| As the title suggests, I propose here to discuss briefly | | | | differeth from another star in glory.So also is the |
| several important ideas related to an event often billed | | | | resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is |
| the "Rapture." For those unfamiliar with the term, this | | | | raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised |
| popular doctrine invites the idea that believers in Jesus | | | | in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is |
| will silently and swiftly -- in an instant -- translate | | | | sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. .... And |
| (change) into heavenly glory. The Lord Jesus, | | | | as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall |
| descending from heaven to remove them from the | | | | also bear the image of the heavenly.Now this I say, |
| earth, will thereby usher in a seven-year tribulation that | | | | brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the |
| will engulf the planet in war, famine, and plagues -- dare | | | | kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit |
| I say it -- of biblical proportions. Supposedly, carting off | | | | incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall |
| the saints in this fashion will make for missing pilots, | | | | not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, |
| trains and planes plunging and crashing, panic in the | | | | in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the |
| streets, and all manner of cancelled basketball games. | | | | trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised |
| Tens of millions, pulpiteers warn us, will just vanish in | | | | incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this |
| mid-stride of the day or night -- for the hour of this | | | | corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal |
| putative event remains unknown -- with no prior notice. | | | | must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall |
| Presumably, landlords with Christian tenants will simply | | | | have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put |
| pocket the deposit.Now, I have taken up this topic for | | | | on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying |
| three reasons. First, this teaching enjoys widespread | | | | that is written, Death is swallowed up in |
| popularity among, perhaps, hundreds of millions of | | | | victory.Likewise, 1 Thessalonians (4:14-18) discusses |
| Christians, and has formed the topic of bestsellers (i.e. | | | | also the resurrection of Jesus and then mentions this |
| Hal Lindsey's Late Great Planet Earth), of movies, and | | | | same resurrection-rapture trumpet in these words:For |
| an untold number of questionable sermons. The | | | | if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so |
| second reason I have chosen it stems from the fact | | | | them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. |
| that the Bible -- just about as clearly as anyone might | | | | For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that |
| do so -- falsifies this doctrine. Third, I have seen | | | | we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the |
| firsthand how it can ruin the lives of people who, at | | | | Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are |
| any moment, expect all their work and livelihood to | | | | asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from |
| come to nothing. It completely stifles the impetus -- and | | | | heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, |
| the biblical commandment -- for men and women to | | | | and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall |
| "be frutiful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it," | | | | rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be |
| which commandment God has never revoked.The | | | | caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet |
| "cosmic slingshot" theory requires Christians to forego | | | | the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the |
| the idea that we must stay and build to advance the | | | | Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these |
| kingdom of Christ on earth. It fosters a do-nothingism | | | | words.Note that this Thessalonian passage teaches of |
| that refuses to "polish brass on a sinking ship" -- as | | | | the resurrection of Jesus (v. 14) as the basis for the |
| many of its proponents have said. This effectively calls | | | | resurrection of "them also which sleep in Jesus." This |
| the whole earth "evil," when the Scripture calls it "good." | | | | primarily aims at the resurrection of the dead ("The |
| But no one -- okay, very few -- could construe as a | | | | dead in Christ shall rise first") as the comfort and hope |
| good thing the boarding of a ship destined to sink | | | | of the Christian -- note the same trumpet as |
| straight to the bottom with passengers aboard it. By | | | | mentioned in 1 Cor. 15 -- and only the translation (i.e. |
| this aquatic metaphor, Rapture fans actually propose | | | | rapture) of those who remain alive until his coming at |
| to excuse themselves for abandoning their post, for | | | | the resurrection of the dead, when Christ shall raise |
| shunning the dominion mandate and Great Commission, | | | | those who died in the Lord.When does this happen? 1 |
| and for rejecting the commandment of God to glorify | | | | Cor. 15 says only when Christ has subdued all his |
| Him by working to build a Christian, cultural legacy as | | | | enemies (here Paul follows Psalm 110) under his feet, |
| "profitable servants."But enough commentary for now, | | | | will he leave heaven's throne from which he reigns. It |
| and onto the proof against this doctrine from the Bible | | | | says: "For he must reign [from heaven], till he hath put |
| itself. Keep in mind, we have put the five reasons | | | | all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be |
| offered against the imminent rapture doctrine in the | | | | destroyed is death." This means Jesus will not return, |
| form of five handy questions you can have at the | | | | and the rapture-resurrection trumpet will not sound, until |
| ready for your pastor or other people espousing the | | | | the end of the millenium. We know this, because at the |
| view.First, we should note that the Bible teaches that | | | | end of the millenium, Christ still has enemies he has yet |
| the Great Commission will succeed, and that the | | | | to subdue, who plot mischief on the earth:Revelation |
| nations will convert to saving faith in Jesus Christ. This | | | | 20: 7-9 says this plainly:And when the thousand years |
| makes any idea of any premillenial "rapture" -- a | | | | are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, |
| wanton escape pod -- unnecessary, unbiblical and | | | | And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in |
| unfaithful.Psalm 22:27-31 reads [just following a | | | | the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to |
| prominent passage of the Psalms recounting the | | | | gather them together to battle: the number of whom is |
