nancy70x7 said:
But why are you basing this doctrine on only the Joel passage? You seem to be ignoring Daniel (where the concepts of the Tribulation and Antichrist are introduced) or Revelation (where the Tribulation is "fleshed out")? If you see that there is no interruption in Tribulation events in these two books, then your conclusion should be that Joel is saying something different from your conclusion. And there are a whole bunch of things that should be happening right now, if we are in the Tribulation. Antichrist should be ruling, Bowl judgments, Trumpet judgments, etc. And we should be OUTTA HERE!! True believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are "harpazo-ed" before God judges Jacob (Israel) and other unbelievers here on earth. (Having said that, I can just hear the howl!!)
Look, this is the first time I've ever heard this concept, so you'll excuse me if I feel a little disoriented dealing with it. It does seem to me that you, and others who believe this, are somehow using bad hermeneutics
Nancy, I am not basing what I believe about the Tribulation on what Joel says. I am basing it upon what Peter said at Pentecost in Acts 2:16
"But THIS IS THAT WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET JOEL; And it shall come to pass
IN THE LAST DAYS (the TRIBULATION), saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh..."
According to Joel says in 2:28-32, these signs are
beginning to appear. If Joel isn't referring to the Tribulation, then what is he referring to? Compare this to Matthew 24, and I feel certain Joel is speaking about the Tribulation.
According to OT prophesy, two things must happen before the kingdom can be established. 1. Christ must suffer, and 2. Israel must go through the Tribulation.
Peter, in Acts 3:19-21, can
NOW make a legitimate offer of the kingdom because item #1 above, has been completed (Jesus was crucified, buried and risen), and #2 is starting.
Had Israel repented, as Peter begged, then the Tribulation would have run it's 7 year course, and Christ would have returned and established His Kingdom. However, Israel, as a nation, did not repent; thereby, rejecting the kingdom offer.
It was after the leaders of Israel stoned Stephen in Acts 7, God raised up Saul/Paul, the self proclaimed "chief of sinners," to usher in the dispensation of Grace, and showed Peter, through the vision in Acts 10 that Israel had be set aside, and placed on the same level at the "set aside" Gentiles back at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. "
"For God hath concluded them all (Jews and Gentiles) in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all" (Romans 11:32).
When God set the nation of Israel aside, that interrupted the dispensation of the Law and the Tribulation. Both the Law and the Tribulation will resume after the close of this dispensation of grace, with the rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ. "Then all Israel will be saved as it is written..." (Rms.11:26).
The Church, the Body of Christ, was not formed
UNTIL after the setting aside of Israel. This Church cannot be found in prophesy, and wasn't formed until Israel was set aside. You should be able to see this if you would
study Ephesians 2:11-18 in context. When you see the word "ye" and "you" it is referring to Gentile believers, and "them" is referring the Jews.
I was taught and believed the same thing that you presently believe. However, upon studying the verses I mentioned in context, I had no other alternative but to change my views.
The entire book of Revelation has to do with the fulfillment of OT prophesy to Israel. The Chruch, the Body of Christ is nowhere mention in the book. What John is writing about is history to him because he has already seen the events that will happen in the Tribulation. However, to us it is still a future happening.
Please check out the Scriptures I posted and see for yourself where I am coming from. I will look forward to you reply. If you believe what I have written is in error,
PLEASE correct me from Scripture. I
am not looking for a fight or arguement, but an exchange of ideas.
God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!