Anyone with even a base understanding of the bible should be able to tell we are approaching the end times. The sign's are everywhere... The other day I was presented an interesting question and would like your opinion on it. The question was "Would you rather be raptured with the church, or stay behind to help lead others to Christ." Now obviously this is hypothetical because its not like we get to tell God nah I'd rather stay.. And to those who don't believe in the rapture because that word isn't in the bible this is referring to the event in Thessalonians in which we are called up to be with the lord... Anyway thought this would be an interesting question for discussion. What you guys think.
Would you rather, end times
- Thread starter allaboutlove
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True, my personal opinion an the opinion of the one who asked me the question is for a pre-trib rapture and the potential of salvation after words.. If these are not your opinions than the question wouldn't apply anyway... If they're any that wish to debate those, I'm sure there are plenty of threads on those topics.
This whole "left behind series" I think is a deceptive way aimed only at the unsuspecting youth. Jesus has a dire warning to those leaders wich are in fact delaying, distracting and deceiving youth with the very concept itself.
We are here now in the present. To be a left behinder is like playing a computergame or living in the past or the future instead of right now.
The concept of left behind is a modern thing without nothing but HUMAN speculation behind.
A concept to make it "easier" for youth leaders etc.
To see through the fingers with all kinds of sins...because..Hey!...you could always be left behind.
I have pondered this particular question over the last 4 years. Never spoke about it.
But I think its obvious now.
Left behind= Delaying your complete trust and devotion to him.
Please dont delay to follow Jesus in all things the Bible says.
I did. 25 years.
Thank God I at least read the Bible.
We are blessed and at the same time messed by all the electronic info.
But with a steady mind of Christ we can use some of it for our own good and health.
The strongs concordance in the blueletterbible app is one example. The oldies saved upp all their knowledge wich often took their whole lifetime to search up and write down.
Now we dont even have to turn the pages. We just roll.
This of course may profane us, not praising the huge amount of soulfood we can have inside our pockets.
Very well. Assuming a pre-trib rapture (which I do believe) and assuming people can still be saved after the rapture (which I don't believe, "Left Behind" series notwithstanding) I would... still want to go in the rapture because I don't think remaining down here would have much effect.
Think about it. Remember how many people were talking about God on September 12th, 2001? Whole bunch of them, right. People who had never prayed before started praying. Now, how many of those people were still praying when 2002 rolled around?
Remember the parable of the rich man and the beggar? It's in Luke 16. Remember what the rich man said when he found out there was no hope for him?
[SUP]27 [/SUP]Then he said, ‘I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house,
[SUP]28 [/SUP]for I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them lest they also come into this place of torment.’
[SUP]29 [/SUP]Abraham said unto him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
[SUP]30 [/SUP]And he said, ‘Nay, father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.’
[SUP]31 [/SUP]And Abraham said unto him, ‘If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.’”
This may sound really cynical, especially coming from a lynx, but human nature is human nature. When the tribulation starts, when the church is gone, people will still be people. There might be one out of five thousand who will suddenly decide to be a christian, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Think about it. Remember how many people were talking about God on September 12th, 2001? Whole bunch of them, right. People who had never prayed before started praying. Now, how many of those people were still praying when 2002 rolled around?
Remember the parable of the rich man and the beggar? It's in Luke 16. Remember what the rich man said when he found out there was no hope for him?
[SUP]27 [/SUP]Then he said, ‘I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house,
[SUP]28 [/SUP]for I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them lest they also come into this place of torment.’
[SUP]29 [/SUP]Abraham said unto him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
[SUP]30 [/SUP]And he said, ‘Nay, father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.’
[SUP]31 [/SUP]And Abraham said unto him, ‘If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.’”
This may sound really cynical, especially coming from a lynx, but human nature is human nature. When the tribulation starts, when the church is gone, people will still be people. There might be one out of five thousand who will suddenly decide to be a christian, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Well i believe in the rapture.. But i do not believe in the pre-tribulation rapture.. For me it is the second coming of Jesus rapture.. So no one is going to be left behind.
