Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "rapture"
Stargazers
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven" [1 Thessalonians 4:16].
"But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" [Luke 21:28].
Man's only option for redemption is the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is a Person, not a set of beliefs or fervent church attendance. Accordingly Luke 21:28 refers to God's people looking up ("lift up your heads") because the Lord Jesus is returning ("your redemption is drawing near").
In each case the Lord is descending from heaven. So the two passages refer to the same event. Right? Not so fast! Such a conclusion is a non sequitur. It assumes that the Lord Jesus can only descend from heaven one time. In fact He already did so at His first coming, when He took upon human flesh. We celebrate that time as His birthday, the holiday "Christmas".
Fact of the matter is, the Lord Jesus will descend from heaven twice more. The first time He comes, He will come down to the clouds and call the Christians to meet Him there in the clouds. He will not come to the earth at that time. This is known as the "Rapture" in theology textbooks. If you read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, you will obtain a fuller account of this marvelous event. I cannot wait for it to transpire! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Then there is the time after that when the Lord will return to the earth with His angels and heavenly people. This is known as the "Second Coming". The first coming or advent occurred circa 3 B.C. We celebrate this as Christmas. The Lord's "Second Coming" will be after the Great Tribulation. At that time He will cast the antichrist and the false religious leader into the Lake of Fire (Rev.19:20), and lock up the devil for 1000 years (aka the "Millennium"; cf., Rev.20:1-3). If you read Luke 21:25-28 you will obtain further information on this event.
To recapitulate, at the "Rapture" the Lord Jesus descends from heaven to the clouds and calls the Christians to meet Him there. He takes us home to heaven with Him to celebrate the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:7-9). At His "Second Coming" the Lord Jesus descends from heaven with His angels and saints, coming all the way to the earth to destroy evil and set up the Millennial Kingdom on the earth (Rev.19:11-19). For 1000 years He will rule the earth from His throne in Jerusalem, keeping all sin in check worldwide.
For further Bible teaching be sure to check out my five volume set, "Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes". For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
"But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" [Luke 21:28].
Man's only option for redemption is the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is a Person, not a set of beliefs or fervent church attendance. Accordingly Luke 21:28 refers to God's people looking up ("lift up your heads") because the Lord Jesus is returning ("your redemption is drawing near").
In each case the Lord is descending from heaven. So the two passages refer to the same event. Right? Not so fast! Such a conclusion is a non sequitur. It assumes that the Lord Jesus can only descend from heaven one time. In fact He already did so at His first coming, when He took upon human flesh. We celebrate that time as His birthday, the holiday "Christmas".
Fact of the matter is, the Lord Jesus will descend from heaven twice more. The first time He comes, He will come down to the clouds and call the Christians to meet Him there in the clouds. He will not come to the earth at that time. This is known as the "Rapture" in theology textbooks. If you read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, you will obtain a fuller account of this marvelous event. I cannot wait for it to transpire! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Then there is the time after that when the Lord will return to the earth with His angels and heavenly people. This is known as the "Second Coming". The first coming or advent occurred circa 3 B.C. We celebrate this as Christmas. The Lord's "Second Coming" will be after the Great Tribulation. At that time He will cast the antichrist and the false religious leader into the Lake of Fire (Rev.19:20), and lock up the devil for 1000 years (aka the "Millennium"; cf., Rev.20:1-3). If you read Luke 21:25-28 you will obtain further information on this event.
To recapitulate, at the "Rapture" the Lord Jesus descends from heaven to the clouds and calls the Christians to meet Him there. He takes us home to heaven with Him to celebrate the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:7-9). At His "Second Coming" the Lord Jesus descends from heaven with His angels and saints, coming all the way to the earth to destroy evil and set up the Millennial Kingdom on the earth (Rev.19:11-19). For 1000 years He will rule the earth from His throne in Jerusalem, keeping all sin in check worldwide.
