I must respectfully disagree with Eddie Son's post saying that we will be here to see the covenant confirmed, the revealing of the AC, and will receive persecution up until MID-TRIB.~~~Just think!! In America, the Republicans, Independents & Democrats cannot EVEN AGREE -- it is LAUGHABLE to think that *NOW* (without mass hysteria caused by massive worldwide disappearances) that we (or any other country for that matter) would just pass free reigns to ONE MAN to rule the world right now -- no sirree, Bob -- not BEFORE the rapture!!The pre-TRIB rapture will literally be THE catalyst that will bring the AntiChrist into power.It is true that the GREAT tribulation begins at the "abomination of desolation" (when the AC stands in the Temple & declares himself to be God).However, the entire "70th week" **IS** the time of Jacob's trouble!! {not the "Church's trouble"!!}And right off the bat -- even during the seal judgements, the wrath coming on the earth is the WRATH OF THE LAMB to punish the world for its iniquity. Should we think that the Lord would BEAT UP HIS BRIDE ~ right before taking her HOME?? Outlandish!Born again Christians who are going in the pre-trib rapture will be taken up BEFORE the wrath of the Lamb begins. (1 Ths 1:10) and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. Basically, that means from the beginning ~ for the entire 7 FULL YEARS.As Paul writes to comfort the "Church" at Thessalonica, "God did not appoint us to wrath.."(1Ths 5:9) And if we believe that the Christian experience is a "love" relationship with God, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18) The time of God's Wrath WILL most definitely involve fear. ...[people] "hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Rev 6:15-17)If we read the "whole" of the Old Testament Prophets and compares it to the book of Revelation, we can see striking similarities...and we can come away realizing that this is a time of God's dealing with Israel. The Church needs to be out of the way for this. The Church, at one with the Holy Spirit because of the Holy Spirit's indwelling, is "taken out of the way" (2Ths2:7) ...and [THEN] the lawless one will be revealed.
PROPHECY & LOGIC:
Assuming for a moment that the Rapture [WAS] to be [AFTER] the time of God's Wrath, then Jesus' words describing the "Sign of His Coming"..."of that day and hour [no one knows]" (Mt24:36) would be utterly meaningless. Daniel prophesies, "But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate." This "week" is the 7-year period, fulfilling Daniel's prophecies. We could count 3 1/2 years til Messiah would return. (Dan12:7,Rev12:14) Or, 42 months (Rev 11:2,13:5). Or, 1260 days (Rev 12:6).
But, "of that day and hour NO ONE KNOWS." "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. "For as in the days [BEFORE] the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage..." LIFE WILL APPEAR TO BE NORMAL "...until the day that Noah entered the ark, "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Mat 24:37- 39) And Luke 17:30 speaks of it, "when the Son of Man is [REVEALED]." Remember, the book of Revelation, the whole seven years, is introduced as "The Revelation [OF] Jesus Christ."
BE PREPARED:
"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."(Luke 21:36)
"Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. (Mat 24:40-42
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon [THEM] (not "us")...as labor pains...And [THEY] shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober....putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5)
Remember that the Lord's appearing is to be like the days of Lot? Now, we know that many are skeptical about what is often called the "pre-trib" Rapture... that the Lord is snatching the
Church out -before- the seven years of wrath of the 70th week.
If we are correct about the mode of transportation by which Lot's family left the city of Sodom, were they not "raptured" out? They were 'raptured' out BEFORE Sodom's destruction. In fact, the insistance by the angels that they needed to hurry was because, "..I cannot do anything until you arrive there.." (vs22) God's destruction could not begin until Lot's family was totally REMOVED from harm's way.
"Because you have kept the Word of My perseverance, 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. Behold, I am coming quickly!"
(Rev3:10-11) "..God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.." (1Th5:9) God's 'mercy'. God's 'grace'. If Lot was raptured BEFORE destruction, so will it be for the Church!
"...as it was also in the days of Lot...Even in the same way will it be
in the day when the Son of Man is revealed." (~Lk17:28-30)
Blessings & I'm not telling anyone to look for the antiChrist ~ but for JESUS CHRIST!! :)
Told ya' Jesus was coming *SOON*!!
Massive worldwide DISAPPEARANCES?
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