There is a good chance you've heard in some conversations people talking about the Rapture. Or you've even seen the book or movie "Left Behind" that really put this term in forefront. Funny enough the word never appears in the bible. Nevertheless, many believe in the twinkle of an eye that guy sitting next to you will disappear suddenly. Well what does the Word say ?
In a multi-part series a fellow member of the church will give and in depth explanation of the terms, people behind it, and show what the scriptures says about this topic.
I. Introduction
A. In an earlier lesson in this series, we looked at what the Bible has to say about the End Times.
1. We noted then that there are many false views about what will happen at the end of this age, and we very briefly discussed premillennialism.
2. The purpose of this lesson is to dive more deeply into that topic and to demonstrate why that view is false.
3. For a much more complete treatment of what actually will happen at the end of the world, please look at those earlier notes.
B. There is a great deal of interest in this topic.
1. The "Left Behind" series of books by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye advocates dispensational premillennialism thoughout.
2. One of the leading elements in that series of books is the idea that in the near-distant future the followers of Christ will be snatched away or raptured while events continue on Earth for those left behind.
3. You may have seen the bumper sticker that says "Warning! In event of Rapture this car will be driverless!"
C. Tim LaHaye describes the following statement as the "golden rule of biblical interpretation."
1. "When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense, but take every word at its primary, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context clearly indicate otherwise."
2. That sounds good, but there are two big problems with it when it comes to premillennialists.
a) It ignores the use of figurative, symbolic language in many of the prophetic portions of Scripture -- and we know that such language is used because the symbols are identified and explained several times in Daniel and Revelation.
b) While it may be a good rule for interpreting non-figurative language in the Bible, premillennialists ignore it in that context! In fact, premillennialists really turn things on its head -- they take figurative language literally and literal language figuratively!
(1) Matthew 24:1-33, for example, describes the judgment of Jerusalem in vivid language and concludes in verse 34 with a simple statement that all of those events will occur in the first century. Premillennialists take the first 33 verses literally and then either ignore or try to explain away the plain "common sense" statement in verse 34.
(2) 1 John 2:18 tells us that the "last hour" was then occurring and that "antichrists" were then operating on earth. Premillennialists put all of that into the future and ignore the "common sense" interpretation that they were first century events.
3. If anything needs to be "left behind" it is premillennial and all of the false, blasphemous consequences that follow from it.
D. It is important that the Lord's church be clear on what will transpire at the Lord's return.
1. As with any doctrine, we must proclaim what the Bible says on this subject, and we must defend the truth against the false teachings that seek to supplant it.
2. This doctrine is particularly pernicious. Why?
a) It confuses people about their hope in Jesus Christ.
b) It confuses people about their need to obey the gospel today.
c) It distracts people from how they must live today.
d) It makes people believe that the word of God changes with the day's headlines.
(1) In his book "Arageddon, Oil and the Middle East," John Walvoord argued that the first Gulf War in the early 90's fulfilled conditions "exactly as the Bible anticipates in its prophecies of the end of time."
e) It has consequences that strike at the very heart of the gospel.
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