~ Children In Heaven ~ 2 Cor 1:3-4

[BrideOfChrist]

I don't see how we can use the children of Sodom and Gomorrah or in the flood as reasoning to prove that God won't rapture out children under the age of accountability. In both the cases, there were children in a time of judgement that were not spared. That would be like comparing to the children that are born after the rapture, they will be alive during the time of the judgement of God.

1 John 2:12


What do we know about sin? We know we have to repent and ask forgiveness for it in order to be saved, right? What about those children that are too young to understand? I think that verse I quoted above explains it. God forgives their sins and will save them if they die before they have the ability to be held accountable for their own actions. He does this so that his name isn't slandered.

I'm personally prepared to accept that my God sends babies to hell if that's the case. He is sovreign and whatever he wills is not my place to argue. However, how do you think an unbeliever would think of God if all dead babies went to hell? I know I'd probably see him as a heartless tyrant and not want to have anything to do with it.

But our God is not heartless or a tyrant. He is a just God and so justice must be served, but he is also a merciful God and not willing that anyone should perish (but even so, there are many that will because of their rejection of Jesus). So, I believe that because it says in the Bible that children's sins are forgiven for his name's sake, any child that dies (or is alive at the time of the rapture) before the age of accountability goes to heaven.

If I'm wrong, so be it. Who am I to tell the potter what he can and can't do with the clay. God's word seems to indicate (based on 1 John 2:12 as well as Jesus' reactions toward children during his life) that I've probably come to the right conclusion.

Just because God doesn't rapture all children doesn't mean they're destined for Hell. That's two different things.

[Tall Timbers]

I like what RRuth is sharing in this thread. The Word tells us that the children of the believer (even when just one spouse is a believer) are sanctified. What sanctified exactly means here has always alluded me, but I can divine that the children of unbelievers are not sanctified as the Word specifically says that those of believers are.

God is just, and I think it is fair to say that our ability to fully understand justice is limited. But we can Trust our God who is Love, because He is also Just. His justice may not fit with our idea of justice right now, but we'll understand when we are with Him, and I'm sure we'll approve :)

[kgreen20]

Just because God doesn't rapture all children doesn't mean they're destined for Hell. That's two different things.



BrideofChrist, everybody who misses the Rapture is destined for Hell. Every single one. If any person who misses the Rapture dies in the next instant, he won't go to Heaven to be with God. He will be consigned to Hell, and will later be condemned to eternity in the Lake of Fire. Only people who have failed to accept God's mercy through Jesus before the trumpet blows will be forced to face His wrath in the Tribulation. They can still be saved unless they accept the mark, but the cost will be horribly high.

Whether you're allowed to take part in the Rapture or not is, indeed, a salvation issue. That is why there will not be a partial Rapture, and that is why all children will be Raptured when the time comes.

[RRuth]

BrideofChrist, everybody

Whether you're allowed to take part in the Rapture or not is, indeed, a salvation issue. That is why there will not be a partial Rapture, and that is why all children will be Raptured when the time comes.

Where's your supporting scripture?

[kgreen20]

For what? That the Rapture is a salvation issue, that all children will be taken in it, that all Christians will be taken, or what?

There's no one Bible verse that comes out and says, "All children will be taken in the Rapture" or "Only children of believers will be taken in the Rapture." On many of these issues, we have to put the pieces together, like a jigsaw puzzle.

[Weirdo4Christ]

The thing is the Bible is clear that if you accept Jesus YOU WILL BE SAVED. Period. Works don't save you, you don't lose a gift of God. He's not an Indian Giver.

The Rapture is for the "saved". It's a rescue to keep his children (followers) from the hour of wrath which is to fall upon the earth.

No matter how old they are. If they are before an age of accountability (understanding) then they will also go in the Rapture. (the same as if children die before they come to an age of understanding the gospel message and having the capacity to accept it's Truths)

Scripture as a whole speaks of children as precious to the Lord. In fact anyone who corrupts them scripture says a millstone should be tied around their neck and they should be tossed in the sea.

