Thank You Jesus for Paying for All my Sins Thank You Jesus for Shedding Every Last Drop of Your Perfect Redeeming Innocent Blood For The Forgiveness Full Remission of All my Sins Thank You Jesus for Dying in my place on The Cross ✝️ ❤To Pay for All my Sins as The Perfect Sacrifice because You have No Sin Thank You for Being Buried Thank You Father God For Bringing Jesus BACK ALIVE 3 Days After His Death because He Is The Son of God and God At The Same Time!!! I LOVE You Heavenly Father ABBA I LOVE You Jesus I LOVE You Holy Spirit Not 3 Different Gods But The 1 The Only True Living GOD Most High Revealed to us in 3 Ways ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Luke 8:13 [13]They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while 👉believe, and in time of temptation 👉fall away.
when I first was saved (by believing on the name of Jesus for the remission of sins) and started reading the bible, I felt like anything I understood was what the Father wanted me to know. One of the things that I thought I understood was all the "if" (conditional) scriptures the NT was filled with. I assumed as a new convert I was supposed to live by those scriptures. Up until a couple years ago when I started listening to teachings on the bible via youtube channels, I thought I was living a Christian life. Now everything I thought I knew is somehow not what the bible says according to theologians form cemetaries. Everything I know, doesn't mean what I thought it meant. Everything is explained in a different meaning. I'm 78 years old and I consider myself a fairly intelligent person. I am able to discern the meaning of written scripture. But now, according to these "learned" teachers, I have it all wrong. Trying to live a sin free life is works therefore I am not justified because I'm "working" my way to heaven. I understand their point, but where does holy living fit into all this? I am so confused. Paul said he brought his body under subjection (to not sin) daily lest after he preached to others he himself should be a reprobate. Something just doesn't seem right with all this free grace teachings on the internet.
A bit above that verse Paul also says: 1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. Contextually Paul keeps his body under subjection to receive an incorruptible crown, referring to divine rewards in heaven, not the loss of salvation, one can suffer loss of potential rewards in heaven but not salvation: 1 Corinthians 3:15 King James Version 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Also, let me make it clear, as we see addressed there, works are GOOD, we aren't preaching that you shouldn't do works. Paul who taught faith alone, also emphasized the necessity of works, how we should be careful to maintain good works, that they are good and profitable unto men: Titus 3:8 He says this right after preaching salvation by faith alone and once saved, always saved. We put great emphasis on this stuff, why? Not to make you not work for God, WE NEED TO WORK FOR CHRIST, but rather that you don't trust in the sinner instead of the savior. The gospel is how that Christ payed our debt we couldn't pay, believing in vain, is being like the group going to Christ which will be like, Lord, why am I not saved? Haven't I done many wonderful works? Trusting the gospel is knowing our insufficiency and your heart having a reliance and rest in his sufficiency.
compare Rom 2^7 with Rom 4^28-28 & Gal 2^14-15 (good work vs works of Jewish Law). the Bible mentions different types of works(s): works of (Jewish) law, of flesh, of darkness, good works, work of faith, ... do not be deceived: 1-Cor 6^9-10; Gal 5^19-21; Eph 5^3-6 (addressed to "saints"). also read 2-Tim 2^19. the apostle Peter also gave warnings: 1-Pet 1^15-17; 2-Pet 2^20 and the author of "Hebrews": Heb 3^12-14; 6^4-6; 10^26 live holy for Jesus. ask The Holy Spirit to lead and help you.
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Once you understand what Jesus meant here, it is hard to consider that he was referring to physical salvation in Matthew 24:13.
Yes, you understand correctly. Our Lord was speaking about the salvation of souls. If a soul is saved, then the body will be also saved at the time of resurrection of the dead and the last judgement. The soul is then joined to the resurrected and glorified body and then enter the Heavenly Kingdom.
@@hyeminkwun9523 The soul is the living body. There is no soul without the breathing body. The soul is our identity on earth. The spirit is our identity in Heaven.
It means; you live until you die. The next thing you know is....who Jesus is. Even though it may be a long time after one dies ...it will seem to them like a second.
What is the Biblical meaning of belief? A man walks on a tight rope over Niagara Falls w wooden buckets on his feet. He asks the crowd when he gets to the other side”Do you believe I can do this again?” The crown claps and shouts in the affirmative. He then asks” Who wants to climb on my shoulders for my return trip?” Belief is Trust is Belief.