To sheepman, I understand where your coming from, but I not talking about continueing in sin now because you can be saved later.. My question is to the already saved and as I said completely hypothetical simply for the purpose of a discussion... And to lynx I also understand what your saying, I do think the numbers might be a little higher than that though sence the signs of a true an living God will be so obvious in those times... But your also right the bible it self says many will still not believe... For me though if I had the choice an felt like I could help even one person I think I'd chose to stay.
Got to go to work guys, probably be a bit before i can reply again... Please continue to discuss away if you find the topic interesting I'll be back.. (Says in my best, horrible terminator impression).
There will indeed be those who are saved after the gathering of the church and during that last seven year period, which will be those saints who come out of the great tribulation period wearing white robes, as described in Rev.7:9-17.
Hello allaboutlove,
Before answering that question, I think that a thorough understanding of what the wrath of God will entail during that time period. It is important to understand that, everyone on earth will be exposed to the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments. They have a two fold purpose 1) to pour out God's wrath on a Christ rejecting world and 2) to get them to fear God and repent. There are two places that give a percentage of fatalities during that seven years, one being at the 4th seal at which a fourth of the inhabitants are killed and the other is at the 6th trumpet where a third will be killed. Both of these combined would amount to approx. 4.5 billion people and that is not including the fatalities as a result of the first three trumpets nor the bowl judgments. The result will be the decimation of the population of the earth and the dismantling of all human government. This would be supported by when Jesus said, "If those days had not been shortened, no one would be left alive."
One of the purposes of Jesus coming to gather his church prior to His wrath, is to remove us from the events of his wrath because of their severity and also because scripture states that believers are not appointed to suffer the coming wrath and that because Jesus rescued us from it (1 Thes.1:10, 5:9).
As for me, yeah, I'd come back during that time, but in my immortal and glorified body
Before answering that question, I think that a thorough understanding of what the wrath of God will entail during that time period. It is important to understand that, everyone on earth will be exposed to the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments. They have a two fold purpose 1) to pour out God's wrath on a Christ rejecting world and 2) to get them to fear God and repent. There are two places that give a percentage of fatalities during that seven years, one being at the 4th seal at which a fourth of the inhabitants are killed and the other is at the 6th trumpet where a third will be killed. Both of these combined would amount to approx. 4.5 billion people and that is not including the fatalities as a result of the first three trumpets nor the bowl judgments. The result will be the decimation of the population of the earth and the dismantling of all human government. This would be supported by when Jesus said, "If those days had not been shortened, no one would be left alive."
One of the purposes of Jesus coming to gather his church prior to His wrath, is to remove us from the events of his wrath because of their severity and also because scripture states that believers are not appointed to suffer the coming wrath and that because Jesus rescued us from it (1 Thes.1:10, 5:9).
As for me, yeah, I'd come back during that time, but in my immortal and glorified body
D
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Your base understanding of End Times isn't a base understanding of the Bible. Don't waste your life for Jesus' return, rapture, or "would you rathers."
God is already with us. Now what?
How could you waste your life on Jesus return, that's what all christians are waiting for... Must say I'm a bit confused by this statement.
I believe I have more than a base understanding of the Bible. That's why I do not believe in the Pre Trib Rapture. I also do not pay attention to every news event and Tele Evangelist that tells us that the end is just around the corner. The latest offering is from John Hagee who claims the Antichrist will reveal himself next Tuesday. This is the man of Blood Moons fame who swore the end would come last May. It didn't by the way.
Like the stopped clock that will be right at least twice a day. Somebody will be right one day if the end is predicted often enough.
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Yahweh_is_gracious
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Agreed. This topic sets my warning light off. I'm gonna go look for funny cat pictures instead.
When I say the end is near its not because of some crazy guy predicting a date... I say its near because the bible gives us the signs to look for of the end times and these things are happing now... As far as when this is actually going to happen I have no clue, could be 5 minutes from now or 500 years.. Just going by the signs we see today I don't think it will be that long, but who knows our concept of time dosent apply to God.
SOOOO hes coming soon