Yes it is beneficial .
Let me ask you this. Do you believe those Christians who have died have the ability to improve themselves in the eyes of God?
Let me ask you this. Do you believe those Christians who have died have the ability to improve themselves in the eyes of God?
Also if it is possible (not saying that it is not) that I as Christian will be subjected to 7 years tribulation, how is that(for lack of a better word) fair ? Those who have died get to lay back in whatever state they exist while I am subjected to 7 years( if I am a pretribulationest) of trial. Why do I have to suffer this event? This question is perpetual . Pre, mid, or post. Why me, why my children, why, my grandchildren?
I do know that when young Christians, hear preachers, expounding on the book of Revelations from the pulpit they become afraid. All of these interactions leave them confused as just where they exist in the midst of all these events. Yes I know they should not but they do.
I cannot begin to tell you about how many of these precious souls have came to me wanting some answers that would give them assurance as to where they stood in the midst of all these things. Once they have heard these Revelation professes its hard to get their minds back to the safety of Gods grace.
Please do not misunderstand I love Revelation, but I have worn out many bibles and still most of the book of Revelation remains a mystery yet to be reveled to me. I still read Revelations praying each time Lord please show me more.
Love you brother.
I do know that when young Christians, hear preachers, expounding on the book of Revelations from the pulpit they become afraid. All of these interactions leave them confused as just where they exist in the midst of all these events. Yes I know they should not but they do.
I cannot begin to tell you about how many of these precious souls have came to me wanting some answers that would give them assurance as to where they stood in the midst of all these things. Once they have heard these Revelation professes its hard to get their minds back to the safety of Gods grace.
Please do not misunderstand I love Revelation, but I have worn out many bibles and still most of the book of Revelation remains a mystery yet to be reveled to me. I still read Revelations praying each time Lord please show me more.
Love you brother.
First, praise God for your dedication to the truth of God's word and to know the book of Revelation. The very first verse in Revelation demonstrates God's desire for us to know end time events and all related information. And regarding Revelation remaining a mystery, I understand because even after 45 years of studying it, I still don't know many things. However, what I do know, I share.
Regarding "being subjected to 7 years of tribulation" you are correct in that, it would not be fair, nor would it be in God's nature to punish the righteous with the wicked.
One of the related issues that I teach on this is that, there is a difference between the trials and tribulations that Jesus said believers would have because of their faith in Him vs. God's coming wrath whose purpose is to fulfill prophecy regarding Israel and to punish a Christ rejecting world.
When a believer is called and responds in faith, that person is credited with righteousness and reconciled to God, i.e. brought back into a right relationship. By grace through faith, God the Father sees the believer with the righteousness of Christ, even though we still have our sinful natures (Christ died for us while we were still sinners). Jesus came and fulfilled the law, satisfying it completely and that on every believers behalf. Therefore, we are no longer under the law. Jesus also took upon himself the wrath of God that all believers deserve because of our sin, satisfying God's wrath completely and therefore God's wrath no longer rests upon the believer. And of course scripture states that "the reward for sin is death" which Jesus also paid on our behalf.
All that being said, while believers are subject to trials and tribulations which come at the hands of men and the powers of darkness, we will not and cannot be subject to God's coming wrath. For if believers were to go through the time of God's wrath, it would be slap in the face to Jesus who already suffered it on our behalf.
I am constantly contending for the truth with people who claim that believers are going to go through God's wrath which will be carried out via the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments and what plagues the two witnesses bring.
Regarding this, if you will notice, throughout chapters 1 thru 3 the word "ekklesia" translated as "church" is used 19 times. Within those same chapters you will not find the word "hagios" translated as "Saints" used interchangebly with "Church." Likewise, from chapter 4 onward, you never see the word ekklesia/church again, but only the word hagios/saints. The word ekklesia/church mysteriously disappears after being referred to 19 times. Coincidence? No, but it is one of God's breadcrumbs of clues that He leaves us in His word.
In relation to this, in Revelation 4:1, John here's a voice that sounds like a trumpet which was identified as being the Lord's voice in Rev.1:10. That voice that sounds like a trumpet then says, "come up here and I will show you what must take place after this" which is saying, I will show you what must take place after the "what is now," i.e. after the church period. I believe Revelation 4:1 to be what I coined as a prophetic allusion to where the church is gathered in the chronological order of Revelation. I believe that this is in fact why we never see the word ekklesia/church again, because John is representing the church being called up in Rev.4:1. You will never see the word church mentioned within the narrative of God's wrath.
How are the hagios/saints? These are introduced in Revelation 7:9-17 who are those in white robes which no man can count from every nation, tribe, people and language, which would make them Gentiles. These are those who will become believers after the church has been gathered and during the time of God's wrath and into the beasts kingdom. The will be on the earth during that time because they will have not believed in Christ prior to the gathering of the church. During that time their testimony of Jesus and the word of God and who will not worship the beast, his image nor receive his mark, will cost the lives of many of them. But they get the victory over him by no loving their lives so much as to shrink away from death while keeping their testimony.
In further support that the church will not be on the earth during the time of God's wrath, Revelation 19:6-8 reveals the bride/church attending the wedding of the Lamb, where she will receive her fine linen, white and clean. Then in Rev.19:14 it reveals the bride/church following the Lord out of heaven to end the age, riding on white horses and wearing her fine linen. In order to attend the wedding of the Lamb and follow the Lord out of heaven, one must already be in heaven, yes? In relation to this, we have Rev.17:14 which is an excerpt of when Jesus returns to the earth to end the age which says:
"They (the beast and ten kings) will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
The "called, chosen and faithful followers" are those who will have previously been resurrected and caught up and who will be following Christ out of heaven.
Regarding God's time of tribulation/wrath, we have a promise from the Lord, which says:
"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you out of the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth."
In closing, though we as believers in Christ are subject to trials and tribulations, we will not subject to God's coming wrath or any of His wrath. So, as one in Christ and those of your family in Christ, they do not need to worry about God putting us through His wrath, for it is to be poured out on a Christ rejecting world and not those who belong to Christ.
Blessing to you and yours in Christ!