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Post by Brother Ben on May 8, 2007 7:54:52 GMT -5
I realize this is controversial, but I must ask you because it is heavy on my mind these days.
1. How would it affect your Christian life if there was NO pretrib rapture?
2. How would it affect your world view?
3. How would it affect your witness?
4. How would it affect your view of the church?
5. How would it affect your prayer life?
I could add many other hows to this, but I wanted to get some feed back.
This may be an odd topic for the Devotional Thought area, but I want it to affect your devotional life.
Ben
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Post by George on May 9, 2007 9:47:22 GMT -5
Brother Ben, if there is to be no pre-tribulation rapture then my Bible is wrong. If my Bible is wrong my faith is vain and Christ died a meaningless death. If my Bible is wrong there is no Truth. If my Bible is wrong, my faith is vain and Christ died for nothing then I might as well sell my Bibles on ebay and go out and eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow I die.
This probably sounds pretty strong to some but I sincerely believe that not only is my King James Bible the infallible and therefore absolute Truth of God, but it is the sole authority for both faith and practice. Without it I am completely lost and destined for a fate I do not know.
In Christ,
George
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Post by Brother Ben on May 9, 2007 10:05:38 GMT -5
Brother George,
If there is no pretribulation rapture, your Bible is not wrong. Our faith is based on the finished work of Christ on Calvary. It is about salvation found only in Him.
He did not die in vain, it was the end of part one wherewith He started the New Testament church at the end of His first coming. The only thing that lies ahead is His second coming.
Interpretations on the events surrounding, and the sequence of the events vary.
Christ is all in all.
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Post by Brother Randy on May 9, 2007 22:27:06 GMT -5
Bro Ben , These are some very good things to ponder on, I need to fine time and sit down and go through what you wrote on this. Growing up as a baptist I was taught many of these views the same as you and Bro George problably where. But since becoming a Anabaptist there are many teaching that I have had to re think. Personally for me the way I live today these questions you set forth there would not be a lot of change one way or another. I still be it is what you do today with Christ that counts. WE can get so wrapped up in things that we don't really know for sure. Just my thoughts.
Bro Randy
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Post by wanda0 on May 10, 2007 21:33:12 GMT -5
Christians have suffered many persecutions over the centuries. We are not promised an escape necessarily from persecution and sufferings. We are told clearly that in the world we shall have tribultion, but that we are to be of good cheer for Christ has overcome the world. How ever the Lord handles it, everything is going to be done exactly right.
I personally think the world has been experiencing "tribulation" ever since Christ ascended back to the Father in Heaven. I doubt that we should concentrate on looking for the Tribulation, the one with the capital "T" that a lot of people seem to be looking for. It is and has been as Christ said, wars, rumors of wars, world wars, earthquakes and volcanoes increasing to a crescendo, famines, plagues (hundreds of thousands of people worldwide perished in the influenza epidemic early in the 1900's - year before last, a quarter of a million people were washed away in just one huge tidal wave, and think of all the famines, evil men waxing more and more evil - but we are to keep our mind stayed on the Lord and keep looking up for our redemption draweth nigh. As the song goes, raise our Ebenezer stone, for the Lord has brought each and every one of us safe thus far. We must have faith in Him; our minds stayed on Him if we are to have perfect peace.
I'm reminded of the Christian preacher of old who was asked, "Brother, what would you do if you knew the end of time was coming tomorrow?" He answered, "I would plant a tree."
There are a lot of people making a lot of money off fictional novels bout this subject, and I have to wonder how many people are getting disquieted by those sorts of thing. I don't know about that subject, as they aren't my servants to judge - but I'm not reading fiction as I barely have time and energy to read my Bible each day.
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