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The doctrine of the rapture did not originate with anyone. Quite simply, the raptured church is seen in Heaven in Revelation 19:7-8. Both John 14:2-3 and 1 Thess 3:13-17 address the event. If you don't like the word 'rapture', then call it the 'catching up', or the 'snatching away'.
More precisely,the interpretation you choose to believe in says this.The Bible doesn't.It actually says most of Revelation except descriptions of heaven have already happened.The dispensational stuff did not start until uneducated preachers started trying to interpret the Bible without proper education,and many things about the Greek and Hebrew cultures that are described are therefore missed by them.It is a fact of theology that the less educated as a whole the people are the more likely it is that they will believe in this.Preachers who actually learn in depth about the Bible and Greek and Jewish history tend to dismiss such silly interpretations.
It really cranks up with the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and it's not God's practice to remove His people from trials, but to bring them through triumphantly. See the children of Israel.
The church is not Israel. Before God turns His attention back to Israel, The church is taken off the earth. Again. The raptured church is in Heaven in Revelation 19:7-8.
It all has to do with dispensations. The dispensation of the church must terminate before the last seven years remaining to Israel resumes as the Tribulation.
From the Bible,rathered than the fevered imagination of end timers.
Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
Rev 1:2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he whoreads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
From Strong's,who is considered by all theologians to be THE authority on Greek words.
Soon:
5034. tachos takh'-os from the same as 5036; a brief space (of time), i.e. (with 1722 prefixed) in haste:--+ quickly, + shortly, + speedily.
Other uses of the word in the NT:
Mar 9:39 But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.
Luk 7:11 Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd.
Luk 8:1 Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him,
Luk 8:6 "Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
Luk 19:37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen,
Luk 21:30 as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near.
Act 17:15 Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.
Near:
1451. eggus eng-goos' from a primary verb agcho (to squeeze or throttle; akin to the base of 43); near (literally or figuratively, of place or time):--from , at hand, near, nigh (at hand, unto), ready.
Other uses of near in the NT
Jhn 3:23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized—
Jhn 4:5 So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;
Jhn 6:4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.
Jhn 6:19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened.
Jhn 6:23 There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
Jhn 7:2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near.
You will,of course,now hear from the end timers that these words now have different meanings than the way they are used everywhere else in the Bible,that soon doesn't REALLY mean soon,and near doesn't REALLY mean near.These must be the special,"prophetic" definitions of the everyday Greek words.LOL!
Notice this.It is the READER of the words,and the HEARERS of the words being read,that are instructed to heed the words read to them in 100 AD or so,and it is THEY who are told that THEY will be blessed by heeding these words.
This is why I gave up the silly notion of dispensations.Because I simply took what the main book used to support the idea said at face value.And it says the prophecy is made to the people of the time it was first delivered to the churches.You know,the historical churches actually called out by name in the book.
Wow,what a concept.
I wonder where I can get one of those special Greek dictionaries that have the secret "prophetic" meanings defined?
Last edited by lifertexan; 06-28-2010 at 04:32 PM..
More precisely,the interpretation you choose to believe in says this.The Bible doesn't.It actually says most of Revelation except descriptions of heaven have already happened.The dispensational stuff did not start until uneducated preachers started trying to interpret the Bible without proper education,and many things about the Greek and Hebrew cultures that are described are therefore missed by them.It is a fact of theology that the less educated as a whole the people are the more likely it is that they will believe in this.Preachers who actually learn in depth about the Bible and Greek and Jewish history tend to dismiss such silly interpretations.
Wrong. Dispensations have to do with the differing ways in which God administers His plan. The differences between the way God administered His plan toward Israel is glaringly different from the way He administers His plan to the church.
Example:
1.)
a.) Israel: To be a priest, one had to be a male from the tribe of Levi.
b.) Church: Every believer is a priest.
2.)
a.) Israel: The Holy Spirit didn't indwell anyone, but had a ministry of Enduement to a few individuals for a specific purpose.
b.) Church: The Holy Spirit indwells every believer.
Those are just two examples.
The Millennial Dispensation will have its distinctions. For example, Jesus will be physically on the earth ruling from the throne of David. There will be perfect environment on the earth.
Those are just a few very brief examples of the differences between 3 different dispensations. Dispensations pertain to administration.
Before you go trying to trash something, you had better have an understanding of what it is you're trying to trash.
First, during the dark ages, the middle ages, many doctrines that are in the Bible were obscured and kept from the people. It wasn't until the reformation that many doctrines began to be recovered.
But I'll direct you to a couple of resources for more on that. You will have to take the responsibility to study what they say.
You make the simplistic error of assuming because someone doesn''t accept your version that they don't understand it.You're wrong.I knew it by heart,and then some.Taught lessons on it.Had Bible groups I taught ask my preacher what seminary I studied at (which I hadn't).But a funny thing about getting reeeaaally deep into studying something.If you study long and hard enough,and with an open mind,you also find all the seeming flaws in the ideas.And then if you possess the courage to actually investigate the seeming flaws instead of rejecting the idea out of hand that what you have believed just miigghhtt be wrong,you sometimes discover that what you believed is in fact not supportable by the evidence. But it takes courage to do this,and it is more difficult to challenge what you have been told to believe and easier to put doubts to the back of your mind and simply believe with faith,rather than facts,that what you have been taught is wrong.
You make the simplistic error of assuming because someone doesn''t accept your version that they don't understand it.You're wrong.I knew it by heart,and then some.Taught lessons on it.Had Bible groups I taught ask my preacher what seminary I studied at (which I hadn't).But a funny thing about getting reeeaaally deep into studying something.If you study long and hard enough,and with an open mind,you also find all the seeming flaws in the ideas.And then if you possess the courage to actually investigate the seeming flaws instead of rejecting the idea out of hand that what you have believed just miigghhtt be wrong,you sometimes discover that what you believed is in fact not supportable by the evidence. But it takes courage to do this,and it is more difficult to challenge what you have been told to believe and easier to put doubts to the back of your mind and simply believe with faith,rather than facts,that what you have been taught is wrong.
If you ever knew the truth, you have turned your back on it and are now in error. Something either drove the truth out of you, or you chose to turn from it and walk away. Many people do.
I have explained very briefly to you what dispensations are. What you do with that knowledge is up to you. You can turn back toward the truth or you can remain in rebellion. Your choice.
If you ever knew the truth, you have turned your back on it and are now in error. Something either drove the truth out of you, or you chose to turn from it and walk away. Many people do.
I have explained very briefly to you what dispensations are. What you do with that knowledge is up to you. You can turn back toward the truth or you can remain in rebellion. Your choice.
And you quite obviously did not feel capable of dealing with my post on Revelations.And to believe that a belief in dispensations is necessary for salvation is ridiculous in the extreme.It is also heretical.
And you quite obviously did not feel capable of dealing with my post on Revelations
You'll find this is common with pre-tribbers, texan, and not just here but everywhere. When you confront them with the evidence they tend to just gloss over it and make vague, accusing statements about you losing the faith or something.
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