I want to share something to help clear up any questions that young Christians or anyone that is doubting their worthiness to ascend in the rapture.

Friday night my wife my son and I went out to our pool for a late swim...we went out about 8:30 pm and my son stayed out there with us until about 10:30 pm.Rachel and I stayed out there until about 11:30....During that hour alone she started to cry and said she felt like God was going to leave her behind because she does not live a perfect,clean,spotless life.WOW!!
I wanted to know what she had been reading or listening to...She could not recall the exact site she was at but a few words were enough to cause her to doubt.

Now...I have read a couple of posts on here that speak this same message...And Hats off to the mods!!!You guys are on it quick along with many other members to set the record straight.Thank you!!I see how devastating and how much fear that a few words taken from our Bible can be when taken and spread out of context.

I want to clear this up for any lurkers,new Christians or anyone doubting....If you are saved,you are going!!Period!
We will not be perfected until we ascend but....When God the Father looks at us even today,He sees us as righteous because we are covered in Christ's blood.

I want to share something that I think sums this up....If you are struggling with doubt....Pray about this,ask for understanding then get your Bible and reread this passage....

John 15:3
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

John 15 verse 3 says you are already clean.Now, This whole chapter is talking about the fruit we produce as Christians....How if we remain in Christ we produce fruit, if we do not remain in Christ we will not produce fruit.It does not imply that you are lost.It says he who does not remain is "like" a branch that is thrown away and withers...The meaning here is,basically what a shame it will be to stand before God having done nothing for the kingdom.It has nothing to do with losing your salvation.Jesus said,"You are already clean"...You will go in the rapture

My wife and I had a good discussion and I cleared it up but the timing for all of this was perfect.The sky was full of stars and I told her to look up there...I asked her,already knowing she was saved,was she saved and she said ,"yes".Her next reply was,"What can God do with me?"I said if He hung all of those stars up there don't you think He has a grand plan for you?We talked about how we will realize our full potential and purpose after we are raptured and how glorious it will be.Work will not be drudgery anymore but a joy and pleasure!After a little more talk the issue was resolved
and she returned to her happy self.

My point is,If you read something on a site that does not sit well with your soul...discard it!!

People want use this passage to say that some Christians will not make it....another false doctrine and a lie!
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
These are unsaved people period.
To say that we have to live spotless lives is a "works" theology and works get you nothing.Works have no power to save and If you believe that works can save....Why did my Savior have to be nailed to a cross?Stop spreading this nonsense...My wife has been a Christian for years and a few words put her in despair.Once again mods...You all are greatly appreciated!!
Tony

Amen it is ashamed that some are trying to play Judge when they should be working out their own salvation with fear and trembling Amen Amen Amen!

Tony, you are such a blessing!
I'm so sorry your wife had to read what she did and feel that way. Praise God she has you as her husband to build her back up!
I can relate to how she felt. You may have read in other threads that I fell prey to this horrible lie myself. I still fall back into that every once in a while, but my family here pulls me back up.

And yes, sadly, there has been a few threads here the past few days that some have talked about this very same thing. I cringe and become heartsick when I read those lies here. I also give a huge THANK YOU to our Mods for being on top of this!

We are very close. The enemy is trying anything he can to keep us in despair these last earthly moments.

Nicole xo

Thank-you, Tony. Please give your sweet wife a hug for me. Can't wait to meet you both!

David, I love your response!
VERY true!

Nicole xo

Tony dear brother,

Well stated, simple, direct and with truth

Anything that spreads fear in the heart of Gods children is simply a lie from the devil, designed to trick and destory

Blessings to you and your wife mate!!

I agree whole heartedly with you Tony and everyone else. But keep in mind that these people who are "warning us" are doing it out of love for us, but also from a place of faulty theology. There are whole denominations that have taught this faith + works for a long time and their people haven't been exposed to a careful consideration of what that means. I think this site offers very effective theological surgery to expose the error and correct it with the Word of God. But let's be careful to not attack those who think they are being loving towards us, but rather to lovingly correct them and offer them hope.

Be as holy as you can be, but know that your entire price has already been paid in full. Everyone in Christ (those who have died in Christ and those who are alive in Christ) is going in the rapture. I just want the upgraded seat that comes with the shiny crowns. When I was a child, I sat in the back of the station wagon and played on all the trips. Now that I am grey headed and "mature", I call shotgun and am even willing to help navigate using the instructions He has provided us. But everyone in the front seat and the back seat are going to the same destination.

