I got questions for post-tribbers: If the rapture occurs at the second coming:
1. Who populates the millennium? In the parable of wheat and tares, the tares are gathered first, in a post-trib model this would mean there is no one left to populate the millennium. All the saved are in glorified bodies, and all the wicked are destroyed. (2 thess 1:5-8 and matthew 13:30)
Good day Hevosmies,
I also got a couple of questions for pre-tribbers:
1. Why does Jesus say to His disciples "when YOU see" the abomination of desolation, instead of "They", insinuating they would see it, the believers in Christ, and it says they are killed for their faith in Jesus.
In answer to your question, we have to keep in mind that since Israel did not and has not acknowledged Christ as their Messiah, neither would they consider the NT as being the word of God. But, we as believers would know about the abomination spoken of in Dan.9:27 and Matt.24:15 and just like with the rest of the word of God, we would be able to warn Israel regarding this event and when it would take place.
In the same way, even though the church will not be here to experience any of God's wrath revealed in Revelation, God has revealed all of these events of wrath to the church, that we may know His word and warn people of the coming wrath and how escape it, yet we ourselves will not be here.
2. When does Matthew 25 sheep and goats judgment take place, in light of the parable of the wheat and tares Matt 13:30?
The judgment of the sheep and goats takes place when the Lord returns to the earth to end the age, as the sign of His coming and the end of the age were two of the questions that the disciples had asked Jesus and which He is answering. It wouldn't make any sense for the Lord to be consistently speaking about the end of the age and then have the judgment of the sheep and goats take place at the great white throne judgment.
3. Why is there no kind of advice, or warnings (Or are there?) given to people that are "Left behind", how are they supposed to know what to do, and what bible verses to read, and which apply to them?
They have been and are being warned now by those who study the word of God. We have been telling people that those who continue to reject Christ remain in a condemned state and the wrath of God remains on them. And if they die in that state, their record will be sealed and they will have no further opportunity for salvation. We have also continued to tell them about the coming wrath of God. However, because of lack of faith in God and His word, they have been fence sitters, putting off their decision for Christ and continuing to live in the sinful nature. So, they are, have been and continue to be warned.
When that day comes and they suddenly find that the church is gone, then this will be a very sobering moment for them, realizing that what we had been telling them has taken place. I'm sure that during that time they will remember what was told to them regarding the last seven years being God's wrath. They will turn to the Bible like men in the desert with no water in order to find out the answers. In addition, though not specifically stated, those 144,000 who come out of Israel will most likely be spreading the word, as well as the two witnesses. That said, we should be studying and taking every opportunity in conversation to testify of the Lord and share the word of God.
4. If the rapture is imminent, could it have happened before Peter died, since Jesus said to him he would? Meaning there was no way the rapture could of happened before Peter died, because Jesus spoke the truth.
Im playing two sides of the field here, I hope I get answers from both sides!
Obviously, the question as to whether the gathering of the church could happen before Peter died is redundant, as it is still yet to take place.
Regarding this, I am reminded of the Preterist teaching that the all end-time events have already taken place around 70 AD relating to the destruction of the temple, the gathering of the church, as well as the Lord's return, which of course are all hog-wash!
When Jesus said that He was going to the Father's house to prepare rooms for us and that He was going to come back and get us to take us to those places that He prepared, the promise was to the entire church, not just to those believers up to 70 AD. In that case, the rest of the church over the last 1900 years would not been included in the Lord's promise of His coming to gather us. However, the truth of the matter is that, when the Lord appears, all of the dead in Christ from on-set of the church will be raised in their immortal and glorified bodies in a flash! Immediately following that, the living in Christ will be changed into their immortal and glorified bodies and will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Therefore, the scripture reveals that the entire church from its inception until the resurrection takes place, both the dead in Christ and the living in Christ, which will make up the entire church, will all be present in the air and will all be taken back to the Father's house at the same time.