John Hancock

No-one on this platform is opposed to debate - it’s a healthy mental exercise. The views expressed in these videos are indeed “controversial” since they fly against the main stream narrative but that needn’t fuel confrontational emotions. My intent is not to stir up hostility; just to offer an alternate viewpoint not covered by the MSM. It’s up to every individual to weight the evidence to determine which is valid information and which is disinformation. It’s always wise to review all sides of an issue before deciding.

Your assertion that the root cause of the inability of Christian people to agree on the truths of the Prophetic Word, is that God has hidden it from (some) of them is in error. God does not hide truth from His disciples - He reveals truth to His followers. All the scriptures you’ve referred to (when interpreted with the literal-grammatical-historical method) do not contrast different groups of Christian people, but rather believers with unbelievers. Your assertion clearly demonstrates the truth of my original statement, that- The ROOT cause of our Disagreement is our differing methods of interpretation.

Since we are handling the Word of God, we need an accurate method of interpretation to avoid error. It’s obvious that premillennialism and amillennialism, and pre-tribulation and post-tribulation rapturism cannot all be right. Two methods of interpretation (the allegorical and the literal-grammatical-historical methods) have a vital effect on Eschatology. The ALLEGORICAL Method The allegorical method doesn’t interpret Scripture, it perverts the true meaning of Scripture, albeit under the guise of seeking a deeper or more spiritual meaning. It disregards the common signification of words and gives wing to all manner of fanciful speculation. The basic authority in interpretation ceases to be the Scriptures, but the mind of the interpreter. It takes away the authority of Scripture, and leaves us without any basis on which interpretations may be tested, and, as a result, makes true interpretation of Scripture impossible. The LITERAL or (GRAMMATICAL-HISTORICAL) Method The literal method of interpretation gives to each word the same exact basic meaning it would have in normal, ordinary, customary usage, whether employed in writing, speaking or thinking. It is called the grammatical-historical method to emphasize the fact that the meaning is to be determined by both grammatical and historical considerations. Only on such a basis can the average individual understand or interpret the Scriptures for himself. In defence of the literal approach it may be argued that: (a) The literal meaning of sentences is the normal approach in all languages. (b) The greater part of the Bible makes adequate sense when interpreted literally. (c) The literalistic approach does not blindly rule out figures of speech, symbols, allegories, and types; but if the nature of the sentence so demands, it readily yields to the second sense. (d) All secondary meanings of documents, parables, types, allegories, and symbols, depend for their very existence on the previous literal meaning of the terms. (e) This method is the only sane and safe check on the imaginations of man. (f) This method is the only one consonant with the nature of inspiration. The plenary inspiration of the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit guided men into truth and away from error. In this process the Spirit of God used language, and the units of language are words and thoughts. The thought is the thread that strings the words together. Therefore, our very exegesis must commence with a study of words and grammar, the two fundamentals of all meaningful speech. Inasmuch as God gave the Word of God as a revelation to men, it would be expected that His revelation would be given in such exact and specific terms that His thoughts would be accurately conveyed and understood when interpreted according to the laws of grammar and speech. Such presumptive evidence favours the literal interpretation, for an allegorical method of interpretation would cloud the meaning of the message delivered by God to men.

The main thrust of my OP was the possibility of a 16 hour day for earth. I would respectfully ask that debate on a “7 year Tribulation” be conducted as a separate TOPIC that you are most welcome to open. I won’t be participating in that discussion however, for the reason I laid out in my recent post entitled “The ROOT Cause for our Disagreement” - the question of literal versus figurative interpretation must be settled first. With no agreement on this point eschatological debate can only be interminable and fruitless. In other words it would be a complete waste of time for both of us - like bashing our heads against a brick wall.

I wasn't discussing that topic. I was discussing the probability of a Sunday rapture. Sunday | ˈsənˌdā, ˈsəndē | noun the day of the week before Monday and following Saturday, observed by Christians as a day of rest and religious worship and (together with Saturday) forming part of the weekend: they left town on Sunday | many people work on Sundays | [as modifier] : Sunday evening.

In my original post the context was clear. In my opening sentence I used the word Sunday to mean "the first day of the week".

Your reply is 100% off topic. Please stick to the topic of this post: The ROOT cause of our Disagreement - “literal versus figurative interpretation”. The question of literal versus figurative interpretation must be settled first. With no agreement on this point eschatological debate will only be interminable and fruitless.

Sunday is only a "day of the week" not a PARTICULAR DATE on the calendar of world history.

Doesn’t anyone (who believes in the rapture) want to comment on my ***SUNDAY*** RAPTURE THEORY?

Your reply is 100% off topic. If you don't wish to discuss the pros and cons of my theory: A shorter 16 hour day for the 2nd half of the Tribulation Period? then please start your own thread.

