Give the gift of God's Word! These Audio Bibles make it possible for those who cannot read or do not have a Bible in their language to hear God's message.
With your gift, we can continue producing The John Ankerberg Show which is broadcast to 4.5 Billion viewers in over 200 countries.
The rapture is a false doctrine. You can go back in history and find that it was started by the Jesuits to get the eyes off of the belief people were having that the papacy was the antichrist. And the Satanic trick has worked!! Many Christians are “sleeping” today because, as the world deteriorates around us they STILL think they will be whisked away before things get horrible. What a deception! Christians will be executed and go through hell on earth; but they do not stand up and fight the forces of evil as they should today because they are so sure they will be rescued. Wake up my friends! WE are the Tribulation Saints! God let the three Hebrew children be thrown into the fiery furnace–but he was right there with them. God let Daniel be thrown into the lions den but God was with him. One must twist the scriptures to support the idea of a secret rapture. We are already in the Tribulation Period! How can you not see it? Are you too busy watching for the rapture? Christ is coming soon and EVERY eye will see him. Please study and learn the truth. I was taught about the secret rapture and believed it for years. Then I was blind: now I see! Praise be to God the Father, Jesus our coming King and the Holy
Spirit, the Spirit of Truth! Research the scriptures and ask the Lord to show you the absolute truth.
Its father is a liar and Its mother is ignorance of the Word of God and those who preach it and profit from it are harming the body of Christ and they don’t realize they are being used as pawns in a spiritual war against the truth.
Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.”
Well Judith, I think you should re-search the scriptures. Haven’t you studied these differences as set out by John Ankerberg? Let me refer you to a well-known scripture which doesn’t seem to have any bearing on the Rapture Question and I would urge you to meditate on it. Study 1 John 4:4. “Greater is he who is IN you than he who is in the world”. How can the antichrist appear if Christians are still on the earth. Make no mistake, he is “chomping at the bit” to start his nonsense but the thing holding him back (and he knows it) is the Church because, let’s assume for a moment that we are still here when he appears, we, being led by the Holy Spirit IN us, will say to him “You might look good and clean and fresh (tra-la-la) but the Holy Spirit shows me the truth and in Jesus Name, get lost!” He is then powerless. Glory to God!! And this lines up with what is stated in 2 Thes 2: 3 – 8.I know you can argue with this as you could possibly say that the Holy Spirit is always here so therefore the antichrist can therefore never appear. No, no; the Church has the most incredible privilege available to us because the Holy Spirit is IN us and that is the condition of 1 John 4:4. After the rapture, the last seven years known as Jacob’s trouble, revert back to the Jewish age which means the Holy Spirit is here but no longer IN the new believers. He only comes UPON the king, the priest and the prophet and therefore 1 John 4:4 is no longer applicable to them.That’s why is says even the very elect will be deceived. They cannot test the spirit who alone knows the truth!
the three Hebrew children were Jews not Christians …there were no Christians during the time of Daniel only Jews and Gentiles…This is the picture i you will Jews during the tribulation period not Christians…wrong hermeneutics will lead us to become post-tribers
..
Hello Judith my sister in Christ. The Rapture and Second Coming has been an area of debate for sometime. I think the act of being “caught up” as I am sure you know, is from the Latin word Rapio and the Greek word Harpazo, as explained by our brother Paul, will happen. When is the debate. I think some pastors teach that it will happen before the great tribulation because of what Jesus said in Rev 3:10 and other verses. Other pastors teach the ” being caught up” is during his second coming at the end of the Tribulation so it is not 2 events but 1 in the same. As the Bible describes the Great Tribulation that effects the entire world, I do not think we are there yet. No matter when this Rapture event takes place, it can not be a secret in my opinion. This does not mean you are mistaken concerning the Rapture event not happening before that horrible time, it may not. What is frustrating is when I hear so called teachers who believe in a pre tribulation Rapture say “if you don’t believe in it, you wont be going”. That is absurd. Either way we believers are saved and you are correct in speaking out against those who sit back their whole lives and do nothing in the fight against evil. Your reward is in heaven for your actions which show you are saved. I too am doing my best to live as Jesus returns today or 50 years after I am gone. Any way that’s my take on this subject. Thank you for expressing yours.
May God bless you Judith keep fighting the good fight!
Your brother in Christ
Dino
During the Tribulation the man of sin (the wicked one) will have his time to pour out his anger on the inhabitants of the earth who will not bow down and worship him and take his mark. [Revelation 12:12] God’s wrath comes later AFTER the Lord Jesus Christ returns in the clouds to gather his church. Those who represent the words, “tribulation” and “wrath” as being the same thing are not honestly looking at these words in a Biblical context. The words, “tribulation” and “wrath” are not interchangeable. Jesus Christ promised that we would have tribulation in this world [John 16:33]; [Revelation 2:10]. He also prayed to the Father that we would not be taken out of this world during tribulation but that we would be kept from evil. [John 17:15]. God also tells us to wait for “his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.” The Lord Jesus Christ has already delivered each Christian from the wrath to come! This verse does not say “will deliver.” It says delivered. The Bible tells us plainly what “the wrath to come” means. The wrath of God is directed toward those who refuse to repent and receive His mercy: the children of disobedience. The wrath of God is His punishment for unbelievers. [Luke 3:7]; [Ephsians 5:6]; [Colossians 3:6]; [Revelation 6:17] The saints of God are appointed to tribulation. The children of disobedience are appointed to God’s wrath. In Greek, the word wrath (ogre–3709) means punishment God executes against the wicked. The word tribulation (thilipsis–2347) refers to the sufferings that Christians go through in this world for Christ. God allows his children to endure tribulation. [Matthew 13:21, 24:9, 21, 29]; [Mark 4:17, 13:19, 24,]; [Acts 7:10, 11, 11:19]; [Romans. 2:9, 5:3]; [2 Thessalonians 1:4]. God pours out his wrath upon those who reject his mercy (unbelievers) not his own children.
[Matthew 3:7]; [Mark 3:5]; [Luke 3:7, 21:23]; [John 3:36]; [Romans 1:18, 2:5, 8]; [Ephesians 2:3, 4:31, 5:6]; [Colossians 3:6,8]; [1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2:16]; [1 Timothy 2:8]; [Hebrews 3:11]; [James 1:19, 20]; [Revelation 6:16, 17, 11:18] We must purpose to not be offended in Christ if things don’t turn out the way we hope and the way we have been told they will. When Christians find themselves on earth when the New World Order is in full swing and God’s people are being sought after for elimination, we need to understand that we are suffering the wrath of the Antichrist, not the wrath of God. God will not leave us or forsake us even during the Tribulation if we keep the faith — obey his word without reservation and patiently endure until the end.
The very first judgment of the Tribulation is the revealing of the Anti-Christ. I don’t see him. Therefore, we are not in the Tribulation yet. And Revelation 3:10 clearly says that we will be saved from wrath. Yes, we will have troubles, trials and tribulation while we’re here but we who are born again at the Rapture will miss the Tribulation (with a capital T). Thankfully, many thousands more will come to Christ even during the horrific events of the Tribulation.
One key to understanding scripture is to discover who is being addressed. Tribulation Saints are basically the Jews. Many will have their eyes and ears opened when they see the Antichrist defile the temple. The believers (referred to as the Bride of Christ) are no longer around to preach the gospel for that work has been turned over to the 144,000 converted Jewish evangelists, the two witnesses and the angels who will trumpet the good news worldwide. Then is the second coming when Christ will return, not in the clouds as during the rapture, but to the battlefield to destroy the millions of soldiers sent to fight against Him and the heavenly army of raptured believers and His angels. You are welcome to experience the tribulation if you are still alive at that time, but as for me, John 14:3 says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” He also promises that the church/bride/believers will be kept from the Day of Wrath which will be world-wide. I believe that and it is, as the bible says, the Blessed Hope.
Amen. The Saints, mostly Jews who suffer during the tribulation are those who come to Christ after the rapture because of the preaching of the (144,000) and two witnesses. When we read Revelation and the letters to the churches in chapters two and three, there is no mention of the church from chapters four through eighteen, why because the Lord has come for us. Maranatha!
The doctrine is from scripture. I understand the evil that is Jesuit . But the fact is that 1 Thess 4 :16-18 was written before there were any Jesuits. It is literally in the Book!
when you try to down load, let the pdf load completely, then when you hover at the top of the page
hit the save icon. it works for me every time. my OS is windows 10
Wow, an anti-rapturist actually used information from someone other than Margaret McDonald. This time it is in regards to the Jesuit Priest Emmanuel Lacunza, yet the anti-rapturist didn’t give any details. Lacunza wrote his book in 1812 and it was entitled, “The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty.” But again the anti-rapturists fall short. Victorinus who was well known in 270 A. D., but died in 303 A. D. Wrote the following: His commentary notes in Revelation 6:14 a pre-trib reference:
“And the heaven withdrew as a scroll that is rolled up.” For the heaven to be rolled away, that is, that the Church shall be taken away. “And every mountain and the islands removed from their places intimate that in the last persecution all men departed from their places; that is, that the good will be removed, seeking to avoid persecution.”
There are many more references to a pre-tribulation rapture. The problem with most (not all) anti-rapturists is they don’t give any facts.
This website gives facts on the rapture. The Thomas Ice website gives facts on the rapture. The site Rapture Ready gives facts about the Rapture. Grace to You website gives facts about the Rapture. I could list 100’s more. I could list 1000’s of Scholars present and past who believe in the Rapture. No demons here, only Bible facts.
I was talking about Victorinus making the reference in his notes on Rev. 6:14. Not that Rev. 6:14 itself was pre-trib. The pre-trib reference is in his notes.
