MarleneJ
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- Aug 16, 2016
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Because it's much harder to follow a 'god' who would put them through such a thing as the "Tribulation" is described to be... The idea became popular during a generation that never experienced any sort of real 'Tribulation' such as war, disease, or famine. Trust me, the idea isn't prevalent anywhere else other than several countries that are heavily influenced by evangelical denominations.
Wow! I learned something today. I did NOT learn that there is no such thing as the rapture in the Bible. I knew that after I read it once, the first year after God saved me.
And studying theology and Biblical languages also showed me the exegetical error of thinking that harpazo, ἀρπάζω, which is simply not about a "Rapture" or some Latin mistranslation 400 years later by Jerome. And such bad hermeneutics to make a doctrine out of basically one or two verses. Or stretch a lot of verses to say stuff the original writers and God never meant them to say.
What I learned, is about suffering. I have been severely disabled and in pain for 20 years, and before that, quite sick. But, I am comfortable, I have food, clean water, clean air, and all the basics and more. I have never been actually persecuted for my faith. Sorry, someone condemning me for being a Christian doesn't qualify as persecution.
I look at the Christians who are suffering TERRIBLY around the world, and I really wonder how North Americans in particular can think they are so special, that God will not allow them to suffer? Tell that to believers in China or North Korea or the Middle East. What lies!
There is no Biblical doctrine which says we will be saved from suffering. It is just ridiculous to think God is going to bestow favour, on rich North Americans, when Christians have suffered for the cause of Christ for 2000 years. Or just suffered because we live in a fallen world, like I do every day.
We do not live on a restored earth. Creation itself is groaning, awaiting the return of Christ.
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we sit eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies." Romans 8:22-23
Creation groans for the return of Christ, as we also groan. Or do dispensationalists think we are going to take all of creation along with us, in some unscriptural rapture?
Anyway, I do praise God for a new reason for all the pain and suffering I endure. And that reason is that it helps show me any kind of rapture is not biblical, because the intent is to take Christians away from some kind of future suffering. The fact is, we live with suffering, and if people do not suffer, I would have to ask them what sort of unreal world they are living in, and why are they hanging onto this recent and false doctrine called pre-trib rapture?
Christ is returning ONCE! It is called the "second coming" because Jesus came in the flesh suffered and died for us. He was resurrected and ascended to heaven, where he sits at the right hand of the Father. He is returning again to judge the world, not to take North American believers away from any sort of suffering or trials.
"Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said. "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
This is how believers were told Jesus would return. That he would come back from heaven, in the same way he left. Except this time, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.
"It is written:
“‘As surely as I live, says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God." Romans 14:11
"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
And every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
To the glory of God the Father." Phil. 2:9-11
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