See my latest post The ROOT cause of our disagreement

One of the most marked features of Premillennialism in all its forms is the emphasis which it places on the literal interpretation of Scripture. It is the insistent claim of its advocates that only when interpreted literally is the Bible interpreted truly; and they denounce as “spiritualizers” or “allegorizers” those who do not interpret the Bible with the same degree of literalness as they do. None have made this charge more pointedly than the Dispensationalists. The question of literal versus figurative interpretation is, therefore, one which has to be faced at the very outset. Oswald T. Allis, Prophesy and the Church, p. 17. The question whether the Old Testament prophecies concerning the people of God must be interpreted in their ordinary sense, as other Scriptures are interpreted, or can properly be applied to the Christian Church, is called the question of the spiritualization of prophecy. This is one of the major problems of biblical interpretation, and confronts everyone who makes a serious study of the Word of God. It is one of the chief keys to the difference of opinion between Premillennarians and the mass of Christian scholars. The former reject such spiritualization, the latter employ it; and as long as there is no agreement on this point the debate is interminable and fruitless. Oswald T. Allis, Prophesy and the Church, p. 238.

Don your thinking-cap for this one: If the 2nd half of the Tribulation Period (3.5 years/1260 days) had a 16 hour day… 1. Would the moon’s orbital speed correct (to maintain a 30-day month)? 2. Would the earth’s orbital speed correct (to maintain a 360-day year)? 3. OR… would God number the days only, during this period?

I tend to think out of the box occasionally. Here is one thought I’ve been wanting to share for some time now… I hope you find it interesting. I (along with many other bible students) believe that on “Day One” of the 7 Year Tribulation Period our Creator will startle the world with two astronomical changes: #1. The earth’s orbital speed will increase resulting in a return to God’s original 360-day year. (Seven 360-day years = 2520 days of Tribulation) #2. The moon’s orbital speed will decrease resulting in a return to God’s original 30-day calendar month. (Twelve 30-day months = a 360-day year) Additionally (and I may be alone on this one) at the mid-point of the 7 Year/2520 day Tribulation Period: God will increase earth’s speed of rotation resulting in a shorter 16 hour day for the 2nd half of the Tribulation Period (1260 days) Rev 8:12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. I’m proposing a ⅓ reduction in duration/observability (not brightness/quantity). The day will become ⅓ shorter. (24 hours - 8 hours = the new 16 hr day) God will do this to preserve the lives of His elect who will enter into the 1000 year Millennial reign of Christ. Satan’s “reign of death” will be shortened. Matt 24:22 “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.” Mark 13:20 “And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.” Today (prior to the Tribulation) 3.5 years equals 30,681 hours. (3.5 x 365.25 x 24 hrs = 30,681) The first 3.5 years of Tribulation will have 441 fewer hours than today. (3.5 x 360 x 24 hrs = 30,240) The second 3.5 years of Tribulation will have 10,521 fewer hours than today. (3.5 x 360 x 16 hrs = 20,160 hours) How will the “Little Horn” (Antichrist) of Dan. 7:25 react to earth’s new 16 hour day? “he shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. ” The Antichrist will “intend to change times and law”. Earth’s new reality will cry for legislation to establish new “time standards”. Pre-tribulation clocks and calendars would all be worthless! How will Satan react to earth’s new 16 hour day? Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time." Satan’s “reign of terror” will be shortened. The second 3.5 years will be 10,080 hours shorter than the first 3.5 years.

SUNDAY RAPTURE THEORY Throughout the church age Sunday has been sanctified to Christ and his bride (the church): the first day of the week, the day of His resurrection- designated the “Lord’s Day” by his beloved disciples. How appropriate would it be for Christ to claim His bride on this special day of the week. Rev 1:10 I (John) was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, Rev 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this." Rev 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. The voice inviting John to heaven is the voice of Christ. Many bible students believe that John's entrance into heaven is a PICTURE of the church's being taken home to be with the Lord. While every detail of a picture is not necessarily reflected in the real event - I think it’s extremely significant that John’s vision took place on the Lord’s Day. Mathew 13:10-17 reveals that the Lord taught with PARABLES to impart truth to His followers while concealing truth from those who reject Him. This same reasoning would also apply to the use of pictures. I believe the Lord gave us this picture to reveal the truth of a Sunday rapture. At the split second when Sunday turns to Monday (at the international date line), it is the Lord’s Day in every time zone around the globe. How wonderfully fitting if the Lord should return for His bride on a Sunday, (the day of His resurrection) to resurrect His sleeping saints - and clothe them (together with us who are still alive) with immortality. I believe that the church is wed to (united with) Christ at the Rapture. Christ and His bride will become one in the twinkling of an eye.