2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
PS: I will not be offended if you disagree with my viewpoint and I have no problem if you would like to add to my studies by providing scripture. I love the word and studying it gives me great joy.
I believe in an ESCAPE:
Rapture does not appear in the text of the Bible; however, it comes from the Latin word rapere, meaning “rapid” and the Latin word rapiemur, meaning, “we shall be caught up.” This word was taken from the Greek verb harpazo, meaning, “to seize upon, spoil, snatch away or take to oneself,” especially used of rapture (Acts 8:39; 2 Cor 12:2, 4; 1 Thess 4:17; Rev 12:5). Harpazo is translated “caught up” or “caught away” the five times (out of thirteen) it appears in the Bible relating to rapture.
So even though the word Rapture does not appear anywhere in the bible, it is the English word we use to describe an event in the bible for which also exists the doctrine. The meaning and principle of the words still remains the same - Caught up, to seize upon, spoil, snatch away or take to oneself.
I have spent months on this subject and I still continue to study this subject weekly. I believe that there is more than enough scripture to support this doctrine. I believe there is most definitely an escape from the Tribulation to come and this is why:
Luke 21:36 - So be alert at all times, praying that you may be accounted worthy to ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS that are going to take place and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man.
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished
1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
Isa 26:20-21 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Isa 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
These are just some of the passages that I found that completely convinced me that we will be protected and kept safe from the coming tribulation, but one passage which people tend to overlook really nails it for me:
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
In my Father's house there are many mansions.... When Jesus returns He will establish His kingdom, His home on earth yet He speaks of His Father's house and preparing a place for us THERE (not here) so that we may be where He is. It's a known fact that Jesus will establish His home in Israel and that He will rule and reign from Israel yet He uses the word "there" and not "here" when He speaks to His disciples. I'll discuss more of this and the Jewish / Hebrew wedding in future posts.
Rapture.. yes. Pre-trib... no. All pretribers mixing tribulation with wraf of God. Tribulation is what world does to us, wraf of God is what God does to the world. So, we are going to go though the great tribulation, but we will be ruptured before wraf of God. Simple.
Matthew 24:29-30
King James Version
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matthew 13:21
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 7:14
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Thank you so much for your reply! I'll be doing much more posts on pre-trib and why I believe in a pre-trib but I love new insights and people who are willing to look at this without arguing. I don't believe that this is something that affects our salvation and therefore it's great to have someone with a different opinion. 2 Tim 2:15 ~ Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I am currently doing a study on the book of Revelation. I've been working on this for months. I'll start posting on this shorty. I hope you'll look at those studies too and if you have any studies for me to take a look at, that will be great!
Do you believe in different dispensation throughout the bible?
I sincerely hope that my reply does not offend you. Replying to your reply below:
(John 15:19 - If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Also read John 17:14. We are not of this world. I agree that in this life there will be tribulation, but not all scripture using the word tribulation refers to "The Tribulation" / Jacob's trouble)
The only thing that offends me if someone insults God, so fire away. :) Resurrection timing isn't that important as long as you understand that salvation comes from believing, not works. Everything else we can talk about. As the matter of fact, I believe that Bible was written on purpose vague enough. Not a "text book" style, where everything is cut and dry. It has to be a choice. You have to choose to believe or not to believe. It goes back to original intent: why did God made us in the first place? To my understanding, He made us for Him to have a companionship. But He din't want robots, that's why he gave us a free will, so we choose to be with Him.
I doubt that you can change my mind about tribulation timing, but I don't have a problem talking about it. I would definitely will not cut our conversation because of difference of opinion, like it was done many times to me. :)
I heavily agree with Kent Hovind and Steven Anderson, not everything, but most. Chew meat and spit-out the bones, like Hovind says...
I love Dr Kent Hovind, also don't agree with everything but a great teacher none the less! I won't try to change your mind. I do however, hope that you'll read through all my postings about Rapture (at least 13 to follow) to understand how I came to believe in a pre-trib rapture. I'm looking forward to your input!
It's a deal!