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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Are the 24 elders, the church,? | Matt 24:30 | Searcher56 | 75270 | ||
Who said the man was Paul? Read on ... "On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses" (2 Cor 12:5). Sounds like it was not Paul. Back to the 24 elders ... They are separate from those who came out of the tribulation (Rev 7:11-17). In 19:1-3 we see the great multitude (7:9), then the 24 (vs 4). The 24 elders are not the church, nor a representative of the church. |
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2 | Are the 24 elders, the church,? | Matt 24:30 | Aixen7z4 | 75283 | ||
The Scripture which comes to mind is from Isaiah 28. I am not sure if it will help or make the matter more complicated, but it applies in many ways. "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken". God has chosen to give us information through gradual revelation, and the facts on any one topic are scattered throughout Scripture. In the end it is also through experience that he teaches us. The knowledge we gain is also not an end in itself but for the purpose of obedience. Take the broader view instead of looking so closely and you will see that the person Paul was talking about in 2 Corinthians 12 was himself. Likewise, the people the elders were talking about in Revelation 7 and 19 included themselves. Back on the first subject. The overall teaching of Scripture is that whereae God's justice requires his wrath, it is his desire is to save us from wrath. According to 1 Thessalonians 5, we are not appointed to wrath. According to Romans 8 there is no condemnation for us because we are in Christ. As in Jeremiah 30, some Jews are headed for a terrible time, a time of "Jacob's Trouble". Why? Because, as in Luke 19, they did not know the time of their visitation. Because they refused to believe, blindness was imparted to them, as in John 12 and 2 Corinthians 4. This blindness will not be lifted until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. This we learn from Romans 11. The times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled at the time of the Rapture. For those who remain there will remain only a fearful looking for of judgment, as we learn in Hebrews. Until that time they have been the ones to whom the evangelists have turned, as a group. See Acts 13. After the Gentiles have had their turn, the Jews will be given a second chance. They will look on the one they pierced and some of them will believe on him. But by that time they will be going through great Tribulation. 144,000 will be saved. We know they will be all Jews because there will be 12,000 from each of the tribes. But they will have gone through great distress. Why does God want us to know all of this? First of all, we should be motivated to flee from the wrath to come ourselves. Then, knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. No one should be planning to go through the Great Tribulation. It will be a terrible time comparable only to hell itself. Those who are saved will escape both. During the Great Tribulation the church will be in heaven. You see the head pictured in Revelation 4. The body is there too. Others, Jews, will later be saved out of the Great tribulation. All who are saved will have escaped hell. These are the facts as I see them. The information about the nature of perception really should not have been necessary. Let's just say it is important to take the broader view. When we do, the little details will fit into place. Finally, think again. The purpose for God's revelation is that we might obey him. Knowing whatever we know about the tribulation, let us seek to escape it and to encourage others to flee to our Lord Jesus Christ. |
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