A brother in the Lord asked if I would discuss dispensationalism and Zechariah 14 with a blogger who owns a bible prophecy website. I gladly accepted the inviation and will provide to the reader the discussion as it occurred.. I have changed the web site owners name to “Brother” for the sake of his privacy, and each of my responses are italicized and indented for clarity sake.
With that introduction, lets continue our chat with a “Dispy.” We pick up in continuing my previous response to statements on his web site. This is the final discussion, and if you have survived the discussion, my hats off to you. Thanks for tracking with me and my brother.
RE: Surely I hope you won’t tell me that the Lord comes back (Rapture) and only takes some of His people to heaven, leaving some on earth for the next coming?
Well, you have it close. Read Matthew 25, the 10 virgins parable again. 5 foolish virgins are looking for his return, that’s not what the world does; they think they are Christians, but they are not. See also Matthew 7:22, and Rev 2-3.
I am not sure what you are referring to with Matt 25. How does the parable of the ten virgins show that the Lord only takes a few of His people, and leaves the rest on earth for a second “rescue”? Are you saying the 5 foolish virgins get a second chance to be accepted by the Lord at some future time?
Matt 25:10-13
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
It seems there is no hope offered to the foolish virgins after the door is shut. They were told “I do not know you”.
Matt 7:22 is a reference to final judgment, not the rapture.
Matt 7:22
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Rev 2-3 – Not sure the connection you are trying to make with this set of verses
(If you could define your point instead of just quoting a reference, it would be most helpful.)
Water, does, indeed, cleanse us from being unclean; one of the marks of sin.
Zech 13:1 states “a fountain will be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity”
Please note that the passage does not say that the water cleanses from the “marks” of sin. The fountain is opened … for sin and for impurity. (Insertion of words into the text is not a good practice!)
I have enjoyed our conversation and wish you the very best. May God the Father and Jesus our Savior shower you with grace.
Blessings
Please visit next time as we continue to discuss issues that arise between my dispensational friend and myself.
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