Who's to be Left Behind?

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We are all familiar with the Parable of the Sowers in Matthew Chapter 13:
***He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field.******While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.******When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.******The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’******He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’******He replied, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them.***Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, "First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’"
Doesn’t this last line reinforce my point that those who are Left Behind are not the one’s lacking in God’s Graces, but those that are a part of the Kingdom of God?
 
In the days of Noah, his family were left behind. Everyone else was taken away by the flood waters and drowned.
 
We are all familiar with the Parable of the Sowers in Matthew Chapter 13:

Doesn’t this last line reinforce my point that those who are Left Behind are not the one’s lacking in God’s Graces, but those that are a part of the Kingdom of God?
Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.

Sorry I coudn’t resist. Justa joke of course.
 
No one will be “left behind” as the Catholic Church does not teach the Rapture.

Actually it teaches against it.

When Christ comes again it will be the second coming and the End of Time, not a second coming for the rapture and a third coming for the end as the Rapture idea teaches.
 
We are all familiar with the Parable of the Sowers in Matthew Chapter 13:

Doesn’t this last line reinforce my point that those who are Left Behind are not the one’s lacking in God’s Graces, but those that are a part of the Kingdom of God?
It is my understanding that the whole notion of the Rapture is an invention of a Scottish Protestant in the 1800’s. I put no stock in that doctrine at all.

The passage you quote has more to do with the idea that we should not be surprised by sin in the Church. This is important as we read daily of the pedophile priest scandal.
 
No one will be “left behind” as the Catholic Church does not teach the Rapture.

Actually it teaches against it.

When Christ comes again it will be the second coming and the End of Time, not a second coming for the rapture and a third coming for the end as the Rapture idea teaches.
I’m confused then by this scripture…
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess, 4:16-18).

The word “rapture” comes from Paul’s “caught up” remark in verse 17. The words “caught up” are translated from the Greek word harpazo, which means “to carry off,” “snatch up,” or “grasp hastily.” The translation from harpazo to “rapture” involved two steps: first, harpazo became the Latin word raptus; second, raptus became the English word “rapture.”
 
It is my understanding that the whole notion of the Rapture is an invention of a Scottish Protestant in the 1800’s. I put no stock in that doctrine at all.
I agree, the Rapture is a Man-made tradition that has mis-quided so many people.
The passage you quote has more to do with the idea that we should not be surprised by sin in the Church. This is important as we read daily of the pedophile priest scandal.
No, the wheat and weeds in the fields are the people of this world, not the priests.

I think another parable deals with good priests and bad priests.
 
I’m confused then by this scripture…
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess, 4:16-18).

The word “rapture” comes from Paul’s “caught up” remark in verse 17. The words “caught up” are translated from the Greek word harpazo, which means “to carry off,” “snatch up,” or “grasp hastily.” The translation from harpazo to “rapture” involved two steps: first, harpazo became the Latin word raptus; second, raptus became the English word “rapture.”
You are describing the 2nd coming of Jesus. Those that rise and meet the king will return with him to this world in His triumph immediately, not after some tribulation period or what.

Think of it like the people in Jerusalem who went out and greeted Jesus (the King) and laid out their palms and their cloaks for him to travel on. They immediately turned around and entered Jerusalem with Him!!!
 
I’m confused then by this scripture…
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess, 4:16-18).

The word “rapture” comes from Paul’s “caught up” remark in verse 17. The words “caught up” are translated from the Greek word harpazo, which means “to carry off,” “snatch up,” or “grasp hastily.” The translation from harpazo to “rapture” involved two steps: first, harpazo became the Latin word raptus; second, raptus became the English word “rapture.”
And this one…
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:51-53).
 
You are describing the 2nd coming of Jesus. Those that rise and meet the king will return with him to this world in His triumph immediately, not after some tribulation period or what.

Think of it like the people in Jerusalem who went out and greeted Jesus (the King) and laid out their palms and their cloaks for him to travel on. They immediately turned around and entered Jerusalem with Him!!!
“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44).
The only time frame I can think of when we believers would not be expecting Jesus to return would have to be before the tribulation.
 
“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44).
The only time frame I can think of when we believers would not be expecting Jesus to return would have to be before the tribulation.
It sounds like you are describing Jesus coming twice. Jesus’ 2nd coming, what Paul describes in Thessalonians, is His return in glory - Judgement Day.

This tribulation seems to indicate Jesus coming once before Judgement Day.
 
It is my understanding that the whole notion of the Rapture is an invention of a Scottish Protestant in the 1800’s. I put no stock in that doctrine at all.

The passage you quote has more to do with the idea that we should not be surprised by sin in the Church. This is important as we read daily of the pedophile priest scandal.
BUNK!
Epharaim the Syrian said, in 373 AD, “For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins.”
 
BUNK!
Epharaim the Syrian said, in 373 AD, “For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins.”
Furthermore…
Justin Martyr
“I and others, who are right-minded Christians on all points, are assured that there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a thousand years in Jerusalem, which will then be built, adorned, and enlarged, the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah and others declare.” - Justin Martyr (Dialogue with Trypho, 80)
 
Furthermore…
Justin Martyr
“I and others, who are right-minded Christians on all points, are assured that there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a thousand years in Jerusalem, which will then be built, adorned, and enlarged, the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah and others declare.” - Justin Martyr (Dialogue with Trypho, 80)
All Catholics believe in the Resurrection of the dead.

