Bible Study In My Fathers House.

[Chopper]

John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

O my friends. Lets bask in the glorious promise of Jesus the Son of God. Over the past forty years of being a bond Servant of Christ Jesus, I have attended to many who were ready to leave this world to go home to be with their Savior.

There have been those who had no fear at all. Those Saints had been faithful to study God's Word regularly and to attend a good Gospel preaching Church that preached not only the Gospel and repentance from dead works but taught the whole council of God. They were ready to go.

Others who did not have the background of such a wonderful relationship with their Lord Jesus, did not have that joy of entering into what Jesus had prepared for them. As a result, I often quoted these verses to them and the Holy Spirit did minister to them.

Are you ready this day to move from this life to the next? Scripture says....
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

O friends, our life could be snuffed out today from a heart attack or other physical trauma. An accident on the highway going to work could happen. A soldier on foreign soil could die from a sniper's bullet. We are not promised another day here. Are you ready"

Lets look at a verse in Revelation....
Revelation 4:2 "And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."

Theologians have argued in favor of several interpretations of these twenty four Elders. Keeping with Christian wording, Elders are not angels or Israel. They are believers in Christ Jesus and are seated where His Throne is in Heaven, more than likely, the New Jerusalem before it comes to the new earth. These are the raptured Saints who will behold the Tribulation period and the saving of Israel by the 144,000.

I point this out because as John see's it, the promise of entering the Kingdom of God is a reality. The rapture is a reality, and to die and go on to be with Jesus is a reality.

O my friends. lets all get more serious about our relationship with Christ Jesus and stimulate our spirituality with consistent Bible study and prayer. Lets take the parable of the 10 virgins as an example....

Matthew 25:1 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

This is a very serious parable. Only half of those who wanted to be united with Jesus were ready. In my mind, I believe that the "oil" represents the Holy Spirit which is very active in those who have regular Bible study, devotions, Church attendance, and other fellowship with believers who are ready to meet Jesus the Son of God. Lets be like the five virgins who were ready.

 

[for_his_glory]

The twenty-four elders of Revelation 4:4; 5:6 are symbolic of the ruling authority in the Church. There is a correspondence between the twenty-four elders above and the office of elder below. This means that the government of the Church is patterned after heaven itself. As there are elders in heaven above, so there are elders on earth below. 1 Chronicles 24:7-19; 25:6-31; and 26:12-19

Just as the first Church that was established on the true word of God by Christ himself so we too need to continue in all the truth taught to us by the Holy Spirit in having have ears to hear, Matthew 13:3-9. We're not even promised the next minute of our life and do need to make ready and be ready for that last trumpet that calls us home to be with the Lord forever, 1Corinthians 15:52.

Chopper I have to respectfully disagree about a pretrib Rapture even though I use to believe in one until I really got into Revelations separating myself from all the pretrib teachings that are out there. Rev 14:1-5 the 144,000 should not be taken literally. It’s 12 x 12 x 1000. The 12 being the number of completion for God’s people representing the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles and 1000 being a generic number suggesting a great multitude. So 144,000 is a way of saying all of God’s people under the old and new covenant. Virgins are we, the saints of God who have held onto truth. The army that Rev 19:14 speaks of that return with Jesus as he plants his feet on the Mt of Olives to fight the final battle are the angels and we, the saints of God, who were caught up to meet Jesus in the air and return with him, Rev 17:14; Matt 16:27; Jude 1:15, 16; Rev 19:19: Rev 3:4,5; Rev 7:13-15.

 

[Malachi]

Chopper I have to respectfully disagree about a pretrib Rapture

Actually John 14:1-4 itself presents a pre-Tribulation Rapture, so Chopper is spot on. Let's take a closer look.
Let not your heart be troubled: = there is no Tribulation period for the saints of God. The trials and afflictions of the saints are not the same as the judgement of the unbelieving and ungodly during the Tribulation period (Daniel's 70th week).
ye believe in God, believe also in me. = Jesus is God, so to believe in Christ is to be Rapture ready
In my Father's house are many mansions = mansions to be in the New Jerusalem, which is the eternal home of the saints, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
if it were not so, I would have told you = we must believe Christ regarding this without the shadow of a doubt
I go to prepare a place for you = Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection of the Church, therefore He is preparing a place in the New Jerusalem
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again
= an absolute guarantee that Christ will come FIRST for His saints at the Rapture, then WITH His saints at the Revelation.
and receive you unto myself = Jesus descends PERSONALLY for His saints at the Rapture. But He sends forth His angels to gather the elect (believing Jewish remnant) at His Second Coming (Mt 24:31).
that where I am, there ye may be also = where is Christ? Seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Therefore where will the saints be eternally? Around the throne of God.

