Its Coming Really Soon!

[hornetguy]

Well it also goes back to the 10 virgins. How 5 of the virgins were prepared & had oil in their lamps. While the other 5 identified as foolish virgins were unprepared and didn't have oil left. The lord came and took those who were prepared while the others who were unprepared were locked out.

Being "unprepared" in this parable means not being saved. THAT'S unprepared.

Otherwise, all you guys are truly preaching "works" salvation....

 

[Ahwatukee]

Being "unprepared" in this parable means not being saved. THAT'S unprepared.

Otherwise, all you guys are truly preaching "works" salvation....

watchful readiness (having extra oil) is about having faith, watching and being ready for the Lord's return. Those who are preaching that the Lord has already returned and the resurrection has already taken place, represent those five foolish virgins. It has nothing to do with works, but faith.

 

[Yahweh_is_gracious]

In discussions like this, I often wonder if there are people who call themselves Christians who hold the belief that they WON'T be caught up to Christ. That is to say that I wonder if all self-professed Christians think they are worthy and others are not, or if there are self-professed Christians who think "well, I might not make it".

 

[Willie-T]

Make yourself Ready!

Please give a short, accurate and concise explanation of what it means to make yourself ready. And I am speaking of practical, recognizable things you think are required to make yourself ready.

 

[Blain]

The funny thing is that every generation of Christians thinks they are the last one.

From the first century, through 1000 AD (when the prophetical seeing of end was really intense) till our generation (because of the state of Israel).

I understand believe me i have felt the same way for a long time time but then isn't that exactly the kind of mindset that was said people would have? 2 Peter 3:4 3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4“Where is the promise of His coming? they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”
Personally I cannot say if Denadii is correct or not all I know is that we are to be prepared. I mean I often times wonder why so often in the scriptures we are told to watch and to wait for his coming and why he spoke of his coming as a thief in the night.
Personally I am always watching always waiting always listening and always seeking, not for the rapture or anything but just him in general and I think it is far more important to have our hearts prepared regardless how it goes down or when it goes down and the only way I know to do that is to seek his heart and to daily desire a deeper love and bond and connection with him aside from that I don't focus to much on these things.

But something to consider is that the rapture is most likely going work how sudden destruction works, I mean sudden destruction doesn't exactly land upon the ready and it doesn't just exclaim it's coming that is why it is called sudden. If I am correct then the rapture is going to happen suddenly without warning and even those who thought they were prepared will be shocked.

 

[Blain]

In discussions like this, I often wonder if there are people who call themselves Christians who hold the belief that they WON'T be caught up to Christ. That is to say that I wonder if all self-professed Christians think they are worthy and others are not, or if there are self-professed Christians who think "well, I might not make it".

Read my first post in this thread to no longer wonder

 

[Ahwatukee]

The funny thing is that every generation of Christians thinks they are the last one.

From the first century, through 1000 AD (when the prophetical seeing of end was really intense) till our generation (because of the state of Israel).

Greetings Trofimus,

Those who made the claim of being the last generation had no right to do so. they did and do the same thing in attempting to identify the antichrist, Nero, Hitler, Reagan, Obama, etc., etc. They have no right to make those claims, because all of the characteristics in scripture must be present. It is the same with identifying the last generation. The fact that we have people being implanted with RFID chips under the skin of the hand, would be one proof that we are living in the last generation and that because it has to do with the coming antichrist/beast and his mark. No one else in history has been able to rightfully claim this.

This is just one example and if we can see the stage being set for the that coming mark, then we are definitely that last generation.

 

[Denadii]

Please give a short, accurate and concise explanation of what it means to make yourself ready. And I am speaking of practical, recognizable things you think are required to make yourself ready.

I posted that above....Genesis 5:24
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. That's the answer that God gave me when I asked Him. That's all I can give you. Or will give you...LOL

 

[Willie-T]

watchful readiness (having extra oil) is about having faith, watching and being ready for the Lord's return. Those who are preaching that the Lord has already returned and the resurrection has already taken place, represent those five foolish virgins. It has nothing to do with works, but faith.

But, other than a few scattered nuts over the years, I have never heard anyone saying that.

 

[Locutus]

Please give a short, accurate and concise explanation of what it means to make yourself ready. And I am speaking of practical, recognizable things you think are required to make yourself ready.

He just needs a shave and he's ready to go...

 

[PrynceNY]

Being "unprepared" in this parable means not being saved. THAT'S unprepared. Otherwise, all you guys are truly preaching "works" salvation....

The scriptures talks directly about the bridegroom which is Christ, which also connects to the marriage supper of the lamb. The scripture makes no connection to unprepared being not saved. That's your own interpretation. The scripture even ends stating "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour". Those are people who have fallen sleep and had not been prepared for the lords coming.

 

[Willie-T]

I posted that above....Genesis 5:24
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. That's the answer that God gave me when I asked Him. That's all I can give you. Or will give you...LOL

Then how about relating what it was that Enoch did to make himself ready?

 

[Persuaded]

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven"

The above is an excerpt representing those who consider themselves believers, but are trusting in their own works.

Hymeneus and Philetus considered themselves believers, but were teaching that the resurrection had already taken place. Because of their teaching, Paul called it godless chatter, that it would spread like gangrene and that they had wandered away from the truth.

