| Author |
Message |
Joni
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2000 - 3:21 am: |     |
Speaking of Prophets, I hope prophecy fits here. What do you do with the rapture? My son just read the "Left Behind" book # 1 and he says it's scary. I am not about the way the "rapture" is protrayed in this book. I do know that it is important that our relationship with the LORD grows each day, and He will lead us through what ever sequence of events happens in the end. There has to be a way to study and have somewhat an idea of end time events. What do some of you believe? |
Richardjr
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2000 - 3:01 pm: | |
Joni, It is my understanding that the word "rapture" is not in the Bible. The NT points out that the return of Jesus Christ will not be "secret" but will be known to all mankind. The theory of the secret rapture began in the mid nineteenth century by a group of Bible students who approached prophecy with some inaccurate assumptions. The Nt interpets itself and in that interpetation we find a visible, audible, personal return of Jesus Christ. Richardjr |
Max
| | Posted on Friday, November 03, 2000 - 7:13 am: | |
Your understanding appears to be identical to
mine, Richard. |
Bruceh
| | Posted on Friday, November 03, 2000 - 9:16 pm: | |
Joni
I hold the concept of the Rapture.
I have studied a lot of different views and have
come to hold the rapture view point.
There is one point that does concern me, that is
why your son says, it is scary. I believe that
fear is a danger signal no matter what view of
profeciey you hold. The Bible says Love cast out
all fear and we have not been given a Spirit of
fear, etc. etc.
I believe you should have a talk with your son to
see why he has fear and if he trusts in God.
---I do know that it is important that our
relationship with the LORD grows each day, and He
will lead us through what ever sequence of events
happens in the end. ----
It is true that the Lord will do this for you.
You can get books at Christian books stores that
will give you all the different view points, You
are free now to study them all. Remember that you
have the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Truth and he
will guide you into all truth. Be cautious of
those who say they have all the answeres trust in
God.
Bruce Heinrich |
Joni
| | Posted on Saturday, November 04, 2000 - 4:44 am: | |
Thanks for your answers. I guess I was wondering because as a sda I was taught what Richardjr and Max said. It seemed to make sense. But now I am asking other people of other churches and most believe in the secret rapture. Bruce are you saying it will be secret?
I did have a talk with my son. He is 11 years old and has a heart for God. He wants to do and believe what is right. He goes to a Christian school that is represented by many Churches. Most all believe in the secret rapture. What scared him was the people disapearing and cars crashing etc. I told him that the most important thing is to know God and trust Him everyday.
Is this another one of those things that it does not matter which way you interpret it? It will be found out in the end?
My son wants to get the movie, "Left Behind", that is based on the books. It just came out.
Sometimes I don't know if I am being stubborn because of what I was taught first. It seems other ways don't make as much sense. I want to know what God has intended for me to know. And there are many different views. Will there really be some left behind?? Will they get another chance?? I had heard that the Jewish Nation was to be left behind, anyone else heard that??
Any titles of books to read? Any suggestions??
Joni |
Larimobley
| | Posted on Saturday, November 04, 2000 - 11:50 am: | |
Dear Joni,
My husband and I have also been studying "end times" since coming out of Adventism. When we first heard the word "Rapture" come out of our pastor's mouth all of the old SDA programming kicked in and we wondered if he was nuts!
We've both done some extensive studying on end time events and have come to agree with Bruce that there will be a rapture. Is it secret? I don't think so. But I believe that it will occur before the 7 years of the tribulation.
The word "rapture" means to be "caught up" in the air, and this is in the Bible. I don't think the word "trinity" is in the Bible either, but I still believe in the trinity.
If you think about it, Adventists do believe in the rapture, because they believe that we will meet Christ in the air. This is the rapture. They just believe that it occurs at the end of the tribulation or "time or trouble," whereas many Christians belive that this occurs before the 7 years.
Basically the "pre-trib" position is that Christ will "rapture" or take the believers to be with Him before the 7-year tribulation begins. Will those left behind be given a "second chance"? Actually, they will still have a "first chance" to accept Christ.
Will the Jewish Nation be left behind? I believe that everyone who has not accepted Christ will be left behind.
Tim LaHaye has a book out about Revelation, and another about the Rapture that you might enjoy reading to get a better understanding of the "pre-trib" beliefs. Just go to amazon.com if you like and type in Tim LaHaye as the author, and they will come up.
I agree that it can be frightening at times, and frustrating too to study end time events. There are many varying views, but I think it's important to focus on the bigger picture. We're saved by our faith in Christ. Our sins are forgiven. And we're going to spend eternity with our Lord. Trust in the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study.
In His grace,
Lari |
Max
| | Posted on Saturday, November 04, 2000 - 1:17 pm: | |
That was a beautiful post, Lari. |
Bruceh
| | Posted on Saturday, November 04, 2000 - 4:36 pm: | |
Joni
actually the word rapture is from the Latin
Vulgate Bible and it is interpreted from the Greek
word Harpazzo which means snatched up with
ferosity or caught up, another way is in a
twinkling of an eye. So the greek word harpazzo
means the Latin word rapture which means the
english word caught up.
Bruce Heinrich
Bh |
Bruceh
| | Posted on Saturday, November 04, 2000 - 4:50 pm: | |
Lori
Max and Richard may be abel to get you information
showing other view points then the rapture I am
sure they will give you some good sources.
I have done a little study on the subject that
might clear up some thing for you.
Look up in the Discussions, on THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN, this is a very simplified view of the
rapture concept.
Ex SDA often find this subject a little unsettling
because of our background.
Lori here is a text for your son. It is a
promise. Rev 3:10 10 "Because you have kept My
command to persevere, I also will keep you from
the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole
world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Now whether you are taken out before by Harpazzo
or Rapture or whether God keeps you through the
time of trouble you will always be his.
Bruce Heinrich
bh |
Bruceh
| | Posted on Saturday, November 04, 2000 - 4:57 pm: | |
Larimobley
I agree with you. I do not know of the secret
Rapture. I have never heard of this and the Bible
does not talk about a secret Harpazzo of secret
taken out, or secret caught up.
Bruce Heinrich
Bh |
Joni
| | Posted on Sunday, November 05, 2000 - 3:22 am: | |
Lari,
Thank you for your time. I also think that the bigger picture is most important. It is so confusing at times when I hear things that are not what I have been taught. The sda do it with such assurance, "this is it and there is no other interpretation." Whereas others say this is how I believe and there are other ways to look at it. I think I need to seek God's face. I need to once again get the big picture in mind. I tend to have the sda attutide at times. "I know the truth" ha!!!
Joni |
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