Matthew 24:40 Is the rapture secret?

[randyk]

I know postrib position /post wrath .

It is one dimensional and based off of a theorized " one coming"
Pretrib stands alone.
I can defend my position and never mention another position.
In your doctrine "anti pretib rapture rhetoric" is that doctrine's foundation.

The dead church fathers are also a main foundation.

Seeing this disadvantage of methods is telling.

Show me a link to any postribber presenting their theory without those extra biblical rabbit trails.

The pretrib rapture fits.
Postrib Rapture doctrine omits and reframes MASSIVELY.

I'm not your enemy because i'm Postrib and you'e Pretrib. Many of my closest friends are Pretrib, and I've gone to Pretrib churches for most of my life. So I have to tread carefully among my friends, just to hold in good conscience to what I believe the Scriptures teach.

As I see it, the strongest argument for Pretrib, aside from all of the "symbolic proofs," is the Imminency Doctrine, teaching that Christ "can come at any moment.* I don't believe that, but if it's true, and there are Scriptures in evidence of that, then Christ cannot be Postrib.

 

[randyk]

Rev 19 is the return in power and glory TO EARTH.
in the virgin parable Jesus meets up away from the brides dwelling and continues to heaven.

In the rapture pretrib it is the same.
In Rev 14:14 it is the same and it is DURING the trib.

The "one taken" of mat 24 has no return to it.
In fact it pictures Noah gathered pretrib.
Lot ...the same.

In your model it would be plausible for Noah to be raptured post flood.
Lot would need to stay in Sodom.
Then lot would need a rapture post fire.

I understand your arguments but do not accept "symbolic" arguments. Parables are, by nature, inexact replications of the truths they represent. All of the background imagery in the parable is designed to make the story coherent--not to be an exact replication of the truhts it means to show.

For example, in the parable of the man buying a field with a pearl hidden in it, the land he buys, and the purchase itself, is an inexact representation of our obtaining the gift of Christ. But the "purchase" does not represent the idea we can "buy" Salvation. These are inexact representations, and it would be wrong to over-literalize the story in an effort to create greater detail for the simple truths that are being conveyed.

So the 10 Virgins parable, and the symbolic representation of Christ's 2nd Coming, are inexact representations, meant to show common truths, and not emphasize what is merely "window dressing." You are trying to say the "window dressing" has doctrinal significance, and I just can't buy that. The Holy Spirit spells out doctrines, and does not "hint" at it.

Nor do I accept an over-literalization of the Apocalypse. By its very nature it is symbolic. As such, trying to attach a chronology to a number of visions is an exercise in futility. Connecting historical events is certainly a good thing. But connecting a series of visions as if they were the actual histories, and not symbolic representations of them, is not possible, in my view.

 

[Psalm1]

I'm not your enemy because i'm Postrib and you'e Pretrib. Many of my closest friends are Pretrib, and I've gone to Pretrib churches for most of my life. So I have to tread carefully among my friends, just to hold in good conscience to what I believe the Scriptures teach.

As I see it, the strongest argument for Pretrib, aside from all of the "symbolic proofs," is the Imminency Doctrine, teaching that Christ "can come at any moment.* I don't believe that, but if it's true, and there are Scriptures in evidence of that, then Christ cannot be Postrib.

We are brothers as you point out

I do recognize your thoughtfulness and adherence to scripture as opposed to most I see going personal.

 

[Psalm1]

I understand your arguments but do not accept "symbolic" arguments. Parables are, by nature, inexact replications of the truths they represent. All of the background imagery in the parable is designed to make the story coherent--not to be an exact replication of the truhts it means to show.

For example, in the parable of the man buying a field with a pearl hidden in it, the land he buys, and the purchase itself, is an inexact representation of our obtaining the gift of Christ. But the "purchase" does not represent the idea we can "buy" Salvation. These are inexact representations, and it would be wrong to over-literalize the story in an effort to create greater detail for the simple truths that are being conveyed.

