FEEDBACK: WHAT WILL THE BELIEVERS BE DOING AFTER MAY
21, 2011?
8/15/10
We
appreciate feedback on the studies posted on this website. It helps us to see
if there is anything on this website that does not agree with the Bible.
Below IS A QUESTION ABOUT SOME VERSES THAT SEEM TO
TEACH ANNIHILATION.
THE READERS QUESTION IS IN ITALICS. OUR
RESPONSE FOLLOWS.
Hello,
I have read some of your studies and my question is about May 21, 2011 vs.
October 21, 2011 for the Rapture. You stated that May 21, 2011 is the end of
salvation and the things happening on that date (God shutting the door, people
seeking Christ but cannot find Him) are spiritual, and physically the world
will continue as it is for 5 months. Then the rapture will be on the last day,
October 21, 2011. So what are the true believers doing during those 5
months? They can't spread the Gospel, salvation will be over. It seems that
the Bible would be useless to anyone between the dates May 21 to October 21.
What about God's command to occupy until He comes?
Thanks for your time,
Hello,
Thank
you for checking the website. You raise a good question concerning what the
believers will be doing if the Rapture is not until October 21, 2011, yet the
door of salvation is shut 5 months earlier on May 21, 2011. Since you are the
third person to ask that question, I will update the When is the Rapture? study to respond to that question.
It
is true that a big job that the believers have been given in this world is to
bring the Gospel, especially in the New Testament era. However, that is not the
only job God has given to the true believers. In everything they do, the true
believers are to give glory to God by their obedience and trust in the Bible.
As believers obey and trust the Bible, they are actually obeying and trusting
God and giving glory to God. For example, we read in 1 Corinthians 10:31:
Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
When
salvation is possible, these actions of obedience and trust by the believers
are also a witness that can be used by God to draw the unsaved to salvation.
However, independent of salvation, these actions bring glory to God and
demonstrate the wonders of God and His salvation program.
As
the true believers continue to obey and trust God during those 5 months, as
they have throughout history, they will be giving glory to God and fulfilling
Gods purposes for them. They will be a demonstration of the grace and power of
God who is able to transform miserable rebellious sinners into an obedient
people full of good works.
You
cited Luke 19:13:
And he called his ten
servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I
come.
A
big part of to occupy is to bring
the Gospel. However, that word is not limited to just bringing the Gospel. That
exact Greek word translated occupy
is only found in this verse, but a related noun is found in these 2 verses:
Luke 1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set
forth in order a declaration of those things <4229> which are most surely believed among us,
2 Corinthians
7:11 For behold this selfsame thing,
that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what
clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear,
yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what
revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this
matter <4229>.
In
Luke 1:1 this word is translated things
and refers to everything in the Gospel of Luke, which covers more than just
bringing the Gospel. The book of Luke has much of Gods will for the true
believers in many areas beyond just bringing the Gospel.
In
2 Corinthians 7:11 this word is translated matter and refers to a sin problem in the church of Corinth. A sin
problem is a violation of the Bible in any area. In 2 Corinthians 7:11, this
Greek word is pointing back to a matter
contained in the Bible and is not limited to just bringing the Gospel.
We
see 2 examples in which the noun version of this Greek word translated occupy found in Luke 19:13 means more
than just the matter of bringing the Gospel, but includes whatever God has
commanded the believers in the whole Bible.
The
true believers occupy for God in
that they trust and obey the Bible and thereby give glory to God and
demonstrate many of His wonderful attributes.
So,
I am not aware of any verses which say that the believers cannot be in the
earth for a 5 month period in which there is no salvation. As the believers
obey and trust the Bible at that time, or any time, they are bringing glory to
God.
Also,
the Bible is never useless to the true believer. The Bible is his daily
provision as we read in many verses and in Job 23:12:
Neither have
I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his
mouth more than my necessary food.
The
Bible is always necessary for the true believer as his daily bread.
Lets
consideration the illustration of a true believer on a deserted island where
there is no one else. There is no one to whom he can witness.
Is
this true believer of no use to the Lord?
This
believer is of great use to the Lord. He can bring glory to God by his subjection
and obedience to the Bible, even though there is no one else around to whom he
can witness. However, God sees his actions and obedience. Also, the Bible is
very necessary to him in His daily walk with the Lord even though there is no
one to whom this person can witness from the Bible.
Thank
you for asking.