How come you CANNOT quote ANY verse that describes resurrected and raptured believers being taken to heaven?
Because you reject the ones that we have provided for you, which are very clear in their meaning.
How come you CANNOT quote ANY verse that describes resurrected and raptured believers being taken to heaven?
Hi Runningman,
You are correct in that, the word 'elect' is also used to describe individuals within the church. Below Paul is writing to the Colossians, which were Gentiles.
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. The word is also used of Israel.
I don't think it's true. It is true:
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He is restrained, he will be until that which restrains is taken awayWell, reading the first 2 chapters of Job reveals that God hardly bound him at all. In the first go, the only restriction on satan was that he couldn't "touch Job" physically.
In the second go, the only restriction was that satan couldn't kill Job. Not too much of a binding, as far as I can see. Satan took away EVERYTHING that was important to Job; his entire family except wife, and all his wealth. Then, rather than just kill Job, Satan gave him the most painful condition imaginable. And Job sure wished he was dead.
Yes, that is when Satan will be bound. When Christ returns and sets up His kingdom.
Did I say you said he was dead? Of coure he isn't dead. In fact, no angel can die. But all the fallen ones will end up in the "second death", for eternity.
I never said he was. However, the Bible says that satan deceive the whole world, and that he leads the whole world astray. That's not being bound.
Well paul did not say this s what will happen now does he?What's the prob. Of course Jesus meets the living believers in the clouds. And then continues to earth to set up His kingdom.
Just saying. And 2 Thess 2:12 proves a post trib gathering, which is what you call a rapture.
I have presented truth. Where is the "trump card" verse that describes Jesus taking resurrected and raptured believers up to heaven?That's not deflection. That is a valid contention. In fact you seem to use that card anytime the truth is presented.
I am using a word to create a visual, to help people understand the issue. The pretrib issue is that Jesus comes "in the clouds", resurrects the dead believers who accompanied HIm to the clouds, gathers up the living believers, which is a rapture, changes them, and then takes the whole bunch to heaven.Your contending about Jesus coming from heaven and then making a u-turn.
No, that would be a very small U-turn. And saying "the entire church being caught up" is quite absurd. By the time Jesus comes to resurrect all dead saints, and rapturing all living believers, regardless of when that occurs, it should be rather obvious that the VAST MAJORITY of the church will have already died and are already in heaven. Yes, they will be accompanying Jesus when He comes to resurrect and rapture all believers.But the bigger issue would be the entire church being caught up into the air to meet the Lord and then the entire group coming right back down, ergo, big u-turn.
Fine. Your view has a HUGE U-turn, while mine as a teeny tiny u-turn. If we're measuring by miles. Or light years. Take your pick.It has nothing to do with deflection. It is a comparison to your plain.
OK, use ad hominem when you don't have actual proof or evidence.Oh, I've proven it. You're simply not using any reasoning or logic to comprehend it.
Yes, they ARE clear about NOT describing Jesus taking any resurrected/raptured believers back up to heaven.I gave you the scriptures and they are crystal clear.
True, but doesn't prove anything about when the rapture occurs.Paul says our citizenship is in heaven and we await a Savior from there.
Exactly!! The Millennial kingdom begins when Jesus comes to earth to END the trib. And He brings with Him all the dead saints, and He gathers/raptures all the living believers. They will be reigning with Him, per Rev 20:5.That event must take place at some time before the millennial kingdom, because during that thousand yealreaars we will be ruling on this earth with the Lord in our immortal and glorified bodies.
OK. now, YOU pay attention! Are YOUR spsiritual sensors on?Ok, now pay attention! Are your spiritual sensors on?
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord."
This doesn't address the timing of the rapture.Regarding this, Paul said the following:
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
But the real question is: are YOU?Now pay attention!!!
Oh, I see. You are into gross conflation to create your point. At the point of the Second Advent, NO believer will EVER visit the 3rd heaven. So obviously our citizen really refers to the new earth and the New Jerusalem. Read Hebrews 11.Since we are going to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and our citizenship is in heaven, then that is exactly where we will be going, to heaven.
Your assumptions are inaccurate. Israel lived IN Egypt but missed all the wrath God places on Egypt.And since we are not appointed to suffer God's wrath, then the event of our being gathered must take place prior to said wrath.
lol. Jesus hadn't died yet when He spoke those words. And He DID "come back and welcomed them into His presence". Are you not aware that He could have been referring to the indwelling Holy Spirit who would come when Jesus ascended to heaven? All this fulfills what Jesus said in John 14:1-3.In addition to these two scriptures include John 14:1-3
"In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am."
It doesn't really take that much to put this information together. You almost seem to be defiant to admit to the truth.
The truth is 2 Thess 2:1-3, regarding WHEN the rapture occurs. Why are your eyes so tightly closed and your fingers digging deeply into your ears?It's just a simple matter of letting go of the information that you have adopted and open your eyes to the truth.
Yeah, there's your big U-turn. But why does it make sense WHEN there are NO rapture verses that describe what you guys keep claiming?Well, it makes sense that the Lord would come from heaven to gather us and then take us back.
