Hello fellow watchers -
tennessean,
mike,
venge,
sog,
boraddict,
Natalie,
boymaker3,
inaweofhim,
bondservant,
stormyknight,
I totally agree with
venge that the people who say the rapture will happen on such day and year, [Like Brenda Weltner, and Jeffrey McGaha] are a bad testimony and it can also be said that they make others stumble, when their bogus theories don't pan out - and I think most here would agree that scripture is clear that these people will be held accountable and judged more strictly.
I think that they are false teachers, but wouldn't call them
false prophets - because first,
they aren't prophets at all. There are many people who have the gift of prophecy, but it's almost always misunderstood. It's not seeing the future, but more of a person who shares something that only the Holy Spirit could reveal. There was no inside knowledge that the person had about the situation - in some cases, the person was not even from the city or country, and came and the HS revealed something about a person, or church, or an illness.
The thing is sometimes it's the Holy Spirit, but sometimes it's acid reflux,
and that's why we as Christians should weigh things through the lens of God's word.
That's why we can say with 1000% certainty when people say the rapture will happen on Pentecost. We know it won't because that feast has already been fulfilled 2000 years ago, and in addition, it would mean God is not the same yesterday, today and forever. The one that really kills me is "God told me in a dream. .." God does speak in dreams, but the primary way he speaks is through his Word.
But with that said, i think there are many well-meaning watchers, who think that they have some key or special insight, and they get excited about it, and they won't listen to anyone explain why it doesn't fit with the whole counsel of scripture.
**The biggest case in point are those YT warriors who keep spreading fear and lies that the jab IS the Mark of the Beast. [Insert head exploding emoji here.] Steve Fletcher, Jerry Toney, etc, etc.
There are about 10 different criteria clearly given in scripture and not one of the scenarios we see currently fits the description.
But this is no less or more dangerous than a person who teaches prosperity Gospel, or replacement theology, or that there is no rapture, or the Catholic myth of Friday crucifixion. Some of the issues actually affect a person's salvation. Another way to explain it is the words of Pastor Steve Cioccolanti - (I'm paraphrasing the best i can )
"We as watchmen and women, stand on the shoulders of countless others who came before us - no one has all the answers to end times or the perfect understanding of Revelation. We are seeing thought a glass dimly - They may have some points off here or there, but that doesn't make them a false prophet."
Another thought is that all those on this thread - and many if not most of the members on this forum, are watching end times events and are looking eagerly for the rapture - our blessed hope, and on this thread specifically - we are sharing our thoughts and theories about the timing of the rapture.
The person who teaches that the rapture is some random, unknown, any-minute-any-day surprise event, [imminent/unknown rapture] are just as much guilty of teaching something that is not supported by scripture, as is the one who says the rapture will be on Halloween, or somehow connected to the Dragon, or Pentecost.
They take one verse - ["one verse theology"] - totally out of context "
No one knows the day or hour" and overlook many others that even explicitly say otherwise, and most parrot a phrase ad nauseum that is not even in the original manuscripts - "Nor the son". In Matthew 24:36.
In other words - even those who believe the Day of the Lord is the rapture, and those who believe it's totally separate and distinct - agree that Paul explicitly says in 1 Thess 5:4 - that we who are children of light, children of the day will not be surprised by the Day of the Lord. For those who are mid-trib, it won't be a surprise, [We have an exact day count] for those who are Post-trib, it won't be an unknown day - [we have multiple exact day counts]
The majority of Evangelical Pastors have already heard from their parents and pastor - the rapture is unknown, and so they go into seminary with this notion already firmly fixed in their mind
In conclusion - what I mean is that we are told to watch and be alert, to pay attention to the signs of the Second Advent. There is nothing in scripture against setting dates - it shows they didn't get something right, and in the case of many -
the biggest sin is pride - when they won't confess they were wrong.
So the guy who is watching and doesn't get it right - is in better shape than the pastor who just keeps preaching "in-a-minute, surprise rapture".
When everything plays out - the rapture will happen, and either those who think it's Pre-tribulation will be right, or they will be wrong. If it ends up being on a feast day - then the millions of pastors and people who ignored Pauls words will be mistaken.
If we see the 2 witnesses wearing sackcloth in Jerusalem, and they don't die, either it will be Enoch and Elijah or it won't. One group will be mistaken, and another group will be right.
***It will also be huge, because as mike said, and others, it would mean that 50 million or so Christians will instantly have to re-think their entire framework for the tribulation. It just means that one side of almost every topic on this entire site - will be correct and the opposing view will not be.
But I think that when we see that blessed hope, and are caught up in the air, with Christ - and it won't play out exactly like any of us think -
I'm sure that we will be in such shock and awe, at the glory and majesty of Christ, the discussions about end times, won't even enter our minds. Hallelujah, I can't wait.
Maranatha,