Covenant Presbyterian Church
Sunday morning Foundations Classes
God's Positioning System (GPS)
Angels/Demons & the End Times -- Lesson #7
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(Lessons are posted once a week on Friday afternoon
For Lesson #1 click on 5/31 at Blog Archive.
Is “the Rapture” a literal biblical event or just symbolism? Christians
cannot agree on when the Rapture occurs, or even if it does occur.
Why are there different views?
People
of equal intellect can come to different conclusions. The principle
reason, as I see it, is everyone sees things from their own perspective,
and there are a lot of things, especially in today’s world, that influence our
perception of things—the History channel for one and even the evening news can
pique our interest and stir an opinion—even fake news can affect how we
see things.
This is not intended as an in-depth
scholarly theological, seminary level study. It will give an adequate level of
insight into the main views. I have to
restrain myself from adding too much information. Bible verses are added where
needed. Questions are always welcome via email (available in the church
directory). Nevertheless, I believe setting the stage
is important to every study, this one is no different.
Anyone who watched the “Monk” TV series—reruns
are still being aired—will
know what I mean. Monk sees details
and
clues not
readily apparent to others; he “connects the dots” in a way that isn’t all
that apparent to
others.
I
believe the same is true for the Book of Revelation, in
that the
dots aren’t
always
equally
apparent to everyone. That
is why I read the different views and don’t just lock onto one
and ignore the others. This
is not an easy straight forward study, but I think it’s worth the effort.
I participated in two lecture series
on the Book of Revelation—one advocated a Mid-tribulation rapture;
the
other was Amillennial rejecting
the
rapture and professing the millennium as symbolism and not a literal 1,000
years—both
offered Bible verses to support their views. So, who was right? Both were seminary
educated and well versed in the Bible. With a lot of unanswered questions,
it wasn’t all that “cut-and-dried”. At the end of each series, the
presenter admitted
he could
be wrong. Nevertheless, all
of which is worth
discussing for a
number of
reasons, especially if those events began to unfold in our own lifetime. Are
they starting to do so?
When it comes to the End Times and the
Rapture, and even the Millennium, not all Christian agree…. both in the pulpit
and in the pews. Prior to WWII some prominent Americans, like Charles
Lindbergh, did not see Nazi Germany as a threat to world peace. President
Roosevelt saw them as an imminent threat; most Americans did not. BUT, as
circumstances unfolded, it became apparent to everyone that they were a threat
to liberty. I believe the same will be true of the End Times. As events unfold,
the biblical truth will become equally apparent to everyone. It may be next
week or a hundred years from now. It’s God’s timetable.
When there was only one Christian Church,
during the first
thousand years when theological disagreements arose—and they did—the
Church called a formal
council to
discuss, debate, pray, decide and defend what was biblical versus what wasn’t. This and
the next slide show the
key
doctrinal issues that the Church defended against heresies that
arose within the Church. You
can click on the slide to enlarge it. Hit esc to return to normal view.
We no longer have the means of speaking with
one voice as “the
Church”. So
everyone is free to decide for themselves, and they do, and the
world-wide-web is awash with opinions. And there are no consequences for being
wrong. Most End Times’
disagreements
are not doctrinal
in
nature. We
can presume that one view will be closer to the truth than the others,
but the differences between
them are the result of
interpretation—and
not doctrinal or heretical. Some may take exception to
that, but that’s okay.
After the great doctrinal debates were
settled, the Church over time split over what were considered major
differences. The first major split was in 1054 AD—the Great Schism—between East
(Orthodox) and West (Roman). The second major split was in 16th century Europe between Protestant and
Catholic. There is
no evidence that the issue of when or even if the Rapture occurred
was debated in the Church during that entire time, or even came
up until the 1800s.
Some in the early Church may have written about it, but it was never debated as
a doctrinal issue. Many
believed the
events in Revelation addressed the Roman Empire, and Nero who persecuted Christians was
viewed as
the Antichrist.
