Kick the Can

I hear what you are saying but the presentation they make of preaching the Gospel to all nations and the ends of the earth is still the same message: redeeming sacrifice of Christ for the remission of sins and that we are saved by grace through faith whether they gleaned it from the Gospel of Mark or 2 Corinthians. The message is the same. There are many churches I would not attend for other reasons but the slight difference in this matter is not one of them. We are told to share Jesus with a dying world.

I agree with Johanan, not wanting to strain at a spiritual gnat!

Being dogmatic in truth is honorable so long as it stays away from legalism!

TR

Well … here is a twist ….

Just watched a Barry Scarbrough youtube …  He gives a different take on the famous verse of Matthew 24:36 … he believes it has been misquoted for generations and has nothing to do with the rapture or 2nd coming.  Context is needed …

Matt 24 verses 35-36 are linked together …

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. :scratch:

He is linking it to ….II Peter 3 when the earth and heavens will be judged by fire  as a thief in the night ….

II Peter 3:

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
—————

And for the rapture …. he says there are plenty of references saying if we are watching we will know when the day and the hour will be ….

Warning To the Sardis Church (that have their heads in the sand and not watching)

Revelation 3:3  “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know [what hour ] 😉 I will come upon thee.”

Promise to the Philadelphia Church.
Revelation 3:10 “ Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”

Revelation 22:20-21
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
———————-

Hebrews 10:25  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  [what day?  The rapture]

I Thess 5:1- 9

1  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

- Fair Use -

So it looks like “the thief in the night” is for those who are not watching for the rapture AND its linked in for the judgment of  the destruction of the earth and heaven when it gets burned and the elements are melted with fervent heat.  Then restored with a new heaven and earth.

God authoritatively knows and we shall discern the times!  Because we bear His name thusly for His namesake we shall not be kept in ignorance!

TR