Attacks on the Rapture: a popular pastime among some Christians

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TheDivineWatermark

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According to pre-trib belief, the resurrection and rapture occur together. The verse you just quoted proves that the deceased are resurrected and the living are raptured.
What I said is, the text states that "the dead in Christ SHALL RISE [/be resurrected (defined as: 'to stand again on the earth')] FIRST".

"THEN [epeita ('ONLY then')] we which are ALIVE and remain unto... shall be CAUGHT UP [/harpazo'd/snatched/raptured] TOGETHER [<--this word connects with THAT VERB-ACTION, so meaning 'CAUGHT UP TOGETHER at the same time'] with them [i.e. 'AS ONE,' the 'ONE BODY'] in the clouds TO/UNTO the meeting [noun] of the Lord IN THE AIR..." (so, this is saying after they rise first/are resurrected first, THEN we TOGETHER will be "caught up/away" AS ONE... which is completely DISTINCT from the manner in which Matt24:29-31's "gather" takes place when you place its parallel [Isaiah 27:12-13] alongside it: "ye shall be gathered ONE BY ONE, O ye children of Israel..." [and Matt24:29-31 says, by ANGELS "He shall SEND" to do so]... "the GREAT TRUMPET shall be blown... and they shall come... and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount AT JERUSALEM"--in every way DISTINCT from that of "our Rapture" event.)


Basically, I think you are inadvertently conflating the words "shall rise" (or be "resurrected") with the word "rapture/caught-up/snatched/harpazo'd" which is a distinct thing (tho generally at the same time, when it comes to that which takes place concerning us/"the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY"...

Keep in mind that "RAPTURE" pertains SOLELY to "the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY," NOT to all other saints of all OTHER time periods (NOT to OT saints, NOT to Trib saints, NOT to MK saints).

Post-trib also believe this, the main point of dispute is pre or post tribulation. Other verses say this occurs on the last day.
A few things to keep in mind:

--"resurrection" YES (but bear in mind, "[re: resurrection] but each IN HIS OWN ORDER" which phrase is saying that there doesn't remain ONLY ONE, at ONE POINT IN TIME... and recall that the 2W will be "resurrected" at the time of the "6th Trumpet[events]/2nd Woe, at a time distinct from when all others will be); ... "resurrection" [not merely one point in time, but a FEW], not "RAPTURE": ONLY one point in time]

--"the Last Day" is not "a singular 24-hr day" (I went into that in other posts, but study again Hosea 5:14-6:3's "after TWO days," and "IN the THIRD day" [not "24-hr days" and context re: Israel])

--your verse/verses says/say: "AT/IN the last day" (but "The Last Day" is a lengthy period of time with MUCH that transpires WITHIN it... ["IN WHICH" in various passages, including Acts17:31nasb, "...He has FIXED [/ESTABLISHED] a day IN WHICH He will JUDGE the world in righteousness in a Man whom He has appointed..." but when you compare this with, say, Psalm 98:9, "before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity," you can begin to see that this is not speaking MERELY of "a singular 24-hr day," but of His "governance" [involving a looooooong spans of TIME, like we see in Daniel 7:27 [following the specific time-period in v.25], "the greatness of the kingdom UNDER the whole heaven... and ALL dominions shall serve and obey Him"]... which is the distinction between the "persons" of/to which John 6:40 refers, and the "things" of/to which John 6:39 refers, see)

We have already covered that the second return of Christ is on the last day, after the tribulation.
Ditto some of the above.

We have also concluded that Christ's return isn't a two phase process.
Biblically, the word "RETURN" (re: Jesus) speaks ONLY of His Second Coming to the earth Rev19 (which is Subject what the Olivet Discourse is covering, among many other passages like Lk12:36-37,38,40,42-44 "when he will RETURN FROM the wedding"... THEN the meal [G347]; and Lk19:12,15,17, 19 "RETURN" and the passages parallel to these... and numerous others I've listed. NONE of which are speaking of the Subject of "our Rapture" [disclosed and explained elsewhere]).

