Even before I committed my life to Christ, I was somewhat of an eschatologist. I remember being curious about the bible, and every so often I would open one up, and immediately go to the Book of Revelations. Even when I was very young, the thought of a “rapture” was interesting to me, and I always felt like it was going to happen in my lifetime.
Now that I’m a Christian, I’ve been feeling like we are definitely in the last days. It seems that there is confirmation everywhere I turn, and it also seems like most Christians also feel like Jesus will be coming back soon. Could this just be wishful thinking, or are we really in the final hour?
First, there’s the “pre-tribulation”, “mid-tribulation”, and “post-tribulation” debate. I’ve always clung to the pre-tribulation theology. Call me crazy, but the thought of enduring God’s wrath doesn’t really appeal to me. I’d rather skip that! Wouldn’t you?
I read through the entire Book of Revelations last night (I usually just read bits and pieces), and I had a few revelations of my own. It was as if I was seeing the words with new meaning. Now that I’m a Christian, I have become a little more educated on the rest of the bible, and I’m more able to pick up on the sneaky little references that John uses. However, the intense symbolism still keeps the whole event in a cloud of mysteriousness. While reading, some other verses (not in Revelations) came to mind.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 says:
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed).
Verse 51 obviously proves that the theology of the rapture is indeed true, and Verse 52 says when this will happen: at the last trumpet. Alright, I’m familiar with trumpets; there are seven of them in the Book of Revelations!
And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams.
This is right after the Holy Spirit falls on the 120 people in the Upper Room. Wouldn’t this mean that the “last days” technically started at that moment? When I thought about that, the idea of the rapture being “pre-trib” didn’t really make sense anymore. The people in those days were already going through tribulations.
I found an interesting website that believes the whole Book of Revelations is nothing but symbols. The author also makes a good point in the beginning of the teaching:
The only way to read the book of Revelation is by reading it over the shoulder of the first century believers. It was only written to us, as the whole Word of God was written to us. We will never understand it until we understand what it meant to the first century believers.”
I never thought of it that way. While I like the author’s views, and I admire the way he interprets these symbols, there are a few things that don’t make sense with his theory. You’ll have to read what he says and determine what you think for yourself.
The main problem I had with his teaching is that it still didn’t answer the question, “where are we in this whole thing?”
As of right now, I feel like we are in the middle of the tribulation. I believe it’s going to get worse, and I believe we are going to see some of it too. As far as the really bad stuff, I’m still clinging to the idea of being taken out of here first.
The wonderful and amazing thing is that God is so mysterious when it comes to this part of the bible. Sometimes, I feel like it should be easier to understand. There’s a part of me that believes that God has blinded us for a reason, and I am waiting for that day when I open up the Book of Revelations and say, “Oh, I get it now.”
My pastor has taught for a while now that the last days started when His Spirit was poured out… has ruffled some feathers.
I have been a pre-trib most of my life… simply because that’s what was spoon fed to me. The more I study and understand the more I feel and believe that it will be post-trib.
But all-in-all stay in love with Jesus and it will be all good!
Comment Submitted: December 17th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Well, if you go by Acts 2:16-17, your pastor would definitely be correct!
I entertained the idea of a “post-trib” rapture, but at the end of the day, it didn’t make sense.
There are quite a few scriptures that contradict a post-tribulation rapture. One that comes to my mind is when Jesus says that He will come like a thief in the night. We do not know the hour or day. In the post-trib theory, you pretty much can figure out when it would be.The other scripture is from Paul (Corinthians perhaps?), when he says that God has not appointed his saints to incur His wrath. Why would we have to go through all of that terrible stuff? It just wouldn’t make sense.I don’t know, the scriptures just seem to harmonize and make more sense when you look at them with a “pre-trib” mindset. I suppose that’s why so many Christians have believed that.Like you said, we just have to stay in love with Jesus. Nobody knows how it’s going to happen, but we can know where we will spend eternity if we persevere to the end, and keep Him the center of our lives.
I’m editing this because, my views are beginning to change. I don’t know how or why, but suddenly all the scriptures seem to be pointing to the “post-tribulation” theory. They use to point to the pre-trib. Has the veil been removed from my eyes? I guess only time will tell.
Comment Submitted: December 17th, 2007 at 11:09 pm