With such a mighty God on our side and with the knowledge the war has already been won, how can a christian not be an optimist. If christianity isn't a religion where one should look at things optimistically, I don't know what is!! For the most part, what is coming is coming on the unbelieving world and not the christians but as the word says, "The rains fall on the just and unjust alike". I'm a firm believer in praying the word of God and the bible says, "The fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much".
This is what I believe and I offer it as a word of hope to pre-tribbers.
Josh. 24:15 - “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord ."
Matt. 5:10-12 - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matt.5:44-45 - But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
1 Cor. 4:12b-13a - When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly.
2 Cor. 4:8-9 - We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Acts 14:22 - Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Rom. 5:3-5 - Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [sup]4[/sup]perseverance, character; and character, hope. [sup]5[/sup]And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
1 Pet. 1:6-7 -
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [sup]7[/sup]These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Pet. 4:12-17 - Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Heb. 10:37-39 - For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
James 1:2-4 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [sup]3[/sup]because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. [sup]4[/sup]Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 5:10-11 -[sup]10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy[/sup].
I think that what Job endured is the best biblical example of what life might be like for a believer in the 70th week, at its worst, but in the end he overcame and we will too. Remember, in pre-wrath we are only here for the seals and the great trib. of satan's wrath, not the trumpet or bowl judgments. The six seals are the consequences of man's choices that herald the wrath that is coming but they are not the wrath of God. The sealed scroll can not reveal it’s contents until the seventh seal is opened which starts the wrath of the Lamb, the trumpet judgments. IMO, God’s wrath is what is in the sealed scroll.
Some people fear that which is to come and this spirit of fear is what I'm called to help change. If I can't dissuade you from believing in the pre-trib, then my second hope is to at least show you that fear is not the attitude for believers to have in the end times. Of course things are going to get worse but as all the scriptures that I posted show, it is how we, as christians and representatives of Christ, handle the "worse" that separates us from the world. I do not desire to be a martyr but if I am called to that fate than I pray that I can die with a smile on my face and praising the name of God all the while. We are a peculiar people and as such the world should see us react differently to the events around us. Christians should not have been shocked or devastated by the events of 9/11 because we know that God is in control and there was a purpose in His allowing that to happen. It is not up to us to understand it, we are just to have faith in the author of the future.
We have to totally give up on the idea that I or anyone will be "brave" enough to go thru the 70th week or that one would wish to die rather than endure hardship for Christ. That is what the "shrinking back" is talking about in Heb. 10:38-39.
That "We can do all things thru Christ who strengthens us!" should be our motto during the 70th week is obvious, for we certainly won't persevere apart from Him.
It is time for us as believers to do what is unpopular. To declare the things that will cause us to be hated in the world and that is to speak the truth! Apparently, as far as the majority of the world is concerned, all those who died on 9/11 are in heaven looking down upon us and we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that that is not true, but has anyone dared to voice such an opinion? Has anyone used this as an opportunity to say, "See, you never know when you will die so get right with God while it is still today, so you won't be risking eternity in hell." No one has! that I know of because it would certainly hit the news big time and war would be declared on us lowly christian unpatriotic Americans for even suggesting such a thing. Imagine what the news media would do to a popular TV preacher if he dared to suggest that most of the firemen and policemen and soldiers who died are probably undergoing torment at this very moment or at the least, will be going to hell some day. "For what? they would ask." And our reply would be, "For not believing in Christ as Lord and Savior!" and they would say, "You mean that your so-called God of love would send these brave men and women and innocent victims to hell because they don't believe that some guy who live a couple of thousand of years ago was God???" and our reply would be, "Yep!!" Just a simple thing like our voicing the truth would turn the world against us in a heartbeat and start an unbelievable but predictable persecution, We would make muslim terrorists look good, in their eyes.
But just think, some day it will happen and you will have to choose a side. How many christians do you think are really prepared to be totally ostracized and run out of town or lose their jobs and watch their churches get burned down. How many of their children are prepared to take such a stand against their peers in school especially at an age where what one's peers think is of major importance? How many christians will watch it happen to other christians and do nothing, yet thank God, they haven't been "exposed" yet? As many pre-tribbers will admit, such a persecution is possible even before a rapture of their timing. How will you react, everyone?
