QUOTE (Denver @ Feb 24 2009, 11:23 PM)
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Well to be honest about it we had a serious problem with some people who didn't know when to quit. While we do our best to keep this forum open, some folks take upon themselves to flood the forum with statements on a daily basis; those of us who are staff here at CB feel quite strongly about the issue and it came down to how we felt about the instruction given in II John. I realize we hold some "official" positions that are not mainstream and we are pretty easy going when it comes to not agreeing. However, I think the whole "Rapture" issue is something we all see as beyond just a petty disagreement, because, as we've stated, we see the antichrist showing up first and potentially using the Rapture doctrine to his advantage. Unfortunately, there are many folks out there that believe what they believe because they listen to others too quickly and frankly speaking none of us want in on that deceit. In fact, one of the reasons I started this website was to rally against it, because I believe it to be a false and dangerous doctrine.In hindsight, 'banning' the topic was perhaps not the best decision, but at the time it seemed necessary to try and maintain the integrity of discussion yet keep us comfortable with what is allowed here.
Well, let me state my position on this. In the past two years I've been posting, I've kept quiet about it due to that fact that I know I
had friends here that opposed it, so I shut up to keep the peace. But on the other hand, what am I to do with clear scripture teaching about "catching away" such as Enoch, Elijah, Phillip and even the Lord himself? I always believed that whatever the Lord experienced, we will too (i.e. birth, death, resurrection, catching away, attainment to being King, etc). I pride myself on taking scripture at face value, and not to put a spin or song and dance to any interpretation. This is why, for example, I believe in lost tribes because I know the HISTORICAL FACT that they never returned, and yet the bible says thing in Genesis 35:11 about Israelites becoming many nations. I got tired of the conventional "song and dance" around that passage to mean something else. So why should I do the same when it comes to the rapture just because someone dislikes the scripture and I should listen to them? A true non-conformist, which I pride myself in being, sometimes agrees with mainline, and sometimes disagrees. To merely disagree just for the sake that it's mainline shows a negative conformist, and as such is still a conformist. I think the bible truly teaches a "catching away". I can tolerate the
timing issue more than whether or not it exists. For example, if it's pre-Trib, did anyone here ever think for themselves that maybe the Antichrist will use that to convince the world of some sort of invasion (like alien abduction) and then that causes people to more easily band together? I thought not. I will not debate with someone who thinks its post-trib, but IMHO (and I have a right to have that) they are into S & M Christianity and cannot realize that their punishment was taken at the cross. The
Great Tribulation is
God's Wrath against this world. But if anyone wants to take the position that God the Father Himself would spit on His Son by saying that his death was not sufficient for our salvation that Christians have to be "proven" that they have to go thru the Tribulation, then so be it. Makes me wonder if God cannot then determine beforehand who is His and who is not by proving themselves (like a concept of works salvation). I'm not sure that I could believe in a God like that.For anyone else that thinks they will make it thru the Great Tribulation as God's chosen, good luck and you can go thru it if you want. I doubt if you'll make it out alive.