So the 10 Virgins parable, and the symbolic representation of Christ's 2nd Coming, are inexact representations, meant to show common truths, and not emphasize what is merely "window dressing." You are trying to say the "window dressing" has doctrinal significance, and I just can't buy that. The Holy Spirit spells out doctrines, and does not "hint" at it.

Nor do I accept an over-literalization of the Apocalypse. By its very nature it is symbolic. As such, trying to attach a chronology to a number of visions is an exercise in futility. Connecting historical events is certainly a good thing. But connecting a series of visions as if they were the actual histories, and not symbolic representations of them, is not possible, in my view.

The parables all have components.
Some are directly deciphered by Jesus.

If the components are omitted or reframed then the meaning is lost.

The rapture is the gathering of the bride/church.
Romans 11 speaks of another covenant people gathered.
That is Rev 14:14.
That dynamic is reinforced, in that the 2 gatherings of Rev 14 ,are firstfruit Jews arriving in heaven first.
(That is the first part of "main inevitable harvest".)
That can not possibly be the church.
In the church ( bride gathering) , Jesus is the firstfruits. The church is main harvest. ( following firstfruits)
In rev 14 the 144k Jews are firstfruits. So the main harvest must follow.
It does in verse 14.
Main harvest Jews.
(Of Romans 11.)

The pretrib rapture doctrine does not hinge on any one or two verses.

The 10 virgins parable is one component of many. ( the most vivid of all)
Each verse of the rapture doctrine, adds to, and authenticates it.
No smoking gun, but a weave of solid verses.

Most people I address are dependant on smoking guns to disprove doctrine.

 

[Psalm1]

You're the one who has made it a mess.

There is no gathering for the wicked. There is no Rapture for the wicked. Those in the flood were never gathered together, they were destroyed by the waters. Some would have been swept away, some would have drowned trapped in their hiding places but there is no gathering together in one place. They were taken by the flood just as unbelievers will be taken by Christ's return never to be seen again (at least not until the Final Judgement).

Jesus likens His Coming to a thief in the night but it is not believers who have to worry about having their possessions taken, it is the unbeliever who will be overcome and robbed of their lives. The believer is already the possession of Christ and is told to be alert (ie.make sure of their security by looking at our faith, is one deluding oneself?) You consistently ignore context and then try to make verses say what they're not saying and then accuse others of believing stuff that never even entered their head.

Matt.24:43-44
But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him

To the best of my knowledge only the Church is ever referred to as being "caught up" (Raptured). No other group of believers are told this. Not Israel, not pre-flood or post-flood believers, nor Millennium believers, only the Church. As far as I can see, all other believers will be raised to life and given their new bodies while remaining on Earth. The Church's citizenship is in heaven, that's where they will dwell and all other believers will dwell on the new Earth. Why even have a New Earth if all believers are to dwell in Heaven?

Nope.
Jesus says they are gathered suddenly.
So, yes those thstcthink the wicked are gathered in the Noah analogy caretaking the obvious prerrib rapture and reframing it to "the wicked are raptured".

Like I said...what a mess.
The wicked ( supposedly Half earth's population,) is supposedly removed before the trib, and half the earth is supposedly righteous and stays for the flood/trib.

In NO WAY is it REMOTELY possible for half of earth's population to be righteous/ wicked.

Then the next quandary of " Jesus confused by telling the wicked to be ready"

Like I said, when you change one verse , get ready to change 50 more.

 

[sawdust]

Jesus says they are gathered suddenly.

Where? It says they are taken, nothing about being gathered together.

Once again you prove you don't listen.

The wicked are not gathered before the tribulation. They are removed at the end on the Day Christ returns to Earth.

It is not saying the earth will be half and half, it is figurative. NO WAY will there only be two people out in every field gathering grain.

He is not telling the wicked to be ready. He is telling Israel to be ready so they are not deceived much like Peter does in 2Peter 3:8-9. He doesn't want them to be taken away, He wants them to remain so they enter the Millennium rule on Earth.

