Eschatologioal Footing

And Replacement theology (supersessionism) is the teaching that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. Certain Bible prophesies and promises clearly pertaining to Israel are re-routed and transferred to the church in what becomes a skewed hermeneutic approach to God’s dealings with Israel. Oftentimes, the promises meant for Israel get spiritualized and explained away as pertaining to the church now.

With that brief definition of replacement theology in mind let’s continue. When you examine verses referring to the church and Israel in their proper context, you will have a sound biblical understanding that God has different and distinct plans for both. We have been in the church age from it’s birth in Acts chapter two until now. During this time, God has primarily focussed on the gentile nations and built His church over the last two thousand years. Once the church is caught up to be with the Lord, His divine plans for Israel will commence in their entirety.

I say His plans for Israel will entirely commence because it should be clear to any believer who employs sound exegesis that Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. You cannot take one verse of scripture, isolate it and come up with your own interpretation. In short, you cannot take promises that were clearly meant for Israel and plug the church into those verses.

Isaiah 66:8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children.

Ezekiel 37:11-14 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”

Both of these beautiful sections of scripture pertain to Israel. In Isaiah we see the miraculous re-birth of Israel against all odds. In the passage from Ezekiel we see Israel’s rightful place during the millennial reign of Christ from Jerusalem.

I believe that there are two key factors that determine one’s thinking regarding end time Bible prophecy:

First is the factor of your eschatological footing. Are you premillennial, postmillennial, or do you hold a preterism view. The premillennial view of Bible prophecy is the one this ministry adheres to. We believe in the physical and literal return of Jesus and then the beginning of His thousand year reign here on earth. Postmillennialism is a belief that Jesus will return at the end of the prophesied millennium. Preterism teaches that the sum of biblical end time prophecies took place in A.D. 70. This is simply erroneous teaching because there has never been 1,000 years of peace in the world among many other inconsistencies with this belief. The bottom line is this: If you don’t believe in a literal return of Jesus followed by His 1,000 year reign, how can you make sense of anything else as it pertains to end time prophecy.

Second is the factor regarding your view of Israel’s place in God’s prophetic plan. As I mentioned earlier, even as a young boy, I read my Bible and could see God has a separate and distinct plan for Israel. This is evident from His covenant with Abraham and we read that Israel will not be cast off but delivered in Romans 11. If you read Romans 9, 10, and 11 you will see God dealing with both Israel and the church distinctly. Israel (hasn’t) stumbled in order to fall and be no more. Paul says, “Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles.” You can see that the Lord has grafted the church, wild olive shoots into the others. We are not to be arrogant regarding the Jews. Yes branches were broken off due to unbelief, but God has the power to graft them in again. See Romans 11:23 regarding this point. There will be a faithful remnant (the natural branches) that will be grafted back in.

I want to summarize the point and say this: If your not premillennial and don’t believe Jesus will return to rule and reign for a literal 1,000 years and you don’t see Israel’s central roll in the end time events, especially from Revelation 6 through 20, Daniel Chapter 9, and other places in scripture, then your eschatology is unbiblical. You can’t explain away the literal pre-millennium return of Jesus and have sound doctrine as it pertains to Bible prophecy.

You cannot have a skewed view of Israel and the Jewish people in regard to their place in God’s plan and have sound doctrine when it comes to Bible prophecy. The false narrative that is replacement theology is spreading like gangrene through evangelical circles. Moreover, some very prominent nationally recognized pastors and speakers are adherents to replacement theology. In their teaching, the replacements often spiritualize what God most certainly meant as promises for Israel. In their teaching, the replacements will often assert that Israel is no longer God’s chosen covenant people because of Jewish unbelief or national sin.

Oftentimes the replacements will be asked questions such as, What about Israel? Should Christians support Israel? Is the Israel of today in God’s plan? The list goes on, but the general answer the replacements give is: This Israel (the one presently in the land) isn’t that Israel. They will tell people that Israel has forfeited it’s promises and God’s focus is exclusively on the church now. The latter is a half truth because although the church is the focal point during the time of the Gentiles, after the rapture God’s attention will turn squarely toward Israel.

Please understand my point: I’m not calling into question the replacements salvation and not asserting they aren’t believers, because (some) of the replacements are fellow brethren in the faith.

