Does It Really Matter?

[guysmith]

Before you get too heavy into a discussion/debated concerning Bible prophecy, I suggest that you ask yourself: does it really matter?

When Christ returns, there will be two types of Christians in the kingdom.
1. Those resurrected from the dead.
2. Those that will be alive at Christ's advent.

Now, it won't matter whether you are resurrected from the dead or you are alive at Christ's advent, because the most important thing is accepting Christ's sacrifice for our salvation (and doing everything we are supposed to do as Christians).
After that however, the only thing that matters is being alive at Christ's advent, which brings me back to my original question: does it really matter?

Christ stated: Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

.....so it must matter. Which brings me to another question: do all the prophetic scriptures provide information on how to escape and be alive at Christ's advent? The following is a short incomplete list of some of the subjects (which are designed to derail you from the purpose of prophecy) that do not provide instructions on how to escape:

1. The pretrib-posttrib-preterist debate.
2. Who/what is the bride?
3. Who is the AC?
4. What is Babylon?
5. Etc...

Let's say that you have these subjects figured out, that you have all the correct answers. Does it really matter? Does the answers to these questions provide you with information on being alive at Christ's advent? The truth is concerning these subjects; it really doesn't matter.

In Yehoshua,
Guy Smith

 

[D4Christ]

Of course it matters. You don't think Yahushua told us to "watch" and be aware of what is going on for nothing do you? Some of the arguments you listed that are supposed to 'derail' us actually helped me to understand what to 'watch' for. A pretribber, for example, does not need to watch because for them all the signs take place after they are raptured. They will tell me that studying endtimes is a waste....as long as they are ready spiritually they will be caught away when Christ returns.

So, if it doesn't matter, why all the warnings. Remember the theif in the night warning wasn't given to unbelievers it was given to the believers. And what about the ten virgins. All were waiting on the return of Yahushua...they all watched....and yet he only took 5 because the other 5 weren't prepared. How could 5 miss His return when they, obviousy knew who Yahushua was and they eagerly awaited His return....yet somehow they weren't ready at the moment of His return.

1 Thess 5 tells us to be alert, clearheaded, on guard, not in darkness and not asleep so that we won't be surpirsed by the day of the Lord. Suprised by the day of the Lord???? If you are pretrib you will be raptured by the time that day happens so how could you be suprised by it. Yet, 2 Thess 2 tells us that day won't occur until 2 things happen first. Joel, Zechariah, Zephaniah, Matth, etc., tell us the signs that precede the day of the Lord. Studying these scriptures are part of studying end time prophecies.

Perhaps Christ told us to watch and be aware so that we wouldn't be so overconfident as to think we won't miss this event. By the time the DOL does happen the AC will be in power with a deception so great that the elect might be fooled by it. Assuming that the elet are those watching and looking for the signs in prophecy, can you imagine how those church folks who are waiting to disappear from the pews might miss the obvious and be under the deception without realizing it? It is something to think about and study...I don't care how much we may disagree about the little details. The point is we are trying to figure it out.

 

[Osgiliath]

You better believe it matters! Obviously you do not understand what the entire Word of God points to; including all of the types given in the Old Testament concerning any kind of grand finale. The Great Tribulation will be Christianity's finest hour. The fires of persecution and martyrdom will purge the Christian movement of all of the rubbish, and after the refiners fire has accomplished this purification, this dark, empty, vain world will be able to clearly see the difference between those who love righteousness and truth versus those who love evil, lust and lies. God has predetermined that good and evil will be clearly presented (an clearly contrasted) during the Great Tribulation. By putting the whole world in a position of suffering, many who are now blinded by prejudice, lies, ignorance, and hatred will see the light and 'real Truth' for the first time. They will repent and choose salvation through Jesus Christ. God will first clean house and then He will use the faithfulness of genuine saints to save millions of people who at the present time have nothing but contempt for Christianity. The Tribulation is the culmination of God's entire plan and purpose from the very beginning, and is the time when Jesus Christ is fully revealed to all (even those who have passed). Yes, it matters more than you can ever know!