| suffering of Messiah]: All the ends of the world shall | | | | as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the |
| remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the | | | | breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the |
| kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For | | | | saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down |
| the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor | | | | from God out of heaven, and devoured them.The last |
| among the nations. All they that be fat upon earth shall | | | | enemy to be destroyed is death, when death is |
| eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall | | | | swallowed up in victory -- at the post-millenial |
| bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. | | | | resurrection. Thus, no one living today has any right to |
| A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the | | | | expect God to deliver them from anything by |
| Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall | | | | removing him or her from the earth. God has never |
| declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be | | | | promised this. The premillenial secret rapture doctrine |
| born, that he hath done this.Matthew 16:18 says: "And I | | | | amounts to only so much theological spam from the |
| say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this | | | | spam factory.Moreover, Psalm 110 says that the |
| rock [which foundational rock turns out to be all the | | | | Messiah will remain seated [on a throne] at God's right |
| apostles and prophets, and not merely Peter, see Eph. | | | | hand until ALL Christ's enemies are made his footstool: |
| 2:20], I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall | | | | "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right |
| not prevail against it."1 Chron. 29:11 teaches that God | | | | hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The |
| always has the victory in these words:Thine, O LORD | | | | LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: |
| is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the | | | | rule thou in the midst of thine enemies."Here, God |
| victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven | | | | promises that He will subdue Christ's enemies -- all of |
| and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, | | | | them -- and that Christ will "sit at His right hand" until |
| and thou art exalted as head above all.Daniel 4:35 | | | | God subdues them all, the last of which names death. |
| declares: 'All the peoples of the earth are regarded as | | | | This means that Christ will not leave his throne -- not |
| nothing. He [The Lord] does as he pleases with the | | | | for a rapture, not for some alleged "rescue" from the |
| powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No | | | | Great Commission, and not for any other reason -- |
| one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have | | | | until the end of the millenium.Hebrews 10 (vv. 11-13) |
| you done?"'Matthew 28:18-20 reads:And Jesus came | | | | says it even more plainly [alluding to Psalm 110], "And |
| and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto | | | | every priest standeth daily ministering and offering |
| me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach | | | | oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take |
| all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, | | | | away sins: But this man [Jesus], after he had offered |
| and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them | | | | one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right |
| to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded | | | | hand of God; From henceforth expecting [i.e. waiting] till |
| you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end | | | | his enemies be made his footstool."Christ sits on the |
| of the world. Amen.Question 1. So our first question for | | | | throne waiting for God to subdue all His enemies. Until |
| pastors teaching the Rapture theology is this: Why do | | | | that happens, he will not leave His throne. Since none |
| you want the saints to flee from their responsibility of | | | | of us will live until the end of the millenium, we have no |
| pursuing the great commission and dominion mandate | | | | right to expect that any of us will ever see anyone |
| -- which includes the building of hospitals, schools and | | | | raptured - or "left behind" for that matter. The only |
| businesses that last for generations -- when the Bible | | | | people I can see getting left behind are those who |
| says we will win? How is teaching them, "We all might | | | | continue in false doctrine, contrary to the clear |
| go away tomorrow" consistent with the idea of building | | | | teachings of the holy Scripture.Question 4. How can |
| for generations? Fact: those who believe in the secret | | | | you say Christ will descend in the Rapture -- thereby |
| rapture myth do not build beautiful cathedrals; they do | | | | leaving his throne -- before Scripture says He will? |
| not build anything to last over generations. They often | | | | Were the Psalmist and Paul simply mistaken, or are |
| meet in "motel 6" churches, buildings designed for little | | | | the Premillenial Rapture proponents in error?Finally, all |
| more than an overnight stay.Second, the Bible | | | | the parables of the Bible relevant to the topic of how |
| presents the Word of the Lord as a powerful and | | | | history will proceed until the Lord returns indicate that |
| effective tool in the hands of the Holy Spirit. The | | | | history will progress in a continuous (if bumpy) fashion, |
| Scripture says that God's word cannot fail its intended | | | | with no major interruptions (or "discontinuous events") |
| purpose, and that it remains an instrument by which | | | | like the rapture.Matthew 13:24-30 recounts the parable |
| God will convert the nations.Isaiah 55:11 reads: "So shall | | | | of the wheat and the tares, which Jesus afterward |
| my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall | | | | explained to his disciples in private. Here Matthew |
| not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that | | | | reads,"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, |
| which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I | | | | The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which |
| sent it."Psalm 19:7 tells that "The law of the Lord is | | | | sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his |
| perfect, converting the soul ..." This indicates the | | | | enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and |
| purpose for which God has sent it (the "thing whereto" | | | | went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and |
| God sent it in the verse above) -- the conversion of | | | | brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So |
| the nations to saving faith in Christ.Heb. 4:12 tells us that | | | | the servants of the householder came and said unto |
| "The word of God is living and powerful, sharper than | | | | him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? |
