Posted on 10/27/2022 3:59:23 AM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal
How close is the rapture of the church? I think we can get a good idea based on recent surveys of self-identified Christians in the United States.
Recently, The Christian Post reported, "Over a third of senior pastors believe 'good people' can earn their way to heaven." This was the conclusion of a survey conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. The survey polled around 1,000 Christian pastors, examining dozens of beliefs they hold, and found only 37% hold a biblical worldview.
The survey found 39% believe "each individual must determine their own truth," 38% do not believe "human life is sacred," and 37% believe "having faith, in general, is more important than in what - or more specifically, Whom - one has faith."
Assuming this is true, it should come as no surprise to learn the people sitting in the pews of these churches hold similar views. In his blog post, "Barna: Most Americans Create a Customized Worldview," Ken Ham states, "Seven out of 10 U.S. adults call themselves 'Christians' and yet only 6 in 100 (6%) actually have a biblical worldview." He then went on to cite statistics from a recent Ligonier Ministries survey. Among its findings:
56% believe "God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam." 38% see Jesus as "a great teacher, but he was not God." 60% say "The Holy Spirit is a force but is not a personal being." 65% think "Everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God." 37% agree that "Religious belief is a matter of personal opinion; it is not about objective truth."
(Excerpt) Read more at prophecynewswatch.com ...
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Maranatha!
There is precisely ZERO biblical evidence for any kind of “rapture” which involves pulling “the church” (which is and always has been Jewish AND Gentile) out of the way so God can get back to “plan A” of some nationalistic political entity centered in Jerusalem.
You simply do not find this kind of nonsense in the Bible. You have to “read it in” to various passages, having first been convinced of a theological system which was NEVER discussed in the church by the early fathers, the reformers or literally ANYONE before Darby got his “revelation” from a Scottish Irvingite (a heretic in the early 19th century) milkmaid.
Becoming fixated on some non biblical scheme of “final things” has caused US Christians (this view is not very widely held outside the USA among Christians) to focus on irrelevant and often antibiblical silliness of supporting “Israel” no matter how diabolical and evil that government of atheists are. Not only that, they play you like a fiddle and laugh at you behind your back.
“Over a third of senior pastors believe ‘good people’ can earn their way to heaven.”
I bet they use Romans 2:7 to defend it (I’ve seen that on FR in the Religion forum, at least) but Paul’s argument through to chapter 3 (9-12) blows that fantasy to bits:
For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
Well, I guess we’ll see...won’t we?
lol ... that didn’t take long ... lol
“But you and I, we’ve been through that
And this is not our fate
So let us not talk falsely now
The hour is getting late”
People flock to the “Pre-Tribulation Rapture” theory for the same reason people flock to Joel Osteen’s ministry:
It tells them what they want to hear.
Matthew 7:13-15
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Why not?
I'm not trying to defend any particular eschatology. I merely wish to point out that Jesus did not differentiate between faithful and faithless in His statement. In the context of "a great falling away" it seems plausible that disbelief could peak after the start of the tribulation. How many are so firmly attached to a pre-trib rapture that they may loose faith if a mid-trib is what will occur?
I know what I think is most likely based on scripture and on teachings I have heard. But if my faith is tied to being removed at the start of the tribulation, will I be mentally prepared for what will come if, for example, a post-trib rapture is our future? It's not a pleasant thought, is it?
Our salvation isn't by faith in any future event, it is by faith in God the Son, Jesus Christ the Lamb of God and His completed atonement for our sin on a cross. I do not have a full or correct understanding of all of His promises, but I know He will fulfil every one of them according to His word. If I keep my focus on Him instead of the storm I will not sink.
We hear the hiss in what you are espousing ...
What you said is exactly right and I’ve told people that for years. It makes no difference when it comes, I believe in Jesus Christ she what he did for us, and that’s what I hold onto.
I think you are talking about two very different groups of people here.
I was with you up to this point...
“antibiblical silliness of supporting “Israel” no matter how diabolical and evil that government of atheists are. “
That’s where the sickness is revealed.
See if you can correct that issue.
The only thing that comes to my mind is the flood, believers are not destined wrath.
A great sermon by Adrian Rogers about the last days. He gets into pre-tribulation rapture in the second half.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_p06br13LM
I believe in pre-tribulation rapture and think Joel Osteen is a clown. I doubt many Christians put much stock in Joel Osteen’s production show. He’s another Jim Baker in my opinion.
Every time a “rapture” is mentioned it accompanies the sound of the last trumpet. The last trumpet judgment heralds the coming of the Lord Jesus with power and great glory to destroy the Beast’s armies at Armageddon and set up His Kingdom.
We know that time is near based on the condition of the “church”
Revelation 3:
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Welcome to FR.
‘ irrelevant and often antibiblical silliness of supporting “Israel” ‘
…. is not going to earn you a long stay on FR.
IBTZ
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