For further Bible teaching be sure to check out my five volume set, "Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes". For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Word Games
On more than one occasion over the years, I have been confronted with doctrinal sophistry. The perpetrators of such blather usually spout arguments about words they heard from some self-styled intellectual genius. The genius knows how to sound convincing, and their followers swallow their chicanery hook, line, and sinker. But those followers don't understand what's involved at all, and they haven't given it much thought they don’t rectify ther situation.
One of the more common examples of this is the argument that God doesn't "tempt" anyone, period. He does "test" us, but He never ever "tempts" us because to “tempt” is evil while "testing" is not.
A cursory peek into the dictionary will dispel such illogical tripe, dear friends. To "tempt" may or may not be evil. Even more to the point, the original Greek for "tempt" is translated as "test" in some cases and "tempt" in other cases.
The translators are interpreting instead of translating, when they do this. They interpret the test/tempt as evil when they translate the word as "tempt", while they translate the word as "test" when it's a good thing in their eyes. But it's still the same word. Their shenanigans lead the English reader astray because he/she believes two different words are used in the Greek.
I'll assay one more example and expose the casuistry more thoroughly by means of it. I've been challenged on teaching the Scriptural truth about the "Rapture". The challenge went something like this:
"There is no such thing as the Rapture! The word doesn't appear anywhere in the entire Bible. So there!"
I might as well conclude this post right here and now. The challenge is so irrefutable! What's the point of even answering such clever assertions?
But wait! There is every point to answering the argument. The Bible doesn't mention any toilets in the church buildings. For that matter church buildings aren't even mentioned in the Bible. Would those who argue against the "Rapture" be inclined to argue against toilets and church buildings? Methinks not.
But more to the point, dear friends. The crux of the matter is this: the original manuscripts which were inspired by the Holy Spirit were written in Hebrew and Greek, not English. When it comes right down to it, there are NO English words inspired by the Holy Spirit!
So yes, they are correct. The English word "Rapture" does not appear in the Bible. Nor does the word "Trinity" and a slew of other words used in doctrinal understanding. But guess what? The Greek word "harpazo" is. It is the word we translate into English as "Rapture". It basically means to be caught up and taken to another place.
So the word "Rapture" doesn't appear in the Bible, but what is depicted by the word "Rapture" does indeed occur in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (cf., 2 Corinthians 12:2). So do we really want to argue about words? I think it is much better to discuss what actually occurs in the Bible. Are you with me?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book "Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes". For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
One of the more common examples of this is the argument that God doesn't "tempt" anyone, period. He does "test" us, but He never ever "tempts" us because to “tempt” is evil while "testing" is not.
A cursory peek into the dictionary will dispel such illogical tripe, dear friends. To "tempt" may or may not be evil. Even more to the point, the original Greek for "tempt" is translated as "test" in some cases and "tempt" in other cases.
The translators are interpreting instead of translating, when they do this. They interpret the test/tempt as evil when they translate the word as "tempt", while they translate the word as "test" when it's a good thing in their eyes. But it's still the same word. Their shenanigans lead the English reader astray because he/she believes two different words are used in the Greek.
I'll assay one more example and expose the casuistry more thoroughly by means of it. I've been challenged on teaching the Scriptural truth about the "Rapture". The challenge went something like this:
"There is no such thing as the Rapture! The word doesn't appear anywhere in the entire Bible. So there!"
I might as well conclude this post right here and now. The challenge is so irrefutable! What's the point of even answering such clever assertions?
But wait! There is every point to answering the argument. The Bible doesn't mention any toilets in the church buildings. For that matter church buildings aren't even mentioned in the Bible. Would those who argue against the "Rapture" be inclined to argue against toilets and church buildings? Methinks not.
But more to the point, dear friends. The crux of the matter is this: the original manuscripts which were inspired by the Holy Spirit were written in Hebrew and Greek, not English. When it comes right down to it, there are NO English words inspired by the Holy Spirit!
So yes, they are correct. The English word "Rapture" does not appear in the Bible. Nor does the word "Trinity" and a slew of other words used in doctrinal understanding. But guess what? The Greek word "harpazo" is. It is the word we translate into English as "Rapture". It basically means to be caught up and taken to another place.