Try going back and reading what I wrote WITHOUT you imposing your thinking on mine. I don't care if you disagree on timing, but at the very least, have the courtesy to actually understand what I am saying before you criticize.

I don't have to change any verses. You need to learn to listen to what people say and not what you try to make them say.

 

[Psalm1]

Where? It says they are taken, nothing about being gathered together.

Once again you prove you don't listen.

The wicked are not gathered before the tribulation. They are removed at the end on the Day Christ returns to Earth.

It is not saying the earth will be half and half, it is figurative. NO WAY will there only be two people out in every field gathering grain.

He is not telling the wicked to be ready. He is telling Israel to be ready so they are not deceived much like Peter does in 2Peter 3:8-9. He doesn't want them to be taken away, He wants them to remain so they enter the Millennium rule on Earth.

Try going back and reading what I wrote WITHOUT you imposing your thinking on mine. I don't care if you disagree on timing, but at the very least, have the courtesy to actually understand what I am saying before you criticize.

I don't have to change any verses. You need to learn to listen to what people say and not what you try to make them say.

I Will soon harvest my peaches from my peach tree.
Gather them from the tree.
Take them from the tree.
that dynamic ...somehow...bothers you.


One half of a group are gathered.
You are insisting that half the world is righteous, and half are wicked.

Jesus said half taken in mat 24

Then 7 sentences later, in mat 25, he uses the same formula.

That is 2 witnesses, FROM JESUS, That , of a group of people, half are taken.

I know it is difficult, because you guys have a huge investment in the wrong thing.
I am a reporter.
I report what is there.
I will go with the bible.

 

[Psalm1]

Where? It says they are taken, nothing about being gathered together.

Once again you prove you don't listen.

The wicked are not gathered before the tribulation. They are removed at the end on the Day Christ returns to Earth.

It is not saying the earth will be half and half, it is figurative. NO WAY will there only be two people out in every field gathering grain.

He is not telling the wicked to be ready. He is telling Israel to be ready so they are not deceived much like Peter does in 2Peter 3:8-9. He doesn't want them to be taken away, He wants them to remain so they enter the Millennium rule on Earth.

Try going back and reading what I wrote WITHOUT you imposing your thinking on mine. I don't care if you disagree on timing, but at the very least, have the courtesy to actually understand what I am saying before you criticize.

I don't have to change any verses. You need to learn to listen to what people say and not what you try to make them say.

QUOTE
"The wicked are not gathered before the tribulation. They are removed at the end on the Day Christ returns to Earth."

Lol
You talking about the tares?
I already taught you when they are gathered.
They are BURNED.
What part of that is resistant to you????
You now have half of earth's population burned before the flood.
Now you have a pretrib rapture of wicked burned and somehow move the GWTJ of the wicked to pretribulation.

BURNED at the LOF.

So, like I said, you have the return of Jesus at the GWT Judgement ( when the tares are burned). ...and all of it preflood.... pretrib.

See how changing verses makes you change 20 more to make it fit?

 

[Genez]

QUOTE
"The wicked are not gathered before the tribulation. They are removed at the end on the Day Christ returns to Earth."

Lol
You talking about the tares?
I already taught you when they are gathered.
They are BURNED.
What part of that is resistant to you????
You now have half of earth's population burned before the flood.
Now you have a pretrib rapture of wicked burned and somehow move the GWTJ of the wicked to pretribulation.

BURNED at the LOF.

So, like I said, you have the return of Jesus at the GWT Judgement ( when the tares are burned). ...and all of it preflood.... pretrib.

See how changing verses makes you change 20 more to make it fit?

You have a knack of not knowing as much as you should, yet wanting others to join you.

