Be A Berean

Before I get started in this study, there are a few points I want to make. If you've read many of the other studies, you may already have heard me make some of these statements, if you have not then please be sure to read this.  I have a mind set when it comes to the Bible and Gods word, and I don't take it lightly, I take Gods word very seriously.  Please by all means, hold your pastors teachings up to the light of scripture, and by the same token hold what you read here up to scripture.  Weigh it carefully and pray about it.

Acts 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Paul spoke highly of those in Berea because they took the word of God seriously, and were eager to learn more. Not only were they eager to go to church and listen and absorb all that was said, they then went home or to small groups and scrutinized what they heard to see if it held up to scripture.

Without revisiting my studies, (you can read all of them if you like), let's sum up from the beginning.  In Genesis 3, Eve fell and led Adam to fall because the serpent was able to make her question Gods word right from the beginning with the statement, "Surely you will not die". Questioning Gods word is the first step to falling away from God.  If God said it, believe it!

That leads us to creation.  In my Genesis chapter 1 study we revisit creation.  I used to be an evolutionists which, as it did with Eve, lead me to fall away from God because God was no longer who I had grown up to think He was.  I later came to realize complexities that evolution and science combined just cannot give a satisfactory answer to.  Some churches are trying to hold hands with science in saying that the days of creation were prolonged periods of time, yet they accept that God created all the matter of the universe.  Please give this some serious thought, if God had that kind of power, why would He have to utilize such a time frame and chaos?  If He can create all the matter of the universe, He is going to create exactly what He has in mind, and it would be much simpler than creating the huge mass and waiting or manipulating it into conformity.  Lastly, If I have questions about science and some man who was not here during creation says it couldn't happen, then we come to a complex decision to make.  Believe what man tells me or believe what God tells me.  This should be a no brainer, but your decision will set a path in front of you whether you think it will or not.  You can believe in the scientific aspect and tell yourself it will not change your faith in God, but if and when you come to the full realization that no matter what science and man says, God created everything in six literal days, God begins to take a different influence in your life, and your path does change for the better.

Pre or post tribulation rapture... I believe there is far too much time spent on this topic by a lot of ministers, but it is very important and crucial.  We have the current interpretations of a pre tribulation rapture because there have been ministers who have dedicated their life to proving that scripture supports a pre tribulation rapture.  This is a very dangerous thing, and so is the pre tribulation rapture.  If you predetermine what you want the Bible to say, and spend your life searching the proof that it is there, you will find it.  The Pharisees, in spite of literal scripture pointing out the first coming of Christ to being beaten and killed for our sins, they ignored the literal writings of God to accept only that which they wanted to believe, and that is a King who was going to come to save them from the Romans, just like we want to be saved from the Tribulation, even though the scripture points out repeatedly that Jesus return and collection of His people is going to be at the end of the tribulation.  I have read a lot of pre tribulation proofs, and they are all based on suppositions and lack of better explanations like, Where did these people come from if not a pre tribulation, or the interpretation of a great hope being translated into pre tribulation rapture, even John being called up to heaven in the spirit has been used as evidence of our rapture before the tribulation, (give that one some thought, He was called so he could prophecy to us, how does this even indicate a rapture, much less specify right before the tribulation), but what it really comes down to is, pre tribulation rapture is not really mentioned in the Bible.  One ministers point is, the return of Christ without the mention of the rapture at that point means it must have already occurred.  His point made was, this would be an important event so why is it not mentioned.  He is right, the rapture is an important point, so if it were to occur before the tribulation, why does the Bible not literally say, before the great tribulation I will remove my church?  Instead of Jesus saying, you will be handed up for persecution and put to death, you will be hated by the nations, Paul in his letters to the Corinthians and the Thessalonians mentions at the sound of the last trump, etc.  If you want to study this further, I have done several pages on the post tribulation rapture and included very specific verses which literally tell us when we will be taken up, and not one of them indicates we will be taken up before the end  of the tribulation, nor have I seen any solid evidence presented by anyone that the rapture will occur before hand. When I get to Revelation in this study, you will see where the tribulation begins and you will see where the saints in heaven come from.

These points are very important, If you throw away the rapture and believe you will be here when the tribulation begins, it will first scare you, then it will shake your faith, then you will find a strength you never knew you had.  Remember the ten virgins, 5 were prepared for the long wait in case the bridegroom did not show up before the dark hours, the 5 foolish virgins did not come prepared because they were convinced they would not be waiting in the dark hours, but the Bridegroom tarries....  Who is the Bridegroom? (Jesus for those of you who do not know this).  What exactly is He telling us for today?

With all this having been said, to summarize, believe what God says, not what man says.  Read it for yourself, this life is short, if you want an eternity that really matters, then dig in like it really matters...  Dano 5/3/06