I don’t know why I went to the trouble to try explaining, anti-raturists come on a rapture website just to argue. Continuous cycle. There are plenty of conservative scholars who know the Rapture is correct. John MacArthur, Donald G. Barnhouse, James Montgomery Boice (all Calvinist too) then we have on the other side of the Calvinist fence Thomas Ice, John Walvoord, Tim LaHaye…… All very intelligent men. So to the anti-rapturists…. You will not change our minds with your argumenative attitudes. Say what you will… I will not remove my belief from correct Biblical Doctrine. For the person who commented about wondering where Jesus spoke of the rapture…. John 14:1-4. Jesus did not mention all the happenings of everything through out history. The Words in Red are not the only thing Jesus said. Words being red need to be stopped so people won’t think the words in red is all that Jesus speaks. I like R. C. Sproul, Martin Lloyd Jones, John Piper, and numerous others who don’t believe in the Rapture. Those guys wouldn’t come on a rapture site to argue. Posted from my phone. So please excuse typing errors.
I have noticed, that in these “differences” our dear brother studiously avoids noting in his first point that the angels are sent to gather the ELECT (Matthew 24:31) who are the saved—AFTER THE TRIBULATION (verse 29). But that he later implies, as in his eighth point, that the saints who go through the tribulation will enter the millennium without having been raptured or having received new bodies.
The solution to these issues is simple: When Christ descends from Heaven “with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God” (1 Thes. 4:17) –Christ is on His way down to a battle (i.e. Armageddon) as stated in Zechariah 14:1-3. ON HIS WAY DOWN, WE ARISE TO MEET CHRIST IN THE AIR. And so shall we (who are in Christ) ever be with the Lord.
I have a simple question that has yet to be answered by very sound Biblical Minds of our day. My question is where in the Bible does Jesus Himself ever talk about coming back BEFORE The Tribulation and in secret or invisible and part B to this question, does Jesus work in secret or Satan ?
I listen to Walter Veith. He is fully a fundamentalist believer, he believes is being born again but believes in some conditions attached to salvation. Can you explain the difference of this belief to your belief? He said rapture will not come before the tribulation but we’ll go through the tribulation.
Walter Vieth is a strong preacher and he is accurate! We must “go through Tribulation”. That is a given, imperative statement from the Biblical book. We cannot seek ESCAPE on our own – that will be opposite of God and Satanic. Beware what you believe in, people. Lucifer is a trickster! He will be a counterfeit Christ at best. There is no easy way out of Tribulation (Dark Ages). We must endure. We must do as we are told, we must “go through”…..and we will receive our REWARD!
I have heard of Zac Poonen saying that the Rapture might take place after the tribulation.This information greatly provides insight into my mind.Thanks John.
The Lord Jesus comes already spiritually this part of His second coming.He started on the day of pentecost were in the prophesy of prophet joel fulfilled wc is showering of spirit some see vision and some will prophesise.I see visions and i felt it.Its true once you are in the hands of God no one can snatch you of Him.I made a sin and when i sleeping a black spirit hits toward me and looks like he want to take my life,but he fails.The three men who appear to abraham i see also on my vision ,only God knows if this true but i testifying it,more i see but i will not anymore give any details because that is my (maybe )reward.Another coming of the Lord is bodily when He ascended to heaven to men in white uniform appear and they said He will come back the same way.I am now out of i credit bye for now.
There are no short cuts to Heaven. The Rapture certainly cannot become a short cut to our passage into Heaven. In Luke 21, 36 our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ instructs us, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, AND TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN.” Hence, even if we are taken up in the Rapture and escape the Tribulation, all of us will have to stand before the judgment seat of the Lord. THERE IS NO ESCAPING GOD’S JUDGMENT. So instead of dreading the Tribulation we must lead a holy life so that we can escape God’s Judgment. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ categorically states in Matthew 7: 13-14, “13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” We can enter Heaven and enjoy eternal bliss only “by denying ourselves and taking up our cross DAILY and following Him” [Luke 9: 23]. Our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ advises in Matthew 11:29-30 to 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Hence, even if we are taken up in the Rapture and escape the Tribulation, all of us will have to stand before the judgement seat of the Lord. THERE IS NO ESCAPING GOD’S JUDGMENT:
Romans 14:12, So then EVERY ONE of us shall give account of himself to God, and again in 2nd Cor.5:10, For WE MUST ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
” But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matt. 12:36-37) FERVENT and CONSTANT PRAYER is the real need of the hour: Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ said in Luke 21:36, “Watch ye therefore, and PRAY ALWAYS, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass.” We must spend more time praying for ourselves, for others, for the nations of the world and national and religious leaders. Let us be like Cornelius who “prayed always” [Acts10:4]. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’s Second Coming is imminent. As the apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:16, “16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Only one thing matters and that is our preparation before we are judged by Him when He returns. Matthew 16:27; “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. The Apostle Paul reiterates this awesome truth in 2nd Cor.5:10, “For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” Jesus expects us
1. To wait faithfully and loyally and like the faithful steward in Luke 12 verses 35-48. “47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”
2. Even as we await His Second Coming we must diligently and wisely use the talents He has given us in His service. We have to give account as to how many lost souls we have won for His kingdom. Matthew 25, 14-30: “23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
3. Most importantly we must keep ourselves holy. Revelation 22:11, he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”
No where did I read that we are escaping judgment, where did you get this notion?
What really matters is are we ready? This should be the discussion, not pre trib, post trib, or whatever other belief there is. Jesus told us to be ready thus, what does it mean to be ready? This is what truly matters, are we ready!
The rapture teaching is not found in any christian genre until John Nelson Darby introduced it in 19th century and promoted by C I Scofield. I have no axe to grind and as a pastor and college professor taught and lectured for the pre- millennial pre-tribulational view. I grew up in church accepting this eschatological doctrine after hearing it preached and taught in church and bible colleges. Do not get the wrong idea, these men were sincere and were well-intentioned,but we know the proverb about the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Any NEW doctrine that does not enter Christendom for 18 centuries and with no serious theologian or scholar discussing or writing about was my first RED FLAG. Paul’s exhortation to the church in Acts 17:11 should be heeded by every disciple of Christ. Please dear fellow brothers and sisters do not cut off ends of the ham just because your grandmother did it. That is one of our biggest problems in the church today(accepting what is popular and not necessarily biblical let alone hermeneutically and exergetically sound. The world is having a field day with those who are and have been setting dates:which include JW and other cults. One friend I have who is not a Christian was making fun recently about the 4 blood moons being taught. Too many Christians pick up there bible be it on the shelf or back seat of our cars on Sunday morning and then open it during the service without ever being the berean in Acts 17.May God awake a generation that does not check their brain (He gave them) at the door, .
Actually Ephraim the Syrian ( A.David 306-373) in a sermon on the last times mentions the church being taken out before the great tribulation, Jacob’s trouble. He is quoted in 4 6th century Latin manuscripts.
The teaching may have become more popular in the 19th century. But to say it was introduced then is simply not true.
How will people be saved during the tribulation? From what I read about this eschatological view is the Holy Spirit will not be present on the earth to draw men to Christ. Many pre tribulationists say the only way to be saved during this time period is to die and this will get you into heaven. That is WORKS OF THE FLESH OR IN OTHER WORDS KEEPING THE LAW. Wonder what Paul would say about that. Do I understand that Christ is going to preside and even ordain animal sacrifices. Is that not a slap in the sacrificial all toning work of Christ and please do not use the straw man of it being a memorial.The law was fulfilled once and for all at the cross. IT WAS FINISHED (PERFECT TENSE IN GRK) why in GOD’S name do you think He destroyed the temple via the Romans
there has to be two groups is it? Pre and Post tribulationist? its confusing because then we do not know which argument to believe! can John Ankerberg himself help us here.thank you
if you continue to read Mathew 24:29-31 29 “Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[a]
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[b] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[c] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Revelation 20:4-6New International Version (NIV)
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.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53New International Version (NIV)
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
No such thing as Rapture but just the second coming of Yashua only, for all souls on planet Earth, to finish the final judgement for the new eternal life gift of God through Yashua only, who will descend with the new heavenly Jerusalem and the Eternal life tree in it along with the saved souls, given new body and mind, the temple mount on Earth is irrelevant to Yashua as the Jews have abandoned the Ten Commandments given and written by the creator God. The Rapture is false doctrine of Lucifer, where he intends to impersonate the coming of Yashua for his people and Lucifer’s fellow Angels displaying the ressurection of death, is totally false, all dead are judged awaits final judgement of all souls on Earth at the second coming of Yashua, only. No Rapture at all.
The Truth ! In fact John Ankerberg has to make sure of his very soul being saved or not.
Amen/Ameen !!
SANNALA. VENUGOPAL REDDYon December 1, 2016 at 4:39 am
YES,THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT ASPECTS. RAPTURE IS FOR BLOOD REDEEMED PEOPLE WHO ARE IN BRIDE CHURCH. 2ND COMING IS MAINLY FOR ISRAELITES & MAY BE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE SAVED IN TRIBULATION PERIOD. HOWEVER WE GOT GOOD EXPLANATION. IT IS BENEFICIAL TO SO MANY. MAY GOD BLESS THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT.
If rapture is a good thing, why not accept it? You join the rapture or not as an event or as a doctrine does not in any way shake your foundation if you got a solid one. Rapture must be real after all even logic tells us that no loving parent in his right frame of mind would let his beloved children go through something dreadful. God is LOVE and that’s an irrefutable attribute of Him. If He is love, do you think he will allow His beloved children to suffer tribulation?. I believe the doctrine of rapture is logically true.
