Why do people believe in a Rapture?

[Jason Sanders]

If I might pose a (purely hypothetical) question...

Why does it even matter when, or if, the Rapture will occur? We know not when Christ will return, only that it is "soon", which was said over two thousand years ago. Why is it important for the Rapture to happen before, after, or during the Tribulation? Our mission here on Earth is spread the Gospel, not sit around squabbling about when we get to "go home".

Perhaps it is simply my age, but I truly do wonder why it is so important to know this, rather than focus on what Christ sent us out into the world to do.

 

[ivebeenshown]

If I might pose a (purely hypothetical) question...

Why does it even matter when, or if, the Rapture will occur? We know not when Christ will return, only that it is "soon", which was said over two thousand years ago. Why is it important for the Rapture to happen before, after, or during the Tribulation? Our mission here on Earth is spread the Gospel, not sit around squabbling about when we get to "go home".

Perhaps it is simply my age, but I truly do wonder why it is so important to know this, rather than focus on what Christ sent us out into the world to do.

I feel you bruh. I am very fascinated with eschatology and Scripture in general but it is quite concerning to see how many eschatologists, armchair or longtime alike, place such importance on their own interpretation, so much as to make insults and accusations against all who disagree with them. Of course I did the same thing around five years or so ago. I left it alone to pursue the Spirit in actions in real life with my family, and now I have returned with a different focus.

 

[n2thelight]

If I might pose a (purely hypothetical) question...

Why does it even matter when, or if, the Rapture will occur? We know not when Christ will return, only that it is "soon", which was said over two thousand years ago. Why is it important for the Rapture to happen before, after, or during the Tribulation? Our mission here on Earth is spread the Gospel, not sit around squabbling about when we get to "go home".

Perhaps it is simply my age, but I truly do wonder why it is so important to know this, rather than focus on what Christ sent us out into the world to do.

Believing in the rapture sets one up for deception wherein your very soul is at stake

Yes our mission is to spread the Gospel, not hope to escape when the world needs us most..

 

[ivebeenshown]

Believing in the rapture sets one up for deception wherein your very soul is at stake

Yes our mission is to spread the Gospel, not hope to escape when the world needs us most..

This is true. If one believes we are to be gathered to the Lord before the great tribulation, that same person may be more easily discouraged or deceived when the man of sin is revealed. Whereas if we truly would be gathered to the Lord before then, we should have been doing his will anyways, so there should be no risk, as we are always to be watching and sober anyways.

 

[Jason Sanders]

This is true. If one believes we are to be gathered to the Lord before the great tribulation, that same person may be more easily discouraged or deceived when the man of sin is revealed. Whereas if we truly would be gathered to the Lord before then, we should have been doing his will anyways, so there should be no risk, as we are always to be watching and sober anyways.

And if we are not called to be with the Lord until after the Tribulation, then our faith, which will not have wavered, will only serve to prove and magnify the glory of God, who kept us safe through the most dangerous and trying time in all of creation.

Really, spreading the Gospel is a win-win for all parties involved, regardless of the outcome!

 

[BABerean2]

And if we are not called to be with the Lord until after the Tribulation, then our faith, which will not have wavered, will only serve to prove and magnify the glory of God, who kept us safe through the most dangerous and trying time in all of creation.

Really, spreading the Gospel is a win-win for all parties involved, regardless of the outcome!

Jason,

You are correct. The Gospel is the most important thing.

However, each of us is a souldier on the field of battle. During the last 160 years, John Nelson Darby's doctrine has spread like a virus through the evangelical Church in America. Most of those sitting in the pews have no idea about the original source of the doctrine. Many souldiers are being told we will not be here for the last 7 years of the battle.

Corrie Ten Boom's family was arrested by the Nazis during WWII, for hiding Jews in their home. Most of her family died in the concentration camps. During her life Corrie was told by pastors in persecuted nations that the pretrib doctrine had a damaging effect on their church bodies.

Origin of the Pretrib Rapture Doctrine
http://www.answersinrevelation.org/pretrib_history.pdf

Grant Jeffrey’s revision of early Church Posttrib viewpoints
http://www.answersinrevelation.org/Jeffrey.pdf

PROPHETIC DEVELOPMENTS
with particular reference to the early Brethren Movement.
F. Roy Coad (Brethren Historian) read pages 10-26
http://brethrenhistory.org/qwicsitePro/php/docsview.php?docid=418

Left Behind or Led Astray?
http://www.leftbehindorledastray.com/

Who Confirmed The Covenant?
http://christianmediaresearch.com/node/1023
.

 

[Jason Sanders]

Jason,

You are correct. The Gospel is the most important thing.

