Christianity Oasis Forum

[saint701]

Hello Christianity Oasis, All...

Blessings!

I found Dr. David Jeremiah's latest book, The Great Disappearance, to be a very well written, impeccably researched, thought-provoking, timely, in-depth treatise on the subject of our Lord's appearing to catch us away in the air...otherwise known as THE RAPTURE. With the world suddenly in turmoil over Israel's war with Hamas, and being reminded of all the other signs our Lord told us would preceed his return in Matthew chapter 24, we have been advised by our Lord to look up for our redemption draweth nye...in other words, as penned by Dr. Jeremiah, our Lord's return to catch us away is imminent.

I agree...sort of...I agree with the doctrine of imminence...we must always be watchful for we do not know the day or hour of our Lord's return...He will come as a thief in the night...therefore the day of His return is always imminent...which is, by definition...the state or fact of being about to happen. In all that I agree. Such is a very good argument for our Lord to come for us before the tribulation...and indeed, Dr. Jeremiah did point out in his book, quoting from the Book of Revelation chapter 3 verse 10, that our Lord promised to keep the Church of Philadelphia from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Ch. 3 [10] Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

But...on the other hand...what if our Lord does not come to rapture us away before the tribulation? But rather at the mid-point which is where we hear the sound of the last or 7th trump...and where (Rev. ch. 11) [15] the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Or even more alarming would be the catching away of the church after the tribulation. Then, having only a pre-trib mentality becomes dangerous...such denies the sufferings of all the martyrs of our Lord down through the centuries and of those future martyrs who will be killed during the tribulation.

Rev.6
[11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

As previously stated, considering the evidence contrary to a pre-trib catching away, having a pre-trib mentality becomes dangerous. Why? Because it leaves us unprepared to suffer. That said, what then should our mentality be? Should it be that of a suffering servant only? Or should it be that our Lord will catch us away at any moment only? I think not. I believe our attitude concerning our catching away should be a combination of both, always walking as a suffering servant...always willing to lay our life down at any moment should that be required of us....but also living as a watchful son or daugher of our Lord, loving His appearing, ever-watching moment by moment and hour by hour for His coming to catch us away to be with Him forever.

2Tim.4
[8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.


Blessings!
Love, in Christ Jesus, Saint701.