KrlKreations

Confusing Times

—

by

KR LaLonde
in

When the Coronavirus first made itself known, most of the world panicked. And I can totally understand that. Though I was unsure at times if my sanity would remain intact. Being “stuck at home” for days and days with no opportunity of spending time with other people or “alone”, I felt more and more as if life would never get back to normal.

Thankfully, a new type of “normal” has established itself. Hopefully not forever, but it’s far better than what we had. I think I could be content with it for an indeterminate length of time. That’s how much better it is. I just hope it isn’t for too long.

Now don’t get me wrong. This new “normal” isn’t as convenient as the one we left behind. But it is better than a lot of “normals” we could have ended up with. I don’t love every detail about living with Covid-19 threatening each of us every day, but things could be worse. Much worse.

And if you are a Christian – a follower of Christ, a child of the King of kings – you know things will get worse over time. For non-believers. And while we’ve had to live in a world filled with sin and evil, we won’t be here for the Tribulation. He’s coming back for us before it happens.

When is that going to be? He tells us to be patient and wait for Him. To behave like His children. He wants us to strive for perfection in Him.

So often, people claim one thing or another will get them to Heaven. But there’s only one Way – one Person – guaranteed to get you there.

Written April 2020

Comments

  1. Rachel Lautermilch Avatar
    Rachel Lautermilch

    Much as I would like to believe that God will take us home before the Tribulation, I don’t actually see that in the Bible. I know other people that believe that, but where is that in the Bible?

    When I look at the lives of Jesus’ followers from the beginning up to the present day, I see a lot of suffering. Not that God doesn’t give us the strength to endure whatever He sends us, and yes, things could always be worse as you said, but I don’t see why God wouldn’t prevent us from suffering too. We’ve been extremely blessed in America but the more godless our nation becomes the more they hate Christians that stand on the Bible. I’ve heard a lot of people say that persecution is coming for the church.

    I’d love to believe that God will just rescue us from that, but that doesn’t seem to be His way. Not because He doesn’t love us, but perhaps because He sees the big picture. I don’t know, what are the verses that people say show God won’t allow us to go through the Tribulation?

    Reply
    1. k2r9lalonde Avatar
      k2r9lalonde

      Before I answer you (some research needed), would you mind giving me the references that indicate we WILL?

      Reply
  2. k2r9lalonde Avatar
    k2r9lalonde

    The Bible – God’s Word – I use the KJV most often – STATES that we’ll be coming back with Jesus AFTER the 7 years of tribulation. How can we “come back” if we didn’t leave?

    Not to mention I’ve seen a couple of movies about the Tribulation and in BOTH people will just VANISH. Why make those movies with that in them?

    Reply
    1. getolife Avatar
      getolife

      People write movie scripts and books based on their own interpretations and understanding of the Bible. That doesn’t make it real. It’s just their idea. Most of the end-times beliefs are based on John’s Revelation but that vision was never intended to predict the events of the end times. It was intended to offer encouragement to the churches and glimpses of heaven. It’s not a prediction. It’s a work of art that helps us get the feel of things to come, not the facts.

      Reply
  3. k2r9lalonde Avatar
    k2r9lalonde

    I notice you didn’t answer my question.

    Reply
  4. k2r9lalonde Avatar
    k2r9lalonde

    I WILL GET BACK TO YOU. *MORE RESEARCH*

    Reply
  5. Rachel Lautermilch Avatar
    Rachel Lautermilch

    I’ve thought a lot about your question and have been going through the Bible hunting for the answer. 🙂 But since I asked you first, what is the verse you referenced? About us returning with the Lord after seven years?

    I was never really sure about the seven years, I know that’s often a reference to a verse in Daniel where it talks about times, times, and half a times. I remember my pastor talking about this, but not how times=three years. That’s not something you know right off hand, is it? XD I should probably just hunt down the notebook I was using when my pastor talked about Revelation, but I’m worried my notes might not make sense to me after so long.

    I agree with getolife that you can’t trust movies, except sometimes documentaries. Most movies’ main goal is to entertain and make money. (Not all, but most.) And if you saw the most recent Left Behind movie, I’m pretty sure that one wasn’t done by Christians and was only done to entertain.

    But I think you would agree with me that the Bible is never just art, but that it is the perfect Word of God. To encourage and strengthen the church, yes, but John’s Revelation isn’t that only. Revelation 1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place.

    I’m still researching as you probably are too. 🙂 I’m finding many verses about the Rapture, but it seems very unspecific about when during the Tribulation this is. Are you having that problem to?

    Reply
  6. k2r9lalonde Avatar
    k2r9lalonde

    Could you both do me a favour? What version of the Bible do you use? I want us to somehow “match up” when discussing this. I should have mentioned that at the beginning of this discussion. I apologize. I use the KJV most of all.

