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Post by Nick on May 14, 2005 14:25:41 GMT -5
I've that there are quite a few different views on when and if the rapture is going to happen. Many just don't think it is going to happen, many reply to the question with, "What's the rapture" (which is not something to be ashamed of) but when the person who has no idea what the rapture is, is told of the book "Left Behind" or something relating to that book series, they usually understand what you are saying. Any thoughts on the rapture? Just wondering... (I have my thoughts, but I shall post them in a little bit... ::I'm sorry if I've confused you with my first paragraph. I type my thoughts and sometimes when I decide not to type something I don't completely backspace the whole thought, so I hope I didn't confuse. Bascially, what are your thoughts on the rapture?::
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Post by Amry on May 14, 2005 20:02:41 GMT -5
My thoughts...
A lot of it is symbolic. At that time, the Christians were being opressed and firmly believed that soon Jesus would come, kill all their enemies, and take them to Heaven. This is where it came from.
I do not disbelieve it. I still believe that someday Jesus will come, separate "the sheep from the goats" and set the world through trials. I actually think it will happen soon, if it isn't already happening now.
Nuclear weapons are building up to the point where we have enough in one country alone to blow up the world many times over. The ozone hole is getting steadily larger. Nature is disappearing. We, man, are violating all that God made for us and killing what He personally created. We, with our meachines, pollution, and violence, are destroying what was there before us. Whether you look at it from the Creationist or Evolutionist point of view, man was one of the last creatues to come about.
I think it is high time that Jesus came along to sort us out - for every Mahatma Gandhi and Jimmy Carter, there are two or three Saddam Husseins and Adolf Hitlers. Satan has a firm hand over this world, and few are trying to stop it.
I don't want to sound pessimistic. I believe there is room for salvation, if everyone would take the path of peace. Not necessarily the path of Chirstianity - the path of peace. If the religious wars would stop. If food were properly distributed. If everyone got out of their shell and looked at the people around them.
It seems like I'm discrediting the thousands of organizations devoted to making people happy. Those kinds of things are wonderful. But the fact that there are so many attests to the fact that the world has too many problems to solve.
In conclusion: Unless humanity can dig itself out of its hole, the Rapture will be a sorely needed occurence.
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Post by Amry on May 14, 2005 20:03:11 GMT -5
Whoa... *rereads post* I was in a fortune-cookie mood...
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Post by Nick on May 16, 2005 12:51:53 GMT -5
Wow, yeah I don't really know what you mean by a fortune cookie mood but okay. So are you saying that the Rapture is purely symbolic? That it isn't really something that is going to happen and take all believers to heaven immediately? Do you think that at the time of Christ the writers of the Bible were just really wanting something that would mean that they could just be raptured to heaven? Is that what you are saying? I might've not understood you. I probably misunderstood you actually lol. I think that the Rapture is very real and could be happening very soon. I believe that instead of worrying so much about the Earth, nature and animals that we should be worrying about the souls out there that are in need of eternal Salvation. I think that instead of spending millions of dollars saving one animal that we should be witnessing and helping people to see the true light of Jesus' love for the people of the world. It's easy to say these things though, actually putting words into practice is the hard part, no doubt. I, personally, think that the rapture is going to be really cool. There is a feeling of pure happiness that can be related to the feeling you get as you soar through the air on a rollar coaster or when you know and are sure something really incredibly awesome is going to happen and you are going to have a ton of fun. Like, maybe, for some, going to a skatepark, others, getting backstage passes to a Switchfoot concert...(not mentioning any names...lol) ya know? That incredible feeling of happiness? I think all Christians might be getting that feeling when the rapture begins to happen. Maybe, if we don't live life as we should, we might feel the feeling of regret. Aw, if I only talked to this guy, or this girl, about the Lord...man! Ya know what I'm saying... Anyways, I hope you could relate to that last paragraph...lol. Otherwise it was a pointless bunny trail. So, Sarah was I correct in my assumptions of what you conclude as the rapture? (I doubt it, but could you clarify
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Post by Amry on May 18, 2005 16:14:11 GMT -5
I quote myself: "I don't disbelieve it."
I guess I rambled too much. I do believe that it will all happen. I think it may actually be happening now. Look at the state the world is in.
I meant, all of our sinful acts are leading up to it. We need Jesus more than ever now.
