Santiago,
I have no problem with the word rapture. I believe also we are not appointed to wrath and that we are taken out, caught up, raptured! just before the wrath of God is poured out. But their is no promise that we will not go through tribulation, in fact Jesus promised that we will have tribulation in this world. He expects that we will suffer for our testimony of Him. The beast and anti-christ rise up before the wrath of God is poured out. They take power during the great tribulation period after the "time of sorrows". I am more and more awed by the plan God has for the last days and how He separates the wheat from the chaff, and brings His righteous judgement on the whole world. His mercy on those who accept Him, and His wrath on those who persecuted His church. Jesus said to count the cost before you build the house, so that after starting you don't find that you cannot finish it. As for scaring new christians, I'm sorry. It is scary. But He laid down His life for us and we should have the attitude of Job who said, Though He would slay me, yet will I serve Him. Many don't have that attitude and when they are threatened by the beast if they don't take the mark, they will take it. It is the separating of the wheat from the chaff, the true christians from the bench warmers.
It is very american to think that nobody should have to suffer. That is why I think the pre-trib rapture theory came out of american pulpits of the christian church, not some other country. It's an american ideal, the american dream. To be comfortable and not to suffer at all. The reality is that america is a very unusual story in the history of man, and the idea that we won't suffer is very american. The pre-trib rapture theory fits our american ideals. Just as in Timothy Paul warned of those who could not endure sound doctrine would find teachers according to their own desires to have their ears tickled. The rapture of the church is that way, those who don't want to suffer (and none of us do) and can't endure the possibility that we will, flock to pre-trib. I am sorry but that is what I believe.
In Jesus,
Bob |
