I have been a rapture believer for years.. But i am not a pre-tribulation rapture believer.. I believe the rapture will happen at the last trumpet and that is the trumpet that sounds when Jesus returns.. So the rapture will happen on the Day of the return of Jesus..
Pre-tribulation rapture doctrine is an escapist doctrine that has a lot of support because people want to avoid persecution.. Better to be ready for persecution then to be in denial and totally unprepared in your mind for persecution when it comes..
A person expecting persecution does not have their faith tested when it comes..
Escapist? You use that like it's a bad thing. Did Noah not escape the flood? Did the Jews in Egypt not escape the plagues? Why then would God not provide a way out of His wrath for His church?
Let me be honest, I do not want to be here when this goes down, plain and simple.
However, that is not why I believe in Pre Trib. How silly. To hope that believing something will make it so.
Stop and think for a second. In 2010 there were 2.2 billion Christians. If every one of them is on the earth during the tribulation, the rule of the antichrist, you can be sure that they will be full aware of the events and what is actually happening.
Then, even if only 1/2 of this mass of people got down on their knees and prayed and engaged the Holy Spirit, nothing would be able to be done on this earth to prevail against them.
Secondly, if the antichrist enacted the law of taking the mark of the beast, Now you have 2.2 billion, or more, people who can not buy, sell, work, travel, or function in society in any way.
That's more than 1/4 of the world population refusing to follow the militant government.
When you think of that, some elections are decided on close to that percentage of the population showing up to the polls. It is a huge portion of the population.
Now, the antichrist has to find them, incarcerate them and behead them. That's one in four people, or more. In some countries it would be less, in others more.
I don't know about you, but I cannot see this as being a feasible concept.
The Christians being here would mean that the Holy Spirit would have to be here.
Christ said, "whatever you ask in my name".. the power these 2.2 billion would have would be a wall against the coming evil.
On top of all that...... I cannot see our God asking of a 10, 12, 18 year old young people to choose between losing their head or taking the mark. Not even to most grown and mature adults. What about you? Denounce Christ or be guillotined, crucified, beheaded, shot? Look at your church congregation. Would you put them to that test? Then why would Christ?
We are saved by grace. Not by a test of a brutal death. Some are but not 2.2 billion people.
Think of a new Christian. Young, 23 years old, just out of school, new job in an office, sick of the rat race, coming to the church, accepting savior presented as the personification of love. On fire for Christ and on a new road.... then the question... Do you believe Christ is the lord of this world? As they kneel with a blade above their head??? This is your loving God? This is your Savior?
So, no. I know there is a lot of argument, scripture duels, theological sparring.... but when it comes down to it..........How can the church and the Holy spirit be here while evil has full reign of the earth?