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Massive non-sequiturs are hardly a good way to convince me of your ability to understand.
Oh well, evidence is not persuasion.
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Then please make your case that your preferred interpretation is better. Empty bluster is not convincing.
Everybody probably arrives at a "preferred interpretation".
Why shouldn't I "prefer" a more convincing interpretation?
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Which doesn’t matter.
Co-reigning with Christ mattered to Christ.
So I believe it matters.
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The phrase is still a good reason to think they are intended to be the same person, and it’s better than anything you’ve produced to support your interpretation.
One Person is Christ Who is to reign -
(Revelation 19:15)The OTHER
persons [plural] are those who overcome
(Revelation 2:26,27)
The Manchild is consistent with the evidence because
" THEY overcame him ..."
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I don’t think that taking a sign in the sky literally is necessarily sensible. (I will note that, according to Acts 1:9 Jesus was taken up to Heaven).
In
Acts 1:11 the disciples are assured that AS He ascended, similarly He will descend again someday.
And while they were looking intently into heaven as He went, behold, two men in white clothing stood besides them, Who also said,
Men of Galilee, ... This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you beheld Him going into heaven. (see Acts 1:10,11)
My "preferred interpretation" is that this means there will be similar characteristics of His second coming as to when they beheld Him going into heaven.
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But how about you - can you show that the dead overcomers were taken up to Heaven after their literal births ? Or do we have a double standard here ?
One reason that I prefer to interpret the Manchild consists of those saints that have DIED is because the text says that they loved not their soul-life, even unto DEATH.
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony,
and they loved not their soul-life even unto DEATH. (Rev. 12:11)
My preferred understanding is that
Revelation, in its thoroughness, reveals both a vindication of the living overcomers as Firstfruits and deceased overcomers as the corporate Manchild.
That chapter
12 would reveal this resurrection and rapture seems consistent with the REQUEST of the souls of the martyred saints underneath the altar in
chapter 6:9-11 in the
Fifth Seal. These saints who died for their faith ask God how long before they are vindicated. Part of the answer is in the vision of the Manchild in chapter 12.
And when He (the Lamb) opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of he word of God and because of the testimony which they had.
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Master, holy and true, will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth ?
And to each of them was given a white robe; and it was said to them that they should rest yet a little while, until also the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were abut to be killed, even as they were, is completed. (Rev. 6:9-11)
Faithful believers both from the old covenant time and the new covenant time constituted the stronger part of the universal bright woman. A remnant from within the whole body of God's people, as a stronger part, will be resurrected and raptured as a Man-child and destined to co-reign with Christ.
When he goes up Satan is cast down and the time and times and half a time of great tribulation commence
(Rev. 12:5,6, 14)
The "weaker" element of the Woman who brought forth the Manchild of strength is persecuted severely on the earth for \[B\]a thousand two hundred and sixty days.
If one objects to calling this a pre-tribulation rapture, it certainly is a pre-
a thousand two hundred and sixty days rapture.
I prefer to understand it as a pre-great tribulation rapture.
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I’m not seeing it because it isn’t there. If you have big picture arguments you are free to make them, but if you try to tell me that Matthew 24:41-42 refers to events before the Tribulation without any reasonable arguments at all - as you,be been doing - it is not going to work and it is hardly my fault.
I don't promise to convince you. Why would I guarantee your persuasion?
I have no problem understanding the warnings of
Matthew 24:41-42as they are consistent perfectly with the parables about His coming and expecting His servants to be on their guard.
Watch therefore, for you do not know in what hday your Lord comes. (v.42)
This kind of warning is more likely about unsuspecting moment rather than a tumultous and sensational annoucement. The following verse also suggests SUPRISE in arrival rather than LOUD ANNOUCEMENT of arrival.
But know this, that if the householder had known in which watch the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
For this reason you also be ready, because at an hour when you do not expect it, the Son of Man is coming. (vs. 43,44)
As long as the Christian gets the message to live vigilantly, watching that he or she is in the presence of Jesus Christ, and that eventually this presence will be a matter of physically SEEING Him, it does not matter too much when he thinks the moment will come.
My preferred interpretation is that THIS warning is for a time when we do not expect Christ to come. At the end of the great tribulation He is mightily EXPECTED to appear in visible glory.
If He comes to snatch some remnant away and latter comes to reap a harvest majority
Acts 1:9-11 is STILL true.
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Your Old Testament references are by your own words to a promise to gather the Israelites together again. I am going to generously assume you are right about that. It’s still a lousy argument. Jesus’ chosen is more naturally read to refer to Christians and even if it did refer to Israelites alone the link with 24:31 remains intact.
Jesus spoke of Himself as the OT God incarnate who desired to gather the Jews in
Matthew 23:37-39, We Christians believe that Jesus is God incarnate. So that He would continue that theme in
Matthew 24:29-30 is consistent with Him being Yawheh incarnate.
Whatever the promises of God there are, the Yes and the Amen are in Jesus Christ
(Second Corinthians 1:20)
If you have a better way to live for Christ's coming again, you follow that.
I don't promise to persuade you of anything.
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