 

[EmethAlethia]

Part 1​

Rapturo and Harpodzoe have the same meaning. The first is Greek, and the second Latin. But come on now. Who wouldn't want to be "Raptured". To be "Harpodzoed" sounds like something that happens to an unfortunate whale meeting up with a bunch of whalers. Just saying. LOL

I haven't heard much discussion of 2Th. 2:1-13 yet, so let's go there. Before we do, we do have a precedent set by Jesus, where He could not send the helper, (The Holy Spirit) until He departed the earth:

Joh 16:7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.​

It would seem to be reasonable that the Holy Spirit's departure prior to Christ's return also would make sense. Back to the discussion in 2Th. 2:1-13... The reason for this discussion is given in 2Th. 2:2:

2Th 2:2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.​

The "Day of the Lord" is discussed in various New Testament passages:

1Co. 5:5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.​

1Th 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.​

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.​

The question is, are we looking at the exact same "Day of the Lord in 2Th. 2:1-13 that we are looking at in 2Pe. 3:10? Did the heavens pass away with a roar, when they missed that day? Were the elements destroyed with intense heat? Was the earth and all it's works burned up? Obviously, we have, at least 2, days of the Lord in scripture. One, you will be "greatly disturbed" if you miss it, one where you hope to God you miss. The "Day of the Lord" in 2Th. 2:2, is one true Christians don't want to miss. And, if you do, you have great reason to be "Greatly Disturbed".

In 2Th. 2:3-9 we have the conditions that lead up to the day of the Lord.

2Th 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, ​

The great "apostacy" or "falling away from the truth" comes first. Interestingly, we have 45,000 different belief groups within Christianity, all with different, and conflicting, core beliefs, or, they'd be in the same belief group. Jesus, in Mat. 7:13-23 says almost all those believing Jesus is their Lord, God and Savior, even with the exact same signs and wonders present in the true Christians of the day, are still perishing, will not see life, will not enter the kingdom of heaven, and will be told, "I NEVER knew you. Depart from Me ye who work iniquity.".

The scarry word in this passage is the consistent meaning for the word "Thlebo" throughout the Septuagint and New Testament. The consistent meaning is ongoing anguish, torment, affliction, ... and it is the same word often translated as "Tribulation" in the "Great Tribulation". "Few" of those "Believing" Jesus is their Lord, God and savior are saved. Does that scare you? It scares the heck out of me. And not a single person who believes they are Christians, but were never ever known by Christ, will ever have a clue they are still headed for destruction, will not see life, and that Jesus never knew them. That also scares the heck out of me.

Is the great "apostacy" or "falling away from the truth" occurring? Based on scripture, I do believe it is.

The next step is the man of lawlessness is revealed and seats himself in the temple of God, declaring Himself to be God and to be exalted over every object of worship ... BUT, in the text, there are some pre-existing conditions which must occur BEFORE the revelation of this "man" can occur. (In other words, there are some intervening steps in the process leading to his revelation.)

The first is, there is a single being who is restraining him, and this "man of lawlessness" cannot reveal himself until this one person/being restraining him is removed.

2Th 2:6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he(singular) who now restrains will do so until he(singular), is taken out of the way. ​

Interestingly, this man of lawlessness, who is being restrained by a single person or being, is coming with the power, activity, signs and false wonders of Satan himself. The question is, what person/being is powerful enough to restrain Satan? Considering 1/3 of the angels who were present when the foundations of the world were set believed he could take God, and even Michael isn't bold enough to level an accusation against him, the people or beings powerful enough to restrain an individual with his power and ability are extremely limited ... one really: God. And God is also the being who the Lord will slay, once He does physically reappear on this earth, with the breath of His mouth.

2Th 2:8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;​

The next question is, if God is the only being who can restrain this "Man of Lawlessness" from making an appearance, and the only reason any of this is written is because someone, or someone's are stating the "Day of the Lord" has already come and passed, causing those who remain to be "Greatly disturbed", what "Day of the Lord", people believe they missed, that would disturb them greatly, requires a being that can requires God Himself to restrain, is taken away at the very moment this "Man of Lawlessness" can reveal himself, that is God? And this removal leads to Christ's future setting foot on earth and Jesus slaying this individual?

Let me propose that it is the Holy Spirit who is removed from the earth.

1Th 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. ​

And yes, God coming back for His people and meeting all of them in the air (A coming of Christ for His people), meeting them in the clouds (Not on earth) does remove the Holy Spirit from the planet.