It happens once.
When it comes to His "RETURN," that is correct. But His "RETURN" is not "our Rapture" (nor at the same moment, or point-in-time in the "chronology")

The only interpretation consistent with scripture is a post-trib rapture and resurrection. I rest my case.
I've endeavored to point out a few places where you've conflated two distinct issues.

We are called to "correctly apportion the word of truth" (not lumping everything into one big mish-mash of mush!), and to be distinguishing the things which differ... Can you, for example, explain the reasons for what Paul had put in 1Th5:10[6] that I spelled out in a previous post [will try to find that Post #], about the words "WATCH" and "SLEEP" (in vv.10 and 6, the SAME TWO GREEK WORDS in BOTH of these TWO VERSES, 6 & 10), when that is something DISTINCT from what Jesus had said in, say, His Olivet Discourse.

Your viewpoint cannot explain this distinction ^ . Mine can and does, quite well. (Yours [your "viewpoint," on the whole, not 'you' personally;) ] pretty much entirely disregards what Paul put there in that passage I'm pointing out. My view DOES NOT, but explains it instead.
 

TheDivineWatermark

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^ ETA: ah, it was Post #413 (re: the "WATCH" and "SLEEP" words [in the Greek] that Paul uses in BOTH 1Th5:10 and 5:6)
 
Nov 23, 2013
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But you specifically used the phrase "the dead in Christ" ... and so Paul says this in 1Th4:16 and the "SHALL RISE" associated with the Subject of this verse, is in the "FUTURE TENSE"... so my advice to to examine it more closely before you come to such a conclusion as you have. ;)
Yeah the dead in Christ are all the people who died in Christ before the cross that Jesus raised from the dead at the 1st resurrection. And the reason Paul seems to be using future tense is because he is laying out the FIRST RESURRECTION for us, he's not predicting a future resurrection.

How does the resurrection go you may ask. Well it goes like this. The dead in Christ SHALL RISE first, then those of us who are alive and remain will be caught with them. Now I just said SHALL RISE, was I talking about something in the future? No I wasn't, I was giving you the details on how the FIRST resurrection goes down, just like Paul did.

Also, there are only two resurrections and they STARTED simultaneously. The first resurrection is the resurrection of the just, the second resurrection is the resurrection of the unjust simultaneously. Just prior to this body dying, we are caught up from it to meet the Lord in the air, this is the FIRST RESURRECTION. When the unjust DIE, they bust hell wide open.... right at that moment, that is the SECOND RESURRECTION.

Always remember this TDW. There ARE NOT any more "dead in Christ", they have all been raised and believers after the resurrection of Christ DO NOT DIE.
 

iamsoandso

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Yeah the dead in Christ are all the people who died in Christ before the cross that Jesus raised from the dead at the 1st resurrection. And the reason Paul seems to be using future tense is because he is laying out the FIRST RESURRECTION for us, he's not predicting a future resurrection.

How does the resurrection go you may ask. Well it goes like this. The dead in Christ SHALL RISE first, then those of us who are alive and remain will be caught with them. Now I just said SHALL RISE, was I talking about something in the future? No I wasn't, I was giving you the details on how the FIRST resurrection goes down, just like Paul did.

Also, there are only two resurrections and they STARTED simultaneously. The first resurrection is the resurrection of the just, the second resurrection is the resurrection of the unjust simultaneously. Just prior to this body dying, we are caught up from it to meet the Lord in the air, this is the FIRST RESURRECTION. When the unjust DIE, they bust hell wide open.... right at that moment, that is the SECOND RESURRECTION.

Always remember this TDW. There ARE NOT any more "dead in Christ", they have all been raised and believers after the resurrection of Christ DO NOT DIE.

Why do you think Paul said this in about 60ad? https://biblehub.com/interlinear/acts/24-15.htm
 

cv5

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Nov 20, 2018
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Yeah the dead in Christ are all the people who died in Christ before the cross that Jesus raised from the dead at the 1st resurrection. And the reason Paul seems to be using future tense is because he is laying out the FIRST RESURRECTION for us, he's not predicting a future resurrection.