I'm not sure what you're saying it means. He who endures to the end of the tribulation will be saved... from the tribulation? Doesn't that just mean, whoever endures to the end of the tribulation endures to the end of the tribulation?
A passage often misused. First of all it’s regarding the end times. And if you keep reading down to verse 22 in the same chapter, we see that it’s talking about physical death. No flesh would be saved meaning everyone would die if Jesus does not intervene he shortens the days of great tribulation
It means that Bob doesn't think you have to endure to the end. Bob believes you can walk in darkness 24/7/365, never repent and you will still be saved. Bob doesn't believe you need to walk in the light or walk after the Spirit, but you can walk after the flesh and you will still be saved.....
What Must I Do to be Saved? - Bob Wilkin ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--0tW4qkMSYU.html Have you ever wondered what you must do to be saved or have everlasting life? Throughout time and in the Bible, people have asked this important question. Bob Wilkin of the Grace Evangelical Society shares what the Bible has to say about this question, and what you should do if you want to know the answer.
This is for every one who thinks they have to repent from sin . 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. So if you don’t believe on the finished work of Christ and you add to the gospel by trying to keep all of Gods laws then Satan will blind your mind to the truth. As for the people Jesus said “sin no more” what was he supposed to say? Don’t get caught next time ? Jesus also told people not to speak of His miracles Mark7:36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; Those people Jesus told not to tell , told . Jesus hadn’t paid for sin when He said sin no more and nowhere in scripture does it say And the women never sinned again and lived happily ever after. Another verse none believes use is pick up your cross daily Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded THEM, saying, Go NOT into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye NOT: Matthew 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Jesus was speaking the His apostles not you or I . We were gentiles like billions were and yet Jesus commanded "Go NOT into the way of the Gentiles " Yet how were we preached to? Obviously God had other plans and his will for us was brought about by the gospel which is 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 1 John 3: 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Our spirit doesn’t sin , the spirit is born again not the flesh. 1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. On the cross Jesus said “It is FINISHED “ not it has just began . The wages sin pays is death ,every one dies even the disciples so the flesh is at war with the spirit until we receive new bodies that can’t sin until then the Holy Spirit sets us free from habitual sin if we are sincere and pray over it even so we still sin We are under Gods grace until the rapture then those that take the mark of the beast will be thrown into the lake of fire. Grace is over at the rapture and a person has to believe on Jesus and work for salvation because not taking the mark will ultimately lead to the death of the flesh. The apostle Paul was given the full understanding of grace on the road to Damascus. When we believe on the finished work of Jesus we are saved in the spirit , born again children of God in spirit ,You can’t earn that . The wages sin pays is death of the flesh . nobody is free from sin not me not you and all the apostles died so they sinned too or they would still be alive .When James said “faith without works is dead “he was talking about the flesh . James :2:4 What doth it profit, my brethren,(flesh) though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?(flesh)15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,(flesh)16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; not withstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body;(flesh) what doth it profit?(flesh)17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 26 For as the body (flesh) without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead(to the flesh) also. 1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. We are saved by Gods grace through Jesus faith if we believe, then we our spirit is born again ,we become children of God but the wages sin pays is death so our spirit can’t die it’s the flesh that dies. 1 Corinthians 6:12All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Galatians 3:10-1310 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.Galatians 3:23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 4:4-54 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Hebrews 7:11-12 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, Revelation 22:12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Notice it doesn’t say judged on their sin . 1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour By all means don’t sin but don’t think that you are saved because of your works. On the cross Jesus said “It is FINISHED “ not it has just began . The wages sin pays is death ,every one dies even the disciples so the flesh is at war with the spirit until we receive new bodies that can’t sin until then the Holy Spirit sets us free from habitual sin if we are sincere and pray over it even so we still sin . You are lukewarm , it’s simple really , being hot is a believer who is on fire so to speak for Christ , being cold is a believer that is not outspoken about Christ .A lukewarm person doesn’t believe on the finished work of Christ .Jesus said Revelation 3:15-16 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Lukewarm isn’t someone sitting on the fence its people who outright don’t believe on the FINISHED work of Jesus or professing Christians who add works i.e.Keeping the law to be saved.
