Max seems to think the whole thing is funny. I do not. There is much to comment on about this video and the concept of "rapture".
First, if what Max claims is true, then Pastor Hagee apparently is living a life of extreme wealth and luxury in his ministry. Such a life is completely different from what Jesus told his disciples to do.
Second, Pastor Hagee appeared to lie when Max confronted him about his statements regarding God's punishment of the Jews. A pastor should not say things he doesn't believe, and he shouldn't deny them just because a camera is pointed at him. What is said in private should be shouted from the rooftops, or not said at all.
Third, although some Christians believe that the Jews ultimately will accept Jesus as the Messiah, I have never heard a Jew say this. The Jewish Messiah will be a man and NOT a god, and he will NEVER declare himself to be God. Such a thing is IMPOSSIBLE in Judaism, as it is in Islam.
Fourth, the whole concept of "rapture" appears to be misunderstood by Christians. YES, there will be a rapture. NO, it will not save people from the tribulation.
Why do I say this? Many people think these two Biblical passages mean that people will be raptured prior to the tribulation:
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
-1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 KJV
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
-Revelation 3:10 KJV
The first passage is pretty vague, and may or may not refer to the rapture/tribulation concept. The second passage apparently DOES refer to rapture/tribulation, but it contains a serious caveat: "because thou hast kept the word of my patience". I argue STRONGLY that so-called Christians who approve of their government's persecution of Muslims and who demand that their government bomb Iran and commit other violent acts do NOT satisfy the qualification set forth in Revelation 3:10; they have NOT kept the word of His patience.
Additionally, the actual scriptural descriptions of the rapture indicate CLEARLY that it will NOT occur prior to the tribulation. Read them yourselves:
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
-1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
-1 Corinthians 15:51-52 KJV
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
-Revelation 10:7 KJV
The rapture will occur at the blowing of the seventh trumpet. Read what happens PRIOR to this event in the Book of Revelation, and it should be obvious to you that even those who will be raptured will either have died prior to or during the tribulation or will have been alive and present on the earth during it.
I have no doubt that God will protect His church. But there appears to be no sound scriptural basis for believing that He will rapture His church prior to the tribulation.
I can't tell you what your fate will be; only God can do that. But I will say that it appears that most of us will be subject to the tribulation. Whatever happens, DO NOT TAKE THE MARK.
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
-Matthew 5:30 KJV
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