<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE TIME OF THE END" The Rapture And The Resurrection INTRODUCTION 1. Unique to premillennialism is the idea of a secret rapture, along with several resurrections... a. The rapture refers to the "catching up" of believers at Christ's return b. Which involves the first of several resurrections of the righteous and the wicked 2. It is a doctrine not held by Orthodox, Reformed and Roman Catholic churches... a. But which gained popularity in the 1830s, and especially in the 1970s b. Mainly through proponents of dispensational premillennialism [Does the Bible teach that there will be a secret rapture, along with several different resurrections? Or does it reveal that there will be just one resurrection of all mankind? Let's first take a closer look at...] I. THE DOCTRINE OF THE RAPTURE A. THE ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD... 1. The actual word rapture is not found in the English Bible 2. It comes from the Latin word raeptius, used in the Vulgate translation 3. Which is a translation of the Greek word harpazo found in 1 Th 4:17 4. Which in most English translations is rendered as "caught up" -- Its common use today generally implies a belief in a secret rapture B. THE ELEMENTS OF THE DOCTRINE... 1. Jesus will first come to raise the righteous dead and rapture the righteous living 2. It is generally described as a secret event (millions suddenly disappear!) 3. This will occur either before, during, or at the end of a 7 year period of tribulation a. There is much disagreement among proponents of the time of the rapture b. Which suggests the Scriptures do not clearly teach this doctrine as some imply 4. Following the 7 year tribulation, Jesus will return with His saints to reign on earth for a literal 1000 years 5. Many have tried to set dates for this rapture - Wikipedia a. 1792 - Shakers calculated this date b. 1843 - March 21 1843 predicted by William Miller founder of the Millerites, the failure of Jesus to appear on this date after his followers had sold all their possessions was referred to as The Great Disappointment c. 1981 - Chuck Smith undogmatically predicted that Jesus would likely return by 1981 d. 1988 - Publication of 88 Reasons why the Rapture is in 1988, by Edgar C. Whisenant e. 1989 - Publication of The final shout: Rapture report 1989, by Edgar Whisenant - More predictions by this author appeared for 1992, 1995, and other years. f. 1992 - Korean group "Mission for the Coming Days" predicted October 28, 1992. g. 1993 - Seven years before the year 2000. The rapture would have to start to allow for seven years of the Tribulation before the Return in 2000. Multiple predictions. h. 1994 - Pastor John Hinkle of Christ Church in Los Angeles predicted June 9, 1994. Radio evangelist Harold Camping predicted September 27, 1994. i. 1997 - Stan Johnson of the Prophecy Club predicted September 12, 1997. j. 1998 - Marilyn Agee, in The End of the Age, predicted May 31, 1998. k. 2000 - Many "millennial" predictions. l. 2006 - Many predictions for June 06, or 06/06/06 -- The doctrine of a secret rapture has been used to manipulate many people C. THE EXAMINATION OF THE DOCTRINE... 1. Passages offered in support of the doctrine a. Jesus' words to comfort His disciples - Jn 14:2-3 b. Paul's description of the resurrection - Php 3:20-21; 1Co 15:49-55 c. Paul's writing to comfort and warn the Thessalonians - 1 Th 4:13-18; 2Th 2:1-7 2. None of these verses necessarily exclude a resurrection of the wicked at the same time a. They simply focus on the hope of the righteous b. The Bible teaches one resurrection, not many (see below) 3. The Bible does not teach a silent rapture - cf. 1Th 4:16 a. There will be a shout b. There will be the voice of an archangel c. There will be the trumpet of God -- The concept of a secret rapture, separate and apart from the resurrection of the wicked is simply not taught in the Bible [As further confirmation, let's now focus our attention on...] II. THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION A. AS TAUGHT BY PREMILLENNIALISTS... 1. All premillennialists teach at least two resurrections: a. The resurrection of believers at the beginning of the millennium b. The resurrection of unbelievers at the end of the millennium 2. Dispensational premillennialists add even two more: a. The resurrection of tribulation saints at the end of the seven-year tribulation b. The resurrection of millennial saints at the end of the millennium -- Premillennial theory requires more than one resurrection B. AS TAUGHT BY THE BIBLE... 1. There will be one resurrection of believers and unbelievers occurring together a. As taught by Jesus - Jn 5:28-29 b. As believed by Paul - Ac 24:14-15 2. Believers will be raised at "the last day" - Jn 6:39-40,44,54 a. Not several times (pre-trib, post-trib, post-mil, etc.) b. Not several days, years, or 1000 years before "the last day"! 3. Passages offered in support of several resurrections do not necessarily teach what the premillennialists say they do a. E.g., 1Th 4:13-16 concerns itself with the resurrection of the righteous, but that does not demand that the wicked are not being raised at the same time b. E.g., Re 20:4-6 describes a resurrection of "souls", not bodies, and the reigning with Christ is likely to occur in heaven, not on earth - cf. Re 2:26-27; 3:21 -- The clear teaching of Scripture describes just one resurrection CONCLUSION 1. The doctrine of the rapture has been misrepresented by the premillennialists... a. The righteous will indeed be "caught up" to be with the Lord b. But it will not be a secret or silent event 2. The doctrine of the resurrection has been mangled by the premillennialists... a. There will be a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked at the last day b. Not several resurrections, separated by years before the last day 3. If we allow the clear teachings of the Bible to guide us in our study... a. Not forcing our interpretation of difficult prophetic passages upon them b. We are less likely to get carried away by fanciful theories that have failed time and again May the words of our Lord motivate us to be ready for His coming... "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." - Jn 5:28-29<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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