Greetings,

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Rapture - where and when?

I know that millions of people (Christians in particular) are awaiting the rapture. The moment when they will be wisked away before all hell breaks loose on planet earth. But, allow me to gently and humbly suggest that this “rapture==>left behind” view is right about the suddenness of Christ’s return, but wrong about what happens next.

This view that millions of people will be standing around wondering where everyone went and headed toward the great tribulation has little in the bible to support it. In fact, rather the opposite, I believe the bible makes it rather clear that Christ coming for his own will be the end of history. I would encourage you to consider these views as “noble Bereans” and test my view against the “rapture==> left behind/tribulation” view.

Rather than the unregenerate being “left behind” for the great tribulation--wondering where everyone disappeared to, I believe that when the “rapture” happens: we who remain are changed, meet the Lord in the air with resurrected believers and return to the earth immediately to stand before Christ for final judgment (together with all humanity, those who died apart from Christ and those who lived apart from Christ.) This is the end and death will be defeated right then and there.

1 Corinthians 15:51-55 ⁵¹ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." ⁵⁵ "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

When we are transformed (i.e. “raptured”) then death will also be ended. Why? Because, all will be raised and all will face final judgment together. That is not what “raptureàleft behind” advocates say. If death is ended at his coming and our rapture, then there is no more “fierce wrath of God” to be poured out on humanity in history. For when that event happens: a) Christ descends, b) we meet him in the air, c) Christ judges the world. End of story. It will be sudden; but there’s nothing I can find in the bible to convince me that anyone will be left behind.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Revelation 1:7 ⁷ Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

When he comes, everyone will see him. This is directly contradicted in the raptureàleft behind view. Who say that no-one will see him.

At the end, of history all the dead are raised—the just and the unjust at the same time.

Revelation 20:11-15 ¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. ¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Matthew 25:31-34 ³¹ "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. ³⁴ "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world…. Matthew 25:40-41 ⁴⁰ "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' ⁴¹ "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

I believe Christ second coming is the end. There will be nothing after that. So yes, he will come in an instant. But those who are not caught up, will be presently judged immediately. There is no tribulation after his once and final return. There is no secret return.

1 Corinthians 15:22-24 ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. ²⁴ Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

In summary here’s the order of events as I read them from the scriptures:

1. Christ returns (see all relvant texts above)
2. The dead in Christ are raised (1 Thess. 4; 1 Cor. 15:23)
3. All the dead are raised (1 Cor. 15:23) “the dead are raised imperishable”
4. We who are alive and remain are take up (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:17)
5. Every eye sees him because: (Rev. 1:7)
6. the sea gives up it’s dead & those un-regenerate non-raptured people witness his descent with us his holy ones (Rev. 20:11)
7. Jesus judges the nations (Matthew 25:31-45)
8. Death is no more (1 Cor. 15:54)
9. Then the end will come (1 Cor. 15:24)
10. He hands the kingdom over to his Father (1 Cor. 15:24)

Grace and peace. I look forward to your comments.

Happy New Year

Greetings and happy new year!

Here's a fun family photo. Cuties, eh?

Later

Sing to the King! (now)


The other day, my wife and I were listening to the Passion worship song, "Sing to the King" and she pointed out how decidedly dispensational the first verse is. I agreed. It makes it sound like Jesus will only reign once He returns. But the truth of NT theology is that he reigns now. Jesus is Lord!

I have re-written what I beleive to be a better reflection NT theology on this matter.

(original)
Sing to the King Who is coming to reign
Glory to Jesus, the Lamb that was slain
Life and salvation His empire shall bring
And joy to the nations when Jesus is King

(my version)
Sing to the King Who’s ascended to reign
Glory to Jesus, the Lamb that was slain
Life and salvation His empire now brings
And joy to the nations 'cause Jesus is King

(Chorus, no change)
Come, let us sing a song
A song declaring that we belong to Jesus
He is all we need
Lift up a heart of praise
Sing now with voices raised to Jesus
Sing to the King

Incidentally, I'd keep the second verse about his second coming, because the finale still awaits, but we must rightly acknowledge that his reign has now begun.

Bible Thumpin' Soul Moving Cinema

Last night my wife and I had a date out and went to see the movie Fireproof. Frankly I really enjoyed it. The acting is probably not going to win an academy award, but we should remember that movie making (by serious Christians) is still in it's infancy.

Here are a few categories by which I've critiqued the film:

Premise/concept: Definitely a movie that hits a nerve. As with Facing the Giants, Alex Kendrick wraps his theme around reality, humor and life.

General satisfaction: Let's face it, we go to the movies to enjoy ourselves. I really enjoyed this movie because it tells the truth.

Acting: Kirk Cameron really delivered and I believe increased the quality of the rest of the actors and actresses. However, honestly, I think this was one of the weaker points. At the same time, it was a movie about real life and I found the ordinary kind of people more believable.

Gospel: I wouldn't normally expect to hear much of the gospel in any movie, but this film is decidedly and unapologetically preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's rare to hear it so explicitly, but I think they did it carefully, clearly and honestly.

Story development: Of course we rightly expect that the husband and wife will triumph, but there's lots of tension and surprizes along the way. I think I counted four or more delightful spins that were unexpected and really heightened the plot. But I'll let you watch the movie. . .

Paradigm shifts

An interesting thing in any topic we study is that we approach the truth from differeing paradigms. Here's a picture of the famous duck rabbit. Which do you see first? Can you see both? If so, you're ready to study eschatology.

When approaching the Bible there is an equal appeal for both covenant and dispensational readings. Over the next series of posts I'll look into some of these issues.

The End is Near!

This week I am starting a class I'm teaching on eschatology.

I found this great cartoon.

Eliana-my God has answered

This week, my sixth daughter Eliana was born. She entered the world on Sept. 28, 2008.
Here's a picture

The name Eliana is Hebrew for "my God (Eli) has answered (ana)."

It's been a while since I've rolled with blog. I'll be posting more soon. Till then...