The Rapture of the Church

[James F.]

I have believed in the Rapture up until a few months ago. I definately do not believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture anymore. I have heard continuous debate concerning the Rapture. Is it really that bad if people believe it in? How do we know for certain that there will not be a Pre-Tribulation Rapture? I mean, I've heard that the Orthodox Catholic Church doesn't believe in it.
By the way, I'm not asking all these questions to challange anyone; I'm just very curious and interested in Orthodoxy.

[Mary]

Hi James.

How long have you been looking into Orthodoxy? I never would've looked into it if friends of ours hadn't. Anyway, I thought I'd mention some really good resources that I've found. There are tons of articles online, and I suppose you'll find them as you need them. The one that I'd like to make particular mention of is "Our Life in Christ" - a radio talk show hosted by two guys. They have all of their shows in mp3 format on their website, which you can download and listen to for free.

Here's their website:

http://www.ourlifeinchrist.com

And here's one with a lot of good articles:

http://www.fatheralexander.org/page6.htm

Hope this helps.

Mary.

[James F.]

Hi James.

How long have you been looking into Orthodoxy? I never would've looked into it if friends of ours hadn't. Anyway, I thought I'd mention some really good resources that I've found. There are tons of articles online, and I suppose you'll find them as you need them. The one that I'd like to make particular mention of is "Our Life in Christ" - a radio talk show hosted by two guys. They have all of their shows in mp3 format on their website, which you can download and listen to for free.

Here's their website:

http://www.ourlifeinchrist.com

And here's one with a lot of good articles:

http://www.fatheralexander.org/page6.htm

Hope this helps.

Mary.

I've been looking into Orthodoxy for about two weeks. My sister suggested that we try a Catholic Church and she looked up some information on it. Then, she decreased in her interested and I got very interested in it. Whenever I'm online, I'm looking up information. I think it's very cool. I hope to become Orthodox, infact. I have already been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity in a baptist Church. From what I've been told, I only have to be Chrismated when/if I join. If you don't mind my asking, why did you join the Orthodox Church? Thanks for the websites.

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear James and others,

I've moved this thread, which is in part a casual discussion on enquiry into Orthodoxy, into the appropriate area.

For discussion of rapture theology proper, please pay a visit to our Rapture thread (http://www.monachos.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1630), which already has some fine posts on the question - with plenty of room for more.

INXC, Matthew

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

For discussion of rapture theology proper, please pay a visit to our Rapture thread (http://www.monachos.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1630), which already has some fine posts on the question - with plenty of room for more.

INXC, Matthew

I thought this thread had already been 'taken up'. ;)

[M.C. Steenberg]

I thought this thread had already been 'taken up'. ;)
Oy... should have seen that one coming with premillenarian certitude.

INXC, Matthew

[Mary]

If you don't mind my asking, why did you join the Orthodox Church? Thanks for the websites.

Actually, I didn't want to. It took me by surprise. I was happy where I was and I wasnt' interested in joining anything new. Two of my husband's friends had become orthodox - the one was baptised 6 yrs ago, and the other friend & his family where Christmated 3 yrs ago.

When we met them about 4 yrs ago, we just spoke of the 'Bare Essentials' of christianity, and I was satisfied to learn that Orthodoxy isn't a cult. I wasn't interested in the details, I assumed it was the style of worship that they liked and I didn't care for that.

So, when I started asking questions about 9 months back, it was just out of curiosity. I still thought of the orthodox church as 'just another denomination'. As I learned about the practices of fasting and prayer, etc. I thought those were really cool things to do and thought I'd add them to my life. Coming from a conservative Evangelical background, I found that I didn't really have that many problems with what the orthodox believed & taught. The major issues where praying to the Saints, Salvation, liturgical worship, the authority of the Church and Tradition.

Took about 3 months for all that to make sense to me, but logic wasn't enough to convince me of the 'True Church' thing. I wasn't expecting to face any problems 'doing what the orthodox do' while attending a protestant church. But I did. And I realized that to be able to live it, I needed the Church. Why would something work within the Orthodox church and not a protestant church? You'll have to answer that for yourself. :)

The cleverest arguements can't convince anyone of anything. Only God can convince/convict anyone of the Truth. So, my husband & I were baptised 2 weeks ago, and our kids will be baptised this Saturday. I had been baptised before but in many ways, I felt like I was becoming a Christian for the first time in my life, so I wanted to get baptised again. That's my story. :)

Glad you're asking questions.

Take care.
Mary.

[Marcos G.]

I have believed in the Rapture up until a few months ago. I definately do not believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture anymore. I have heard continuous debate concerning the Rapture. Is it really that bad if people believe it in? How do we know for certain that there will not be a Pre-Tribulation Rapture? I mean, I've heard that the Orthodox Catholic Church doesn't believe in it.
By the way, I'm not asking all these questions to challange anyone; I'm just very curious and interested in Orthodoxy.

James, I just sent you a private message. I'm saying this so you'll recognize I am the same one (Marc).

Are you ready for some very good, but tedious, reading? May I tell you that I know this topic very well and have read many volumes on it. I always suspected this subject as one being read through a systemitized screen that imposed it on the Scriptures rather than a doctrine clearly taught in Scripture.

I would like to recommend a book to you that you can obtain easily enough from a local Orthodox parish (the one I mention to you in my email). This author is very familiar with all the angles and history of "Dispensationalism" and the Rapture of the Church teaching. Here is the name of the book.

"A Second Look at the Second Coming, Sorting Through the Speculations" by T.L. Frazier, publisher is Conciliar Press (1-800-967-7377). It took me a while to read it, but it is worth it.

Yours in our Lord,
Marc