I stopped reading your comment after you said that nobody is free from sin. If that’s what you claim and believe then why does the Bible stats that all liars, fornicators, murderers, drunkards, etc… shall not inherit the kingdom of Heaven? “How could we who died to sin live any longer in it? Yes we are saved by Grace through faith but the work of the fruit of the spirit should be evidence in a believer life that the Holy Spirit is at work in that individual person life. That’s why the Bible says we should know them by there FRUIT. If I’m living in sin or not freed from sin like you claim then how our lives supposed to be any different from the non believers? “NOT BY MIGHT, nor by power, but it is by my spirit says the Lord of host.” It is by the spirit of God that we can live a free from sin life.
@@wood5073his blood cleanses his children. He is faithful and just to forgive. If you lie and you confess it you have his blood to cleanse you. You're clean. No longer a liar.
endure until the end is quite literal if you don't endure with Jesus everyday until you die out of this flesh form and out of this earthly world then you won't make it into heaven reading the bible and going to the false church every week is not enduring with Jesus until the end and you are not born again unless you actually change and become a new person, if you are just the same old sinning believer then you are on you're way to hell you are not born again and you are not saved Jesus Christ's words recorded in the book of thomas, mathew,mark,luke and john proves that nobody is saved by belief alone and that yes we are required to do more than just simply believe in Christ if you think you are saved by belief alone then you don't believe in the real Jesus you believe in a false image of Jesus Jesus said why do you call me Lord Lord but not do as i say? Jesus said they think they are righteous because they say yes to God but they don't do the will of the Father Jesus said if you where righteous you would be sinless. Jesus said be ye perfect just like you're Father in heaven is perfect Jesus said a sinner is like a slave to sin and a slave will not abide in the house forever but a son will abide forever Jesus Christ's own spoken words made it quite clear that sinning believers don't make it into heaven ya'll better wake up out of the trance of deception most of ya'll is in and pray to Jesus for His truth and for His help before it is too late nobody is saved by belief alone Jesus Christ's own spoken words recorded in the bible, the book of thomas mathew,mark,luke and john proves it and Jesus's words also prove that yes we are required to do more than just simply believe in Christ if you disagree then you disbelieve Jesus Christ's words and you disagree with Jesus Christ and only a fake/phony christian would disbelieve Jesus's words but then at the same time claim themselves to be children of God only phonies do that and twisting the scriptures what they say and what they mean that is called bible witchcraft so ya'll better be cautious the way ya'll quote things from scriptures especially if ya'll twist them it is written in the bible Revelation 21:8 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. which is obviously talking about hell and magic arts is stuff like witchcraft obviously witchcraft doesn't require a spell book to be able to perform certain types of witchcraft bible witchcraft and domination witchcraft only requires humans to do certain actions verbally or otherwise so for the one's who are ignorant you isn't 100% guiltless from the dangers of being guilty of witchcraft if you isn't extra cautious about what you say and do in you're life
perscriptions is concidered witchcraft also. Pharmakeia The Greek word pharmakeia appears in Galatians 5:20 and Revelation 18:23. Terms from the same root word appear in Revelation 9:21, Revelation 21:8, and Revelation 22:15. These are typically translated into English as “sorcery,” “witchcraft,” or “sorcerer.” Ancient Greek uses of pharmakeia closely mirror the generic modern English word drugs ; the same Greek root word produced English terms such as pharmacy and pharmacist.
It’s amazing how simple the gospel is but it bothers people. John 3:16 is very clear. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ for eternal life will have eternal life. Whoever is whoever. Even when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he asked his sister do you believe? That’s all The Lord asked her. He didn’t ask her how are you living or are you trying your best to live a godly life. He only asked her do you believe?
Try and properly divide God's Word... Who's being spoken to? What happened before & after? Who's speaking? etc. Most of the bible isn't written to us... Most is written for our learning.
Not so sure that this fully deals with this subject and in my view there is a a lot of dubious or at least divided opinion doctrine thrown into the argument.
1. Believers are the elect. 2. the tribulation is 3.5 years 3. there’s 2300 days from the abomination of desolation till the sanctuary is cleansed. Dan 8:13,14 4. 2300 days minus 3.5 years is 1022 days. 5. tribulation is what believers go through (3.5 years) 6. wrath is what God pours out for the remaining 1022 days. 7. the 14400 are resurrected Old Testament believers sealed immediately following the tribulation which immediately precedes the wrath. 8. osas Amen.
You often mention jews and gentiles but if terms are not defined, it's meaningless. ?-What exactly is a Jew? With adoption, adultery, deception, is there really a Jewish lineage? If it consists of a blood line, that's gone, so isn't a Jew someone who is a child of God period? What is a gentile? I can't find anything on your website that addresses this subject. Would you please share your thoughts here on another YT video?