Hi TXThom, many thanks for your wisdom.

Rebecca

Thanks Tony!

So many try to make salvation seem so complicated, when in all reality,
it is so simplistic!
It is so sad that many that listen to this false interpretation of scriptures eventually give up...believing that they fall short.

I would like to meet all of these so-called perfect people!

Thank you all...Tx Thom...Wise words as always!!You are a great man of of God!I harbor no ill feelings and I do not hold on to anger....Rebecca is Saved,It was not on this site that she was reading....No worries and I just dont want anyone struggling with this when they don't have to.And I know that we are all going even if we do not agree...But....If I could break one thing it would be the bondage that this "works" mentality puts one under.You will live your whole life never measuring up and never realizing the joy that was meant for you.And that is satan's intent...He knows we are all saved but he can make this life a living hell if he can can keep a believer in bondage.AND the one that judges you harder than anyone else in a "works" mentality is yourself!You end up beating yourself up.
I love you all as brothers and sisters.
RITAN has become like family to me.
Tony

I wanted to really thank everyone on this forum for all the help and support. I'm especially thankful for members and mods clearing up the salvation issue where I was troubled and thought i could lose it. Thank you everyone so much, this place is very precious to me and I see it as a safe place to stay.

im bringing up and up in my mind all the time his promises just to keep myself assured and happy.

im looking forward to see what happens on this month of av from the 20th july to ? august. I won't be disheartened though if he doesn't return then because I know who I am in him.

Just wanted to add that I am so proud of all of you when you see such posts to lovingly present your case with Scripture to set that one free from the bonds of slavery they are laboring under. This works teaching has done so much harm in the church at large. It is fear based and those coming who are concerned and bound in this belief need releasing. Their promotion of this belief then creates fear in other's hearts unnecessarily as Tony has pointed out. Our God does not teach fear based beliefs. It then gets passed on to another like a young person or a new believer and creates this vicious cycle just as you'd expect satan to do. This is obviously a tactic of satan's when you see fear being pushed. That's why it needs to be confronted promptly so others aren't contaminated while trying to show the promoter he/she doesn't need to live like that...that Jesus came to set us free.

He's made it so simple people can't believe it's true. He calls us to come like children. So the plan has to be simple enough that a child can understand, accept and receive. Yet adults want to complicate it and make it difficult; unable to accept it's easily done. I affirm your ability to teach truth and lovingly confront one mistaken to correct false teachings these poor souls labor under.

I've watched so many here fight this stronghold that holds so many bound to untruth. We are so blessed to have this loving community able to challenge such ideas with Scripture to present the case and able to explain this position. There is no doubt members are growing and maturing, able to defend their stands on Christ and able to use Scripture to back up their presentation. And each has a gift of explaining just a little differently to convict any inquiring or mistaken from a variety of positions. I know Jesus is smiling when you do this for him. Well said Tony and all! Thanks you all for being blessed to be a blessing to so many. Well done good and faithful servants of the Lord!

Ice Princess 09 that's happened to me before. I've doubted my salvation and I've doubted going in the rapture. People put stuff that say there's Christians in Hell, there's few that's truely going up in the rapture. It's really had, in the past that is, a negative effect on me. I thought I wasn't good enough despite Jesus died for my sins. I worried I still may end up in Hell. I thought if there's few going up in the rapture and there's "really good" Christians who may not go up than there's no way I'll get taken. People really need to watch what they put on those youtube videos.I remember seeing a video that really effected me negativly (saying there's Christians in Hell). People if you're one of those who post such talk please pray about it,please take it down. You don't realize the negative effect, how much it hurts people. Such talk has hurt Tony's wife and it's hurt me (and whoever else out there). Satan uses it to really hurt believers and unbelievers. Believe me, I went through alot of fear after seeing a certain video. They're (the videos) doing more harm than good. There's people out there who probably get more fear from it than I did. Trust me you do not want to put one person through such a nightmare.

I had a sister in Christ online to talk to about it. But, what about those poor souls who don't have anyone to talk to about it?

They need to look at the log in their own eye before they judge thier brothern. There's good news though! Since, none of His children can face His wrath than that means no matter what we're outta hear once that trumpet is blown! I know I'm not good enough, but Jesus is and that's what matters.

