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To: Cvengr; raynearhood; Lee N. Field; Alex Murphy; Frumanchu; Dr. Eckleburg
Nothing in dispensationalism predicts the Rapture in 1981, however, Reformed Covenant Theology misses the boat completely in falsely declaring all prophecy of the Great Tribulation was fulfilled in 70AD.

That's funny.

The secret, pre-trib rapture is a necessary consequence of the dispensational system, key to which is the radical (heretical) view of the distinction between Israel and the Church.

The pre-trib rapture, not being plainly or literally taught in the Bible, is an outgrowth from within dispensationalism made believable due to the view that God has future wrath in store for the national Israel which the Church is to avoid. Further, this distinction results from dispensationalism's two people view, i.e., Israel being a physical people of God and the Church being the spiritual people of God.

The 1981 rapture hullabaloo is perfectly consistent with the idea that the 1948 constitution of secular Israel had prophetic significance, and that passages like Matthew 24 involving the parable of the fig tree and idea that the “great tribulation” would come upon the generation that witnessed the budding of the fig tree (aka the establishment of secular Israel).

The most important sign in Matthew has to be the restoration of the Jews to the land in the rebirth of Israel. Even the figure of speech “fig tree” has been a historic symbol of national Israel. When the Jewish people, after nearly 2,000 years of exile, under relentless persecution, became a nation again on 14 May 1948 the “fig tree” put forth its first leaves. Jesus said that this would indicate that He was “at the door,” ready to return. Then He said, “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34, NASB). What generation? Obviously, in context, the generation that would see the signs—chief among them the rebirth of Israel. A generation in the Bible is something like forty years. If this is a correct deduction, then within forty years or so of 1948, all these things could take place. Many scholars who have studied Bible prophecy all their lives believe that this is so. [Hal Lindsey,The Late Great Planet Earth, pp 53-54]
A whole host of popular dispensationalists, including Lindsey, Chuck Smith, and Edgar Whisenant, advanced this teaching. It was widely accepted within the dispensational community at the time. In fact, I am not aware of any noted dispensationalists who disagreed with the teaching to oppose it publicly.

The popularity of dispensationalism owes much to the biblical illiteracy of the folks in the pew. It is not really a thinking man's eschatology. Any chimp can make a list of 50 things and, using dispensational techniques, find support for those 50 things as “end time” evidences from the Bible. It has that very thing in common with Jehovah's Witnesses and other cults. They rely on the ignorance of those who listen and believe.

118 posted on 07/26/2009 2:28:29 PM PDT by topcat54 (Don't believe in a pre-anything rapture? Join "Naysayers for Jesus")
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To: topcat54

Today’s REPLACEMENTARIAN balderdash

as usual,

appears to be brought to us by the usual contingent of those who appear to major in Rubber Bibles, Rubber Histories and extremely erratic, convoluted constructions on pseudo theological ‘reality.’


119 posted on 07/26/2009 2:52:30 PM PDT by Quix (POL Ldrs quotes fm1900 2 presnt: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2130557/posts?page=81#81)
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To: topcat54; raynearhood; Lee N. Field; Frumanchu; Dr. Eckleburg
The 1981 rapture [forty "fig tree generation" years minus seven "pre-trib rapture" years] hullabaloo is perfectly consistent with the idea that the 1948 constitution of secular Israel had prophetic significance, and that passages like Matthew 24 involving the parable of the fig tree and idea that the “great tribulation” would come upon the generation that witnessed the budding of the fig tree (aka the establishment of secular Israel)....

....A whole host of popular dispensationalists, including Lindsey, Chuck Smith, and Edgar Whisenant, advanced this teaching. It was widely accepted within the dispensational community at the time. In fact, I am not aware of any noted dispensationalists who disagreed with the teaching to oppose it publicly.


122 posted on 07/26/2009 3:24:37 PM PDT by Alex Murphy ("I always longed for repose and quiet" - John Calvin)
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To: topcat54

Amen. “All one in Christ Jesus.”


130 posted on 07/26/2009 4:42:17 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: topcat54
The popularity of dispensationalism owes much to the biblical illiteracy of the folks in the pew. It is not really a thinking man's eschatology.

Obviously such a premise is stated by somebody lacking in theological wherewithal to recognize the work at Dallas Theological Seminary for several decades before progressive dispensationalism slithered into its midst ushered in by Reformed backsliden believers.

All of the dispensational leaning pastors I've observed prefer to only teach from Greek and Hebrew, and consider anything less than 3-7 years study in each language respectively to be a sophmoric introduction to the study.

But even with such dedication, the simple truth is that by remaining in fellowship with God through faith in Christ, all of our understanding and sanctification comes through faith alone in Him alone.

147 posted on 07/26/2009 8:09:06 PM PDT by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
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