When does the rapture occur?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

PlainWord

Senior Member
Jun 11, 2013
7,080
151
63
Rev 12
Is the Blessed Mary and this " rapture" theory is nonsense. Most of you can't even agree on this made up heresy
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.

Mary does not have 12 stars (tribes) on her head, Israel does. I do agree that the Rapture theory as most subscribe to it is nonsense.
 
F

flob

Guest
Wow----I guess folks may delete their posts and the numbers change. So my "#2561" in my last post is inaccurate. In any case, it was starting to respond to PW's post.

VCO writes (in what is #2563 currently): "The lack [of] oil in their lamps is symbolism for lacking the HOLY SPIRIT. They are Church GOERS, who have not been born again, YET."
To the contrary of this, Mt 25:1-8 makes the point that all 10 virgins light their lamps. All 10 have oil in their lamps. The problem isn't with the lamps (the human spirits of these believers, Prov 20:27), but with the vessels, their souls. To the contrary of VCO's and MacArthur's and most Christians' mistaken interpretation or teaching, all 10 virgins in Mt 25 represent born-anew ones. Real Christians. Believers. Who have received the oil (Spirit) in their lamp (spirit), Jn 3:6; Rm 8:16; 1 Cor 6:17. This is also emphasized by the word 'virgins.' Because of Paul's word in 2 Cor 11:2. The only difference is some are wise, and some aren't. The virgins are eternally born of the Triune God just like the slaves in Mt 24:45-51 and 25:14-30 are.
They are slaves of God. Nonbelievers are not slaves of God. Some of the slaves, just like some of the virgins, will be rewarded by Christ at His judgment seat of His children in the clouds after the raptures, with the kingdom of 1000 years. Other slaves and virgins will not. In fact they will be punished for the 1000 years. And thus readied and perfected to rejoin all the regenerated family of God as the New Jerusalem after the 1000 years, for eternity.
 
F

flob

Guest
MCW68 is confused that the great woman in Rv 12 is........Mary!
Why would there be a reminder, or lesson, or history, that Jesus Christ was born of the blessed virgin (when she was a virgin, before she began to have with Joseph her at least 6 other children)..........in the middle of Revelation? To the contrary of Catholicism's false and cartoonish teaching, the man-child who ascends ('raptio,' Latin, as in the Vulgate, 'caught up,' 12:5) immediately after being birthed represents the stronger part of the woman. Namely, the overcoming saints throughout the whole history of the woman (She represents God's people, from Adam until....her man-child is delivered).
This is proven in part by the fact that the call to overcome, to the church in Thyatira, mentions the reward of 'authority over the nations; shepherding them with an iron rod, as vessels of pottery are broken in pieces,' 2:26-27. This is what the man-child does, 12:4. This pertains to the end times, the end of this age. Before the beginning of the next, and final age, the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ physically on this earth. To call 'rapture,' or 'raptio,' Latin (as in the Latin Vulgate translation) 'made up' is simply to demonstrate ignorance of Scripture. (Which, sadly, is seemingly okay among many within Catholicism.) If one were serious, one could take the time to actually teach and interpret and help us learn what precisely 'caught up' means in 12:5, if it doesn't mean what it says: rapture. Ascension. For example if Elijah (and Enoch) didn't ascend, weren't raptured, in the Old Testament, then what was that? Is it simply a matter of words? If one doesn't like the very word or letters 'r a p t u r e,' then fine, provide a better translation or substitute. I've heard some from Catholicism interpret that the pre-Trib rapture in Mt 24:36-44 is really not ascension, but rather is negative. A judgment. That the ones taken, in 24:40-41, means they are killed. By the judgment of God. And the ones who are left (behind) in 40-41 are thus saved. This is incorrect because the Lord's rapture first of His overcoming saints, pre-Trib; and then of the rest of His Body and further overcomers end-Trib, is primarily for His sake. Not for our sake. God needs a bride, a wife. God needs an army. Who overcame Satan in their Christian lives. To be qualified to 'kick him out of the heavens' to begin the finalization of this age. God's prime purpose is to have a bride, a counterpart. A home. (Which is not an absurd, ridiculous, inanimate, orbital, castle-like space station, but which is nothing less or more than.................His church.) Without this, He will not throw Satan into the abyss. Without this, He will not begin the 1000 years. Without this, indeed, He 'cannot' judge Satan. Since it is man whom He created through which He will exercise His dominion now and for eternity, Gen 1:26
 
Last edited by a moderator:

PlainWord

Senior Member
Jun 11, 2013
7,080
151
63
Popeye,

........and zzziiiiiing,firstfruits is thrown out.........and zzziiiiing,main harvest is thrown out,and zzziiiing,the gleaners are thrown out........
Where are you getting multiple harvests from? Jesus teaches one harvest for the righteous.

