Hi

early missionaries of the past believe that Christ would be coming in their time and so they went out with full fervour to preach the Gospel.

today, we also say christ is coming in our time.

Both centuries held to the same beliefs. How was this hope maintained all through the years?

charity

hmm.. i think that would have to be the urging of the HS, working and stirring up hearts and filling us with passion and fervour to preach the gospel as we senses the coming of time. It couldn't have been the work of man as it would not have sustained.

On our part, all we can do is hold on to the words of Jesus that we know not the times, the hour, but to go forth and make Him known.

Hi Angeline,
Sounds like we are back to the course on the Church and The last Things-eh? Thank you for the refreshing outlines from your article. Very well done! Just to add in, dispensationist believed in Pre-Trib pre-Millenial because they believed Rev.19 and 20 are continuious of the description of the events unfolded. Well, what do you think than as an AG member, whether our generation AG churches seriuosly hold to this belief or whether some may have actually shifted to Post-Tri but still Pre-Millenial? Your opinion please?

in the post modern culture, we kinda restrain from speaking too much in our sermons or youth teachings. No longer like the early days where missionaries kept emphasizing the urgency strongly. For us, maybe we fear the response of this post modern generation. Or most probably even if we do speak strongly on this subject a post modernist would not really bother much....

how then can we communicate the urgency to the generation of our time?

Hi Angeline,
Liked your article:)
Easy to read, easy to understand.
As I perceived from your article, do you actually hold on to a particular doctrine personally? pre, mid or post-trib? Or is not important at all?Explain your reasons for doing so:)I'll be benefited from comments!

How did the verses quoted go to really back us up? As in how do the scriptures back our belief in the pre-trib?

How would you defend your sand against someone who believes that it is already in the middle of the tribulation?

Hi Angeline,
Still waiting for your reply... Just to post you another question. Do you think our younger generation really bother about this Pre-Trib Pre-Milennial thing? Why i asked is because my own church youth shown no interest or excitement even after listening to the eschatology teachings.

Hi Angeline,

Which do you think is safer to hold on to, Pre-trib or post-trib? What if one hold on to pre-trib and it doesn't happen, will one then be prepared to suffer the tribulation since he wouldn't be expectiing it?

There are different Scriptures quoted to back all the different views be it pre, mid or post tribulation as well as pre, post and Amillennialism. Each have their own Scriptures that people use to back their stand. My question is, do you really agree and hold on to the pre-trib and Pre-Millennial stand, as with the AG, or do you have your own set of beliefs and stand? If so, why?

Freddie
Hey! I’ve not attended church and last things class leh =)
I’m just wondering why is it that you say that we are shifting to the post-trib view yah?
It’s true that we are ’on our toes’ watching the signs of the tribulation – the advancement of technology – moving towards the mark of the beast. We are experiencing natural disasters like never before, the collapse of economy and the political uproar and unsettlement all over the world – all signs of the 2nd coming of Christ. I don’t think watching the signs mean we are preparing to face the ‘x’ number of years of tribulation, then the glorified coming of Christ. But I do suppose that in the case of us needing to face tribulation first then the Christs’ millennial reign, we ought to make sure we are not caught off-guard lah =)

Charity & Freddie
I think in the past, the bombarding of the 2nd coming of Christ and end times – was to cause the urgency to be saved in the individual whereas now, is to stir up urgency to get other souls saved. This is the shift that has occurred. The urgency to get others saved is the urgency that is lost.
We need to know what are the matters that the post-mod generation are concerned of. One of the things I would say is even though we are getting more and more individualistic, we treasure the buddy-buddy community as well – so we need to know how to tap into that – stir the urgency if they want to see their loved ones and buddies saved? Cause them to think ‘do I really care for this person?’ if I am, it’s time I do something about it because time is running up. No point in harping into them the urgency to save souls when it doesn’t mean anything to them. Just my thought. Seems like a better angle to take than to smack them left, right and center with end time urgency. Let me know if u have a different approach or opinion =)

kenrick
Thanks. I think I like it too. Haha.
If someone were to ask me which point of view I hold, I wont say it is something I would argue for but I do wish, hope, pray that the pre-trib is true. Cos the thought of tribulation is scary – and we can so to say never guarantee that we will certainly be strong and steady enough to withstand the persecutions. I personally feel that the important point at the end of it all, is that Christ is coming again SOON! So, let us focus on doing all that we can while we are still present on earth – and be prepared to keep the faith in whatever persecution that may come our way (be it prior to the start of tribulation or during the period of tribulation).

Jase
Lol. So it is safer to hold on to the post-trib so that in the event it is pre-trib it will be like a bonus? Hehe. I suppose if one sees it that way. But yeah As I replied the comments, the thought did occur to me ler. How are we answerable if indeed it is post-trib and not pre-trib as we the AG hold it to be…
I belief then that as future ministers, the thing that we need to instill in our members is that in any event, to remain steadfast in the Lord, not fall prey to the enemy – all these are not only applicable only in tribulation time but also now. They are basic principles which we need to keep and work on while before the rapture. And pray that in the event the rapture is mid or post-trib, we are prepared to rally on together.
I think the main issue is how are we living our lives now – regardless of the pre, mid or post-trib. Our main focus should not be to live well enough just to escape tribulation but should be to remain in Christ at any time and in preparation of Christ’s coming. If we are living so, all the more we should be on our toes to remain faithful in the faith.

bryan
perhaps by now we can all tell that it doesn’t really matter to me whether or not it is the pre, mid or post-trib; or pre, post or amillennialism but that Christ is coming and that we ought to be prepared for whatever may come. I’m holding on to the pre-trib because I’d like to think God as gracious to not let His faithful ones go through the crazy process of tribulation =p just a personal opinion ler.

Lionel
Hmm… The scriptures give us the assurance that Christ is coming again for His bride and will reign for the 1000 yrs. Let me read Rev. to find scriptural backings on why we believe it is pre-trib =) dah lupa ler..
Um… for your 2nd question, well, I will go along the lines that I believe in the pre-trib view and that the current situation doesn’t seem to yet show it is that bad. I don’t see the need to fight to say that we are not in the midst of tribulation because irregardless, persecution will come (in that person’s case, has come) and the important thing is how we respond in the midst of tribulation or in preparation for what is ahead. I would tell the person, if you think that this is already the middle of it, there’s still more to come and perhaps a long way more to go. So be prepared! Hehe.

I invite everyone to visit the "Powered by Christ Ministries" site and read "Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty." Lots of other good articles on the same site also.

Hi Angeline,

You mentioned that one of your scriptural supports for your pre trib view was in 1 Corinthians 15: 51,52. Well I'd like to point out that scripture says that we will be changed "at the last trumpet". Comparing that with Rev.10:7 we see that the last of the 7 trumpets (which are judgements on the world) is when the mystery of God is complete. This seems to indicate that the rapture is after the great tribulation. What are your tots on that.

Thanks:)

Samuel

Perhaps we need to find out 'what is this mystery of God that will be completed?

Because, if you go on reading, chapter 11 tells us about the 7th trumpet (which i think is the one mentioned in chapter 10) and when u read further on in chap. 12, we have the woman & the dragon, the beasts appearing (the beginnings os the tribulation perhaps?) and fast forward, chapter 15, on the 7 angels with the 7 plagues, chapter 16 on the 7 bowls of God's wrath (the judgments)...

so if we take this in chronological order... then Rev. 10:7 doesn't pose any threat to being post-trib right?

Maybe the mystery that will be completed is the rapture? hmm.. what say you? and others of course! =)

lionel
what say u too? if we look at Revelations in this manner to back up our belief in the pre-trib?