Eph 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. ​

Rom 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.​

 

[EmethAlethia]

Part 2​

So, missing this "particular" "day of the Lord would mean you did not have the Holy Spirit in the first place. And yes, according to Mat. 7, almost all those who believe Jesus is their Lord, God and Savior, are going to miss it. But then that would mean you are still lost and headed for hell because you never did receive the Holy Spirit who is given to all those who believe the truth had, and you do not belong to Christ. In effect, contrary to your beliefs, Jesus never knew you. Would this revelation cause you great distress? It certainly would cause me great distress. The question is, how can people, who believe Jesus is their Lord God and Savior, even with the same miracles, (Works of marvelous power) signs and wonders, the true Christians of the first century possessed, the great masses of Christianity, be a part of the great falling away(Apostacy), and be headed for destruction, missing the path that leads to life? How can they be so deceived as to not have a clue until judgment day? Or when the man of lawlessness is revealed, whichever comes first?



The reason people can be so deceived is that they all made a choice. All the lost who don't believe in Jesus, for "no man comes to the father but by Me", and all the vast masses of people who believe themselves to be Christians, but aren't, even with all these wonders performed in His name, Mat. 7, all, for the reason that they reject a love of the truth, and love what they "want to believe" "as" truth instead, are receiving a deluding influence from God Himself, to believe the lies they want to believe. This is explained in 2Th. 2:10-12.

2Th 2:10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. ​

Everyone, whether they believe they are Christian or not, who fails to be saved, falls into the category above, and receives, FROM GOD, absolutely everything they need to hold fast to the beliefs they love, including all the signs and wonders the true Christians of the first century received. This includes believing what the anti-Christ dishes out in this verse.

2Th 2:9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, ​

The context, so far, is, those in the first century, Paul is writing to here, not having missed the "good" "day of the Lord", all true Christians, who miss it, would experience great distress at missing, will need to see first, to prove they did miss it, what must happen first, before those things happen, and how those in the end times, when the anti-Christ is revealed, those who believe themselves to be true Christians, will have missed it. The proof of having missed this "day of the Lord", and having great reason for being greatly distressed, i.e. the anti-Christ setting himself up in the "yet to be built" temple and declaring himself to be God, has not occurred yet. Thus, the One who restrains him, hasn't been removed yet, thus the true Christians are still here.



The entire crux between those who are, and aren't true Christians, is found in 2Th. 2:10-12, and Paul, in vs. 13 continues His comparison between the lost, and deceived people who believe themselves to be true Christians, but He never knew, are headed for destruction, will never see life, ... in verse 13 by evaluating the Thessalonians response to receiving a love of the truth in the 1st century. They, as opposed to those listed in verses 10-12, have passed the test, and have received a love of the truth and will see salvation. They will not receive the deluding influence from God to believe lies are truth and the truth to be lies in verse 11. they will end up with faith/belief in the truth:

2Th 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.​

It should be noted that those who are perishing, who have received everything they need, from God Himself, to believe lies are truth and truth to be lies, have absolutely no hope of ever getting to the true gospel... unless they choose to receive a love of truth, and not love what they "choose to believe" is truth. Everyone gets the choice. choose wisely.

2Th 2:10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.​

​

2Co 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ​

Every person on earth, within the 10,000 non-Christian belief groups that account for 2/3 of humanity, and the lost within the 45,000 different belief groups within Christianity who are "perishing", fail in this single test of having received, or rejected a love of the truth. and "for this reason", i.e. based on this single choice, will perish and not see life, and they cannot see the true gospel even if it is printed out in plain black and white letters in front of them. How can this happen? Everyone believes they love the truth and have the truth. Everyone judges whether or not others have the truth and love the truth based on their alignment of others with their own, and their chosen belief groups, core beliefs. Unfortunately, judging salvation based on core beliefs proves we have no concept or understanding of how to judge the salvation of ourselves and others.

