Will The Rapture Happen?

[uvn477]

There is much debate even among Christians if the rapture will ever happen. Supporters and non-supporters can look at scripture and go back and forth all day long so I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to tell everyone to look at the world. Tell me another time and age where people were so wicked. A time when sin and immorality were seen as a norm. How can Christianity survive another century? The answer is it can't. We as Christians must admit that Christianity is dying. If the rapture does not happen, then what? Who will be saved? As Christianity gets dimmer, more and more people will turn their backs on God. Soon, Christianity will be a mere memory. This is why the rapture has to happen. It must happen soon. And every Christian on Earth should be trying to convert as many people as possible or at least conveying the basic message of Christ so that those left behind will not be completely lost. Some people argue that instead of a rapture, their will be an enlightenment period in which many or all will turn to the Lord. Not only is this not supported by scripture, it is utterly ridiculous in this time and age. You want proof? Just watch the 10 o'clock news.

[jesussaves]

Yes, the "Rapture" or catching away of the church, will happen. But whether you believe in the rapture or not, there is one thing we can all agree on, we need to always be ready, and we need to be about our Father's business until He comes.

There is still a harvest.

[Tari]

Some of us have been debating the rapture over the past 2 months. First on the "rapture" thread, and then on the "why belief in the rapture is misguided" thread. Personally I do not believe the righteous will be raptured away before the visible "second coming" return of Christ. Rapture believers have shown every Bible verse that they use to support their theory. I do not see a "rapture" at all in the verses that they show. It just seems like Bible verses are being twisted around to make it seem like a rapture of saints will occur before the second coming.

When Jesus said he would return, nothing was said about returning first for a secret rapture, and then visibly returning later. There is a reason why it is called the "second coming". He came like a lamb the first time, and He is coming back like a lion. I've pointed out practically every Bible verse in the previous weeks, about the visible return of Christ. Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 12:35-59, Luke 17:20-37, Luke 21:1-38, 1Thessalonians 5:1-11, 2Peter 3:3-14, 2Thessalonians 1:7-10, 1Thessalonians 4:15-17, John 6:40,44,54, Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43, and Revelation 7:14. There seems to be plenty of evidence written that those who remain alive until the coming of our Lord are blessed. Also it says that the wicked will actually be taken away first.

It really surprises me that a rapture theory, which has only been around for less than 200 years, is so popular. But then again, even the mormon religion has gathered over 60 million believers. Both of these beliefs ironically started in the year 1830.

What is most surprising is that the visible return of Christ is never spoken of. This is going to be such an incredible event when it does happen. It is stated that it will be just like in the days of Noah, people will be eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage etc....But with all these other theories running around, hardly anyone is even focused on the visible return anymore.

There is a lot of debate on whether there will be a pre-trib, mid-trib, or post trib rapture. It seems like all of these are a false deceit, believed by many. I am sure rapture believers will slam me down for saying such a thing. There are many books and websites teaching this rapture theory. There are also many books and websites that state "what a false deceitful lie from satan this whole rapture theory is".

So from my experience from dealing with this, most people are going to believe whatever they want. Nobody will ever talk me into believing in a rapture theory, and rapture believers probably feel the same way. What surprises me is that by not believing in a rapture theory my salvation is not harmed in any way. In other words, is God going to turn me away because I did not believe in being raptured away? No, not at all. In fact it seems much safer to not believe in the rapture at all. If you believe in the rapture and find out it is false then what? Will God be dissapointed that you believed a lie? Will God be dissapointed that you weren't focused on the actual return of Christ?

[ayin jade]

What surprises me is that by not believing in a rapture theory my salvation is not harmed in any way. In other words, is God going to turn me away because I did not believe in being raptured away? No, not at all.

And believing in rapture also wont harm anyone. A person who believes it wont be turned away by God

If you believe in the rapture and find out it is false then what? Will God be dissapointed that you believed a lie? Will God be dissapointed that you weren't focused on the actual return of Christ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The same could be said for those who dont believe in rapture. Will God be disappointed if you believed a lie, if the rapture is proven true? Will God be disappointed that you were not watching for the return of Christ in this circumstance?

Either way, it is, in my opinion, a non salvational issue. As long as the focus is on the Lord, and winning souls, isnt that what truly matters?

God bless.

[gypc]

Rapture or not........the church will prevail. Look at Noah.........the whole world was lost when Noah and his family entered the ark.

[Tari]

Rapture or not........the church will prevail. Look at Noah.........the whole world was lost when Noah and his family entered the ark.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The church will prevail, the only problem is which church? What church is a true church nowadays? To me, there doesn't seem to be many true churches around, that aren't teaching some sort of false teaching or another.

And Noah was the only preacher of righteousness....

[gypc]

Rapture or not........the church will prevail. Look at Noah.........the whole world was lost when Noah and his family entered the ark.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The church will prevail, the only problem is which church? What church is a true church nowadays? To me, there doesn't seem to be many true churches around, that aren't teaching some sort of false teaching or another.

And Noah was the only preacher of righteousness....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The church..........not man made institutions. I believe God keeps a remnent. There are christians in many denominations but when the Bible talks about the church, it's talking about the children of God

[Tari]

Oh that's totally understood about it not being an actual church. The only thing is that in order to qualify as a child of God, it must be important to stay away from believing in false teaching.

[ayin jade]

What surprises me is that by not believing in a rapture theory my salvation is not harmed in any way. In other words, is God going to turn me away because I did not believe in being raptured away?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The only thing is that in order to qualify as a child of God, it must be important to stay away from believing in false teaching.

That is assuming you are correct. And can you be sure you have every belief right? I do not think belief or disbelief in rapture will condemn anyone to hell.

[fenwar]

There is much debate even among Christians if the rapture will ever happen. Supporters and non-supporters can look at scripture and go back and forth all day long so I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to tell everyone to look at the world. Tell me another time and age where people were so wicked. A time when sin and immorality were seen as a norm.

Um, how about the Roman empire.

How can Christianity survive another century? The answer is it can't. We as Christians must admit that Christianity is dying. If the rapture does not happen,  then what? Who will be saved? As Christianity gets dimmer, more and more people will turn their backs on God. Soon, Christianity will be a mere memory. This is why the rapture has to happen. It must happen soon.

Christianity in the Western world has been far too comfortable for the last 1,700 years or so. Our faith became "official" and widespread; it was no longer illegal or shameful to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

What you are forgetting is that the church survived for three hundred years before Constantine "adopted" Christianity and made it the official religion of the Roman empire. Three hundred years of scorn, persecution and secrecy.

And Christians are persecuted for their faith around the world today. The Chinese government tried to stamp out the gospel - and the church there grew exponentially.

Christianity is not dying. Some Western "Christians" may be falling away as the benefits of being part of a recognised, respected and powerful group are lost, but there are many for whom the removal of the comfort zone, if anything, will spur them on to even greater things.

With regards to the "rapture", the only rapture I believe in is that at the final return of Christ, believers living and dead alike will be "caught up" to meet him as he arrives on earth. I don't read this as a literal, spatial translation but more a metaphorical description of the sheer, incredible joy we will experience at the return of our King.