|
|
Post by mike on Aug 26, 2017 7:01:45 GMT -6
I like the idea but just suppose He doesn't? Or at least doesn't immediately? I could supply a snarky answer here - but that really would not give you a fair response! As of yet (and have been praying for 100% confirmation almost nightly) - I have heard or seen nothing that suggest the rapture will definitely happen in the next couple of weeks. The guy who runs Heavenly Sign 2017 YouTube site (also same guy that has an actual timeline from rapture through the seven years). Made an interesting comment in one of his recent videos..... Basically, he was addressing emails he has received - many which like your question starts off with "what if...." His response was that - Faith is still required..... Will God and specifically Jesus keep His promise to return? I am sure you are like me --- yes, Jesus will return for His church .... And that could be in another ten, twenty, or even one hundred years..... OR. It could be in the next couple of weeks...... I know Jesus will be returning, I am hoping it is this year. KJS I hope u didn't take my very short "devil's advocate" response as snarky? If u did it wasn't meant that way. Sorry brother. Sometimes I forget that although we've interacted some u really don't know me too well, at least not yet. I just want to ensure to the best WE can that we consider all angles. What if the sign is for Israel and not necessarily the church. Perhaps we've read it wrong, perhaps not. Hopefully not Edit - you know the more I think about this the more I think "this is too obvious, would God make it that easy". Not that a lot of searching and effort hasn't been invested into figuring it out but at this point it seems too clear. Them again I continue to telling myself that He made it pretty clear at the first Advent to those who searched diligently |
|
|
|
Post by kjs on Aug 26, 2017 8:12:46 GMT -6
Mike, I think I am going to like getting to know u in heaven!
I am simple Joe-blow-average trying to muddle along in this world we inhabit.
Sometimes God grants me an insight and I find it really mind blowing, so I attempt to share in my little way.
one of those was how there are several passages (some of which I shared early) that show very convincingly ( in my mind) that God is Not through with Israel. He is going to do some spectacular that will draw the Hebrew people back to Him - so that all will be saved.
It appears that God is operating strictly through Love, quietly wooing people to Him and His amazing Grace.
At some point in the future Known as Jacobs Trouble - God will be using other means to PUSH people toward Him rather than the gentle wooing.
His focus will be on His chosen people Isarel -- and while I assume others may be drawn in at that time, it will be primary for the Hebrew people.
So it seems to me, that if His focus is different then He will be doing something different with the folk who came in thru the wooing....
We have several passages that indicate there will be an event where the removal of the wooing folk takes place, we call that event the rapture.
I believe that the "event" and the concluding portion of God's plan will be at least seven years, some feel it will be less.....
I only positively know is that He will be returning..... The actual date of that return still alludes me.
But I know by Faith it will happen!
|
|
|
|
Post by mike on Aug 26, 2017 8:52:21 GMT -6
Mike, I think I am going to like getting to know u in heaven! I am simple Joe-blow-average trying to muddle along in this world we inhabit. Sometimes God grants me an insight and I find it really mind blowing, so I attempt to share in my little way. one of those was how there are several passages (some of which I shared early) that show very convincingly ( in my mind) that God is Not through with Israel. He is going to do some spectacular that will draw the Hebrew people back to Him - so that all will be saved. It appears that God is operating strictly through Love, quietly wooing people to Him and His amazing Grace. At some point in the future Known as Jacobs Trouble - God will be using other means to PUSH people toward Him rather than the gentle wooing. His focus will be on His chosen people Isarel -- and while I assume others may be drawn in at that time, it will be primary for the Hebrew people. So it seems to me, that if His focus is different then He will be doing something different with the folk who came in thru the wooing.... We have several passages that indicate there will be an event where the removal of the wooing folk takes place, we call that event the rapture. I believe that the "event" and the concluding portion of God's plan will be at least seven years, some feel it will be less..... I only positively know is that He will be returning..... The actual date of that return still alludes me. But I know by Faith it will happen! Lol, yeah hopefully, but while we still have time here might as well get to know each other as best we can. Once we are raptured, we are like Him so our imperfections are gone. Although I like to think that individuality/personalities will still remain, differentiating us. I love the way you dumbed down your reply (we cal that event the rapture). I "know" the chain of events fairly well. My questioning is to help us all consider every angle which appears to me you are doing. I was just trying to present other possibilities. Is thinking the Rev 12:1-2 sign Israel not the church possible? Probobaly not. But I wanted to throw it in here. Haven't even thought it through  |
|
|
|
Post by jeff1954 on Aug 28, 2017 15:34:23 GMT -6
Thank-you for your welcome. I'm happy to participate with you in this discussion. I am going to provide a link on Lost Tribes teaching here. www.asis.com/users/stag/losttrib.html This is fairly comprehensive and will take some time to go through. Please read the authors caution before clicking on his links. This is the reason I didn't really want to get into it as a first time poster on this board. Just remember that through Abrahams seed "ALL NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED". |
|
|
|
Post by kjs on Aug 28, 2017 19:27:18 GMT -6
Jeff1954
Your link takes one to an article of a follower of Dr. Gene Scott.
