Posted on 07/26/2019 3:04:17 AM PDT by Cronos
"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, ResearchProfessor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology 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,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.
"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,"
"It is astonishing, American evangelism is very widely misled, that it has departed from the historic Christian position about the second coming of Christ. That's really rather sobering, because if we're wrong about this, what other things might we have misinterpreted?"
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
Where is “Grace to You”, studying “God’s” word on this?
Really...where can we emote?
While we are busy tossing books from the scripture can we start a list?
:: Positions on the Rapture don’t matter. ::
Yes, but we are slaves to the Law. We must be found “the best Christians” ever in order to ascend. If we fall short, we will not ascend. But, meh, I’m better than you so...mind the scorching heat, amigo!
Oh...the despair!~
-h/t, Luther
Nicaea wasn't called to address the canon, and didn't.
1. Believers are frequently referred to in the bible as the “Body of Christ”, and as the “Bride of Christ”.
2. The tribulation period is clearly described as God pouring out His wrath against the entire earth and all those who dwell upon it.
Therefore, if there is no pre-tribulation rapture, then it can logically be concluded that God will pour out His wrath upon His own body.
1Th 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ”
Pretty much puts the event in real time, doesn't it ?
Denial of Daniel, Ezekiel, Thessalonians, Revelation,etc. is part of the end times apostasy. I hear only half of new Southern Baptist ministers now believe in dispensation all theology.
When reading Jesus words in the New Testament about his return, there is no rescue rapture talk. Read Matthew 24. Rather there is warning of persecution for believers. Sobering.
My experience with friends and family who believe in the pretribulation rapture has been this...… when we talk about the dangerous political future coming on us, they almost welcome it. They don’t care to do anything about it. Why? the response I get is a smile and “Jesus is coming soon.”
If this rescue doesn’t happen before the tribulation/persecution I fear many will reject it all and turn away.
Nowhere else in the Bible? Really?
I think Jesus kind of said it here (without using the word ‘Rapture’):
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
***
In the last week I’ve seen “Christian experts” say Hell isn’t real when Jesus refers to Hell many times.
Now the Rapture.
I think the verses above describe our present state of affairs fairly well.
More like insisting on irrevocable deportation orders but when the light goes on suddenly wanting to stay after the rockets have fired and “we have lift off”.
The Darby Plymouth Bretheren were “set apart” by their unique relationship to Christ. Some have discerned that they are “walled off” in heaven to insure they have no knowledge of salvation to any but themselves. They are, in their own view, God’s select, the Chosen Few, who are uniquely deserving of salvation and none other.
A friend’s grandmother, a Plymouth Bretheren, said to her young grand daughter, “I cannot be unequally yoked to you, an unbeliever. You will be left behind when the Lord comes for His own.”
This affected the girl throughout her life as a curse by her blessed grandmother. She was not able to feel the presence of Christ in her life. It has only been in her later years that she recognizes that her grandmother was deluded by false doctrine. She has found Christ after many years of wandering in the darkness.
There is about this view something demonic that tears at the fabric of the body of Christ. It is the arm saying to the leg, “You do not belong in this body because you are not an arm.”
Here is my personal eschatology view:
1. The rapture of the church. Christ comes in the clouds to “snatch away” all those who trust in Him (1 Corinthians 15:52). At this same time, the “dead in Christ” will be resurrected and taken to heaven, too. From our perspective today, this is the next event in the eschatological timeline. The rapture is imminent; no other biblical prophecy needs to be fulfilled before the rapture happens.
2. The rise of the Antichrist. After the church is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8), a satanically empowered man will gain worldwide control with promises of peace (Revelation 13:1; Daniel 9:27). He will be aided by another man, called the false prophet, who heads up a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:20).
3. The tribulation. A period of seven years in which God’s judgment is poured out on sinful humanity (Revelation 6–16). The Antichrist’s rise to power is associated with this time period. During the tribulation on earth, the Church will be in heaven. It is thought that at this time the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will occur in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 19:6–10).