There are other replacements who certainly have heretical teachings and are promoters of false doctrine. and certainly aren’t our brothers & sisters in Christ.

Here is the issue at hand: A growing number of the replacements choose to ignore end time Bible prophecy and that is where the danger of their version of eschatology meets the road. Not only do they misrepresent what the Bible has clearly said about Israel, the majority of them do very little to no teaching on end time prophecy. That’s because some of the replacements have labeled end time prophecy a diversion, divisive, a scare tactic, off message, etc. They seem to be asserting that when people focus on prophecy, the focus is taken off of Jesus, the gospel, and the task at hand. To them end time Bible prophecy is a distraction.

Nothing could be further from the truth because when we get right down to the basics, end time prophecy is biblical! All scripture is God breathed, profitable, and in the Bible because He wanted it in there. How can the replacements take what are large sections of scripture such as Matthew 24, Daniel 9, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and Revelation to name a few and verbally render them irrelevant? I believe the answer to the question at it’s root is spiritual pride.

Big names in evangelical circles have sought to diminish the role of Israel by word or deed and have become mockers of the prophetic words written in the Bible they claim to know so well.

Just because some of these men have the respect of the evangelical masses, have an ample selection of their writing in the local Christian bookstore, and are sought after speakers, doesn’t equivocate them with teaching biblically sound eschatology. Far from it. If they consider the nation of Israel unimportant, exempt from God’s plans, or negate end time prophecy altogether, they shouldn’t be Bible teachers, pastors, or evangelists.

2 Timothy 3:16 is clear, all scripture is God breathed. We weren’t called to cut and paste theology to suit our own taste. We are to teach the whole Bible and interpret scripture with scripture in it’s context. To discount Bible prophecy as a distraction or to insinuate that the church has replaced Israel is biblical ignorance and hermeneutical pride.

Jesus is coming soon and the world is growing darker by the hour. Look at all of the events taking place geopolitically, economically, ethnically, and spiritually. Terror is escalating, there are wars and rumors of wars, the global economy is tenuous at best, and there is growing persecution of Christians in the Middle East, N. Africa, and we see growing hostility The other glaring series of events began with the modern re-birth of Israel against all odds in 1948. Since then they have regained their ancient capitol, they have been attacked on all sides by hostile enemies, and now they are the object of scorn from many groups including self identifying Christian groups. There has been a definite shift from traditional evangelical support for Israel to the point that now, a growing number of these people no longer see Israel as important or relevant. This line of thinking and theology becomes downright anti Christian and anti Jewish in it’s rhetoric as shown in movements such as Christ at the Checkpoint among others.

The troubling part about the replacements and their warped eschatology is the fact that end time prophecy is one of the main ways the Lord reaches lost people. Many folks are walking through this life without hope and as the world gets darker and evil crescendos, they will seek answers. Thankfully we know the one who has what they are looking for. The Lord knows the end from the beginning. Look at all of the prophecies from messianic to historical events that have been fulfilled to the letter. We can rest assured that this same God will fulfill His promises both to Israel and the church as He has before.

Evangelizing using Bible prophecy is an effective way to reach lost souls. This life isn’t the end because just beyond it lies eternity. Bible prophecy tells of coming wrath, judgement, heaven, and hell. Proclaiming the gospel via end time prophecy will drive some to godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Most importantly, Bible Prophecy points squarely to Jesus and His ultimate glory. Our ministry focus on prophecy isn’t for sensationalism, likes, site hits, or popularity. We focus on end time Bible prophecy because we want to see people come to repentance and put faith in Jesus as their Savior.

I want to finish by boldly saying that God is not finished with Israel!

Isaiah 49:15-17 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”

Biblically speaking, some of her darkest and also brightest days are ahead. Christian support for Israel is vital and necessary. God loves his chosen people and it is our ministry position to reach as many Jewish people as possible for the kingdom. To the Jew first, to the gentiles, and that is our task. We are to proclaim the gospel to everyone. We long to see Jews and Gentiles (including Muslims) come to faith in Jesus.