Mat 13:

[SUP]30 [/SUP]Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers... [SUP]39 [/SUP]The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

Translation for those who see invisible text: ONE HARVEST AT THE END OF THE AGE:D

The only harvest I throw out is the invisible one invented by those who invent an invisible return of Christ:D.

Yes,that is why you twist rev 20,the wedding,the church in heaven,pretend the escape verses are missing,and have no pigeonhole for the "times of the gentiles fulfilled",or answer as to why you refuse to acknowledge the AC kills every believer.
One common thing is present with the Pre-Tribber and that is the ability to invent things not taught. I escaped busy Friday night traffic on Rt 15 last night. Guess what, I took a detour on surfaces streets. I did not fly away to heaven.:D

You have no understanding of the Time of the Gentiles. You think it deals with non Jews trampling around Jerusalem I guess until the Jews return. However, the math does not work for your point of view.

AD 70 + (40 months) 1260 (days) = 1330. What happened in the year AD 1330? You see, the math doesn't work for you but it does work for my spiritual view.

the AC kills every believer.
The AC does NOT kill every believer as Jesus tells us.

[SUP]22 [/SUP]And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

The Elect are not killed. Oops, Houston.... So where did you go wrong? It's the way you read things, or better stated, the way you comprehend things.

[SUP]15 [/SUP]He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

Where are you told in the above that everyone will be forced to bow down? If my view is right and this applies to the Muslim controlled world and you live outside that world, nobody will be forcing you to bow down. In Rev 13:2 John tells us that the BEAST is from the SEA and he defines the SEA which is a specific region in the middle east. It's all about context but you want to apply it to the whole world and nothing tells you it's the whole world.

You are using 21st century English reading and comprehension to apply to a 1st century Greek text. This is where you, and so many others, err. :):) But that's okay, I'm here to help and gladly answer questions. Not trying to be cocky and sorry if it comes off that way.
 
P

popeye

Guest
1Thes 4 is the LAST DAY! Not some so-called rapture. You make Jesus a liar with this nonsense. "Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood, I will raise on the LAST DAY" Not a rapture, the LAST DAY
martyrs in heaven and the 2 witneses are raised up during the GT.

.....I will raise on the LAST DAY" Not a rapture, .....
Alive ones caught up= rapture = gathering.

You got a dilemma there friend
 
P

popeye

Guest
Popeye,



Where are you getting multiple harvests from? Jesus teaches one harvest for the righteous.

Mat 13:

[SUP]30 [/SUP]Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers... [SUP]39 [/SUP]The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

Translation for those who see invisible text: ONE HARVEST AT THE END OF THE AGE:D

The only harvest I throw out is the invisible one invented by those who invent an invisible return of Christ:D.



One common thing is present with the Pre-Tribber and that is the ability to invent things not taught. I escaped busy Friday night traffic on Rt 15 last night. Guess what, I took a detour on surfaces streets. I did not fly away to heaven.:D

You have no understanding of the Time of the Gentiles. You think it deals with non Jews trampling around Jerusalem I guess until the Jews return. However, the math does not work for your point of view.

AD 70 + (40 months) 1260 (days) = 1330. What happened in the year AD 1330? You see, the math doesn't work for you but it does work for my spiritual view.



The AC does NOT kill every believer as Jesus tells us.

[SUP]22 [/SUP]And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

The Elect are not killed. Oops, Houston.... So where did you go wrong? It's the way you read things, or better stated, the way you comprehend things.

[SUP]15 [/SUP]He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

Where are you told in the above that everyone will be forced to bow down? If my view is right and this applies to the Muslim controlled world and you live outside that world, nobody will be forcing you to bow down. In Rev 13:2 John tells us that the BEAST is from the SEA and he defines the SEA which is a specific region in the middle east. It's all about context but you want to apply it to the whole world and nothing tells you it's the whole world.

