Oh my. :) Yeah, there are all sorts of crazy beliefs out there... :)...there are two raptures...
Grace and peace to you.
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Oh my. :) Yeah, there are all sorts of crazy beliefs out there... :)...there are two raptures...
Are you taking credit for this or should we give credit to Mathison.Dispensationalism is a popular and widespread way of reading the Bible. It originated in the nineteenth century in the teaching of John Nelson Darby and was popularized in the United States through the Bible Conference movement. Its growth was spurred on even more through the publication of the Scofield Reference Bible, which was published in 1909. Scofield’s Bible contributed to the spread of dispensationalism because it included study notes written from a distinctively dispensationalist perspective. The founding of Dallas Theological Seminary in 1924 by Lewis Sperry Chafer provided an academic institution for the training of pastors and missionaries in the dispensationalist tradition. Some of the most notable dispensationalist authors of the twentieth century, including John F. Walvoord, Charles C. Ryrie, and J. Dwight Pentecost, taught at Dallas Seminary.
Dispensationalist theology is perhaps best known for its distinctive eschatological doctrines, particularly the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. According to this doctrine, this present church age will be followed by a seven-year period of tribulation. Before the tribulation begins (thus “pre-tribulation”), the church will be caught up to heaven where believers will be with Christ until the second coming, which occurs at the end of the tribulation. At that time, they will return with Christ, who will then inaugurate His millennial kingdom (dispensationalists are thus also premillennialists).
Although dispensationalism is best known for its eschatological doctrines, at its heart is the distinction between Israel and the church. Every other distinctively dispensationalist doctrine rests on this idea. What this distinction means for dispensationalists is that there are two peoples of God. Israel is one of these and consists of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The church is the other, and it consists of all those and only those (whether Jew or gentile) who are saved between the Day of Pentecost and the rapture. Part of the reason for the pre-tribulation rapture is to remove the church from earth so that God can begin dealing with national Israel again.
Dispensationalism differs from Reformed covenant theology in a number of ways, but the most significant is this idea of two peoples of God. Covenant theology affirms that there is one people of God and thus continuity between the people of God in the Old Testament and the people of God in the New Testament. Covenant theology is not, as some dispensationalists assert, “replacement theology” because in covenant theology, the church is not technically replacing Israel. The church is the organic continuation of the Old Testament people of God. The oneness of the people of God is evident by an examination of several New Testament texts.
Consider first the olive tree analogy in Romans 11. In this passage, Paul is addressing gentile believers and urging them not to be arrogant toward Jewish believers. He uses the illustration of an olive tree to explain. Note that in the illustration there is one good olive tree. Paul explains that branches were broken off this olive tree and gentile “wild shoots” were grafted into it. The one olive tree represents the people of God that has long existed. Unbelieving Jewish branches (e.g., Pharisees) have been broken off this tree by God, leaving only believing branches (e.g., Jesus’ Apostles). Believing gentiles have been grafted into this one tree so that it now consists of believing Jews and gentiles. This tree is the church. If Paul were illustrating the dispensationalist doctrine, we would have numerous gentile trees and one Jewish tree (Israel). God would then plant a new tree (the church). He would take believing Jews from the Israel tree and believing gentiles from the gentile trees and graft them into this one new tree. Paul says nothing like this. The one tree that existed in the Old Testament continues, but now God has removed unbelieving Jews and grafted believing gentiles into it.
Although dispensationalism is best known for its eschatological doctrines, at its heart is the distinction between Israel and the church.
In this light, consider what Paul says to gentile believers in Ephesians 2:11-22. Paul first tells these gentile believers what they used to be: “separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (v. 12). If that’s what they used to be, the implication is that the opposite of each is true of these gentile believers now. They are now part of the commonwealth of Israel and partakers of the covenants precisely because they’ve been grafted into the one tree representing the one people of God. But there’s more than implication. Paul goes on to say explicitly in verses 19 and following that these gentiles are “no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
Dispensationalists have a difficult time grasping this because of their idea that the seed of Abraham is only the physical offspring of Abraham. Again, Paul begs to differ. In Galatians 3:16, he explains that “the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring.” He then explicitly identifies the offspring as Jesus Christ. But note what he then adds a few sentences later in verse 29: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” Paul defines Abraham’s seed in terms of Jesus Christ. Christ is a literal physical descendant of Abraham. However, because believers, whether Jew or gentile, are united to Christ, we too are Abraham’s offspring if we belong to Christ.
Does Paul continue to use the terms Israel, church, and gentile in the New Testament? Of course. But not in the way that these terms are used by dispensationalists. He continues to speak of ethnic Jews and ethnic gentiles, both inside and outside the church. But he does not do so in a way that results in two peoples of God. There is one tree in the Old Testament that consists primarily of ethnic Jews, although some gentiles (e.g., Ruth) are brought in. This is the one tree that exists when Christ comes. He doesn’t chop it down, and He doesn’t plant a new tree. He prunes the unbelieving Jewish branches off, leaving only the believing Jewish branches. He then begins to graft believing gentiles into this one tree. This tree with ingrafted gentile branches does not “replace” the old tree. These gentiles are now part of the old tree by faith in Jesus Christ.
If the biblical teaching regarding the one people of God is allowed to stand, all of the distinctive dispensationalist doctrines that rest on the doctrine of two peoples of God ~ including a "rapture" and a future-only tribulation and millennium ~ are left without any foundation.
Grace and peace to all.
In the PURE definition of the phrase = we are TRUE NEW AGE-rs, by which we have entered beyond the Veil by the Precious Blood of Christ, being Born-Again by the Eternal Spirit of God unto Eternal Life where we cry "ABBA-FATHER".