 

[reba]

No claim to be a greek scholar not even close.. I will say just using Strong's one could read John 14 :2 to say In My Father's family are positions : if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

 

[ezrider]

The ten virgins all thought they had oil to burn in their lamps, and they all slept and slumbered. But at midnight a cry went forth, and they all rose to go forth to meet the bridegroom. The oil was needed so that their way might be lit in the darkest of hours. Now the foolish took no oil with them, but that does not mean there was no oil in there lamp to begin with; and likewise the wise virgins feared that they might not have enough oil for themselves.

For each of the virgins, the oil that filled their lamps before they departed was mined from the scriptures and the word of God. And the oil that was mined was the Promise of the Holy Spirit. Now when they each arose to go forth they lit their lamps, and they did burn for a while as they went forth and trimmed them.

Now the foolish virgins took no oil with them, meaning they did not know the Spirit of the Lord within them. Soon their lamps went out and they were left alone in the dark, sent off to buy from those who sell. And like the oil barrens and profiteers, the power from the light of the Son has been suppressed that they might sell unto you their oil. And like those who pillage for profit by fracking for oil, or those who would squeeze every drop of oil they can from the tar sands at the expense of the common wealth, the foolish virgins return again to the Bible or to those who sell books about the Bible, trying to squeeze every last drop of oil that remains from the dried ink on the pages of a book. The foolish virgins never understood that for all the oil they might mine, and for all the oil that they might purchase, there is never enough oil to sustain the lamp, for it soon burns dim before it need more oil.

Now the wise virgins started off with the same oil in their lamps as did the foolish, but the wise virgins took some oil with them, and they carried that oil in their container of Faith. Now after they has arose and went forth, they lit their lamps and trimmed them, and when their lamps began to dim and the darkness overtake them they did not turn back, but they called upon their Faith and it sustained them for a while and their lamp remained lit. But the wise virgins were called wise for a reason, for they perceived that the oil of their faith was no different than the oil they first began with; the oil mined from the scriptures. And as the oil of their faith weakened to the point that there lamps were barely lit, they drew on their last bit of faith and called upon the Lord to lighten their way in the darkness. And when they saw that the Lord did send forth His Spirit to lighten their way, and that the darkness was not as frightful as they thought, they learned to trust in the Lord and to trust in His Spirit.

Now trusting in the Spirit of the Lord to lighten the way before them, the wise virgins found that if they took their eyes off the path for a moment to gaze at the world around them they would quickly loose sight of that light, and they would once again stumble around in the darkness until they call upon the Lord once again. Soon the Lord reminds them that they should carry a little extra oil with them, and so He gives to them the gift of His Faith. Now back on their way with their lamps lit and trim, when the wise virgins find the darkness deepening around them, they soon discover that once they call upon that Faith to refuel their lamp, that they are soon able to trim their lamp to meet the magnitude of darkness before them. And as the darkness grows around them, their lamps begin to burn brighter, and soon they discover that once they have called upon that gift of Faith, that the Spirit of the Lord sustains them and that His oil does not diminish.

Our light begins to shine brighter and our Faith begins to grow when we can learn to express the Word of God within us rather than just the word of God as it found in the ink on the pages of a book.

 

[Malachi]

...one could read John 14 :2 to say In My Father's family are positions : if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Since Christ says "place" it simply cannot mean "positions". Many people object to the word "mansions", but if the New Jerusalem is built out of heavenly gold and precious stones, "mansions" does full justice to what God has prepared for each of His children. God is not niggardly (as some might imagine).

 

[reba]

I havae a number of places in my family ... wife mom daughter cook house keeper a lot of places.. I will not continue that would be debate ,this is Bible Study

 

[dianegcook]

John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

O my friends. Lets bask in the glorious promise of Jesus the Son of God. Over the past forty years of being a bond Servant of Christ Jesus, I have attended to many who were ready to leave this world to go home to be with their Savior.

There have been those who had no fear at all. Those Saints had been faithful to study God's Word regularly and to attend a good Gospel preaching Church that preached not only the Gospel and repentance from dead works but taught the whole council of God. They were ready to go.