Wanna prove you can lose it or gotta work for it? Go to Matthew, Acts or Hebrews! Or you can't lose it or work for it? Go to Romans thru Philemon... Which is written to you? 😄
What did they believe but they’re a martyr. They get their heads chopped off so that doesn’t make any sense. It kind of goes against what you’re saying or please explain.
Starts out with read in context, then goes ahead and reads out of context. The Lord was talking about the tribulation of the great war of that generation, not our generation.
Our Lord is speaking about all generations until the end of the world, and not for people living in certain period of time. St. Paul said in 1 Cor 9:27, "I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest perhaps, after I have preached to others, I myself should become a reprobate." St. Paul, an Apostle, was concerned about the possibility of losing his salvation, thus proving that 'Once Saved, Always Saved', 'Faith alone", or 'Predestined" is a complete lie from Hell, and that the salvation requires a great efforts on our part to truly live according to Our Lord's Commandments of Love and observing All He commanded as taught by His One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church (Matt 28:20), so that we may be transformed into the True Image and Likeness of Christ (Rom 8:29, 2 Cor 3:18); because, we are judged, not by Faith, but according to our deeds and works (Rev 20:13, 22:12. Matt 25:31-46), as only those who OBSERVE All the teachings and PERSEVERE TO THE END (Matt 24:13) are justified (Rom 2:13).
@@hyeminkwun9523 This raises up a couple of questions. The first one being the most obvious if that’s the case and we are judged worthy of salvation by works what exactly did Jesus do? The second question actually isn’t really a question more of a statement. Do you understand the sabbath is not and has never been Sunday and that man has no legal right to change that correct? If that’s the case, this means that if we are held to the standard, everyone was kept the Sabbath on Sunday, regardless of being Catholic faithful or otherwise did not make it into heaven, regardless of their works. Now, to be clear, when you have a true fellowship with Christ, I do believe that could works do stem from that. I myself am struggling with that in my life. However, to make the claim that a specific church that is already proven throughout history, that they are willing to warp and change, things should be relied upon to provide the exact formula for salvation. I don’t feel like that is a safe place to put my faith
@@hyeminkwun9523A bit above that verse Paul also says: 1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. Contextually Paul keeps his body under subjection to receive an incorruptible crown, referring to divine rewards in heaven, not the loss of salvation, one can suffer loss of potential rewards in heaven but not salvation: 1 Corinthians 3:15 King James Version 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Ironic that they ignored the beginning of Olivet discourse that they are guilty of. "Let no man deceive you" (Mat 24:4). The next verse say that many will come in His name, meaning, teaching in his name, not actually saying "I am Christ." They will come and teach a deceptive Jesus. This is in the beginning of sorrows (v8) because He says the end is not yet (v6). These guys (Shawn and Bob) are the false prophets that will arise (v11). And look at v12 iniquity shall abound. Well of course it does, look at the OSAS doctrine these guys preach not to mention the lie of this very video. And 2 Thess 2, that parallels Mat 24, says there will be (already started) a great falling away from the faith of the real Jesus. So the ones enduring to the end to be saved are the ones who don't let themselves be deceived by a false image of Jesus represented by the misuse of scripture that will lead many to hell. And as the apostate church falls away and the true church endures Mat 24:14 says "THIS" Gospel shall be preached in all the world. "THIS" Gospel is the true Gospel of the true Jesus not the dispensationalist and OSAS lies.
Enduring to the end refers to the tribulation period… when the prophecy gospel is back in effect. It has nothing to do with the age of grace. Nothing Jesus said during His time on earth has nothing to do with gentiles. Jesus even said this Himself a number of times. The gospel Peter preached is NOT the same as the gospel Jesus later gave to Paul found in 1 Cor 15:1-4. Peter preached who Jesus was… Paul preached what Jesus did.
It is obvious Jesus is talking about the tribulation period. The very next verse says that the message of the kingdom will be preached. We are not preaching the Kingdom in this age of Grace as we are preaching the next event to come, the rapture. But after the rapture, the next event will be the kingdom. To claim Christians will go into the tribulation is totally destroyingthe message of Grace. Saved believers do not "endure" to be saved but are declared righteous at the moment of salvation and are secured by the Holy Spirit
Endure to the end, was never written for the church. It was written to those who will go through the seven years of the great tribulations, also known as ''The times of Jacob's (Israel) troubles''. They will have to endure unto the end, the Antichrist who will try to kill them. They are called the tribulations saints! This is not the church! The church will be raptured in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, (1 Thessalonians 4) BEFORE that terrible ''Day of the Lord.'' You are all mixed up in your doctrines! Also study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, as apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV Finally, our apostle Paul wrote that women are not allowed to teach in the church. 1 Timothy 2:12 So, why are teaching on RU-vid, even if Paul said that a woman is not allowed to teach in the church? The church is not a building. It is the whole body of believers in Christ. So, Is not what you do here, against God's word?