You modeled yourself after Jesus, Tony. You made me long even more for my perfect Groom. Thank you for sharing this important message for salvation.

We are saved...By Grace Through Faith. (THANK YOU JESUS)

39 One of the criminals who was suspended kept up a railing at Him, saying, Are You not the Christ (the Messiah)? Rescue Yourself and us [[m]from death]!
40 But the other one reproved him, saying, Do you not even fear God, seeing you yourself are under the same sentence of condemnation and suffering the same penalty?
41 And we indeed suffer it justly, receiving the due reward of our actions; but this Man has done nothing out of the way [nothing [n]strange or eccentric or perverse or unreasonable].
42 Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come [o]in Your kingly glory!
43 And He answered him, Truly I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise. Luke 23

For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved. Romans 10:13

(Rest Your Soul...IN GOD'S LOVE...HE HIS OUR SALVATION)

Hi brother i re read your post I do believe as we watch for Jesus we should always work out our salvation with fear and trembling to be constantly repenting of anything we do wrong is a very good thing it makes our wedding clothes not have spot wrinkle or blemish The one church that will be saved from the hour of temptation as spoken in Revelation 3 is the Philedelphia church they are watching and waiting for their Lord they also has kept the word of his patience and smyrna the persecuted church will be raptured alive or rise with the dead in Christ All glory glory glory to God for our redemption draws nigh!

~~It is unsettling much of the time to read about these 'prophets' announcing to the CHURCH that: "The LORD Himself told me many members of the church will be left behind to endure the wrath of God".

A partial rapture of the church is false teaching. Unsettling as well is thinking God is angry with His Church ~~

Jesus isn't fretting or holding a sledge hammer over His true church, but holding us in His Hand of Grace and Mercy ~~ Oh, that we may understand the epistles our Lord stirred in the heart of His apostle Paul writing much about Grace ~~

We can't share or give away what we don't possess, huh, Scripture says the Spirit of Jesus Who is Perfect Love belongs to born-again, blood-washed believers. Fear and worry is of the enemy ~

~ Be encouraged, luvs, Jesus, the Creator shall not share His Glorious power~ . Our Lord is pleased when we are trusting God's Grace lest any should boast . . Being saved moves us with desire to 'please' our God. We shall know them by their fruits ~~ if we slip and fall, Abba is so ready to pick us up and encourage us along the Way ~

I'm SO glad we can help each other learn the great truths of the Gospel. When I first learned this, it blew my mind as well.

The Gospel itself also argues for a Pre-Trib Rapture.

The 7 year Trib is God's wrath upon the unrepentant earth.

Christ Himself bore ALL of God's wrath upon the cross. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

Therefore, those who are in Christ CANNOT feel God's wrath - period. Christ took it all! There is NONE left for you and me.

So this idea of Christians being purified by the Trib or not being holy enough for the Trib is bubkus. We know that we are pure and holy because HE is pure and holy. We are covered by His blood.

And if there's no more wrath to be suffered for Christians, we must be taken out of the way. The Trib is coming upon the WHOLE EARTH. Even if all the Christians trekked to the south pole, they would still be under the wrath of God.

He will not put us through "double jeopardy". This is the whole PURPOSE behind the Scriptures that say we were "purchased" by the blood of Christ. We are set aside for Him, HIS POSSESSION.

Saying we (or some) will go through the Trib is just another way of saying Christ's sacrifice wasn't sufficient enough to absorb all of God's wrath for the true Christian.

~~Becka

Gmarie,

Welcome to RITA Now.

Regarding the Laodicean church: Would you agree that someone can be a part of a church and still never have accepted Christ? We may not know their true spiritual condition, but surely God does.

Jesus said he was knocking at the door of the Laodicean church to see if anyone would open the door to Him. If they would, then He would come in and have fellowship with them. That indicates to me that the overwhelming majority of the people in this church did not have a relationship with the Lord, for His sheep hear His voice. Why should we be surprised that these nominal Christians would enter the Tribulation period? I can't see that they ever even belonged to Jesus. If there are any believers in the modern churches of Laodicea, they are being called to come out.

As for the foolish virgins, are you certain this is a "rapture" parable? This is a much debated parable, with people on various sides attempting to force the details to fit their favored interpretation. Remember that the bridegroom comes before the seven years begins and at the conclusion. Which coming is in view?