One of this groups foundational beliefs is Britian and her colonies (America....) are the lost tribes.
There really is very little evidence proving this, other than Armstrong and later Scott promoting it.
Check out Chuck Mizzler site and his ton of research showing how there are no lost tribes....
Most organizations that promote the lost ten tribes, is a side root of those who promote replacement theology.
I would be very leery of any group which promotes these teachings.....
|
|
|
|
Post by watchmanjim on Aug 29, 2017 0:13:00 GMT -6
I am one who believes the lost tribes are still out there and are not (at least primarily not) the English-related people. I suspect we will find that huge amounts of these people will be found throughout the earth in the next few weeks--probably in cohesive groups such as the Kurds, Palestinians, Gypsies, Armenians, and others. I cold well be wrong about this, and I'm not trying to choose this hill to die on. There are little pockets being alledgedly found in various parts of Africa, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. One thing I think is pretty clear is that by the time the 144,000 are sealed, they will know who they are. Most likely the Two Witnesses will have a hand in explaining to these people how they can tell what tribe they are from. OR MAYBE only God will know. But regardless, they will made known at some point. I don't think we have long to wait to find out. |
|
|
|
Post by watchmanjim on Aug 29, 2017 0:13:43 GMT -6
Also, welcome, Jeff!
|
|
|
|
Post by jeff1954 on Aug 29, 2017 12:28:50 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by galen on Sept 28, 2017 17:55:12 GMT -6
Has anyone ever tossed around the thought of "why'd God choose the Jews"? I realize this cannot be adequately explained, but I think about it from time to time. For example had he chosen the Edomites (came from Esau right?) I'd be asking the same question. But when I read through the OT I think about it when I read of their complaining, doubt, idol worship and other sins...But I realize that any other people would likely have yielded the same result. I know that if I were there following Moses or lived in the days of Noah, I might not have made it (saved). Just the way I ponder things sometimes. I know I was born in this age and not that one for good reason Not sure we will really know this side of heaven .... But I kind of agree with your thought -- It did not really matter which group was chosen -- they would have "screwed up" just as much (if not more) then Israel. This thread is mainly to reemphasize that Israel is NOT FORGOTTEN -- simply in a "time-out" (so to speak). Many of those who hold views other than Pre-Trib. -- Fail to account for Daniel's 70th week (also known as Jacobs trouble).... This time period is set aside specifically for Israel. Now God is God -- and He can do anything He wants -- including focusing on Israel and the Body of Christ -- AT THE SAME TIME...... HOWEVER, it appears God has chosen to deal with ONLY one Group at a Time -- therefore the last week (7 years) will be Israels time -- and not the Body of Christ...... THIS is also why Micah 5:3 – the prophet says “Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son…”MEANS so much to me -- because it clearly states WHEN that abandonment will end ....... Problem is there how many daily BIRTHS -- so how do we know which women in Labor......... Then BOOM -- we discover (re-discover) the Heavenly Birth in Rev 12 -- and we suddenly have a very good idea on who that woman is.......... What bothers me about the whole time out thing is that it means that Jews in OT times and Jews alive at the end when they accept their Messiah is that they have an advantage over the Jews who died in the Church age or during the tribulation. I'm aware that God's ways are above our ways and I won't understand everything this side of heaven but such a question could well be a stumbling blick for many, I know I wouldn't have an answer to it if challenged just as I wouldn't be able to explain homosexuality as sinful to those who won't accept "because the Bible says so" (this group includes some professing Christians of course). I do realise that Jews were not automatically saved in the OT and gentiles were not automatically condemned while in the Church age Jews had the chance to become Messianic but they did face stumbling blocks such as Anti-Semitism from much of the "church" and often didn't get that Jesus was actually a Jew. |
|
|
|
Post by watchmanjim on Sept 28, 2017 23:43:37 GMT -6
I understand what you're saying, galen. The gentiles had a distinct disadvantage in finding salvation during the Old Testament times, and in many unreached lands until the time missionaries came to them. Even to this very day, there are unreached tribes in places like the Amazon, central Africa, and Papua New Guinea. One of my friends is a missionary in Peru and manages to reach out to some of the jungle tribes that have never known the Gospel before. Even those gentiles who live in inaccessible places today have a disadvantage over those who live where the Bible and Gospel are easy to find. So yes, things are not always a level playing field in that sense. We just have to trust that God knows what He is doing, and do our best to do our part.
|
|