However, each of us is a souldier on the field of battle. During the last 160 years, John Nelson Darby's doctrine has spread like a virus through the evangelical Church in America. Most of those sitting in the pews have no idea about the original source of the doctrine. Many souldiers are being told we will not be here for the last 7 years of the battle.

Corrie Ten Boom's family was arrested by the Nazis during WWII, for hiding Jews in their home. Most of her family died in the concentration camps. During her life Corrie was told by pastors in persecuted nations that the pretrib doctrine had a damaging effect on their church bodies.

Origin of the Pretrib Rapture Doctrine
http://www.answersinrevelation.org/pretrib_history.pdf

Grant Jeffrey’s revision of early Church Posttrib viewpoints
http://www.answersinrevelation.org/Jeffrey.pdf

PROPHETIC DEVELOPMENTS
with particular reference to the early Brethren Movement.
F. Roy Coad (Brethren Historian) read pages 10-26
http://brethrenhistory.org/qwicsitePro/php/docsview.php?docid=418

Left Behind or Led Astray?
http://www.leftbehindorledastray.com/

Who Confirmed The Covenant?
http://christianmediaresearch.com/node/1023
.

This... this is exactly what I was talking about. I have studied this issue thoroughly, and both sides have evidence that points to their opinion being the right one. No one has a knockout argument that smashes the other to pieces and conclusively proves it to be one way or the other.

And that is why I do not care when it will happen. I know only that it WILL happen, and I believe that those who attempt to try and predict when are doomed to fail- and are likely being led down a path of bickering, back biting, and divisive arguing that has only ever served to split the Church, rather than unify it.

Does that mean I believe that we should include any and all beliefs into the Church? Of course not. But it does mean that I believe that trying to make dichotomies such as Pre-Trib or Post-Trib is a meaningless exercise that has only distracted us from our true goal, our true purpose here on Earth.

We are to spread the Good News of Salvation, not the off color news that this one guy is preaching something I disagree with so here is ten thousand words on why he's a heretic and you shouldn't believe what he's saying, because you'll go to Hell if you do!

Honestly.

 

[Short Timer]

Are you proposing that you have been given some ministry of interpretation by God?

Joh 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Joh 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

"WHY" don't any of you seem to know anything about the "Spirit" or how the "Spirit" works?????

Most seem to think it's just their opinion against some other person's opinion,

Just as the Jews believed when arguing with Jesus.

They didn't know, and obviously most here don't know who it is they're really arguing against.

But like the Jews, they will find out.

 

[Jason Sanders]

Joh 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Joh 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

"WHY" don't any of you seem to know anything about the "Spirit" or how the "Spirit" works?????

Most seem to think it's just their opinion against some other person's opinion,

Just as the Jews believed when arguing with Jesus.

They didn't know, and obviously most here don't know who it is they're really arguing against.

But like the Jews, they will find out.

I wouldn't give up hope, or judge, just yet brother. The Spirit can and will find those whom God has chosen to be His children- we do not know the state of another person's relationship with God, especially on the small level of interaction we have here.

Though we can make rather good educated guesses.

 

[Short Timer]

Christians have been dying since they became Christians... The tribulation is not about death,it's about deception.satan gains nothing by killing your flesh, he wants your soul to die with his.

What if satan kills all Christians, would he "Prevail" is stopping the Gospel from being spread????

The reason for the trib is to try them that dwell on the earth, Rev 3:10

But some have already been "Tried" and been "Accounted worthy" to escape all these things that shall come to pass.

Why some are worthy to escape, because they have the seal of God. What is that seal? Knowledge, knowledge of what? His word.

My Bible say only a 144000 are sealed, all Jews, so what happen to the other "Millions" of "Christians"??

We all think we know,well, the tribulation will test that knowledge. Starting with satan coming to earth pretending to be Christ .Question you should be asking,is how to know he's the fake,and that comes from knowledge.For their own good many will get that spirit of slumber and believe that lie...

Why don't you try answering the question of "WHY" church saints don't have to be "WILLING" to "Literally" die/crucify their "Body of sin" to be saved as people will during the trib????

How are you going to know if he's a fake or not if you don't have the ears to hear the spirit/truth about the rapture????

You're making claims of a Carnal mind that's not based on the "Truth" as taught by the Spirit,

so you're already in some darkness, how much darker will it get, you calling the AC the Messiah????

 

[Short Timer]

I wouldn't give up hope, or judge, just yet brother. The Spirit can and will find those whom God has chosen to be His children- we do not know the state of another person's relationship with God, especially on the small level of interaction we have here.