We have been in the last days since Pentecost. Now as these days head toward their climax and history begins to wind down, we can expect to see Israel become the geopolitical focal point. In the meantime, be a proponent of bold Bible teaching and sound healthy eschatology. Know that God has distinct plans for the church and Israel. Remember while many are scoffing or negating the importance of end time Bible prophecy, we have an opportunity to use it to point lost souls to Jesus.

And


Wilfred HahnBy Wilfred Hahn




We continue with the proofs that the martyrs of the Tribulation period tell us. In Part I we stated that ALL who become Christians during the Tribulation will die. It is a key view. Why? It critically affects the Rapture debate. As such, for Rapture naysayers, this view is problematic. Understandably, others may be puzzled as it is a complex and potentially confusing topic (especially so for such a short article series as we present here).

Were it proven that ALL who become Christians in the Tribulation become martyrs, it makes a serious dent in the case for a Rapture occurring any other time than before the Tribulation. For example, were there no Christians alive on earth as of the early stages of the second half of the Tribulation, there could be no mid- or –end-tribulational Rapture. It wouldn’t be logical. The Great Multitude (see Revelation 7:9, these all martyrs) are shown to be already in front of the heavenly altar at the time of the 5th and 6th seals.

If ALL Christians have been martyred who would be left to be raptured? As the case may be, Tribulational martyrs are expressly promised to participate in the First Resurrection … in their case, this occurring at the beginning of the Millennium. For a Rapture to occur at any other time than before the Tribulation would not align with Scripture; nor the proofs of the Tribulational martyrs; nor the character of God.

But what of the view of Rapture naysayers who say that there is no Rapture to be expected at all? To take this position means that ALL Christians will go into the Tribulation period. More Christians would then be added to their number through conversions during the earlier stages of the Tribulation. The question then arises: Why would God allow that ALL Christians in the world to be killed during the Tribulation? As we have shown and will further prove in this article, all Tribulational Christians will be martyred.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 states that “[…] God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, if ALL Christians (from the time of before and during the Tribulation will be annihilated on earth, this is a “wrath” of a different gospel. This is not congruous with the character of what God has said

And A naysayer’s view must endorse a very non-sensical sequence of events. ALL Christians must go into the Tribulation so that ALL first be slain so that they ALL can be given a resurrected physical body so ALL to come back to life in the Millennium.

This sequence of events seems unnecessarily cruel … and inefficient. Could these be the actions of a LORD that says “My reward is with me” (Revelation 22:12). What about the Saints that have died before the Tribulation period? The Rapture naysayer must take the position that these saints need wait another thousand years for the Second Resurrection as they will not be eligible for the First Resurrection. Scripture doesn’t support these confused perspectives. Rather, it expressly says that “the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

A pre-tribulational Rapture is the clearest, most sensible and most scriptural view.

More Arguments From the Dead

Given that our view — that ALL Tribulational Christians will be martyred — is such a critical factor in the Rapture debate, we want to further prove the veracity of this position. There are other additional proofs and deductions from the Bible for this case. We present five of these next. It is these proofs of certain martyrdom that tell the theological tales.

1. The Meaning of “All.” The Second Beast shown in Revelation 13 only offer two options — one or the other. Worship the image of the First Beast or die. No other option is on offer. There is no allowance for exceptions. “[…] all who refused to worship the image [are] to be killed” (Revelation 13:15). (Again, see Revelation 20:4.) All means all … not some. The Bible also says this about these Tribulation saints: “They triumphed over him [the Dragon] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11).

What happens to those that do worship the image? Could they change their minds at some later date? Revelation 14:9-11 is clear. “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” Once having made the election to worship the image of the Beast and to take the mark, there is no recourse nor recanting. To believe otherwise, would be inconsistent with the character of God. Once He unleashes His Wrath it is too late to repent. After all, His wrath only comes after repeated entreaties and warnings. Then comes the point of no return … of no further grace.

At the very minimum, what we can safely conclude is that All who refuse to worship the image will die.

2. No Survival Outside the “Buy Sell” System. Despite the clear message of Revelation 13, some still imagine that Christians could survive the Tribulation period. If only they would buy the right survival goods and pursue cunning evasive strategies they would stand a chance, they reason. However, they ignore this perspective: Outside the “buy-sell system” in that future tribulational world put in place by the False Prophet, it will not be possible to live without the “mark.” If one is not able to “buy nor sell” at a time of a pervasive global economic crisis and a closed worldwide financial system, one cannot obtain food nor shelter. With no transactional access to the financial system, a Christian will die of starvation if not first murdered.