How does the resurrection go you may ask. Well it goes like this. The dead in Christ SHALL RISE first, then those of us who are alive and remain will be caught with them. Now I just said SHALL RISE, was I talking about something in the future? No I wasn't, I was giving you the details on how the FIRST resurrection goes down, just like Paul did.

Also, there are only two resurrections and they STARTED simultaneously. The first resurrection is the resurrection of the just, the second resurrection is the resurrection of the unjust simultaneously. Just prior to this body dying, we are caught up from it to meet the Lord in the air, this is the FIRST RESURRECTION. When the unjust DIE, they bust hell wide open.... right at that moment, that is the SECOND RESURRECTION.

Always remember this TDW. There ARE NOT any more "dead in Christ", they have all been raised and believers after the resurrection of Christ DO NOT DIE.
I don't mean to sound unkind but TheDivineWatermark is schooling you, and so severely that it's really awful to behold quite frankly. You're really messing with the wrong guy.
 

TheDivineWatermark

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Yeah the dead in Christ are all the people who died in Christ before the cross that Jesus raised from the dead at the 1st resurrection. And the reason Paul seems to be using future tense is because he is laying out the FIRST RESURRECTION for us, he's not predicting a future resurrection.
I see you explain this ^ in the next part...

How does the resurrection go you may ask. Well it goes like this. The dead in Christ SHALL RISE first, then those of us who are alive and remain will be caught with them. Now I just said SHALL RISE, was I talking about something in the future? No I wasn't, I was giving you the details on how the FIRST resurrection goes down, just like Paul did.
Except, you are not explaining it in the same manner that Paul did.

He said "CAUGHT UP [SNATCHED / harpazo'd / raptured] TOGETHER [at the same time] with [IN UNION-with] them..."

He did NOT say, "[you are/will be] caught up TO WHERE THEY ARE [located/existing] in the clouds..." (which is what it seems you might be suggesting... are you??)

See the difference here?

He is not conveying something like the latter of these two options.

I've stated... the word "TOGETHER" is ATTACHED WITH the "VERB-action" ('caught up TOGETHER [at the SAME TIME as when THEY are 'caught up']'... but you seem to be suggesting that they are already up there, where WE will go TO MEET THEM [even if you mean just 'spiritually' [i.e. when we're saved, individually] and not 'physically/literally'], but this is not what Paul is saying, he is saying "caught up AT THE SAME TIME that THEY ARE CAUGHT UP"... which follows the "FIRST" thing, which is the "shall rise FIRST" before the "THEN [epeita ('ONLY then')]" thing, which comes next in the sequence... your viewpoint does not explain this, as far as I can see...)

Also, there are only two resurrections and they STARTED simultaneously. The first resurrection is the resurrection of the just, the second resurrection is the resurrection of the unjust simultaneously. Just prior to this body dying, we are caught up from it to meet the Lord in the air, this is the FIRST RESURRECTION. When the unjust DIE, they bust hell wide open.... right at that moment, that is the SECOND RESURRECTION.
Again, "resurrection" means (by definition), "to stand again [on the earth]"... and pertains to the BODY [physical BODIES... just like Jesus showed them He had, following HIS "resurrection"... per Lk24:39 (albeit "glorified"), and like Philippians 3:20-21 says we will have, at the "change" ;) ]

Always remember this TDW. There ARE NOT any more "dead in Christ", they have all been raised and believers after the resurrection of Christ DO NOT DIE.
"... saying the resurrection is past"... (was not a "good" thing, when Paul referred to those who said such ; ) ), 2 Timothy 2:18... but referred to this [saying] as "swerved from the truth" and "upsetting the faith of some" (a negative, see). WHY would this be a "negative," if "resurrection" means the particular definition you are placing upon this word??
 

cv5

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According to pre-trib belief, the resurrection and rapture occur together. The verse you just quoted proves that the deceased are resurrected and the living are raptured. Post-trib also believe this, the main point of dispute is pre or post tribulation. Other verses say this occurs on the last day. We have already covered that the second return of Christ is on the last day, after the tribulation. We have also concluded that Christ's return isn't a two phase process. It happens once. The only interpretation consistent with scripture is a post-trib rapture and resurrection. I rest my case.
I hope being a lawyer is not your day job lol!
 