Below is an alternate view. What advantages does it offer?

It conforms to the Jewish customs for weddings at the time of Christ.

The five foolish virgins who are not prepared are also not the bride in the parable.

Jesus has not yet established the Church at that time and is speaking to Israel.

The context of the preceding discussion in chapter 24 is at the end of the Tribulation.

You may not agree with the interpretation below; at least consider it in the context of what the first hearers would have understood.

Fair Use For Education and Discussion Purposes

http://chriswillard.multiply.com/journal/item/627/Parable_of_the_ten_virgins_is_Jewish_?&show_interstitial=1&u=%2Fjournal%2Fitem

THE JEWISH WEDDING IS A PICTURE OF THESE NEW TESTAMENT TRUTHS:

1. Eph 1:4, God the Father chose us to be the bride of Christ.

2. Rom 10:9, Believe and confess with your mouth.

3. 2 Cor 1:22, The Holy Spirit is our "earnest" or "down payment" on our relationship to Christ.

4. 2 Cor 11:2, we are betrothed, or espoused to Christ, and He has gone to prepare a place for us (John 14:2&3). The Church Age is the betrothal period.

5. 1 Thess 4:16&17, The Rapture of the Church. We are removed from our "home" (earth) and taken to His "home" (heaven). Also see Rev 4:1 and an Old Testament picture in Isa 26:19-21.

6. The Tribulation martyrs and those who physically live through the Tribulation are the friends of the bride. They knew Church Age saints in person prior to the Rapture.

7. The Old Testament saints are the friends of the groom. Many of them knew Jesus in His earthly ministry.

8. The Bible even indicates that Jesus, the groom, has a "best man", John 3:27-30, John the Baptist will be the "best man".

9. The wedding guests are fitted with a robe, Rev 19:8. Our robe is the righteousness imputed to us by Christ. In Mat 22:11, we see a man without one.

10. The bride and groom consummate the marriage in the wedding chamber. The Church is already judged (2 Cor 5:10), rewarded (1 Cor 3:9-15), and declared to be married to Jesus in heaven (Rev 19:7-9), when the Church returns to earth with Jesus (Rev 19:11-16).

11. Israel is always pictured in the wedding illustrations as OUTSIDE the wedding chamber, waiting for the bride and groom to come out, and the celebration, or supper, to begin. Luke 12:36 is a good illustration.

Amazing! The duration and extravagance of the wedding celebration in the ancient world was only limited by the wealth of the groom’s father, and these parties were known to last for months in the time of Christ!

To me, this makes the Millennium a 1000 year wedding celebration given by our Heavenly Father, who owns everything, for His Son, Jesus, and we are the bride.

The Parable of the 10 Virgins

In Matt 25:1-13, immediately after Jesus answers questions about the Second Advent (That sets our CONTEXT), He says THEN, meaning at the Second Advent, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins. The virgins, according to custom, are waiting outside the wedding chamber. When the bride and groom came out of the wedding chamber, five of the virgins were wise and properly prepared and were admitted to the celebration. The other five were unwise, and not prepared and were refused entrance.

My interpretation of the parable of the 10 virgins is that they symbolize ALL of ISRAEL at the Second Advent, as they await the return of Jesus with His bride (the Church), from their heavenly wedding chamber. The 5 unwise virgins represent "religious" Israel, who trust in their own works, and are not "saved" and are refused entrance to the wedding celebration. The 5 wise virgins represent born again children of God, clothed with the righteousness of God, and they live into the Millennium. See Jer 3:12-19.

Concerning the issue some have made of the virgins' "lamp oil", notice in Matt 25:3, that the foolish virgins took NO oil with them. Oil in Scripture often symbolizes the Holy Spirit, and the 5 unwise virgins had none. They only had a temporary lamp in their hand, not real righteousness, but as Jesus often said to the Pharisees, they only had an external show of righteousness as whitewashed tombstones. The wise virgins, on the other hand, were fully prepared, took oil and a lamp with them, and were accepted into the kingdom.

Notice at the end of the chapter, Jesus speaks of His Second Advent and describes the rest of the human nations who physically live through the 7 year tribulation as "sheep" (saved) and "goats" (unsaved). The "sheep" inherit the Kingdom (Millennium, see Isa 2:1-4) and the "goats" go away into everlasting punishment.