The point being…….(next slide)
There are strong opinions, with
scriptural texts for each view, and also a lot of personal perspectives thrown
in. And I can say the same for my own opinion. We can be certain one view is
closer to the truth than the others, but that will only be apparent
to everyone
when
events begin
to unfold in the evening news.
Everyone will draw his or her own
conclusions. I lean toward one of the views over the others, but am I 100%
certain? No. Why? Because certain the biblical scholars that I respect express
different views. So, who’s wrong? A question that I’m sure many Christians ask
themselves. Most likely many reading this have already formed an opinion and are expecting me to substantiate it. I am
not trying to change anyone’s mind, just help put it into perspective of the
larger picture by showing all the views.
The chart shows four different views. Only #2 professes a pre-tribulation rapture. #3 is generally not
mentioned. #1, #2 & #4 are the three commonly stated views. Before we delve
into them let’s
see what Jesus tells us in Luke 17:26-35 (next 2 slide)…
Luke 17:26-35: Jesus
seems to be highlighting the Tribulation and God’s wrath on a sinful,
unrepentant world, using Noah’s flood and Lot’s rescue from Sodom’s destruction
as
examples of God’s wrath on a sinful world; a world where people reject
Him and
are not willing
to repent of their sins.
(Rev.
15 & 16,
God’s wrath poured out).
Many associate v.34-35
with
the Rapture.
These verses served as a warning of pending doom, just as with Noah and Lot. Putting it into
perspective: the people were snatched away, not during the time of doom, but
before God’s wrath
was poured out,
which seems
to fit the Pre-tribulation and Mid-tribulation timing of the Rapture.
It certainly
sounds like a literal Rapture,
but, yes, others
have drawn different conclusions. So, we will proceed to the other
views.
This slide provides a
closeup of two of the four commonly held views. Post-tribulation does not include the
rapture,
and Pre-tribulation shows the rapture occurring prior to the seven-year
tribulation. Both of which show the last judgment when Christ returns for His
Church and to judge the sinful world.
This shows the Postmillennial and Amillennial
views,
both exclude
the
rapture, but
highlight the
Second Coming of Christ and last judgment. Amillennnial, as
its name indicates, does not profess a literal 1,000-year millennium seeing it as a symbolic
representation of the church age. Amillennialism emphasizes that much
of the Book of Revelation is symbolism and not literal and should be viewed
from that perspective.
The Tribulation marks a seven-year
period when the Antichrist reigns and rules. Some Bible scholars teach it is
a time when God will complete his discipline of Israel and bring His final
judgment upon a sinful world. They believed it even before there was the State
of Israel created in 1948 or that it was even possible since the Jews were
deeply rooted across Europe, which give credence to that view. I strongly
believe prophesy often becomes fact as history unfolds and reveals it as such.
I attended two study-series on the Book
of Revelation, one proposed an Amillennial perspective; the other a
pre-tribulation perspective. Even after 24 lessons, the view that I found
least appealing was the Amillennial view with a heavy emphasis on symbolism,
presented by a well-respected Bible scholar—someone that I hold in high esteem.
There in lies my dilemma. It causes me to wonder, if it is so difficult to
understand because of the symbolism, why did John even write so much of it,
and for whom? John begins, addressing his letter with Jesus’ instructions to
the seven churches in Asia Minor. Why didn’t it end there? Obviously, the Holy Spirit inspired the letter for John, which makes all of it relevant.
In the book of Revelation
(Rev. 6:1-8),
we see four horsemen that personify God’s wrath with pestilence,
war, famine, and death, sent as harbingers of the end
of the world system under Satan and the Antichrist. Can a pandemic (i.e.,
pestilence) like COVID-19 fit this prophetic profile?
