You know, I get so sick and tired of people claiming that because I believe in the pre-tribulation rapture, that I will run out and fall down and worship the Antichrist, and that unless I embrace the belief that Jesus is a sick and perverted wife-beater, who relishes the thought of allowing his bride to suffer under the hand of the Antichrist that I am going to take the Mark the first chance I get.
Rev 13:7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
I have to believe that the Saints in Revelation are the Church, and that they will be overcome. To me this is the same as a man taking his wife, you know the one who he claims to love and cherish, that he takes his wife to this other man to let him beat her. And what is the reason? Oh that's right, it is because she needs to be purified. Gotcha. Now according to some of the people on this forum, if we dare to suggest that we don't agree with this version of Jesus, then we will be so misguided that we will run out and not only worship the Antichrist, but we will be first in line to take his Mark, and spend eternity in Hell.
Now, let's forget about the fact that I believe that when Jesus catches us away, I firmly believe that he is going to carry us to Heaven, so anyone who is on the earth, and claims to be Jesus Christ, I would immediately disregard as a false prophet. Let's not mention the fact that Scriptures are very, very clear about what will happen when Jesus does physically return to the earth, it will only be after the Tribulation, he will touch down on the Mount of olives, which will split along a fault located there with one half going one way and the other half going the other. Let's totally disregard the fact that the scriptures are very clear about what the AC will do, how he will treat the world governments, and the Tribulation Saints, and what events are surrounding Jesus' second coming.
If we are wrong then, we are going to totally throw out all of the study that we have done about Jesus' coming and about the Antichrist, and totally fall for the AC's lie, hook, line, and sinker. This is perhaps the most idiotic and childish thing that could have been said. This is even more offensive then the people who claim that we are going to be so heartbroken that we were wrong about the pretribuation rapture, we are going to run out and take the mark the first chance we get.
You know there is a real difference between defending your stance on a topic, as in a post tribulation rapture, and constantly attacking another person's stance. I really do not have a problem with a person standing up and defending what they believe to be true. I really don't have a problem with a person starting a thread and stating why they believe the way they do. I really don't. But I am sick, sick, SICK of constantly coming on here and seeing post, after post, after post, after post, after post, after post attacking the position of the pretribulation rapture, posts that question the dedication of people who believe in the pretribulation rapture, posts that question the Salvation of people who believe in the pretribulation rapture, posts that question the intelligence of people who believe in the pretribulation rapture, posts that question the love of God of people who believe in the pretribulation rapture, posts that imply or state out right that people who believe in the pretribulation rapture are demon possessed and are serving the devil.
The problem here is that there is a fundamental lack of respect when it comes to the pretribulation rapture. Notice I did not say lack of agreement, I said lack of respect. There is a lack of respect for the position, which is bad enough, but there is also a vast lack of respect for the people, your brothers and sisters, who hold that position. And this is something that I just can't take anymore.
Now you may ask, "IF the pretribulation position is wrong, then why do I have to respect it?" I will tell you. Because it is the only way to have meaningful discussion on the topic. I try very very hard to be respectful to other people, even if, and especially if, I disagree with them. I am not here claiming that I am always successful. But, I try very hard to always make the attempt. I will say, "Well I disagree with you about that, and this is why", which is totally different than, "You are wrong, and will take the Mark and you will go to Hell and be damned for all eternity." Am I the only one who notices this fact? Or is it that since most of the people on this site believe in the posttribulation rapture, that the people who believe in the pretribulation rapture are fair game? Is that it?
There have been other boards on the internet that I have joined that have been pre-tribulational. I left them because they were not respectful of people who believed in a post tribulational rapture. I defended the post tribulationist so much, that most of them didn't really know what I believed.
In closing, let me say that I do not consider myself anything but a student of the Word. I know that the only thing that I know for sure is that I don't know it all, and if you truly feel that I am wrong in my interpretation, then all I can ask you to do is to pray for me. I wish you all God's blessing. Know that I will not stop studying, I will not stop learning.
Good luck
Your brother in Christ,
Joshua David
wish you were here