The LITERAL interpretation, I believe, is that the 10 virgins represent the children of Israel, all over the world, at the Second Advent.

a. God’s Jewish children, true Israel, at the Second Advent, represented by the 5 wise virgins, will inherit the earth and be the ruling nation for the Millennium.

b. The 5 unwise virgins are the religious "Pharisee" types who expect to be accepted by God, on the basis of their own works.

c. The "sheep and goats" of Matt 25:31-46, represent the rest of the nations who physically live through the 7 year tribulation, and they are judged on how they treated the Jews during the Tribulation.

d. The "sheep" will be the "nations" of saved human beings who populate the earth in the prophetic Millennial passages of the Old Testament.

e. The "goats" are the unsaved people of the nations at the Second Advent who will "go away into everlasting punishment".

notice Matt 25 :14-29 Jesus calls the one cast into the outer darkness his servant this blows holes into that once saved always saved doctrine. we must repent when we do things wrong saved or not

Gmarie,I have to differ with you on this post....We are ALL called....Some will not answer....This is a fruit bearing passage.The servant that hid his talent bore no fruit and was never in the family of God.There are no holes blown in the once saved always saved doctrine of truth.
-the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

". . .by the righteousness of one THE FREE GIFT came upon all men unto justification of life." Romans 5:18
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38

". . .for he hath said, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

". . . and, lo, I am with you ALWAYS, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:20

"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. . . For by one offering he hath PERFECTED FOR EVER them that are sanctified." Hebrews 10:10,14 How could the Lord say such a bold statement if we had to earn or keep our salvation?

And the nail in the coffin as far as I am concerned....". . . him that cometh to me I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT." John 6:37

Salvation is a gift....It is not ours to lose.....
" NOT BY WORKS of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,. . ." Titus 3:5

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8,9
Pray about this...Please...Ask the Lord to reveal truth to you..
Peace to you!!,Tony

Gmarie,

I posted this link to explain "fear and trembling" on another topic.

http://www.gotquestions.org/fear-and-trembling.html

You did not comment upon it or discuss it; however, you quickly posted this:

http://raptureintheairnow.com/rita-main-discussion-forum/we-must-work-to-be-saved

I agree we are saved because of what Jesus did not by our works but If we are saved and accepted his grace and understand works is not the cause of our salvation - should we sin carelessly like some do I hope not we still need to repent when we do something wrong otherwise it is like taking his free gift of salvation through grace for granted we shall not take what he did on that cross for us for granted that would be wrong - We must all work out our own salvation with fear and trembling and not being careless with the world Blessings

This is a pre-tribulation website; that is its purpose. We do not debate that view.

http://raptureintheairnow.com/rita-main-discussion-forum/purpose-statement

≈ * ≈

This is a Pre-Tribulation Rapture forum, and all are welcome who share their love for our Beloved’s return as He promised. There is no debating on this forum about the rapture or denominational issues. We are here for one another in friendship, love, and prayer as we watch together for Jesus’ soon return.

≈ * ≈

I can respect your difference of opinion. However, we receive many new people who are disturbed by the prospect of not being good enough or worthy enough to be going with Jesus when He comes. There is no question that those who are not His will not be raptured. The issue is, once you introduce a works-based rather than faith-based standard, you never know if you have met that standard, thus inducing fear. We believe that fear causes discouragement, rather than motivation to seek God and serve Him.

I am totally pre tribulation rapture believer and no not here to debate just wanted to share what i believe and learned I guess Jesus will reveal all things bye all God bless you thanks for sharing

Matthew 20:9-12 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’"

Don't be a whiner when you think you have been "gooder" than other Christians who appear to be lax. God is generous and they will get the same wages as you. They will get raptured just like you. Stop being jealous of God's generosity.

.

"But we are all as unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6) If someone thinks that they can add onto their salvation with their own righteousness, they have been deceived. What Jesus did on the cross was enough, and I thank Him for that. If it were up to me, to obtain, and keep my salvation, I would be in some serious trouble. Thank you Jesus, that You won't lose any that the Father gave You. Thank You that them moment someone decides to follow You, they are secured, forever in You arms, never to leave, no matter what. I was just turning the pages of the Bible and saw this, "And it is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)

ybiC

Neko.