Well written and documented. You have several quotable statements; I particularly liked, "The question is not: “How can I flee in time?” But: How can I remain faithful until he comes?"
Whenever Jesus spoke or was asked about the end, He inevitably talked about the faithfulness of those who were waiting for the Master's return. Jesus said, "The one who endures to the end shall be saved." The rapture as popularly taught does not occur at the end, and therefore removes the need for endurance.
I think Erickson’s writing in “Christian Theology” helped clarify my positioning on the “rapture”:
Ladd argues that the word ἀπάντησις suggests a welcoming party that goes out to meet someone on the way and accompanies the person back to where he or she came from. So our meeting the Lord in the air is not a case of being caught away, but of meeting him and then immediately coming with him to earth as part of his triumphant entourage. It is the church, not the Lord, that will turn around at the meeting.
I think you’re half correct, when we die our body goes to the ground, and our soul to the Lord. When we are raptured our bodies go up with the living that are in Christ and are charged to eternal Bodies
Can you clarify the second coming of Jesus Christ in light of the preceeding verse.
Revelations 20:5&6
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Welcome to the world of Reformed Theology - we don't have all the answers, but we do have the best answers. :-)
On another note, I was in an Arminian (SBC) church last Sunday for a baby dedication (my grandson) and they had a visiting preacher who was giving a gospel invitation as his message to the church, and he actually said that there are no elect - anyone can come to Christ. It's a good thing I wasn't sipping on a latte from the coffee kiosk in the foyer at the time...
I’ve enjoyed your articles. I don’t hold to the Rapture idea either but I’m providing you this reference because it was the oldest source on the subject that I could find. One of 3 Jesuits who sought to reinterpret scripture to refute the position of the Reformers that the Pope was the Antichrist was named, Francisco Ribera, He
published his work (which was based on this reinterpretation) in a book called
"In Sacram Beati Ionnis Apostoli " Evangelistate Apocoalypsin Commentari (Lugduni 1593). It most closely resembles Dispensational Premillennialism but of course only faithful Catholics get raptured in his scenario.
I don’t find the line in the sermon attributed to Pseudo-Ephraeam compelling and the qualifier “pseudo” should give any Dispensational Premillennialist pause Ribera’s work does parallel Darby’s ideas in many ways.
And if it is real, how the church describes how it will play out doesn't pass the smell test for me, to the point of it often sounding like it would be out of character for Jesus Christ.
What if the rapture isn’t about vanishing bodies—but resurrected understanding?
In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, he speaks of “those who have fallen asleep” and “the dead in Christ” rising.
For centuries, we’ve interpreted this literally.
But what if Paul was speaking in code—about lost generations, buried truths, and the awakening of the Christ-message in the final age?
💥In this upcoming post, we’ll explore:
• Why “asleep” means more than death
• How the Word was buried—and is now rising
• What it really means to “meet the Lord in the air”
• The role of the elect in this spiritual return
• And how you may already be part of this rising…
🔔 Subscribe now to be notified when it drops
Well written and documented. You have several quotable statements; I particularly liked, "The question is not: “How can I flee in time?” But: How can I remain faithful until he comes?"
Whenever Jesus spoke or was asked about the end, He inevitably talked about the faithfulness of those who were waiting for the Master's return. Jesus said, "The one who endures to the end shall be saved." The rapture as popularly taught does not occur at the end, and therefore removes the need for endurance.
I think Erickson’s writing in “Christian Theology” helped clarify my positioning on the “rapture”:
Ladd argues that the word ἀπάντησις suggests a welcoming party that goes out to meet someone on the way and accompanies the person back to where he or she came from. So our meeting the Lord in the air is not a case of being caught away, but of meeting him and then immediately coming with him to earth as part of his triumphant entourage. It is the church, not the Lord, that will turn around at the meeting.
I think you’re half correct, when we die our body goes to the ground, and our soul to the Lord. When we are raptured our bodies go up with the living that are in Christ and are charged to eternal Bodies
Can you clarify the second coming of Jesus Christ in light of the preceeding verse.
Revelations 20:5&6
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Let me know what you think
I like her teaching on Repture without gloom and doom.
Try this explanation
https://vimeo.com/103398991
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Waal what a detailed concise teaching on the Rapture.
Go to
www.Lampstandmin.com/End times videos
You can see the whole teaching on end times
Let me know what you think
Welcome to the world of Reformed Theology - we don't have all the answers, but we do have the best answers. :-)
On another note, I was in an Arminian (SBC) church last Sunday for a baby dedication (my grandson) and they had a visiting preacher who was giving a gospel invitation as his message to the church, and he actually said that there are no elect - anyone can come to Christ. It's a good thing I wasn't sipping on a latte from the coffee kiosk in the foyer at the time...
I’ve enjoyed your articles. I don’t hold to the Rapture idea either but I’m providing you this reference because it was the oldest source on the subject that I could find. One of 3 Jesuits who sought to reinterpret scripture to refute the position of the Reformers that the Pope was the Antichrist was named, Francisco Ribera, He
published his work (which was based on this reinterpretation) in a book called
"In Sacram Beati Ionnis Apostoli " Evangelistate Apocoalypsin Commentari (Lugduni 1593). It most closely resembles Dispensational Premillennialism but of course only faithful Catholics get raptured in his scenario.
I don’t find the line in the sermon attributed to Pseudo-Ephraeam compelling and the qualifier “pseudo” should give any Dispensational Premillennialist pause Ribera’s work does parallel Darby’s ideas in many ways.
And if it is real, how the church describes how it will play out doesn't pass the smell test for me, to the point of it often sounding like it would be out of character for Jesus Christ.
I think when we die. We go to meet Jesus. Judgement takes place and we go through a life review process.
I do not believe our souls are buried until the rapture.