“If I correctly recollect, the Apostle Paul spoke of a church who had sold all their possessions and were sitting around waiting for the Rapture.”
I’ve read my Bible many many times, and don’t know of this reference at all.
I’ve read my Bible many many times, and don’t know of this reference at all.
Not quite stated that way, but implied in the letters to the church at Thessaloniki. We have two letters from Paul to this church with the coming of the Lord as a prime subject. The first letter was written because some at Thessaloniki were concerned that some of their loved ones had died and had not seen the Lord's return. Paul writes to explain that the dead in Christ will rise first and be with Him when those who are still alive at His return meet Him in the air.
The second letter was written because some at Thessaloniki believed that since the Lord's return could happen at any moment, they didn't have to work. Not having anything constructive to do, they became busybodies, lazy, and a burden to the rest of the body of believers. Here we find in chapter 3 the line "He who will not work shall not eat."
While not in the body of Hold Writ, there is some indication in the writings of the early Fathers that a situation such as was stated - people giving up all and awaiting for the Return - was exactly what was happening at Thessaloniki.
Thus ends tonight's lesson on Biblical history.