    Reply
  7. k2r9lalonde Avatar
    k2r9lalonde

    @getolife, why do you say it was never intended to be taken literally? Are you saying my father – who is a pastor – is a liar? Why do you say John’s book of Revelation (which, as I’m sure you both know, means “to reveal”) isn’t to be taken literally, either?

    Reply
  8. Rachel Lautermilch Avatar
    Rachel Lautermilch

    My post was so long something went wrong and I have to start over. 🙁

    Reply
  9. Rachel Lautermilch Avatar
    Rachel Lautermilch

    I just lost all my notes, so this is going to take awhile. I use mostly ESV, which is what I have been using as I researched Revelation. I can read through it again in KJV if you want? I just wanted to get my notes posted before I lost them yet again.

    So the Tribulation seems to start in Revelation chapter 6 with the four riders. The chapters before that are the letters to the churches. So I don’t see us getting raptured before that and then it seems like we’re in the middle of war, famine, and death. Then in 6:11 it talks about more martyrs being added to the number under the altar, so it sounds like more persecution.

    Then in chapter 7:9-15 it talks about those who have come out of great tribulation, and I found that interesting because they aren’t under the altar, so are they martyred or not? I wasn’t entirely sure.

    I’ll try to post the rest of my thoughts this afternoon, my attention is being demanded elsewhere at present. Please be patient with me. Thank you! 🙂

    Reply
  10. k2r9lalonde Avatar
    k2r9lalonde

    @Rachel Lautermilch, reading the KJV would entirely be your choice. I’ve actually become so accustomed to it that when I read more recent versions I get a kind of headache where I stop trying to read. KJV just seems more understandable to me. *shrugs*

    Also, I am quite forgetful after my TBI, so need to re-read Revelation, also. And I’m now a fairly slow reader, so it’ll likely take quite some time. I hope you’ll also be patient with me.

    On top of that, I’ll need to re-read the post and all the comments below it to refresh my memory yet again. Thank you in advance for your patience. 🙂

    Reply
  11. k2r9lalonde Avatar
    k2r9lalonde

    Oh, and 1 more thing right now: I’ll also be researching in the Book of Daniel. Many details are given there, also.

    Reply
  12. Rachel Lautermilch Avatar
    Rachel Lautermilch

    @k2r9lalonde
    Okay, this is my second attempt at posting this today, my computer is just not working for me today. Sorry this took me so long, but I didn’t forget! 🙂 Looking forward to hearing about what you find in Daniel!
    In order to keep my post from getting too long, I thought I would post it in sections. So, part of the reason for me being so convinced that the Rapture won’t be before the Tribulation is a number of verses that imply to me to expect suffering. (In case you wonder, all verses are in the ESV version.)

    If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
    John 15:18‭-‬21

    I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
    John 16:33

    I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
    John 17:14‭-‬15

    Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
    2 Timothy 3:12

    And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
    1 Peter 5:10

    that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.
    1 Thessalonians 3:3‭-‬4

    Reply
  13. k2r9lalonde Avatar
    k2r9lalonde

    I truly don’t understand why one can think something like “even God’s followers will suffer”. I’ve not ever heard, seen or read a single thing that indicates that to be true. God’s followers are HIS. He doesn’t want us to go through the worst humanity has ever seen.

    Again, I apologize, but things have been rather hectic around here and I haven’t been able to do research as planned.

    Reply
  14. k2r9lalonde Avatar
    k2r9lalonde

    @Rachel Lautermilch, I don’t see how you actually answer the question of the Rapture coming AFTER the 7 years of Tribulation with these verses. They don’t say anything to indicate the before or after of it. Not that I can see, anyway.

    I must apologize for not responding sooner. Things have been a bit crazy around here for a while. I’ll try to respond in a more timely fashion.

    Reply
    1. Rachel Lautermilch Avatar
      Rachel Lautermilch

      Sorry, things have been busy on this end to, I’ve been meaning to get back to you for I don’t even know how long now. I read the verses you recommended but I still feel as lost as ever, I don’t see anything in the Bible about the Rapture coming before the Tribulation.

      Reply
      1. k2r9lalonde Avatar
        k2r9lalonde

        God/His people don’t come right out and say it as if a two-year old is reading. He knows adults will be delving into His Word. I forget the exact references, but there are several verses that hint STRONGLY at the Rapture and how it takes place BEFORE the Tribulation time.

        The Tribulation is meant as a judgment time. While NON-BELIEVERS (some of whom become BELIEVERS during those 7 years) are living on Earth, those who are Raptured BEFORE those 7 years will be in Heaven receiving their crowns from the Most High.

        Reply
  15. k2r9lalonde Avatar
    k2r9lalonde

    I apologize for taking so long. As I said before: Life got crazy for a bit.
    If you would, please read 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18. There’s also some information in Daniel 9.

    Reply
    1. k2r9lalonde Avatar
      k2r9lalonde

      This is in the KJV, by the way.

      Reply

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