Are we there yet ... ?

[Tychicum]

With things warming up over in the Middle East and all it is interesting to get different dispensationalists to offer their views.

We know all you covenant folk are already in the Kingdom so you needn't respond.

Oh ... and we know that some folks would just love to stick around right through the Tribulation period ... so ... all the best of luck to you ...

But I address this to us Pre-Trib, Pre-Millenialist, Rapture believers ...

Is it your opinion that a fracas like we see today between Israel and one of her neighbours could blow up so large a distraction and will precipitate events which may immediately precede the Rapture ... or do you feel the Rapture event may be stand-alone and precede the events foretold in the Books of Prophecy by a number of years ... even decades?

Or simply stated "a large gap" or "nearly no gap"?

I for one haven't given it a lot of thought and I know that no event need precede the Rapture ... it could happen even today.

But with the events over there our thoughts always turn to these questions. On the time line ... are we there yet ...?

 

[foundinHim]

All I know is that we are 2,000+ years closer than we were before. LOL
Many think that these are the "end times" and the "great tribulation" has already started...but I believe that this world is NOT YET bad enough or in ruin enough for Christ to return. Besides, the body of Christ (the church) is still here...

Glad to see ya' back from vacation brother!

 

[Tychicum]

All I know is that we are 2,000+ years closer than we were before. LOL
Many think that these are the "end times" and the "great tribulation" has already started...but I believe that this world is NOT YET bad enough or in ruin enough for Christ to return. Besides, the body of Christ (the church) is still here...

Now that is true ... 2,000 years closer. It is evident that Paul thought it my occur even during his lifetime ... so we do not wait for a sign of some sort.

Some had stirred up trouble ... even went so far as to forge letter to make it look like it had come from Paul. Paul had to quell the nervous that no ... the Rapture hadn't come yet and they did not "miss it".

I like the Geneva Translation for this (the translation which the Pilgrims to America brought with them ...)

That ye be not suddenly mooued from your minde, nor troubled neither by spirit, nor by worde, nor by letter, as it were from vs, as though the day of Christ were at hand. Let no man deceiue you by any meanes: for that day shall not come, except there come a departing first, and that that man of sinne be disclosed, euen the sonne of perdition ...
(2Th 2:2-3 Geneva)

Pardon the 16th century English ... but there is poetry in them words ...

Glad to see ya' back from vacation brother!

Thanks for the kind word.

 

[Dispy]

All I know is that we are 2,000+ years closer than we were before. LOL
Many think that these are the "end times" and the "great tribulation" has already started...but I believe that this world is NOT YET bad enough or in ruin enough for Christ to return. Besides, the body of Christ (the church) is still here...

Glad to see ya' back from vacation brother!

As a young child who grew up in the 1930's, time were extremely bad there also. I can still recall the times prior to WW2 and the rise of Hitler and Mussolini. World War 2 brought many sermons in the Churches and on the radio about "the last days" being upon us, and Hitler or Musolini being proclaimed as the coming anti-Christ.

Being reared a Calvinist, that preaching put great fear in my heart because that meant that the Tribulation was upon us and that I would have to go throught that period.

Recently my wife purchased a small book (62 pages), at a fund raising used book sale, that had no publishing date, but from it's contents, it had to be written shortly after WW1 and prior to the great depression. The book is titled The COMING CRISES and the COMING CHRIST, by Stanly H. Frodsham.

We look at the world conditions today, and everyone is again talking about the "end times." Do I believe that we are in the end times? Yes I do, but I believe that we can very well be in the end times of this dispensation of grace, and not the end times of prophesy. Even if this dispensation continues on for another 1000 years, I see nothing wrong in believing that is could be very much sooner, I believe that the Apostle Paul felt it would also be in his life time.

When I read the General Epistles of Peter, James, John, and Jude, They even talk about last days of prophesy as if they were upon them. Even the book of the Revelation speaks of those things which shortly will come to pass.

Today, the prophetic timeclock has been stoped. Therefore, there is no OT prophesies being fulfilled. However, I do believe that events are happening that will lead to the fulfillment of OT prophesies, but they will not be fulfilled untill the rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ. The fears of my childhood are gone. I now know that, as a believer, there is no way that I will go through the Great Tribulation of prophesy. For
God hath not appointed us to wrath (The Tribulation), but to obtain salvation (via the rapture) by our Lord Jesus Christ" (1Thess.4:9)." THANK GOD for that promise.

God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!

 

[Tychicum]

As an old buck (although you do beat me brother Dispy) I am likely less enthusiastic as I was when I first discovered the "Rapture" ... in my late teens.

It was better than had I won a million dollars.

Most of the great Dispensational teachers of the day were just getting traction. I went to a church who's skill it was (and is to this day) to never takes "sides" on any issue. I wouldn't call them "liberal" ... because that would be taking a side.

They never taught much of anything worth while ... one-way or another.

But I agree that date setting is a fools game. Harm has been done to the whole of the Christian community due to errors enthusiastic preachers have committed.

That said ... there just seems to be something in the air lately ... If you know what I mean.

 

[Dispy]

That said ... there just seems to be something in the air lately ... If you know what I mean.

Yes, I know what you mean, but that "something in the air" was felt back in WW2, 1948, and even in the "6 day war" of the 1960's.

We walk by FAITH, not by sight, or some feeling in the air. However, what is happening in Israel today is very interesting to watch.

God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh often, and Love the Lord.

 

[Tychicum]

Hey ... want a good summer reading?

How about this ... ?

Forgotten Truths - Sir Robert Anderson