Posted on 07/31/2014 8:11:14 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
"This doctrine is not really found in the book of Revelation. If you read the book of Revelation, you won't find any mention of the rapture there," said William Craig, a Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Professor of Philosophy at Houston Baptist University.
Instead, Craig says, the idea of the rapture comes from a "misinterpretation of 1 and 2 Thessalonians where Paul is describing the coming of the Lord and resurrection of the dead, which will occur at His coming."
"If you compare what Paul says there to what Jesus says about the End Times, Paul uses the same vocabulary, the same phraseology. I think it's very plausible that Paul is talking about the same event that Jesus predicted, namely the visible coming of the Son of Man at the end of human history to usher in his kingdom," said Craig. "But proponents of the rapture view, say that Paul is not at all talking about the second coming of the Christ there. What he's really talking about is this invisible preliminary secret return of Christ to snatch believers out of the world before the great tribulation occurs. I think there's no textual warrant for that at all."
According to Craig, the rapture became a popular theory about the End Times due to the influence of the Scofield Reference Bible, which was published in the early 20th century and promulgated John Darby's mid-18th century's views on the rapture. Later, Christian institutions, among them Dallas Theological Seminary, and churches began teaching the validity of the rapture.
"A good many Bible-believing Christians absorbed this view as their mother's milk as it were and have never thought to question its Biblical credentials," said Craig.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
The word Rapture does not appear in the Bible. It comes from the Latin word rapare which means “seize”, “snatch” or “take away.” The term Rapture is used to refer to the faithful believers being taken up to meet Christ in the air as described in this passage written by the apostle Paul:
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. (NRSV, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
You mean the first resurrection? Why do we need to call it something other than what God named it for us?
You mean the first resurrection? Why do we need to call it something other than what God named it for us?
Craig always presents a good case. This convinced me a while back
Yes, I believe that there will be some wrath as part of the tribulation, but, as you say, believers are spared from that without being whisked away to heaven.
Nice screen name, that is what the the grand kids call me.
This view stems from a misunderstanding of what the Tribulation is, and what the Rapture is.
I will say this, though: The first half of the tribulation is what I see as satan’s “wrath” against the church. The second half is God’s wrath against those who are still alive on earth that did not accept Him. That begins with Revelation 7 after the sealing and the appearance of those who have come out.
This is why I call myself “post Trib, Pre Wrath”.
There’s nothing to suggest there will be a great revival in the midst of the growing worldwide apostasy.
Scriptues that support a pre-tribulation rapture:
1 Thess. 4:13-18 -
Meeting the church in the air.
1 Thessalonians 4 - 17
“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.”
Amplified:
Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!
1 Corinthians 15:52 -
No signs to herald Christ’s coming for his Church. This will come in the twinkling of an eye.
Church spared from the coming wrath:
1 Thessalonians 1:10 -
“and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”
This is consistent with God’s promise in numerous scriptures that he will never forsake and leave his children.
Second Coming:
Zechariah 14:4 - No meeting in the air, Jesus returns to earth on the Mount of Olives
Revelation 1:7
“every eye shall see him”
Unlike the rapture, Jesus will be seen by all.
Two separate comings of Christ are described in the Bible where the gatherings are clearly different in nature:
First the meeting of the Saints in the clouds. Then the Bible clearly states that Jesus Christ returns to the earth later and conquers it, when the people will be gathered from the four corners of the earth, separating the sheep from the goats. If this event is the same as the Rapture of the saints “sheep” there would only be goats left on earth. How could Jesus find sheep on Earth to separate when they’ve already been taken to the air? It’s clear that two different events involving different peoples are described.
Christ’s return to the Mount of Olives described in the old testament will be part of the final judgment involving Israel, and the event is clearly different in nature then the rapture, which will be the gathering of the Church/saints of this age.
Interesting.
I’ve been here since 1998 and I did not know there was a “religious” forum.
They were hungry, thirsty, very hot, and cried a lot. Not exactly pre-trib scenario?
Interesting.
All I’ve EVER clicked on from the landing page is latest posts and latest articles. In my early days it was mostly the former but the last 10 years or so it has been the latter.
Great advice and I agree completely. I don’t personally subscribe to the popular rapture doctrines, but I also don’t think it’s a salvation issue.
Sure, just go to the side bar and click “Religion” on the forum list.
I just noticed the cross in that picture. ;-)
Sure, just go to the side bar and click “Religion” on the forum list.
Sure, just go to the side bar and click “Religion” on the forum list.
“One could argue that the coming occurs from the beginning of the tribulation. Others could argue that the coming occurs when you actually see Him come down from the clouds.”
I suppose people can try to argue whatever they want, but the Bible is quite specific about Christ’s return in relation to the events of the tribulation, so I see no room for argument.
Ding, Ding, Ding!!
We have a Winner!
Excellent summation!
I had the privilege of taking several classes on this topic which were taught by Hal Lindsey when he was on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ. Lindsey teaches a pre-Tribulation Rapture.
However, he always mentioned that “other Bible teachers on staff believe in a mid-Trib or post-Trib rapture. These are Godly men and excellent Bible scholars. Scripture is open to these other interpretations”.
Personally, I would love a pre-Trib Rapture. However, I tend to expect a mid or post Tribulation Rapture.
Why? Two reasons:
1) God’s ultimate goal for us is not to give us a “cushy” life. Rather, His goal for us is that we be “conformed to the image of Christ”. We also know that “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.…”
2) Well-meaning, devoted Christians hold different views on the timing of the Rapture. I very well may be wrong. If I hold to a Pre-Trib view and am wrong, it will be a very rude awakening. If I hold to a Mid or Post-Trib view and the Rapture comes Pre-Trib, it will be a delightful surprise!
Either way,
“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The pre-trib position that I was taught as a child stated that the dead in Christ would rise first at the final trumpet.
If this is in fact the first resurrection, then what is the FIRST RESURRECTION in Revelation 20 and who are the rest of the dead? Be aware that every jot and tittle in scripture must be taken into account (especially easily disregarded phrases and short sentences) and never, ever take a reference from scripture without reading the whole chapter or preceding chapters. NEVER.
Revelation 20:4-6
the first resurrection
4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Love your user name.
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