The Rapture by Terry James

[goldust59]

Here's something very simple that appears to be iron clad. Is there a difference between Salvation now in the Age of Grace as compared with the Tribulation Period? Yes there is! Those saved in the Tribulation Period must endure to the end and not take the mark of the beast - even while being tortured or killed. Don't forget about what Salvation means in this Age of Grace which will end soon. Enduring torture and death is not required for Salvation in the Age of Grace. Put two and two together and see if you get four.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 NASB 20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

This portion of Scripture addresses NOW in this age of Grace. Tell me what combination of powers can break the seal of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God Himself lives in our hearts. The beast, devil, or any other entity has no power over the Holy Spirit of God - DO THE MATH - TWO PLUS TWO. This is without getting into who is the Great Restrainer that must be removed first before the devil can have his way? - Answer - Holy Spirit. Yes, the Rapure is Pre-Tribulation, and YES - the Rapture is directly tied to Salvation. I won't be debating this, so this will be my last post in this thread. I'll simply tell you that my heart is sealed with the Holy Spirit of God and He lives in my heart. I won't be here to worry about the mark of the beast and neither will the Church which is the Body of Christ. Finally, the Tribulation Period was determined against Israel - NOT the Church which is the Body of Christ. Daniel knew nothing about the Church which is the Body of Christ because this CHURCH was still a mystery.

That scripture applies to all believers that ever accepted Jesus. Paul, who wrote it, was persecuted & killed for his faith, as were all the apostles, except John (&Judas,of course). Many Christians throughout history have died for their faith & many are being persecuted terribly & dying daily NOW. These believers were/are sealed with the Holy Spirit too. So, this doctrine of escapism doesn't sit well with me.

The "rapture" as most call it, is ONLY the changing of our mortal bodies to immortal ones if we are alive at the time of Jesus' return and happens after the dead in Christ rise with their new bodies. The scriptures about this have been twisted and taught as something that has caused a lot of division in the body. (Hmm, wonder who is behind that?) The only way that the "rapture" is tied to salvation is that you have to be saved to be "changed".

[seeking the lost]

I am wondering if it is OK to add to the writings of this book?  There is a warning against doing so.

Revelation 22:18, 

¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. ¹⁹ And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The rapture requires a resurrection,  1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

 ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The first possible time of rapture is then at the end on the tribulation. Revelation 20:4-6

⁴ I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God.They^[a] had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

The first resurrection is of the tribulation martyrs in order to reign with Christ.  In order to have a rapture before this time there would of necessity be another resurrection before the first resurrection. Is it OK to add one?

[ENOCH2010]

No !!! it's not ok to add another resurrection 

[missmuffet]

Doesn't Terry James own the Rapture Ready message board?

[seeking the lost]

On 7/2/2012 at 8:56 PM, ENOCH2010 said:

How can this be? I thought the pretribulation rapture was supported all through scripture. Is there any evidence of the post trib rapture found in scripture. God keeping his own free from harm because they are not appointed to wrath while keeping them in the trial? How about Daniel in the Lions den? How about the three in the fiery furnace who came out without a scratch nor even the smell of smoke upon them? Noah in the ark? Israel crossing the sea? Gideon and the 300 with their lamps? Jesus being removed from Israel while Herod killed all the babies? How about Paul who was in the tempest aboard the ship who gave command that the others could only be saved if they stayed in the boat? That one is very interesting as God kept the righteous through the trial. Elijah was led away and fed by birds and angels while the rest of the world suffered hunger. Of course he went to the widow woman and the meal didn't waste though the land was in distress. God sustained the Israelites in the wilderness not taking them out of it. Jesus prayed to the Father that we be not taken out of the world but be kept from the evil.

The purpose of the rapture is not to keep from harm.  A greater purpose is to take us to a new heaven and a new earth.  This earth will pass away.  2 Peter 3:8-13

⁸ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

¹¹ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, ¹² looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

[Ezra]

3 hours ago, seeking the lost said:

The purpose of the rapture is not to keep from harm.  A greater purpose is to take us to a new heaven and a new earth.

Yes, and I would add for the perfection of the saints (1 John 3:1-3).  Why people imagine that the only only reason for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is escapism is beyond me. 

The Bible makes it perfectly clear that unless the Holy Spirit is "taken out of the way" the Antichrist cannot be revealed, and unless the Antichrist takes power, the Tribulation period cannot begin. When the Holy Spirit is removed from this earth, so is the Church (indwelt by the Holy Spirit).

[seeking the lost]

1 hour ago, Ezra said:

The Bible makes it perfectly clear that unless the Holy Spirit is "taken out of the way" the Antichrist cannot be revealed, and unless the Antichrist takes power, the Tribulation period cannot begin. When the Holy Spirit is removed from this earth, so is the Church (indwelt by the Holy Spirit).

Have you considered these words from Job 34?

¹⁴ 
“If God should determine to do so,
If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath,
¹⁵ 
All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.

This is verse 14 & 15 from the amplified version.  What would it mean for the Holy Spirit to be taken from the earth?

[Ezra]

36 minutes ago, seeking the lost said:

This is verse 14 & 15 from the amplified version.  What would it mean for the Holy Spirit to be taken from the earth?

Until Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended only on specific individuals.  So that would be the situation after the Rapture, and God has not revealed details in this regard.  But one thing is certain and that is found in 2 Thess 2:7:

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (KJV)

English Standard Version
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

[ENOCH2010]

10 minutes ago, Ezra said:

Until Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended only on specific individuals.  So that would be the situation after the Rapture, and God has not revealed details in this regard.  But one thing is certain and that is found in 2 Thess 2:7:

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (KJV)

English Standard Version
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

The arch angel Michael is the one who restrains. Nothing in the Bible suggests the one who restrains is the Holy Spirit.

[Ezra]

3 minutes ago, ENOCH2010 said:

The arch angel Michael is the one who restrains. Nothing in the Bible suggests the one who restrains is the Holy Spirit.

Really?  Then why do we read this in Scripture?

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.