From and to CricketQuestion: Subject: Enjoyed The Page Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 19:37:28 -0500 From: Cricket To: alrogers@gmx.com I "used" to believe in the rapture doctrine. This study has helped me THINK for myself. I am glad that God's wraft is not directed at his children who love him and try to serve him. Perhaps you could help me with a couple questions.. 1. Where does Jesus "take" the church? If we are not to "fly away"...Does he simply take us unto himself? And if so....does that mean His kingdom will be set up right here on earth? If it is...why are so many expecting not to be here? -------  Al's reply:As you divide the word you'll find there is going to be a catching away (1 Th 4:16-17) at the sound of the last trump. (1 Cor 15:52-53) Yes, we will met the Lord in the air, at that time we will be delivered, as the wrath of the Lamb, His judgment comes upon Babylon, the beast, false prophet, and his followers (Rev chapters 16-18 and 19 verses 15-21). Then all the believers that are raised come back to the earth, and we rule with our Lord for a thousand years (Rev chapter 20). The rapture and judgments all happen in a short period of time. The rapture happens in a twinkling of an eye, the plagues come in one day (Rev 18:8), and Babylon comes to nought in one hour. (Rev 18:17) ------
Cricket ask: Matt.24 talks about Noah's Day... the best I can read this the subject is the tribulation of antichrist...and Christ's return will be just like it was in Noah's day.... The one taken out of the field (which I have been taught was the rapture) Taken by whome? In Noah's Day the women seem to be "taken" by bad boys.... Satan's boys??? If this be true....alot of well meaning Christians will be taken by 'pretty boy " antichrist. Thanks for any help..... ------ Al's reply:Just when Noah entered the ark and the floods came, so are we taken to be with the Lord and the wrath falls. Some people do not know that tribulation means trouble not wrath. There will be some plagues during the great tribulation, and Christians will be saved from them (1 Th 5:9). As you look at the world you will notice everything is picking up speed, in our travel, in transactions, in knowledge, in growing crops, even the travelers on the road to destruction. In Noah's day the world was so sin festered, just like it is today. Homosexualality, pornography, drugs, terrorism, just about any sin you can think of has come out of the closet seeking for acceptance, and the internet is such a big promoter of it. I believe so many Christians have accepted that we will be caught-away in a secret rapture, off on a honeymoon somewhere without anyone noticing, and later returning back to earth. According to Acts 1:11 He is coming back in the manner He left. In Matthew 24:29-31 the tribes of the earth are going to mourn when they see the son of man coming in the clouds. Every eye is going to see Him. (Rev 1:7) It is going to happen rather quickly. (Mat 24:17; Luke 17:24) I believe the Pre-trib Rapture is a tool of the devil that is going to cause doubt in a lot people when they have to go through the great tribulation, a time of trouble matched by no other time (Mat 24:21). "And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (2 Pet 3:4 KJV) The people who do not listen to the Holy Spirit, and learn how to study the word of God for themselves will be deceived by the many ways of Satan. Just a note: Remember not take scripture out of contexts, and when you do not understand a subject, ask God, He can lead you to someone, and to another scripture or like scripture that will help you. When you read Jesus' words you need to understand He spoke in parables. Like the parable in Matthew 25:31-46 people are not actually goats and sheep, and that period of judging between the two could happen over a period of one thousand years. (Rev 20:6) With love in Christ,
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