tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076218417451364964.post6888134824306344360..comments2023-10-09T09:11:20.120-05:00Comments on Tom Wolff's Blog: Why is the Pre-Tribulation View So Popular?tom wolffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15045360985467575407noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076218417451364964.post-20988992713212622962008-06-16T19:42:00.000-05:002008-06-16T19:42:00.000-05:00Thanks for the response... I know that non-believe...Thanks for the response... I know that non-believers spend a lot of time dwelling on the inconsistencies in the Bible. Cumulatively, they are indeed what make some of us wonder if the Bible isn't just a collection of ancient tales, bound up with a central narrative. <BR/><BR/>But the End Times prophecy issue stands out for me anyway. I mean... this is the Big One... If ANY of the prophecies need to EXACT, this is the one... Getting it right would be that big piece of evidence a lot of people need to convert. If the early events play out exactly as predicted, then it would stand to reason that so will the later ones. <BR/><BR/>Having multiple prophecies, even if only in the details, just leads to more opportunities to mistrust what we read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076218417451364964.post-57981340245269832642008-06-15T17:04:00.000-05:002008-06-15T17:04:00.000-05:00So Ed you ask why isn’t Bible prophecy clearer? A...So Ed you ask why isn’t Bible prophecy clearer? And because of this, you claim that you don’t trust the Bible.<BR/><BR/>On the topic of whether or not anyone should trust the Bible just because there are two main methods of interpreting the prophecies of Jesus’ return, let me say this is partly my fault. I like to bring up areas of disagreement in Christian views because I find them interesting. And I hope to bring clarity to help us understand why people believe what they believe. But allow me to show that the areas of agreement between the two views are minor compared with the areas where there is agreement:<BR/><BR/>Both end-times views agree on all of the following:<BR/><BR/>Mankind’s sinfulness, which is resulting in more and more people being hurt, is causing God’s anger to come to a boiling point;<BR/><BR/>Jesus the Messiah will return one day to set the world back in order – where the Elect will be rewarded, and the unbelieving will be judged;<BR/><BR/>There will be increasing signs of God’s anger expressed through natural catastrophes; what is described as ‘evil’ in the Bible will grow, and cause difficulty / tribulation for the Elect;<BR/><BR/>Satan will be released to deceive the nations, and to cause apostasy, where there will be many who abandon their Christian faith;<BR/><BR/>There will be a resurrection of all the dead who will face judgment along with those living at Jesus’ return;<BR/><BR/>The only way to escape God’s judgment is through unmerited receipt of God’s Grace, through belief in the sacrifice made by Jesus on the Cross in full payment of the world’s sins, and repentance.<BR/><BR/>And so, the two areas of disagreement I have brought, being at what point will the Elect will be caught up to meet Jesus, and whether or not the 1,000 year Millennium is a future time period, seem to me to be very minor compared with the much more important areas in which there is agreement. Especially, the agreement that there will be a Judgment Day, and that salvation through God’s grace alone, through faith in Jesus alone, and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). So yes, I believe the Bible is clear on the majors, with room for disagreement on the minors. That is what makes the Bible the great Book that it is, worth spending a lifetime to study.tom wolffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15045360985467575407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076218417451364964.post-67902580423291086372008-06-12T14:51:00.000-05:002008-06-12T14:51:00.000-05:00Shouldn't the real question not be about which of ...Shouldn't the real question not be about which of two paths of prophecy is correct, but about why are there two paths at all?<BR/><BR/>Why isn't the Bible more clear? It IS a rather important subject after all...<BR/><BR/>It is these inconsistencies which cause us non-believers to lump the Bible in with any other major religious text. <BR/><BR/>I mean no disrespect by this, but can you understand why we on the outside have trouble seeing why Christianity should be thought of any differently than religions commonly thought to be myth-based? Or why smaller, simpler religions like Wicca or Gaia worship have just as much, if not more appeal to millions of people worldwide?<BR/><BR/>Sorry to go off-topic with the followup paragraphs... The original question still stands, though... Why isn't prophecy more clear?<BR/>Thanks,<BR/>~E~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076218417451364964.post-78033594093964803842008-06-09T07:15:00.000-05:002008-06-09T07:15:00.000-05:00Thank you Patricia Burns for your additions. I am...Thank you Patricia Burns for your additions. I am impressed by those who are able to bring together what is described in Revelation with other parts of the New Testament, like the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24/Mark 13/Luke 21).tom wolffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15045360985467575407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8076218417451364964.post-89958507767414374432008-06-09T06:34:00.000-05:002008-06-09T06:34:00.000-05:00The tribulation occurs PRIOR TO the Seventh TRUMPE...The tribulation occurs PRIOR TO the Seventh TRUMPET (1 Cor.15:52, Re.10:7, 1 Thess.4:16-17).<BR/><BR/>The tribulation occurs between the Sixth SEAL (Re.6:12-17) and the Seventh TRUMPET.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Patricia © Bible Prophecy on the Web<BR/>Author of the self-study aid, The Book of Revelation Explained © 1982Bible Prophecy on the Webhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03541821479915378677noreply@blogger.com