2Co 10:12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.​

Jesus commands we judge it based on the ongoing, habitual fruits of those we are examining, not by beliefs:

Mat 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.​

There is absolutely no way for those who aren't true Christians to have the ongoing, habitual "True Fruits" of those who are "True Christians", and there is absolutely no way those who are true Christians can possess the fruits of those who believe they are true Christians but fail the tests. These are mutually exclusive, and examining the beliefs have nothing at all to do with the process. It's the ongoing habitual results that matter. Keep in mind, since Jesus says an agonizingly few people, who believe they are true Christians, really are, looking at how most people professing Christianity hold fast to their beliefs as truth, and categorically reject any possibility that their core beliefs might be wrong, "might" just be one of those "fruits" determining their eternal destination. Do most love what they believe with all their heart, mind, soul and strength, with, or without, all the signs and wonders done in Jesus name, or do they love truth, even if all their core beliefs are proven wrong? Do they keep on seeking truth? Do they keep on objectively examining all the evidence that might prove their current beliefs are wrong? Or, when opposition to their unquestionably true beliefs, that might prove they are in the great masses headed for destruction presents itself, do they respond like those in Mat. 7:6? Examine the "Fruits", not the professed beliefs, as true Christians, when they see your response, are commanded to stop sharing with you lest they be found fighting against the work God Himself is doing in their lives in 2Th. 2:11.

Mat 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.​

I welcome all evidence contrary to what I present here, and I promise to examine all evidence to the contrary with an open mind. If you agree with me on everything I believe, only one thing is certain. “You are wrong!” I firmly believe this. None of my beliefs are set in stone. All are subject to logic, reason, considering the ramifications of every aspect of my beliefs, and to all biblical situations and passages when every last one of those that “Might” apply is “accurately dissected” making God, God’s Word, and God’s people in the bible 100% consistent in all they say and do, and don’t say and don’t do.

 

[GRACE_ambassador]

...None of my beliefs are set in stone...

Amen, and: Precious friend, A Very Warm Welcome Back to 'Chat.'

Grace, Peace, Mercy, And Love

And, Please Be Very Richly Encouraged and Edified In
The Lord Jesus Christ and In His Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided:

Basic Distinctions Between Prophecy and Mystery ( “accurately dissected” ? )
+
“Things That Differ”

 

[sawdust]

You are insisting that half the world is righteous, and half are wicked.

No, you are the one insisting that. You really do not listen do you. How many times have I told you it is figurative? The point is not how many are taken but how it will come about suddenly, with only those who have understanding knowing what is going on.

Jesus said half taken in mat 24

No He didn't. He simply gave an analogy of what the day will be like, one minute there, the next, one is suddenly gone. You think the whole world does everything in pairs?

Then 7 sentences later, in mat 25, he uses the same formula.

Seven sentences later He is cutting asunder the wicked servant. What are you referring to? If it is the wise and foolish virgins parable then we have to apply your same literal interpretation and what we have is only five people being saved out of the ten people left in the world.

I know it is difficult, because you guys have a huge investment in the wrong thing.
I am a reporter.
I report what is there.
I will go with the bible.

The only difficulty is your inability to hear what is actually said and who the "you guys" are, is anyones guess. A reporter? Maybe for the mainstream media with their own bias agenda. You report what you want to see. One minute wanting to be literal, the next analogous. I wish you would go with the Bible, you might develop some understanding.

We're done here. I'm not repeating myself anymore.

Have a great day.

 

[sawdust]

QUOTE
"The wicked are not gathered before the tribulation. They are removed at the end on the Day Christ returns to Earth."

Lol
You talking about the tares?
I already taught you when they are gathered.
They are BURNED.
What part of that is resistant to you????
You now have half of earth's population burned before the flood.
Now you have a pretrib rapture of wicked burned and somehow move the GWTJ of the wicked to pretribulation.

BURNED at the LOF.

So, like I said, you have the return of Jesus at the GWT Judgement ( when the tares are burned). ...and all of it preflood.... pretrib.

See how changing verses makes you change 20 more to make it fit?

Only in your dreams.