An understanding of the limits of a closed financial system should lay to rest any notion that All who refuse to worship the image will be martyred.

3. A Deduced Absence. At the 5th trumpet blow (1st Woe, Revelation 9:1-6), this occurring perhaps mid-way into the second half of the Tribulation) “[…] out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. […] They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes.”

Only those that did not have the seal of God were allowed to be tormented. The only group that has a seal placed upon them at this point are the 144,000 servants. As such, were Christians still on earth at the time of this judgment, they would be expressly allowed by God to be tortured. Any Christians on earth during this woe wold be selected to face God’s wrath. Shown here is that God can and does exclude one group to be protected from His wrath (namely the 144,000). Then, why would He choose not to do so with his Children? "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for […] an egg, will give him a scorpion?” (Luke 11:11-12).

And Thus, we can draw one of two conclusions. There are no Christians on earth at the time of the 1st Woe; or if yes, then God expressly chooses to torment them. Only the former perspective aligns with the character of God.

4. Can Christians Curse God? At the call of the 6th trumpet, one third of the world’s population is wiped out; two-thirds remain who then ALL curse God. Says Revelation 9:20-21: “The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons and idols […] Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Could Christians be counted in this number of survivors? Not if all of the survivors are said to “curse God”, “refuse to repent” and kept “worshipping demons and idols.” Clearly, then, there can be no Christians survivors at this point upon earth. (We maintain that they have been martyred already some time before.) After all, salvation is impossible without repentance. Conclusion? Either no Christians are upon earth at the time of this woe; or, God expressly made sure that while 1/3rd of the earth’s population dies, that this would mean that ALL Christians would die at this time. But, again, it would be absurd to believe that God in His wrath would wipe out ALL remaining Christians at this juncture, favouring instead other godless earth dwellers.

We can reasonably deduce that no Christians exist upon earth at the time of the 5th and 6th trumpet judgments.

5. Appearances of Christians Throughout the Tribulation. Following the sixth seal (that being the time point that we are shown the great multitude of martyred Christians in front of the heavenly altar) the topics of “saints” or “servants” “Christians,” God’s people” or “multitudes” is never mentioned again in Revelation’s time line. Crucially, no mention or picture is made of any more Christians having arrived in front of the heavenly altar during the Tribulation period for any other reason than of being slain by anti-Christian forces. Any reference to “souls” that did not “worship the image” refers back to its occurrence which, in our view, is at a time near to the 6th seal. As such, this would be consistent with the view that All Christians will be martyred in the Tribulation period.

The above arguments (as well as others made elsewhere in this 2-part article series), we believe conclusively prove that no Christians will survive the Tribulation period … all becoming martyrs (most likely by its mid-point). Daniel 7:25 says that “The holy people will be delivered into his [Anti-christ’s] hands for a time, times and half a time. (See also Daniel 12:7) We see this three and one-half period coinciding with the first-half of the Tribulation period.

These perspectives may indeed raise additional questions as well as reconciliations with other popular or conventional interpretations of Scripture. However, we will leave these questions for another study.

And Who Left to Populate the Millennium?

A number of readers have argued that not all Christians could be killed in the Tribulation as there would be no people left on earth to populate the Millennium. This is incorrect. Why? The Bible states that a major stage of the First Resurrection occurs at the start of the Millennium. At this time, it specifically applies only to Tribulation martyrs and no one else. All those who become Christians during the Tribulation are resurrected at the beginning of Millennium. “They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4) upon earth. Tribulational Christians therefore are destined to live and reign with Christ through the whole millennium until the time of the Second Resurrection (Revelation 20:4).

There will also be a surviving number of people on earth — both Jews (as there must be in order to fulfill prophecy) and Gentiles — though a greatly decimated number. In conclusion, resurrected tribulational saints and surviving Jews and Gentiles will populate the Millennium.

