Take me away!
..I'll fly away, I'll fly away
Usually when I have a discussion with someone about a spiritual topic, it usually ends up here as a blog. So thanks to my chosen friends who care or dare to debate such things with me, this blog keeps growing. I try to keep a very simple approach to the study of spirituality. It's a simple thing afterall. There's plenty of questions, but some are not meant to be answered. Most people want to take a scientific approach to the study of scripture, but sometimes this cannot be done. More often than not the method of creating a doctrine or belief centers around one verse of scripture, which is completely out of context of the rest of the scriptures. The 'rapture' of the church is one of these ideas. First of all, the rapture as it's called is not in the bible. and there is only one scripture verse in all of the new testament that clearly describes such an event. 1st Thessalonians 4:17. Paul is the only one who mentions the church being "caught up in the air" and he only says it once. So this one scripture verse is the foundation for a 'rapture' taking place. All other verses that are thought of as 'rapture' related, must have some connection to this verse, right? nope. This is very significant, because the next closest passage describing a rapture-like event is Matthew 24:27-31, which specifically states that it takes place "after the tribulation." This is not Paul talking here, or Timothy, or John, or any of the other new testament notables, it's the Messiah, the Son of God, not just any Joe off the street is saying that the gathering takes place after the distress of nations, the sun being darkened, the moon not giving it's light, the stars of heaven disappearing, nations mourning the sign of the son of man returning in the heavens. Yikes. If we discount the words of Christ our Lord and savior in favor of Paul's one verse, that's a problem in my opinion we need to resolve. Those words written in Red are the voice of Jesus in print. If He says it's going to take place after the tribulation, then there's no argument here on this end - I say 'Yes sir' and keep going.
The main problem here is taught in many churches, the idea that the rapture of the church and the 2nd coming of Christ are two separate events. The bible does not make this distinction. If we take what Christ said in Matthew's gospel, then apply it to what is said afterward it begins to make more sense.
Anyhow, this could go on for a while, but you get the idea. First and foremost - do not take one scripture and make it into a way of life. All of the scripture from the Torah to Revelation is meant as a whole storyline. It cannot be taken out of context to come up with a 'new' revelation of it's meaning. And also, if Jesus said it, let's listen to Him first. If we worship Him as Messiah, it makes sense that His words carry more weight than Paul's or anyone elses. I'm sure Paul himself would agree.
As I told my friend, It is good not to be a pre-trib or post-trib or mid-trib believer... it really doesn't matter, being a pan-tribulationist believer is more my style - I believe it'll 'pan out' the way God wants it too. We're just here for the ride.
Chris
Usually when I have a discussion with someone about a spiritual topic, it usually ends up here as a blog. So thanks to my chosen friends who care or dare to debate such things with me, this blog keeps growing. I try to keep a very simple approach to the study of spirituality. It's a simple thing afterall. There's plenty of questions, but some are not meant to be answered. Most people want to take a scientific approach to the study of scripture, but sometimes this cannot be done. More often than not the method of creating a doctrine or belief centers around one verse of scripture, which is completely out of context of the rest of the scriptures. The 'rapture' of the church is one of these ideas. First of all, the rapture as it's called is not in the bible. and there is only one scripture verse in all of the new testament that clearly describes such an event. 1st Thessalonians 4:17. Paul is the only one who mentions the church being "caught up in the air" and he only says it once. So this one scripture verse is the foundation for a 'rapture' taking place. All other verses that are thought of as 'rapture' related, must have some connection to this verse, right? nope. This is very significant, because the next closest passage describing a rapture-like event is Matthew 24:27-31, which specifically states that it takes place "after the tribulation." This is not Paul talking here, or Timothy, or John, or any of the other new testament notables, it's the Messiah, the Son of God, not just any Joe off the street is saying that the gathering takes place after the distress of nations, the sun being darkened, the moon not giving it's light, the stars of heaven disappearing, nations mourning the sign of the son of man returning in the heavens. Yikes. If we discount the words of Christ our Lord and savior in favor of Paul's one verse, that's a problem in my opinion we need to resolve. Those words written in Red are the voice of Jesus in print. If He says it's going to take place after the tribulation, then there's no argument here on this end - I say 'Yes sir' and keep going.
The main problem here is taught in many churches, the idea that the rapture of the church and the 2nd coming of Christ are two separate events. The bible does not make this distinction. If we take what Christ said in Matthew's gospel, then apply it to what is said afterward it begins to make more sense.
Anyhow, this could go on for a while, but you get the idea. First and foremost - do not take one scripture and make it into a way of life. All of the scripture from the Torah to Revelation is meant as a whole storyline. It cannot be taken out of context to come up with a 'new' revelation of it's meaning. And also, if Jesus said it, let's listen to Him first. If we worship Him as Messiah, it makes sense that His words carry more weight than Paul's or anyone elses. I'm sure Paul himself would agree.
As I told my friend, It is good not to be a pre-trib or post-trib or mid-trib believer... it really doesn't matter, being a pan-tribulationist believer is more my style - I believe it'll 'pan out' the way God wants it too. We're just here for the ride.
Chris
posted by Chris at
8:46 AM
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