This is what I believe and I offer it as a word of hope to pre-tribbers.
Josh. 24:15 - “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord ."
Matt. 5:10-12 - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matt.5:44-45 - But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
1 Cor. 4:12b-13a - When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly.
2 Cor. 4:8-9 - We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Acts 14:22 - Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Rom. 5:3-5 - Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [sup]4[/sup]perseverance, character; and character, hope. [sup]5[/sup]And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
1 Pet. 1:6-7 -
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [sup]7[/sup]These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Pet. 4:12-17 - Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Heb. 10:37-39 - For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
James 1:2-4 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [sup]3[/sup]because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. [sup]4[/sup]Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 5:10-11 -[sup]10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy[/sup].
I think that what Job endured is the best biblical example of what life might be like for a believer in the 70th week, at its worst, but in the end he overcame and we will too. Remember, in pre-wrath we are only here for the seals and the great trib. of satan's wrath, not the trumpet or bowl judgments. The six seals are the consequences of man's choices that herald the wrath that is coming but they are not the wrath of God. The sealed scroll can not reveal it’s contents until the seventh seal is opened which starts the wrath of the Lamb, the trumpet judgments. IMO, God’s wrath is what is in the sealed scroll.
Some people fear that which is to come and this spirit of fear is what I'm called to help change. If I can't dissuade you from believing in the pre-trib, then my second hope is to at least show you that fear is not the attitude for believers to have in the end times. Of course things are going to get worse but as all the scriptures that I posted show, it is how we, as christians and representatives of Christ, handle the "worse" that separates us from the world. I do not desire to be a martyr but if I am called to that fate than I pray that I can die with a smile on my face and praising the name of God all the while. We are a peculiar people and as such the world should see us react differently to the events around us. Christians should not have been shocked or devastated by the events of 9/11 because we know that God is in control and there was a purpose in His allowing that to happen. It is not up to us to understand it, we are just to have faith in the author of the future.
We have to totally give up on the idea that I or anyone will be "brave" enough to go thru the 70th week or that one would wish to die rather than endure hardship for Christ. That is what the "shrinking back" is talking about in Heb. 10:38-39.
That "We can do all things thru Christ who strengthens us!" should be our motto during the 70th week is obvious, for we certainly won't persevere apart from Him.
It is time for us as believers to do what is unpopular. To declare the things that will cause us to be hated in the world and that is to speak the truth! Apparently, as far as the majority of the world is concerned, all those who died on 9/11 are in heaven looking down upon us and we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that that is not true, but has anyone dared to voice such an opinion? Has anyone used this as an opportunity to say, "See, you never know when you will die so get right with God while it is still today, so you won't be risking eternity in hell." No one has! that I know of because it would certainly hit the news big time and war would be declared on us lowly christian unpatriotic Americans for even suggesting such a thing. Imagine what the news media would do to a popular TV preacher if he dared to suggest that most of the firemen and policemen and soldiers who died are probably undergoing torment at this very moment or at the least, will be going to hell some day. "For what? they would ask." And our reply would be, "For not believing in Christ as Lord and Savior!" and they would say, "You mean that your so-called God of love would send these brave men and women and innocent victims to hell because they don't believe that some guy who live a couple of thousand of years ago was God???" and our reply would be, "Yep!!" Just a simple thing like our voicing the truth would turn the world against us in a heartbeat and start an unbelievable but predictable persecution, We would make muslim terrorists look good, in their eyes.
But just think, some day it will happen and you will have to choose a side. How many christians do you think are really prepared to be totally ostracized and run out of town or lose their jobs and watch their churches get burned down. How many of their children are prepared to take such a stand against their peers in school especially at an age where what one's peers think is of major importance? How many christians will watch it happen to other christians and do nothing, yet thank God, they haven't been "exposed" yet? As many pre-tribbers will admit, such a persecution is possible even before a rapture of their timing. How will you react, everyone?
