STOP PRAYING FOR THE WEDDING!

 

STOP PRAYING FOR THE WEDDING!

Have you ever heard the story of the Titanic? It was a famous luxury cruise liner that sank in April 1912 on its maiden voyage. Did you know that many of the deaths that occurred were preventable? Yes, there was bad management and yes, there was also arrogance on the part of the owners. But despite these two factors, the reality is, so many people drowned because of pure selfishness. Half-empty life boats just sailed away and left people to die. There was an attitude of ‘I’m ok, you look after yourself’. It was a tragedy.

This recollection of the Titanic brings me to my topic today- STOP PRAYING FOR THE WEDDING!



What do you think about this photo? Do you agree with it? I find this photo so disturbing. I saw it on a Facebook Christian ministry page a few days ago. The message of this photo is that since the rapture is coming soon, the horrors of a World War III won’t affect ‘us’.

        § I think the photo’s message is cruel.

        § I think the photo’s message is callous.

        § And I KNOW that the photo’s message is biblically wrong!

THE RAPTURE
People who love the message in the photo have been taught Paul’s false doctrine of a ‘pre-tribulation rapture’. What does the term ‘pre-tribulation rapture’ mean?

The Bible provides prophecies of the end of the world. There are Books in the Old Testament and Books in the New Testament that provide this information. Regarding the end of the world, almost all believers agree that three events must occur.

        § THERE WILL BE A PERIOD OF GREAT TRIBULATION

        § CHRIST WILL RETURN (aka His SECOND COMING)

        § THE RAPTURE WILL OCCUR (i.e. removing believers from earth)

Doctrinal conflicts arise because of the sequence of events. Christ and the Apostolic Scriptures teach a POST-TRIBULATION rapture. While, the Pauline writings teach a PRE-TRIBULATION rapture. Is this contradiction important? I think so. Why do some Christians believe Paul’s version of events instead of believing Christ's version of events? Paul's version is easier. It's less painful. It's less scary.

In a post-tribulation rapture, everybody remains on earth until Christ returns. Therefore, everybody (believers and non-believers) experiences the pain of the great tribulation. From this perspective, the sequence of end times events is as follows:

        1. GREAT TRIBULATION occurs first

        2. Then CHRIST RETURNS (aka His SECOND COMING)

        3. And then believers are RAPTURED (removing believers from earth and carrying them to heaven)

In a pre-tribulation rapture, only the non-believers remain on earth to experience the pain of the great tribulation. From this perspective, the sequence of events is as follows:

        1. THE RAPTURE happens first

        2. Then the GREAT TRIBULATION takes place

        3. And then CHRIST RETURNS

Do you see the difference? A pre-tribulation rapture will be quite a different experience as compared to a post-tribulation rapture! No wonder Pauline Christians hope that this is what happens!

But what did Christ say about these end of days events? For this answer, we have to go to the Apostolic Scriptures.

POST-TRIBULATION RAPTURE
The Apostolic Scriptures support a post-tribulation rapture doctrine. On this topic, Christ was clear- in fact, crystal clear! There will be a lot of suffering for EVERYBODY before He returns!

Consider the following verses:

        1. Matthew 24:6-29> This is the TRIBULATION. This corresponds to Revelation chapter 6 (the Apocalypse).

        2. Matthew 24:30> This is CHRIST’S RETURN! This corresponds to Revelation 19:11-16.

        3. Matthew 24:31> RAPTURE! This corresponds to Revelation 7:9-17

        4. Revelation chapters 8-11 Various post-tribulation judgments on earth

        5. Revelation 12:17> God’s remnant of new believers on earth

        6. Revelation 18:4> God’s remnant of new believers on earth.

        7. Revelation 19:6-9> The bride is prepared for the wedding.

        8. Revelation 20:4-5> Resurrection of the dead saints (aka first resurrection)

        9. Revelation 20:6> Christ's thousand year millennial reign

        10. Revelation 20:12-15> Resurrection of the dead for their Book-of-life judgment (aka second resurrection)

So you can see, everybody has to suffer tribulation before the rapture. And after the rapture, a series of judgments are imposed on those who remain on earth.

PLEASE STOP PRAYING FOR THE WEDDING!
Pauline Christians, please stop praying for the wedding between the Lamb and His bride! The wedding takes place after the rapture and the rapture takes place after the PAIN of the great tribulation!

I am sure that no right thinking person actually wants to experience catastrophic earthquakes, the collapse of the solar system, islands and mountains moving from their place or having to hide in caves and praying for rocks to fall and kill us!

Our world is at a dangerous tipping point. Events in Europe may continue to escalate and we may yet descend into World War III.

God knows that He has the entire world’s attention now. Don’t be like those selfish Titanic survivors. Please pray for peace!

***** 

‘HARVEST TIME Prophecies’ is the blog post site of TNG Academy. Our blog post site gets its name from Matthew 13:30- the separation of wheat and tares that occurs at harvest time (i.e. the endtimes). Remember, the ‘wheat’ symbolises the things of God and the ‘tares’ symbolise the things of the devil.

The purpose of this blog is threefold.

1. Some of the posts are written to help the reader develop a deeper understanding of the theology of Christ’s core message- i.e. the ‘gospel of the kingdom’.

2. Some of the posts are written for the reader’s personal discipleship journey. We need to understand what God expects from us. After all, all believers should be on a journey of ‘becoming’ our best selves, capable of impacting and changing the world!

3. Finally, some of the posts are written to answer this question:

    What would our faith look like today IF we had fully embraced Christ’s doctrines, as recorded by His Apostles, and rejected the doctrines of Paul and the other false apostles?

If we are sincere about our desire to restore Christianity to its roots, i.e. a return to Christ’s original message, then we must start by admitting that ‘while men slept’ (Matthew 13:25) the enemy planted false teachings (tares) into the New Testament!

Visit our website- WWW.TNGACADEMY.ORG, to see our Bible study books. Which books would I recommend for you to read first? Start with these three-

• WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
• MENE MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN!
• THE APOSTOLIC SCRIPTURES.