Once again there is no rapture in the Bible. 1 Thess 4:17 is not it! We can go over the Greek again, if anyone wants!
I also believe in a literal hell, but I am only worried for my family and friends who are not saved. I do not think Revelation is meant to be taken literally, except chapters 1-3 and 21 and 22. I've just been reading Revelation in Koine Greek. The allegorical aspects really come through better.
I don't believe in the Mark of the beast, 1900 hundred years later. This was written to the churches in Asia in the first century. It was in code, so the Romans would not understand it. But the church did, although we have lost our understanding of it, and utterly been mixed up by gloom and doom preachers since the 18th century!
Jesus will return once. The message is that we will remain on the new earth. Heaven was not made for us, the earth was.
It is so frustrating that people are so brainwashed about this, and scared. And finding imaginary theories to get off the earth before these imaginary ideas come true (or more likely, don't come true)
Please look at the Amillennial view. It is the only end times scenario that makes sense. Look at all 4 end time views. If you choose a viewpoint, realize that eschatology is very difficult. Every scholar I know is Amillennial, except for one professor who was historical premillennialism. No one who has a knowledge of biblical languages and hermeneutics is a Dispie. That is pure folk theology!
Sounds like its a positive rather than a negative? The "scholars" are over rated to say the least, and have led many astray with their liberal "exegesis". Words like hermeneutics are just thrown around to impress people.
There is a rapture in 1 Thess 4:17. People are CAUGHT UP in the CLOUDS, lets go over the greek, it says the same exact thing in the greek. Clouds is Clouds, caught up is caught up and resurrection is a resurrection, no matter what the language.
Im glad to hear you do believe in hell.
It is very convenient the "allegorical aspects" dont really come out in the english, except for the early church fathers who understood and read koine greek better than any scholar alive today, who believed (up until Augustine and Origen) in a literal millenium, literal man of sin, who had YET TO BE REVEALED in the 2nd century, so AD 70 is a bust.
Irenaeus was talking about a future antichrist way after 70 AD.
Revelation is not written to scholars, its written to guys in plain language. The story is easy to follow, Revelation 19 Jesus is seen returning destroying the armies of the beast, throwing the false prophet and the beast in to the lake of fire. Then the story continues (no chapters existed as you know) when satan is bound for a thousand years. After this he is let out to deceive the nations Gog and Magog into battle, at which point Jesus destroys them and the second resurrection occurs, THEN the new heaven and earth is created. ALL in order, no mystery, no allegory there. Plain read it believe it material.
I like the amillennialist view and understand it, no problem, I just dont like dispensationalists being talked down to everywhere these days. Dispensationalism is a very serious method of interpretation and they got bible commentaries too, they can go thru the Bible no problem.
Me personally I dont care if you are amill or dispensational, both can be my brothers and sisters in Christ. I only wrote what I did because of the "folk theology" comment, got me fired up. Sorry about that guys.