Support for pretrib rapture

[akaclw]

What difference does it make to search the scriptures and find the trutH? All the difference in the world!!


Revelation 22: 18-19

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

From "Revelation Unveiled", by Tim LaHaye, page 371-2
(Not sure which version of the Bible was used, hard to find)

I think Satan has deceived much of the church in the US. When the rapture happens, Satan doesn't want anyone talking about being "left behind". Many of the seeker churches will have a good portion of non believers, and non churched left behind. They will be clueless, because no one told them. I think it will be hard for them to accept (the Rapture theory) because no one in the church said anything. THIS IS THE DANGER!!!! Churches are not talking about this, and it angers me. This is a perfect witnessing opportunity for the church, because everyone is thinking, "What is going on in this crazy world?"

[Pendragon]

God says what is true and false in His Word. The Pre-Trib position was the clear teaching, as I'm sure you agree. If the only thing that mattered was that we are saved, He wouldnt have put anything else in His Word, would He have? He tells us what we need to know, and since the Pre-trib Rapture is taught in His Word, it must be important enough to study, preach and believe in. That's the way I look at it anyways.

But again, I understand that believing any which way on the Rapture timing does not change one's salvation, and if I am reading your post right, is the thing that matters most.

Here is the way I look at it... If I am teaching coming to christ through believing on G-d that in trinty was risen and by repenting for my sin and having faith in his coming again and his soveriegnty I am forgiven and have recieved that grace... No matter pre mid post whatever when ever it doesn't matter I as well as the ones I have taught arte prepared to handle everything and anything that may be handed... Ressesion as it is right now... to drought to war to all things man made or thrown in the path by the enemy... I am always curious thought to all who believe in the pre trib rapture why the concern after the rapture happens??? shouldn't we be focused more on the points of the faith and the trials now... today is enough to worry about let alone the troubles of tommorow...

[acceptedintheBeloved]

For anyone who's interested, here is an article by Dr. Thomas Ice, about Matthew 24-25. :hat
He also mentions Stanley Toussaint, Dwight Pentecost and John Walvoord with the same view:

http://www.raptureready.com/featured/ice/AnInterpretationofMatthew24_25_36.html

(I believe there are more articles which follow this one.)

.
Other teachers (who teach this), mentioned earlier in this thread, are:

Zola Levitt, Elmer Towns, Ed Hindson, and Harold Willmington, etc.

[Katia_0203]

Hi, it was in response to this very sort of thing that I wrote "Solving The Rapture Riddle." You can retrieve it free at Solving The Rapture Riddle.doc (http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/12/26/2239326/Solving%20The%20Rapture%20Riddle.doc). In it, I examine the Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Pre-Wrath and Post-Trib viewpoints (also the partial Rapture and no-Rapture).

I found the evidence shows that the Pre-Trib is correct. However, it's not just enough to say I'm correct and you're incorrect, so I show WHY the others are not correct.

Well, I did mention in my post that my goal is to show a believer why a pre-trib rapture has the most evidence and is the truth, but if they don't agree and refuse to change their beliefs about the timing after presenting my case, I can force them to believe in the pre-Trib truth. Therefore, it shouldn't cause major divisions within the Body of Christ or any anger because the main focus should be on Christ and bring others to Him and that's what I'm going to be focusing on since Christ instructs me to do so.

[LindaLee]

I'm a pre-tribber and I don't discuss the pre-trib Rapture with someone that has a different take on it. If they press the issue, this is what I tell them: My opinion is that it makes no difference WHEN the Rapture occurs, if you are truly part of Christ's TRUE Church...you are going to be going when Christ blows that Trumpet and says "Come up Hither"! regardless of what your belief is as far as being pre, mid or post-trib.

[JesusIsLord]

Here is the way I look at it... If I am teaching coming to christ through believing on G-d that in trinty was risen and by repenting for my sin and having faith in his coming again and his soveriegnty I am forgiven and have recieved that grace... No matter pre mid post whatever when ever it doesn't matter I as well as the ones I have taught arte prepared to handle everything and anything that may be handed... Ressesion as it is right now... to drought to war to all things man made or thrown in the path by the enemy... I am always curious thought to all who believe in the pre trib rapture why the concern after the rapture happens??? shouldn't we be focused more on the points of the faith and the trials now... today is enough to worry about let alone the troubles of tommorow...

I'd say that is a great way to look at it! :thumb

[Traveling Through]

Jack Kelly says that the silence about the Holy Spirit in Revelation might be telling regarding His presence. I'm sorry, but I have to learn to post links. I'm sure you can find it.

