There are so many arguments out there concerning when Jesus is going to come for his bride.
I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. There are many who say it's because no one wants to go through such a horrible ordeal as to how the whole pre-trib concept was ever born. Some say that we just don't see anywhere that solidly announces that Jesus will rescue his bride from the tribulation period; but here's the problem I see with that idea: we don't really see much at all about the church in the Old Testament, period. We see much concerning the tribulation in the Old Testament; but nothing about the church. I see also that God commanded John to write about the things which John saw, the things that are and the things that shall be. The things that are consist of chapters 2 and three. And this is all about the church. It was the church age when John wrote this. Then we see the first verse in Revelation 4 which reads, "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." Now after this, we never see the word "church" mentioned ever again. And that verse declares the hereafter. Something I want to discuss today—and has everything to do with why I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture—is 1 Peter 4:17 which declares that "judgment must begin at the house of God." Is God judging the world? No, I don't think so...yet. There's a day coming in which the world will be judged, but it is not today. Some would ask, "How, then, do you explain all of the terrorism and illness we are seeing today?" Indeed, there is much going on, but consequences are the reason for all of this. The AIDS virus? Consequences! I've even heard that the AIDS virus was actually a man-made virus designed to kill off homosexuals. This is what I've heard. Dr. Henson, my 92 year-old philosophy of science teacher at BJU; a very wise scholar, informed me of this. He spoke of it as though it were no theory, but fact. But the point that I'm trying to make is that the world is not being judged by God at this time; we are as Christians. "Judgment must begin at the house of God." Are you the house of God? Isn't that talking about a church building? Well if it were a building, what happens if a Baptist Church moves and purchases another building, and Muslims purchase the old building? No, as individuals, we are the house of God, but at the same time, a house in the Bible referred to a collective group of people—a family. And in this case, the family of God...and I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God! The Lord, at the present time, is chastening us as a father his children. He is teaching us, loving us, and giving us discipline. That's why, when it seems that the vilest sinner seems to get away with murder, and as you as a Christian, serve The Lord—and get punished, it seems hardly fair. But, beloved, it is very fair. One day, judgment is coming to the world. And, praise God, I won't be there for it. The very God who loved me enough to chasten me as His own child is not going to make me endure the His judgment on the sins of the world. He took upon Himself the sins of the world (1 John 2:2); and I believed that, and depended on that one day—AND NOW, because of that—Thank God I am free, free, FREE from this world of sin; washed in the blood of Jesus—I've been born again! So why would God mingle his children in with the world for judgment targeting the world, when I chose to trust that He bore that judgment one day? It's nonsense. So friend. From God's perspective, are you really going through a judgment that isn't yours? The arguments will continue till Jesus comes...this is my belief about the matter. I didn't write this to cause those of you who are post-trib to wake up. I didn't write this for anyone but those who are interested in what I believe to be true, and to give a few thoughts to consider if you're trying to decide which position to take. For those of you who disagree with my position; we can agree to disagree as long as we both can agree that we are in times when the gospel needs to be told more than ever. So fan the flame! Jesus is coming soon!
There are so many arguments out there concerning when Jesus is going to come for his bride.
I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. There are many who say it's because no one wants to go through such a horrible ordeal as to how the whole pre-trib concept was ever born. Some say that we just don't see anywhere that solidly announces that Jesus will rescue his bride from the tribulation period; but here's the problem I see with that idea: we don't really see much at all about the church in the Old Testament, period. We see much concerning the tribulation in the Old Testament; but nothing about the church. I see also that God commanded John to write about the things which John saw, the things that are and the things that shall be. The things that are consist of chapters 2 and three. And this is all about the church. It was the church age when John wrote this. Then we see the first verse in Revelation 4 which reads, "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." Now after this, we never see the word "church" mentioned ever again. And that verse declares the hereafter. Something I want to discuss today—and has everything to do with why I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture—is 1 Peter 4:17 which declares that "judgment must begin at the house of God." Is God judging the world? No, I don't think so...yet. There's a day coming in which the world will be judged, but it is not today. Some would ask, "How, then, do you explain all of the terrorism and illness we are seeing today?" Indeed, there is much going on, but consequences are the reason for all of this. The AIDS virus? Consequences! I've even heard that the AIDS virus was actually a man-made virus designed to kill off homosexuals. This is what I've heard. Dr. Henson, my 92 year-old philosophy of science teacher at BJU; a very wise scholar, informed me of this. He spoke of it as though it were no theory, but fact. But the point that I'm trying to make is that the world is not being judged by God at this time; we are as Christians. "Judgment must begin at the house of God." Are you the house of God? Isn't that talking about a church building? Well if it were a building, what happens if a Baptist Church moves and purchases another building, and Muslims purchase the old building? No, as individuals, we are the house of God, but at the same time, a house in the Bible referred to a collective group of people—a family. And in this case, the family of God...and I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God! The Lord, at the present time, is chastening us as a father his children. He is teaching us, loving us, and giving us discipline. That's why, when it seems that the vilest sinner seems to get away with murder, and as you as a Christian, serve The Lord—and get punished, it seems hardly fair. But, beloved, it is very fair. One day, judgment is coming to the world. And, praise God, I won't be there for it. The very God who loved me enough to chasten me as His own child is not going to make me endure the His judgment on the sins of the world. He took upon Himself the sins of the world (1 John 2:2); and I believed that, and depended on that one day—AND NOW, because of that—Thank God I am free, free, FREE from this world of sin; washed in the blood of Jesus—I've been born again! So why would God mingle his children in with the world for judgment targeting the world, when I chose to trust that He bore that judgment one day? It's nonsense. So friend. From God's perspective, are you really going through a judgment that isn't yours? The arguments will continue till Jesus comes...this is my belief about the matter. I didn't write this to cause those of you who are post-trib to wake up. I didn't write this for anyone but those who are interested in what I believe to be true, and to give a few thoughts to consider if you're trying to decide which position to take. For those of you who disagree with my position; we can agree to disagree as long as we both can agree that we are in times when the gospel needs to be told more than ever. So fan the flame! Jesus is coming soon!