Can you be guaranteed that you will get into heaven? I have heard from many Christians that we can’t know God’s plan and that we don’t have anyway of knowing who will get into Heaven and who won’t. In addition, it has been asserted that Revelations foretells that only about 144,000 people will actually be called to Heaven? This seems that an abnormally miniscule number, but who can say it isn’t correct?
According to the Census Bureau, there are 155,000 (approx.) deaths per day. And in a December 24, 2006 earthquake 170,000 people died. Could that not have been rapture? How can you know for sure that the earthquake was not part of the Supreme Being’s plan and he raptured those 170,000 people to go to Heaven?
I just want to hear people’s opinion on this and explanation for how you know for sure one way or the other.
2007-03-13 14:55:26 · 22 answers · asked by eastchic2001 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I can't be absolutely sure we're not living in The Matrix.
2007-03-13 14:58:09 · answer #1 · answered by Gene Rocks! 5 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Mat 24:29 But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The rapture has not happen yet, it will occur at the second coming. He will gather up His elect after the great tribulation at the second coming. The144,000 are the Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel who will be saved in the end.
"And in a December 24, 2006 earthquake 170,000 people died. Could that not have been rapture? "
People die everyday that's just life. Natural disasters take thousands of lives.
2007-03-13 15:08:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have wondered about this same thing before, but it seems to me there is no way the rapture has already happened because the coming of Christ will be an event which will be unmistakable. It will be witnessed by everyone on Earth.Evidently, angels will fill the sky, and the sky will split open, and the Glorious Saviour will re-enter the Earth to call His faithful ones to meet Him in the air. As for the 144,000, from what I understand they will be the ones who are a faithful Jewish remenant of the Great Tribulation, 12,000 from each tribe of Israel. Jesus said that He would be coming on the clouds of Heaven. I don't believe this is something that could sneak by without being known all over the World. He said He would come as a thief in the night, but this means simply that it will be suddenly, at an unexpected time.
2007-03-13 15:18:54 · answer #3 · answered by W J 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The 144,000 you are referring to, are the saints who are living in the Tribulation period. God has set these 144,000 aside for His own purposes during that time.
Rev 7:4 is the verse you are referring to.
read a little further, in verse 9 and you will see...
"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb."
Verse 14 also says: ......."These are they who have come out of the Great Tribulation"......
Read all of Chapter 7, to much to write here.
This clearly teaches that the 144,000 have been set aside by God for some special purpose during this specific time.
Also, the actual persons saved, is too numerous to count.
As far as the Rapture is concerned, read Luke 21:36
This verse is referring to Gods Rapturing of His people.
" Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
Jesus is telling us that we do not have to endure the coming Tribulation, He has provided an escape for His followers.
John 14:3 also tells us: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
Jesus says He will "Take You" and again "Escape" These verses are describing a supernatural act of God to collect His children before He pours out His wrath on sinful humanity.
I liked your question, I hope my answer is helpful.
God Bless You....Peace.
2007-03-13 17:23:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Through reading the Bible and developing a relationship with God, you get faith. You see God working in your life and you know that He couldn't possibly betray you because He loves you and you have a close relationship.
The tsunami on December 26, 2006, was definitely an act of God, but it wasn't any sort of rapture. If it were, why are there still Christians?
And besides....the idea of a rapture isn't even biblical. A lot of folks think it is, but there's not a single scripture that says we will be called up to Heaven before the beginning of the Tribulation. We'll be here, and we'd better be prepared physically, mentally and spiritually.
2007-03-13 15:03:05 · answer #5 · answered by married_so_leave_me_alone1999 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
The rapture hasn't occurred yet because we are still here. And if you live right meaning living that holy life that JESUS did then you can guarantee that you are pleasing God and be one of the ones to make it in. The Bible lets us know that the righteous will scarcely make it in. So we have to be careful that we are not doing anything unpleasing to God.
1 Peter 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
2007-03-13 15:08:16 · answer #6 · answered by Child of God 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because the 1 half of the world did not disappear Refer to 2 will be in a field working 1 will be gone and the other will stay,. This is just 1 of 2 and it means 200 people will be gone and 200 will stay or even up to the largest number 20 billion will be somewhere doing something and 10 billion will disappear
2007-03-13 15:01:40 · answer #7 · answered by Larry 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Ok Revelation is a very complcated book. You cant just take it literally!!! The bible fortells that any one who believes in Jesus will have eternal; life aka go to heaven. The rapture also taks about Jesus coming back down to earth and every knee worshipping him. I havent seen a guy coming down from heaven yet have you?
2007-03-13 15:06:00 · answer #8 · answered by bcooper_au 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The rapture is described as a taking up in the skies, a moment where two people will be together, and then suddenly one of them is gone, physical body and all.
So as long as there are bodies, there hasnt been a rapture.
And the 144,000 is a belief generally associated with religions other than Christianity.
2007-03-13 15:00:58 · answer #9 · answered by sweetie_baby 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Because of what Paul wrote to the people at the church in Thessalonica when they were worried about the same thing.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
2007-03-13 15:01:11 · answer #10 · answered by Martin S 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
No, Jesus' second coming is LOUD!
Yes, when you accept His mercy on you.
Not true. All people who want to accept Jesus, will go to heaven. 144 000 is all God's people, not a specific number 12x12x12
No, not a rapture..we will know when it is. It is going to be totally different appearance for Jesus than it was the first time. Believe me, you will not miss it. Heavenly band of angels and all.
Place your faith in Jesus, He will take care of you. : )
2007-03-13 15:02:39 · answer #11 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