You are using 21st century English reading and comprehension to apply to a 1st century Greek text. This is where you, and so many others, err. :):) But that's okay, I'm here to help and gladly answer questions. Not trying to be cocky and sorry if it comes off that way.

We are miles and miles apart. You do not know what you are talking about.

The GT is JACOBS TROUBLE/JEWISH TROUBLE/ISRAELS TROUBLE. hence "for the elect's sake"
 
P

popeye

Guest
Popeye,



Where are you getting multiple harvests from? Jesus teaches one harvest for the righteous.

Mat 13:

[SUP]30 [/SUP]Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers... [SUP]39 [/SUP]The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

Translation for those who see invisible text: ONE HARVEST AT THE END OF THE AGE:D

The only harvest I throw out is the invisible one invented by those who invent an invisible return of Christ:D.
They are in leviticus. We already covered this.
Firstfruits were those resurrected/delivered from paradise.

So,your deal is not true.
 
P

popeye

Guest
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.

Mary does not have 12 stars (tribes) on her head, Israel does. I do agree that the Rapture theory as most subscribe to it is nonsense.
Kinda funny how eliminating the wedding/groom dimension opens up vast opportunities..
 

PlainWord

Senior Member
Jun 11, 2013
7,080
151
63
We are miles and miles apart. You do not know what you are talking about.

The GT is JACOBS TROUBLE/JEWISH TROUBLE/ISRAELS TROUBLE. hence "for the elect's sake"
We are indeed miles apart but it is you who are sadly mistaken by so much, especially the idea of a pre-trib rapture of the church. If the GT is for only Jews, then why does the church need to be raptured to avoid it???
 

PlainWord

Senior Member
Jun 11, 2013
7,080
151
63
Kinda funny how eliminating the wedding/groom dimension opens up vast opportunities..
Also funny how you move the wedding and revealing of the Bride to before the Tribulation when the context of both Rev 19 and 21 are clearly after the GT. FYI, I did not eliminate the wedding. I place it in its proper place.
 

PlainWord

Senior Member
Jun 11, 2013
7,080
151
63
They are in leviticus. We already covered this.
Firstfruits were those resurrected/delivered from paradise.

So,your deal is not true.
Show me one passage that discusses two separate (future) harvests for the righteous. This is what you always do. You see two separate passages that are really teaching different aspects of a singular event and you split them into 2 separate events. Nothing tells you to do that. There is no passage that gives us any distinctions between Returns of Christ or Harvests of Believers. The logical thing would be to consider them the same but some defy logical and follow their own hearts and desires to, I'd argue, your own peril.
 

PlainWord

Senior Member
Jun 11, 2013
7,080
151
63
Yes, there is a period known as Jacob's Trouble. This is clear from multiple passages. But there is also a time of severe trouble for the Church. The first woman is Israel as mentioned below:

[SUP]17 [/SUP]And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

So who is the woman's offspring? It's Christ and by extension Christians who are "Christ-like." The Jews do not have the testimony of Jesus Christ do they? So that leaves the Church. The dragon cannot make war with a Church that is in heaven can he?
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
MCW68 is confused that the great woman in Rv 12 is........Mary!
Why would there be a reminder, or lesson, or history, that Jesus Christ was born of the blessed virgin (when she was a virgin, before she began to have with Joseph her at least 6 other children)..........in the middle of Revelation? To the contrary of Catholicism's false and cartoonish teaching, the man-child who ascends ('raptio,' Latin, as in the Vulgate, 'caught up,' 12:5) immediately after being birthed represents the stronger part of the woman. Namely, the overcoming saints throughout the whole history of the woman (She represents God's people, from Adam until....her man-child is delivered).
This is proven in part by the fact that the call to overcome, to the church in Thyatira, mentions the reward of 'authority over the nations; shepherding them with an iron rod, as vessels of pottery are broken in pieces,' 2:26-27. This is what the man-child does, 12:4. This pertains to the end times, the end of this age. Before the beginning of the next, and final age, the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ physically on this earth. To call 'rapture,' or 'raptio,' Latin (as in the Latin Vulgate translation) 'made up' is simply to demonstrate ignorance of Scripture. (Which, sadly, is seemingly okay among many within Catholicism.) If one were serious, one could take the time to actually teach and interpret and help us learn what precisely 'caught up' means in 12:5, if it doesn't mean what it says: rapture. Ascension. For example if Elijah (and Enoch) didn't ascend, weren't raptured, in the Old Testament, then what was that? Is it simply a matter of words? If one doesn't like the very word or letters 'r a p t u r e,' then fine, provide a better translation or substitute. I've heard some from Catholicism interpret that the pre-Trib rapture in Mt 24:36-44 is really not ascension, but rather is negative. A judgment. That the ones taken, in 24:40-41, means they are killed. By the judgment of God. And the ones who are left (behind) in 40-41 are thus saved. This is incorrect because the Lord's rapture first of His overcoming saints, pre-Trib; and then of the rest of His Body and further overcomers end-Trib, is primarily for His sake. Not for our sake. God needs a bride, a wife. God needs an army. Who overcame Satan in their Christian lives. To be qualified to 'kick him out of the heavens' to begin the finalization of this age. God's prime purpose is to have a bride, a counterpart. A home. (Which is not an absurd, ridiculous, inanimate, orbital, castle-like space station, but which is nothing less or more than.................His church.) Without this, He will not throw Satan into the abyss. Without this, He will not begin the 1000 years. Without this, indeed, He 'cannot' judge Satan. Since it is man whom He created through which He will exercise His dominion now and for eternity, Gen 1:26

