Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Have you thought about the end times? I was thinking on such as I was looking through an e-news article on Iran and the possibility of a nuclear bomb and how Israel is reacting to it and I started wondering about if there will be a rapture or not. The Bible is not really clear on this and I am curious to know what you all think about it. I use to be pretty sure there was going to be a rapture before the tribulation, but now, after searching Scripture I cannot say that this will definitely happen.
If you are interested in sharing I would love to hear your thoughts and if you can, please back them up with Scripture.
God Bless,
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Hi COG ;o)
ReplyDeleteI have over the last year done some bible study on revelation, the rapture and the last days over the past 18 months.
Firstly I believe that God is a compassionate God and that it is not his desire to punish his children in the tribulation, for them to suffer his wrath.
I also believe very strongly that the purpose of the tribulation is to bring the stubborn and the lost to Him.
Also, although the rapture is not a biblical word, it does state a couple of times in the NT that God's people will be taken like a thief in the night and those who are not believers will be left behind.
There is though, a prominent Man of God - Chuck Missler who does not believe in the rapture, his thoughts on this are interesting.
I think that upon studying the book of revelation, which is tough going, you may find that the plagues etc are brought upon the unbelievers, there is little mention of His faithful, except in speaking of the first and second resurrections, and reigning with Him in the millennium.
I could go into further the light bulb moments He has given me on the matter, but maybe I may share these in more depth on my blog sometime.
Ultimately, the day or the time and the way in which it happens is in God's hands, and we can surmise as much as we like, but it is in His timing and in His way.
One thing I can almost guarantee, is that if we mark a day and time on a calendar, He would most likely make it another time! As we will not know the day or the hour!
Blessings Child of God!
Hello "Child of God", so glad you enjoyed by blog. I believe in a pre-trib rapture and I love 1 Thess, 4:16-18...I don't know if I'm right about this, but the important thing is no matter, pre-mid or post...I'm going to have the victory and I'm going to be with the King of Kings someday. I feel it will be soon, too many obvious birth pangs...Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteKaz said, "Firstly I believe that God is a compassionate God and that it is not his desire to punish his children in the tribulation, for them to suffer his wrath."
ReplyDeleteI don't see the tribulation as a "punishment." It is more of a testing for His people. That time is for refining, and separating His people; seeing who will stay strong and follow Him. He will protect us through it. Funny- because we were discussing this type of topic this morning. Why is it that in 3rd world countries that many more people are becoming believers, though most of the Christians there are being completely tortured. Then when you come to prosperous nations, with comforts and over-all blessings...many people get angry when their possessions get messed with. It is interesting though...because many people who read the Bible for what it is (without man's commentaries and theories) by itself, they realize what it really means and says, and start to question.
This is what I feel when I read . . . II Thessalonians 2: 6-8.
ReplyDeleteRight now the Holy Spirit is restricting all evil in the earth or we would be living in tribulation now. The Holy Spirit has to be removed from the earth before Satan can rule without restriction in the earth and bring on tribulation. As we are the temple of God and His Holy Spirit indwells us, it would only seem logical that we would have to leave with Him. So I believe in pre-tribulation rapture of all the Children of God.
God Bless!!!
Lon
Wow, these are all cool thoughts! Thank you for sharing with me.
ReplyDeleteI have done alot of research and reading on Revelations, Daniel, Isaiah and Ezekel and I am left wondering just how things will be. I have heard arguments for both sides of either rapture or no rapture, (and yes I agree Kaz rapture is not a Biblical word, :) and both of them have faults and holes. I guess that is how God wants things to be. For us to be ever reliant on Him, watching, waiting for His perfect timing and praying away the evil that prevails here on this earth.
Lon, I love your idea on ll Thessalonians! What a really neat way of looking at it and it does make sense.
I also believe we are feeling the birth pains and the times are showing us that the end is near. Exciting and frightening all at the same time. When you read Biblical prophecy and see it unfold infront of your very eyes you can't help but be excited for all that the Lord is planning.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts with me, you are all so precious in the sight of the Lord and are becoming very dear to my heart.
God Bless,
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