The Original Question stands: Who is Left Behind?
 
All Catholics believe in the Resurrection of the dead.

The Original Question stands: Who is Left Behind?
Non-believers. Those whom don’t confess Christ as the Saviour and then lead there life’s according;y.
 
Non-believers. Those whom don’t confess Christ as the Saviour and then lead there life’s according;y.
I. The Time is Unknown

Matt. 24:36 - many sects try to predict the coming of Christ. But Jesus says, “no one but the Father knows the day and the hour.” The sects that try to predict Christ’s coming ignore these words.

Matt. 24:36 - we should also note that Jesus’ statement does not mean than Jesus does not know the day of His Second Coming. Jesus does know, because He is God. With this statement, Jesus explains that He chose to know by His human knowledge only that which He wanted to know for His mission of salvation. In other words, Jesus could have chosen not to know everything by His own human knowledge, but Jesus knew everything in His human knowledge through its hypostatic union to His eternal and infinite divine knowledge.

Matt. 24:44 – Jesus warns us that the Son of Man is coming at an hour we do not expect.

Matt. 25:13 – Jesus says “watch therefore, and be prepared, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Mark 13:35-37 – Jesus says “watch because you do not know when the Master of the House will come - watch!”

Luke 12:46 - the Master will come on a day and at an hour when He is not expected.

Acts 1:7 - Jesus says it is not for us to know the times or seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority.

1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 3:3 - the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

James 5:7 - be patient until the coming of the Lord. Those who try to predict disregard this inspired teaching.

Rev. 22:20 - Jesus says He is coming soon, but He does not tell us when He is coming. Because Jesus says we do not know the day or the hour and will be surprised at His coming, it is silly, and disobedient, for people and groups to predict His coming. We, instead, need to be about the business of growing in holiness, so that we are prepared for our Lord when He comes again, no matter when that will be.
 
I. The Rapture

1 Thess. 4:16-17 - Paul writes that “we will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Many Protestants call this experience the “rapture” (even though the word “rapture” is not found in the Bible, although is derived from the Latin vulgate of this verse – “rapiemur”). John 14:3; 1 Cor. 15:52 - these are other passages that Protestants use to support the rapture experience. The question Protestantism has raised is “when will the rapture occur?” They have developed three theories – (1) post-tribulation; (2) pre-tribulation; and, (3) mid-tribulation. We address these theories later on. But first, here is some more background.

Rev. 20:2-3; 7-8 – John sees the vision of an angel who seizes satan and binds him for a period of a thousand years. Protestants generally call this period of a thousand years the “millennium.” The “millennium” is a harbinger of the end of the world, and the theories of when the “rapture” will occur center around this period of time. We should also note that the “thousand years” language is part of apocalyptic literature and should not be interpreted literally. For example, in Psalm 50:10, we see the cattle on a “thousand hills.” The word “thousand” here obviously means a lot of hills. In Dan. 7:10, a “thousand thousands” served him. Again, “thousand” means a lot. In 2 Peter 3:8, with God one day is a “thousand” years and a “thousand” years is one day. “Thousand” is symbolic for a long time. It is not to be taken literally.
 
There are three ways that Protestants interpret the meaning of the thousand year “millennium” (and the interpretation leads to answering when they think the rapture will occur).
Code:
(1) Post-millennialism – this view interprets the “thousand years” as a very long time. This view also holds that God’s kingdom is being advanced in the world by His grace and the world will eventually be Christianized. Then Christ will return at the close of this period during a time of righteousness and peace. The problem with this view is that the Scriptures do not teach that the world will be even relatively Christianized before the Second Coming. For example, in Matt. 13:24-30;36-43, Jesus says the wicked and the righteous will co-exist until the end of the world, when they will be judged, and either inherit eternal life, or be thrown into eternal fire.

(2) Pre-millenialism (also called “millenarianism”) – like post-millennialists, this view also interprets the “thousand years” as a golden age on earth when the world will be Christianized. But they believe that this period will occur after Christ’s second coming, during which time Christ will reign physically on earth. They believe the Final Judgment occurs when the millennium is over. But Scripture does not teach that there is a thousand year span between the Second Coming and Final Judgment. Instead, Jesus said that when He comes a second time in glory, He will immediately repay every man for what he has done. Matt. 16:27. When Jesus comes, He will separate the sheep from the goats and render judgment. Matt. 25:31-46. There is nothing about any period of time between His coming and final judgment.

(3) Amillennialism – this view also interprets the “thousand years” symbolically, but, ulike the pre and post views, not as a golden age on earth. This view believes the millennium is the period of Christ’s rule in heaven and on earth through His Church. This is because the saints who reign with Christ and to whom judgment has been committed are said to be on their thrones in heaven. Rev. 20:4; cf. 4:4; 11:16. During this time, satan is bound and cannot hinder the spread of the gospel. Rev. 20:3. This is why, they explain, Jesus teaches the necessity of binding the “strong man” (satan) in order to plunder his house and rescue people from his grip. Matt. 12:29. This is also why, after the disciples preached the gospel and rejoiced that the demons were even subject to them, Jesus declared, “I saw satan fall like lightening from heaven.” Luke 10:18. Nevertheless, during this period, the world will not be entirely Christianized because satan, though bound, is still in some sense able to prowl around and attack souls. cf. 1 Peter 5:8. Of the three, this position is most consistent with Catholic teaching (the pre and post-millennium views have been rejected by the Church).
 
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