Discerning the Views - An Example process

A question I get asked alot is how come holders of different rapture theologies all refer to the same verses as proof of their postitions.  When debating theologies on Post-Trib, Pre-Trib, Pre-wrath, Mid-trib or whatever, the importance lies in the fact that the bible is the inerrant word of God.

Let me explain...

Many verses can be interpreted to reflect on the different views. Because of this quoting supporting verses for our position does not provide a 'written in stone' argument for our position.  The secret, and discerning point occurs when we find a piece of scripture contrary to a view in question ... not when we find one that is complimentary to it.

For example.  Let's have a look at a couple of the reasons why I do not agree with the idea of the Post Tribulational rapture.   I use this as a quick example to show how the process mentioned above is to be applied.

(Please note this is not an indepth discussion of the Post Trib position, but rather a quick look at a couple of issues to demonstrate the process)

Problems with the Post Tribulation Position

We know from Matthew 25 that when Christ returns at the end of the tribulation he separates the sheep from goats. The goats go to the lake of fire, and the sheep enter the millennium.

Post-Trib proponents say the rapture occurs just as Christ is descending to earth at the 2nd coming.  If the rapture happened as they say, then why immediately afterwards would Christ need to separate the sheep from the goats?  You see Christ separates the Righteous from the wicked at the rapture.  So why would he need to do it again after Armegeddon?

We can therefore, that this passage in Matthew 25 doesn't make much sense when compared to the position of the post Tribulation rapture.   If we continue to look at this fact, more problems are presented... 

According to the Post Trib Rapture idea:   We get our translated, glorified bodies and we go up to meet Christ in the air.. then we come down with him. His foot touches the mount olives and it splits in two. He then defeats the armies of the antichrist and throws the Antichrist and the false prophet in the lake of fire. He also gathers the people on earth and separates the sheep from the goats. The Goats go to hell and the sheep go into the millennium as 'humans' with their normal bodies... on earth... but wait a minute! All the sheep were just raptured, so they all have glorified bodies, so who enters the millennium?

The question seems odd at first, until we take notice that the bible tells us that Human beings, in their natural bodies are alive and well in the millenium.

People... regular people with the ability to sin must enter the millenium, because we know at the end of the millenium, when satan is loosed for a time, some people again rebel against God. There is no sin found in those with Glorified bodies, so it must be sinful humans that populate the earth on that time.

You see here we have a major contradiction in accepting the Post-Trib Rapture position.

So to reinstate what started this discussion:  

When proving a theology, it isn't how many verses that support it, as there are several that can be interpreted to support a few of them. The key lies in verses that contradict it.   After many years of study I have never found a verse that contradicts the idea of the Pre-Tribulation rapture.

That is why I believe it.

We know that the bible is correct and contains no errors. So if we find something in the bible that contradicts our theology, then it is not the bible, but the theology that is at fault.

Once we realize this one simple fact.  Discerning God's word becomes a whole lot easier.

J.R.Hall

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