This topic has given me writer's block in terms of my book.
I was okay until I heard some tv preacher say that after the saints are taken up it would be too late for those on the earth as the Holy Spirit would have left the earth at this point.
Question for Pre/Mid/Post tribbers (please quote my post in your reply with a heading of which school of thought you understand
) :-
After the taking up of the saints, what happens to those who are left behind but who then realise the error of their ways and repent?
*My thoughts behind the question - I was writing a story about teens who witness the gathering up of the saints. Some knew what had happened and repented straight away while others learnt of what had happened and then accepted Christ before taking the mark. Would that be a realistic premise or would it be too late for such individuals?*
I would love to hear all sides to the above and any further links or free pdf docs so that I can research this further.
BTS, sorry if I derail your thread but I wanted one centralised thread where I could thoroughly read all contributions and I thought your OP fitted this nicely.
Thank you in advance for anything you guys could offer.
2nd Thess. 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 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:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
I would say scripture is clear, though highly unpleasant.
Rom. 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in
If we look how Jesus himself treated the Gentiles AT THE TIME compared to Israel, we see... Matt. 15:21-28 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.
He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.
The woman came and knelt before him. Lord, help me! she said.
He replied, It is not right to take the childrens bread and toss it to their dogs.
Yes, Lord, she said, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table.
Then Jesus answered, Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted. And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
IF the first 483 years of the 490 were done this way, with the consideration of Israel in mind, it only stands to reason it would revert back this way for the last seven. Not that gentiles can't be saved mind you, but the scriptures above seem clear. Israel & the Church are not the same. They do not have the same relationship with Him. They have different functions, rewards, etc. So it stands to reason the "elect" do not mean "the Church" in Matt. 24 & other passages. It is the Spirit that draws, yes? Not some mass disappearance? So, if it the Spirit that draws, and the Spirit is "through" with those that have denied Him...what else can be said?
. This past Easter break I've been able to read more on this, and also thanks to this thread, I've been able to view all sides on this topic.
