REASONS FOR MY BELIEF

REASONS TO BELIEVE

I believe that your question was an honest one-- not looking for debate, so I will hurriedly answer, not laboring any proof. I will be out of town for a few days, but will check again when I return.

Perhaps the best way to explain my belief is to tell how it came about.

In the late forties, I did an in-depth study of the seven promises to the Overcomers of the seven Churches of Asia. In doing this, I discovered that our former teachers had not been able to steer us in the right course of believing-- especially about the whole group of believers being eligible for the great victory which is ahead for the Overcomers of the seven Churches.

Darby, who started the "Rapture" theory in the mid 1800's, included ALL believers in what he saw. But a careful study will show that Darby was wrong on some points.

A deeper study showed me that the general usage of the Greek word that is used in 2 Thes, and translated "taken out of the way", is a gross mis-application of the Greek words.

It was in the 70's that I was teaching from Hebrews, and discovered that the writer used up several chapters discussing the events of the most solemn day of the Jewish Levitical Year-- the Day of Atonement.

I discovered that the ceremonies of that day were a blue print of the major events of the entire Church age-- from the Crucifixion to the present and beyond. To follow the events of the Day of Atonement is to see the high points of the Church Age. Two or three points stand out in bold relief.

Every seven years, on this day, debts were cancelled, and servants who had sold themselves because of poverty were sent home again. I won't go into the implications of this.

Every fifty years, on this day, all possessions were restored to the original owner or his children,and to the original tribe. This speaks of a FULL redemption and restoration of ALL that was lost in Adam. Think of how much was lost-- Adam had Eternal Life (but not Immortality), and could talk freely with God, and God with him. He HAD dominion over all creatures.

The ceremony of the Scapegoat was not until AFTER the High Priest was finished with the ministration in the Holy of Holies. It was the scapegoat which acted out the part of Jesus taking Sin completely away from us. But the real work of Jesus in removing Sin (Adamic Sin, that is) from us is yet to come, if we follow the course of events on the Day of Atonement.

Our High Priest is STILL IN the Heavenly Holy of Holies. Weymouth, and some other modern translations render Heb 9:28 -- "not to deal with sin, but to make their salvation complete." This is speaking of when our High Priest APPEARS from His Ministrations in the Heavenly Holy of Holies.

If you want an interesting study, look at the three (3) appearings of Jesus, as found in the book of Hebrews.

A whisking away to escape anihilation is, in no sense of the word, Redemption from the Fall of Adam.

The nature of rebellion was injected into Adam at the time of disobedience. We are ALL REBELS TOWARD GOD, even though we are saved from the consequences of sin.

More later, if you are still interested.

God Bless