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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Pre-Tribulation Rapture | NT general Archive 1 | gbennett76 | 94712 | ||
The rapture theory is contradicted by the following biblical facts: Christ’s return will not be invisible; rather, it will be universally manifest. For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen from phaino, to shine even unto the west; so houtos, in this manner shall be the coming parousia of the Son of Man Mt. 24:27. As those early disciples beheld theaomai, to see, look at Christ’s departure to heaven, so in like manner tropos, in the same way will he come again (Acts 1:11). The Lord’s coming will involve a revelation apokalupsis, to uncover of his being (2 Thes. 1:7), because at that time Christ will be “manifested” phaneroo .. a term which, when employed in the passive voice (as in 1 Jn. 2:28), means to show or reveal oneself, be revealed, appear to someone (Arndt Gingrich, Greek Lexicon, Chicago: University of Chicago, 1967, p. 860). Moreover, as Jesus was visible during his first “appearing” epiphaneia on earth (2 Tim. 1:10), so will he be visible when he appears at his second coming (1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8; Tit. 2:13). Finally, of his coming it is said that Jesus shall “appear” horao, “become visible” a second time (Heb. 9:28). If the advocates of the rapture theory are correct, the Lord will not appear until his third coming! Christ’s coming will not be inaudible; rather, scripture indicates that the Second Advent will be accompanied by considerable sound phenomena. The Lord will descend from heaven with a “a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God” (1 Thes. 4:16). This has been called the noisiest verse in the Bible. Too, when Jesus comes again, “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise” (2 Pet. 3:10). That hardly accords with the notion that the return of the Lord will be a silent, secret event. The truth of the matter is, the rapture theory is relatively recent. The idea appears to be traceable to a Pentecostal movement of the early 1800’s .. founded by Edward Irving (1792-1834). A recent writer says: “The idea of a two-stage coming of Christ first came to a Scottish lass, Miss Margaret Macdonald of Port Glasgow, Scotland, while she was in a prophetic’ trance” (Robert Brinsmead, Present Truth, September, 1974, p. 28). Brinsmead quotes from a book, published in 1861, by Dr. Robert Norton, a member of the Irvingite group. This volume, titled The Restoration of Apostles and Prophets: In the Catholic Apostolic Church (p. 15), as quoted by Brinsmead, reads as follows: Marvelous light was shed upon Scripture, and especially on the doctrine of the second Advent, by the revived spirit of prophecy. In the following account by Miss M.M..., of an evening during which the power of the Holy Ghost rested upon her for several successive hours, in mingled prophecy and vision, we have an instance; for here we first see the distinction between that final stage of the Lord’s coming, when every eye shall see Him, and His prior appearing in glory to them that look for Him. George Murray, in his excellent volume, Millennial Studies, has also quoted the renown Greek scholar, S.P. Tregelles, who, in 1864, wrote: “I am not aware that there was any definite teaching that there should be a Secret Rapture of the Church at a secret coming until this was given forth as an utterance in Mr. Irving’s church from what was then received as being the voice of the Spirit” (op. cit., p. 138). The rapture theory thus rests upon the same sort of bogus “revelations” as Shakerism (founder Ann Lee had visions and claimed to speak in seventy-two languages), Seventh-Day Adventistism (Ellen White thought she took a trip to heaven), and Christian Science (Mary Baker Eddy’s revelations told her there is no death). The dispensational dogma, with all its peculiar elements (including the notion of a secret rapture), is at variance with the teaching of the Bible, and careful students of Holy Writ will reject it. |
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2 | Pre-Tribulation Rapture | NT general Archive 1 | Morant61 | 94738 | ||
Greetings Gbennet76! These quotes about Margaret McDonald have been thrown around quite abit, but they ignore much historical evidence that has been around for much longer. Here is a post I posted a long time ago about this issue: **************************************** Greetings Kalos! From the reading I have done, it seems that post-tribulationists have tried very hard to make it seem that a pre-tribulational rapture is a recent deveolopment in theology. However, there is evidence dating from between 300-600 a.d. of a pre-tribulational rapture. This evidence is found in a document called "Pseudo-Ephraem's Sermon." Here is a quote which discusses the nature of this document: ******************************************** "The word "Pseudo" (Greek for false) is a prefix attached by scholars to the name of a famous historical person or book of the Bible when one writes using that name. Pseudo-Ephraem claims that his sermon was written by Ephraem of Nisibis (306-73), considered to be the greatest figure in the history of the Syrian church. He was well-known for his poetics, rejection of rationalism, and confrontations with the heresies of Marcion, Mani, and the Arians. As a poet, exegete, and theologian, his style was similar to that of the Jewish midrashic and targumic traditions and he favored a contemplative approach to spirituality. So popular were his works that in the fifth and sixth centuries he was adopted by several Christian communities as a spiritual father and role model. His many works, some of doubtful authenticity, were soon translated from Syriac into Greek, Armenian, and Latin." (http://millennianet.com/atpro4se/ancient.html) ********************************************** The relevant quotation is quoted below: "All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins." -Pseudo-Ephraem (c. 374-627)" The true authorship and the quality of the document are not really that important for this discussion. The important part is that we have a clear pre-tribulational statement dating over 1000 years before Darby or Margaret McDonald. Thus, the belief itself has been around for much longer than 150 years. I hope this helps! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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