Truth7t7

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Sorry you feel that way, but until you can explain to my satisfaction that RIGHT NOW doesnt mean right now, I'm sticking with what the bible says. You do realize that right after Jesus said that, the dead Old Testament saints were resurrected.
You deny Jesus Christ is going to literally return glorious in the heavens in the future, you have stated the Holy Scripture dosent teach this.

Your teachings aren't to be taken seriously, at this point they're pure folly, in willful ignorance on display.

"Your Satisfaction Means Nothing"!

Jesus Christ Is Lord!
 

Truth7t7

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Oh so you're one of those who think the sons of God were Godly men that raped earthly women who gave birth to children were 20 feet tall. I don't think so.
Oh so you're one of those who think the sons of God were Godly men that raped earthly women who gave birth to children were 20 feet tall. I don't think so.
There were Human Giants seen throughout the bible with bed 9 cubits/12.5 feet long, 4 cubits/6 feet wide, beds for large "Human Beings"

Deuteronomy 3:11KJV
11 For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.
 

Truth7t7

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146 I think you may be starting to see the light my friend!
You have no light to present, you deny Jesus Christ is going to return glorious in the heavens in the future.
 
Nov 23, 2013
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I don't mean to sound unkind but TheDivineWatermark is schooling you, and so severely that it's really awful to behold quite frankly. You're really messing with the wrong guy.
TDW is a smart guy no doubt, but he never could explain how Paul talks about the DEAD IN CHRIST will rise in the future when Jesus said that Christians don't die, nor will they ever die.

So in simplest terms, there has not been a person that has DIED IN CHRIST since the resurrection of Christ and the Old Testament saints.

Those verses that you and TDW and all of the rest of the rapture heresy believers are twisting into your great escape are actually explaining how believers that NEVER DIE are CAUGHT UP or SNATCHED UP or TRANSLATED from their bodies just prior to that body dying.

My question is whether Jesus was wrong, or Paul was wrong or are the rapture heresy believers wrong?
 

TheDivineWatermark

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Those verses [...] are actually explaining how believers that NEVER DIE are CAUGHT UP or SNATCHED UP or TRANSLATED from their bodies just prior to that body dying.
"that body DYING"...

If you are applying this to the "we which are ALIVE and remain unto the coming of the Lord," well, our bodies will be "CHANGED" (to be sure), but not DIE... and this is what that "CLOTHED UPON" word means, in 2Cor2-4, where v.4 goes on to say, "that MORTALITY might be SWALLOWED UP of LIFE".

[...not DIE; 'THIS mortal shall put on immortality'; see "CLOTHED UPON [G1902 - ependuomai - 'Definition: to have on over
Usage: I have on over (as a garment); mid: I put on myself in addition.' https://biblehub.com/greek/1902.htm ]"

That is, "still-living" persons (believers) will be "changed" (and "caught up") APART from having TO DIE first (i.e. 'CLOTHED UPON')... this occurs at "our Rapture" point in time, same time that "the DEAD *IN* Christ [/'UNclothed' / 'THIS corruptible']" will be "changed" (and 'caught up' TOGETHER at the SAME TIME--the 'ONE BODY'/'the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY' to/for/about whom "the Rapture" SOLELY pertains)

My question is whether Jesus was wrong, or Paul was wrong or are the rapture heresy believers wrong?
 
Nov 23, 2013
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Thank you for your question, I hope all is well with your birds! :)

(Act 24:15) And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

This goes along with this.

2Ti 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2Ti 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Hymenaeus and Philetus were just like rapture heresy believers, well not quite as bad as rapture heresy believers because Hymenaeus and Philetus did have enough sense to know that the DEAD IN CHRIST rose with Christ but they thought that was the END of the resurrection, they thought the resurrection had come and gone. What they didn't understand was that there SHALL BE a continuous resurrection of both the just and unjust and that continuous resurrection is the HOPE of Acts 24:15.

