Part Six So far I have tried to establish these important factors in determining the timing of the rapture of the Church. I fully realize that each of these points could be studied in more depth, but for my purposes I think the coverage is satisfactory. The factors are these: 1. The time of the rapture is exegetically indeterminable 2. Hence, if it is to be known it must be deduced 3. As such the timing of this event can …
Author: Paul Henebury
In a post yet to show up here I critique Norman Geisler’s and Bruce Waltke’s use of Galileo’s little catchphrase, “The Bible tells us how to go to heaven. Science tells us how the heavens go.” I appreciate quite a lot of Norman Geisler’s work. I am not a big fan of his four-volume Systematic Theology, although I do recommend Volume Four. And while I can’t get on board with his classical apologetics views, he has provided good arguments for …
This is the first in a series of ongoing posts at Telos Ministries We have all read the statistics of young people who flee the Faith in which they have been reared soon after hitting college. There is more than one reason for this defection. The first and most obvious issue is probably the state of the heart. Is this individual actually saved? I’m not asking, “did they think they were saved?”, I’m asking “were they saved?” Now, before someone …
Part Five This series explores the various avenues which have to be gone down in order to get the doctrine of the Rapture of the Church right. I am deliberately avoiding the more conventional comparative approach. This may annoy some and intrigue others. I hope the former group is smaller than the latter! The Day of the Lord, Cosmic Upheavals, and the Return of Christ The concept of the Day of the Lord describes different yet related things. If …
Part Four In this piece I want to go behind the subject of the rapture so as to approach it from another angle. Please bear with me. The Book of Revelation has been the subject of varied interpretations. Since the Greek word apocalypsis means “a disclosure” or “unveiling” the different interpretative approaches to the Book is quite ironic if not a little embarrassing. The opening verses of Revelation inform us that it concerns “things which must shortly take place” (1:1; …
Last night I got back late, very late, from the Moody Founder’s Week Conference in Chicago. The annual conference is free to attend and, even for a cynic like me, worth going to. I thought I’d write some things about it while the impressions were fresh. The theme of the conference was “Running the Race” from Hebrews 12. I missed Paul Nyquist’s opening sermon on Monday. Evidently he did some of the main expository groundwork on the text which some …
A review of Duane A. Garrett, A Commentary on Exodus, Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2014, 741 pages This latest commentary to be released by Kregel comes from the veteran commentator Duane Garrett of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Garrett is known for contributing solid works on Hosea and Joel, Amos, and several commentaries on Wisdom Books. He is known for his balanced approach and careful exegesis. This new work on the Book of Exodus helps to maintain his standards. Kregel’s Exegetical …
Part Three So far I have tried to establish a base in biblical texts for my further inquiry into the rapture. Remember, I write as a non-too-dogmatic pre-tribber whose interest in these posts is to think through the various approaches. Few Major Rapture Passages All proponents of the rapture must acknowledge that there are very few direct references to the catching up of the saints. Without 1 Cor. 15 and Jn. 14, perhaps Matt. 24, but especially 1 Thess. 4, …
For those readers wandering why I haven’t posted for a while let me explain. 1. My sister is in town and we haven’t seen each other for 13 years. 2. I have just finished doing a conference. 3. I will be attending the Moody conference coming up. I ask for patience and prayers! Your brother, Paul …
Part Two The Main Verses: Matthew 24:36-44 continued There is no doubt in my mind that this passage is a second coming passage. There is also no doubt in my mind that the language of “one taken…another left” in Matthew 24:40-41 is apposite to the present discussion. In the surrounding context Jesus refers to a gathering up together (episounazousin) of the elect (24:31). So Jesus does speak of a removal of saints. But is this “taking out” to be understood as the …
