Paul's Passing Thoughts

I am a shameless believer in the Rapture, and I believe the insistence by Churchians that Christians will live through the Rapture comes from a justification by works mentality. On the one hand, the church moans and whines about how we are all broken and must escape to Jesus daily, but believing that Christians will be raptured to heaven before the Tribulation period is “escapism.” And so it goes, just another example of church cognitive dissonance.

And don’t you know, God supposedly plays word games. The Rapture isn’t imminent because Christ said we don’t know the “day or the hour,” but apparently, we can know the seven-year time frame. Nope, whether you are mid-trib or post-trib, the day can be pinpointed with the information stated in the Bible.

Regarding earthquakes, wars and rumors of wars, and other present-day events, they have NOTHING to do with the Tribulation period. Nothing. What’s the difference? These events that take place during the Tribulation will trouble the whole world. Jesus said these events will be the beginning of real labor. In nursing, false labor and real labor are easily distinguished. During the Tribulation period, most of the world will know it is real labor, and that it will soon intensify.

We are not going to see a gradual increase in worldly woes because we are supposedly in the Tribulation period already or in real labor. Christ made it clear, his return will be like a thief coming in the night. And that return is obviously not his visible second coming at the end of the Tribulation period. There will be big picture signs that we are closer (eg, Israel becoming a state again), but we know that the passing of every day brings us closer as well.

This post is about another big picture event, if it happens. The new Trump administration is talking about ushering in a new “Golden Age” for America, and subsequently, the world. If this does occur because governments will no longer be obstructing individual creativity and upward mobility, this would be a big picture event that could be a prerequisite to the Rapture.

The Bible is also clear on the following point: the world will be enjoying peace and prosperity never before experienced and the Tribulation period will happen suddenly, and panic the world at large. There are many passages that could be cited to make this point, but the apostle Paul said that during a time when Israel lives in peace and safety, “sudden” destruction will come upon them. If America does occupy Gaza, virtually making the most powerful country in the world Israel’s next door neighbor, Isreal would certainly be living in peace.

Oh please, just stop it, I am not saying Trump is the Anti-Christ, but with that said, it will be someone like Trump who is a no nonsense problem solver. More than likely, the Trump doctrine is setting the stage for someone else who is coming later.

The main point of this post follows: the next big picture event before the Rapture is a golden age. And be careful, that does not speak to the population’s moral standing. While crime may be at an all-time low because of governmental restraint, biblical love will be scraping the bottom of the pickle barrel.

paul