WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING?
A Review and Defense of the Pre-Tribulation
Resurrection of the ChurchKnowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of His coming?... II Peter 3:3-4
THE PURPOSE
As a reminder to believers of the Scriptures dealing with the subject of the pre-Tribulation bodily translation (aka the Rapture*) of the true church, in order to equip them to defend the faith when they are challenged by unbelievers. Jude 3 ~ "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." ~ reveals that God has charged us with the command to earnestly contend for the faith -- and that includes this most relevant topic, simply because it is Biblical doctrine and a foundation which Paul himself addressed in 2 Tim 2:17-18 ~ "And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."
And we were also commanded by Christ to watch and pray. "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness." 2 Peter 3:17
THE PROBLEM
This report was motivated by the problem of the church falling from it's steadfastness due to the widespread mockery and outright rejection of the doctrine of the rapture. Moreover it is grievous to see those who are supposedly God's people listening to and echoing the words of the unsaved in this regard rather than the Word of God. Instead of looking for and hasting unto the day of God (2 Peter 3:12 ~ Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat...), the church has become threatened by it, or is succumbing to the "new" doctrine of a Pre-Wrath/Post-Wrath rapture, or ignoring the rapture completely.
Instead of looking for the new heavens and the new earth (2 Peter 3:13 ~ Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.), many Christians are encumbered with the cares, riches and pleasures of this life.
"And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection." Luke 8:14
"And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." Mark 4:17-19
Instead of warning those who are unsaved of the approaching Great Tribulation and using this opportunity to present the gospel -- so that by receiving Jesus Christ as their Savior they can be saved from this terrible period of time and the coming wrath of Almighty God -- the Church has become lukewarm in proclaiming the message of the Blessed Hope.
Full article:
http://watch-unto-prayer.org/rapture.html
and for sure don't miss the link at the bottom of the page!!!
Kay