Help!!

[Waitin]

I attend a bible study with two friends I have known for a long time. One of them was my mentor when I first got saved and she is quite loving . However, lately she seems to have spiritual unrest, is agumentive to a degree, and - here's where I need your advice- she keeps challenging me on the rapture and prophecy. She makes it known that she doesn't believe in the rapture, claiming that the word rapture is no where in the bible.

Last week it was her turn to teach the lesson. The topic was" Being distracted by prophecy and discernment".
Now her friends also don't believe in the rapture either, and sometimes I feel ganged up on. And when I'm put on the spot, I manage to explain what scripture says about it, but my brain gets frozen. I almost feel like I don't want to attend anymore. But I also want to be honest and up front.

What should I do?

[carmen]

You might point out to your friends that about 1/3 of the bible is prophetic in nature. Are they prepared to disregard that much of God's word? I believe God devoted that much of His total given word to it, I would think He felt it important for us to have and study.

Sure, there is the possibility that one can be distracted by prophecy. But there is the possibility that one can get distracted by focusing on any one teaching in the bible. That doesn't mean we should ignore it, though.

[countmeworthy]

1) seek discernment & wisdom from the Lord regarding how to answer them that are without.
(Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.)

2) Search the scriptures pointing to the rapture & explain to them that the word rapture means 'catching up' in Greek.

3) Use those scriptures to parallel the times we are living in...including the scriptures on mockers & scoffers.

4) Seek discernment from the Lord if He wants you to remain in that fellowship circle. (He might want to use YOU or He might want to lead you to other fellowship circles where you will be edified & be able to edify others.)

If you need help with scriptures, ask this bunch ! :):

[Waitin]

Thankyou Carmen. I don't even talk to them that much on this subject at all. It's as though if I even mention it, it's too much for them. Apathy maybe.No, definately. My friend is quite laid back on these things and not interested at all. This(all the natural disasters) is all one big coincedence. That's ok for her, I try to honor her agenda. But she shouldn't keep putting down mine.

[Waitin]

Thankyou,Countmeworthy! You know, I did do my homework for scripture backups. What is so hard about this is that we are such "good friends" that I
unfortunately feel hurt by them and awkquard. (spelling?) I feel ganged up on and kind of want to leave. But I speak to Jesus in my mind while I'm sitting there and try to not over react. Thanks again for your great advice!

[rancherswife]

Maybe the best thing you can do is pray for the Holy Spirit to open their eyes when they read scripture.

I understand how you feel like they ganged up on you. I wonder why they tried to make a Bible study directly against what you believe? Why didn't they just discuss it over lunch or something? It doesn't seem like an appropriate way for friends to disagree on a biblical subject.

I'm curious--what scriptures she used to show that God doesn't want us to have discernment or study prophecy (i.e. become distracted)?

I think you really handled it well--I'm afraid I would've been mad.

[Waitin]

Thankyou Rancherswife! In fact, I was both hurt and mad but more hurt so I just got really quite until it was time to leave. The facts she used against the rapture(very gently, but firmly) was something about in rev. where the martyered saints were in white robes in heaven, waiting for the Lord to come back. These are supposedly believers that have died already. It wasn't very convincing but I said a few scriptures that jumped to my mind to back me up(I'm at work so I cannot get too lengthy)But it still is a bone of contention. So we just usually let it drop.

[LaMontre]

I attend a bible study with two friends I have known for a long time. One of them was my mentor when I first got saved and she is quite loving . However, lately she seems to have spiritual unrest, is agumentive to a degree, and - here's where I need your advice- she keeps challenging me on the rapture and prophecy. She makes it known that she doesn't believe in the rapture, claiming that the word rapture is no where in the bible.

Last week it was her turn to teach the lesson. The topic was" Being distracted by prophecy and discernment".
Now her friends also don't believe in the rapture either, and sometimes I feel ganged up on. And when I'm put on the spot, I manage to explain what scripture says about it, but my brain gets frozen. I almost feel like I don't want to attend anymore. But I also want to be honest and up front.

What should I do?

I always find it quite effective to point out that much of what is prophesied in Revelations is described as being judgement direct from God, and that to believe God would place the body of Christ under such experiences is unthinkable, and leave it at that.

Once you have established your stand, let it go, and take opportunity to point out discrepancies, basing discussions on one problem at a time.

In this way you avoid these broad arguments that require you to quote every scripture in the bible that might refer to the rapture.

It is funny how man is an extremist, it always seems that he has to go to a way far extreme, and then eventually maybe even back to the other extreme, before he finds the balance that God really wants for him. But I think God uses that very thing to get him to that balance as a quickly as possible.

1 Thess 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Thats comes right after a very prominently used rapture passage. :):

[rancherswife]

Very good points LeMontre.

[Big Daddy]

You might point out to your friends that about 1/3 of the bible is prophetic in nature. Are they prepared to disregard that much of God's word? I believe God devoted that much of His total given word to it, I would think He felt it important for us to have and study.

Sure, there is the possibility that one can be distracted by prophecy. But there is the possibility that one can get distracted by focusing on any one teaching in the bible. That doesn't mean we should ignore it, though.
I would take this statement of Carmens and change it to say that the WHOLE Bible is prophesy.

If one takes the point of the Christ dying on the cross and raising from the dead, to ascend to heaven, everything in the bible before this prohesies to this event. Everything after it, prophesies to His return.
(Of course, there are a lot of details too :wave )

[deafchristian]

There's alot of things that have not mention in the bible, like trinity, or even abortion....but we just know.

prophecy of jesus coming to died for our sins was written many time in the old testament and majority of the bible contain prophecy that have not yet been fulfilled. I mean the entire bible contain prophecy rather it was fulfilled or not. if the second coming of christ isn't true..The bible would be alot smaller. IF your friend does believe in the second coming of christ but just doesn't believe in rapture, you will have to find verses that will support your view on rapture. I have a friend who believe the rapture is not true, and majority of the bible was just written for certain people in church during the bible time to straighten out their behaviors. Maybe so, but you know, I also think Somehow, and someway God want all of us get the message, especially when some of the old testament prophecy have not been fulfilled yet.

[Transformed]

You might also point out, as far as "rapture" not being in the Bible, that it's a Latin translation from the Greek word "harpadzo" that means to seize and bear away, take by force. That word appears 14 times in the NT, and 3 times its translation is "caught up" -- in 2 Cor 12:2, 4; Rev 12:5, and 1 Thess 4:17, of believers being caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Sometimes word studies can help clarify some issues.