So the word "Rapture" doesn't appear in the Bible, but what is depicted by the word "Rapture" does indeed occur in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (cf., 2 Corinthians 12:2). So do we really want to argue about words? I think it is much better to discuss what actually occurs in the Bible. Are you with me?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book "Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes". For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Stargazers
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven [1 Thessalonians 4:16].
But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near [Luke 21:28].
Man's only option for redemption is the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is a Person, not a set of beliefs or fervent church attendance. Accordingly Luke 21:28 refers to God's people looking up ("lift up your heads") because the Lord Jesus is returning ("your redemption is drawing near").
In each case the Lord is descending from heaven. So the two passages refer to the same event. Right? Not so fast! Such a conclusion is a non sequitur. It assumes that the Lord Jesus can only descend from heaven one time. In fact He already did so at His first coming, when He took upon human flesh. We celebrate that time as His birthday, the holiday Christmas.
Fact of the matter is, the Lord Jesus will descend from heaven twice more. The first time He comes, He will come down to the clouds and call the Christians to meet Him there in the clouds. He will not come to the earth at that time. This is known as the Rapture in theology textbooks. If you read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, you will obtain a fuller account of this marvelous event. I cannot wait for it to transpire! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Then there is the time after that when the Lord will return to the earth with His angels and heavenly people. This is known as the Second Coming. The first coming or advent occurred circa 3 B.C. We celebrate this as Christmas. The Lord's Second Coming will be after the Great Tribulation. At that time He will cast the antichrist and the false religious leader into the Lake of Fire (Rev.19:20), and lock up the devil for 1000 years (aka the Millennium; cf., Rev.20:1-3). If you read Luke 21:25-28 you will obtain further information on this event.
To recapitulate, at the Rapture the Lord Jesus descends from heaven to the clouds and calls the Christians to meet Him there. He takes us home to heaven with Him to celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). At His Second Coming the Lord Jesus descends from heaven with His angels and saints, coming all the way to the earth to destroy evil and set up the Millennial Kingdom on the earth (Rev.19:11-19). For 1000 years He will rule the earth from His throne in Jerusalem, keeping all sin in check worldwide.
For further Bible teaching be sure to check out my five volume set, Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near [Luke 21:28].
Man's only option for redemption is the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is a Person, not a set of beliefs or fervent church attendance. Accordingly Luke 21:28 refers to God's people looking up ("lift up your heads") because the Lord Jesus is returning ("your redemption is drawing near").
In each case the Lord is descending from heaven. So the two passages refer to the same event. Right? Not so fast! Such a conclusion is a non sequitur. It assumes that the Lord Jesus can only descend from heaven one time. In fact He already did so at His first coming, when He took upon human flesh. We celebrate that time as His birthday, the holiday Christmas.
Fact of the matter is, the Lord Jesus will descend from heaven twice more. The first time He comes, He will come down to the clouds and call the Christians to meet Him there in the clouds. He will not come to the earth at that time. This is known as the Rapture in theology textbooks. If you read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, you will obtain a fuller account of this marvelous event. I cannot wait for it to transpire! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Then there is the time after that when the Lord will return to the earth with His angels and heavenly people. This is known as the Second Coming. The first coming or advent occurred circa 3 B.C. We celebrate this as Christmas. The Lord's Second Coming will be after the Great Tribulation. At that time He will cast the antichrist and the false religious leader into the Lake of Fire (Rev.19:20), and lock up the devil for 1000 years (aka the Millennium; cf., Rev.20:1-3). If you read Luke 21:25-28 you will obtain further information on this event.
To recapitulate, at the Rapture the Lord Jesus descends from heaven to the clouds and calls the Christians to meet Him there. He takes us home to heaven with Him to celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). At His Second Coming the Lord Jesus descends from heaven with His angels and saints, coming all the way to the earth to destroy evil and set up the Millennial Kingdom on the earth (Rev.19:11-19). For 1000 years He will rule the earth from His throne in Jerusalem, keeping all sin in check worldwide.