We briefly again review the significant positional differences between those Christians who are raptured and those who later become Christians during the Tribulation. Firstly, those who are raptured are a unique and small group. They face neither the First nor the Second Death (physical death nor spiritual damnation) but a translation to a new body. What a wonderful reward to the Christians of the apostate, hostile world that exists at the time of the Rapture.

The only other “first fruit” group that is given a similar special dispensation (in part) are the 144,000 prophets. They are sealed, being already redeemed first-fruits (what we take to mean resurrected with eternal bodies) and therefore will not perish during the Tribulation. They possibly may also enter into the Millennial period and also not taste the Second Death [though we must disclose that the Bible is actually silent on these points.]

Thoughts to Ponder: Great Rewards to All Saints

Glorious is the fact that raptured Christians are spared the First Death and Second Death; and are also spared “the hour of trial” (Revelation 3:10) and will be in heaven with the Lord while the Tribulation takes place upon earth.

Raptured Saints “[…] will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17) in their translated resurrected incorruptible bodies. Whether on earth or in heaven, wherever Jesus will be, that is where the raptured Christians will be. They “[…] will be with the Lord forever.”

Surely the Tribulation is a terrible period … as none ever before in mankind’s history. Nevertheless, there is good news to celebrate: For ALL Christians, there will be no Second Death. We will all be given eternal life.

Wonderfully, after the Tribulation, the Lord, “[…] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

The Pre-tribulation Rapture view, as we have shown, is the most consistent with Scripture. There is no incentive to survive the Tribulation for Christians since all will be killed and all are then resurrected at the start of the Millennium. Why prolong physical suffering if one can look forward to a resurrection after the Tribulation?

Therefore, whether amongst the raptured or those saved during the Tribulation, there are no physical preparations to be made … nothing to buy … or escape. There is no need to pay for survival supplies, nor to build an underground bunker.

For now, given that the Rapture still lies ahead, we remain part of the generation that “[…] continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 2:28).

Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done (Revelation 22:12).

This Guy is just a joke , he takes 2 , 3 verses and builds his own bible and theology ! I'm not going to even comment.

And
In both the Thessalonian Letters the principal theme is the rapture of the saints. The word ‘rapture’ means ‘to be caught up’ or ’snatched away’, and that is precisely what will happen to all believers as soon as the Church is complete.
We must point out that there are two phases or stages of the Second Coming of Christ clearly taught in God’s Word. All the prophecies of the Old Testament tell of His coming in power as the Son of Man to reign and to rule, but there are two passages in the New Testament that state that before our Lord returns to the earth (Zechariah 14:4), as Son of Man (Matthew 24:27 and 30), for Israel’s deliverance (Zechariah 14:3), publicly (Revelation 1:7), and to take vengeance on His enemies (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8) - before He comes like this, He will come into the air and gather to Himself all His saints. His coming in power and glory will be ushered in by signs (Matthew 24); but His coming into the air for His Church could happen at any moment.
This ’any moment’ return of the Lord, the first stage of His coming, is called The Rapture of the Church, because He will catch away all His people and take them to be with Himself (John 14:3). The two important passages that show this truth are: (1) 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, and (2) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

• 
  The word “mystery” in 1 Corinthians 15:51 needs some explanation. A ’mystery’ in the New Testament always refers to truth that was unrevealed in the Old Testament. A ‘mystery’ is something only known to the initiated. The truth of the rapture was not revealed in the Old Testament; it was promised by the Lord Jesus (John 14:3), but it was only fully revealed and explained by (or through) the Apostle Paul. There are six mysteries to look up: Romans 11:25; 16:25-27; 1 Corinthians 15:51; Ephesians 1:9-11; Ephesians 3:3-12; and 1 Timothy 3:16. The mystery spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4 is the fact that before the Lord returns to the earth to reign He will come into the air to gather His own to Himself.
  

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 gives us all the teaching about the rapture of the Church. Notice seven truths contained in verses 16 and 17:-

And

1. The Lord’s Coming will be PERSONAL.
Verse 16 tells us this – “the Lord himself”; not another Jesus but “this same Jesus” (Acts 1:11); the unchanging One (Hebrews 13:8) - the same glorious One who in the days when He was on earth was so loving, gracious and kind, who died for us on Calvary’s Cross, and is the one who is coming again for us. It is not the Holy Spirit who will come, or an angel, but ”the Lord himself”.