Others who did not have the background of such a wonderful relationship with their Lord Jesus, did not have that joy of entering into what Jesus had prepared for them. As a result, I often quoted these verses to them and the Holy Spirit did minister to them.

Are you ready this day to move from this life to the next? Scripture says....
James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

O friends, our life could be snuffed out today from a heart attack or other physical trauma. An accident on the highway going to work could happen. A soldier on foreign soil could die from a sniper's bullet. We are not promised another day here. Are you ready"

Lets look at a verse in Revelation....
Revelation 4:2 "And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."

Theologians have argued in favor of several interpretations of these twenty four Elders. Keeping with Christian wording, Elders are not angels or Israel. They are believers in Christ Jesus and are seated where His Throne is in Heaven, more than likely, the New Jerusalem before it comes to the new earth. These are the raptured Saints who will behold the Tribulation period and the saving of Israel by the 144,000.

I point this out because as John see's it, the promise of entering the Kingdom of God is a reality. The rapture is a reality, and to die and go on to be with Jesus is a reality.

O my friends. lets all get more serious about our relationship with Christ Jesus and stimulate our spirituality with consistent Bible study and prayer. Lets take the parable of the 10 virgins as an example....

Matthew 25:1 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

This is a very serious parable. Only half of those who wanted to be united with Jesus were ready. In my mind, I believe that the "oil" represents the Holy Spirit which is very active in those who have regular Bible study, devotions, Church attendance, and other fellowship with believers who are ready to meet Jesus the Son of God. Lets be like the five virgins who were ready.

Hi Chopper
You can also look at those verses in different angles.
In John 14:2
Whom was He speaking to?
To His disciples,
He was speaking of His departure, His crucifixion...
Mansion, Strong's #3438, meaning abode, abide
As you read on you get the meaning, you cannot read just one verse.
John 14:16
Give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.
John 14:17-21, 23
For He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you.
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more, but ye see me, because I live, ye shall live also.
At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.

If a man love Me, he will keep My words, and My Father will love him, We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.

This is not speaking about some secret rapture, if so the disciples would had gone.
You seen what they went through.

Rev.4:2-4
John was taken up in the Spirit, nothing about the church.
Jasper, sardine stone, rainbow, like unto an emerald.
Read Exodus 39:8-14, breastplate, 12 tribes of Israel....
Jasper, emerald, sardius..
Thus, I believe the other 12 are the 12 Apostles.
Signifying breast plates.
12 Patriarchs
12 Apostles
12 denotes Governmental perfection
Other numbers follow the laws which govern the smaller numbers, as being their factors, sums, products or multiplies, 24 is 12x2, a higher form of 12.

Parable of 10 virgins
You will find the Millennium temple in Ezek. Chapters 40-48
Here on Earth, Mt. Olive...
The 5 foolish had to go to where they buy and sell, the so called Anti Christ, receive the Mark..
Matt.25:10
And while the 5 foolish went to buy, the Bridegroom came.
And the door was shut...
Then them saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Must be here not heaven...
Then of course, I know you not.
They became the harlot, spiritually.

I just don't see any rapture into it, my beliefs....

 

[for_his_glory]

Actually John 14:1-4 itself presents a pre-Tribulation Rapture, so Chopper is spot on. Let's take a closer look.
Let not your heart be troubled: = there is no Tribulation period for the saints of God. The trials and afflictions of the saints are not the same as the judgement of the unbelieving and ungodly during the Tribulation period (Daniel's 70th week).
ye believe in God, believe also in me. = Jesus is God, so to believe in Christ is to be Rapture ready
In my Father's house are many mansions = mansions to be in the New Jerusalem, which is the eternal home of the saints, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
if it were not so, I would have told you = we must believe Christ regarding this without the shadow of a doubt
I go to prepare a place for you = Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection of the Church, therefore He is preparing a place in the New Jerusalem
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again
= an absolute guarantee that Christ will come FIRST for His saints at the Rapture, then WITH His saints at the Revelation.
and receive you unto myself = Jesus descends PERSONALLY for His saints at the Rapture. But He sends forth His angels to gather the elect (believing Jewish remnant) at His Second Coming (Mt 24:31).
that where I am, there ye may be also = where is Christ? Seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Therefore where will the saints be eternally? Around the throne of God.

I apologize to Chopper for taking his OP off topic by stating my belief in a pretrib rapture as that is not what the OP is about so can we please keep on topic as I started something I should have not started so I will not reply to the pretrib discussion. Thank you.