| any two-edged sword..."Question 2. If the word of the | | | | from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, |
| Lord works so powerfully as to accomplish all for | | | | An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, |
| which God sends it, and if God has sent it to convert | | | | Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he |
| souls -- or the nations of the world (according to | | | | said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up |
| Matthew 28:18-20) -- then how could it fail to do so?" | | | | also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until |
| And if it succeeds, what need have we of any | | | | the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the |
| "Rapture"? Shouldn't we rather spend our time building | | | | reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind |
| up and improving our communities for the generations | | | | them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat |
| to come, and not squander our time staring up into the | | | | into my barn.Matthew 13:36-43 then explains this |
| sky hoping for a quick exit?Third, the Bible holds forth | | | | parable in these words:Then Jesus sent the multitude |
| The Lord Christ as One who cannot fail. It is His nature | | | | away, and went into the house: and his disciples came |
| to secure victory, and overcome all obstacles to his | | | | unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the |
| goals because as the Sovereign Lord, He both made | | | | tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He |
| and controls all things. Yet the rapture needs the great | | | | that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The |
| commission -- given by Christ -- to fail. Otherwise, why | | | | field is the world; the good seed are the children of the |
| would Jesus have to return personally to intervene and | | | | kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked |
| rescue the saints? If you will recall, the early Christian | | | | one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the |
| church overtook the Roman Empire just BECAUSE | | | | harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are |
| God refused to rescue his martyrs from death. If He | | | | the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and |
| had "Raptured" them to keep them from harm's way | | | | burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. |
| in a world gone mad, how would the gospel then have | | | | The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they |
| prevailed? Any theory that needs Jesus to fail in his | | | | shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, |
| plans for humanity has doomed itself to failure from | | | | and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a |
| the beginning.The premillenial Rapture adherent has | | | | furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of |
| Christ returning bodily to keep his Church from | | | | teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in |
| extinction, as though the Lord's original plan -- convert | | | | the kingdom of their Father ....This last line clearly |
| the nations by the gospel -- will have had failed | | | | corresponds to revelation chapter 20 above -- the final |
| altogether. And yet God does not have a "plan B." He | | | | resurrection: unto damnation on the one hand, or else |
| doesn't need one.Proverbs 21: 30, "There is no wisdom | | | | glory on the other. The angels in this parable even ask |
| nor understanding nor counsel [which can prosper] | | | | the Lord if he wants to separate out the good from |
| against the LORD."Daniel 4:35 proclaims: All the | | | | the bad -- as the rapture would accomplish -- and the |
| peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He [The | | | | Lord flatly declines, suggesting that human history will |
| Lord] does as he pleases with the powers of heaven | | | | continue its bumpy ride without any major |
| and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his | | | | discontinuous events, such as the Rapture. The |
| hand or say to him: "What have you done?"'Question | | | | separation transpires only at the very end.Question 5. |
| #3. If God authored the Great Commission, how can it | | | | How can you say that history will encounter a global |
| fail to convert the nations -- God's stated goal in | | | | sifting event -- which separates the wheat from the |
| Matthew 28:18-20? Can God fail? This question lies at | | | | chaff IN HISTORY -- which God Himself has stated |
| the heart of the matter. Don't be surprised if your | | | | He does not want?We would do far better in the end |
| pastor launches into all manner of metaphor when you | | | | to drop any foolish notions of some cosmic "Great |
| ask this question.Fourth, the Bible plainly tells its readers | | | | Coffee Break" the Bible never promised -- and which |
| that the very noisy and quite public "rapture" occurs at | | | | God does not want -- and get on with the business of |
| the parousia, the bodily return of Christ to earth from | | | | preaching the historically orthodox gospel, which calls |
| heaven, which itself will occur at the END, not the | | | | Christians to build up their communities - to leave them |
| beginning, of the millenium. Paul makes this plain.1 | | | | better than we found them - for the glory of God, and |
| Corinthians 15 (vv. 22-54) says that:For as in Adam all | | | | for the benefit of men and women everywhere, both |
| die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every | | | | now and in the generations to come. For, Paul said, |
| man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward | | | | "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to |
| they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the | | | | do good works ...."And good works begin with shunning |
| end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to | | | | bad doctrine, saying only what God has said. For it is |
| God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all | | | | written, "Do not add to the words of the Lord, lest he |
| rule and all authority and power. For he [Christ] must | | | | reprove thee and show thee a liar" (Proverbs |
| reign [from heaven], till he [God] hath put all enemies | | | | 30).Carson Day has written some 1.3 gazillion articles |
| under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed | | | | and essays on all manner of topics. These aim to |
| is death.... But some man will say, How are the dead | | | | glorify God and offer people real help to live wisely |
| raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou | | | | and well. You can visit Carson's websites at (The |
| fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it | | | | Omniblog, where Carson blogs everything) or |
| die: ....But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him ... | | | | (Carson's Day Trading Outpost). Thanks for stopping |
| There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the | | | | by. |
| moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star | | | | |