jc49 Posted July 2, 2005 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 82 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 498 Content Per Day: 0.07 Reputation: 7 Days Won: 0 Joined: 10/10/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 01/25/1949 Share Posted July 2, 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Another Thousand Years before the Rapture? By Lynette Schaefer There is a very popular opinion among some Christians today that the Rapture may not happen for another 1,000 years, so they don't care. Is there any truth to this statement or is it clearly unbiblical in its concept? Why is it that Christians have so many diverse opinions on Eschatology and they can't seem to agree on anything? I believe it stems from a couple of things: (1) it is not taught in seminaries so it is not preached from the pulpit; therefore, Christians are "anemic" in their understanding of prophecy; (2) too many Christians fail to make the effort to study their Bibles as much as they should or could, so there is a lack of self-education and a resulting lack of enthusiasm on this subject. In these last days, a knowledge of prophecy and how to interpret prophetic passages correctly is extremely important. In fact, a correct understanding of prophecy is just as important and valuable as a correct understanding of the Biblical Gospel or any other part of the Bible. People need to realize that the "1,000 years to one day" concept (2 Pet. 3:8), when it comes to end-times Eschatology, is a misapplication. With God being in eternity, everything is the same to Him; however, according to His timetable, He has a definite Plan and Purpose for the earth and mankind. In determining the accuracy of prophetic interpretation, we need to act like the Bereans and simply compare current events to see how they line up with the prophetic passages to know where we are on the timeline of history. We see all the things now going on in the EU, RFID, the Middle East, Israel, and global nuclear weapons capabilities. We also see things like tsunamis (Luke 21:25), volcanoes now becoming active or "waking up" again, earthquakes all over the world, floods, wars, strange diseases, etc. The fact that Israel became a nation again after over 2,500 years is a very significant "end times" event. Not too long ago, terrorist strikes happened on 9/11. Now we have a "road map" peace plan being implemented with "disengagement" of territories taking place, including Gaza. (Zeph. 2:4) It used to be that the United States was considered a "friend of Israel", but with this "road map" being worked out with (and probably for) the Palestinians, that is no longer the case. Therefore, the United States is ripe for judgment and it will be severely judged - potentially in the not-too-distant future! The Bible explicitly states WOE TO THEM who take away God's covenant land that belongs to His people (Micah 2:1,2; Joel 3:2,3); the book of Obadiah is about God judging Esau (Edom or the modern day Palestinians) for going against Israel, and also promises that Israel will win. Pay attention to vs. 15-18. End-time apostasy and compromise, even among Christians, is very prevalent today. (2 Pet. 3:4; 2 Ti. 4:3) The list is too long to even begin to scratch the surface. You can also study on your own the following passages that speak of end time events and characters: Dan. 9:27; Dan. 11:36-45; Dan. 12; Matt. 24; Luke 21:28-32. These all point to things that would be happening in the end times. Let's face it: we are not living in the 1930's, 1940's or 1950's any more, this is now the 21st century where everyone is running to and fro, with knowledge being increased. (Dan. 12:4) The point is: We as Christians need to GET REAL about what is currently happening on our planet. Although we can never know the exact day and hour of Christ's return, we can certainly know we are in the season of His return by the things we see going on. (1 Thess. 5:1) In fact, we could be the final generation to witness what seems to be prophecies being fulfilled on a daily basis! Does anyone really think that this world and civilization as we know it, is not now on a collision course with self-destruction? It is because of the weight of SIN that mankind cannot continue on without God's soon intervention in his affairs. This is not the time to be unaware or unconcerned concerning these things, because the Lord does not want us sleepwalking through our Christian life; and He certainly does not want us to slam, shout down, or scoff at fellow Christians over His return! This just doesn't make any sense at all, and it even seems like a mockery of the Bible to me. But maybe that's also a sign of the times we're in. Lastly, the Rapture is our Blessed Hope, and Jesus is our Bridegroom. The Church is His Bride. How can any bride not want to look for her bridegroom? We can scoff all we want to or deny that the Rapture will happen any time soon, but it WILL HAPPEN whether we like it or not; and we will find ourselves very surprised to stand before Him face to face and have Him ask us why we didn't bother to look for Him when the signs were all around us. The sobering truth is this: If we are not looking for Him, we are not ready to meet Him! It's time to change the way we look at prophecy, folks! Questions or coments? E-mail the author, Lynette Schaefer http://rapturealert.com/070205anotherthousandyears.html Would you like to reproduce this article to share with others? If so, please click HERE. Home | Archived stories | News | FAQ | E-mail | Links E-mail me at: rapturealert@yahoo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tishri 1 Posted July 3, 2005 Group: Junior Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 2 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 99 Content Per Day: 0.01 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 05/26/2005 Status: Offline Share Posted July 3, 2005 Can I add a Hebraic/Jewish concept in here the earth and all creation was finished in 6 days and the 7th was a day of rest...here it is broken down in a timeline for Jews (and us if we want to see it the way they do)... first 2000 years = Tohu = desolation 2000-4000 years= Torah=Teaching and instruction 4000-6000 years= Y'mot Ha Mashiach=Days of the Messiah 6000-7000 years= Athid Lavo=The future comming,The day of the Lord,The day of rest,The Messianic Kingdom, the Milllenium we are very close to the Day of the Lord but no one know exactly as not all the years were counted during their captivity....we lost some years and are closer than we think...that is why we have to be ready in season(idiom for the Festivals) and out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apothanein kerdos Posted July 4, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 331 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 8,713 Content Per Day: 1.20 Reputation: 21 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/28/2004 Status: Offline Share Posted July 4, 2005 Never trust a ministry who's sole purpose it eschatology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trinity Posted July 4, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 92 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 2,244 Content Per Day: 0.31 Reputation: 63 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/30/2004 Status: Offline Share Posted July 4, 2005 Never trust a ministry who's sole purpose it eschatology. