Bible2 way, way too much information at once, too many references to too many places of scripture to assimilate into the context you are referencing, I'd be buried for years just to assemble it back and speak to you along clarification and or agreement. Scripture is easy in regards to these things, if something radical is going to happen, it is written into it with redudancies, you don't have to mix and match, piece together, translate and investigate what it is trying to say.
We can read just one book and know what is meant along this subject, revelations, being the final authority of it all, and nowhere does it specify the rapture of the church, nor does it specify those of the church "body" will be with christ for the 1000 years, only a select few. It's the simplicity we must strive after, and scripture is NOT a divination tool, God hates that, and would always hate it for the end of times speculation. Relate this to the prophesies of his first coming, all were clear, directly written down, no guessing or piece work required, why would he change his stance and perspective along the second coming?
Do we know the hour now? Nope, does the Jesus know? Nope, only the father does, now given this is the case, what does this speak out to us? It means the tribulation which leads up to the last day, ie. once it's started, the countdown begins, and only then can one know, means that the ball is still in our court. That we as a race can still repent and stave it off, that there is no date that's written in stone and this is it of all of it no matter what we do, say, or otherwise believe. Free will still exists, and always will, and we freely go into tribulation based upon our actions. We can do it starting tomorrow, or in the next 100000 years, it's entirely up to us to decide and this is largely based upon how far away from Gods plan we decide to wander off to.
Remember it's stated that as the times of Noah, so will be the last days, and we are steadily seeing these times becoming like those, but at the same time, with my experiences, as a bridge builder, as one that's continuing to dialog with those of our polar opposites, there is still plenty of hope for change. Right now, our job as believers is to build bridges, to educate, not to alienate those from outside "lack of faiths", while dispersing the tripe that is attempting to assert itself as being legitimate, such as one I got an infraction for yesterday, I believe it's called "misspelled intentionally of course", bali worship, which is a joke of a religion that thinks all faiths and beliefs are the same.
What we are dealing with right now is classic, 2 timothy 3 style of entities and humanities, it's not the first time and hopefully not the last, I so hopefully not the last to mean that we can tear down those strongholds for now and stave off the tribulation. The dangerous part I address is once one assumes that false gospel, they are forced to assume others including bastardizing other scriptures and books while perverting others to suite their theories. I've seen this happen with so many popular money making teachers, some have so much potential, yet they are throwing it down the drain by intertwining this twisted false gospel into their teachings. To me, standing outside of it, I hold a greater deal of scrutiny over it all, I see clearly, and I see it as black and white. To me, there is no digging or restructuring required, that what is written is written plainly and clearly, that it's not some code, or something I have to dig deeper into, I actually believe the bible as being God's word, not something that requires an outside system to interpret.
Do we stand together on the issue, absolutely, do we get our points across to the same crowd, possibly, but it's killing me to listen to so much rubbish over the matter in our modern age, something that was made up a relatively short time ago. It has not stood the test of time, nor will it, and I call foul from anybody that preaches or teaches it due to the sloth, and sickening lack of spiritual preparedness and work those that believe it reveal.
Who needs to prepare for the future, we are going to be raptured out, let who's left deal with the future, who needs to worry about current problems, Jesus is going to rapture us out of this mess, who is going to be concerned over the terrible state of spiritual affairs of the world, after all, we get to leave and let them wallow in their mire, who is sick of this life, then just pray we get pulled out of it rather then dealing with it in the here and now. Let's mortgage our house for 50 years, afterall, we are going to be raptured out before the first decade of house payments, who is going to get that essential operation, after all, no need to go through that pain and suffering if we are going to be raptured out. Who is going to start writing that important inspirational book, what's the point, we will be raptured before it's completed. Who is going to build this or that charity, what's the point, we are being raptured. Who is up to date on their good works, repentance, etc. no worries, just make sure to do it at the last moment before the rapture as predicted happens. No point in working in the present if the future is all about being raptured away you see....
I have far too many friends in the past wasted so many countless hours on this garbage, all of them bearing little to no fruit, all stuck on the rapture, they forget to live and work for today, for today is all we have, yet they dig and research, study and talk rapture this or that, and I'm going, how many dates have been set for that one, how many dates have been set for the tribulation, seriously, I've lost track. I've had enough of the boy that cried wolf, if the wolf is here, by all means, here is his bone and he can go play in the back yard, I know I'm good for the moment, that's all I'm responsible for, as everybody else should be. When tribulation happens, and it will some day, we'll all know it and there is nothing we can do then to prepare for it that cannot be done at this moment, and it's just getting right with God and If I'm helping out in some soup line and observe a meteor crashing into the earth, I'll still dole out the soup and ignore it, doing what I'm supposed to be doing in spite of the so called doom and gloom that's coming. If it all hits the fan and I have to worry about provision, God will, just as he has before, supply it so no need to stockpile.