Mary? You have got to be kidding me? Don't you even know what that seven year period in Revelation actually is? It is NOT part of the part of the CHURCH-age. It is all about the conclusion of the Covenant with ISRAEL, it is literally the 70th Week of DANIEL or the Time of Jacob's Trouble if you prefer.
13.4. Jacob’s Trouble and the Great Tribulation Commentary - A Testimony of Jesus Christ

When you think it has something to do with the Church you misinterpret vast amounts of prophecy.

The woman is a sign in heaven, although her career is here in earth. She is not a literal woman; she is a symbol. The career of the woman corresponds to that of Israel, for it is Israel that gave birth to Christ, who is the Child.At Christmas time we all use Isaiah 9:6 and other verses concerning the birth of Christ. This verse does concern the birth of Christ, but it does not concern us at all; rather, it concerns the nation Israel. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6). Who is referred to here when Isaiah says, "Unto us"? The church? No; it's the nation Israel. It is quite obvious that Isaiah is speaking to the nation Israel, and he is speaking not relative to a Savior but to a Governor, a Ruler, a King, One who was to come and rule over them. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." It is interesting that as a child He was born in His humanity; but as a Son from eternity, He was given. "And the government shall be upon his shoulder" -- we are not talking now about the Savior but about the One who is coming as King. We will see that happen in the Book of Revelation. "And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." There will not be any peace until He comes. When the rulers of this world say, "...Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them..." (1Thess. 5:3). They were having a big peace conference in Holland when World War I broke out, and most of the delegates almost got fired upon before they got home! When men say, "Peace and safety," it is idle talk, because man is working at peace from the wrong end. It is the human heart that is wrong, and only Jesus will bring peace. He is the Prince of Peace. Isaiah is talking to Israel when he says, "Unto us a child is born," and that is the figure that John picks up here in Revelation.

Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee.
1. The First Personage: A Woman Clothed With The Sun (12:1-2)

12:1-2. The first great personage to appear was a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head. She was called a great and wondrous sign (sēmeion mega, lit., "a great sign"; cf. 13:13). Undoubtedly the sign provoked wonder, as indicated in the kjv and niv, but the translation "a great sign" (nasb) is more accurate, since John did not use the Greek word for wonder (teras). This was the first of a series of events called "signs" or "miracles" (12:3; 13:13-14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20). As signs they were symbols of something that God was about to reveal and usually contained an element of prophetic warning. Though this sign was seen in heaven, the events which followed obviously occurred on earth.
The woman symbolized Israel, as indicated by Genesis 37:9-11, where the sun and the moon referred to Jacob and Rachel, Joseph's parents. The stars in the woman's crown clearly related to the 12 sons of Jacob and identified the woman as Israel fulfilling the Abrahamic Covenant. J.B. Smith cites Isaiah 60:1-3, 20 as proof that the sun refers to Israel's future glory (A Revelation of Jesus Christ, p. 182).
Many commentaries are so intent on attempting to identify Israel as the church that they ignore these plain indications that the woman is Israel. Robert H. Mounce, for instance, makes the woman "the messianic community, the ideal Israel... the church (Rev. 12:17). The people of God are one throughout all redemptive history" (The Book of Revelation, p. 236). While there is a unity of the people of God, this does not wipe out dispensational and racial distinctions.
The symbolism, while not referring specifically to Mary, the mother of Christ, points to Israel as the source of Jesus Christ. Thus it does not refer to the church. Wicked women are sometimes used to represent false religions, as in the case of Jezebel (2:20), the apostate church of the end time as a prostitute (17:1-7, 15, 18), and Israel as the unfaithful wife of Yahweh (Hosea 2:2-13). The church by contrast is pictured as the virgin bride (2 Cor. 11:2), the Lamb's wife (Rev. 19:7).

