Bible Question:
I am a pre-millenniumist, however I am finding it very hard to believe a pre-tribulation view. To me it seems to point that the world is, and will continue to become more wicked. at some point, which only the Father knows, Christ will rapture His church. So my question is, is not there tribulation now for Christians in the worls? If Things must get worse then would not a slightly, say 10 to 20 percent into the tribulation view be more accurate? I find it hard to fit in seven weeks here and grab some information somewhere else and fit it into a nice little package. Darby did not come up with the pre-trib theory ubtil 1820. From what I have read early church fathers did not think this way. I would really like some indepth references or factual answers. God Bless, farout@onemain.com |
Bible Answer: CONTINUED If we understand that the DAY of THE WRATH of Him that sits upon the Throne and of the LAMB is being poured out upon unrepentant man , then we know that we are kept from it. So for clarity when discussing the Day of Judgement I will call it the Great Day of God's Wrath instead of Tribualtion so that you do not mix up what I am saying with the type of testing and adversity we all face and some more than others. After you examine the doctrine of the Judgement of the Lord upon man prior to the New Heavens and Earth and after you master the doctrine of a bodily resurrection then it is time to examine the passages about a church that is changed and glorified and rises to meet the Lord (rapture). This rumor that the pre-trib view started in the 19th century is not accurate. I have numerous books in my library that reference the doctrine of a generation of saints that are changed in a moment and rise and meet the Lord and then afterwards an ongoing time of judgement upon those that remain that date back to the middle ages. I have a book that is one of the best and most scholarly expositions on Revelation by a man named James A. Siess titled "The Apocalypse" that was written in the 18th century (late 1700s) and he even used the word rapture. Siess cites numerous rescources in his book of ancient writers that held similar views based on the same verses we use today to explain the rapture. No Granted there is one major difference. The idea of disappearing from view. I am not sure why anyone would have thought that a necessary explanation. There was never any indication of Elijah dissapearing, he was seen to go up. I mean he disappeared when he go too high. As with Jesus, he was seen to ascend up into a cloud. The mount of transfiguration glory is promised to all the saints that are ready at his appearing and so when I read this event in 1 Cor 15 and the passaged in 2 Thess I thought of other scripture references and my first thought was that of being glorifed and shining like the sun and then rising and wicked sinners that once persecuted the holy saints looking on in awe. The passage says we are CHANGED in a twinkling of an eye not that we dissapear. And the passage is quite detailed about the change. Our mortal bodies are changed into immortal glorifed ones. This promise is to be held dear. When it happens is in question. The event is not in question. The type of change .. bodily glorification .. is not in question. May God Bless you in your Study of His Word. |