This is my message, condensed. :-D
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Post by Nick on Jun 4, 2005 14:41:25 GMT -5
lol. Interesting. So, you agree with me and state to simply reinforce the fact that 'we need Jesus more than ever now'? Is that bascially it? lol.
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shadow
Junior Member
Posts: 79
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Post by shadow on Jun 9, 2005 17:16:28 GMT -5
Well to be honest Amry... while the world may be worse than it was 3000 yrs ago... and worse than it was 50 yrs ago it has always been bad enough. Sin contaminates the world beyond imagination. i always get the feeling people think it cant get worse, when the truth of the matter is that it simply cannot get better, but it must get worse. The rapture basically ushers in a terrible time... in which evil has not been equalled not to be picky... but having a pesimistic attitude has not served many people well... while the world is beyond hope... it is not beyond grace
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Post by Amry on Jun 11, 2005 10:15:53 GMT -5
Heh... I really got into this without thinking. I ended up rambling on and on, and what I said really isn't what I believe. I dunno, I was in a bad mood that day. Sorry.
Yeah... the idea of the rapture kinda scares me, to be quite honest. I mean, as shadow says, "a time in which evil has not been equalled." That's pretty scary. There's a lot of sin in the world, and the fact that it's going to get even worse is really intimidating. So, I think it's worthwhile to make your small corner of the world as happy as possible.
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shadow
Junior Member
Posts: 79
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Post by shadow on Jun 11, 2005 18:20:44 GMT -5
If theyre unhappy and theyre saved its better than if theyre happy and unsaved.
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Post by Amry on Jun 12, 2005 9:07:59 GMT -5
Are you on a debate team by any chance?
I really hate forcing my religion on people. I prefer to lead by example, and let them see Jesus in contentment and hard work. Everyone sins, but people who are content tend to sin less. (If you have everything you need, you don't need to to steal or lie or kill or covet, etc.) So, by making people happy, you lead by example and lessen the sin in the world. ;D
I prolly just rambled again... bad habit, and I can't tell I'm doing it until I read it after it's been posted.
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Post by Alegna on Jun 12, 2005 13:37:14 GMT -5
interesting convo...
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shadow
Junior Member
Posts: 79
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Post by shadow on Jun 12, 2005 20:35:53 GMT -5
I agree, much rather will I let someone see my testimony and that will therefore intrigue them to look more into Christ. I am not saying to not make people happy... I'm personally not really all that good at giving compliments as such, but that doesnt mean i cant try and act nice... no one wants to join, Aunt Gretchle's church..... whos really mean all the time... but rather join Aunt Mae's who treats me nicely.... now both aunts probably love me... but i like Aunt Mae better. (I dont have an Aunt Mae or an Aunt Gretchle... just FYI) Testimony is one of the biggest things.... but a warning is to be made... the Bible says Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature... often times our testimony IS a preaching, but sometimes... you simply dont have time... and you have to tell them the truth in words... which IS offensive... "if they have hated me they will hate you also" dont dare think that if everyone who is unsaved loves you... your doing the right thing...
((no im not in any debate team, but im really smart :-P jk... im just having fun... which this is to me))
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Post by Nick on Jun 13, 2005 6:39:14 GMT -5
God does not call us to make others 'happy'. Rather he calls us to... It doesn't say, 'Go therefore and make everyone happy' it says to make disciples of all the nations. I really don't mean to be mean or annoying or anything, but that's just what it says. If you can find a passage, show me where, in the Bible, it says that we need to make people happy. Again, I really do not wish to be mean at all, rather to speak the truth .
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Post by Norelia on Jun 14, 2005 10:31:36 GMT -5
It's funny cause my idea of the whole thing is -yes your supposed to be making disciples, and yes that means that they should be believers, and to help them believe, you have to tell them what God's Word says about Jesus Christ and what he did for us and what we are in Christ-which is nothing but big fat sinners and without Christ we're pretty much nothing but dirt. and with all that.....we shouldn't really be wanting to make them happy, well actually we will in the end, but we kinda want to make them feel totally horrible in the beginning, because if they didn't....then they wouldn't accept that they are sinners and need Christ...
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Post by Nick on Jun 20, 2005 6:46:24 GMT -5
That's a very good point. If they feel good before they come to Christ it's very hard to make them understand that they are sinners and that they are going to hell if they don't turn.
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