Edward
2024 Supporter
I use to be a pretrib person as I followed all those pretrib teachings taking them at face value, but not anymore as Christ said that those who endure until the end are those who will be saved. The end of what means the end of all abominations that cause desolation in our lives as in all the tribulations listed in Matthew 24:1-31 as they increase daily, but the end is not yet until that of vs.29-31 which happens right after that of Rev 11:11-18 up to Rev 14:14-20 and when all things are finished then that of the New heaven and New Jerusalem will be ushered down and we will be with the Lord forever.
Rev_18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
This is a...hard to comprehend issue. I was hard core pre-trib for years until...some things came to light which caused my to throw out everything I thought I knew and start over on it and completely re-studied the whole issue for a long time, and I then concluded that pre-trib was wrong and the truth was post-trib rapture.
I was confident and settled in my heart about this. And then...without questioning, without asking, without wondering... something happened which I can not discuss, which caused me to take another fresh look at the issue. Something big. So I am once again re-researching the facts and scriptures about rapture, pre-mid, or post.
I don't like to be wrong, and I pray a lot to not be deceived, or to deceive myself. A very very good case can be made for pre-trib AND post-trib. If one is honest with themselves, when the study this, they would have to admit this. Ego aside, pride, respect for men and teachers, preconceptions...all of it, has to be set aside in order to be able to receive the truth no matter what it is, if we like it, or want this or that to be the truth. The truth is the truth and there is no other.
So in the meantime, i am living as if, the rapture could happen tonight, because I do want to be ready, i do not want to be left behind if it comes.
One big realization that I have come to recently, is....(IF) a pre-trib rapture happens...Will the entire church be taken. I don't think so. This is Jesus's Bride that he's coming for. Without blemish. Ready.
Check this out...There's four levels of relationship or covenant, correct? We have follower, we have friend, we have son, and we have bride. (poke holes in this and tell me where I'm wrong brothers and sisters)
All four levels are destined for eternal life, to be saved. Followers are saved and are of the (for lack of a better term) lukewarm types but believe. They lack the passion and works for the Lord to increase the harvest to any great extent.
The friend or (salt covenant) is higher. Friends of the Lord have more privileges than servants/followers and greater revelation and so forth, but not as much as sons or brides.
Sonship is family and with it is very much more revelation, intimacy, trust, empowerment and privileges than mere friends.
Then you have the bride. She has the most privileges than even sons do, being the wife. She is unblemished. She has total reverence and obeys...is holy and justified in every way. She knows the Lords voice and listens and is led of the Spirit always.
So if and when the pre-trib rapture happens, Jesus is coming for the bride alone. the others will be left behind to be further tried and grow in the Lord until they are ready to wear the white robes. A lot of pastors will be left, and some very very good people, who are very godlike in many ways, but have some...issues to work through in their heart. One can not have two masters. So it makes sense that even saved Christians would be left behind. (if if if and all that stuff)
Many seem to hold the belief that the entire church will be raptured, and due to the four levels of covenant, I see this as a possibility of it not being so if/when it turnd out to be pre-trib.
Have at it brothers and sisters. Tell me all about the levels and how you agree or disagree with my thoughts. Scripture speaks of followers and friends, and sons, and bride...