So those early Christians who were burned at the stake and fed to the lions were not God’schildren because who “would let his beloved children go through something that dreadful”. You guys have got two 2nd comings, one 2nd coming when Jesus comes in the clouds and takes all the christians back to heaven, including the dead Christians so you also have two resurrection days. And then another 2nd coming when he comes back to earth to establish his kingdom. Of course then he leaves and let’s Satan run rampant again and then he comes back and destroys Satan and I guess take all of the believing Jews back to heaven including those believing Jews who have died. So another resurrection day. Really it’s a mess.
If anybody were to take the time to read their bible they would know there are no more Jews in Gods eyes.
Galatians 3:28 there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
Who was Abraham’s seed? Was it not Israel, the Jews? Have we not been made Jews? Do not the promises made to the Jews apply to Christians?
Ephesians 2:15 so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross
What two are now one? It’s obvious to any one who has done any study, it’s Jew and Gentile, that is, ALL people. There are no more Jews in God’s eyes only believers and non believers.
The Rapture & The Second coming explained by Dr. John Ankerberg can be ruled out as false from the New Testament’s simple truth as the LORD didn’t instruct His disciples to be a BELIEVERS but only a WITNESSES, therefore whatever His words that refer as far as the position of Christian as believers is concerned becomes invalid, right before His ascension to heaven in Acts 1:8 the LORD made it clear.,
” But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth”
Unfortunately there’s only a believers through out the world which’s detrimental to His instruction, even early Apostles were not allowed to embark ministries without become a witnesses, if so how do Christians like Dr. John Ankerberg or Dr.Billy Graham or Dr.Ravi Zhakarias or Dr.William Lane Craig and others embarked their ministries of JESUS?
Believe & Witness are two different words having profound meanings, there’s no necessary for the HOLY SPIRIT to indwell among the believers whereas the indwelling of the HOLY SPIRIT is necessary to be a Witnesses, why there’s only a believers when the scenario has been changed into Post Pentecost? I humbly request Dr. John Ankerberg to reconsider his position as believer is in accordance with a New Testament or not, before deal with a sensitive biblical matters like Rapture & Second coming of the LORD.
Witness. it means those who sees a particular event. Witnesses are those who prove something like in a court trial. When Christ was here on earth, his disciples became witness to his ministry, life, how he saved the sinners (us) and how he ascended into heaven. That’s why he said to them that when the Holy Spirit descend on them,which will give them strength,wisdom and etc. they should become witnesses because they had witnessed! it means that they should become witnesses so the job of the disciples as witnesses is they will tell to all ends of the earth the good news that they had witnessed not just witness it and not to share it to other people. For us, who had not witness this things, we are called believers because we believe in such things, we are not witnesses because we had not witnessed it, that was 2000 years ago..
A big amen to that Mr. Joel ….truly how could Dr. John Ankenberg and all of us modern day Chistians be a witness when we were not there at the scene…we were just told and we read it then we just believe that it happens …so we are all just believers. William G.Peter should reconsider his thoughts and comments on a person or a teaching, after all it is He who said that the word “witness” has a profound meaning ….so now we found the meaning….Shalom!
You are wrong.. Full Stop.
Every one who believes and gets saved in the name of Jesus Christ is a believer and a witness. The verse you quoted above was made by Jesus Christ to all who witnessed His ascension to heaven. And there were about 500 assembled at that time… Again in the book of Acts it say about the Holy Spirit coming upon all who heard n believed Peter at Cornelius place.. The Holy Spirit is God’s helper for all who are cleansed by the Blood of Jesus… Rapture and Second Coming are 2 different events… It is very clear in the bible..First the Rapture which happens without any warning. It takes all who wait on the Lord like the wise virgins. The after the Tribulation comes the Second Coming of Christ to earth to remove the enemy and establish His rule on earth as King… Those who were taken in Rapture will be rulers of in various categories n sections on this earth with Christ as King at Jerusalem.. Those saved through tribulation times will live and prosper and increase on earth… Yes thats the truth… Bubye..
praise God for his blessings to all.praise God for his only begotten son Christ Jesus.who died for us , who raised for us …and He will come to take us.Amen
I , just watched your w with Dr. ERIN, it helped me so much. My daughter committed suicide. It has been so hard on me to forgive myself. The pastor that preaches at her funeral really upset me my saying she would not go to heaven. She was a Christian and truly believed. She was in a very dark place. That I didn’t know . Dr. Erin helpe. would lo e to hear from both of you on this. I prayed with Dr. Erin. I believe and love the Lord Jesus. I’m not perfect. But I try to live right but I have messed up with my daughter or she wouldn’t have done this. How do I forgive myself for not recognize ing what was going on and not stop her. I feel my son hates me because I didn’t stop her. Please help me I have prayed for forgiveness on not stopping her.
Thank you,
Margaret
Margaret Kelley, Jesus died on the cross for all of your daughter’s sins. If she was a believer in this, she will go to Heaven. Your pastor was mistaken. Jesus’ death did not pay for some sins and not others. Your daughter was forgiven before she even committed the act. Also, depression is a mental illness–a medical condition. It is NOT your fault. You cannot control the actions of a person whose mind is ill. You cannot stop someone whose mind is made up to end their own life. Your son is upset, because he lost his sister and is probably channeling that anger toward you. Deep inside, I’m sure he knows that is was not your fault. God bless you and I will pray that God grants you some peace over this situation.
It’s a pretty straight-forward issue. Why are you assuming that there is a single verse that this doctrine is based on? Instead, consider the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). If preachers can’t back this up from scripture, they don’t really have any business teaching the word of God, since it’s so common and easy to find throughout the scriptures. Here are just a few examples.
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:13)
Committing suicide is not enduring to the end.
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:1-6)
Committing suicide is not abiding in Christ.
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Romans 11:22)
Committing suicide is not continuing in His goodness.
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you–unless you believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:2)
Committing suicide is not holding fast the word.
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:23)
Committing suicide is not continuing in the faith, grounded and steadfast. It definitely is being moved away from the hope of the gospel.
6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (Hebrews 3:6)
Committing suicide is not holding fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, (Hebrews 3:14)
Committing suicide is not holding the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.
25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, (Hebrews 12:25)
Committing suicide is refusing and turning away from Him who speaks from heaven.
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. (1 John 5:18)
Committing suicide is not overcoming the world, but rather being overcome by the world and the devil.
People commit suicide because they have no hope, and thus they do not have Christ.
12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians 2:12)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Peter 3:15)
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight– 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:21-23)
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Your an unkind person. God does forgive our sins. None of us are good no not one only the Father and that’s what Jesus said and I believe he was even speaking of himself because he to was human.
When it says, Do not Judge. This is what it means. You can judge someones actions, but NOT if they are going to hell. That Pastor needs a new job. God takes care of the insane, and I think a person is not all there, if they commit suicide. My wife committed suicide, and I know she was a Born Again Christian. She had many mental problems.
If we are saved by faith alone, where do repentance and confession come into play? Are they not acts of faith or acts of obedience? Are we saved before we repent or confess?
Romans 10:9-10
If you confess the lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead you will be saved
For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
Doesn’t this passage say believe AND obey?
If we are saved by faith only or belief only, are not the people in John 12:42 saved?
John 12:42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue,
Doesn’t this alone say it is faith and obedience? You say there is nothing you can do or nothing you have to do but the bible seems to indicate differently.
Isn’t repentance something you do? Isn’t confession something you do?
How can you possibly teach salvation by faith alone?
You need faith in God and Christ before you can repent. To get the fulfilment of his promises you must obey the command of repentance on good faith to receive the glory of him mighty Grace and Mercy.
For my entire 30 years in ministry I have held strongly to a pre-trib rapture but, after reading 2 Thessalonians 2: 7-8 and seeing that the Holy Spirit’s restraining of sin is removed after 3 1/2 years, I am leaning toward the prospect that the rapture may come mid-trib. We would still be “eke” taken out ( or kept from) the tribulation, since the first half is going to be quite peaceful. Are there any convincing proofs that it will be pre and not mid?
Thanks for the info. I think Daniel11 is understandable now that the book of truth is open
and clarifies that the LORD will take his people and “escape these things.”
Jesus forgives. HE is loving and full of Mercy & Grace, HE remembers our sins NO more, we need to Repent. Stay in Prayer. Keep the Faith. I belong to a True Bible-believing Church, an Independent Baptist church, Strictly teachings from the Bible. The Rapture is imminent, Amen. We need to be ready. I truly believe in the, PRE-TRIB; HE will remove HIS Church prior to the earth’s ugly darkness. We can now see the evil morals on the streets, TV, political, liberalism. We are blessed by our Lord with the Pre-trib rapture. Jesus Loves Everyone.
A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY.In Matthew 24 the disciples ask Jesus this two part question; Matthew 24:3 part b they ask “tell us when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world? These two questions posed by the disciples are answered by the Lord in the following chapter. Let’s look at the question that deals with the sign of thy coming. The disciples are not asking for multiple signs but a singular sign of thy coming. In Matthew 24:27 Jesus answers this question concerning The sign of thy coming”. “For as the lightning cometh out of the East and shineth even unto the West so shall also the coming of the son of man be”. That is going to be quite a sign, who could miss a lightning like bolt of Almighty God’s power that shines across a globe in utter darkness. That answers one of the questions posed by the disciples, that was a very specific answer: look for a global lightning bolt, a light to lighten a globe in utter darkness so everyone can clearly ( by “The sign of thy coming”) see that Christ the King has signaled his return.!
