Calvibaptist:
//Christians for 1850 years missed what you consider to be "God's purpose."
Until then, most believed that the prophecies of Matthew 24-25
and Revelation referred to the struggle of the people
of God against the world throughout its history
and the good news that God's kingdom would eventually win.//
Probably your statement isn't true especially this part:
// ... most believed that the prophecies of Matthew 24-25
and Revelation referred to the struggle of the people
of God against the world throughout its history ... //
Such a belief is contradictory to Matthew 24 Itself where
Jesus says:
Matthew 24:21 (HCSB = Christian Standard Bible /Holman, 2003/
For at that time there will be
great tribulation,
the kind that
hasn't taken place since the beginning of the
world into now, and
never will again.
BTW, note that if the tribulation time ends with the
Second advent of Jesus then the world ends, as some are want
to believe, then Jesus made a false statement. There has to
be something better happen after the Tribulation Period
so the words of Jesus 'never will gain' are true.
IMHO it is wrong to call the last 2,000 years a period
of
great tribulation that is worse than the
four thousand years before. This belief also negates what
Jesus clearly said.
So, no, I don't belive that most people 33AD through
1830 believed just like those who badly need a supporting
argument and make this one up
Calvibaptist: //The purpose of God throughout the history of the world has ALWAYS
been to redeem a people for Himself to the praise of the glory of His grace.//
Amen, Brother Calvibaptist. and on the last 'day' (the 7-year
= 2 times 3½-years) 'day' called The Tribulation Period, Jesus
will not only raise up His redeemed gentiles at the beginning of
the 'day' Jesus will also raise up His redeemed Israeli/Jewish
people at the end of the 'day'. Ain't God Good!!
John3v36:
//Regardless of whether and when the End Times come, what would
they change? The saved would be saved, the unsaved
would be unsaved, the Kingdom of God would neither
expland nor contract, moreover, nothing can be done
by mortals to either accelerate or delay this prophecy,
so what practical significance does it have? //
Strangely, the Bible directly answers your question.
The answer to all your questions is in 2 Peter 3 (I've
memorized that address, cause, I asked the same question
a time or two myself.
The answer is clearest here:
2 Peter 3:11-12a (HCSB = Christian Standard Bible /Holman, 2003/ ):
Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way,
it is clear what sort of people youshould be in holy
conduct and godliness as you wait for and earnesty desire
the coming of the day of God ...
So the coming destruction of the earth and the elements of
the world order is reason for us to LIVE RIGHT in the here-and-now.
BTW, I can tell you when THE LAST DAYS started:
Acts 2:16b-17a (HCSB):
... this is what was spoken through the prohet Joel:
17. And it will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out MY SPIRIT on all humanity ...
The LAST DAYS began on the Day of Pentacost in the year
I believe to be 33AD. The LAST DAYS continue until now
and will continue until the pretribulation rapture takes
place ending THE LAST DAYS. Then the LAST DAY itself will
take place, the Tribulation Period, a 7-year-long 'day'.
J.D.: //I believe the bible is intentionally
vague on the future so that we would walk by faith.//
If perchance you ever are revealed the total details of
all eschatology, you would still have to walk by faith.
Another good verse that shows why eschatology is
important:
2 Peter 3:17 (HCSB):
Therefore, dear friends, since you have
been forewarned, be on your guard, so that you
are not lead away by the error of the immoral
and fall from your own stability.
So keep the faith, dear brothers and sisters.
Live Right and Do Good cause the Lord is going to come
get you and take you to heaven right before the destruction
of 90%+ of humanity.
Matthew 24:21-22a (HCSB):
For at that time there will be
great tribulation the kind that
hasn't taken place since the beginng of the
world until now, and nver will again!
Unless those days were cut short, no one would survive. ...
Now there are some that say the Lord won't come get us
Christians until the end of the Tribulation period when
over 90% of the people of the world are dead, 7-years too
late. They are the ones who think it is necessary to
scare Christians into being good, like they are supposed to
do. Sorry, good works
Bill Brown: // I do not believe in a rapture,//
Would you describe and/or define the 'rapture' that you
don't believe in? I find nearly every time someone really answers
this question (instead of doing a non-Baptist DANCE around the
subject) they describe raptures I don't believe in either.
But I believe in a rapture and I believe cleary that the
Lord, Messiah Yeshua, Christos Iesus, Christ Jesus, will RAPTURE
His own prior to the Tribulation Period.
Some say that 'rapture' isn't in the Bible. Well maybe it isn't
in their Bible. But 'rapture' is certainly in the Latin Bibles
at 1 Thessalonians 4:17. My HCSB translats the Greek word
as 'caught up' but the Latin translation is 'rapture'.
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (HCSB):
Then we wo are still alive will be
caught up together with them in the clouds to
meed the Lord in the air; and so
we will always be with the Lord
18. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
My Bible says were are encourage one another to
do good works using words like 'rapture'.
I believe there will be a rapture. Quite frankly,
I think God will have more than one 'rapture'.
Our God wants to resurrect (the dead come back to life)
and rapture (the living are changed) lots of people.
I believe there will be a physical/literal rapture
comming soon to a world near you SOON! Amen!
Genesis12: //Why am I in this forum debating instead
of lifting up the Name of Jesus in the public square?
I don't know of anyone who is changed by Christian
forum debates. I do know of many who are angered!//
I don't know of anyone who is changed by public
demonstrations. Public demos only make me angry
I'm for letting guest workers work in the USofA, even
if my children do get paid less in competition.
I certainly don't mind paying for my children. I'm
giving four people monthly money to help them with
college work. I support two children below the
college level.