The Rapture of the
Saints
I accepted the pre-tribulation rapture
teaching as a new believer not really giving it any thought at all.
Popular Christian books on prophecy and
end-times doctrine that men taught were all about that doctrine. The Lord
spoke to me and taught me in these early years and I must say that many books
including those books which taught a pre-tribulation rapture blessed and
instructed me and helped me to grow in the Lord.
In those times, the Lord revealed His
unconditional love.
It was only later, as I became more familiar
with the Scriptures, that I became uneasy with the content of Matthew 24 and the
parts of Daniel and Revelation that discuss the saints being warred against and
overcoming the evil in the last days. I could not reconcile these passages with a pre-tribulation rapture,
and there was something unsettling about how these passages were being so
casually excused from being applicable to the Church.
As the years passed the Lord seemed to be
revealing a vision for the Church, much of which is shared in the bulk of this
website. Even though I have taken a neutral stand for years; even on this
website; the primary reason for this was that what was in my spirit concerning
the timing of the rapture... I was not fully convinced with any specific
position taught by man.
I realize now as I have been given a clearer
understanding of the "catching away" through the Word of God; I realize I have
also been given a responsibility to share what I clearly see. After all;
one can only share with any authority what has been taught by the Holy Spirit
and then only if it is clearly revealed in the Word of God as well.
In many ways; mistaken teachings about the timing of the
rapture have led to mistaken understanding of God’s plan for the Church.
It is clear that ones who sincerely love the Lord Jesus are all over the
spectrum concerning the timing of the rapture.
This teaching should not to be used as ammo
for pointing fingers at those who may have believed or still believe differently. The
material is given for the purpose of ministering directly from God's word to
those who are in error.
The primary issue for the Church at the end
of the age is not rapture timing, but how she will glorify God. Now that the end of the age has drawn near,
the issue of timing takes on greater importance in the context of that primary
consideration.
God’s plan for His Church dictates rapture
timing, not vice versa. Any teaching that obscures the vision of the saints and
is contrary to God’s plan is a serious problem and will become more serious as
the days grow darker.
Most popular end-times teaching deals with
rapture timing as an end in itself rather than as a supporting role in God’s
plan to demonstrate His wisdom through the Church to the rulers and authorities
in the heavenly places.
When God’s purpose and plan become
foundational in the study of end-time events, the uncertainty of the Church’s presence on
the earth at
the end of the age diminishes greatly.
However; the deciding factor in determining
the truth of this is not what men believe; but what the bible teaches.
If we are able to approach scripture with an
attitude similar to the believers in Berea;
as they
"
were
more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with
all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these
things were so..."
If we are able to approach scripture with an
attitude similar to those first century saints; then we should be able to stand
on bed rock irrefutable truths.
Paul said not to be deceived in any way
regarding the timing of the day of the Lord.
The timing of the day of the Lord, as you
will hear, dictates the timing of the rapture. If the Church misunderstands
rapture timing, she will misunderstand her role on earth at the end of the age.
If we subscribe to teachings which obscure
God’s plan for His Church, we will have no vision and may
be in danger of stumbling and even falling away as events at the end of this
age unfold.
The audio teaching below is excerpted
from two programs initially aired on WCER AM radio out of Canton Ohio and
looks at the timing of the rapture.
In fact as you will hear; when the
cornerstone scriptures that preachers typically use to justify a
pre-tribulation
rapture are placed in scriptural
context; a different picture
concerning the timing of the rapture immerges.
My prayer
is that instead of out right acceptance of this teaching; you will have the
response of a Berean; and
"...searched the Scriptures daily."
For it is in this hour when men do
not "...receive the love of the
truth, that they might be saved.
It is in this hour when delusion and false doctrine are increasing.
I pray
this teaching will strengthen you in Christ in the days ahead.
God Bless
You
Allen Logan
Host of "Watchman on the Wall" and "bondservant"
within Shilohouse Ministries
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