The Rapture and the Tribulation go
hand in hand for
most, but not for those that subscribe to the Amillennial view, which sees most
of it as symbolism rather than literal. Truthfully, the array of symbolism is a
little too much for me to chew on in a comprehensive way and digest
sufficiently to be comfortable with adding it as part of our study—I don’t
think I would do it justice by providing way too little or way too much information. I never thought I would see the end of America
in my lifetime, but I feel like we are very close to that reality. A nation
divided against itself cannot stand, (Matthew 12:25; Luke 11:14; Mark
3:24). If America destroys itself we can be certain that we have entered the End
Times.
We looked at this in the last lesson, but
I think it’s worth repeating. This is one perspective that focuses on Israel as
part of God’s End Times plan. Not only have the Arab nations aligned against Israel, but many in the West have done so as well. Do you see shades of the Antichrist here? I do.
Image on the left shows the Jerusalem temple at
the time of Jesus, on right is the mosque that now stands on that location--the temple of the mount. If
you see anything coming out of Israel regarding rebuilding of the Jerusalem
temple, hold onto you seat and pay close attention.
The most commonly held view
among Evangelicals is that the Rapture occurs before the 7-year
Tribulation—before the antichrist enters the world scene, assumes power and
begins his dictatorial reign over the world system, yes, even the USA.
This chart shows the three principle
views as to when the Rapture is expected to occur. Click on slide to enlarge it. And esc to
return to the normal view. They all support the 1,000-year reign of Christ on
the earth.
This shows the views of Protestant Pastors on the Rapture, pre-trib with
the highest percentage; but a close second are those who do not believe in a literal
Rapture, contrary to the belief that almost all Christians believe in a literal
Rapture.
You can sit carefully read the Book
of Revelation, and most likely you will have a multiple of questions in trying
to understanding what it is means. Unless someone walks you through it, or you
get a comprehensive commentary; join the club!
When John addressed Jesus’ Words to the
Seven Churches in Asia Minor (Rev. Chap. 1-3), it addressed a fundamental issue
in churches, then and now. Some faithfully abided in Him and others were caught
up in the world system. All
of
human history is reflected in the Book of Revelation, for there were many
antichrist (1 John 2:18). The rise of the Antichrist is in response to a sinful
world system, from the Roman Empire to the League of Nations & United
Nations, to the Worldwide Council of Churches where Christian member-churches put all
religions on equal footing, which is not the biblical Gospel, nor does it honor
God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
The Tribulation marks the time of the
Antichrist. Some believe the true Church will be raptured during the
Tribulation but before the Great Tribulation (second 3 ½ years of the 7-year
tribulation). Yet, as popular as the pretribulation view may be, we have
to ask,
which view seems to serve God’s plan best: a trial-free Church or a suffering
Church where perhaps mediocre and somewhat indifferent Christians become
fervent, passionate Christians? Think of
the 1st century Christians suffering persecution
in the Roman Empire.
The pandemic is being used by mayors to
shutdown churches and ban worship services altogether as seen on the slide, noted for Chicago. Antichrist? We can only
imagine what it would be like during the Tribulation.
The increase in murder rate as noted is the
result of lawlessness during the pandemic and the restraint and defunding of police in
major cities across America. Just a representative sampling of what one can
expect during the Tribulation period.
Throughout history the Church has gone
through many periods of persecution. Some see the Tribulation as a
time of persecution for the Church, potentially leading from
apathy and even indifference, to fervor and passion for Christ. They also see
it as a time when the Church will be purged of those who are in the Church but
not of the Church; those individuals will not be raptured and perhaps even
repent during the Great Tribulation, with a renewed fervor for Christ.
Tribulation or not, God’s grace
is sufficient to overcome all circumstances, no matter what we see and hear on
the evening news. So
as not to overwhelm you with too much stuff, we will conclude our lesson at
this point and pick up again next week. For now, I give up trying to predict the exact number of lessons. Until then, blessings to all.
Pray for our President and our Nation.
END OF LESSON #7
