Where does the 'rapture to heaven' idea come from? It isn’t stated anywhere in the Bible and those who promote it must use inferences and assumptions to make verses fit their belief.
But when Jesus Himself tells us that such an idea is impossible, then we know it is just a fable, a false theory, like Paul says; will be prevalent in the latter days. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Jesus said: [plus other verses and the teachings of the Apostles, none say the Church will be taken to heaven]
John 3:13 No one has gone up to heaven, except the One who came down from there…
John 7:33-34…I am going away to Him who sent Me and where I go, you cannot come.
John 8:21-23 Again He said: Where I go, you cannot come. You belong to this world below, I to the world above….
John 17:15 I do not pray that You take My people out of this world, but to keep them from the evil one.
Revelation 5:10 You have made them priests for our God and they shall reign on earth.
Evidence enough that people never go to heaven. Only their souls, after death, go back to the One who made them, where they await the Great White Throne Judgement at the end of the Millennium. Revelation 20:11-15
The whole theory of a rapture to heaven contradicts what we are told that the Lord will do for His people; protection during the terrible times ahead. And for those who do stand firm in their faith, who call upon His Name when disaster strikes, there is the promise of tremendous blessings, spiritual and physical to every faithful Christian.
To where He is; that is on earth after His Return.
This prophecy is about the Return of Jesus, when He gathers those who remain, as described in Matthew 24:30-31. It will be a transportation, like Philip had. Acts 8:39
I can show you what God actually does plan for His faithful Christian people. Read my website; logostelos.info for all the details from the Prophetic Word about how God will protect His own and bless them in the holy Land.
You fail to understand that the Jewish nation of Israel has no further part to play in God's plan. Only those individuals, true Christians from every race, nation and language are His people. Those who reject Jesus will be judged and many will die. Isaiah 66:15-17, Zephaniah 1:14-18, Hebrews 10:27, +
Read Revelation 12:6 & 12 and you will see that God will take those who are faithful to Him to a place of safety on earth during the GT. We WILL occupy until Jesus comes and it will be Christians who welcome Him with; Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.
Where you go wrong, is attributing the promises of God to the Jews. The New Testament teachings are plain: There is now no Jew or Gentile; all are one in Christ. Ephesians 2:11-18, +
There is also God's mystery of the House of Israel, the Northern ten tribes, who; it can be proved, are now in the main, the Western; Christian nations. Note how the prophets always carefully maintain the separation between Judah and Israel. Over 160 times in the Bible.
So your contention of the Jews being refined during the GT is wrong and is refuted by the many prophesies saying that the Lord will send fire and most will die. Amos 2:4-5, Isaiah 22:14, Jeremiah 10:18
keras,
1. You didn't give a proper rebuttal.
You don't believe rapture to Heaven and yet I gave you the scriptures in Revelation to prove that saints are now in Heaven, will be from the pre-trib rapture to the end right before the Day of the Lord and you didn't address it at all.
All you did was make accusations that I promote ideas of assumption and inferences.
You haven't proved anything but that you like to generalize and skate the truth.
Just because you disagree you use 2 Timothy 4:3-4 to make it sound like I am into false doctrine which you haven't proved and because you have no answer.
2. You say Jesus never said anything about us going to Heaven.
However, the scriptures you gave are not in the context about the rapture.
John 3:13; And no man hath ascended up to Heaven, but he that came down from Heaven, even the Son of man which is in Heaven.
Enoch and Elijah were translated up to Heaven but not by their own power. Christ didn't ascend up to Heaven until after his resurrection.
Christ came down as a babe from Heaven when he was born.
The Son of man was not in Heaven physically when he was on earth even though some believe his divine nature was.
If it is physical it would mean John wrote this verse after Christ arose.
From verse 13-21 is written in the third person.
This has no future reference to the rapture of the church age saints going to Heaven.
John 7:33-34; The Jewish nation overall are promised the earthly Kingdom in the future tribulation which is separate from the church age saints who go to Heaven and the tribulation martyrs who are are martyred.
This doesn't means that there will be no Jewish saints who will be raptured to Heaven that are not part of the earthly kingdom in Israel for David will be King in Israel Ezekiel 37:24 and the apostle will judge the twelve tribes in that day Matthew 19:28
John 8:21-23; he was talking to the Pharisees who were reprobates could never be a part of him or go to Heaven at all. This has nothing to do with Christians not going to Heaven.
John 17:15 is talking to the disciples who would be part of the church age and this is no reference to the future rapture of saints who will go to Heaven. Heaven
Revelation 5:10 are the saints in Heaven and who will be Kings and Priests etc. in the millennial kingdom.
Revelation 12:6;12 is about Israel not the church.
The Manchild is the future 144,000 Jews not the historical Christ or the church.
3. You have no evidence to support your position to go to wait the Great White Throne Judgement. That Judgement is only for sinners and is called the second death and they will be resurrected 1000 years after the righteous. They are judged for their evil works and then thrown into the Lake of Fire Revelation 20:12-15.
Matthew 24:30-31; this is the Day of the Lord and the gathering of the Jewish elect. This is not the rapture.
4. God doesn't only promise protection from tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:9; God has not appointed us to Wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Enoch was translated before the flood and is a type of the rapture and not having to go through the flood.
Matthew 24 says the days of tribulation will be as the days of Noah! Get the picture?
5. There is no argument that Israel will be blessed in their own land. The Heavenly saints will all be in rulership positions on earth.
We are being trained today to rule for the Kingdom 2 Timothy 2:12. Israel has to be purged in the time of Jacob's trouble Daniel 9:24.
6. If you are so certain the Jewish nation has no more calling explain Genesis 12-15; 2 Samuel 7:13:16; 1 Chronicles 28:1-8; Isaiah 2:2-4; 9:6-7; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 37:16-28; Zechariah 13:8-9; Romans 11:25-29; Hebrews 8:7-12; Revelation 12:14-17.
7. Isaiah 66:15-17 is about the Day of the Lord where people will be killed at the battle of Armageddon.
Zephaniah 1:14-18; Day of the Lord
Hebrews 10:27; same reference as Zephaniah 1:18 concerning adversaries.
8. No Jew or Gentile in the body just means that we are all equal spiritually and through grace instead of the law's sacrificial system we can become one new man. Ephesians 2:11-18;
This has nothing to do with Israel's earthly calling and position of authority in the kingdom.
9. What scripture do you use that claims that God has a mystery House of Israel that are in the western nations? Ephraim?
In that day the Jews will have help by Elijah to show who belongs to what tribe and God will gather them back to Israel and Israel and Judah will be pure and will become united as one stick forever Ezekiel 37.
10. Jews will be purged from sins Daniel 9:24. In the time of Jacob's trouble 12:1; Jeremiah 30:4-9; Matthew 24:21.
Jacob's trouble is only in reference to Israel and never the church.
11. Amos 2:4-5 is historical not prophetic.
Isaiah 22:14; is historical as seen in verse 12; and in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping and to mourning and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth.
Jeremiah 10:18; historical.
Israel won't be refined but purged from sin and that is repentance as well as the unbelieving Jews that will be killed. So your logic is wrong.
Revelation 12:6 is not the church.
The place of safety is for the Sun Clothed woman who is Israel not the church for the travail is only referenced to Israel.
The verse about occupying till he comes was historical directly to the Jews.
Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord was spoken by Jesus to and about the Jews not the church.
You need to learn proper context and not use verses of scripture randomly and learn proper rebuttal. Jerry kelso