 

[Chopper]

The twenty-four elders of Revelation 4:4; 5:6 are symbolic of the ruling authority in the Church. There is a correspondence between the twenty-four elders above and the office of elder below. This means that the government of the Church is patterned after heaven itself. As there are elders in heaven above, so there are elders on earth below. 1 Chronicles 24:7-19; 25:6-31; and 26:12-19

Just as the first Church that was established on the true word of God by Christ himself so we too need to continue in all the truth taught to us by the Holy Spirit in having have ears to hear, Matthew 13:3-9. We're not even promised the next minute of our life and do need to make ready and be ready for that last trumpet that calls us home to be with the Lord forever, 1Corinthians 15:52.

Chopper I have to respectfully disagree about a pretrib Rapture even though I use to believe in one until I really got into Revelations separating myself from all the pretrib teachings that are out there. Rev 14:1-5 the 144,000 should not be taken literally. It’s 12 x 12 x 1000. The 12 being the number of completion for God’s people representing the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles and 1000 being a generic number suggesting a great multitude. So 144,000 is a way of saying all of God’s people under the old and new covenant. Virgins are we, the saints of God who have held onto truth. The army that Rev 19:14 speaks of that return with Jesus as he plants his feet on the Mt of Olives to fight the final battle are the angels and we, the saints of God, who were caught up to meet Jesus in the air and return with him, Rev 17:14; Matt 16:27; Jude 1:15, 16; Rev 19:19: Rev 3:4,5; Rev 7:13-15.

Hey Glory Girl, it's Ok to disagree with the old Chopper. My goodness, there are so many different interpretations of end times happenings that for a new believer it must seem overwhelming. I like to keep things simple and literal as much as possible. Honestly? I've never heard of your interpretation.

Just wanted you to know that I'm praying for you and Hubby each morning. I sure hope his pain level is getting much better. I know what it means to hurt. I've had two failed spine surgeries and am on morphine tabs day and night.

Love you two!

 

[for_his_glory]

What I see in John 14:1-4 is that of our Salvation redemption promise as we are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption and are not to grieve the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4:30. In John 15:18-20 Jesus said if the world hate Him they will also hate us and also persecute us even to death as we have seen this with the prophets of the OT, the Apostles in the NT and even today as many are dying a martyr's death for the sake of Christ. 2Timothy 3:13-15 this world is waxing worse by evil that exist in it and many will be deceived, but we are to cling on to that which we have learned in the scriptures so we will not get caught up in the evil affairs of this world as we wait for the coming of Jesus. We will never know when we will draw our last breath and whether we are dead or alive at Christ return we need to be ready before He does. Jesus only comes once for His Bride and then that door of salvation will be closed forever, 1Corinthians 15:50-58; 1Thessalonians 4:14-18.

Jesus tells us to not let our hearts be troubled as we need not take concern for our self what evil men can do to us as we have picked up our cross and have crucified this flesh and follow Him, Galatians 2:20; Luke 9:23. In my Father's house are many mansions. Mansion means abode as in our breath/spirit that goes back to abode with God when this body returns back to the ground from whence it came, Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 12:7. Jesus prepares a place for us being the new Jerusalem that will be ushered down at the end of days on that great and terrible day of the LORD when God after His great wrath on those who refuse to repent will be cast into the lake of fire and God purifies this present heaven and earth making it new again and then Jesus will receive us and there where Jesus is we will be with Him forever Revelation 21:1-4.

 

[for_his_glory]

Hey Glory Girl, it's Ok to disagree with the old Chopper. My goodness, there are so many different interpretations of end times happenings that for a new believer it must seem overwhelming. I like to keep things simple and literal as much as possible. Honestly? I've never heard of your interpretation.

Just wanted you to know that I'm praying for you and Hubby each morning. I sure hope his pain level is getting much better. I know what it means to hurt. I've had two failed spine surgeries and am on morphine tabs day and night.

Love you two!

Thank you my friend and for your prayers. The pain level is coming down somewhat even though he is still in pain mainly from his job driving a highlift that bounces him around the lumber yard all day.

 

[Chopper]

Hi Chopper
You can also look at those verses in different angles.
In John 14:2
Whom was He speaking to?
To His disciples,
He was speaking of His departure, His crucifixion...
Mansion, Strong's #3438, meaning abode, abide
As you read on you get the meaning, you cannot read just one verse.
John 14:16
Give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.
John 14:17-21, 23
For He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you.
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more, but ye see me, because I live, ye shall live also.
At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.