That's just a diversion! I've done nothing but present scripture with my posts, as I always do.[/QUOT]
Presenting Scripture isn't the issue. Even satan quoted Scripture when he wa tempting Jesus. The issue is having verses that actually SAY what you claim. Which you HAVEN'T done yet.
Why haven't you shared it yet??And I don't have an "interpretation". I have an actual verse.
Fallacious defense. The "church" actually bookends the entire book.Regarding your rant above, please show me one place in scripture where the word 'Church' is used in Revelation throughout chapters 6 thru 18.
1:1-3
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
All of this was written to the "church". And ch 1-3 are directly TO 7 churches.
And this is how Revelation ends:
22:16 - “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
If you paid attention, you would see similar wording in ch 1 and 22:16.
So don't act like Revelation isn't FOR the churches. Just believe what Jesus said.
Just find a verse that describes Jesus taking all resurrected and raptured believers up to heaven, and you will have proven your view.
OK, then please quote just the one best verse that does describe Jesus taking resurrected and raptured believers up to heaven, and I will apologize for my error.Because you reject the ones that we have provided for you, which are very clear in their meaning.
OK, it seems you are not teachable.He is restrained, he will be until that which restrains is taken away
No, he tells us WHEN the Second Advent and rapture WILL occur in 2 Thess 2:1.Well paul did not say this s what will happen now does he?
2Thess 2:1 proves it is true.hence you can Not prove this is true
Of course I always agree to disagree. I sure can't force anyone to believe anything. And God doesn't force anyone to believe anything either.so I pray you are more humble as @ewq1938 and can learn to discuss and agree to disagree when we can not come to an agreement,
FreeGrace2 said:
How come you CANNOT quote ANY verse that describes resurrected and raptured believers being taken to heaven?
No such verse exists because they aren't going to heaven.
For those reading: The living saints at the end of the Great Tribulation are separated and are all over the globe at the second coming but Christ wants them all at one place so he has them raptured up into the clouds from where ever they were before that so now all the living saints are in one place in the clouds exactly where Christ is. This is a brief pause in the second coming process which will continue when all the saints are together. No one is raptured to heaven because that's not where Christ wants them.
Do you have Jesus returning twice?
Scriptures please.
YOU WILL LOSE THAT BET!
NO, it is not a RETURN, until HIS FEET TOUCH THE GROUND on Mount of OLIVES.
Zechariah 14:3-5 (TLB)
3 Then the Lord will go out fully armed for war, to fight against those nations.
4 That day his feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives, to the east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a very wide valley running from east to west, for half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south.
5 You will escape through that valley, for it will reach across to the city gate. Yes, you will escape as your people did long centuries ago from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and the Lord my God shall come, and all his saints and angels with him.
Is there a parallel for that in Revelation or elsewhere in the new testament? I ask because I've actually been looking for a while now and can't find anything that fits it neatly.
No, I won't because the rapture only takes people to the clouds of the Earth, not to heaven:
1Th_4:17 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.
See how I actually use a scripture that uses the Greek word for rapture to prove my argument? No mention of going up higher to heaven because that doesn't happen to the raptured saints. They actually will be the saints reigning on Earth in Revelation 5 and 20.

Is there a parallel for that in Revelation or elsewhere in the new testament? I ask because I've actually been looking for a while now and can't find anything that fits it neatly.
Or maybe your notOK, it seems you are not teachable.
Well I have scripture that says what I believe alsoNo, he tells us WHEN the Second Advent and rapture WILL occur in 2 Thess 2:1.
2Thess 2:1 proves it is true.
Of course I always agree to disagree. I sure can't force anyone to believe anything. And God doesn't force anyone to believe anything either.
But I have Scrpture that says what I believe. I haven't seen any verse describe Jesus taking resurrected/raptured believers to heaven.
Not to mention, paul says when we are ressurected, we will be with him in heaven, Not here on earthYOU WILL LOSE THAT BET!
Revelation 4:1 (NKJV)
1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
Revelation 4:4 (NKJV)
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Revelation 4:10-11 (NKJV)
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."
Revelation 5:11-12 (NKJV)
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"
Revelation 5:14 (NKJV)
14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
Revelation 6:9-11 (NKJV)
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Revelation 7:9-12 (NKJV)
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
Revelation 7:13-17 (NKJV)
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"
14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 11:7-12 (NCV)
7 When the two witnesses have finished telling their message, the beast that comes up from the bottomless pit will fight a war against them. He will defeat them and kill them.
8 The bodies of the two witnesses will lie in the street of the great city where the Lord was killed. This city is named Sodom and Egypt, which has a spiritual meaning.
9 Those from every race of people, tribe, language, and nation will look at the bodies of the two witnesses for three and one-half days, and they will refuse to bury them.
10 People who live on the earth will rejoice and be happy because these two are dead. They will send each other gifts, because these two prophets brought much suffering to those who live on the earth.
11 But after three and one-half days, God put the breath of life into the two prophets again. They stood on their feet, and everyone who saw them became very afraid.
12 Then the two prophets heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here!“ And they went up into heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.
Zechariah 14:5 (TLB)
5 You will escape through that valley, for it will reach across to the city gate. Yes, you will escape as your people did long centuries ago from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and the Lord my God shall come, and all his saints and angels with him.