The Blessed Hope and Our Time to Shine :: By Jonathan Brentner

[Andy C]

Do you realize that as New Testament saints, we will take part in the most spectacular event that the world will ever see? Nothing in the history or future of our planet is even remotely comparable to the astonishing sight of Jesus’ future return to the world in great glory and power.

Revelation 19 begins with thunderous praise for our Savior, followed by our celebration with Him at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Then, “arrayed in fine linen, white and pure,” we will follow Jesus back to earth riding on white horses (Revelation 19:11-16) and reign with Him during His thousand-year rule over the nations (Revelation 20:1-10).

John’s vision of things to come in Revelation 20 brings to life what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:24-28:

“Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his feet.’ But when it says, ‘all things are put in subjection,’ it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.”

According to the above verses, Jesus must govern the affairs of humanity at a time when sin and death exist so that He might subject “all things” to Himself and destroy death once for all time. It’s only after Jesus’ reign over the nations, which leads to the Great White Throne judgment recorded in Revelation 20:11-15, that death forever disappears and we have the conditions described in Revelation 21:4 when mourning, crying, and pain will no longer exist.

This scenario contradicts the teachings of our day that combine the Rapture with the Second Coming. These viewpoints not only negate the possibility of our thrilling return with Jesus at His return but also contradict the words Paul penned in 1 Corinthians 15:24-28. Why do I make such a startling claim? Let me explain.

Placing the Rapture After a Literal Seven-Year Tribulation

Some Bible students combine the Rapture and Second Coming and yet claim to believe in a literal seven-year tribulation and thousand-year reign of Jesus. However, this teaching not only falls far short of adequately fulfilling the words of 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 but also negates significant elements of Jesus’ millennial reign, which they claim to believe.

First, combining the two events eliminates the possibility of sin during Jesus’ reign. How can the rebellion recorded in Revelation 20:7-10 happen if everyone enters the Millennium with incorruptible bodies incapable of sinning? Who would refuse to participate in the Feasts of Booths if such disobedience was impossible during this time (Zechariah 14:16-19)?

The Blessed Hope and Our Time to Shine :: By Jonathan Brentner

Do you realize that as New Testament saints, we will take part in the most spectacular event that the world will ever see? Nothing in the history or

www.raptureready.com

 

[Bethlehem57]

Do you realize that as New Testament saints, we will take part in the most spectacular event that the world will ever see? Nothing in the history or future of our planet is even remotely comparable to the astonishing sight of Jesus’ future return to the world in great glory and power.

Revelation 19 begins with thunderous praise for our Savior, followed by our celebration with Him at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Then, “arrayed in fine linen, white and pure,” we will follow Jesus back to earth riding on white horses (Revelation 19:11-16) and reign with Him during His thousand-year rule over the nations (Revelation 20:1-10).

John’s vision of things to come in Revelation 20 brings to life what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:24-28:

“Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his feet.’ But when it says, ‘all things are put in subjection,’ it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.”

According to the above verses, Jesus must govern the affairs of humanity at a time when sin and death exist so that He might subject “all things” to Himself and destroy death once for all time. It’s only after Jesus’ reign over the nations, which leads to the Great White Throne judgment recorded in Revelation 20:11-15, that death forever disappears and we have the conditions described in Revelation 21:4 when mourning, crying, and pain will no longer exist.

This scenario contradicts the teachings of our day that combine the Rapture with the Second Coming. These viewpoints not only negate the possibility of our thrilling return with Jesus at His return but also contradict the words Paul penned in 1 Corinthians 15:24-28. Why do I make such a startling claim? Let me explain.

Placing the Rapture After a Literal Seven-Year Tribulation

Some Bible students combine the Rapture and Second Coming and yet claim to believe in a literal seven-year tribulation and thousand-year reign of Jesus. However, this teaching not only falls far short of adequately fulfilling the words of 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 but also negates significant elements of Jesus’ millennial reign, which they claim to believe.

