Subject: Raptured? When? Part E

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

higher-fire@prairienet.org
Subject: Raptured? When? Part E

     Many signs were given to the nation of Israel, which would precede the
second advent, so that the nation might be living in expectancy when the
time of His coming should draw nigh. Although Israel could not know the day
nor the hour when the Lord will come, yet they can know that their
redemption draweth nigh through the fulfillment of these signs. To the
church no such signs were ever given. The church was told to live in the
light of the imminent coming of the Lord to translate them in His presence
(John 14:2-3; Acts 1:11; I Corinthians 15:51-52; Philippians 3:20;
Colossians 3:4; I Thessalonians 1:10; I Timothy 6:14; James 5:8; I Peter
3:3-4). Such passages as I Thessalonians 5:6; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:3 all
warn the believer to be watching for the Lord Himself, not for signs that
would precede His coming. It is true that the events of the seventieth week
will cast an adumbration before the rapture, but the object of the
believer's attention is always directed to Christ, never to these portents. 

     This doctrine of imminence, or "at any moment coming," is not a new
doctrine with Darby, as is sometimes charged, although he did clarify,
systematize, and popularize it. Such a belief in imminency marked the
premillennialism of the early church fathers as well as the writers of the
New Testament. In this connection Thiessen writes: 

     ...they held not only the premillennial view of Christ's coming,
     but also regraded that coming as imminent. The Lord had taught
     them to expect His return at any moment, and so they looked for
     Him to come in their day. Not only so, but they also taught His
     personal return as being immediately. Only the Alexandrians
     opposed this truth; but these Fathers also rejected other
     fundamental doctrines. We may say, therefore, that the early
     Church lived in the constant expectation of their Lord, and hence
     was not interested in the possibility of a Tribulation period in
     the future. [Henry C. Thiessen, WILL THE CHURCH PASS THROUGH THE
     TRIBULATION?, P. 15.]

     Although the Eschatology of the early church may not be altogether
clear on all points, for that subject was not the subject of serious
consideration, yet the evidence is clear that they believed in the imminent
return of Christ. This same view of imminence is clearly seen in the
writings of the Reformers, even though they had different views on
eschatological questions. Chafer quotes some of the reformers to show that
they believed in the imminency of the return of Christ.

     ...Luther wrote, "I believe that all the signs which are to
     precede the last days have already appeared. Let us not think
     that the Coming of Christ is far off; let us look up with heads
     lifted up; let us expect our Redeemer's coming with longing and
     cheerful mind"...Calvin also declares..."Scripture uniformly
     enjoins us to look with expectation for the advent of Christ." To
     this may be added the testimony of John Knox: "The Lord Jesus
     shall return, and that with expedition. What were this else but
     to reform the face of the whole earth, which never was nor yet
     shall be, till that righteous King and Judge appear for the
     restoration of all things." Similarly, the words of Latimer: "All
     those excellent and learned men whom, without doubt, God has sent
     into the world in these latter days to give the world warning, do
     gather out of the Scriptures that the last days can not be far
     off. Peradventure it may come in my day, old as I am, or in my
     children's days."... [Lewis Sperry Chafer, SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY,
     IV, PP. 278-79].

     The doctrine of imminence forbids the participation of the church in
any part of he seventieth week. The multitude of signs given to Israel to
stir them to expectancy would then also be foe the church, and the church
could not be looking for Christ until theses signs had been fulfilled. The
fact that no signs are given to the church, but she, rather, is commanded to
watch for Christ, precludes her participation in the seventieth week.

Walter Copes
The joy of the Lord is my strength
(wcopes@communique.net)
Walter L Copes