Rapture heresy believers err the same way but in the opposite direction and in worse heresy. They teach that the FIRST RESURRECTION hasn't even begun yet and they teach that believers in Christ die and that body of death has to be raised up some time in the future.

They do err, even worse than Hymenaeus and Philetus.
 
Mar 4, 2020
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I hope being a lawyer is not your day job lol!
I don't think it would make a difference if it was. What I presented over several thread pages is post tribulation according to the Bible, not my own homecooked theology, unlike pretribulationism that only appeared on the scene as of the 1800s.

This is one of those points in the Bible where there isn't a sentence that says "The rapture is pretribulation." or "The rapture is posttribulation." or the timing of it wouldn't be disputed.

There are people who can probably explain it better than myself. We should seek out the truth regardless of denominational loyalties. I have studied pretribulationism and I would have believed in it if I thought it made sense.
 
Mar 4, 2020
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A very weak case indeed. Since the Tribulation corresponds to the reign of the Antichrist, there will be no one to rapture at the end of the Tribulation, since everyone will be killed. No living saints = no Rapture. I rest my case.
21For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. 22If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. Matthew 24:21-22

How is it that everyone will be killed if Jesus plainly states in the above verse that the days of the tribulation will be cut short for the sake of the elect or else no one would survive?
 

TheDivineWatermark

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and they teach that believers in Christ die and that body of death has to be raised up some time in the future.
I believe you are taking this phrase (in the bold ^ ) as lifted from its context, and misapplying it.

The phrase "the body of this death" in Romans 7:24 is not speaking of our physical bodies.

"A wretched man I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?" - Romans 7:24
 
Nov 23, 2013
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I see you explain this ^ in the next part...



Except, you are not explaining it in the same manner that Paul did.

He said "CAUGHT UP [SNATCHED / harpazo'd / raptured] TOGETHER [at the same time] with [IN UNION-with] them..."

He did NOT say, "[you are/will be] caught up TO WHERE THEY ARE [located/existing] in the clouds..." (which is what it seems you might be suggesting... are you??)

See the difference here?

He is not conveying something like the latter of these two options.

I've stated... the word "TOGETHER" is ATTACHED WITH the "VERB-action" ('caught up TOGETHER [at the SAME TIME as when THEY are 'caught up']'... but you seem to be suggesting that they are already up there, where WE will go TO MEET THEM [even if you mean just 'spiritually' [i.e. when we're saved, individually] and not 'physically/literally'], but this is not what Paul is saying, he is saying "caught up AT THE SAME TIME that THEY ARE CAUGHT UP"... which follows the "FIRST" thing, which is the "shall rise FIRST" before the "THEN [epeita ('ONLY then')]" thing, which comes next in the sequence... your viewpoint does not explain this, as far as I can see...)



Again, "resurrection" means (by definition), "to stand again [on the earth]"... and pertains to the BODY [physical BODIES... just like Jesus showed them He had, following HIS "resurrection"... per Lk24:39 (albeit "glorified"), and like Philippians 3:20-21 says we will have, at the "change" ;) ]



"... saying the resurrection is past"... (was not a "good" thing, when Paul referred to those who said such ; ) ), 2 Timothy 2:18... but referred to this [saying] as "swerved from the truth" and "upsetting the faith of some" (a negative, see). WHY would this be a "negative," if "resurrection" means the particular definition you are placing upon this word??
None of what you have said here explains why Paul talks about the dead in Christ being raised from the dead when Jesus said believers NEVER DIE. That is the KEY POINT in that verse.

There are no options on this. Death can only mean dead in trespass and sin or the death of the physical body. Believers aren't dead in their trespass and sin, so Jesus was talking about the death of these physical bodies... we as believers don't experience that death according to Jesus. We are caught up together with the Old Testament saints that are ALREADY THERE.
 
Nov 23, 2013
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You deny Jesus Christ is going to literally return glorious in the heavens in the future, you have stated the Holy Scripture dosent teach this.

Your teachings aren't to be taken seriously, at this point they're pure folly, in willful ignorance on display.

"Your Satisfaction Means Nothing"!

Jesus Christ Is Lord!
You sound like a broken record.