The Rapture is for Believers. Those Left Behind did not put their trust and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

[kgreen20]

Well said, Weirdo4Christ. You said it better than I did.

Besides which, we can't use the Flood and the destruction of Sodom to tell us exactly what will happen, except that catastrophic judgment will come for the 3rd time. Except for that, there will be differences. For starters, people who miss the Rapture will have the chance to get saved unless they accept the mark. The people who died in the Flood and in Sodom were given no 2nd chance; they perished immediately and went to Hell. All of them, the only exceptions being the children.

People who enter the Tribulation, on the other hand, will still have the opportunity to be saved. Most of them will have to pay with their lives for their decision, but they will enter Heaven. Those who died in the earlier judgments were given no 2nd chance. And that's one difference between those judgments and the one that's imminent.

[Forgiven Sinner]

My precious son Mikel went home to be with Jesus December 16, 2004. He was 23 years old. One week before Christmas and the family was all together to decorate the tree. When we were all done the family all went their own ways to do things for the evening. Mikel left to go shopping with his friend Justin. The kids were all to be home no later than 11pm. At 11:30 that evening I tried to call Mikel to see why he wasn't home yet. No answer, so I tried a couple more times. Still no answer so I left a message on his phone, with disappointment he couldn't follow instructions to be home on time. That was the last message to my son.
The rest of the family was sound asleep when the door bell rang at 1am. I will never forget that evening, answering the door to 3 police officers on the other side. Mikel and Justin had been in a single car accident at 10:37 that evening, 2 miles from our house. They were on their way home. Mikel would have been home on time.
Justin died at the scene, Mikel was taken to Maricopa trauma center. Mikey went to be with Jesus at 2:20 thurs Dec. 16th as I stood outside the double doors of the surgery room praying and crying to God. As I stood outside the doors I asked God to carry me and never let me go. I already new that God was going to call him Home.

Back up one week before the accident..... Mikel came home from work and he came to talk to me in the kitchen. He came up to me and with a strange look on his face and his hand on his heart he told me that he was homesick. I didn't know what to say cause he was at home. He didn't know what to think either, but his heart hurt like he was not home. I just gave him a big huh and kissed him and said don't worry you are home sweetie. I understood what he was feeling a week later and so did he. He is home now.

Mikel's favorite flower was the rose, and the day after Mikel went home I walked out the front door to talk to Jesus in private when I was suprised with a gift. The most beautiful rose I had ever seen in my life had bloomed on our dead rose bush just outside the front door. Our Father God was leting me know Mikel was home with him. PRAISE GOD!!!!

Reading all the post here of all of you that have lost your child just made me cry and reminded me of how precious life is here on earth. And how awesome our God is. Mikel spent Christmas with Jesus! We ( the family) had the most amazing celebration on Christmas 2004.
God promised he would always be with me and he has NEVER stopped carrying me. Not to say it has not been the hardest time of my life here on earth but he has blessed me with the time I had with my beautiful, wonderful son Mikel. God also blessed me with 4 other preciuos children.
All of you, give your broken hearts to God and let him carry you. It is sooo amazing. It really is indescribable. And remember, we are one day closer to being with Jesus and our precious children.
Thank you God for sending your preciuos Son to die for our sins so it is possible for us to be with you. Amen

I Love you all,
Kelly

[ihope]

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Thank you Kelly! I lost my Erica last September...she was 16...in a single car accident. :hug

[Forgiven Sinner]

Ihurt, let me give you a "Hug" sweetie. You are sooo welcome. It really helps to talk about our loses and the precious memories of our children. Little Erica and Mikel are in the presence of Jesus. WOW!!! We can only amagine it right now. Ask God to give you just a little glimpse of what it is like. I did and the love is unbelievable. Any time you want to talk you can pm if you would like.

love you,
Kelly