Posted on 03/22/2011 6:36:53 AM PDT by topcat54
Like [Hal] Lindsey and many who preceded and followed him in pronouncing their generation as “terminal,” [Jeff] Lasseigne is constrained by his dispensational hermeneutic to offer a worldview that is really an “upper-world worldview”:
Or as John MacArthur said, “Man’s efforts to bring about a better world . . . amount to little more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic to give everyone a better view as the ship sinks” (196).[3]The “rapture” has been a convenient escape hatch for Christians. When times worsened, the “rapture” was preached with great vitality. Millions were assured that before all hell breaks loose that they would be taken to heaven to watch the Great Tribulation from up above the heavens so bright.
Lasseigne manufactures a “rapture” theology in Revelation 4:1–2. John told to “come up here” is thought to be a “symbolic picture of the rapture” (76). This is a common interpretation among dispensationalists. Lasseigne isn’t the first one to use it. Tim LaHaye made it the cornerstone of his Revelation rapture theology. For those who claim to interpret prophecy literally, Revelation 4:1-2 says nothing about the church being taken to heaven prior to a seven-year tribulation period, but LaHaye argues for it anyway even though the phrase “seven years” does not appear in Revelation.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanvision.org ...
Actually, I believe it is in Revelation, in chapter 7, after the 144k are sealed.
Revelation 7: 9, 13, 14
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Thank You, Bob!
Instead of looking for the rapture...we should reread all those scriptures, and look forward to that great multitude that will be saved in the midst of tribulation!
“I do agree, to an extent but I truly and firmly believe with all my heart and God saved soul that the rapture is a tool of satan and will be employed by the anti-Christ to deceive many.”
Christians can discuss the Word of God without being evil. What is evil about believing that being saved will result in rapture before the tribulation?
How is it deceiving anyone?
I'd like to know your definition of love.
Thank you Rob! Sorry for the finger spasm!
“I’d like to know your definition of love.”
eh? my definition of love? Are you sure you don’t want the meaning of life?
You all do a magnificent job of turning the “Blessed Hope” into the “blessed hopelessness.” What do you care if someone believes in the Rapture? I certainly do. And I don’t apologize to any of you for it it.
The post trib philosophy is a nasty, toxic, angry series of rants founded on congratulating each other about theological purity and welcoming the painful suffering ahead. I’ve yet to meet a post-tribber that wasn’t a vicious egomaniac, inviting people to share in glorious suffering and death as part of Christian religion. Sound like anyone else you know?
I rarely engage in these food fights. But the bottom line is, you all can’t prove you are right any more than I can.
“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.” (Rev 3:10 KJV)
Enjoy your grim suffering. I’ll take my chances. Now get back to congratulating yourselves and attacking your fellow Christians who are at peace with you.
Precisely.
Are you incapable of answering a simple question? You sound like my eight-year-old.
Where was I attacking anyone?
A nice response, and, in my opinion, a correct response.
Ironically, yours is the nastiest post on this thread so far...
“Are you incapable of answering a simple question?”
For someone professing to be a Christian your behavior is lacking a certain grace. I was not asked a simple question.
“You sound like my eight-year-old.”
Judging from your posts to me I’d say your 8 yr old has a very poor example. You’re not a very nice person.
I think the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture and dispensationalism in general are faulty interpretation, but I don’t think we need to fall out over it. You’re right, we can discuss it and disagree without accusing one another of deceit or being tools of Satan.
I beg your pardon... I simply asked for your definition of love. You answered with a lack of grace.
Judging from your posts to me I’d say your 8 yr old has a very poor example. You’re not a very nice person.
Judging and condescension are precisely the problem with our conversation. I meant to have a nice chat with you that I thought would be interesting for both of us. Since you see this as an attack, I can only conclude that a nice chat is not in the offing. Good day and may God bless you.
“I think the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture and dispensationalism in general are faulty interpretation, but I don’t think we need to fall out over it.”
very well said
“You answered with a lack of grace.”
No I asked you if you really wanted the meaning of life. To which you insulted me and now are seeking to accuse me of being irrational. I don’t see anywhere in there where you wanted to have a ‘nice chat’.
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