Acts20.com

I post that question because I believe he will. BUT as I have pointed out here I am attending a store front church (for lack of a better alternative close by) and the preacher said in a sermon, Our Lord cannot return because the Word has not been preached in: xyz ( and here he listed several countries in Africa, honestly I could not understand the names of the countries. I know he pointed to two on the map under Algeria.)Along with this difference in my convictions the pastor does not condemn college or deeper learning of the scripture, but as QW mentioned once, this group does press disciple ship and pastoral teaching locally.Why do you believe the Lord could come anytime (if you do)?THANKS Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

My understanding of Scripture is that the gospel of the kingdom must be preached into all nations, tribes and tongues before the end shall come, just as our Lord Himself said was the case in Matthew 24. The passages which warn believers to be ready for the Lord’s return do not necessarily require one to hold to the idea of an any-moment rapture. One of the most well-known passages, concerning the Foolish and Wise Virgins in Matthew 25, directly follows Matthew 24, in which Jesus expressly teaches that His return and gathering of the elect will be immediately AFTER the tribulation, the worst time of all time, the worst that ever shall be, according to how Jesus describes it. Believers are exhorted in Scripture to watch, to be sober, awake, ready for His appearing, because that is the kind of spiritual alertness we should always possess. We must never grow lax in our spiritual sobriety, nor should we ever slumber spirituality. Also, the statements in Scripture about the Lord coming as a thief each reveal in their own context that the warning is not concerning imminence as such, but is instead about those who are not zealous and awake for the Lord.For example: 1 Thess 5:1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ESVAnd:Revelation 3:1b “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. ESVHope this helps,

(Matthew 24:22KJV) And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.(Romans 9:28

joshuaproject.net/resources/articles/has everyone heard

Rapture and second coming of Christ

Wow! Looks like there is still a lot of work yet to be done. Many years ago when I was a fledgling MIP student the Church of God made it a goal to reach the unreached people groups Alabama was assigned the Gheg of Albania. Whatever happened to that effort?The USA is by far the richest Evangelical nation in the world and yet most of our money goes to keep our buildings operating, pew sitters comfortable and systems in place. Jesus said where much is given, much is required.

While it is a noble impulse that would cause the Joshua Project to hold that a group is not considered reached unless 2% of that group are Christians, it is equally important to note that Jesus didn't say that the gospel must first be preached until all groups are at least 2% Christian.

What is the difference between the rapture and The coming of Christ. Are many treating it as the same event?By the way, this is one of those deep interesting discussions some say never happen here.

Re: Something to consider...

It is not just the Joshua Project. That is just one example. Missions agencies are in full agreement that the gospel has not yet been preached into all ethnic groups. The word translated as “nations” in the Great Commission and in the Matthew 24