Last Daze

Maybe its not as apparent as I thought and should have offered an explanation. The offense or stumbling block that Jesus is talking about in Matthew 24:10 is what? Lets look at it again: Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Matthew 24:9-10 At the time that people are being hated by all nations because of the name of Jesus and being put to death, at that time many are snared. Choosing to save their life rather than be delivered to tribulation causes them to sin, to stumble and fall away from the faith. It very much pertains to apostasy. σκανδαλίζω skandalízō, skan-dal-id'-zo; from G4625; to entrap, i.e. trip up (figuratively, stumble (transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure):—(make to) offend.

Only when they're arguing, not discussing. Reasoned discussions are beneficial.

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you." Matthew 24:4 Good advice.

Arguing may be a waste of time but discussions where the truth is sought are not a waste. I'm thankful for those who patiently expounded on the Word and showed me how baseless the pretrib fallacy is. Even so, its our faith that will sustain us, not our eschatology.

Yeah, the Islamic invaders are here. Our government, which is supposed to be protecting us, let them in. At least Troy got a wooden horse out of the deal. Sad.

Good post and perspective. It will be seen who has shunned the ways of the world and who has embraced them, who serves God and who serves themselves. It's one thing to say we're this and that but quite another to demonstrate it. End time events will reveal who eagerly awaits His return, those who do not love the things of this world, even unto death.

Jesus also speaks of the apostasy that Paul is referring to. Because of the name of Jesus the following happens: Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Matthew 24:9-10 Where again do the innumerable "tribulation saints" come from if the church is raptured and then many fall away? There is no "great revival" only deception and apostasy. There's a reason we're exhorted to endure. The tap-dancing needs to cease.

Agreed. If you try to substitute the apostasy with the rapture (for "the departure") then the verse becomes nonsensical. It makes the verse essentially sound like this: The rapture will not happen until the rapture happens first. Huh??

What does it mean to be ready for the rapture?

A special "preparedness" for a pretrib rapture? Care to expound on what that might be?

Amen! And may we persevere to the end, whenever that day may be.

True. The timing of the rapture is stated as taking place at the last trumpet on the last day. People should start with that timing and seek to understand when that happens is if they really want to know. It certainly doesn't have that "imminent" ring to it.

Yes, I'm sure it is. Have a great day.

Agreed. This confusion in terminology is the cornerstone fallacy on which the rest of the pretrib fallacy is built.

How about the rest of the sentence? You left that out. Here is the entire sentence: And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. Be honest in your approach to the scriptures. You've already admitted exceptions. Support for the two witnesses being Enoch and Elijah based only on Hebrews 9:27 is problematic but you're entitled to believe whatever.

Have a nice day.

Not going to get into what "sleeping" is other than it follows death. It is not the same thing as death. Have a great day.

Sleeping is what comes after death. It is not death itself. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2

There were others who were raised from the dead as well. In context, Hebrews 9:27 is meant to substantiate the sufficiency of Christ's death to bear the sins, once. If you continue the sentence started in verse 27 you'll find: And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. Hebrews 9:27-28 You have to finish the sentence. The notion that absolutely everyone dies once and only once is not what v27 is saying. While it is most generally true, it is not meant to be taken as an absolute.

Agreed. Isn't it funny how the resurrection / changing / rapture happens at the LAST trumpet on the LAST day and yet some people keep insisting that it happens first or nearly first? They offer no reasonable explanation of Paul's statement of the trump of God as the last trumpet nor do they have anything biblical for Jesus' declaration of the resurrection happening on the last day. If someone is truly interested in the timing of our immortality and gathering to Him, then prioritize discovering what the trumpet of God is and when He sounds it. It will be on the last day. The last day of what? Start there because there's no question that it happens then.

How many times did Lazarus die?

“Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another." Matthew 24:9-10 The end time apostasy comes about because there is no depth of root. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. Matthew 13:20-21 When the "worship or die" ultimatum is in force and believers are delivered to tribulation, those with no depth of root will fall away. This is the apostasy that precedes the return of Jesus.

Amen.

We know that it is because of the supernatural signs and wonders that the false prophet performs that people will be deceived. Things that have never been seen before will challenge people's understanding of truth. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast. Revelation 13:14a And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Revelation 19:20a It's not like his claim to deity will be baseless. It will be backed up with supernatural phenomena. However, we know that when Christ returns, everyone will know it. There will be no need to be informed, or convinced by signs, of the event. Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:25-27 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. Revelation 1:7 Those who love His appearing understand this. They know the Truth.

Good point. Said at the 5th seal: And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Revelation 6:10 God's judgment is in the seven plagues of the seventh seal. The first six seals speak of events that transpire, events that coincide with Matthew 24. They aren't judgments.