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Timer Posted July 4, 2005 Group: Soapbox - Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 68 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 962 Content Per Day: 0.13 Reputation: 52 Days Won: 1 Joined: 05/18/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/11/1932 Share Posted July 4, 2005 Never trust a ministry who's sole purpose it eschatology. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I don't know if their "sole purpose" is eschatology or not but I do agree with a portion of the first paragraph that said, Why is it that Christians have so many diverse opinions on Eschatology and they can't seem to agree on anything? I believe it stems from a couple of things: (1) it is not taught in seminaries so it is not preached from the pulpit; therefore, Christians are "anemic" in their understanding of prophecy; (2) too many Christians fail to make the effort to study their Bibles as much as they should or could, so there is a lack of self-education and a resulting lack of enthusiasm on this subject. Certainly the Gospel message is of prime importance but too little emphasis is given to the Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apothanein kerdos Posted July 4, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 331 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 8,713 Content Per Day: 1.20 Reputation: 21 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/28/2004 Status: Offline Share Posted July 4, 2005 Why is eschatology an important issue? Also, it is an elective in almost all seminaries I know of. Jesus spent a total of one chapter, just one, addressing the issue. The other Gospel writers barely put it in there, if at all. Revelation is a warning for people living under the tribulation, not modern Christians or past Christians. So again, why is it important? Truth is, it's not. Yes, we should believe He is comming back and we should dedicate some study to it, but does it really matter if I believe in the rapture or not? No, it doesn't matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricH Posted July 4, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 366 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 10,933 Content Per Day: 1.57 Reputation: 212 Days Won: 1 Joined: 04/21/2005 Status: Offline Share Posted July 4, 2005 Why is eschatology an important issue? Also, it is an elective in almost all seminaries I know of. Jesus spent a total of one chapter, just one, addressing the issue. The other Gospel writers barely put it in there, if at all. Revelation is a warning for people living under the tribulation, not modern Christians or past Christians. So again, why is it important? Truth is, it's not. Yes, we should believe He is comming back and we should dedicate some study to it, but does it really matter if I believe in the rapture or not? No, it doesn't matter. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I understand what you are saying, but I don't think the amount of space dedicated to an issue necessarily relects its importance. Not a lot of space was devoted to the virgin birth, inerrancy etc. but they are important. In fact, the fact that God included them in canon means we should view them as important enough that He wanted them communicated to us. I agree that what one believes about eschatology does not impact their eternal status before God, but I guess I am uncomfortable saying something is "unimportant" that God felt was important enough to communicate to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Timer Posted July 4, 2005 Group: Soapbox - Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 68 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 962 Content Per Day: 0.13 Reputation: 52 Days Won: 1 Joined: 05/18/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/11/1932 Share Posted July 4, 2005 Why is eschatology an important issue? Also, it is an elective in almost all seminaries I know of. Jesus spent a total of one chapter, just one, addressing the issue. The other Gospel writers barely put it in there, if at all. Revelation is a warning for people living under the tribulation, not modern Christians or past Christians. So again, why is it important? Truth is, it's not. Yes, we should believe He is comming back and we should dedicate some study to it, but does it really matter if I believe in the rapture or not? No, it doesn't matter. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No need to respond, SJ. You answered all your own questions to your satisfaction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apothanein kerdos Posted July 4, 2005 Group: Royal Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 331 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 8,713 Content Per Day: 1.20 Reputation: 21 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/28/2004 Status: Offline Share Posted July 4, 2005 The study of eschatology itself is important. The conclusions drawn are rarely important. Obviously there are certain teachings about the end times that do contradict the Biblical model, and those must be addressed, but things such as pre-trib and post-trib really aren't important items to debate about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zayit Posted July 4, 2005 Share Posted July 4, 2005 Therefore, the United States is ripe for judgment and it will be severely judged - potentially in the not-too-distant future! I agree with this, but I don't agree with the authors statement that the church is the Bride. Israel was already married to the L_RD and it is she whom he will take back, there are many wedding guests though! Some may also say it is the New Jerusalem itself and that is what it says in Revelation but who makes up New Jerusalem? That is the question, the twelve gates that lead into the city have names on them and they are the 12 tribes of Israel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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