4. The Battle of Gog and Magog. In the first part of the tribulation, a great army from the north, in alliance with several other countries from the Middle East and Africa, attacks Israel and is defeated by God’s supernatural intervention (Ezekiel 38–39). (Some commentators place this battle just before the start of the tribulation.)
5. The abomination of desolation. At the midway point of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and shows his true colors. The Jews are scattered, and many of them turn to the Lord, realizing that Jesus is their Savior. A great persecution breaks out against all those who believe in Christ (Daniel 12:11; Mark 13:14; Revelation 12:17).
6. The Battle of Armageddon. At the end of the tribulation, Jesus returns with the armies of heaven (Mark 14:62). He saves Jerusalem from annihilation and defeats the armies of the nations fighting under the banner of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:11–21). The Antichrist and the false prophet are captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).
7. The judgment of the nations. Christ will judge the survivors of the tribulation, separating the righteous from the wicked as “sheep” and “goats” (Matthew 25:31–46). (It is thought that at this time the Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead.) The righteous will enter the Millennial Kingdom; the wicked will be cast into hell.
8. The binding of Satan. Satan will be bound and held in a bottomless pit for the next 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–3).
9. The Millennial Kingdom. Jesus Himself will rule the world, and Jerusalem will be the capital. This will be a 1,000-year period of peace and prosperity on earth (Revelation 20; Isaiah 60–62). Memorial sacrifices will be offered in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40–48).
10. The last battle. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released from his prison for a short time. He will deceive the nations once again, and there will be a rebellion against the Lord that will be quickly defeated (Revelation 20:7–10). Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, never to reappear.
11. The Great White Throne Judgment. All those in hell will be brought forth, and all the wicked from all eras of history will be resurrected to stand before God in a final judgment (Revelation 20:11–15). The verdicts are read, and all of sinful humanity is cast into the lake of fire.
12. The new creation. God completely remakes the heavens and the earth. It is at this time that God wipes away all tears and there will be no more pain, death, or sorrow. The New Jerusalem descends from heaven, and the children of God will enjoy eternity with Him (Revelation 21–22).
(copied from gotquestions.org/end-times-timeline.html because it matches what I believe)
As an alumni of BIOLA, this so called “research professor of PHILOSOPHY” (that says it all) at Talbot is a theological buffoon. “Philosophy” is not theology.
Unfortunately, BIOLA, and Talbot, like many other formerly biblically sound educational institutions have both fallen from their former lofty biblical and theological foundations.
Cronos, you epitomize the biblical statement:
“Know this first if all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the sign if his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the
beginning of creation’.” (2 Peter 3:2-4)
It is astounding how much you vehemently hate the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ’s pretribulation return and rapture of church, in order to fulfill God’s Word and promise to deliver it “from” (literally “out of” in the Greek) the wrath of almighty God to come.
The issue is not about a rapture, but when. The Darby theory is that Jesus will come back twice...once for a secret rapture to rescue believers before the tribulation.
Myself, I believe he returns once and that after the tribulation. Then the angels will gather the elect. The did shall rise etc.
One return.
Well from reading some of these posts it just confirms what is stated in the Bible that in the last days before Christ’s return that men will have blinders on to the truth..
you were losing on the other thread so you had to start a new one to continue your argument? We get it that you are preterist. Most of us are not. This is not a salvation issue. Get over it and move on.
...because everyone should get their theology (as well as their politics) from the internet.
“Some have discerned that they are “walled off” in heaven to insure they have no knowledge of salvation to any but themselves....”
Some, perhaps, but not all. If you look carefully enough, you’ll find errors in all sects, denominations, gatherings as they are all comprised of fallible people. I attend a Brethren assembly which wholly believes that “ whosoever will to the Lord May come,” and which makes it a point to preach the gospel “till He comes.”
IF the Rapture is going to happen are you ready?
IF the Rapture doesn't happen are you ready?
And by being reading that means are you trusting in Christ and Christ alone for your salvation?
IF you're trusting in Him then the future is secure.
The ride might be a bit bumpy but you're promised you will land.
I agree Mom. I believe in the rapture. If others don’t, so be it. It isn’t necessary, for salvation, so I am not even remotely concerned, what anyone thinks about it. 😁
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