The other question the disciples asked was “Tell us when shall these things be”? When shall this lighting bolt sign be that signals thy coming, and of the end of the world? So we know what the sign will look like that signals the end but when shall this sign that signals the Lords’ Return and the end of the world as we know it occur?
This is where Daniel’s 70 week prophecy comes into play, Jesus states in Matthew 24:15 “when ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation as spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place (whoso readeth let him understand)”. Here the Lord is instructing his disciples and those that are alive to see it to understand Daniels’ 70 weeks prophecy. The first 69 weeks of which have been wonderfully and marvelously fulfilled. The Lord is specifically pointing us to Daniels’ 70th week, the final week of Daniel’s Prophecy, the yet to begin week of Daniels’ 70 years. We know this because Matthew 24:15 speaks of the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place. In Daniel 9:27 it states: “and he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (the 70th week): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”.
So to answer the when part of the question, Jesus is telling his disciples to be watching for the abomination of desolation that occurs within the last week of Daniel’s prophecy. In order for the when part of the disciples’ question to be fulfilled literally, we need to see the 70th week of Daniel being played out on the world stage for all to see.
Even though we may not be alive to see Daniels’ 70th week we can by His grace understand what Jesus is instructing us to understand. That is the intent of this writing, to help us understand what the Lord is urging his followers to understand.
Once again, Daniel 9:27 “and he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years) and in the midst of the week (three and one half years into the covenant) he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease; and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation; and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”.
So here we have in Daniel 9:27 a (he) confirming a covenant with many for one week, seven years; Daniels last week the 70th week of Daniel. Included in this covenant is the allowing of Jewish sacrifices to be observed, in a newly constructed Jewish Temple. He then breaks the covenant causing the sacrifice and oblation to cease.
This “he” referred to here may be speaking of the little horn of Daniel 7, he may be the two horned beast of Revelation 13:11-17.
This covenant is with Israel for a seven year period, and allows for a new Jewish temple to be built; and for animal sacrifices to be carried out in the temple. “And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations (the taking away of the daily sacrifice and setting up an image of the beast in the temple) he shall make it desolate even unto the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”. This is what Christ is referring to in Matthew 24:15 “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation as spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place (new temple) whoso readeth let him understand, then in verse 21 Jesus states “for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be”. Christ is telling us to be looking for this earth and heaven shaking event at the mid point of the last seven years. Those that are alive to see the placing of the abomination will in fact be living in Daniel’s 70th week; the last seven years of man’s/satan’s rule on earth; only now with three and one half years left.
When will this mysterious 70th week of Daniel begin and the covenant be confirmed? Will we even know when it begins? No one knows for sure; and the Lord instructs us to look for the results of its signing, possibly because it is done in secret, or there may be several accords, and agreements prior to the one Christ is referring to but be looking for as the Lord says “when ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation as spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place whoso readeth let him understand” be looking for “the abomination of desolation”. The image of the beast of the antichrist standing in the newly constructed temple in Jerusalem, now the capital of Israel, a giant leap in prophetic fulfillment.
The covenant is for seven years, the first three and one half years will be when the newly reinstituted animal sacrifices will be taking place in the recently constructed Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. This long awaited peace that appears to be working will give the world a new savior to follow. However this new savior the antichrist will break his word and through situations that arise in Israel he and the false prophet (the little horn of Daniel 7) somehow have power to “take away the daily sacrifice” and then desecrate the temple by placing the “abomination that maketh desolate” an image to the beast sitting in the temple. Paul refers to this in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 & 4. This desecration of the holy place is what triggers the “GREAT TRIBULATION”. This great tribulation consists of six trumpets that sound and lasts 1260 days as detailed in Revelations chapters 8, 9 & 11. The first four trumpets are each followed by its unique judgement event that the Lord unleashes upon the earth. The last two trumpets of the six tribulation trumpets are distinct from the first four and are labeled woes,Revelations 8:13. The seventh trumpet is also labeled a woe.In Revelations 9:12 it states; One woe is past; and, behold, there come two more woes hereafter. When these five trumpets are finished which include the fifth angel the first woe.the great tribulation is nearly over, five of the six tribulation trumpets have sounded and are complete, one woe is past; and behold, there come two more woes hereafter. There are two trumpets left, both labeled woes In Revelations 9:13-21 the second woes ( sixth trumpet) destruction is described. Then in Revelations 11:14 we see the completion of the second woe (sixth trumpet) with the removal of the two witnesses in Jerusalem, “and I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth”. These two witnesses prophecy for the entirety of the last three and one half years of Daniel’s 70th week. Their ministry begins in earnest when the abomination of desolation is placed in the temple. When they have finished their testimony Revelations 11:14 states “The second woe (sixth trumpet) is past; behold the third woe cometh quickly”. When this second woe ends so does the Great tribulation, and so does Daniel’s 70th week. In God’s time clock we are given the 70 weeks timeline to guide us through these days and now the last week is over, no more days or hours. “No man knoweth the day or the hour” there are no more to know. We know this because the two witnesses’ testimony starts in the middle of the 70th week, Revelations 11:3 “and I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth”. So when they are taken up for all the world to see, Daniel’s 70th week is over. God’s time clock that He has given to us is over. The six trumpets of the seven that make up the great tribulation are over. Only the seventh trumpet remains.Now in Revelations 10:5-7 we have reference to the last woe of the three. The introduction to the seventh trumpet, the last trumpet. Revelations 10:5 & 6 “And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven. And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are and the earth and the things that there in are, and the sea and the things which are therein, that, there should be time no longer”. God’s time clock is up as seen with the completion of Daniel’s 70th week. So here again we see that the tribulation and the last 70th week of Daniel are complete. The six tribulation trumpets are over, now comes the last trumpet, the seventh Trumpet.
What events are to occur at the last trumpet, the seventh trumpet? The scripture describes the seventh trumpet in a very distinct way, unlike every other trumpet. The first six trumpets are followed by the statement “and the first trump sounded” second sounded etc,. They all herald the beginning and ending of their trumpet. They sound and they are complete. The seventh angel unlike the first six states “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall (begin) to sound”. This seems to indicate this trumpet is unique above all others; it stands alone, it is not part of the great tribulation. Apart from stating that there should be time no longer at the seventh trump, Revelations 10:7 states “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets”. This mystery is spoken of in Ephesians 1:9 & 10 “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself that in the dispensation of the fulness of times (the 70th week ends) he might gather together (rapture) in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth; even in him”. Then in 1 Corinthians 15:51 & 52 It states “Behold I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the (twinkling of an eye) at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”.
Once again let’s look at the disciples question in Matthew 24:3 b where they asked, “tell us when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world”. We have established that the sign, the singular sign, will be an earth covering lightning like bolt as Jesus states in Matthew 24:27. After graciously describing signs which are to occur throught out the last days in verses 23-26, Jesus states in verse 27 for as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. So the coming of the son of man is signaled by a globe lighting lightning bolt and in Matthew 24:29 & 30 Jesus tells us the when answer to the disciples question: Immediately after the tribulation of those days (that we just saw ending with the raising of the two witnesses) shall the son be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth morn, and they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. So Jesus states we will see the sign (singular) of the son of man immediately after the tribulation of those days: and if as stated the tribulation ends with the taking up of the two witnesses Revelations 11:12-14 the second woe is past (6th trumpet) and behold the third woe (seventh trumpet the last trumpet) cometh quickly. What do we see happening in Revelations 11:15? And the seventh angel sounded; (the last trump) and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. What other event takes place at the last trumpet with lightning bolt speed? I Corinthians 15:51 & 52 confirm this lightning bolt event/description when it states we shall all be changed in the twinkling of an eye at the last/seventh trump. 1 Corinthians 15:51 & 52 “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, (lightning bolt speed) at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed”. So the Lord’s bride is changed/raptured at the last trump with lightning bolt speed and in Matthew 24:27 Jesus states “for as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the son of man be. So here we have Christ saying his coming will be heralded by a bolt of lightning that covers the globe, and that it happens after the two witnesses go up. And Paul states in Ephesians 1:9 & 10 “having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of time (times up) he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth; even in him:” and that it happens at the last trump. Matthew 24:29-31 states “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; and then shall appear the sign (lightning bolt) of the son of man in heaven”. Skipping to verse 31: “And he shall send his Angels with the great sound of a trumpet, (last trump, seventh trump) and they shall gather together (rapture) his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other”.
That lightning bolt will happen in the twinkling of an eye, just as does the rapture. That lightning bolt is at once the sign of the coming of the son of man and the rapture of the saints.
Darlene, this is the truth. The devil has us fighting instead of living. Serve Christ, believe Him and walk with Him in His Spirit by His grace. We will be tested; we are called to suffer; we are promised to share in His glory.
“Now unto Him who is able to keep us from falling and to make us stand in His presence blamless and with great joy, to the only God our Father and to Jesus Christ His Son be the glory and the honor dominion and authority both now and forever. Amen”
Your downloads never work for me ??
If it won’t work with Google try explorer of visa versa
Thank you for the free sharing.
The rapture is a false doctrine. You can go back in history and find that it was started by the Jesuits to get the eyes off of the belief people were having that the papacy was the antichrist. And the Satanic trick has worked!! Many Christians are “sleeping” today because, as the world deteriorates around us they STILL think they will be whisked away before things get horrible. What a deception! Christians will be executed and go through hell on earth; but they do not stand up and fight the forces of evil as they should today because they are so sure they will be rescued. Wake up my friends! WE are the Tribulation Saints! God let the three Hebrew children be thrown into the fiery furnace–but he was right there with them. God let Daniel be thrown into the lions den but God was with him. One must twist the scriptures to support the idea of a secret rapture. We are already in the Tribulation Period! How can you not see it? Are you too busy watching for the rapture? Christ is coming soon and EVERY eye will see him. Please study and learn the truth. I was taught about the secret rapture and believed it for years. Then I was blind: now I see! Praise be to God the Father, Jesus our coming King and the Holy
Spirit, the Spirit of Truth! Research the scriptures and ask the Lord to show you the absolute truth.
