Great letter re unfolding rapture eventsSeems to agree with MarilynWe have some stuff to go thruI hope not to be here for a post rapture revivalIf you know what I meanpart of letter belowProponents of a Single Rapture event where every Born-again Christian is raptured pretribulationly promote the Historical Time Period Theory of the Seven Churches. This view equates the Seven Churches in Revelation Chapters 2 & 3 as seven consecutive time periods throughout church history from the first century until today. They say that we are currently in the final Laodicean time period, and since the Laodiceans are lukewarm they are really not saved. Therefore, they maintain that those who are really saved Born-again Christians can go back to claim the Lord's promise made to the Philadelphia Church in the prior time period. Thus they try to make all today's Born-again Christians Philadelphians regardless of whether or not they fit what the scriptures say about the Philadelphians, which cannot be. The Lord Jesus Christ used the word 'Dead' to describe the majority at Sardis, and then talked about not blotting out the names of the few overcomers out of the Book of Life. Clearly indicating that the majority there are unsaved. In contrast, 'Lukewarm' used to describe Laodicea, just doesn't have the same connotation as 'Dead' does. I believe 'Lukewarm' Laodicea is saved. In Rev 3:19, He said 'As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.' This clearly doesn't equate to what Sardis was threatened with, the blotting of names out of the 'Book of Life' for non-overcomers. I believe a comparison of Sardis and Laodicea leads to the conclusion that Laodicea is saved, but lukewarm and needs to repent. If they don't, they will be left behind, will not go through the 'open door' and will be left in the 'great tribulation'. A Near/Far view of Revelation 2 & 3, where the seven first century Churches represent seven types of individual Christians makes much more sense than the Historical Time Period Theory, and this is backed up by the fact that numerous prophecies throughout the scriptures are fulfilled both Near and Far. Please beware of claiming Philadelphia status to the Lord. Please look into this yourselves and pray about it. I believe the warning indicates it's not too late.
Matt 24:5-8 (KJV) 'For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ (or Messiah); and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these [are] the beginning of sorrows (or birth pangs).'
Just like a woman with child has to endure the birth pangs before she is delivered, so will all the faithful have to endure the 'Birth Pangs' before they are delivered through the 'open door' near the beginning of the 'great tribulation'.Rev 12:13-17 'And when the dragon (Satan) saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (the faithful remnant of Israel, who will not worship Antichrist) which brought forth the man [child] (Jesus). And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished (and protected by God) for a time, and times, and half a time (the final Three and One-half years), from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make War with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.' (Born-again Christians left in the Great Tribulation).
Many Born-again Christians will be left behind in the Great Tribulation because they fail to understand that they need to heed Christ's commands to daily repent, and to follow the instructions given in Luke 21:36 'Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.'
YBIC,
Bill Griese