Raptured? When? Part G

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

     The word APANTESIS (to meet) is used in Acts 28:15 with the idea of "to
meet to return with." It is often argued that that same word used in I
THESSALONIANS 4:17 has the same idea and therefore the church must be
raptured to return instantly and immediately with the Lord to the earth,
denying and making impossible any interval between the rapture and the
return. Not only does the Greek word not require such an interpretation, but
certain events predicted for the church after her translation make such and
interpretation impossible. These events are: (1) the judgment seat of
Christ, (2) the presentation of the church to Christ, and (3) the marriage
of the Lamb.

     1. Passages such as II Corinthians 5:9; I Corinthians 3:11-16;
Revelation 4:4; 19:8, 14 show that the church has been examined as to her
stewardship and has received her reward at the time of the second advent of
Christ. It is impossible to conceive of this event as taking place without
the expiration of some period of time.

     2. The church is to be presented as a gift to the Son. Scofield writes:

     Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also
     loved the church, and gave himself for it;  That he might
     sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
     THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT IT TO HIMSELF a glorious church, not having
     spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy
     and without blemish.

     Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and
     to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with
     exceeding joy. [C. I. Scofield, WILL THE CHURCH PASS THROUGH THE
     GREAT TRIBULATION? p. 13.]

     In Revelation 19:7-9 it is revealed that the consummation of the union
between Christ and the church precedes the second advent. In many passages,
such as Matthew 25:1-13; 22:1-14; and Luke 12:35-41, the King is seen in the
role of Bridegroom at His coming, indicating that the marriage has taken
place. This event, likewise, requires the expiration of a period of time and
makes the view that the rapture and revelation are simultaneous events
impossible. While the length of them is not indicated in this consideration,
yet an interval between the rapture and the revelation is required.

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