- Jul 11, 2017
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My major problem with pre-tribulational rapture is the concept of *literally* being physically lifted from the earth, instead of taking all of that metaphorically. The metaphor of this sort *is* literal, yet also metaphoric -- this can be confusing only if people make it confusing. We use these sorts of metaphors everyday in our speech. "This lifts me up", "this makes me feel like I am cloud nine", and so on.
Jesus stated that 'you do not see the Kingdom literally come down from the sky, but it is within/among you'. And, 'if I drive out these evil spirits by God, then the Kingdom of God has come among you'.
With the parables of 'the sheep and the goats', of 'the ten virgins', and even 'the leper lazarus and the rich man' you see interactions between believers who have been raptured and those who are condemned.
In Revelation, after the Millennium part, you see the City 'come down from Heaven' and being on earth.
In the Prophets, you read of 'those who die before one hundred will be considered cursed by God and mere infants', 'you will walk out and see the dead bodies' (which could certainly be metaphoric considering the waking state and the sleeping state metaphor used for those who 'walk in darkness' and those who 'are in the light), and so on.
You read in the Prophets of how 'knowledge of God will fill the earth as the waters cover the seas', and of the resurrection of the dead happening 'so as even could not be believed'.
Both the first and second resurrection certainly seem to happen on earth in Revelation.
Jesus encouraged us to 'first seek the Kingdom of Heaven, then all else will be added to you'.
We are on earth, but we either find the Kingdom within our own selves, or we are not part of the Kingdom, at all? No?
We are told we face tribulation, as part of our Christian life, multiple times. And while the third woe seems to effect all of earth, which it must, as does the coming of "The Anti-Christ", certainly God could protect us in Heaven on earth during that time, just as He does in our ordinary Christian walk -- or no?
Anything is possible, however. Surely, we could become literally like the elect angels, and as the spirits which govern this world under the prince of this world. But, does that not seem off? I am not sure if anyone really has gone that far in thinking these matters out. The descriptions of the spiritual body and powers of it seem to be painted vaguely, though we saw Jesus, Moses, and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration -- and Jesus had such a body, we saw, via Scripture, there. Which body we do have good descriptions of, in Revelation, Daniel, and Ezekiel.
Angels do seem to have such bodies, as they are able to show them, or appear as ordinary human beings.
Jesus stated that 'you do not see the Kingdom literally come down from the sky, but it is within/among you'. And, 'if I drive out these evil spirits by God, then the Kingdom of God has come among you'.
With the parables of 'the sheep and the goats', of 'the ten virgins', and even 'the leper lazarus and the rich man' you see interactions between believers who have been raptured and those who are condemned.
In Revelation, after the Millennium part, you see the City 'come down from Heaven' and being on earth.
In the Prophets, you read of 'those who die before one hundred will be considered cursed by God and mere infants', 'you will walk out and see the dead bodies' (which could certainly be metaphoric considering the waking state and the sleeping state metaphor used for those who 'walk in darkness' and those who 'are in the light), and so on.
You read in the Prophets of how 'knowledge of God will fill the earth as the waters cover the seas', and of the resurrection of the dead happening 'so as even could not be believed'.
Both the first and second resurrection certainly seem to happen on earth in Revelation.
Jesus encouraged us to 'first seek the Kingdom of Heaven, then all else will be added to you'.
We are on earth, but we either find the Kingdom within our own selves, or we are not part of the Kingdom, at all? No?
We are told we face tribulation, as part of our Christian life, multiple times. And while the third woe seems to effect all of earth, which it must, as does the coming of "The Anti-Christ", certainly God could protect us in Heaven on earth during that time, just as He does in our ordinary Christian walk -- or no?
Anything is possible, however. Surely, we could become literally like the elect angels, and as the spirits which govern this world under the prince of this world. But, does that not seem off? I am not sure if anyone really has gone that far in thinking these matters out. The descriptions of the spiritual body and powers of it seem to be painted vaguely, though we saw Jesus, Moses, and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration -- and Jesus had such a body, we saw, via Scripture, there. Which body we do have good descriptions of, in Revelation, Daniel, and Ezekiel.
Angels do seem to have such bodies, as they are able to show them, or appear as ordinary human beings.