I read the doctrinal view of the Searchlight Oçt. 2003 and find some truth mixed with inaccuracies.
1. Pastor Sadler claims the Book of Revelation was written around 95 AD. I believe this is true; however, Pastor Sadler also said the entire Book of Revelation was future. Nope. Those were Seven present day churches in the 1st century that the letters were written and sent to. They had current problems, specifically addressing individuals and the state of each church. Christ finished his rebukes with an order to repent their ways.
That said, I believe they were also "Church types" as well that exist today and throughout history. There are faithful churches, persecuted churches, cold churches with false doctrines, churches with seducing spiritual influence, Jezebels, false prophets, etc. And at times we see the same flaws within ourselves as they had.
2. He said nothing, no events precede the Rapture. Well that is arguable. In Matthew 24, Jesus lists the events preceding His coming, "the beginning of sorrows" and that the gospel would be preached to every nation. Also 1 Thes. 4:16-17 and 1 Cor. 15:52 state that this event, "The Rapture", happens at the last trumpet.
If it is the last, obviously it must be related to other trumpet sounds as in a group or as in all others. And while we are on the topic of the Book of Revelation, guess what's in that book? Gee, we have a list of seven trumpet sounds. Can they have some relation to the last trumpet? I think so. And if I am right, we will go through some of the Great Tribulation.
3. Philadelphia, the faithful church, was promised not to be subjected to God's wrath. But guess what, the wrath comes in the 7 Bowls, at the sound of the 7th trumpet.
4. The multitude seen in heaven apparently just arriving ( Rev. 7-9), just came out of the Great Tribulation! That means they were in it.
What can we say about the events and destruction caused by the four horsemen of the Apocalypes? 25% of the population is killed. That 2 billion. So if we begin to see hundreds of millions and even billions die and we are still here, the Pre-Trib Rapture view will certainly be proven wrong.
