Jac3510 wrote:Sean,
Just wanted to commend you on the above post. I am an ardent pre-trib, premil., dispensationalist myself, but I can recognize a good argument when I see one. That's one of the first truly Scriptural arguments I've seen in support of your position.
As for why I disagree, there are two reasons:
1) I don't think "the last trump" Paul is referring to is the "last trump" as referred to in Christ's Revelation to John. Bear in mind the the Corinthian epistles were written before the Revelation, so it is a mistake to read that into Paul's statement. Paul would have been using the word in its common usage . . . for him (not aware of a series of seven trumpets), it was a reference to a battle cry or announcement. In other words, it would be the trumpet call that announced the advent of "the Day of the Lord." The battle, so to speak, would soon begin, and the tribulation would soon be falling on the earth. At that time, the church will be taken out of the way.
I don't understand, since I agree with you. The last trump the Paul speaks of is not those of the book of Revelation, my point was to show that the only resurrection passage in Revelation is Revelation 20. So the rapture cannot happen before the resurrection of the dead. Since Jesus and Paul taught one resurrection of both the Just and the unjust happening at the same time, there is only one option. The "rapture" passages are the event described in Revelation 20:13. (Or Revelation 20:3-4)
Jac3510 wrote:
2) While I agree that death is the last enemy defeated, I think we have to take that in an absolute sense. The Bible tells us explicitly when death is defeated: Rev. 20:14. This is during the Great White Throne Judgement, which is at the end of this age and which ushers in the New Creation.
Still, I do appreciate that you are using biblical texts to support your position rather than simply claiming allegory! For the record, what is your take on 2 Thess. 2:6-7? Who is "the one who now holds it back" and how does that play into your eschatology?
God bless
I also agree with point #2. This is when death is defeated, putting he Rapture at the end of the world.
Here is another example: 2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
There is no earth left! It's GWT judgement time.
Another example of this same event:
2Th 1:5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering--
2Th 1:6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
2Th 1:7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the
Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels
2Th 1:8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
2Th 1:9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
2Th 1:10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
This is the same event described here:
Rev 20:9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city,
but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,
This is the rapture. Good for Saints, bad for unbelievers.
As far as 2 Thes 2:6-7,
There are more than one possibility, honestly it hard to figure out because Paul wouldn't say what it was. Why did he not say? It seems like he could have gotten into trouble for saying, hence it's why he said that they know. But why not put it in writing if the people he was writing to already knew? I think it's because he thought the restainer was Rome. He could not say this or he would be in deep trouble. If it's the Holy Spirit, he could have just stated it.
Why Rome? The litte horn (if to be identified with the man of sin) of Daniel, states that he will rise out of the fourth beast (Rome). Rome had to fall before the little horn rise, so Rome had to fall first, therefore it's "restaining" the man of sin. The Papacy rose out of the ashes of Rome, the Papacy is a different beast, one with eyes like a man. The Roman Papacy tried to change God's times and laws, and said they had the authority:
Dan 7:25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
One pope said: “
have power to change times, to abrogate (change) laws, and to dispense
with all things, even the precepts of Christ.”
The Roman Church killed anyone who claimed to be a Christian but would not submit to it's own authority.
Now, If you ask if I beleive this, maybe, It fits like a glove. I'm just undecided since it is not explicit. It's a deduction