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
I. The Key Figures in the Tribulation (Chaps. 12-15)

12:1 A great sign appeared in heaven, namely, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. The woman is Israel. The sun, moon and stars depict the glory and dominion which has been promised to her in the coming kingdom, just as they pictured Joseph's ultimate rule over his father, mother, and brothers (Gen. 37:9-11).

Believer's Bible Commentary: A Thorough, Yet Easy-to-Read Bible Commentary That Turns Complicated Theology Into Practical Understanding.
12:1 sign. A symbol pointing to something else. This is the first of seven signs in the last half of Revelation. Cf. verse 3; 13:13, 14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20. a woman. Not an actual woman, but a symbolic representation of Israel, pictured in the OT as the wife of God (Isa. 54:5, 6; Jer. 3:6-8; 31:32; Ezek. 16:32; Hos. 2:16). Three other symbolic women appear in Revelation: (1) Jezebel, who represents paganism (2:20); (2) the scarlet woman (17:3-6), symbolizing the apostate church; and (3) the wife of the Lamb (19:7), symbolizing the true church. That this woman does not represent the church is clear from the context. clothed with the sun... moon under her feet... twelve stars. Cf. Genesis 37:9-11. Being clothed with the sun speaks of the glory, dignity, and exalted status of Israel, the people of promise who will be saved and given a kingdom. The picture of the moon under her feet possibly describes God’s covenant relationship with Israel, since new moons were associated with worship (1 Chr. 23:31; 2 Chr. 2:4; 8:13; Ezra 3:5; Ps. 81:3). The twelve stars represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary.
Rev. 12:1
- The woman.
1. (1) The woman is described in celestial images.

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.

a. Now a great sign appeared: This is the first of seven signs that John relates, and is described as a great sign (mega semeion). In Revelation chapters 12, 13, and 14 the main figures of the Great Tribulation are described, and this great sign introduces the first of the seven:

· The woman, representing Israel
· The dragon, representing Satan
· The man-child, referring to Jesus
· The angel Michael, head of the angelic host
· The offspring of the woman, representing Gentiles who come to faith in the Tribulation
· The beast out of the sea, representing the antichrist
· The beast out of the earth, representing the false prophet who promotes the antichrist
Revelation 12 - The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.

We meet the first of seven personages in chapters 12-13 in verse one, a woman clothed with the sun. This woman is a “sign.” This is the first of a series of signs (12:3; 13:13-14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20). A sign is a symbol, of what God is about to reveal. It carries the idea of a wonder. Usually these signs are a warning of something ominous on the horizon. Though this sign appeared in heaven, the events take place on earth.
This woman symbolizes Israel (Genesis 37:9-11) who produced the Messiah. The “twelve stars” may allude to Joseph and his eleven brothers, the twelve patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. The focus is still on Israel.
Revelation 12:1-6 � Bible Exposition Commentary
 
P

popeye

Guest
Yes, there is a period known as Jacob's Trouble. This is clear from multiple passages. But there is also a time of severe trouble for the Church. The first woman is Israel as mentioned below:

[SUP]17 [/SUP]And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

So who is the woman's offspring? It's Christ and by extension Christians who are "Christ-like." The Jews do not have the testimony of Jesus Christ do they? So that leaves the Church. The dragon cannot make war with a Church that is in heaven can he?
We mostly agree,except if you notice it also says "and they loved not their lives unto death",meaning that the AC kills all the believers.
 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
Amen to your experience!
wonderful.
Thank You Lord, for saving him. And me.



