The timing of the rapture has proven to be both a thought provoking and devisive issue among Christians. No one it seems lacks an opinion or thought on the subject. My own denomination recently "clarified" its articles of faith concerning this issue at the annual conference...
We believe in the pretribulational rapture of the church, an event that can occur at any moment, and that at that moment the dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies, and the living in Christ shall be given glorified bodies without tasting death, and all shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air before the seven years of the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 51-54; Philippians 3:20, 21; Revelation 3:10
My denomination wanted to ensure there was no question on where it stood on the timing of the Rapture. The question I have is how important is it in relation to other Christian issues and doctrine? Since it seems everyone has a position on this issue, what is yours? Comments are now open...
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BC said... As long as you are saved, why does it matter when you believe the rapture will occur? Isn't this something, we as Christians, can disagree on as long as we all believe that we are saved from our sin by Christ's perfect blood?
July 24. 2009 07:35
witness said... I think the Bible gives us that sort of liberty when we consider the timing of the Rapture. I do not think whether we hold to a pre-, post-, or mid-trib rapture should decide if we can have fellowship. As you said, I think this is something we can have a disagreement on. But there are some Christians and even whole denominations who think otherwise. They look at this particular issue and see any compromise on it as a slippery slope to doctrines that are more foundational to the faith. How do you convince someone this is just not one of those hills we should die on?
July 24. 2009 18:47
Zaphon said... Hi Witness. In relation to other doctrines, the timing of the rapture is important but not essential to know. IOW, your salvation doesn't hinge on this issue, but it's still a significant and big event in the eschatological scheme of things. Your view of the Rapture determines many other important issues, like the relation of Israel to the Church, the place of the Church in the tribulation, who will populate the kingdom, and where you stand on the Rapture also tells us what your hermenutical approach is. For example, an ammilenialist will put the rapture at the end of the age when Jesus returns. A premillenialist will take one of 4 main view pre, mid, pre-wrath, and post. The problem is people tend to be agnostic in their eschatology, as if God was trying to hide the truth. But about 30% or so of the bible is prophetic. People who ignore this issue or over simplify it by making everything mean something figurative in Christ, are doing themselves a disservice. I think your church is right to clarify their position because while the rapture question is not essential to justification, it makes a difference in how you think of the end of the story, which affects your worldview. And I think that the Pretrib. rapture is the most consistent view. Amen
August 25. 2009 19:57
witness said... Hi Zaphon! Thanks for stopping by and adding your comment. The point I was making about my denomination is that often times where you stand on the timing of the rapture is more important than your salvation testimony or where you stand on God's sovereignty in salvation and the depravity of man. BTW, I am post trib
August 28. 2009 18:31
kay said... Rapture: readily will I admit that every view has it's "problems" -a passage that doesn't quite seem to fit, maybe, or seems a little thru a glass darkly. So be it. However (and this is my really big HOWEVER) I hold fast to the literalist-futurist interpretation of Holy Writ, and therefore as a matter of actual course, also thereby hold to a pre-tribulational, imminent, "at-any-moment" view of the rapture. I look for it every day of my life. I go to bed thinking----maybe tonight. I awake thinking----maybe today. I expect to meet my glorified Lord and King NOW. And indeed, the thought fills my heart with such excitement, that it's a good thing I will be in a glorified state by that time, because otherwise my very heart would stop from the profound and profoundly desired encounter. Think of it! The King of Kings coming soon for US!!! maranatha! -Kay(looks up)
August 26. 2010 09:16
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The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and I could be wrong. The Bible however, is never, ever wrong.All Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version (Thomas Nelson Publishers), unless otherwise noted. Sign in