For further Bible teaching be sure to check out my five volume set, Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Word Games
On more than one occasion over the years, I have been confronted with doctrinal sophistry. The perpetrators of such blather usually spout arguments about words they heard from some self-styled intellectual genius. The genius knows how to sound convincing, and their followers swallow their chicanery hook, line, and sinker. But those followers don’t understand what's involved at all, and they haven’t given it much thought so they don’t rectify their situation.
One of the more common examples of this is the argument that God doesn’t tempt anyone, period. He does test us, but He never ever tempts us because to tempt is evil while testing is not.
A cursory peek into the dictionary will dispel such illogical tripe, dear friends. To tempt may or may not be evil. Even more to the point, the original Greek for tempt is translated as test in some cases and tempt in other cases.
The translators are interpreting instead of translating, when they do this. They interpret the test/tempt as evil when they translate the word as tempt, while they translate the word as test when it’s a good thing in their eyes. But it’s still the same word. Their shenanigans lead the English reader astray because he/she believes two different words are used in the Greek.
I'll assay one more example and expose the casuistry more thoroughly by means of it. I’ve been challenged about teaching the Scriptural truth of the Rapture. The challenge went something like this:
“There is no such thing as the Rapture! The word doesn’t appear anywhere in the entire Bible. So there!”
I might as well conclude this post right here and now. The challenge is so irrefutable! What’s the point of even answering such clever assertions?
But wait! There is every point to answering the argument. The Bible doesn't mention any toilets in the church buildings. For that matter church buildings aren’t even mentioned in the Bible. Would those who argue against the Rapture be inclined to argue against toilets and church buildings? Methinks not.
But more to the point, dear friends. The crux of the matter is this: the original manuscripts which were inspired by the Holy Spirit were written in Hebrew and Greek, not English. When it comes right down to it, there are NO English words inspired by the Holy Spirit!
So yes, they are correct. The English word Rapture does not appear in the Bible. Nor does the word Trinity and a slew of other words used in doctrinal understanding. But guess what? The Greek word harpazo is. It is the word we translate into English as Rapture. It basically means to be caught up and taken to another place.
So the word Rapture doesn’t appear in the Bible, but what is depicted by the word Rapture does indeed occur in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (cf., 2 Corinthians 12:2). So do we really want to argue about words? I think it is much better to discuss what actually occurs in the Bible. Are you with me?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books: http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
One of the more common examples of this is the argument that God doesn’t tempt anyone, period. He does test us, but He never ever tempts us because to tempt is evil while testing is not.
A cursory peek into the dictionary will dispel such illogical tripe, dear friends. To tempt may or may not be evil. Even more to the point, the original Greek for tempt is translated as test in some cases and tempt in other cases.
The translators are interpreting instead of translating, when they do this. They interpret the test/tempt as evil when they translate the word as tempt, while they translate the word as test when it’s a good thing in their eyes. But it’s still the same word. Their shenanigans lead the English reader astray because he/she believes two different words are used in the Greek.
I'll assay one more example and expose the casuistry more thoroughly by means of it. I’ve been challenged about teaching the Scriptural truth of the Rapture. The challenge went something like this:
“There is no such thing as the Rapture! The word doesn’t appear anywhere in the entire Bible. So there!”
I might as well conclude this post right here and now. The challenge is so irrefutable! What’s the point of even answering such clever assertions?
But wait! There is every point to answering the argument. The Bible doesn't mention any toilets in the church buildings. For that matter church buildings aren’t even mentioned in the Bible. Would those who argue against the Rapture be inclined to argue against toilets and church buildings? Methinks not.
But more to the point, dear friends. The crux of the matter is this: the original manuscripts which were inspired by the Holy Spirit were written in Hebrew and Greek, not English. When it comes right down to it, there are NO English words inspired by the Holy Spirit!
So yes, they are correct. The English word Rapture does not appear in the Bible. Nor does the word Trinity and a slew of other words used in doctrinal understanding. But guess what? The Greek word harpazo is. It is the word we translate into English as Rapture. It basically means to be caught up and taken to another place.
So the word Rapture doesn’t appear in the Bible, but what is depicted by the word Rapture does indeed occur in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (cf., 2 Corinthians 12:2). So do we really want to argue about words? I think it is much better to discuss what actually occurs in the Bible. Are you with me?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books: http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Stargazers
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven [1 Thessalonians 4:16].