If you want to present MacArthur's writing at times instead of your own, then he becomes fair game for critique. For example his mistakes or illogic in regard to 'white garments.' But that's a comparatively small thing. I didn't 'falsely accuse' him of misteaching/misinterpreting John 14. In the sample you quoted he teaches that the dwellings, the 'mansions,' are some kind of external place Jesus went to construct, lol, when He resurrected and ascended. And that when He comes back in His Second Coming He will take us there. I don't accuse him of teaching what he doesn't. I accuse him of teaching Jn 14 falsely.

Please what does John MacArthur teach concerning the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25? I can look it up for myself, if you prefer. Just say.

Is this MacArthur's writing: "The verb 'keep' is in the Greek Perfect Tense, implying an ongoing lifestyle of striving to keep [His commands]. It is the direction of one's life, not the perfection of it. What if we do stumble along the way?"?
What does John MacArthur (or you) interpret 'His commands' 1 Jn 2:4 to be? Because 'a lifestyle of striving to keep' sounds a lot like WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS to me. How is it not Works-Righteousness?

Now this part sounds a lot better: "What if we do stumble along the way? He left us instructions for that too: SEE 1 John 1:9."

This part I do not (yet) see in the word: "Will others be turned to Receive HIM and be Saved during the Great Tribulation? YES MANY." If you have any Bible text beside those about all Israel being saved by being born again at the end, to evidence this, please tell me.
Thanks
I missed some of your questions in that post above, sorry. Yes I have heard MacArthur and numerous other Bible Scholars refer the fourth Primary verb tense that is in the GREEK Language, but NOT IN OUR ENGLISH. We only have Past Tense, Present Tense, and Future Tense. The Greeks have that fourth Primary Verb Tense, that implies doing that verb as a Characteristic of one's lifestyle. John apparently loves to use that verb tense, as they frequently appear in his writings. For example:

1 John 1:9 (HCSB)
[SUP]9 [/SUP] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confess is another one that is in that GREEK TENSE that implies a Continuous action. No we do not continuously confess the same sins, however as we discover sins that we have not already confessed, it is part of a true Christian's born again Nature to automatically confess and repent of it. HENCE, confessing sin is an ongoing characteristic of a true Christian.

I do not mind you taking a position contrary to MacArthur, but when you claim he teaches something that He does not, I certainly will point out the fact that you either misunderstood him, or did not read or listen to enough of his teachings. He was my primary Disciple as I was spiritually growing up, among these other Scholars:

The Bible teachers that have had the most influence on my spiritual growth are:

Dr. John MacArthur, Jr. - Grace to You sermons dating back to the early 70s - free to listen to.
Dr. Adrian Rogers - Listen to Adrian Rogers - Love Worth Finding Radio Online
Dr. Charles Stanley - Home
Dr. Richard Lee - First Redeemer Church | Duluth | Cumming | Alpharetta
Dr. Zola Levitt - ZLM Video: “Passover/Unleavened Bread” - some free - videos
Dr. Ed Young - http://www.winningwalk.org/t-bio.aspx
Dr. Gil Rugh - http://www.ihcc.org/ - free sermons dating back to the late 70s - free
Dr. Chuck Swindoll - Listen to Chuck Swindoll - Insight for Living Radio Online
Dr. Walter Martin - https://www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/martin_walter/
Dr. Ben Haden - Why
Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost - Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost (1915–2014) -

As well as the Pastors of Churches that I attended; Pastor Neil Berry and Pastor Gordan Broadbent especially.

I had over 500 hours of Bible Teaching Cassettes at one time, (mostly MacArthur, Gil Rugh, and Chuck Swindoll), and while working the night shift for 8 years, I listened to every one of them at least 4 times on my Walkman. No I am not trying to impress you, but rather, to verify that I do know what MacArthur and others on that list really teach.
 
Last edited:

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
Wow----I guess folks may delete their posts and the numbers change. So my "#2561" in my last post is inaccurate. In any case, it was starting to respond to PW's post.

