Rapture?
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. [1 The 4:16-18]
The Rapture. It’s a nice thought, being saved from all of the horrible judgments described in Revelation. Global deception followed by war, then famine and disease, then death. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse ride forth from the Scroll, when the Lamb breaks open the seals. Martyrs by the thousands follow, then a great earthquake complete with the sun being blotted out and a blood red moon with falling stars round out what are called the Seal Judgments.
That is only the beginning. The Trumpet Judgments are much worse, including and especially the Fifth Trumpet: demon locusts pouring from the Abyss, stinging all nonbelievers (Rev 9:1-11).
Things get worse as the Vial Judgments are poured out: Boils (Rev 16:2), the sun burning people’s flesh (Rev 16:8-9), and darkness over the throne of the Antichrist (Rev 16:10-11).
It is extremely comforting for the Christian to hear of the Rapture: the catching up of all the faithful souls, first the dead and then the living, to meet with Christ in the sky and be with Him forever.
The predominant eschatology we see today makes no attempt to interpret the prophecies of Revelation. Instead, it looks to their literal fulfillment in a seven-year timespan at some point in the near future. This will be preceded by the Rapture of all the faithful Christians.
It’s convenient. Christians won’t share in the judgment of mankind. That’s always nice to hear. But who are these martyrs in Revelation 6:9-11, who were yet to join the others under the altar?
I’m afraid that Christians are to share in these terrible judgments. Am I scared? You bet I am; we all should be scared. I’m not comforted by the Rapture, since I believe that it will follow at the end of the judgments. I am, however, comforted by two things related to the end times.
First, I’m comforted by the fact that God is in control, and He makes all things (good and bad) work out for the faithful (Rom 8:28).
Second, I’m comforted by the fact that the prophecies given in Revelation have, for the most part, already happened.
Fans of the Left Behind series, and students of Tim LaHaye in general, are reading this post thinking, What the heck is this guy talking about? Well, that is what I hope to answer by examining, in depth, the historicist view of eschatology. It attempts to interpret the prophecies of Revelation in a similar fashion to the way that the symbolic language found in Isaiah and Daniel was interpreted. This is how students of Scripture knew to look for Jesus’ coming in the first century A.D. We will use historical events of the past 2000 years as the fulfillment of the prophecies from Revelation.
Historicism isn’t claiming to be an infallible interpretation anymore than the Left Behind novels are claiming to be prophecy. The sad truth of the matter is that only God knows the true meaning of Revelation. Historicism, unlike Futurism, is an attempt to understand 2000 years of human history from God’s point of view. This is the real meaning of the blessing promised to those who understand Revelation (1:3).
Historicism can be refined in light of new evidence. Historicism gives us an impetus to study the past and try to understand it. Futurism can only wait for fulfillment.
No matter the school of thought one subscribes to in eschatology, the urgency to disseminate God’s word is no less. Futurists, preterists, and historicists all await the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We believe that it will be soon, as some interpretations of Scripture we all agree on are coming to pass now: widespread apostasy, increased rebellion against God, religious apathy, and a veritable treasure trove of false teachers. The reconstitution of the nation of Israel was another sign all three schools of thought awaited.
The urgency created by these signs, therefore, necessitate aggressive evangelism and a continued push for God’s truth to be taught to our children. The last hours approach, quicker than anyone probably expects, and we are called to save as many as we can.
In the next series of entries, I will detail the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from a historicist perspective. I expect I’ll be very busy over the next few weeks, so I don’t know how quickly these articles will come. I will also put the finishing touches on the Jesus Tomb article.
This should prove to be an interesting few weeks for everyone concerned. Stay tuned.
I look forward to what you present. Personally, I believe in the pre-tribulationist perspective, but my mind is open. It isn’t a salvific issue to me, and so in some respect that makes me what some would call a “pan”-tribulationist… however it pans out.
What convinced me personally is Luke 12:46 to 48. The previous verses are speaking of the end times, either the Rapture at the beginning of the tribulation, or Jesus’ coming “conquering and to conquer” at the end of the tribulation. Since Luke 12 says nothing of conquering, rather that He will be coming to serve, I believe it’s a reference to the Rapture. In that context, Luke 12:46 to 48 says something very interesting, that people He calls servants could end up with the unbelievers, that some will be punished a lot, and some a less. I’m glossing a lot I know, but I take it mean that not all believers will be raptured… just those looking for it.
I’m not trying to start another debate, just offering my point of view.
I look forward to reading yours.