2. The Coming of the Lord will be SUDDEN and DRAMATIC.
Verse 16 tells us it will be accompanied by ”a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call…” We cannot say if the world will hear these sounds or if it will be a secret rapture, but every believer will hear them. Divine intervention has always been sudden - the Flood, the Exodus, the Day of Pentecost. The Ascension was dramatic - look up Luke 24:51!


3. When He comes “the dead in Christ will rise first” (verse 16).
This will be the first resurrection (Revelation 20:4-5). All who were saved before Christ came to die and all who have been saved since and who have ’died’ will rise from the dead in their glorified bodies. Until He comes their bodies ‘sleep’ (1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15); but when He comes their spirits which are with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8; Ephesians 3:15; Philippians 1:23) will be clothed with bodies that are imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:52).


4. Every living Christian will be CHANGED and CAUGHT UP (verse 17).
Compare verse 17 with 1 Corinthians 15:51. This means that when the Lord comes there will be millions of Christians on earth who will never die (1 Corinthians 15:52-53). They will be clothed “with immortality”, and all this will happen in the twinkling of an eye; they will suddenly disappear, like Enoch (Hebrews 11:5); Elijah (2 Kings 2:11); the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:9). Left behind will be the unbelievers and those who only professed to be Christians but never possessed Christ (2 Timothy 3:5). What confusion and panic there will be in the world then! How zealous we should be to win the lost while there is time (John 9:4)!


5. Then will follow a time of glorious REUNION for the Saints.
Verse 17 tells us that we shall be “together”, and what a gathering that will be! - for to be “together” implies recognition of our loved-ones, and indeed of all the saints of God.


6. Above all, we shall meet with the LORD HIMSELF.
Verse 17 tells us that we shall “meet the Lord in the air”. What a meeting this will be! What great joy we experience as we anticipate meeting our loved-ones and friends, but that is nothing compared with the joy that will be ours when we shall meet our own Lord and Saviour!


7. Then we shall be “WITH THE LORD FOR EVER”.
Verse 17 states that this is the goal at the end of the road, and it ties up with Psalm 23:6. Compare also Psalm 16:11 and John 17:24.
What comfort we find in these verses. Notice verse 18 and compare Titus 2:13! After our Lord has returned for His saints He will return with His saints in power and great glory to reign on the earth (Luke 1:32-33) - but in connection with all these wonderful events there are Dark Days Ahead for this poor world and for those who do not know the Lord

And The Tribulation period is a time of intense judgment by God. What groom would beat the living daylights out of his bride and then say, “Okay, now let’s go get married.” It ain’t going to happen.
Some say that the Church has suffered persecution down through the years, so why would she not suffer during the Tribulation? The reason is quite simple. “Persecution” has come from evil men who carry out the deeds of their father, the Devil. Judgment comes from God. The Tribulation is not persecution. It is judgment. God is not going to judge those who He has already promised will be protected from His wrath to come.

And God's promise to the Church during the Tribulation is not one of protection, but one of deliverance. Jesus said that when the signs pointing to the Tribulation "begin to take place," believers are to look up because their "redemption is drawing near" (Lk. 21:28). He also urged believers to pray that they might "escape all these things" (Lk. 21:36).

There really is no purpose for the Church to be present during the Tribulation. The Tribulation is a special and distinct time period different from the rest of history (other than the Flood) for the pouring out of God's wrath upon those who have rejected His grace, love and mercy.

Some may argue that the Church must be "purged" during the Tribulation to purify it. But to me, this idea is absurd. The blood of Jesus is sufficient to cleanse us of all our sins. That is an accomplished fact for those who have put their faith in Jesus (Eph. 5:26-27).

Furthermore, the concept of purging the Church during the Tribulation converts the whole period into a Protestant version of purgatory.

It also violates the wedding imagery that the Bible uses to describe the relationship between Christ and His Church. Jesus is not going to beat up His Bride for seven years and then marry her!
Enjoy

K> get a grip!> you just ramble on ! As the rapture will be> When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Well I see some people are throwing Garbage at me and it stinks,For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.” I see this has no meaning to you at all its just gloss over it and ramble on .