Mid Tribulation Premillenial-Revised

Many people would like to think that they will escape the tribulation by believing in the pretribulational position. They just don't want to hear the truth! Rapture is a good example of this blindness. In 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 1-3 Paul Clearly states that the rapture doesn't occur before Antichrist's arrival. There are difficulties attaching to both the pretribulationism and posttribulationism positions. The Pretribulationists believe that the Church will be raptured at the beginning og the tribulation which is very great! But what of the references in Matthew 24 which indicate that some of the elect will be present during the tribulation? Also, they believe in the imminency of the Lord's return, which has no Biblical support. The posttribulationists run into the difficulty of explaining that the Christians will not face the wrath of God (Rom. 5:9; 1 Thess. 1:10). One of the mediating positions is the midtribulationism position. The STRENGTH of this view is that it resolves the difficulties faced by the pretribulationists and the posttribulationists. It holds that the church will go through the less severe part (usually the first half, or three-and-a-half years) of the tribulation, and then will be removed from the world. This view has also resolved the difficulty of whether the resurrection is spiritual or physical. Those people do not believe this; they want to believe that there will not come any kind of tribulation -- like World War III which is followed by the Antichrist -- simply ignore these verses. In contrast, they love reading verses 6-8. They believe that the Church of Born-Again Christians is the force which keeps Antichrist's physical manifestation out of this planet's surface. However, this is only peoples' own interpretation; the Bible doesn't say so. I believe that Paul means in verses 6-8 that the Holy Spirit is the subject who keeps Antichrist out of this planet. And, when He (the Holy Spirit) thinks that it is proper time, He takes off His protective hand above this planet and so Antichrist can come. I believe that this time is near. The choice of which part of the tribulation that the church will go through is arbitrary. I note that there are, however, not many proponents of this position.

The WEAKNESS of the midtribulation position is that the occurrence of the rapture is too predictable, exactly at the mid-point of the Daniel's 70 weeks. There are many scripture passages that indicate the Second Coming of the Lord and the rapture is not predictable. Matt. 24:37-39;Matt. 25:13; 1 Thess. 5:2-3.

Please allow me to restate the points that support the mid-tribulation position briefly:
1. No wrath of God on Christians;
2. No wrath of Satan on Christians;
3. Christ will return exactly at the midpoint of the 70 weeks of Daniel;
4. The prophecies in the Olivet Discourse apply only to Israel;
5. The time of Christ's return is exactly at the midpoint of the tribuation;
6. A multitude will enter the Millennium;
7. Jesus returns with the saints-No mention of going up raptured and then immediately returning.

What is the Universal Church? How should the church reflect her unity to the world? b. Conciliar

The Universal church is that general church of the whole congregation of the called-out believers, that make up of the Body of Christ, “The People of God.” as opposed to the local church, a congregation of believers meeting together for fellowship at a particular locale having a set of agreed beliefs and dogmas.

There are several forms the unity of the church can take even though generally unity of the universal church is desired and agreed. Four common forms are practiced; the first being “Mutual Recognition and Fellowship.” This is the most basic low-level of unity, recognizing each other as legitimate parts of the family of God, cooperating whenever in evangelistic crusades and fellowshipping whenever possible on an ad hoc basis.

The second level is “Conciliar Unity” when churches have organizational alliances to achieve their common purposes. They band together into council or association of churches. This is basically a cooperative fellowship while each church still retains its own identity. The unity is visible as well as spiritual.

The final type of unity is “Organic Unity” in which there is an actual creation of one organization in which separate identities are surrendered. Membership and ordination are joined.

I think the best form of unity that is Biblical is the “Conciliar Unity” as the Bible allows for variety as long as they stay with the Bible. The different denominations do not feel threaten when coming together to fellowship and cooperate in evangelistic efforts, fulfilling the functions of the church.