Its father is a liar and Its mother is ignorance of the Word of God and those who preach it and profit from it are harming the body of Christ and they don’t realize they are being used as pawns in a spiritual war against the truth.
Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.”
Well Judith, I think you should re-search the scriptures. Haven’t you studied these differences as set out by John Ankerberg? Let me refer you to a well-known scripture which doesn’t seem to have any bearing on the Rapture Question and I would urge you to meditate on it. Study 1 John 4:4. “Greater is he who is IN you than he who is in the world”. How can the antichrist appear if Christians are still on the earth. Make no mistake, he is “chomping at the bit” to start his nonsense but the thing holding him back (and he knows it) is the Church because, let’s assume for a moment that we are still here when he appears, we, being led by the Holy Spirit IN us, will say to him “You might look good and clean and fresh (tra-la-la) but the Holy Spirit shows me the truth and in Jesus Name, get lost!” He is then powerless. Glory to God!! And this lines up with what is stated in 2 Thes 2: 3 – 8.I know you can argue with this as you could possibly say that the Holy Spirit is always here so therefore the antichrist can therefore never appear. No, no; the Church has the most incredible privilege available to us because the Holy Spirit is IN us and that is the condition of 1 John 4:4. After the rapture, the last seven years known as Jacob’s trouble, revert back to the Jewish age which means the Holy Spirit is here but no longer IN the new believers. He only comes UPON the king, the priest and the prophet and therefore 1 John 4:4 is no longer applicable to them.That’s why is says even the very elect will be deceived. They cannot test the spirit who alone knows the truth!
the three Hebrew children were Jews not Christians …there were no Christians during the time of Daniel only Jews and Gentiles…This is the picture i you will Jews during the tribulation period not Christians…wrong hermeneutics will lead us to become post-tribers
..
Yes this is true as per my faith.
Hello Judith my sister in Christ. The Rapture and Second Coming has been an area of debate for sometime. I think the act of being “caught up” as I am sure you know, is from the Latin word Rapio and the Greek word Harpazo, as explained by our brother Paul, will happen. When is the debate. I think some pastors teach that it will happen before the great tribulation because of what Jesus said in Rev 3:10 and other verses. Other pastors teach the ” being caught up” is during his second coming at the end of the Tribulation so it is not 2 events but 1 in the same. As the Bible describes the Great Tribulation that effects the entire world, I do not think we are there yet. No matter when this Rapture event takes place, it can not be a secret in my opinion. This does not mean you are mistaken concerning the Rapture event not happening before that horrible time, it may not. What is frustrating is when I hear so called teachers who believe in a pre tribulation Rapture say “if you don’t believe in it, you wont be going”. That is absurd. Either way we believers are saved and you are correct in speaking out against those who sit back their whole lives and do nothing in the fight against evil. Your reward is in heaven for your actions which show you are saved. I too am doing my best to live as Jesus returns today or 50 years after I am gone. Any way that’s my take on this subject. Thank you for expressing yours.
May God bless you Judith keep fighting the good fight!
Your brother in Christ
Dino
During the Tribulation the man of sin (the wicked one) will have his time to pour out his anger on the inhabitants of the earth who will not bow down and worship him and take his mark. [Revelation 12:12] God’s wrath comes later AFTER the Lord Jesus Christ returns in the clouds to gather his church. Those who represent the words, “tribulation” and “wrath” as being the same thing are not honestly looking at these words in a Biblical context. The words, “tribulation” and “wrath” are not interchangeable. Jesus Christ promised that we would have tribulation in this world [John 16:33]; [Revelation 2:10]. He also prayed to the Father that we would not be taken out of this world during tribulation but that we would be kept from evil. [John 17:15]. God also tells us to wait for “his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.” The Lord Jesus Christ has already delivered each Christian from the wrath to come! This verse does not say “will deliver.” It says delivered. The Bible tells us plainly what “the wrath to come” means. The wrath of God is directed toward those who refuse to repent and receive His mercy: the children of disobedience. The wrath of God is His punishment for unbelievers. [Luke 3:7]; [Ephsians 5:6]; [Colossians 3:6]; [Revelation 6:17] The saints of God are appointed to tribulation. The children of disobedience are appointed to God’s wrath. In Greek, the word wrath (ogre–3709) means punishment God executes against the wicked. The word tribulation (thilipsis–2347) refers to the sufferings that Christians go through in this world for Christ. God allows his children to endure tribulation. [Matthew 13:21, 24:9, 21, 29]; [Mark 4:17, 13:19, 24,]; [Acts 7:10, 11, 11:19]; [Romans. 2:9, 5:3]; [2 Thessalonians 1:4]. God pours out his wrath upon those who reject his mercy (unbelievers) not his own children.
[Matthew 3:7]; [Mark 3:5]; [Luke 3:7, 21:23]; [John 3:36]; [Romans 1:18, 2:5, 8]; [Ephesians 2:3, 4:31, 5:6]; [Colossians 3:6,8]; [1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2:16]; [1 Timothy 2:8]; [Hebrews 3:11]; [James 1:19, 20]; [Revelation 6:16, 17, 11:18] We must purpose to not be offended in Christ if things don’t turn out the way we hope and the way we have been told they will. When Christians find themselves on earth when the New World Order is in full swing and God’s people are being sought after for elimination, we need to understand that we are suffering the wrath of the Antichrist, not the wrath of God. God will not leave us or forsake us even during the Tribulation if we keep the faith — obey his word without reservation and patiently endure until the end.
The very first judgment of the Tribulation is the revealing of the Anti-Christ. I don’t see him. Therefore, we are not in the Tribulation yet. And Revelation 3:10 clearly says that we will be saved from wrath. Yes, we will have troubles, trials and tribulation while we’re here but we who are born again at the Rapture will miss the Tribulation (with a capital T). Thankfully, many thousands more will come to Christ even during the horrific events of the Tribulation.
One key to understanding scripture is to discover who is being addressed. Tribulation Saints are basically the Jews. Many will have their eyes and ears opened when they see the Antichrist defile the temple. The believers (referred to as the Bride of Christ) are no longer around to preach the gospel for that work has been turned over to the 144,000 converted Jewish evangelists, the two witnesses and the angels who will trumpet the good news worldwide. Then is the second coming when Christ will return, not in the clouds as during the rapture, but to the battlefield to destroy the millions of soldiers sent to fight against Him and the heavenly army of raptured believers and His angels. You are welcome to experience the tribulation if you are still alive at that time, but as for me, John 14:3 says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” He also promises that the church/bride/believers will be kept from the Day of Wrath which will be world-wide. I believe that and it is, as the bible says, the Blessed Hope.
GREAT POINTS
Amen. The Saints, mostly Jews who suffer during the tribulation are those who come to Christ after the rapture because of the preaching of the (144,000) and two witnesses. When we read Revelation and the letters to the churches in chapters two and three, there is no mention of the church from chapters four through eighteen, why because the Lord has come for us. Maranatha!
The doctrine is from scripture. I understand the evil that is Jesuit . But the fact is that 1 Thess 4 :16-18 was written before there were any Jesuits. It is literally in the Book!
Your download link is broken…
when you try to down load, let the pdf load completely, then when you hover at the top of the page
hit the save icon. it works for me every time. my OS is windows 10
Wow, an anti-rapturist actually used information from someone other than Margaret McDonald. This time it is in regards to the Jesuit Priest Emmanuel Lacunza, yet the anti-rapturist didn’t give any details. Lacunza wrote his book in 1812 and it was entitled, “The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty.” But again the anti-rapturists fall short. Victorinus who was well known in 270 A. D., but died in 303 A. D. Wrote the following: His commentary notes in Revelation 6:14 a pre-trib reference:
“And the heaven withdrew as a scroll that is rolled up.” For the heaven to be rolled away, that is, that the Church shall be taken away. “And every mountain and the islands removed from their places intimate that in the last persecution all men departed from their places; that is, that the good will be removed, seeking to avoid persecution.”
There are many more references to a pre-tribulation rapture. The problem with most (not all) anti-rapturists is they don’t give any facts.
This website gives facts on the rapture. The Thomas Ice website gives facts on the rapture. The site Rapture Ready gives facts about the Rapture. Grace to You website gives facts about the Rapture. I could list 100’s more. I could list 1000’s of Scholars present and past who believe in the Rapture. No demons here, only Bible facts.
Rev. 6:14 is not pre-trib though… By that time tribulation has been in full swing for most of the 7 years, and wrath is about to begin (Rev.6:17).
I was talking about Victorinus making the reference in his notes on Rev. 6:14. Not that Rev. 6:14 itself was pre-trib. The pre-trib reference is in his notes.
I don’t know why I went to the trouble to try explaining, anti-raturists come on a rapture website just to argue. Continuous cycle. There are plenty of conservative scholars who know the Rapture is correct. John MacArthur, Donald G. Barnhouse, James Montgomery Boice (all Calvinist too) then we have on the other side of the Calvinist fence Thomas Ice, John Walvoord, Tim LaHaye…… All very intelligent men. So to the anti-rapturists…. You will not change our minds with your argumenative attitudes. Say what you will… I will not remove my belief from correct Biblical Doctrine. For the person who commented about wondering where Jesus spoke of the rapture…. John 14:1-4. Jesus did not mention all the happenings of everything through out history. The Words in Red are not the only thing Jesus said. Words being red need to be stopped so people won’t think the words in red is all that Jesus speaks. I like R. C. Sproul, Martin Lloyd Jones, John Piper, and numerous others who don’t believe in the Rapture. Those guys wouldn’t come on a rapture site to argue. Posted from my phone. So please excuse typing errors.