But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near [Luke 21:28].
Man's only option for redemption is the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is a Person, not a set of beliefs or fervent church attendance. Accordingly Luke 21:28 refers to God's people looking up ("lift up your heads") because the Lord Jesus is returning ("your redemption is drawing near").
In each case the Lord is descending from heaven. So the two passages refer to the same event. Right? Not so fast! Such a conclusion is a non sequitur. It assumes that the Lord Jesus can only descend from heaven one time. In fact He already did so at His first coming, when He took upon human flesh. We celebrate that time as His birthday, the holiday Christmas.
Fact of the matter is, the Lord Jesus will descend from heaven twice more. The first time He comes, He will come down to the clouds and call the Christians to meet Him up there in the clouds. He will not come to the earth at that time. This is known in theology textbooks as the Rapture. If you read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, you will obtain a fuller account of this marvelous event. I cannot wait for it to transpire! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Then there is the time after that when the Lord will return to the earth with His angels and heavenly people. This is known as the Second Coming. The first coming or advent occurred circa 7 B.C. We celebrate this as Christmas. The Lord's Second Coming will be after the Great Tribulation. At that time He will cast the antichrist and the false religious leader into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20), and lock up the devil for 1000 years (aka the Millennium; cf., Revelation 20:1-3). If you read Luke 21:25-28 you will obtain further information on this event.
To recapitulate, at the Rapture the Lord Jesus descends from heaven to the clouds and calls the Christians to meet Him there. He takes us home to heaven with Him to celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). At His Second Coming the Lord Jesus descends from heaven with His angels and saints, coming all the way to the earth to destroy evil and set up the Millennial Kingdom on the earth (Revelation 19:11-19). For 1000 years He will rule the earth from His throne in Jerusalem, keeping all sin in check worldwide.
For further Bible teaching be sure to check out my five volume set, Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near [Luke 21:28].
Man's only option for redemption is the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is a Person, not a set of beliefs or fervent church attendance. Accordingly Luke 21:28 refers to God's people looking up ("lift up your heads") because the Lord Jesus is returning ("your redemption is drawing near").
In each case the Lord is descending from heaven. So the two passages refer to the same event. Right? Not so fast! Such a conclusion is a non sequitur. It assumes that the Lord Jesus can only descend from heaven one time. In fact He already did so at His first coming, when He took upon human flesh. We celebrate that time as His birthday, the holiday Christmas.
Fact of the matter is, the Lord Jesus will descend from heaven twice more. The first time He comes, He will come down to the clouds and call the Christians to meet Him up there in the clouds. He will not come to the earth at that time. This is known in theology textbooks as the Rapture. If you read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, you will obtain a fuller account of this marvelous event. I cannot wait for it to transpire! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Then there is the time after that when the Lord will return to the earth with His angels and heavenly people. This is known as the Second Coming. The first coming or advent occurred circa 7 B.C. We celebrate this as Christmas. The Lord's Second Coming will be after the Great Tribulation. At that time He will cast the antichrist and the false religious leader into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20), and lock up the devil for 1000 years (aka the Millennium; cf., Revelation 20:1-3). If you read Luke 21:25-28 you will obtain further information on this event.
To recapitulate, at the Rapture the Lord Jesus descends from heaven to the clouds and calls the Christians to meet Him there. He takes us home to heaven with Him to celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). At His Second Coming the Lord Jesus descends from heaven with His angels and saints, coming all the way to the earth to destroy evil and set up the Millennial Kingdom on the earth (Revelation 19:11-19). For 1000 years He will rule the earth from His throne in Jerusalem, keeping all sin in check worldwide.
For further Bible teaching be sure to check out my five volume set, Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Word Games
On more than one occasion over the years, I have been confronted with doctrinal sophistry. The perpetrators of such blather usually spout arguments about words they heard from some self-styled intellectual genius. The genius knows how to sound convincing, and their followers swallow their chicanery hook, line, and sinker. But those followers don’t understand what's involved at all, and they haven’t given it much thought so they don’t rectify their situation.