The Rapture in Matthew 24? Nine Proofs by Bob Wilkin faithalone.org/grace-in-focus-articles/the-rapture-in-matthew-24-nine-proofs/ Introduction Somewhere around 2000, I became convinced that in Matt 24:40-44 the Lord is teaching the pre-trib Rapture. I was influenced by conversations with Zane Hodges. Around 2005, I then heard a message defending the pre-trib Rapture in the Olivet Discourse by Dr. John Hart. In 2007-2008, we published three articles by Hart in JOTGES supporting his view. This article follows Hart’s ten points, but the comments are my own. I highly recommend readers carefully analyze Hart’s three articles, which are available at faithalone.org. Because of space restrictions, I will merely hit the highlights. After all, Hart took sixty-five pages to develop his argument. Nine Proofs of the Pre-Trib Rapture in Matthew 24 First, the Lord gives many signs for the event described in Matt 24:4-31. Thus, you can know when the event is happening. But the Rapture, while imminent, is a sign-less event. Hence, when the Lord says, “of that day and hour no one knows…” (Matt 24:36), He must be referring to the Rapture, not to the Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation. Second, the words “now concerning” (peri de) start v 36 and indicate that a new idea is being discussed. Third, the words “that day and hour” (v 36) refer to the start of the day of the Lord, that is, the Rapture. And “that day and hour” is distinguished from references to “those days” (plural) in the prior section (i.e., Matt 24:19, 22, 29). Fourth, the Lord’s reference to the days of Noah (Matt 24:37-39) fits perfectly with an imminent event whose time is unknown. But it does not fit with someone being in a period of seven years with identifiable signs, including a sign that the mid-point has been reached (i.e., the abomination of desolation). Things before the flood were business as usual in Noah’s day, and they will be business as usual at the time of the Rapture as well. Fifth, a comparison between Matt 24:40-44 and Paul’s words in 1 Thess 5:1-11 shows that the pre-trib Rapture is in view in Matthew 24. Paul picks up the Lord’s thief in the night imagery and refers to the Day of the Lord (1 Thess 5:2). Paul indicates that people will be saying “peace and safety” (1 Thess 5:3) when the Day of the Lord starts, then “sudden destruction” will come upon them (1 Thess 5:3). They will not escape that time of wrath (1 Thess 5:3). But believers will be saved from the Tribulation wrath (1 Thess 5:9-10). Sixth, Peter’s words in 1 Pet 3:20-21 2 Pet 3:10 show that the pre-trib Rapture was in view in Matthew 24. In 1 Pet 3:20-21, Peter talks about the time of Noah and his family being saved from the wrath of the flood via the ark. That salvation was not regeneration, but a type of the Rapture of the Church. In 2 Pet 3:10-12, Peter uses the Lord’s image of the thief in the night to refer to the soon return of Christ, which will culminate in the destruction of the current heavens and the earth and the creation of a new heavens and earth. Seventh, the reference to one will be taken naturally fits with the pre-trib Rapture. And those left behind (remember the Tim LaHaye books by that title?) naturally refer to unbelievers who are not delivered but must go through the Tribulation. Hart notes, “If the one ‘taken’ is taken away for judgment, it is peculiar that a word characterized by personal accompaniment is employed while the one ‘left’ to enter the kingdom is described with a word frequently used for the forsaken” (JOTGES, Autumn 2008: 47). The language most naturally suggests that the ones taken refer to those taken in the Rapture. Eighth, the imagery of a thief in the night fits perfectly with the pre-trib Rapture. But it does not fit at all with those who have been left behind to go through the Tribulation. Once the Man of Sin signs a covenant with Israel, anyone who reads the Bible can see that day one of 2,520 days has begun. When the two witnesses are killed, there will be 1,260 days before the Second Coming. Jesus’ Second Coming will not be like a thief in the night for anyone who has read God’s Word. Hart says, “There can be no forewarning if we are to honor the surprise element resident in the thief analogy in 24:43. A thief does not willingly signal his presence, but numerous telltale signs will precede Christ’s Second Coming at the climax of the tribulation” (JOTGES, Autumn 2008: 51). Ninth, the exhortation to watch (grēgoreō) absolutely shows that the Pre-trib Rapture is in view in both Matthew 24 and 1 Thess 5:1-11. Hart writes, “If