I have noticed, that in these “differences” our dear brother studiously avoids noting in his first point that the angels are sent to gather the ELECT (Matthew 24:31) who are the saved—AFTER THE TRIBULATION (verse 29). But that he later implies, as in his eighth point, that the saints who go through the tribulation will enter the millennium without having been raptured or having received new bodies.
The solution to these issues is simple: When Christ descends from Heaven “with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God” (1 Thes. 4:17) –Christ is on His way down to a battle (i.e. Armageddon) as stated in Zechariah 14:1-3. ON HIS WAY DOWN, WE ARISE TO MEET CHRIST IN THE AIR. And so shall we (who are in Christ) ever be with the Lord.
I have a simple question that has yet to be answered by very sound Biblical Minds of our day. My question is where in the Bible does Jesus Himself ever talk about coming back BEFORE The Tribulation and in secret or invisible and part B to this question, does Jesus work in secret or Satan ?
I listen to Walter Veith. He is fully a fundamentalist believer, he believes is being born again but believes in some conditions attached to salvation. Can you explain the difference of this belief to your belief? He said rapture will not come before the tribulation but we’ll go through the tribulation.
Walter Vieth is a strong preacher and he is accurate! We must “go through Tribulation”. That is a given, imperative statement from the Biblical book. We cannot seek ESCAPE on our own – that will be opposite of God and Satanic. Beware what you believe in, people. Lucifer is a trickster! He will be a counterfeit Christ at best. There is no easy way out of Tribulation (Dark Ages). We must endure. We must do as we are told, we must “go through”…..and we will receive our REWARD!
Creations of new radio stations sermons,
I really blessed with these messages I love u very much uncle I am from India
thank you very much, it’s a big help to me in our cell group
Im Spiritually developed by reading your messages..worthy posts. God bless u
I have heard of Zac Poonen saying that the Rapture might take place after the tribulation.This information greatly provides insight into my mind.Thanks John.
The Lord Jesus comes already spiritually this part of His second coming.He started on the day of pentecost were in the prophesy of prophet joel fulfilled wc is showering of spirit some see vision and some will prophesise.I see visions and i felt it.Its true once you are in the hands of God no one can snatch you of Him.I made a sin and when i sleeping a black spirit hits toward me and looks like he want to take my life,but he fails.The three men who appear to abraham i see also on my vision ,only God knows if this true but i testifying it,more i see but i will not anymore give any details because that is my (maybe )reward.Another coming of the Lord is bodily when He ascended to heaven to men in white uniform appear and they said He will come back the same way.I am now out of i credit bye for now.
There are no short cuts to Heaven. The Rapture certainly cannot become a short cut to our passage into Heaven. In Luke 21, 36 our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ instructs us, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, AND TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN.” Hence, even if we are taken up in the Rapture and escape the Tribulation, all of us will have to stand before the judgment seat of the Lord. THERE IS NO ESCAPING GOD’S JUDGMENT. So instead of dreading the Tribulation we must lead a holy life so that we can escape God’s Judgment. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ categorically states in Matthew 7: 13-14, “13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” We can enter Heaven and enjoy eternal bliss only “by denying ourselves and taking up our cross DAILY and following Him” [Luke 9: 23]. Our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ advises in Matthew 11:29-30 to 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Hence, even if we are taken up in the Rapture and escape the Tribulation, all of us will have to stand before the judgement seat of the Lord. THERE IS NO ESCAPING GOD’S JUDGMENT:
Romans 14:12, So then EVERY ONE of us shall give account of himself to God, and again in 2nd Cor.5:10, For WE MUST ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
” But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matt. 12:36-37) FERVENT and CONSTANT PRAYER is the real need of the hour: Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ said in Luke 21:36, “Watch ye therefore, and PRAY ALWAYS, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass.” We must spend more time praying for ourselves, for others, for the nations of the world and national and religious leaders. Let us be like Cornelius who “prayed always” [Acts10:4]. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’s Second Coming is imminent. As the apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:16, “16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Only one thing matters and that is our preparation before we are judged by Him when He returns. Matthew 16:27; “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. The Apostle Paul reiterates this awesome truth in 2nd Cor.5:10, “For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” Jesus expects us
1. To wait faithfully and loyally and like the faithful steward in Luke 12 verses 35-48. “47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”
2. Even as we await His Second Coming we must diligently and wisely use the talents He has given us in His service. We have to give account as to how many lost souls we have won for His kingdom. Matthew 25, 14-30: “23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
3. Most importantly we must keep ourselves holy. Revelation 22:11, he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”
No where did I read that we are escaping judgment, where did you get this notion?
What really matters is are we ready? This should be the discussion, not pre trib, post trib, or whatever other belief there is. Jesus told us to be ready thus, what does it mean to be ready? This is what truly matters, are we ready!
The rapture teaching is not found in any christian genre until John Nelson Darby introduced it in 19th century and promoted by C I Scofield. I have no axe to grind and as a pastor and college professor taught and lectured for the pre- millennial pre-tribulational view. I grew up in church accepting this eschatological doctrine after hearing it preached and taught in church and bible colleges. Do not get the wrong idea, these men were sincere and were well-intentioned,but we know the proverb about the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Any NEW doctrine that does not enter Christendom for 18 centuries and with no serious theologian or scholar discussing or writing about was my first RED FLAG. Paul’s exhortation to the church in Acts 17:11 should be heeded by every disciple of Christ. Please dear fellow brothers and sisters do not cut off ends of the ham just because your grandmother did it. That is one of our biggest problems in the church today(accepting what is popular and not necessarily biblical let alone hermeneutically and exergetically sound. The world is having a field day with those who are and have been setting dates:which include JW and other cults. One friend I have who is not a Christian was making fun recently about the 4 blood moons being taught. Too many Christians pick up there bible be it on the shelf or back seat of our cars on Sunday morning and then open it during the service without ever being the berean in Acts 17.May God awake a generation that does not check their brain (He gave them) at the door, .
Actually Ephraim the Syrian ( A.David 306-373) in a sermon on the last times mentions the church being taken out before the great tribulation, Jacob’s trouble. He is quoted in 4 6th century Latin manuscripts.
The teaching may have become more popular in the 19th century. But to say it was introduced then is simply not true.
Umm really? Then why did the apostle Paul teach it? And why is it taught in the Bible. Nice try.
How will people be saved during the tribulation? From what I read about this eschatological view is the Holy Spirit will not be present on the earth to draw men to Christ. Many pre tribulationists say the only way to be saved during this time period is to die and this will get you into heaven. That is WORKS OF THE FLESH OR IN OTHER WORDS KEEPING THE LAW. Wonder what Paul would say about that. Do I understand that Christ is going to preside and even ordain animal sacrifices. Is that not a slap in the sacrificial all toning work of Christ and please do not use the straw man of it being a memorial.The law was fulfilled once and for all at the cross. IT WAS FINISHED (PERFECT TENSE IN GRK) why in GOD’S name do you think He destroyed the temple via the Romans
there has to be two groups is it? Pre and Post tribulationist? its confusing because then we do not know which argument to believe! can John Ankerberg himself help us here.thank you
We know that no man is an island ,every single day we can never be know if that was our last .
if you continue to read Mathew 24:29-31 29 “Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[a]
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[b] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[c] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Revelation 20:4-6New International Version (NIV)
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.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53New International Version (NIV)
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
No such thing as Rapture but just the second coming of Yashua only, for all souls on planet Earth, to finish the final judgement for the new eternal life gift of God through Yashua only, who will descend with the new heavenly Jerusalem and the Eternal life tree in it along with the saved souls, given new body and mind, the temple mount on Earth is irrelevant to Yashua as the Jews have abandoned the Ten Commandments given and written by the creator God. The Rapture is false doctrine of Lucifer, where he intends to impersonate the coming of Yashua for his people and Lucifer’s fellow Angels displaying the ressurection of death, is totally false, all dead are judged awaits final judgement of all souls on Earth at the second coming of Yashua, only. No Rapture at all.
The Truth ! In fact John Ankerberg has to make sure of his very soul being saved or not.
Amen/Ameen !!
Explanations give are very vivid and illustrative
YES,THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT ASPECTS. RAPTURE IS FOR BLOOD REDEEMED PEOPLE WHO ARE IN BRIDE CHURCH. 2ND COMING IS MAINLY FOR ISRAELITES & MAY BE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE SAVED IN TRIBULATION PERIOD. HOWEVER WE GOT GOOD EXPLANATION. IT IS BENEFICIAL TO SO MANY. MAY GOD BLESS THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT.
If rapture is a good thing, why not accept it? You join the rapture or not as an event or as a doctrine does not in any way shake your foundation if you got a solid one. Rapture must be real after all even logic tells us that no loving parent in his right frame of mind would let his beloved children go through something dreadful. God is LOVE and that’s an irrefutable attribute of Him. If He is love, do you think he will allow His beloved children to suffer tribulation?. I believe the doctrine of rapture is logically true.
So those early Christians who were burned at the stake and fed to the lions were not God’schildren because who “would let his beloved children go through something that dreadful”. You guys have got two 2nd comings, one 2nd coming when Jesus comes in the clouds and takes all the christians back to heaven, including the dead Christians so you also have two resurrection days. And then another 2nd coming when he comes back to earth to establish his kingdom. Of course then he leaves and let’s Satan run rampant again and then he comes back and destroys Satan and I guess take all of the believing Jews back to heaven including those believing Jews who have died. So another resurrection day. Really it’s a mess.
