Rapture concern

Dave L

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Why should I concern myself about being raptured when I could drop dead from just about anything.
Is there a problem about going to heaven via some other route like dying naturaly?
Don't hold your breath waiting for a "rapture", you'll die first.
 
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eleos1954

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Why should I concern myself about being raptured when I could drop dead from just about anything.
Is there a problem about going to heaven via some other route like dying naturaly?

When one dies (earthly death) then they wait (dormant in the grave) until the Lord returns (then the 1st resurrection happens) ... nothing more they can do (judgement has taken place before He returns). If one is alive (earthly life) when Jesus returns they will be translated and taken to heaven along with the saved dead.

Either way ... that is why we need to be ready for either case.
 
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athenken

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This has always been my philosophy. Prepare your heart as if the end will happen today, but plan your life as though it will not happen until after you are gone.

There is no point in worrying about something you have no control over. It will distract you from your true purpose.

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A #1: What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
 
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Davy

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Why should I concern myself about being raptured when I could drop dead from just about anything.
Is there a problem about going to heaven via some other route like dying naturaly?

It's those on a false Pre-trib Rapture theory that worry about not being raptured. Just watch some of their silly movies and you'll see why.

But it's all a SCARE tactic.

There is NO pre-trib rapture idea written anywhere in God's Word.

But there is... a rapture of the Church idea written, just not one prior to the tribulation.

The actual Greek word is harpazo, and it means to be seized. It is translated as "caught up" in the KJV in 1 Thessalonians 4. The word 'rapture' comes from a Latin translation of the Greek word harpazo.
 
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Douggg

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Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A #1: What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
One of the best statements I have ever heard.
 
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sovereigngrace

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When one dies (earthly death) then they wait (dormant in the grave) until the Lord returns (then the 1st resurrection happens) ... nothing more they can do (judgement has taken place before He returns). If one is alive (earthly life) when Jesus returns they will be translated and taken to heaven along with the saved dead.

Either way ... that is why we need to be ready for either case.

Wrong on both parts. We go direct to heaven upon death and the first resurrection was Christ. Check the Bible, and you will discover both.
 
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Marilyn C

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Why should I concern myself about being raptured when I could drop dead from just about anything.
Is there a problem about going to heaven via some other route like dying naturaly?

`To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time apart from sin, for salvation.` (Heb. 9: 28)
The focus is obviously to eagerly keep looking to the Lord for what ever He is going to do.
 
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eleos1954

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Wrong on both parts. We go direct to heaven upon death and the first resurrection was Christ. Check the Bible, and you will discover both.

1 Thessalonians 4

The Return of the Lord - Paul speaking after Jesus resurrection

13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

... WILL bring with Jesus (when He returns)

many more verses

Check the Bible, and you will discover it is so.
 
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sovereigngrace

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1 Thessalonians 4

The Return of the Lord - Paul speaking after Jesus resurrection

13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

... WILL bring with Jesus (when He returns)

many more verses

Check the Bible, and you will discover it is so.

What are you talking about?
 
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eleos1954

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What are you talking about?

When we die we do not go to heaven ... (as you posted) ... you said Jesus was the first resurrection .... this is true ... He was the firstfruits of the masses yet to be resurrected from the grave when He returns (1st resurrection of the saved)
 
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sovereigngrace

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When we die we do not go to heaven ... (as you posted) ... you said Jesus was the first resurrection .... this is true ... He was the firstfruits of the masses yet to be resurrected from the grave when He returns (1st resurrection of the saved)

There is only one first resurrection. It occurred 2000 years ago. We are currently in the symbolic millennial period.
 
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eleos1954

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There is only one first resurrection. It occurred 2000 years ago. We are currently in the symbolic millennial period.

agree to disagree ... I would encourage you to restudy ... I have looked at this theology as put forth and found it wanting .... the millennial reign begins after the return of our Lord and takes place in heaven.
 
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Douggg

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Recent changes in the world where people are wearing face masks, fear to travel, and assemble, and governments to a degree are declaring marshal law, we living in the final days to when the ten kings will arise and the little horn person.

Look up, our redemption draws near. Meaning the rapture.
 
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ViaCrucis

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Why should I concern myself about being raptured when I could drop dead from just about anything.
Is there a problem about going to heaven via some other route like dying naturaly?

Don't fear something that isn't true. That's the most important thing here.

Further: Jesus' return should not be perceived as something awful, to be feared, dreaded; but something longed for and hoped for. One of the Church's prayers is Maranatha! it means "Come, Lord!".

If there is any fear to be had, it arises from so many dreadfully bad ideas that have been fabricated, dreamed up, and promulgated. The "rapture" is almost always associated with a fantasy of apocalyptic disaster; the Bible is quote-mined extensively, and then forced to fit into this fantasy narrative. Thus, fear of all fear, Jesus' "coming" in a "rapture" is also a scary thing, at least in part because oops, what if I don't make the cut?

The reality of God's Judgment is sobering. But it is sobering not because God is really mean and is going to punish people in a grand scale; it's sobering because God's Judgment has already been revealed and demonstrated to us. The Law already condemns us, not because the Law was given to kill, but because the law of sin and death in our mortal members is at odds with the Law of God which is good and holy; and thus that which is good and holy kills that which is dead. That is the Judgment, it's what Jesus Himself says when in John chapter 3 that He did not come to condemn but to save; but that condemnation has come already, the Light coming into the world, but men preferred darkness for their deeds were evil. It is sobering because this good world which God made has been so polluted with suffering, pain, death, and evil; and that we as moral agents have been the agents of suffering and death in this world. It is sobering because even at the end, there is still the very real likelihood that there will be those who would still rather be part of this perishing, dying, emptiness than be alive and love other people as themselves.

But our hope is in Christ. And we have God's promises to us in Christ. We look forward, with hope, of what God is going to do, that Christ's coming is not about death, but life. He's the One who overcame death, His return is precisely this for all things--yes even for all of creation. His return means there is no longer death.

God's word to creation is "Life", to live. The Word Himself who is Life gave His life in order that death would be no more, and that all shall be made alive through Him. This is Good News.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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Davy

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1 Thessalonians 4

The Return of the Lord - Paul speaking after Jesus resurrection

13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. 17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

... WILL bring with Jesus (when He returns)

many more verses

Check the Bible, and you will discover it is so.

And that idea of the dead in Christ rising first is the 'resurrection' on the last day of this world when Jesus returns. So it's impossible to apply a Pre-tribulational Rapture to that Scripture.
 
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eleos1954

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And that idea of the dead in Christ rising first is the 'resurrection' on the last day of this world when Jesus returns. So it's impossible to apply a Pre-tribulational Rapture to that Scripture.

There isn't any "pre-tribulation" "rapture" .... ALL will go through the tribulation (even the elect) ... but it will be cut short for the elect. When Jesus returns the 1st resurrection (of the saved) happens.

Matthew 24

19How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath. 21For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.

22If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.23At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. 25See, I have told you in advance.
 
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Davy

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There isn't any "pre-tribulation" "rapture" .... ALL will go through the tribulation (even the elect) ... but it will be cut short for the elect. When Jesus returns the 1st resurrection (of the saved) happens.

Matthew 24

19How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! 20Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath. 21For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.

22If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.23At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. 25See, I have told you in advance.

Yes, and He even showed us for how long it was shortened to. It's in connection with the time that Noah's ark was upon the height of flood waters.
 
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