The Bible also says that we are the “temple” in which God dwells. If we are the temple, then why do we call a building “the church”?
There is disagreement of when the “Rapture” will begin. I think we should be prepared for any situation. We already see minor persecutions of God’s people; “Christians”. This will not get better. Whether we will have to endure “tribulation” is irrelevant. To be a Christian you must endure whatever being a Christian includes. If this is persecution, so be it. If we are ruptured before tribulation, praise God! But what if God has other plans.
We found it hard to believe that a maniac like Hitler would become the power that he was. But he did and he persecuted God’s people; the Jews. As Christians, can we reject the possibility of another holocaust for Christians? Being ready means “being ready” for anything.
I once heard a missionary to China speak at a church in South Carolina. You will find his statement surprising. He said that his prayer for the American Christian was for persecution. He said that persecution in China has made the Chinese Christian stronger. I also know personally some Christians from other countries who, upon becoming Christian were dis-owned by their families. And we think it’s horrible because we can’t wear a cross or display the ten commandments or a nativity scene. You haven’t seen anything yet.
I was raised with a belief in pre-tribulation rapture. I pray this will be true. However, God does what God wants. If we must endure tribulation, what will we do. Will we think that God abandoned us? Will we think the Bible was wrong, our denomination was wrong? Being a good Christian is to be dedicated to serve Christ and endure whatever comes.
It did no good for Job to complain about his trials. They came anyway. Job knew the only thing he could do was to continue to serve God, no matter what.
If we stopped questioning God and trying to figure out His Word and just accepted Him for who He is and what He says. What He says will happen. Whether we like it or not.
The church has already suffered for trying to preach against ALL sins listed in the Bible. Some of those sins cannot be preached about because some consider it condemning. Sin is condemnin! Sin condemns you to Hell! If we don’t preach against it and just allow sin to continue, we are actually committing “spiritual murder”.
We are commanded to go into all the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Son of God, crucified for our sins and resurrected from the grave. If we do not preach against sin, we are violating a commandment from God.
The church of just 100 years ago would be aghast at what the church today has become. We divide ourselves because of petty dis-agreements. We should unite ourselves in Christ. These divisions serve Satan. (Divide and conquer).
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