A MYSTERY : Rapture / Parable of the Ten Virgins

[johnc]

What you seem to be saying RThunder(correct me if I have it wrong) is that true believers will be divided at the time of rapture based on their righteous standing.

[tsth]

Dear Johnc,

If I may ask a question of you,

Do you think there is a distinction of followers spoken of in Hebrews 3:7-19?

In His Truth,

Suzanne

[johnc]

Hi Suzanne,

[tsth]

Hi johnc,

I just noticed you're referring to RCruise, do you mean RThunder?

[johnc]

Oops

[tsth]

Yes, johnc,

But repeatedly stumbling over the same stumbling block, is no longer stumbling, but then becomes "rebellion".

[rollinTHUNDER]

What you seem to be saying RThunder(correct me if I have it wrong) is that true believers will be divided at the time of rapture based on their righteous standing.

[wordsower]

I have prayerfully considered this and I have to say that I disagree somewhat.  Not trying to start any big debate but we have scripture in 1 Cor. 3:15 that shows some being saved, but barely, then we have Second Corinthians 5:21 declares, "For God hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."   I also have a problem with only the last generation of foolish virgins having to go through the tribulation, what about the billions of people prior to now that were lukewarm?  

Those mentioned who are greatest in the kingdom is talking about the new millinium and being appointed rulers and having kingdoms asigned.

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, if we say we have no sin we are liars and the truth is not in us.  To say that one sin delegates you to tribulation and another doesn't is simply one sin is worse than another.

I do agree, there are those "so called" christians who have not made Jesus their Lord, who may believe but have procrastinated in coming to Him and surrendering all, these will not be raptured, because they aren't sown, not because they sin more than the next guy.

The 5 foolish virgins have no Holy Spirit, they are not sealed for the day of redemption.

If you are led by the Spirit you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

[rollinTHUNDER]

I have prayerfully considered this and I have to say that I disagree somewhat.

[johnc]

Suzanne,

But repeatedly stumbling over the same stumbling block, is no longer stumbling, but then becomes "rebellion".  One who has believed in the "Word" of the Lord, will follow and not go over the same stumbling block, to continue on in unbelief, is to stumble.

Are you claiming that you flawlessly follow God's law from day to day?  That is what I mean by "stumbling".  It needn't be the same sin repeated; it's still stumbling - i.e, failing to meet up to God's perfection.  And I would disagree that stumbling over the same sin repeatedly constitutes "rebellion" any more than falling over it once.  "The rebellion", as used in the context of the quoted text, conveys a deliberate choice to reject their faith (as opposed to retaining their faith even though they sin) - they chose to no longer believe.

This is an important distinction, for who is righteous before God?  ANY sin would keep us from his presence if it weren't for his gracious gift.  No matter how we divide true believers into groups (as rthunder suggests interpreting this), the end result is the same for our salvation is a work of Jesus.  If we believe his work on the cross will save us, we are part of the faithful - the followers and I believe all such believers will be taken in the rapture whether they be dead or alive.  Those that remain will be the "unwise" in that they didn't make the choice to fill their lamps (with the Holy Spirit).