Simply copy and paste the url from the source site into your post. The HTML programming here will take care of it for you.

[Miggy]

comeuphere,

That was a well stated post regarding salvation, Jews, Gentiles, and God's infinite, but largely rejected mercy and grace.

I enjoyed it, thanks!

[just-a-servant]

Hi, it was in response to this very sort of thing that I wrote "Solving The Rapture Riddle." You can retrieve it free at Solving The Rapture Riddle.doc (http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/12/26/2239326/Solving%20The%20Rapture%20Riddle.doc). In it, I examine the Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Pre-Wrath and Post-Trib viewpoints (also the partial Rapture and no-Rapture).

I found the evidence shows that the Pre-Trib is correct. However, it's not just enough to say I'm correct and you're incorrect, so I show WHY the others are not correct.

I retrieved and read your article, it appears you have done some good homework on the subject. I think your evidence is flawed in part and some of the conclusions you came to were in error. You used a lot of paper in support of details not having much to do with the pre/mid/post/pre-wrath/no rapture positions you took. (In particular your positions on the identity of the sheep and goats as well as the mortals who would be around during the millenial kingdom. Those positions were the basis for most of your dismissal of the other than pre-trib rapture conclusions you made.)

Your article was from the very outset a treatise on your opinion of the timing of the rapture and not a serious exegesis of any of the other views. I am not faulting you on your work, it was written well and made some good points, but more work is necessary to bring it to the level of the "final authority answer" on the subject. I encourage you to work harder and look deeper into the things you wrote, you may find evidence for another conclusion.

You may also want to consider posting it, either partially or in its entirety, here (in a separate thread) to get feedback, insight, and wider dissemination. Well written and thought out ideas are hard to come by. It would be a shame to have your article lurking in the backwaters of cyberspace and not get the reading/critique it deserves.

IMHO,
just-a-servant

[Sandra17012]

It has been my experience that there is a pattern to both pre-trib believers, and non pre-trib believers.

Not everyone studies their Bible the way they should, so there are surely a lot of born again believers who are clueless. However of the people I have witnessed to and/or debated with, here is what I have found.

Pre-trib believers:
Pre-mill, Dispensationalists, they believe Israel is blessed by God, and that God has future plans for Israel. There will be a future 1000 year reign of Christ upon the earth.
The Bible is the literal Word of God
Once a person is truly saved they are forever saved.

Non pre-tribbers:
Replacement Theology followers, there will be no future 1000 yr reign of Christ upon the earth.
Bible is allegorical
Salvation is conditional

I believe that denial of the pre-trib rapture is a symptom of a possible underlying false teaching. It is my opinion that this underlying false teaching is a salvation issue. Please understand, I am not making a belief in the pre-trib rapture a salvation issue. It is the underlying false teaching which is the salvation issue.

The number one false belief is that Salvation is conditional. The catholic church, the Mormon church, and even many denominational churches teach conditional salvation. This IS a Salvation issue!

If a person believes they can lose their Salvation then they are in no better position than a Muslim, or Hindu, or Buddhist, or any other false religion. All of these religions place the responsibility of Salvation in the lap of the individual person. All of these forms of belief, even within the Christian church makes followers work to secure their future hope of Salvation. In all of these groups, there are "strings attached".

The Truth is that Christ paid it all, did it all, and He said "it is finished".
True Christianity is the only religion which offers real Salvation through Christ Jesus. When we realize our sinful nature, repent, and accept Christ's finished work upon the cross on our behalf, we are born again and forever saved, not put upon "spiritual probation". Christ's Precious Blood which He shed for us is much to valuable to waste on a gamble. If human beings could work hard enough, if we were able to be "good enough" on our own, then God would not have needed to send His Only Son to the cross for our sins. Jesus Christ's Blood is powerful, and He saves us and "keeps us" to the Day of Redemption.

Most people never study their Bibles enough to even enter into conversations about these matters. A few years ago I did not even know that there were other rapture positions. I did not know what Replacement Theology is, or even that there was a belief in Conditional Salvation. I did love the Lord, and I was born again. I KNEW He saved me, and that He would never let me go, and that's all I really needed to know.

The next time you are debating the rapture timing issue with someone, explore a little further into their beliefs, and you might be surprised to find an underlying false teaching which leads to their false timing belief.

The Holy Spirit leads us into Truth, the worldly spirit leads us into falsehood.