Posted on 03/03/2009 1:55:52 PM PST by topcat54
Conclusion
Although the pretribulation rapture theory is very popular today, given arguments that are offered in support of this doctrine we must declare Pretribulationalism to be contrary to the clear teachings of Scripture. Simply put, there is not one shred of evidence that can be found in the Bible to support the pretribulation rapture. The typical Pretribulational arguments offered reveal a pattern: of imposing one’s presuppositions onto a text without any exegetical justification whatsoever; of finding subtle meaning between words and/or phrases that were never intended by the author; of spiritualizing or ignoring passages that contradict the Pretribulational paradigm; and, of imposing Pretribulationalism upon passages that actually teach the unity of the eschatological complex (i.e., the rapture, second coming, general resurrection, and general judgment all occur on the same day—the day of the Lord). It is our hope and prayer that professing Christians would cast off this escapist fantasy and return to the task of personal sanctification and godly dominion.
(Excerpt) Read more at freerepublic.com ...
"Second, passages which are used as proof texts for no signs before the rapture are better interpreted as referring to the second coming itself and not just the rapture. A favorite passage for Pretribulationists is 1 Thessalonians 5:2 which says, “the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” The coming as a thief in the night is interpreted to mean that the rapture comes secretly. That is, it is a surprise. There are no signs that precede it. The problem with such a view is: 1.) The phrase “day of the Lord” is consistently used in the New Testament to refer to the day of judgment which occurs a the second coming; and, 2.) The context of 1 Thessalonians 5:2 clearly indicates that the day of the Lord is a day when the enemies of God will be destroyed (cf. 1 Th. 5:3). Christians are told to watch and live sober because they know the day of judgment is coming (1 Th. 5:6ff.). The signs vs. no signs argument simply has no exegetical support."
I only wanna know one thing:
Will there be zombies?
If the answer is “Hell, YES !!!”, then count me in.
I have heard pre, mid and post....matters not. You need to be ready.
Good summation.
No. Sorta like how people believe that dead people are in heaven right now. “Oh little Jimmy’s in heaven looking down on us.” Hate to break it to you, but no he’s not.
I’m Panmillenial! I’m going to see how it all pans out.
He’s somewhere. Maybe Paradise? His soul isn’t just hanging out with his body for fun.
Yes! I am PAN-tribulation. It will all pan out in the end.
It is much more important how we live today. Do we live coram deo, before the face of God, realizing that every moment is in His presence, or do we just go about our merry way, expecting to “repent” right before death? Are we listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and practicing “spiritual breathing” by confessing sins as soon as we realize them?
There are some passages that deal with it. You are resting in the presence of God basically. The only non-angels in heaven right now are noted in the Bible.
YES!
Like the thief on the cross?
The real question is: why woud a “Reformed” theologian even care?
He’s not in heaven. He’s in Paradise.
Or the last I heard of him he was in Paradise. Good question though, and I don’t pretend to be an expert by any means.
They walk among us and laugh when we go to the bathroom.
You can rule out the pretrib rapture if you answer three questions from scripture.
1. Who rises First?
2. When do they rise?
3. When is the Last Trumpet?
Well, that's one opinion.
“Hate to break it to you, but no I believe he’s not”
There, fixed it for you.
Is this the sleeping dead theory?
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