One of the more common examples of this is the argument that God doesn’t tempt anyone, period. He does test us, but He never ever tempts us because to tempt is evil while testing is not.
A cursory peek into the dictionary will dispel such illogical tripe, dear friends. To tempt may or may not be evil. Even more to the point, the original Greek for tempt is translated as test in some cases and tempt in other cases.
When the translators do this, they are interpreting instead of translating. They interpret the test/tempt as evil when they translate the word as tempt, while they translate the word as test when it’s a good thing in their eyes. But it’s still the same word. Their shenanigans lead the English reader astray because he/she believes two different words are used in the Greek.
I'll assay one more example and expose the casuistry more thoroughly by means of it. I’ve been challenged about teaching the Scriptural truth of the Rapture. The challenge went something like this:
“There is no such thing as the Rapture! The word doesn’t appear anywhere in the entire Bible. So there!”
I might as well conclude this post right here and now. The challenge is so irrefutable! What’s the point of even answering such clever assertions?
But wait! There is every point to answering the argument. The Bible doesn't mention any toilets in the church buildings. For that matter church buildings aren’t even mentioned in the Bible. Would those who argue against the Rapture be inclined to argue against toilets and church buildings? Methinks not.
But more to the point, dear friends. The crux of the matter is this: the original manuscripts which were inspired by the Holy Spirit were written in Hebrew and Greek, not English. When it comes right down to it, there are NO English words inspired by the Holy Spirit!
So yes, they are correct. The English word Rapture does not appear in the Bible. Nor does the word Trinity and a slew of other words used in doctrinal understanding. But guess what? The Greek word harpazo is in the Bible. It is the word we translate into English as Rapture. It basically means to be caught up and taken to another place.
So the word Rapture doesn’t appear in the Bible, but what is depicted by the word Rapture does indeed occur in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (cf., 2 Corinthians 12:2). So do we really want to argue about words? I think it is much better to discuss what actually occurs in the Bible. Are you with me?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books: http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
One of the more common examples of this is the argument that God doesn’t tempt anyone, period. He does test us, but He never ever tempts us because to tempt is evil while testing is not.
A cursory peek into the dictionary will dispel such illogical tripe, dear friends. To tempt may or may not be evil. Even more to the point, the original Greek for tempt is translated as test in some cases and tempt in other cases.
When the translators do this, they are interpreting instead of translating. They interpret the test/tempt as evil when they translate the word as tempt, while they translate the word as test when it’s a good thing in their eyes. But it’s still the same word. Their shenanigans lead the English reader astray because he/she believes two different words are used in the Greek.
I'll assay one more example and expose the casuistry more thoroughly by means of it. I’ve been challenged about teaching the Scriptural truth of the Rapture. The challenge went something like this:
“There is no such thing as the Rapture! The word doesn’t appear anywhere in the entire Bible. So there!”
I might as well conclude this post right here and now. The challenge is so irrefutable! What’s the point of even answering such clever assertions?
But wait! There is every point to answering the argument. The Bible doesn't mention any toilets in the church buildings. For that matter church buildings aren’t even mentioned in the Bible. Would those who argue against the Rapture be inclined to argue against toilets and church buildings? Methinks not.
But more to the point, dear friends. The crux of the matter is this: the original manuscripts which were inspired by the Holy Spirit were written in Hebrew and Greek, not English. When it comes right down to it, there are NO English words inspired by the Holy Spirit!
So yes, they are correct. The English word Rapture does not appear in the Bible. Nor does the word Trinity and a slew of other words used in doctrinal understanding. But guess what? The Greek word harpazo is in the Bible. It is the word we translate into English as Rapture. It basically means to be caught up and taken to another place.
So the word Rapture doesn’t appear in the Bible, but what is depicted by the word Rapture does indeed occur in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (cf., 2 Corinthians 12:2). So do we really want to argue about words? I think it is much better to discuss what actually occurs in the Bible. Are you with me?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. For more info please visit these sites to purchase my books: http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
