Monday, September 22, 2008

Matt 24, The Escape, Pre-Tribulation Rapture

We live in a day of scoffers. The world is crumbling around us and many who are stuck here absolutely HATE the idea that anyone should escape all thats about to happen. This brings me to a discussion of Matt 24. There are many who say that the text in Matt 24 does not address the pre-trib rapture. They quote "christian scholars" and other men in order to make their point. The basics of what actually happens in Matt 24 are not complex at all, lets take a look:

Matt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left

What are the facts here?

1. Fact: we are talking about a day and hour that no man knoweth, which oh by the way, the day and hour that no man knoweth is also known as the feast of trumpets.

2. Fact: The coming of the Son of Man will be like the days of Noe. The days of Noe are specifically characterized by THIS: before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark. UNTIL THE DAY THAT NOE ENTERED INTO THE ARK? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? FACT: WRATH DID'NT FALL UNTIL NOE ENTERED THE ARK.
3. Fact: Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left

Here's where the dispute comes in. There are those who say that those "taken" are taken away to judgement. Does that in ANY WAY fit with how things were in the days of Noe?

4. Fact: Noe and his family WERE THE ONLY ONES WHO "WENT" ANYWHERE. They went into the ark. The wicked DID'NT GO ANYWHERE, they died in place. Compare this to the "taking" that's going to happen in our near future: According to the story of Noe, the RIGHTEOUS are going to GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, LIKE INTO AN ARK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, the wicked will stay in place and judgement will fall upon them. THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENED BEFORE, ITS HOW THE LORD SAYS IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

We are also given the story of Lot. Did Lot stay in Sodom? NO. He LEFT, HE WAS PHYSICALLY REMOVED JUST LIKE NOE. Whats the similarity? The WICKED WERE LEFT IN SODOM, just like they were left outside the ark to face judgement. THE WICKED WENT NOWHERE, they remained in place and died there, period.

Those who argue that somehow the righteous will be left on earth to face judgement and wrath, defy what is written clearly in Luke 17, Matt 24, Luke 21:36, Rev 3:10 and every other place in the bible that spells out to us that there is an ESCAPE for the righteous. The Lord specifically mentions the examples of NOAH AND LOT. Could the Lord have mentioned the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego if we were to stay on earth and face the fiery wrath to come? Yea, he could have, BUT HE DID'NT.

The devil and his servants come to kill steal and destroy. If the Lord promised an escape and others come to tell you there is no escape, what does that make them? Thieves? Yep, at a minimum they are thieves.

Some day we will all know, with no debate, what ESCAPE FROM ALL means. I think I know what it means. What does ESCAPE ALL mean to you? According to your faith it will be done unto you. If you are believing to slug it out through the tribulation, then thats on your own head. If that's what the Lord intends, then I will soldier on, just like I am now, but I highly DOUBT things are going to happen that way. How much will be on these peoples heads? Their families will have to go through hell on earth too, all because they refuse to believe what the Lord has written. Time is short, we are going to find out one way or another SOON. This world is collapsing around us. I believe that JUST LIKE NOE AND LOT, me and my family will be PHYSICALLY REMOVED BEFORE JUDGEMENT FALLS on this earth. That's the way the Lord said it was going to happen, thats the way I believe it will happen. Be very careful what you approve of, what you put your faith in. The disciples asked Jesus "increase our faith," we should ask him for the same thing.

Its now one week to the day before Rosh Hashanah. My advice to you is to be watching and be ready for whatever happens. It makes alot of sense to me to upgrade our watchfulness and readiness around a feast day that is impregnated with rapture symbology and terminology. The escape promised WILL COME some day. Just pray that you will be watching and ready on that day. grace and peace