Hi Everyone
 
Frist, may I wish you a Merry Christmas
Wait... I can't do that.
How aout a Merry Mas
Wait... People named Mary would think we are implying that they are merry, and that would not be politically correct.
How about a Mas
Wait... that works for Catholics, but what about those who don't recognize mass?
Never mine, let me move on with this post. :)
 
My eyes have been opened by this chapter of God's Word.
1 Corinthians 15
I've quoted from it before, but I took the time to read the entire chapter today and I must say I have used it to reestablish my thinking on this subject of rapture.
 
Verses 1-11 speak of the resurrection of Christ for which there is no cntention.
 
Then I read...
 
12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
 
Which taught me that if the dead are not resurrected then neither was Christ leaving the Christian themself to be pitied above all people for their faith is truly in vain. According to this verse, if we do not go thru a resurrection of the body when Christ returns then they are false witnesses, for this is what they taught.
 
Fortunately verses 20-28 establish the fact clearly that Christ has indeed been raised from the dead just as we will be when He returns to resurrect the bodies of the believers. Interesting thing is it tells us what will take place with our last enemy "death" too at that time.
 
26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
 
Kinda hard for something to continue indefinetly if it has been destoyed wouldn't you say?
 
My eyes have indeed been opened to the fact that there is a lot more meet in this chapter than what I've been chewing on. Leave milk, desire the true meat of God and He will feed you all you need.
 
Merry Christmas
God Bless
IBIJ

Can't you give it a rest for just one day. did not read 99% of it by the way

March is coming G
 
Tknight

There have been days when posts have not come from me, no? Consider those the days. :)

IBIJ
 
I have read your post several times, and I must confess, I don't have a clue of what the hell you are talking about or what your point is.
 
Religion is not science and facts on things you can see and understand. Religion is faith and belief in God and his promises, and things you don't understand. You cannot have faith and belief in what you can see and understand.
 
Why are you wasting your life trying to interpret and understand and explain Gods word, when all through the scriptures it tells you that no human can understand and explain God and his ways.
 
All you can do is try to live Gods word, as you understand it "personally for yourself", not point your finger at others.
 
Grandpa13

Hi GP13
 
No finger pointing? Isn't that what you jut did as it relates to my "continued obsession" with teaching the clear Word of God as it is written.
 
What points was I getting at in the start of this post?
1. If we are raptured after death instead of waiting in sleep till the resurrection of our bodies then according to God's Word our faith is in vain.
2. To teach of a rapture instead of Scriptures resurrection is according to God's Word in this chapter teaching false doctrine.
 
Where is it stated that it s a waste of time to attempt to understand and explain the Word of God? If it is so difficult to understand then why would He have given it to us in the first place? Why God may in many ways be unfathomable, His Word certainly is not.
 
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
 
According to IBIJ2 not digging in to understand what God's clear Word has for us is exactly what led us into Catholic tyranny and the dark ages to start with. A statement that I would quite agree with. So the burden of proof is on you for explaining why each and every Christian shold not study the Word of God which we have been given with an open mind for understanding exactly what it teaches.
 
Cheers
IBIJ

"Here we go again", said Dmitri. lol

Or not...
 
Happy Sabbath
IBIJ