VCO writes (in what is #2563 currently): "The lack [of] oil in their lamps is symbolism for lacking the HOLY SPIRIT. They are Church GOERS, who have not been born again, YET."
To the contrary of this, Mt 25:1-8 makes the point that all 10 virgins light their lamps. All 10 have oil in their lamps. The problem isn't with the lamps (the human spirits of these believers, Prov 20:27), but with the vessels, their souls. To the contrary of VCO's and MacArthur's and most Christians' mistaken interpretation or teaching, all 10 virgins in Mt 25 represent born-anew ones. Real Christians. Believers. Who have received the oil (Spirit) in their lamp (spirit), Jn 3:6; Rm 8:16; 1 Cor 6:17. This is also emphasized by the word 'virgins.' Because of Paul's word in 2 Cor 11:2. The only difference is some are wise, and some aren't. The virgins are eternally born of the Triune God just like the slaves in Mt 24:45-51 and 25:14-30 are.
They are slaves of God. Nonbelievers are not slaves of God. Some of the slaves, just like some of the virgins, will be rewarded by Christ at His judgment seat of His children in the clouds after the raptures, with the kingdom of 1000 years. Other slaves and virgins will not. In fact they will be punished for the 1000 years. And thus readied and perfected to rejoin all the regenerated family of God as the New Jerusalem after the 1000 years, for eternity.
Read it again:

Matthew 25:3 (HCSB)
[SUP]3 [/SUP] When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take olive oil with them.


Matthew 25:8-9 (HCSB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.
[SUP]9 [/SUP] “The sensible ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.’

Luke 1:15-16 (RSV)
[SUP]15 [/SUP] for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,even from his mother's womb.
[SUP]16 [/SUP] And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,

Acts 2:4 (RSV)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 9:17 (RSV)
[SUP]17 [/SUP] So Anani'as departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

Acts 13:52 (RSV)
[SUP]52 [/SUP] And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.


Do you see an option of just taking in a little bit of the Holy Spirit, or having the Holy Spirit run out of you?

John 14:16-17 (RSV)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever,
[SUP]17 [/SUP] even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.


Have you ever used an oil lamp? Even a dry lamp will have it's wick burn when you light it. Very smoky and very briefly, but it will burn.

Hebrews 6:4-6 (RSV)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have {only} tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
[SUP]5 [/SUP] and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
[SUP]6 [/SUP] if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.

WE DID A WHOLE LOT MORE, WE WELCOMED HIM INTO OUR HEARTS AND GAVE HIM CONTROL.

The foolish virgins are psuedo-Christians and not genuine Christians.

1 John 2:19 (NKJV)
[SUP]19 [/SUP] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

1 John 2:15 (NKJV)
[SUP]15 [/SUP] Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Romans 5:5 (NKJV)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

I see no exceptions, do you? YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN PERIOD or you cannot see the KINGDOM. Born Again fills your lamp with OIL. NO EXCEPTIONS. I know many in the World teach a WATERED DOWN Easy Believism Gospel, but it is a FALSE GOSPEL, causing many to think they are Christians when they are not. But the NARROW GATE of letting the Holy Spirit bring conviction and confessing to GOD your sins, and by power of the Holy Spirit receiving JESUS CHRIST as LORD, meaning Master; is STILL THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN. No Holy Spirit in you, WHO genuinely birthed your Human Spirit into eternal life, leaves you in darkness STILL, no matter how many times you go to Church.
 
F

flob

Guest
"Have you ever used an oil lamp? Even a dry lamp will have it's wick burn when you light it. Very smoky and very briefly, but it will burn."
----A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench until He brings forth justice unto victory. Mt 12:20.


"Do you see an option of just taking in a little bit of the Holy Spirit, or having the Holy Spirit run out of you?"
----Take away therefore the weight from him and give it to him who has the ten weights. For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he shall abound; but from him who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken away from him. Mt 24:28-29.

---I also count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse that I may Gain Christ. Phil 3:8

----He who has begun in you a good work will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6.


"
The foolish virgins are psuedo-Christians and not genuine Christians."
To the contrary:
----I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God; for I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 2 Cor 11:2.
----Go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves. Mt 25:9
----I counsel you to buy...Rv 3:18
----Let him who wills take the water of life freely. Rv 22:17.

 

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
"Have you ever used an oil lamp? Even a dry lamp will have it's wick burn when you light it. Very smoky and very briefly, but it will burn."
----A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench until He brings forth justice unto victory. Mt 12:20.


"Do you see an option of just taking in a little bit of the Holy Spirit, or having the Holy Spirit run out of you?"
----Take away therefore the weight from him and give it to him who has the ten weights. For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he shall abound; but from him who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken away from him. Mt 24:28-29.

---I also count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse that I may Gain Christ. Phil 3:8

----He who has begun in you a good work will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6.


