The Books.

[GDL]

What is your favorite book in the bible?There are so many if you mark would you be so kind as to say why?And if it's other wich one.Mine would be acts.

[Catoepia]

All of the Books of the Bible are good, but I'd have to say one of my favorites would be Romans.

~Catoepia

[Armany]

I'd have to say Daniel, because it combines prophecy and history, two intriguing subjects.

[Chocolate Bar]

I like Esther.

[Triphus (Titanian)]

I'd have to say that Genesis is my fav. It shows how big and amazing God really is.

[shnoogleoff]

my favorite book would have to be Revelations

[Triphus (Titanian)]

Revelations is a great book, but why did you pick it?

[Vanador]

My book would have to be Matthew. The reson is because it shows Jesus as he is groing up and the miricles that he did when he grew up in a way that i can see why he did that for a reson.

[Cudi Chip]

My favorite has always been Revelations because it's so fun to read. I mean come on, it's about the end of the world people! Weird stuff happens.

Proverbs would have to be second. Can someone say wisdom?

CuDi ChIp

[Chocolate Bar]

I also like John. I have a lot of favorites.

[Triphus (Titanian)]

I don't blame you Choco. The whole Bible's great though it gets kinda slow in Colosians. (sp?)

[Armany]

Well, I hate to correct you, but since you asked, it has two s's: Colossians. I had to look that one up myself, though! ;D

To me, it gets REALLY slow in Exodus. It starts out nice, but then you get into all those laws that are good for living but aren't very good for sitting down and reading for fun.

And, Revelation is good, Cudi Chip. Have any of you read the Left Behind series? It's based on Revelation.

One question to you guys while we're there:

What do you think about the Rapture of the Church?

Basically, do you believe Chrisitians will be spared the trials of the Tribulation, or do you think that we're in it with everybody?

Personally, I'm of the pro-Rapture crowd. But I'll wait on your responses before I elaborate.

[Catoepia]

Yeah, it is really slow at the end of Exodus and the whole book of Leviticus. I'm reading Leviticus now, but I'm almost done.

I believe that their is going to be a pre-tribulation rapture.

~Catoepia

[New Titania (TD)]

Revelation . . . my favorite!!!

It's SO hard to even begin to try and figure it out. A good challenge, that's what I like.

Armany, I have read Left Behind and am in disagreement with some of it.

[New Titania (TD)]

Sorry, let me clarify. I've read the FIRST book of Left Behind.

[Chocolate Bar]

I like Revelation it's so open to interpretation.

[GDL]

There are parts that I like of it like the part when Jesus comes down in all of his glory and makes the New Jeruslaem.Just think of a precious metal being used as the lowest thing the streets.It's hard for any human to interpret.I haven't read the left behind series.What do you disagree with it about TD?

[New Titania (TD)]

Well, in the book, when the rapture comes, the people just disappear from their cars, offices, homes, etc. I don't think that it'll happen like that.

My dad's an expert on it, so I'll get back to you with more specs.

[GDL]

That's how i belive how it will happen no offense on your opinion though TD,atleast thoughs who belong to the lord.

[Armany]

It's really sketchy as to how the Rapture will occur, TD, so don't get hung up on that when reading Left Behind. However, I have to respect your dad's intelligence, so what does he have against it? The people could just dissappear, clothes and all, who knows? What are your differences specifically, though?

[ApologeticChrist]

While I love Matthew as my Gospel, I really relate to Paul. In Corinthians I, he addresses so much of a Christian life and makes the aspects of our faith so clear. Plus, he was an anti-Christian who was saved, writes frequently and loves to think about Christ and His implications, just like me. I even think he writes in a similar style to myself.

-R. S. of UC

[Nolofinwe]

I marked one on the survey a while ago and didn't respond, so I've forgotten which one I put. I'd half to say, right now my favorite is probably between Romans and Revelation.

On the rapture issue, I personally believe there will be a post tribulation rapture for a few reasons:
1) Christ is going to return at the end of the tribulation, the pre-trib rapture means he's coming back twice, which is not supported anywhere else Biblicly that I've read.
2) There is not much Biblical evidence for a pre-trib rapture, passages I've seen used to support that are a bit bent out of context.
3) The passage in Mathew where Christ describes the rapture, he gives a brief overview of all end-times prophecy and concludes it with the rapture.
4) The same words are used at the very end of the tribulation, just before Armageddon :"Behold, I come like a thief in the night" or something to that extent (I didn't look it up, so that's not an exact quote).
5) Various passages refer to believers being around during the tribulation, such as a great revival toward the end of the seals, the reaction to the abomination that causes desolation in Daniel, Matthew, and Revelation, etc.

Now, while I admit some of the prophecies are somewhat alarming, also note that they are pored out on God's enemies, for one, and for another, they are to advance His Glory. For most of the prophecies, besides obviously war and direct religious persecution, we have nothing to fear, we get to sit back and watch the show. For the others, well, I'm personally not worried. I know where I'll be when I die, and personally I look forward to that. If I live through it, though, it will be an awesome testimony to the power and glory of God.

[Armany]

Well, it wouldn't be exactly sitting back and watching the show, but I kind of get your drift.

You have some good points, and I don't think anyone on any side of this debate has the "truth" on it, only The Truth, if you know what I mean. But, in relation to the Olivet Discourse (at least that's what they name Matt. 24 in my Bible), the first 14 verses are (presumably) referring to pre-Trib suffering (see v. 14 "And this gospel will be preached to the ends of the earth . . . and then the end will come," after "wars, famines," and other persecutions are discussed in the preceding verses.) As for verses 15-31, they sure do seem to be referring to Trib occurences, and if "the elect" are the church in the general sense, then your view is confirmed.

After that, though, the Noah parallel that Jesus uses stirs up one thought: Noah was spared from the Flood. If that's what Jesus was getting at here, and no one knows, then this could be supportive of a pre-Trib Rapture, on the other hand. Again, all of this is speculation.

Then, there is the "One man is in a field; one taken, one left" verse, which could be used as a pro or con for the pre-Trib Rapture, but which, from my view, supports the occurence.

See also 1 Thessalonians 5:9 for a possible support of a pre-Trib Rapture, as well as the Letter to the Church in Philadelphia (Rev. 7-13).

Other than that, though, I know nothing more on the subject, though I would like to read something about it. Plus, I can't claim to know the will of God, so all that I can truthfully say is 'who knows?'

An interesting topic, though, I must say.

[GDL]

Has anyone noticed that the book of Leviticus is really slow?

[Armany]

Yeah, so is the last part of Exodus. It's all a bunch of laws and stuff.