First, combining the two events eliminates the possibility of sin during Jesus’ reign. How can the rebellion recorded in Revelation 20:7-10 happen if everyone enters the Millennium with incorruptible bodies incapable of sinning? Who would refuse to participate in the Feasts of Booths if such disobedience was impossible during this time (Zechariah 14:16-19)?

The Blessed Hope and Our Time to Shine :: By Jonathan Brentner

Do you realize that as New Testament saints, we will take part in the most spectacular event that the world will ever see? Nothing in the history or

www.raptureready.com

I started reading this Monday and have re-studied some of the Bible verses that Brother Brentner gave to put this glorious near future event to light! I love how he reiterates that the Rapture and the Second Coming are TWO distinct events.

DH and I are the crazy people in the family because of our beliefs about these end times events. My middle DD confronted me the other day with the “newness” of the Pre-Millennial doctrine - she and her DH think that this way of end times thinking is because of John Darby. I explained to her that it began with the apostles who expected Christ to return for them, followed by the early church fathers. I stupidly thought that the end time doctrine of Pre-Mill was a continuous way for the early church and had to look up John Darby. I know - I’m still learning!

Thanks to Origen’s doctrine that scripture was deeply allegorical, he argued that end times prophecies should be understood in a spiritual way, not literally . rather than a literal sense. So far from what I’ve studied,Origen laid the groundwork for laterAmillenialist thought,..continued by Augustine of Hippo who was a pivotal figure in solidifying Amillennialism. Tertulian helped this non-literal interpretation of Scripture for later theologians who would dig into these eschatological interpretations. Also, Cyprian of Carthage, advanced this doctrine by laying a foundation that would prepare Amill ideas could be built. the context of ecclesiology and the nature of the church, Cyprian built abfoundation upon which later Amillennialist ideas could be built. And certainly today, there isn’t a shortage of those who support this doctrine of Amillenialism - Ken Gentry, John Calvin, John Piper, and those who compose The Gospel Coalition.” Many more have been adding to this (IMHO) wrong thinking and it still may be the doctrine, that a study in 2011 indicated, was the prevailing thought.

I can’t wrap my head around why, throughout the rest of Scripture that’s mostly taken as LITERALLY, they hold the Book of Revelation as symbolic -AND - insist that the church will prepare the way for Christ’s Second Advent, by converting the whole world into believers. I suppose this explains the other idea they hold - no literal hell - is because man, who couldn’t possibly keep the OT Law of Moses, will “straighten mankind out,” and everyone will be saved.

No matter what I say, or explain, I have come to understand that I can’t change their minds. And because the Pastor of their church agrees with most of this doctrine, I have stepped away from discussing any part of end times theology with them.

I only pray that the way that they’re being taught and what they listen to doesn’t take them further away from their salvation in Christ. My DD’s husband, a I know I’ve said before has a masters in Theology and he can come up with all kinds of craziness all by himself. For one thing, I think that he latches onto the “idea of no Hell” because his father isn’t saved. I keep praying for them both, especially with regard to them allowing the wrong thinking about sinful mankind and his inability to much less accept Chris as Savior, not with the ability to make way for Christ’s Second Coming!

I’m wrapping all my “blessed hope” in the promises made by Christ Himself, that as believers, we are promised to not endure the wrath to come!

 

[Andy C]

No matter what I say, or explain, I have come to understand that I can’t change their minds. And because the Pastor of their church agrees with most of this doctrine, I have stepped away from discussing any part of end times theology with them.

I quit debating the timing of the rapture long ago. Its not a salvation issue, and we all know the old joke about those who dont believe in the pre trib rapture “we will explain it to them on the way up”.

 

[Bethlehem57]

I quit debating the timing of the rapture long ago. Its not a salvation issue, and we all know the old joke about those who dont believe in the pre trib rapture “we will explain it to them on the way up”.

Yep! I’ve often quoted that to both. I don’t think we’ll have time, either by Rapture or by death, but maybe when we’re all together there, I’m sure I’ll have a chance to say, “told yah,”!”