that time of testing. For he can be made to sit at his desk reading during that time, which won't be a time of testing for him.
Also, the first century AD persecution of Revelation 3:10 (and Revelation 2:10) was only "world"-wide in the sense of the Roman "world" (cf. Luke 2:1). So the subsequent reference to those on the "earth" in Revelation 3:10 should be understood as those Christians living on the earth during that time in the Roman Empire, as opposed to those Christians who had already died and gone to heaven (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:21,23).
Also, while Revelation 3:10 (like Revelation 2:10) was fulfilled in the first century AD, Jesus' 2nd coming spoken of in Revelation 3:11 hasn't yet been fulfilled. For it won't occur until Revelation 19:7-21, immediately after the future tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8). Also, even though some 2,000 years will have passed between the time that Revelation 3:11 was spoken in the first century AD and the time of the fulfillment of the 2nd coming in our future, Jesus will still come "quickly" (Revelation 3:11), just as all the preceding events of the future tribulation (Revelation chapters 6 to 18) will unfold "shortly" (Revelation 1:1,3) after John saw his vision. For from the viewpoint of God even the passing of some 2,000 years is like the passing of only two days (2 Peter 3:8). Christians should look at the future fulfillment of Revelation chapters 6 to 19 from the viewpoint of God, not men, for whom the passing of some 2,000 years seems like a long delay for its fulfillment (2 Peter 3:9).