If a man love Me, he will keep My words, and My Father will love him, We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.

This is not speaking about some secret rapture, if so the disciples would had gone.
You seen what they went through.

Rev.4:2-4
John was taken up in the Spirit, nothing about the church.
Jasper, sardine stone, rainbow, like unto an emerald.
Read Exodus 39:8-14, breastplate, 12 tribes of Israel....
Jasper, emerald, sardius..
Thus, I believe the other 12 are the 12 Apostles.
Signifying breast plates.
12 Patriarchs
12 Apostles
12 denotes Governmental perfection
Other numbers follow the laws which govern the smaller numbers, as being their factors, sums, products or multiplies, 24 is 12x2, a higher form of 12.

Parable of 10 virgins
You will find the Millennium temple in Ezek. Chapters 40-48
Here on Earth, Mt. Olive...
The 5 foolish had to go to where they buy and sell, the so called Anti Christ, receive the Mark..
Matt.25:10
And while the 5 foolish went to buy, the Bridegroom came.
And the door was shut...
Then them saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Must be here not heaven...
Then of course, I know you not.
They became the harlot, spiritually.

I just don't see any rapture into it, my beliefs....

Well Dianegcook. You seem quite well studied up on your theories, good for you. As you have seen, that's not my thinking but I must admit, I'll study more closely what you just posted because it looks interesting. I really appreciate the fact that you can disagree with the old Choppers theology in a very Christlike manner. I admire that in you. Hey Sister, when you & I cease to examine each others theology we just might as well curl up in a corner and put our Bibles away.

I have always learned some new facts from your threads and posts. You've been around the barn a few times, as they say, and I detect a very godly Bond Servant of Jesus the Son of God in you.

In Jesus, I Love You Dear Sister. Thanks for being You!!

 

[Deborah13]

Joh 14:2 in the house of my Father are many mansions; and if not, I would have told you; I go on to prepare a place for you;
Joh 14:3 and if I go on and prepare for you a place, again do I come, and will receive you unto myself, that where I am ye also may be;
I believe, the Lord was preparing them for unsettling things that were soon to come. They were Jews, raised in the physical Tabernacle/Temple. They would be ostracized by the Jewish leaders, even killed. One would live to see the destruction of the physical temple and the holy city of Jerusalem. What Jesus taught them they are to teach to all the others, many that would see this destruction. They needed to know that even though all this would change, on the earth, they didn't need to worry, because the Lord would have a temple with many chambers ready for them, and He, Himself would take them there.
This can also be applied to our own physical temples, our corruptible bodies, that will be changed at the resurrection.

2Co 5:1 For we have known that if our earthly house of the tabernacle may be thrown down, a building from God we have, an house not made with hands--age-during--in the heavens,

 

[Chopper]

Actually John 14:1-4 itself presents a pre-Tribulation Rapture, so Chopper is spot on. Let's take a closer look.
Let not your heart be troubled: = there is no Tribulation period for the saints of God. The trials and afflictions of the saints are not the same as the judgement of the unbelieving and ungodly during the Tribulation period (Daniel's 70th week).
ye believe in God, believe also in me. = Jesus is God, so to believe in Christ is to be Rapture ready
In my Father's house are many mansions = mansions to be in the New Jerusalem, which is the eternal home of the saints, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
if it were not so, I would have told you = we must believe Christ regarding this without the shadow of a doubt
I go to prepare a place for you = Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection of the Church, therefore He is preparing a place in the New Jerusalem
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again
= an absolute guarantee that Christ will come FIRST for His saints at the Rapture, then WITH His saints at the Revelation.
and receive you unto myself = Jesus descends PERSONALLY for His saints at the Rapture. But He sends forth His angels to gather the elect (believing Jewish remnant) at His Second Coming (Mt 24:31).
that where I am, there ye may be also = where is Christ? Seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Therefore where will the saints be eternally? Around the throne of God.

Wow Malachi, you sure hit a Chopper Home Run with that post. And, thank you for defending the old Chopper's Pre-Trib Rapture position. Hey, not only did you hit a Home Run, but bases were loaded!!!!! I really liked how you broke down each verse with your own theology reinforcing them. That's a wonderful way to teach, no guesswork here!!