"
The foolish virgins are psuedo-Christians and not genuine Christians."
To the contrary:
----I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God; for I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 2 Cor 11:2.
----Go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves. Mt 25:9
----I counsel you to buy...Rv 3:18
----Let him who wills take the water of life freely. Rv 22:17.

Last time I checked, you cannot buy the Holy Spirit, He is the Bethrothal Gift to true Christians. Counterfeit Brides are not given the Betrothal GIFT.

Matthew 7:13-26 (NKJV)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
[SUP]14 [/SUP] Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

[SUP]15 [/SUP] "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
[SUP]16 [/SUP] You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
[SUP]17 [/SUP] Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
[SUP]19 [/SUP] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
[SUP]20 [/SUP] Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

[SUP]21 [/SUP] "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
{Received Him as LORD, meaning Master}
[SUP]22 [/SUP] Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
[SUP]23 [/SUP] And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you;
{Inner Personal Love Relationship of the Born Again Believer.} depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
[SUP]24 [/SUP] "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
[SUP]25 [/SUP] and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
[SUP]26 [/SUP] But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

John 1:12-13 (NKJV)
[SUP]12 [/SUP] But as many as received Him, {No more, No Less} to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
[SUP]13 [/SUP] who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. {BORN AGAIN - John 3:3-7 - No more, No Less}

Received Him as what?

Colossians 2:6 (NIV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,

Prove that.

Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)
[SUP]9 [/SUP] that if you confess {confess NOT just profess} with your mouth Jesus as Lord, {To be a confession it has to have taken place in your heart first, before you can say it as a CONFESSION} and believe in your heart {in your human spirit} that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; {All of that is a work of the HOLY SPIRIT, none of it is of the human mind of the flesh.}
[SUP]10 [/SUP] for with the heart {your human spirit} a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Romans 5:5 (NASB)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. {No such thing as a born again Christian without the Holy Spirit or lack of OIL in his or her heart.}

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
[SUP]19 [/SUP] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
[SUP]20 [/SUP] teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

John 14:15-17 (HCSB)
[SUP]15 [/SUP]If you love Me, you will keep My commands.
[SUP]16 [/SUP] And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you
forever.
[SUP]17 [/SUP] He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be
in you.

A real born again Christian without the Holy Spirit {THE OIL}, is an impossibility.

1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Calling Him LORD, bowing to Him, acknowledging who He is, is NOT what makes you a Christian. Even the 2000 Demons at Gadara did that. It is having been spiritually IMMERSED into the spiritual body of CHRIST, by the HOLY SPIRIT Himself, Who is in you; that is what makes you a real born again CHRISTIAN.

John 3:6-7 (HCSB)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.
[SUP]7 [/SUP] Do not be amazed that I told you that you
must be born again.
 
F

flob

Guest
"Last time I checked, you cannot buy the Holy Spirit, He is the Bethrothal Gift to true Christians. Counterfeit Brides are not given the Betrothal GIFT."
-----Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the prudent answered, saying, Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves. Mt 25:8-9.
-----If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and moreover, even his own soul-life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Lk 14:26-27.
-----For which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, whether he has enough to complete it... Lk 14:28.
-----For whoever wants to save his soul-life shall lose it; but whoever loses his soul-life for My sake shall find it. Mt 16:25.


"No such thing as a born again Christian without the Holy Spirit"
Amen. He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Now the Lord is the Spirit.
1 Cor 6:17; 2 Cor 3:17.


"No such thing as a born again Christian with...lack of OIL in his or her heart."
To the contrary:
For this cause I bow my knees to the Father...that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit into the inner man, that Christ may make His home in your hearts... Eph 14-17.
We all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18.
And five of them were foolish and five were prudent...And the foolish said to the prudent, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the prudent answered, saying, Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves. Mt 25:2, 8-9.


"
A real born again Christian without the Holy Spirit {THE OIL}, is an impossibility."
Amen. The Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God. Rm 8:16.
In this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, that He has given to us of His Spirit. 1 Jn 4:13
 
F

flob

Guest
"in your heart {in your human spirit}"
To the contrary:
---May your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes 5:23.
---For the word of God is living and operative and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb 4:12.
---The Lord is with your spirit. 2 Tim 4:22.
---I bow my knees to the Father...that Christ may make His home in your heart. Eph 3:14-17.
---The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace. Rm 8:6.
 
Last edited by a moderator: