Christ First Forum

[iI think we are 'all' in agreement with the doctrine of Rapture before the Tribulation.

I just wanted to share why I personally believe this.....

The Work of the HS from Adam and Eve's Fall to Noah's Flood:

The work of the HS during this age seems to have been to 'strive' with men through their conscience to live better lives, for we read in Gen. 6:3

And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always STRIVE with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.

That is He would bear with them for 120 years longer,and if they did not repent and turn to Him, He would send the flood.

We see the Ages from the Flood to the Birth of Jesus

We see the HS came upon individual men and women and filled them for some special service or specific work.
1. Balaam (Num. 24:2-9)
2. Samson (Judges 13:24-25)
3. King Saul (1 Sam. 10:6-13)

The HS came upon these men, not because these men were good men, but for a special service.

Except for Joseph, Joshua,and Daniel where the HS did not abide on men for any length of time during this Age, but came and went, as, in the case of Samson.

Soooo.... the work of the HS in the OT was that of the GOD THE FATHER, the Mill will be that of the SON,and the Church is the HS.

Jesus said to His Disciples--'It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away the COMFORTER (HS) WILL NOT COME UNTO YOU; but if I depart, I will SEND HIM unto you. John 16:7

This clearly teaches the HS is a PERSON and that He and Jesus CANNOT BOTH RESIDE AT THE SAME TIME ON THE EARTH..

The HS has a specific work in the Church Age: to form the Church which we are BAPTIZED BY THE HS. 1 Cor. 12:13,27

The HS took up His residence on the earth at Pentecost found in Acts 2:1-4,and will remain on the earth until the Church is complete and then HE WILL ESCORT IT TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR AT THE RAPTURE.

You see the HS took up residence in the Church.

Remember Paul wrote to the Corinth Church: What! Know ye not your BODY is the TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST!

Jesus said--Lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE AGE that is, the end of this Church Age.

Now the idea is, not that Jesus Himself IN PERSON will be with us in the Church Age, for He cannot leave His High Priestly duties at the Right Hand of God, but that He will be with us in the Person of the HS.

For when Jesus said I will be with you meant I the Godhead which is represented on the earth whenever one of its members is resident on the earth, as it was represented in Jesus when He was on the earth and is now represent by the HS found in John 1:14 and 1 Tim. 3:16.

The HS convicts the world of judgment.

When was Satan judged?

In the Garden (Gen. 3:15),and on the cross.

Satan is the author of DEATH.

To overcome the work of Satan it was necessary for Jesus to die on the Cross, and by rising from the dead to ABOLISH DEATH. 2 Tim. 1:10

The purpose of Christ's death then was --that THROUGH DEATH He might DESTROY HIM THAT HATH THE POWER OF DEATH.

That is, the Devil.

I believe the HS hinder Satans in his efforts upon this earth,and to produce His masterpiece, the Man of Sin.

Hereby know ye the SPIRIT OF GOD (HS): every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is NOT OF GOD: and this is the SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the World. 1 John 4:2-3

Here we have two opposing Spirits, one of the SPIRIT OF GOD and the other the SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST.

The SPIRIT OF GOD OR THE HS must therefore be the RESTRAINER who keeps Satan from producing his 'Man of Sin.

As we have seen the HS who came at Pentecost to form the Body of Christ the Church, will, when the Church is complete and caught out, return with the Church to Heaven.

This will leave the world without the presence of the HS,and as no man be can 'born again.'

John 3:3
JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID TO HIM, MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS ONE IS BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

John 5-7
JESUS ANSWERED, MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS ONE IS BORN OF WATER(Repent and be regenerated) AND THE SPIRIT, HE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH, AND THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT

DO NOT MARVEL THAT I SAID TO YOU, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

THEREFORE I MAKE KNOWN TO YOU THAT NO ONE SPEAKING BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD CALLS JESUS ACCURSED, AND NO ONE CAN SAY THAT JESUS IS LORD EXCEPT BY THE HS. 1 Cor. 12:3

You can see the world will be in a bad plight.

As the 'Salt' of 'Pure Christianity' will have been removed from the earth, the earth's moral rottenness will rapidly develop into such a state of putrefaction that only the RETURN OF THE LORD can stop it.

Between the Rapture and the Revelation, a great multitude shall be saved found in Rev. 7:9-17

Now one has to ask themselves HOW this great multitude will be saved if the HS is no longer resident on the earth?

I totally believe they will be saved as in the OT Sants were saved, by the HS coming to individuals and regenerating them.

Will it be by Faith? Yes

Will it be by Grace? Yes][/i]

Hi Jeani, You know I respectfully disagree and will post why. I agree that the work of the Holy Spirit was different before Pentecost and before the church, but what I disagree with is that people are teaching that the Holy Spirit will no longer indwell the believer after the Rapture. For one thing this changes the Doctrine of salvation. Salvation for all believers after Pentecost will never change regardless of the time and place.

1. How is one saved?
2. Must one be born again in order to see the kingdom of heaven. Or to be saved.
3. What other scriptures declare another way to be saved? Is there one for Tribulation Saints other then New Testament Saints and if so, What are they?

I am only asking this to get ones mind on the Doctrine of Salvation.