Scripture abounds with evidence to demonstrate all you have asked, as you well know by now, but its the interpretation that differs between us, and I will not argue with you forever about it. I came to witness to the truth as I have been learning and continue to learn, and given that, it is enough. If you continue to refuse to at least listen to those of us who think differently than you about the interpretation of the Bible, might I suggest Steve Gregg's book and/or the book I referred to in other threads titled "4 Views of Revelation" and together they might open your eyes to other interpretations of the Lord's word, rather than continue to argue in circles fruitlessly?
One thing I want to point out. Futurism is IMHO the best interpretation of Scripture, from Daniel to Revelation, and indeed from all Scripture, because it is most literal, has the least number of assumptions built upon symbolism, and takes the Holy Apostles at their word, and imparts the strongest sense of urgency toward the Great Commission. Similar but not exactly like Pascal's wager, if Futurists are right and the other possible interpretations of Preterism, Historicism, and Idealism are wrong, our efforts to reach the lost cannot harm anyone. But assuming there is no tribulation before the Lord's next parousia, whether it is the 2nd, 3rd, or whatever number you assign the Lord's final return, other interpretations conceivably detract from the urgency to witness to the world. So what is the harm in assuming a literal interpretation of Revelation, including Revelation Chapter 20, when the end of the rainbow so to speak is to push those of us with faith to believe (in truth, IMHO) that the final hour is upon us and the time for the harvest is now, before the Age of Grace is taken away, and the church is raptured out of the world, leaving only the brutal experience of the tribulation including being witness to the wrath of God, to reach the lost in those final 7 years or 3.5 years or whatever time remains before the Lord comes as He describes in the Olivet discourse? I see more benefit for the world to assume a Futurist interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, while other views harbor varying degrees of danger in assuming either no time remains or the end is not imminent, or we are already in the 1000 year reign so what's the point of evangelism if so?
I pray for you as I pray for God's people and I know you are one of God's servants the same as me. Why not reach out to a lost world to be the salt and light, even if we are completely wrong about Futurism, to serve the Lord up until He returns with all our strength, our body, and our soul, to keep our light burning bright until such time? And I especially pray for the Lost, because without the Lord in their heart and especially without salvation to save them from whatever is next, they are doomed to hell for eternity, which is a very, very long time. As CS Elliott eloquently described, you have never met a "mere mortal." Every human being you ever come into contact with, either here on Christian Forums or in real life, will spend all eternity in one of two places. Why not give the world a fighting chance at hearing the Gospel and seeing our light as brightly as we can possibly shine it, with the greatest sense or urgency possible?
Regardless, may the Lord be with you, and bless you, and use you to be the light as long as we may be permitted to shine upon this world, to save the lost from an eternity in hell, through the Gospel we share and the power of the Holy Spirit working on their hearts, minds and souls. In the Lord Jesus's holy name above all names, Amen.
You talk more about Steve Gregg's book than God's Book. Instead of always voicing your opinions please present God's Word. It frankly doesn't matter what you think or he thinks or I think it matters what God thinks. Your continued avoidance is only exposing the fragility of your doctrine.
Where is your biblical evidence that teaches a rapture of the Church, followed by a 7-year tribulation, followed by 3rd coming?
Where do you get this "Age of Grace"? Man's whole existence has been (and will always be) under grace until Jesus comes and destroys all the wicked. As long as God is saving man he is experiencing grace. We see it throughout the OT. We see it today. We will see it to the end.
The Church has always been in "tribulation." Where is your 7 year tribulation in Revelation? Nowhere! It is foisted upon the text. If you would take the time to examine the time-periods embodied within Revelation 4-19 for yourself you would find that they add up to a period of 19 years, 4 ½ days and 3 hours.
Please do not mention "a literal interpretation of Revelation Chapter 20." I asked you several simple question re that chapter that you refused to answer because they obviously refute your position.
Your hyper-literal approach to Revelation does not add up. You seem to miss the nature of the figurative genre.
Are these creatures full of eyes with 6 wings (4:6) literal?
Who is this literal 7-eyed lamb (5:6)?
Who are these people who are talking to mountains (6:16)?
How can people be washed clean by blood (7:14)?
Are the locusts with human faces (9:7) literal?
Where can we find literal lion-headed horses (9:17)?
Who are these literal fire-breathing prophets (11:5)?
Is this woman clothed with the sun while standing on the moon (12:1) a literal woman?
Is this woman with two wings flying like a great eagle (Rev 12:14) a literal woman?
Do you believe this blood-drinking harlot (17:6) is a literal woman?
Do you know an obese woman big enough to sit on seven hills at the one time?Is this a literal serpent vomiting out a river (12:15)?
Do you believe this 7-headed beast with 10 horns (13:1) is a literal animal?
Are these real frogs coming out of the mouth of a dragon (16:13)?
Is the dragon trailing stars down from heaven to earth a real dragon trailing stars down from heaven to earth?
Is the lamb with seven horns and seven eyes a real lamb with seven horns and seven eyes?
Do you know a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars?
So, you're expecting Christ to literally return from heaven on a white horse with many crowns on his head, and with a literal sharp sword coming out of His mouth?
Is Jesus a literal lamb (Revelation 5:6, 8, 12, 6:1, 16, 7:9-10, 14, 17, 12:11, 13:8, 11, 14:1, 4, 10, 15:3, 17:14, 19:7, 9, 21:9, 14, 22, 23, 27, 22:1, and 3)?
Is Jesus a literal lion (Revelation 5:5 and 10:3)?
You seem to take what you have been taught as gospel yet you never seem to be able to support anything you say with hard Scripture. You are yet to present a quote or hard proof in the inspired pages. All you want to do is criticize other positions.
Pretrib was conceived in the early 1800s by Jesuit priest Manual Lacunza.