If anybody were to take the time to read their bible they would know there are no more Jews in Gods eyes.
Galatians 3:28 there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
Who was Abraham’s seed? Was it not Israel, the Jews? Have we not been made Jews? Do not the promises made to the Jews apply to Christians?
Ephesians 2:15 so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross
What two are now one? It’s obvious to any one who has done any study, it’s Jew and Gentile, that is, ALL people. There are no more Jews in God’s eyes only believers and non believers.
The Rapture & The Second coming explained by Dr. John Ankerberg can be ruled out as false from the New Testament’s simple truth as the LORD didn’t instruct His disciples to be a BELIEVERS but only a WITNESSES, therefore whatever His words that refer as far as the position of Christian as believers is concerned becomes invalid, right before His ascension to heaven in Acts 1:8 the LORD made it clear.,
” But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth”
Unfortunately there’s only a believers through out the world which’s detrimental to His instruction, even early Apostles were not allowed to embark ministries without become a witnesses, if so how do Christians like Dr. John Ankerberg or Dr.Billy Graham or Dr.Ravi Zhakarias or Dr.William Lane Craig and others embarked their ministries of JESUS?
Believe & Witness are two different words having profound meanings, there’s no necessary for the HOLY SPIRIT to indwell among the believers whereas the indwelling of the HOLY SPIRIT is necessary to be a Witnesses, why there’s only a believers when the scenario has been changed into Post Pentecost? I humbly request Dr. John Ankerberg to reconsider his position as believer is in accordance with a New Testament or not, before deal with a sensitive biblical matters like Rapture & Second coming of the LORD.
Witness. it means those who sees a particular event. Witnesses are those who prove something like in a court trial. When Christ was here on earth, his disciples became witness to his ministry, life, how he saved the sinners (us) and how he ascended into heaven. That’s why he said to them that when the Holy Spirit descend on them,which will give them strength,wisdom and etc. they should become witnesses because they had witnessed! it means that they should become witnesses so the job of the disciples as witnesses is they will tell to all ends of the earth the good news that they had witnessed not just witness it and not to share it to other people. For us, who had not witness this things, we are called believers because we believe in such things, we are not witnesses because we had not witnessed it, that was 2000 years ago..
A big amen to that Mr. Joel ….truly how could Dr. John Ankenberg and all of us modern day Chistians be a witness when we were not there at the scene…we were just told and we read it then we just believe that it happens …so we are all just believers. William G.Peter should reconsider his thoughts and comments on a person or a teaching, after all it is He who said that the word “witness” has a profound meaning ….so now we found the meaning….Shalom!
You are wrong.. Full Stop.
Every one who believes and gets saved in the name of Jesus Christ is a believer and a witness. The verse you quoted above was made by Jesus Christ to all who witnessed His ascension to heaven. And there were about 500 assembled at that time… Again in the book of Acts it say about the Holy Spirit coming upon all who heard n believed Peter at Cornelius place.. The Holy Spirit is God’s helper for all who are cleansed by the Blood of Jesus… Rapture and Second Coming are 2 different events… It is very clear in the bible..First the Rapture which happens without any warning. It takes all who wait on the Lord like the wise virgins. The after the Tribulation comes the Second Coming of Christ to earth to remove the enemy and establish His rule on earth as King… Those who were taken in Rapture will be rulers of in various categories n sections on this earth with Christ as King at Jerusalem.. Those saved through tribulation times will live and prosper and increase on earth… Yes thats the truth… Bubye..
God bless you
I am so blessed your message
Thanks Brother, useful information
Hiii sir praise the lord
Please read and answer the verse in the Holy Bible Exodus 23;20-21, John 5;43, Proverbs 30:4 and Micah 6;9, Isaiah 24;15, Malachi 1;11 KJV.
Brother;very good explanation.May God bless you and your work which you are doing in Jesus for mankind.thanks a lot.
Glory to God ,, may i ask Pastor?
good evening Pastor ,, may i ask?
Is Rapture Biblical?
Jesus coming
Thank you for sharing this biblical truth, God bless:)
Gott kennen uns gut
Thanking for caution to get prepared for meeting OUR LORD.
Thanks So Much and God Bless All Believers in Christ
Well explained…… Blessings
praise God for his blessings to all.praise God for his only begotten son Christ Jesus.who died for us , who raised for us …and He will come to take us.Amen
I , just watched your w with Dr. ERIN, it helped me so much. My daughter committed suicide. It has been so hard on me to forgive myself. The pastor that preaches at her funeral really upset me my saying she would not go to heaven. She was a Christian and truly believed. She was in a very dark place. That I didn’t know . Dr. Erin helpe. would lo e to hear from both of you on this. I prayed with Dr. Erin. I believe and love the Lord Jesus. I’m not perfect. But I try to live right but I have messed up with my daughter or she wouldn’t have done this. How do I forgive myself for not recognize ing what was going on and not stop her. I feel my son hates me because I didn’t stop her. Please help me I have prayed for forgiveness on not stopping her.
Thank you,
Margaret
Margaret Kelley, Jesus died on the cross for all of your daughter’s sins. If she was a believer in this, she will go to Heaven. Your pastor was mistaken. Jesus’ death did not pay for some sins and not others. Your daughter was forgiven before she even committed the act. Also, depression is a mental illness–a medical condition. It is NOT your fault. You cannot control the actions of a person whose mind is ill. You cannot stop someone whose mind is made up to end their own life. Your son is upset, because he lost his sister and is probably channeling that anger toward you. Deep inside, I’m sure he knows that is was not your fault. God bless you and I will pray that God grants you some peace over this situation.
It’s a pretty straight-forward issue. Why are you assuming that there is a single verse that this doctrine is based on? Instead, consider the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). If preachers can’t back this up from scripture, they don’t really have any business teaching the word of God, since it’s so common and easy to find throughout the scriptures. Here are just a few examples.
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:13)
Committing suicide is not enduring to the end.
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:1-6)
Committing suicide is not abiding in Christ.
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Romans 11:22)
Committing suicide is not continuing in His goodness.
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you–unless you believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:2)
Committing suicide is not holding fast the word.
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:23)
Committing suicide is not continuing in the faith, grounded and steadfast. It definitely is being moved away from the hope of the gospel.
6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (Hebrews 3:6)
Committing suicide is not holding fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, (Hebrews 3:14)
Committing suicide is not holding the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.
25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, (Hebrews 12:25)
Committing suicide is refusing and turning away from Him who speaks from heaven.
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. (1 John 5:18)
Committing suicide is not overcoming the world, but rather being overcome by the world and the devil.
People commit suicide because they have no hope, and thus they do not have Christ.
12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians 2:12)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Peter 3:15)
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight– 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:21-23)
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Your an unkind person. God does forgive our sins. None of us are good no not one only the Father and that’s what Jesus said and I believe he was even speaking of himself because he to was human.
So Dr. A are you saying a person who commits suicide does not go to heaven?
When it says, Do not Judge. This is what it means. You can judge someones actions, but NOT if they are going to hell. That Pastor needs a new job. God takes care of the insane, and I think a person is not all there, if they commit suicide. My wife committed suicide, and I know she was a Born Again Christian. She had many mental problems.
If we are saved by faith alone, where do repentance and confession come into play? Are they not acts of faith or acts of obedience? Are we saved before we repent or confess?
Romans 10:9-10
If you confess the lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead you will be saved
For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
Doesn’t this passage say believe AND obey?
If we are saved by faith only or belief only, are not the people in John 12:42 saved?
John 12:42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue,
Doesn’t this alone say it is faith and obedience? You say there is nothing you can do or nothing you have to do but the bible seems to indicate differently.
Isn’t repentance something you do? Isn’t confession something you do?
How can you possibly teach salvation by faith alone?
You need faith in God and Christ before you can repent. To get the fulfilment of his promises you must obey the command of repentance on good faith to receive the glory of him mighty Grace and Mercy.
Such a good article and nice explanation given. Thanks for sharing the biblical truth. God Bless You 🙂
Thank you for the infographic. It is very informative and has many truths. We are blessed by the Lord with the pre-trib rapture. God bless. 🙂
For my entire 30 years in ministry I have held strongly to a pre-trib rapture but, after reading 2 Thessalonians 2: 7-8 and seeing that the Holy Spirit’s restraining of sin is removed after 3 1/2 years, I am leaning toward the prospect that the rapture may come mid-trib. We would still be “eke” taken out ( or kept from) the tribulation, since the first half is going to be quite peaceful. Are there any convincing proofs that it will be pre and not mid?
Thanks for the info. I think Daniel11 is understandable now that the book of truth is open
and clarifies that the LORD will take his people and “escape these things.”
Jesus forgives. HE is loving and full of Mercy & Grace, HE remembers our sins NO more, we need to Repent. Stay in Prayer. Keep the Faith. I belong to a True Bible-believing Church, an Independent Baptist church, Strictly teachings from the Bible. The Rapture is imminent, Amen. We need to be ready. I truly believe in the, PRE-TRIB; HE will remove HIS Church prior to the earth’s ugly darkness. We can now see the evil morals on the streets, TV, political, liberalism. We are blessed by our Lord with the Pre-trib rapture. Jesus Loves Everyone.
excellent secret truth of Lords second coming, send all megazine connected with our **Lords second coming** please. Thank you.
