And what makes you think the symbolism doesn't work just as well after the Tribulation?
Did Christ leave the earth in a pristine body?
Did the disciples?
Why do you think the Bride will fair any better? In fact we know a lot of people within the Bride were martyred.
Do you know what the real danger of the post-trib theory is. If you are wrong, you will have caused many to not be ready, when Christ Calls Out HIS Bride, which happens as fast as sheet lightning flashes from east to west. All because your teaching leaves them with plenty of time to get ready later. WE on the other hand teach you have to get ready NOW, and KEEP READY every day of your life, or you too may be found without enough oil in your lamp.
What do we teach about preparing people for the Great Tribulation? We certainly do not ignore that teaching either, because we know that many listening to our teachings still will not take making a genuine personal LOVE relationship with Christ serious, and will be left behind. If there is still a small chance that they will become part of the Tribulation Saints, it is OUR responsibility to prepare them for what lies ahead of them.
I DO IT THIS WAY: I know many of you think, even if you missed the Calling Out of the BRIDE, you are strong enough, or macho enough to stand up to anything that the Devil who through the Antichrist, will order the beheading of ALL who refuse to bow to him as god and take his Mark. So you think NOTHING can make you take that Mark, whatever it is! Then let me ask you a couple questions, "Can you still refuse to take that Mark when you are FORCED to watch them behead your two year old boy?" "Can you watch them behead your baby daughter, and NOT take the Mark to save her life?" THAT IS EXACTLY HOW EVIL THIS ANTICHRIST WILL BE!
Therefore we TEACH YOU HAVE TO KEEP READY, while your teaching leaves many to think they still have plenty of time.
Just like GOD's instructions to the Army of Israel, we BELIEVE in being ready for Warfare and Ready to be Called Out to the Wedding of the Lamb at the SAME TIME:
Ephesians 6:10-13 (ESV)
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10 [/SUP] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
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11 [/SUP] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
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12 [/SUP] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
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13 [/SUP] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Ezekiel 38:7 (ESV)
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7 [/SUP] “Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them.
Ecclesiastes 5:1 (ESV)
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1 [/SUP] Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.
Luke 12:35-40 (NIV)
[SUP]35 [/SUP] "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,
[SUP]36 [/SUP] like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
[SUP]37 [/SUP] It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
[SUP]38 [/SUP] It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.
[SUP]39 [/SUP] But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
[SUP]40 [/SUP] You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
1 Peter 1:13 (BBE)
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13 [/SUP] So make your minds
ready, and keep on the watch, hoping with all your power for the grace which is to come to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Matthew 25:13 (NKJV)
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13 [/SUP]
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Matthew 25:6 (NKJV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
Did Christ leave the earth in a pristine body?
Did the disciples?
Why do you think the Bride will fair any better? In fact we know a lot of people within the Bride were martyred.
YES HE DID, it was resurrected glorified perfect body of flesh and bone, no blood as our High Priest carried it to Heaven to the Altar to pour it out for our sins. The only man-made thing in heaven, is the scars on the hands, feet, and side of Jesus.
NOT YET, but we all will be raised or changed in the twinkling of eye to have a glorified, immortal body like Jesus:
1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (ASV)
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51 [/SUP] Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,
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52 [/SUP] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
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53 [/SUP] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
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54 [/SUP] But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
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55 [/SUP] O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?