Hi Guys,
Thank you for the encouraging words :) I plan on talking with my Pastor in another week or so.
The thing about the Post-Trib viewpoint is that "what you believe about one thing effects what you believe about everything." It's just one domino falling but it causes a lot of other ones to fall.
For example, the Church Age doesn't exist anymore. Why? Because the Church Age (not a biblical term) is a timeframe that begins at Pentecost and ends at the beginning of the Trib. Once the Trib starts, one leaves the Church Age and enters the time of Jacob's Trouble (God goes back to dealing with the Jews, etc.). But this is just fiction. There is only one people of God throughout all ages. As Jesus said, One flock. (We Gentiles/Church are grafted into the same Vine that Abraham is a member of! cf. Romans and Ephesians)
And that is just for starters! LOL If you do away with the end parenthesis of the Church Age (that imaginary division between Church Age and Tribulation), then why not do away with the end parenthesis at the beginning of the Church Age? This was a tremendously freeing truth for me! I saw that the Hyperdispensationalist was wrong to separate the Gospels from the Epistles. Jesus said that "this gospel" (the one of the Gospels) must be preached in all the world before the end came! So, the Gospel of Jesus, Peter and Paul are all the same! What continuity! What simplicity! The Bible is a brand new Book to me!
For someone who used to be a Ruckmanite (and whose Pastor still is), this is an amazing revelation!
Shucks! I am even an undeclared non-cessationist (the gifts did not cease) simply because now I can't see any reason why they should have! Jesus sent out the 12 to preach the kingdom, cast out devils, and heal the sick. Then he sent out the 70 to do the same thing. Then he gave the Commission in Mark 16, which says the same thing. Oops! that would seem to apply to me...and that makes me a believer in miracles! LOL (In my pre-Baptist days, many years ago, I saw the Lord stop the rain at my request, heal people, etc...so this wasn't too big of a leap for me to make again.)
Do you see the problem? :D
My church teaches that Trib-saints (another unbiblical term) are saved by works plus faith (Ruckmanism...oh! what would Paul say!?) And the Post-Trib viewpoint takes GRACE ALONE right up to the Second Coming! That is a salvation issue! Trib-saints are saints by believing in Jesus!
Plus, my wife's family tend to believe the Baptist Brider stuff. They believe that ONLY local Baptist church members are the bride! When she got saved a few years ago, they encouraged her to get baptised ASAP so she would be a member of the Bride. Well, the Post-Trib view leads to oneness of God's people throughout all ages, which in turn leads to a universal body/church which meets in local assemblies. Christ birthed an organism not an institution!
Oh, yes. I want to be Pre-Trib again. I want to blend in with my conservative Baptist buddies, but I know too much.
As for being "wise as serpents," I've tried that. We have found that it just feels too hypocritical to not proclaim truth, to sit in silent agreement with the Pre-Trib preaching, etc. I guess I am too much of a preacher LOL
And, how in the world can I not preach on the Day of the LORD now? Jesus spoke more of hell than he did of heaven, but the Day of the Lord is mentioned many, many more times than hell! So why aren't the preachers preaching on it? Cuz they don't understand it! (They have eyes but see not, etc.)
I am so glad that some of you guys understand. At least there's the forum! :D
Til Jesus comes,
ChrisJ
I left pre-trib a few weeks ago, as well. The first day was a rough one, realizing what I'd been fed for so many years was not scriptural, but then I was relieved to know the truth!
all because you said that you no longer believe in pre-trib?
to you!
I fear for the souls of my Brothers and Sisters.