A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY.In Matthew 24 the disciples ask Jesus this two part question; Matthew 24:3 part b they ask “tell us when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world? These two questions posed by the disciples are answered by the Lord in the following chapter. Let’s look at the question that deals with the sign of thy coming. The disciples are not asking for multiple signs but a singular sign of thy coming. In Matthew 24:27 Jesus answers this question concerning The sign of thy coming”. “For as the lightning cometh out of the East and shineth even unto the West so shall also the coming of the son of man be”. That is going to be quite a sign, who could miss a lightning like bolt of Almighty God’s power that shines across a globe in utter darkness. That answers one of the questions posed by the disciples, that was a very specific answer: look for a global lightning bolt, a light to lighten a globe in utter darkness so everyone can clearly ( by “The sign of thy coming”) see that Christ the King has signaled his return.!
The other question the disciples asked was “Tell us when shall these things be”? When shall this lighting bolt sign be that signals thy coming, and of the end of the world? So we know what the sign will look like that signals the end but when shall this sign that signals the Lords’ Return and the end of the world as we know it occur?
This is where Daniel’s 70 week prophecy comes into play, Jesus states in Matthew 24:15 “when ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation as spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place (whoso readeth let him understand)”. Here the Lord is instructing his disciples and those that are alive to see it to understand Daniels’ 70 weeks prophecy. The first 69 weeks of which have been wonderfully and marvelously fulfilled. The Lord is specifically pointing us to Daniels’ 70th week, the final week of Daniel’s Prophecy, the yet to begin week of Daniels’ 70 years. We know this because Matthew 24:15 speaks of the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place. In Daniel 9:27 it states: “and he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (the 70th week): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”.
So to answer the when part of the question, Jesus is telling his disciples to be watching for the abomination of desolation that occurs within the last week of Daniel’s prophecy. In order for the when part of the disciples’ question to be fulfilled literally, we need to see the 70th week of Daniel being played out on the world stage for all to see.
Even though we may not be alive to see Daniels’ 70th week we can by His grace understand what Jesus is instructing us to understand. That is the intent of this writing, to help us understand what the Lord is urging his followers to understand.
Once again, Daniel 9:27 “and he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years) and in the midst of the week (three and one half years into the covenant) he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease; and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation; and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”.
So here we have in Daniel 9:27 a (he) confirming a covenant with many for one week, seven years; Daniels last week the 70th week of Daniel. Included in this covenant is the allowing of Jewish sacrifices to be observed, in a newly constructed Jewish Temple. He then breaks the covenant causing the sacrifice and oblation to cease.
This “he” referred to here may be speaking of the little horn of Daniel 7, he may be the two horned beast of Revelation 13:11-17.
This covenant is with Israel for a seven year period, and allows for a new Jewish temple to be built; and for animal sacrifices to be carried out in the temple. “And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations (the taking away of the daily sacrifice and setting up an image of the beast in the temple) he shall make it desolate even unto the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate”. This is what Christ is referring to in Matthew 24:15 “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation as spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place (new temple) whoso readeth let him understand, then in verse 21 Jesus states “for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be”. Christ is telling us to be looking for this earth and heaven shaking event at the mid point of the last seven years. Those that are alive to see the placing of the abomination will in fact be living in Daniel’s 70th week; the last seven years of man’s/satan’s rule on earth; only now with three and one half years left.
When will this mysterious 70th week of Daniel begin and the covenant be confirmed? Will we even know when it begins? No one knows for sure; and the Lord instructs us to look for the results of its signing, possibly because it is done in secret, or there may be several accords, and agreements prior to the one Christ is referring to but be looking for as the Lord says “when ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation as spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place whoso readeth let him understand” be looking for “the abomination of desolation”. The image of the beast of the antichrist standing in the newly constructed temple in Jerusalem, now the capital of Israel, a giant leap in prophetic fulfillment.
The covenant is for seven years, the first three and one half years will be when the newly reinstituted animal sacrifices will be taking place in the recently constructed Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. This long awaited peace that appears to be working will give the world a new savior to follow. However this new savior the antichrist will break his word and through situations that arise in Israel he and the false prophet (the little horn of Daniel 7) somehow have power to “take away the daily sacrifice” and then desecrate the temple by placing the “abomination that maketh desolate” an image to the beast sitting in the temple. Paul refers to this in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 & 4. This desecration of the holy place is what triggers the “GREAT TRIBULATION”. This great tribulation consists of six trumpets that sound and lasts 1260 days as detailed in Revelations chapters 8, 9 & 11. The first four trumpets are each followed by its unique judgement event that the Lord unleashes upon the earth. The last two trumpets of the six tribulation trumpets are distinct from the first four and are labeled woes,Revelations 8:13. The seventh trumpet is also labeled a woe.In Revelations 9:12 it states; One woe is past; and, behold, there come two more woes hereafter. When these five trumpets are finished which include the fifth angel the first woe.the great tribulation is nearly over, five of the six tribulation trumpets have sounded and are complete, one woe is past; and behold, there come two more woes hereafter. There are two trumpets left, both labeled woes In Revelations 9:13-21 the second woes ( sixth trumpet) destruction is described. Then in Revelations 11:14 we see the completion of the second woe (sixth trumpet) with the removal of the two witnesses in Jerusalem, “and I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth”. These two witnesses prophecy for the entirety of the last three and one half years of Daniel’s 70th week. Their ministry begins in earnest when the abomination of desolation is placed in the temple. When they have finished their testimony Revelations 11:14 states “The second woe (sixth trumpet) is past; behold the third woe cometh quickly”. When this second woe ends so does the Great tribulation, and so does Daniel’s 70th week. In God’s time clock we are given the 70 weeks timeline to guide us through these days and now the last week is over, no more days or hours. “No man knoweth the day or the hour” there are no more to know. We know this because the two witnesses’ testimony starts in the middle of the 70th week, Revelations 11:3 “and I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth”. So when they are taken up for all the world to see, Daniel’s 70th week is over. God’s time clock that He has given to us is over. The six trumpets of the seven that make up the great tribulation are over. Only the seventh trumpet remains.Now in Revelations 10:5-7 we have reference to the last woe of the three. The introduction to the seventh trumpet, the last trumpet. Revelations 10:5 & 6 “And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven. And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are and the earth and the things that there in are, and the sea and the things which are therein, that, there should be time no longer”. God’s time clock is up as seen with the completion of Daniel’s 70th week. So here again we see that the tribulation and the last 70th week of Daniel are complete. The six tribulation trumpets are over, now comes the last trumpet, the seventh Trumpet.
What events are to occur at the last trumpet, the seventh trumpet? The scripture describes the seventh trumpet in a very distinct way, unlike every other trumpet. The first six trumpets are followed by the statement “and the first trump sounded” second sounded etc,. They all herald the beginning and ending of their trumpet. They sound and they are complete. The seventh angel unlike the first six states “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall (begin) to sound”. This seems to indicate this trumpet is unique above all others; it stands alone, it is not part of the great tribulation. Apart from stating that there should be time no longer at the seventh trump, Revelations 10:7 states “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets”. This mystery is spoken of in Ephesians 1:9 & 10 “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself that in the dispensation of the fulness of times (the 70th week ends) he might gather together (rapture) in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth; even in him”. Then in 1 Corinthians 15:51 & 52 It states “Behold I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the (twinkling of an eye) at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”.
Once again let’s look at the disciples question in Matthew 24:3 b where they asked, “tell us when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world”. We have established that the sign, the singular sign, will be an earth covering lightning like bolt as Jesus states in Matthew 24:27. After graciously describing signs which are to occur throught out the last days in verses 23-26, Jesus states in verse 27 for as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. So the coming of the son of man is signaled by a globe lighting lightning bolt and in Matthew 24:29 & 30 Jesus tells us the when answer to the disciples question: Immediately after the tribulation of those days (that we just saw ending with the raising of the two witnesses) shall the son be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth morn, and they shall see the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. So Jesus states we will see the sign (singular) of the son of man immediately after the tribulation of those days: and if as stated the tribulation ends with the taking up of the two witnesses Revelations 11:12-14 the second woe is past (6th trumpet) and behold the third woe (seventh trumpet the last trumpet) cometh quickly. What do we see happening in Revelations 11:15? And the seventh angel sounded; (the last trump) and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. What other event takes place at the last trumpet with lightning bolt speed? I Corinthians 15:51 & 52 confirm this lightning bolt event/description when it states we shall all be changed in the twinkling of an eye at the last/seventh trump. 1 Corinthians 15:51 & 52 “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, (lightning bolt speed) at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed”. So the Lord’s bride is changed/raptured at the last trump with lightning bolt speed and in Matthew 24:27 Jesus states “for as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the son of man be. So here we have Christ saying his coming will be heralded by a bolt of lightning that covers the globe, and that it happens after the two witnesses go up. And Paul states in Ephesians 1:9 & 10 “having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of time (times up) he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth; even in him:” and that it happens at the last trump. Matthew 24:29-31 states “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; and then shall appear the sign (lightning bolt) of the son of man in heaven”. Skipping to verse 31: “And he shall send his Angels with the great sound of a trumpet, (last trump, seventh trump) and they shall gather together (rapture) his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other”.
That lightning bolt will happen in the twinkling of an eye, just as does the rapture. That lightning bolt is at once the sign of the coming of the son of man and the rapture of the saints.
Darlene, this is the truth. The devil has us fighting instead of living. Serve Christ, believe Him and walk with Him in His Spirit by His grace. We will be tested; we are called to suffer; we are promised to share in His glory.
“Now unto Him who is able to keep us from falling and to make us stand in His presence blamless and with great joy, to the only God our Father and to Jesus Christ His Son be the glory and the honor dominion and authority both now and forever. Amen”