Replies

I do believe Scripture testifies to a rapture (Matt 25, 1Thess, the Church at Philadelphia), but the more I study eschatology the more I realize that the all or nothing view of rapture is misguided.

For example, most pre-tribbers use Matt 24 & 25 as evidence for their claim. The thief in the night, watch and be ready, etc all point to an event that is imminent and is sudden and which does not point to the end of the age at His second coming. But what the pre-tribbers fail to see in the parable of the slaves, virgins, and talents is that not all believers are taken. In these parables, the standing of the actors are not in questions. They are all virgins, they are all slaves with the Lord as their bridegroom/master. In other words, they are all believers in Christ. The distinction in the parables is based on their actions. Those that get rewarded are the ones who are watchful and ready for their masters return. Those who are not get placed with the hypocrites in outer darkness. That does not jive with the pre-trib viewpoint of all believers being raptured. Even the Church in Philadelphia goes against this view of rapture as well. There are 7 churches mentioned, all these churches are filled with believers, if they weren't then they wouldn't be called churches, yet only 1 of the seven is promised not to go through the tribulation. The implication is that the other ones will. I think the pre-tribbers gloss over these things to their detriment.

JM

Certainly good points.

Months ago, I posted a bloke’s stuff about there being several raptures.

He certainly extrapolated some things but I’ve often wondered if there might be a few ‘harvests.’

He even postulated that the first one might involve the most READY and sold out to God being ‘raptured’ then returned quickly in Heavenly bodies for 40 days of ministry before going to Heaven for the duration of the Great Tribulation.

I just want to be READY AND EAGER for the FIRST ELEVATOR UP whenever that is.

But what the pre-tribbers fail to see in the parable of the slaves, virgins, and talents is that not all believers are taken. In these parables, the standing of the actors are not in questions. They are all virgins, they are all slaves with the Lord as their bridegroom/master. In other words, they are all believers in Christ.

I don't think that intepretation is pandemic among all pretribs. There are many who indicate that the virgin parable represents the end of the tribulation and those who become believers during that period. MT 24-25 the question focuses upon the establishment of the Kingdom, and in parallel, to Israel - not the church specifically.

http://www.raptureready.com/featured/ice/AnInterpretationofMatthew24_25_36.html

Jesus' first advent was prophesied in the OT. Those who would dismiss the prophetic words of His second coming by spiritualizing them or associating them with events surrounding AD 70 do a disservice to scripture. Jesus' life was closely tied to prophecy - why wouldn 't His second coming be the same.