[The Grammarian]

I cite Ephraem the Syrian because we have negative neybobs on these threads that insist the notion of Rapture is a nineteenth century creation.

I don't think that's it so much as dispensationalists mean something different by 'rapture' than the rest of us do. For example, to Catholics, 'rapture' is most often taken to mean "prophecy that takes place while the senses are suspended in ecstasy" (New Advent encyclopedia).

Ben Witherington explains it in a couple of Seven Minute Seminary segments on Seedbed.

[MHGinTN]

I'm sorry, but this man starts with a false assertion. Matthew 24 is not a proof text for the Rapture. It is teaching by Jesus dealing with THE DAY OF THE LORD. 1Thess4:13-17, John14, 1Cor15:51-53, AND 1Thess2:1-9, these are the texts to focus upon for the removing of the Holy Spirit indwelling Believers during the Church Age. To even use the phrase 'Church Age' is to affirm there are dispensations. Jesus reinforces the truth of dispensations by telling His disciples in the Upper Room discourse that He is instituting a New Covenant. The old covenant was a performance based contract where God said to Israel 'if you will do this, I will do thus'. The New Covenant says I WILL DO and by believing in Me you shall have the Life of God's Promise. It is not a performance based covenant, it is a Proclamation of judicial absolution, that In Christ there is now therefore no condemnation. God loves us not 'id we perfrom' not 'because' we perform, but because He loves us 'anyway' ... 'For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' 'That ALL who believe shall have eternal life.'

The Rapture is theologically sound because The Restrainer is taken out of the way BEFORE the lawlessness can come in upon the Earth in full. The mystery of lawlessness was already working when Paul wrote his letters. BUT for the man of sin, THE lawlessness to be reveal the believers in whom dwells the Holy Spirit will be removed, Raptured from the Earth, Departed from their standing against the lawlessness. 2 Thess2:3

Thanks for the ling, but no thanks. Conflation such as that man is using causes confusion or abandonment from searching in a Berean Way.

[MHGinTN]

And you do not see how Ben is completely discombobulated in his stumbling explanation? Shall I enumerate, or are you sold on the errors Ben offers. ... And don’t quote me his CV, what he is saying is in error, so how much grist after his name means nothing to the leaven he is offering.

[MHGinTN]

Zing

[MHGinTN]

Se post # 74, where Sky Pilot posted a very useful chart which details from Bible passages the differences in The Rapture and the Second Coming.

Sky, this is so far the second time I've used that handy chart. Thanks again