Though we can make rather good educated guesses.

If the Jews had had "Ears to hear", would they have still had nothing more than an "Educated guess"????

Jesus is still speaking to people today just as much as he did when he was here on the planet.

If you don't/can't "HEAR HIM", it's because you don't "WANT" to "HEAR HIM".

Like I said, most don't know anything about the spirit or how it works.

 

[Jason Sanders]

If the Jews had had "Ears to hear", would they have still had nothing more than an "Educated guess"????

Jesus is still speaking to people today just as much as he did when he was here on the planet.

If you don't/can't "HEAR HIM", it's because you don't "WANT" to "HEAR HIM".

Like I said, most don't know anything about the spirit or how it works.

Yes, they would have had more- they would have heard the truth and been saved. And many did!

I agree with you that the Holy Spirit still speaks to people today- still operates in signs and wonders and miracles, just as He did in the time of the Apostles.

I do not agree with you that people who do not hear Him don't want to.

There are many people looking for answers, searching vainly in the hope of finding salvation. It is our mission, our purpose on this Earth, to bring the light of Christ to them. And yes, there are people who were saved through nothing but pure, unfiltered communication with God. But there are many more who are saved first because a man stood next to them in line at the store and dared to talk about Christ. Dared to spread the Holy Spirit, regardless of the personal consequences. Or do you think the apostles were always in communication with the Spirit, never failing or wavering in their faith, never once stumbling or faltering to trust in the Lord, even though they knew Him as no others have?

Do you think you have never stumbled? Because if you do...

Well, you have deceived yourself, my friend.

 

[Riberra]

But some have already been "Tried" and been "Accounted worthy" to escape all these things that shall come to pass.

Tell us about the "trial" that you have been "submitted" and from which you have came out "victorious" ?
The last time I have asked you that question you have said that you believe that Jesus have already paid the price for you.... So you are worthy to escape....Hmm !..

 

[ivebeenshown]

Joh 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Joh 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

"WHY" don't any of you seem to know anything about the "Spirit" or how the "Spirit" works?????

Most seem to think it's just their opinion against some other person's opinion,

Just as the Jews believed when arguing with Jesus.

They didn't know, and obviously most here don't know who it is they're really arguing against.

But like the Jews, they will find out.

Alright, so you are indeed saying that by arguing against you we are arguing against the Holy Spirit?

 

[iamlamad]

Are you proposing that you have been given some ministry of interpretation by God?

I think it only takes reading and believing. After all, but Daniel and Revelation has said that the saints will be overcome. How many escape as a %? Just pick a low number. No one knows for sure. How many Jews escaped that were living in Germany? VERY few.

 

[iamlamad]

If I might pose a (purely hypothetical) question...

Why does it even matter when, or if, the Rapture will occur? We know not when Christ will return, only that it is "soon", which was said over two thousand years ago. Why is it important for the Rapture to happen before, after, or during the Tribulation? Our mission here on Earth is spread the Gospel, not sit around squabbling about when we get to "go home".

Perhaps it is simply my age, but I truly do wonder why it is so important to know this, rather than focus on what Christ sent us out into the world to do.

It will matter a LOT of the rapture is pretrib and many are left behind because they did not believe in it so were not watching and expecting.

 

[iamlamad]

Believing in the rapture sets one up for deception wherein your very soul is at stake

Yes our mission is to spread the Gospel, not hope to escape when the world needs us most..

This sounds so spiritual, but what if the will of the Father is to escape? What good could one do here if you are OUTSIDE the will of God?

 

[ivebeenshown]

I think it only takes reading and believing. After all, but Daniel and Revelation has said that the saints will be overcome. How many escape as a %? Just pick a low number. No one knows for sure. How many Jews escaped that were living in Germany? VERY few.

This is true -- and the Jews did not have to be raptured away to escape those things.

 

[iamlamad]

This is true. If one believes we are to be gathered to the Lord before the great tribulation, that same person may be more easily discouraged or deceived when the man of sin is revealed. Whereas if we truly would be gathered to the Lord before then, we should have been doing his will anyways, so there should be no risk, as we are always to be watching and sober anyways.

Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't it be very difficult to be watching for His coming and expecting it, when one believes he or she will see the Beast first?

 

[iamlamad]

And if we are not called to be with the Lord until after the Tribulation, then our faith, which will not have wavered, will only serve to prove and magnify the glory of God, who kept us safe through the most dangerous and trying time in all of creation.

Really, spreading the Gospel is a win-win for all parties involved, regardless of the outcome!

It sounds so spiritual, but God has said the saints would be overcome. That is the opposite of "kept us safe."