Re: Why I Am A Futurist
 

It would take too long to do that here. lol

Re: Why I Am A Futurist
 

If you care to take the time, the best way I could explain it is for you to watch this video:

http://youtu.be/fUh5uEixzR0

Re: Why I Am A Futurist
 

Any reading that you would recommend?

Re: Why I Am A Futurist
 

Thanks.

Re: Why I Am A Futurist
 

I always associate judgment and persecution with the rapture for many Bible reasons.

Here is a really clear one.

2 Thess 1:7-10


7And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day

Re: Why I Am A Futurist
 

I see no rapture there. But the point is the term itself - rapture -- does not imply judgment, just catching away.

Re: Why I Am A Futurist
 

What I notice, especially in Matt 24, is that the coming of the Lord never implies a hint of taking His church. Just judgment. I even see that in 2 Thess 1. And the plain instances of resurrection never mention judgment. I'm talking about plain things.

The coming of the Lord is mentioned in 1 Cor 15 with the resurrection. Every man in his order will live/resurrect. First it was Christ the firstruits and afterward those that are Christ's at his coming. But judgment is not mentioned in that chapter anywhere.

Matthew 24 has his coming and there is plain reference to the judgment. But there is nothing plain about a resurrection. Gathering saints is not plainly a resurrection. What I mean by plainness is a statement as in 1 Cor 15 where resurrection is actually mentionedd. lol 1 Thess 4 mentions the dead raised. I mean, that's plain. But there is no such plainness for resurrection in Matt 24 or 2 Thess 1.

Yes, Matt 24 mentions the coming of the Lord where judgment is plainly noted but not resurrection, and the coming of the Lord is in 1 Cor 15 where resurrection is plain but judgment is not.

So, what do we do? Read back before Matt 24, find the references to His coming and see what they spoke about. And Matt 21:40 is the closest and obviously refers to AD70 destruction. No resurrection again.

A more vague reference to his coming is at the end of Matt 23, but again is associated with judgment and not resurrection.

So, if the plainest instance before Matt 24 is obviously AD70 (Matt 21:40), then there is plainly a coming of the Lord without resurrection and only judgment.

I did not WANT to believe this view for I was futurist when I stumbled across it in my own bible studies. But I could not deny it.

My story.

Re: Why I Am A Futurist
 

I watched the video and enjoyed it, but I really didn't understand where mainline futurists theology conflicted with your teaching on the kingdom. Although post-trib teaching takes the church through the great tribulation, therefore putting God on a timeline they can somewhat predict. Most all apostolics who hold a futurist teaching still believe in the kingdom of God present tense as you taught it.

Re: Why I Am A Futurist
 

I hear people talk about the mark of the beast, one world government, the anti-Christ and I know all these elements will come to pass in the last days. The thing is I feel like these things may take place far more suddle than what most Christians expect. I don't really have anything locked in about the rapture other than being ready. Sounds to me like you believe in a future rapture of the church, but that it will take place at the very end. You seem like a post trib that believes the rapture of the church will take place at the end while simultaneously judging the sinners?

Re: Why I Am A Futurist
 

I just pray that the Preterists wake up once these things do begin to come to pass.

They fail to realize how dynamic prophecy is. Yes, it spoke to the first century Christians and saved many souls. Yes, it inspired and spoke to historical Christians down through history, and saved many souls. And friends... don't fall into slumber... it will prove to warn of that which is to come, and yet again, it save many souls.