14
Jan

What is NOT going to happen, according to Scripture

   Posted by: Sandi   in End of the Age

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Now, I read the Left Behind series by LaHaye and Jenkins.  I did.  Almost all of it, including the “kids’” series.  Many engaging characters in dramatic situations, some funny moments, and some interesting interpretations of the prophecies found in the book of Revelation and Daniel.

Thing is, the series began on what I believe to be a faulty premise.  Nowhere in Scripture does the Lord God Almighty promise that those who believe in him will be evacuated — “raptured” — before the tribulation gets underway.

Nowhere.

Indeed, when Jesus himself was asked about signs and times and seasons, he warned his friends that there was going to be trouble before he returned. He warned of natural catastrophes.  Of persecution.  Of someone Jesus called the Abomination that Causes Desolation. (Matthew 24:15) Then, he recommends that folks head to the hills, and expresses woe for those who are pregnant and nursing when all of this happens.  Nowhere does he mention that these women won’t have to worry, because their little ones will be caught up to Heaven.  Nowhere does he say that his people will be able to ignore it all because they won’t be around.

Instead, he says that there will be great tribulation. Trouble such as never been visited on the planet before.  And if the days were not cut short, Jesus says, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect — those who are in the body of Christ, those who are saved, those who have salvation already — the days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:22)

Doesn’t this speak directly to the pre-tribulational Rapture theory?  If you are a Christian, and you claim to believe the Bible as God’s word and you believe that Jesus’ own words are to be believed then you must heed them.

And he says for us to prepare against a time of great trouble.  That time is quickly coming upon us.

If you haven’t yet read my different study series on what God’s word says about this, please click on over to this page and download the studies available.  Share them.

Life is not a biblical fiction book series.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 14th, 2009 at 9:22 AM and is filed under End of the Age. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 comments so far

Scott
 1 

I’m unsure about how the Rapture is supposed to work. I saw a movie called Rapture that was odd, and very disturbing.

I’ve seen one of the Left Behind movies as well.
So how should the rapture theoretically work?

January 16th, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Sandi
 2 

Hey, Scott!

Ah, you want the big guns, eh? Okay.

Theoretically, “The Rapture” is an event that will be surprising in its timing. The notion is that all those people who believe in Jesus as the Messiah will be taken by him into heaven. This number will include all “innocents,” including children.

Those who have not chosen to follow Jesus as Messiah will be left behind to suffer the consequences of the tribulationary period (mentioned in the post) and the wrath of God (which will come at the end of this tribulation period).

As to the mechanics of it, all I can say is what I believe the Bible says. The dead in Christ will rise first, so I am visualizing an evacuation of believers who have been buried or are otherwise disposed of at death (bottom of the sea, wherever). They will rise first, the Apostle Paul teaches. Then those who are still alive will be taken up to meet Jesus in the air.

How? Beats me. Except that we can read that there might have been two people working in a field, and then there will be only one, so sudden will the catching up of the believers be.

Now understand– I do believe in this great catching up of believers. I do. Scripture clearly teaches that this will happen. My gripe here is with the notion that all believers will escape such tribulation entirely, as they will be caught up and away before the trouble starts. Jesus himself clearly never said so.

Will there be a mess afterward? I do believe so, yes. But, by the time I believe it will happen, the world is going to be pretty messed up all ready!

January 16th, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Jim Thomson
 3 

Hey, Sandi! I’m enjoying this topic that you’ve been spending the last few days on. Wish I’d come here a little earlier. I addressed this in a related way today on Mindsay, although what I wrote won’t be new to you.
I’m still praying about how I should respond to what the Lord spoke to me early New Year’s Eve. I’ve heard nothing past what I heard then–pray for the U.S.

January 19th, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Sandi
 4 

Jim! Hi! I can’t read your MindSay posts unless I log in…haven’t done that in a while. I should, eh?

I pray… Oh, I pray that people will open their eyes and be ready to meet the Lord. Today, tomorrow, in the future. Our nation has a core of salt — a preservative, if you will. I believe that while that preservative endures, there is hope. We are the salt and light! And that will not change!

January 19th, 2009 at 3:30 PM

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