Funny, when I used to rub shoulders with other Pastors of a few different Denominations other than Baptists, boy, talk about various rapture theories, there were a bunch of them. Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, No-Trib etc, etc. I used to tell them, "The Scriptures speak of God giving us the desire of our hearts. Guess what? God just might take you home according to your beliefs."

I told them, "I believe in Pre-Trib that's when I'm going. Jack believes in Mid-Trib, that's when he's going. Poor Mike, he believes in Post-Trib, he'll go thru the whole 7 years of Tribulation." Lol, that always got a laugh but I could see that some of those Pastors didn't laugh very long because a few thought "Hey, he could be right."

 

[Chopper]

Thank you my friend and for your prayers. The pain level is coming down somewhat even though he is still in pain mainly from his job driving a highlift that bounces him around the lumber yard all day.

That's to bad. You tell him that I know all about operating that kind of equipment. After retiring from the full time ministry, I started a Christian Fellowship here in Greenfield, MA. I chose not to take a salary because I wanted the tithes and offerings to go back into the needs of the 60+ members.

As a result, I had to have a secular job. I was a "heavy equipment" operator. bulldozers, front end loaders, compactors, lulls and the like. Thirteen years of bouncing around like a rag doll, I had to have both hips replaced and two failed spine surgery's. I'm on morphine tabs day and night.

I'll keep praying for his recovery, pain threshold, and a complete healing. By the faith of Jesus, it will happen.

 

[for_his_glory]

That's to bad. You tell him that I know all about operating that kind of equipment. After retiring from the full time ministry, I started a Christian Fellowship here in Greenfield, MA. I chose not to take a salary because I wanted the tithes and offerings to go back into the needs of the 60+ members. As a result, I had to have a secular job. I was a "heavy equipment" operator. bulldozers, front end loaders, compactors, lulls and the like. Thirteen years of bouncing around like a rag doll, I had to have both hips replaced and two failed spine surgery's. I'm on morphine tabs day and night. I'll keep praying for his recovery, pain threshold, and a complete healing. By the faith of Jesus, it will happen.

I too have had both knees replaced and my left hip and will have the right hip done when I get caught up on all the other hospital bills. What makes us weak in the flesh only makes us stronger in the Lord as Gods grace is sufficient, 2Corinthians 12:9. You too are in my prayers

 

[dianegcook]

Well Dianegcook. You seem quite well studied up on your theories, good for you. As you have seen, that's not my thinking but I must admit, I'll study more closely what you just posted because it looks interesting. I really appreciate the fact that you can disagree with the old Choppers theology in a very Christlike manner. I admire that in you. Hey Sister, when you & I cease to examine each others theology we just might as well curl up in a corner and put our Bibles away.

I have always learned some new facts from your threads and posts. You've been around the barn a few times, as they say, and I detect a very godly Bond Servant of Jesus the Son of God in you.

In Jesus, I Love You Dear Sister. Thanks for being You!!

Same here my dear brother,
You always shown respect and charity, love.
Always a pleasure speaking with you.
Minus all the theologies, love is what matters.
1Cor.13:1-13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind, charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.
Does not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil....
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Faith
Hope
Charity
But the greatest of these is charity.



I can see this in you, you can spot God's child by their compassion.
Love ya Bro...

 

[Chopper]

Thank you my friend and for your prayers. The pain level is coming down somewhat even though he is still in pain mainly from his job driving a highlift that bounces him around the lumber yard all day.

I too have had both knees replaced and my left hip and will have the right hip done when I get caught up on all the other hospital bills. What makes us weak in the flesh only makes us stronger in the Lord as Gods grace is sufficient, 2Corinthians 12:9. You too are in my prayers

O my, our aging bodies. It will be grand when we receive glorified bodies in the New Jerusalem. We will be able to serve our Lord Jesus the way it was originally intended. Glory to our God, Who was, Who is, and Who is to come.

 

[Chopper]

Same here my dear brother,
You always shown respect and charity, love.
Always a pleasure speaking with you.
Minus all the theologies, love is what matters.
1Cor.13:1-13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind, charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.
Does not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil....
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Faith
Hope
Charity
But the greatest of these is charity.



I can see this in you, you can spot God's child by their compassion.
Love ya Bro...

Loving words from a friend in Jesus for sure. You are absolutely right Dear Sister. Without Jesus' love for each other, we are just a bunch of phonies. We are taught that on love hangs all the Law and Prophets. Thru the practice of love for each other, if it isn't worked out that way, it is useless and in many ways damaging.


Thank you for being my Gospel Friend. Love You,