The doctrine of the pretribulation rapture is relatively new. It did not receive popular acceptance until the mid 1800's and early 1900's, and mostly in the United States of America. But it has always been hotly debated. Daniel, speaks of knowledge being increased at the time of the end in relation to the the contents of his prophetic book. It was prophesied by Daniel that understanding would not come to everyone, not for the wicked, but only the wise. Thus, disagreement and debates must happen.
Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.But the truth is despised and attacked by fools who refuse knowledge and wisdom.
Daniel 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.Revelation 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.If you study the book of Proverbs, you can see the Lord define the way of the fool and the way of the wise. It seems as long as there are fools, and as long as there are wicked, and as long as the Books are sealed up, the debate will continue, even in the Church:
Proverbs 23:9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.A Heresy is simply a "false teaching". Many who believe false teachings are deceived: "none of the wicked shall understand" (Dan 12:10). It seems to me that there are two basic responses that a deceived person can take when they learn the truth. If they discover they have been preaching a false teaching, or if they encounter true doctrine such as when the gospel is presented to them, it seems to me that there are two opposite responses in the extreme. Either repentance or anger. Debate continues because all too many, instead of repenting as people did in Acts 2, they react with bitterness and anger when it is pointed out to them like those of Acts 6 & 7, hence the bitterness of the many debates, which can be very confusing. The point of the debate, however, as the Word of God infers as I see it, is to make the truth shine by comparison, "that they which are approved may be made manifest among you". When I was a newer Christian, I struggled real hard to understand why so many evil people would bring in their heresies and preach them. Well, they may not know they are wrong, seeing as how that is the very nature of deception. And 1 Cor 11:19 gives a reason for the existence of the heresies among the Church, which I believe is to let the truth shine by comparison.
Now, the Bible gives us instruction for how to deal with these false teachings, we are to rebuke them with patience, sound doctrine, and proper instuction, which is exactly what is needed to let the truth shine brightest!
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.Again, the reason for the rebuke is given: "that they may be sound in the faith".Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
We are to "contend for the faith", which means to fight for it.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.Some people think the debate is not pleasing to God. They are right to a certain extent.
Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,But those who cause the debate are the ones who attack the truth. If people did not attack the truth, there would be no debate.2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
Some people think we should not be caught in the debate when God returns. However, while fighting for the faith, rebuking, preaching, & contending, I know that I have opportunity to be providing the much needed instruction to the body of Christ. Strong meat, if you will. Meat refers to mature teachings, things that mature believers should know. Not all new believers are ready for the strong meat.
[1Cor 3:2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.New believers can choke on "strong meat", thinking it's all about "arguing and bitterness". They have not yet been able to exercise discernment and come to maturity.
Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.So the debate and contending for the faith is actually is an exercise, "by reason of use", which helps us to be able to discern and distinquish the good from evil, and see what the truth is.
And the end times topics will take you into a study of the deepest mysteries of God. It is about discovering the greatest mysteries in the Bible, hidden in prophecy. The mystery of the rapture, 1 Thess 4 & 1 Cor 15, the mystery of the bride of Christ, Eph 5 & Rev 19.
It is my desire that Jesus comes back and he finds me dispensing this strong meat to believers when he returns. Note that it says below in Matt 24:45, "in due season". There is a time for end time prophecy, and it is now, in the time of the end. This is another reason why the pretribulation rapture doctrine might not have been known prior to around the 1800's.
Matt 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.In contrast, there are other "servants of the Lord", who teach something else. They say the Lord will delay his return until the end of the seven year tribulation. We call them pre wrathers, or post tribbers, or posties. And they beat up on us in the debates. And I believe this message should speak to them:
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Matt 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;So, if you see both sides trying to rebuke each other, it's because everyone is trying to obey that particular command to rebuke the false teaching they believe the others adhere to. But the truth should shine if you know your Bible very well and look for people who are preaching what the Bible preaches.
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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