pre-tribulationists agree that 1 Thess 5 uses grēgoreō to instruct believers of the NT church to ‘stay alert’ for the coming pre-tribulational Rapture, then isn’t it logical that Jesus could have utilized the same word in the same way in the Olivet Discourse?” (JOTGES, Autumn 2008: 57). Objections to This View When John Hart presented these nine proofs at the Pretrib Study Group Conference, I thought he would win over most of the audience. However, while all the attendees believed in the pre-Trib Rapture, very few were persuaded by John’s arguments. In fact, he was followed by someone presenting a paper on John 14:1-3 who specifically rejected the idea of the pre-trib Rapture in Matthew 24. Far and away, the greatest objection to this view is that it doesn’t fit one’s tradition. Post-tribulationists cannot see a pre-trib Rapture anywhere. While pre-tribulationists certainly have no overwhelming reason why they can’t see the Rapture in Matthew 24, tradition is powerful. If nearly all classic dispensationalists reject the pre-trib Rapture being found in Matthew 24, it is hard (or Hart) to go against the tide. Hart discusses several other objections in Part 3 of his JOTGES articles. Some think that since Paul calls the Church a mystery, it means there was no reference to it before Acts 2. However, in Matthew 18, the Lord clearly referred to the Church. And nearly all classic dispensationalists believe that the Rapture of the church is in view in John 14:1-3. A mystery is not something previously undisclosed, but something previously unknown. There is a big difference. While the Church could not be discerned from reading the Gospels alone (or some texts in the OT as well), it can be seen when those same texts are read in light of later revelation. One of the biggest objections is from Luke 17:37, which follows the Lord’s discussion of a man and woman who would be taken. When Jesus was asked, “Where, Lord?” He said, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” The argument goes that since that is normally interpreted as a reference to the judgments of the Tribulation, not the Rapture, the parallel passage in Matt 24:40-44 must not be about the Rapture either. Hart has an excellent alternative explanation: “Without excluding a possible allusion to judgment, a better suggestion is that the disciples meant, ‘Where are You to be revealed, Lord?’ This understanding of Luke 17:37 fits the parallel passage in Matt 24:28 where the proverbial saying applies exclusively to the Parousia (24:29-31)” (JOTGES, Autumn 2008: 63). Luke 17:37 is very close in wording to Matt 24:28 (aetoi, eagles, is in both texts) and Luke 17:23. As a summary statement at the end of Luke’s presentation of the sermon, it makes sense that the question is not about vv 34-36, but about the Lord’s return. Whatever Luke 17:37 means, it cannot and does not contradict what the Lord taught in Matt 24:36-44. The nine proofs given above overwhelm a possible objection based on what is itself a difficult verse to interpret. Conclusion The evidence is strong (overwhelming?) that Matt 24:40-44 refers to the church’s pre-trib Rapture. Indeed, since there is no hint of the Tribulation in John 14:1-3, this is the only place in the Gospels where the Lord Jesus refers to the pre-trib Rapture. Peter and Paul both use the imagery of the Day of the Lord and His coming as a thief in the night in reference to the pre-trib Rapture. While I certainly do not need Matt 24:40-44 to tell me that the Rapture is true and imminent (I have that from other texts), I find it encouraging that the doctrine originates with the Lord Jesus. It would be surprising if the Lord taught about the Tribulation and yet did not say anything about the pre-trib Rapture. Rapture truth has had a powerful impact on my life, from my early days when I came to faith in 1972 during the height of the Jesus people movement. Hal Lindsey’s writings about the Rapture were very meaningful to me. When I later became a student at his alma mater, Dallas Theological Seminary, my love and appreciation for the Rapture grew even more. Like Hart, I urge readers to consider whether the pre-trib Rapture might be in Matthew 24. Meditating on this important passage should prove spiritually enriching. It has been for me.
Wow... great teaching. I like to use Acts 27:31 as an example of this. I'd love to talk with you all about collaborating on our RU-vid channels. I'm not sure how to reach y'all. Greetings from South America. (I'm a missionary here). My email address is in the beginning of the vast majority of my videos.