Peter referred to Paul's letters as wisdom from God and as scripture. And those who were distorting them as being ignorant and unstable and doing so to their own destruction. - 2 Pet.3:16

There are certain things that are detrimental to salvation for those who believe, as those I have mentioned above.

That said, as believers in Christ, we are told to watch. This is what the parable of the ten virgins represents. Five of those did not bring extra oil with them, which the scripture represents as "watchful readiness."

Consequently, those who are believing that Christ has already come and that the resurrection has already taken place, fall under the same banner as Hymeneus and Philetus, who by their teaching had wandered away from the truth.

If one is claiming to be in Christ, but is relying on the works of the law, they will not inherit the kingdom of God.

There are groups out there claiming to be in Christ, but consider Paul a false apostle and a liar. These people will not inherit the kingdom of God, because they distort Paul's letters, which the Lord gave him, as being false and they do so to their own destruction.

The five foolish virgins are those believers without oil, i.e. not being watchful and ready.

So you see, not everyone who claims to belong to Christ is of Christ.

There are many, maybe most who say they saved have a false assurance.
It is not about watching, it is about believing in Christ with one's heart, not just one's mind.
It is not about what a person does or does not do in the flesh.
Jesus saves and keeps one saved. He does not need my help.
Those 5 left behind were not saved.

 

[trofimus]

I understand believe me i have felt the same way for a long time time but then isn't that exactly the kind of mindset that was said people would have? 2 Peter 3:4 3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4“Where is the promise of His coming? they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”
Personally I cannot say if Denadii is correct or not all I know is that we are to be prepared. I mean I often times wonder why so often in the scriptures we are told to watch and to wait for his coming and why he spoke of his coming as a thief in the night.
Personally I am always watching always waiting always listening and always seeking, not for the rapture or anything but just him in general and I think it is far more important to have our hearts prepared regardless how it goes down or when it goes down and the only way I know to do that is to seek his heart and to daily desire a deeper love and bond and connection with him aside from that I don't focus to much on these things.

But something to consider is that the rapture is most likely going work how sudden destruction works, I mean sudden destruction doesn't exactly land upon the ready and it doesn't just exclaim it's coming that is why it is called sudden. If I am correct then the rapture is going to happen suddenly without warning and even those who thought they were prepared will be shocked.

"Where is the promise of His coming? they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”
- these people were saying He will not return, ever, that His promise is invalid

People who believe He will return, but do not believe it will be "soon" are not them, I would say...

 

[Denadii]

Good day Denadii,

I agree with everything that you said in your post except for the following:



There are two things here to take into consideration when interpreting this:

1). The "one taken" is being compared to those "taken" in the flood, which would make those taken as being the wicked

2). And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

Many believe that this "one taken" is in reference to the living in Christ being gathered (rapture). But in the scripture, the "one taken" is being compared to those taken in the flood, which would make those taken as representing the wicked.

After Jesus says "One will be taken and the other left" the disciples then ask him, "Where, Lord?" That is, where are they going to be taken? (Luke 17:37) Then the Lord responds with "wherever there is a dead body there will the vultures gather."

This would be a pretty strange response if the "One taken" was representing the living church being gathered.

Seeing that this has to do with the Lord's return to the earth to end the age, then the Lord's response has to do with the following event which takes place as he is returning to the earth:

"Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of all men slave and free, small and great.”

At the time when the Lord returns to the earth, the angels will go out and first collect the weeds/wicked and will bring them back to where all of those kings, their generals, the mighty men, their horses will have been gathered. At that point the double-edged sword that comes out of the Lord's mouth, which is figurative representing the word of God, will kill all of those gathered there and the birds/vultures will gorge themselves on their flesh.

Therefore, the "One taken" are the wicked who will be taken to be killed. And the Lord's reference to "wherever there is a dead body there will the vultures gather" is in reference to those birds that the angel will gathered for the supper of the great God, where the birds will eat their flesh.

In conclusion, the "one taken" is not representing the rapture, but the wicked being taken by the angels to be killed, where they will all be eaten by the birds/vultures.[/QUOTE

I know that Christians like to interpret the Word, my dear friend, but why not just take it as it says it in the Bible? There is no mention at all of any flood in the entire chapter....Why do we insist on telling God what He means when He says something?

 

[Yahweh_is_gracious]

Read my first post in this thread to no longer wonder

Unlike many people on this site, I read each response to a thread before posting so I don't ask a question that has already been answered. Since I posted, your response obviously didn't answer my question.

 

[Denadii]

Then how about relating what it was that Enoch did to make himself ready?

Willie that's the underlined portion of the verse.....Is there any reason at all that you cannot do that?

 

[Persuaded]

The scriptures talks directly about the bridegroom which is Christ, which also connects to the marriage supper of the lamb. The scripture makes no connection to unprepared being not saved. That's your own interpretation. The scripture even ends stating "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour". Those are people who have fallen sleep and had not been prepared for the lords coming.

So are you going or being left behind?
What make you more righteous that others?

 

[PrynceNY]

So are you going or being left behind? What make you more righteous that others?

"Pray that you are counted worthy" Only the Lord knows who will be worthy.

 

[Locutus]

I've spent most of my life being a right behind, no chance I'm gonna be left behind..