peldom10,
Those truly in the body of Christ know what I said. The teaching of the rapture is still going out of the pulpits, as if it is some escape from what is coming upon the world. The simple truth is that the church will go through the tribulation, all of it, and then "after the tribulation" (Matthew 24:29), those in Christ will be "caught up" (1 Thessalonians 4:17) - yes, literally go up into the sky in their bodies, as the angels "gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven." (Mark 13:27) I was just reminding the brethren to stay strong and break that belief out of their lives, tear it out by the roots, if they still have it, and don't fall for it, as things get worse and worse. Jesus told us exactly what was going to happen before his return. It is all in his word. Praise God.
That is why those two scriptures are so important to remember:
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
The church will pass through the whole three and a half year tribulation. And remember, Jesus said:
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. John 17:15
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; John 17:20
And he also said:
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Matthew 24:13
- that means the end, until Jesus comes back, and it also means the end of the world, at the end of the 1,000 year reign of Jesus, after he gets back. The saints will be enduring here in the world until Jesus comes back.
The danger of believing in a rapture, as an escape, and not to worry about what is coming upon the world is because as things get worse and worse, those people will say well if the rapture is a lie, then the whole bible must be a lie - and then abandon their faith and go to hell. But no, they believed a lie all their life, as there never was a rapture to take them out before, or at any part during the tribulation.
But if you quote me the scripture:
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 5:9
The tribulation is not wrath, because remember, Jesus said:
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
This is wrath:
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. Luke 16:24
The tribulation is something that we know is coming upon the world, and we Christians need to be ready for it. Yes it is going to be a time worse than any before it, nor shall ever be again (Matthew 24:21). But get out of the false hope of a rapture, if you have it, and as we get closer and closer, stand strong in the word of God to those who scream it louder and louder, as if that will make it happen, as you know their end, if they do not get out of it (many of them, as the Lord does his will with each one). Try to lead them out of it yourself, by telling them the truth in the word of God.
And the temple will be rebuilt, how it is talked about in Ezekiel chapters 40 - 48, before Jesus comes back. And it will not be destroyed and then rebuilt when Jesus gets back. That is why the angel tells him to measure the temple and those worshipping in it - because it is not going to be destroyed. (Revelation 11:1,2)
And VCO, the temple is not going to be built on Ophel. It will be built on mount Zion, in it's place. And the Lord will come down to fight for it, when the armies that are waiting to fight him (Revelation 19:19), turn, and try to destroy the temple.
For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. Isaiah 31:4
- "the hill thereof" (Isaiah 31:4) is called the Foundation Stone today, underneath what is called the Dome of the Rock today, where the outer court north gate (Ezekiel 40:20) will be.
He will return to the temple that is about to be built, that will still be there after the tribulation, to rule from for the 1,000 year reign. Glory to God.
The word of God says that he will "suddenly come to his temple," (Malachi 3:1) meaning that it is already built:
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:1
It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there. Ezekiel 48:35
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. Psalms 2:6
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