usoutpost31
Well-Known Member
I admit that I find the idea that Satan could plausibly explain away or worse, take credit for an obvious act of God, troublesome. The Resurrection, of all things, and the catching away of all who belong to Him. He is coming like a thief in the night, but if a thief came in the night, from what he takes from you, you'd still know a thief came, right? Even if you weren't prepared for it.
UFOs and aliens are commonly floated as an alternative explanation, but....is there any precedent? Alien abductees don't just vanish into thin air and never come back. (That's assuming the Rapture will look like what is shown in the movies). They're still here on earth, telling us their stories. There's never been a mass abduction either. Doesn't seem to jibe with peace and safety either. If an alien civilization could take a large group of people undetected; shouldn't the Earth be on guard against their return?
There are only a few Biblical instances I could think of when Satan tried to discredit an act of God; when Jannes and Jambres went up against Moses and Aaron, and failed miserably. Or the 'disciples stole the body' explanation for the empty Tomb. Which, is not a very persuasive explanation, considering the giant stone and Roman soldiers guarding it. Or when the Pharisees argued that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. And Jesus quickly pointed out the flaw in that argument-it didn't take.
It's not that the devil didn't try to explain these things....but when God reveals Himself so dramatically.....what exactly can you say that people would believe? Even the prophets of Baal knew that it was the Lord who sent down fire at Mt. Carmel....because they witnessed it. Even Pharaoh and Egypt knew God was sending the plagues against them. All the Israelites knew that God parted the Red Sea....even if they forgot soon after.
I know the Rapture isn't well known in many parts of the world, but Revelation 7 indicates that people from every corner of the earth come to faith in Jesus. That probably includes those who didn't know about it beforehand, but they become convinced of the truth of the Gospel somehow. Power of preaching, maybe, but maybe because they witness Revelation coming to life. It's the same with the battle of Gog and Magog; God intervenes there and all of Israel(along with other nations of the earth) knows that He is the Lord. And from that point on, they don't forget it.
I guess my point is, when God performs a miracle, those who witness it know that He was responsible. And the Resurrection/Rapture might be his most overt manifestation of His power, that the unbelieving world will see this side of eternity.
UFOs and aliens are commonly floated as an alternative explanation, but....is there any precedent? Alien abductees don't just vanish into thin air and never come back. (That's assuming the Rapture will look like what is shown in the movies). They're still here on earth, telling us their stories. There's never been a mass abduction either. Doesn't seem to jibe with peace and safety either. If an alien civilization could take a large group of people undetected; shouldn't the Earth be on guard against their return?
There are only a few Biblical instances I could think of when Satan tried to discredit an act of God; when Jannes and Jambres went up against Moses and Aaron, and failed miserably. Or the 'disciples stole the body' explanation for the empty Tomb. Which, is not a very persuasive explanation, considering the giant stone and Roman soldiers guarding it. Or when the Pharisees argued that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. And Jesus quickly pointed out the flaw in that argument-it didn't take.
It's not that the devil didn't try to explain these things....but when God reveals Himself so dramatically.....what exactly can you say that people would believe? Even the prophets of Baal knew that it was the Lord who sent down fire at Mt. Carmel....because they witnessed it. Even Pharaoh and Egypt knew God was sending the plagues against them. All the Israelites knew that God parted the Red Sea....even if they forgot soon after.
I know the Rapture isn't well known in many parts of the world, but Revelation 7 indicates that people from every corner of the earth come to faith in Jesus. That probably includes those who didn't know about it beforehand, but they become convinced of the truth of the Gospel somehow. Power of preaching, maybe, but maybe because they witness Revelation coming to life. It's the same with the battle of Gog and Magog; God intervenes there and all of Israel(along with other nations of the earth) knows that He is the Lord. And from that point on, they don't forget it.
I guess my point is, when God performs a miracle, those who witness it know that He was responsible. And the Resurrection/Rapture might be his most overt manifestation of His power, that the unbelieving world will see this side of eternity.