Therefore JESUS says:
Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”
Amen, bro.Dispensationalism is a popular and widespread way of reading the Bible. It originated in the nineteenth century in the teaching of John Nelson Darby and was popularized in the United States through the Bible Conference movement. Its growth was spurred on even more through the publication of the Scofield Reference Bible, which was published in 1909. Scofield’s Bible contributed to the spread of dispensationalism because it included study notes written from a distinctively dispensationalist perspective. The founding of Dallas Theological Seminary in 1924 by Lewis Sperry Chafer provided an academic institution for the training of pastors and missionaries in the dispensationalist tradition. Some of the most notable dispensationalist authors of the twentieth century, including John F. Walvoord, Charles C. Ryrie, and J. Dwight Pentecost, taught at Dallas Seminary.
Dispensationalist theology is perhaps best known for its distinctive eschatological doctrines, particularly the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. According to this doctrine, this present church age will be followed by a seven-year period of tribulation. Before the tribulation begins (thus “pre-tribulation”), the church will be caught up to heaven where believers will be with Christ until the second coming, which occurs at the end of the tribulation. At that time, they will return with Christ, who will then inaugurate His millennial kingdom (dispensationalists are thus also premillennialists).
Although dispensationalism is best known for its eschatological doctrines, at its heart is the distinction between Israel and the church. Every other distinctively dispensationalist doctrine rests on this idea. What this distinction means for dispensationalists is that there are two peoples of God. Israel is one of these and consists of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The church is the other, and it consists of all those and only those (whether Jew or gentile) who are saved between the Day of Pentecost and the rapture. Part of the reason for the pre-tribulation rapture is to remove the church from earth so that God can begin dealing with national Israel again.
Dispensationalism differs from Reformed covenant theology in a number of ways, but the most significant is this idea of two peoples of God. Covenant theology affirms that there is one people of God and thus continuity between the people of God in the Old Testament and the people of God in the New Testament. Covenant theology is not, as some dispensationalists assert, “replacement theology” because in covenant theology, the church is not technically replacing Israel. The church is the organic continuation of the Old Testament people of God. The oneness of the people of God is evident by an examination of several New Testament texts.
Consider first the olive tree analogy in Romans 11. In this passage, Paul is addressing gentile believers and urging them not to be arrogant toward Jewish believers. He uses the illustration of an olive tree to explain. Note that in the illustration there is one good olive tree. Paul explains that branches were broken off this olive tree and gentile “wild shoots” were grafted into it. The one olive tree represents the people of God that has long existed. Unbelieving Jewish branches (e.g., Pharisees) have been broken off this tree by God, leaving only believing branches (e.g., Jesus’ Apostles). Believing gentiles have been grafted into this one tree so that it now consists of believing Jews and gentiles. This tree is the church. If Paul were illustrating the dispensationalist doctrine, we would have numerous gentile trees and one Jewish tree (Israel). God would then plant a new tree (the church). He would take believing Jews from the Israel tree and believing gentiles from the gentile trees and graft them into this one new tree. Paul says nothing like this. The one tree that existed in the Old Testament continues, but now God has removed unbelieving Jews and grafted believing gentiles into it.
Although dispensationalism is best known for its eschatological doctrines, at its heart is the distinction between Israel and the church.
In this light, consider what Paul says to gentile believers in Ephesians 2:11-22. Paul first tells these gentile believers what they used to be: “separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (v. 12). If that’s what they used to be, the implication is that the opposite of each is true of these gentile believers now. They are now part of the commonwealth of Israel and partakers of the covenants precisely because they’ve been grafted into the one tree representing the one people of God. But there’s more than implication. Paul goes on to say explicitly in verses 19 and following that these gentiles are “no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
Dispensationalists have a difficult time grasping this because of their idea that the seed of Abraham is only the physical offspring of Abraham. Again, Paul begs to differ. In Galatians 3:16, he explains that “the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring.” He then explicitly identifies the offspring as Jesus Christ. But note what he then adds a few sentences later in verse 29: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” Paul defines Abraham’s seed in terms of Jesus Christ. Christ is a literal physical descendant of Abraham. However, because believers, whether Jew or gentile, are united to Christ, we too are Abraham’s offspring if we belong to Christ.
Does Paul continue to use the terms Israel, church, and gentile in the New Testament? Of course. But not in the way that these terms are used by dispensationalists. He continues to speak of ethnic Jews and ethnic gentiles, both inside and outside the church. But he does not do so in a way that results in two peoples of God. There is one tree in the Old Testament that consists primarily of ethnic Jews, although some gentiles (e.g., Ruth) are brought in. This is the one tree that exists when Christ comes. He doesn’t chop it down, and He doesn’t plant a new tree. He prunes the unbelieving Jewish branches off, leaving only the believing Jewish branches. He then begins to graft believing gentiles into this one tree. This tree with ingrafted gentile branches does not “replace” the old tree. These gentiles are now part of the old tree by faith in Jesus Christ.
If the biblical teaching regarding the one people of God is allowed to stand, all of the distinctive dispensationalist doctrines that rest on the doctrine of two peoples of God ~ including a "rapture" and a future-only tribulation and millennium ~ are left without any foundation.
Grace and peace to all.
Brother, this does not prove that the 144,000 represents those in the old testament. The 144,000 are first fruits of the second harvest. When they are sealed they are believers. So when the 144,000 first fruits are sealed you know there are 144,000 from the twelve tribes that have become believers. Additionally they are before the throne of God as first fruits.Certainly.
Revelation 7:3
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Revelation 14:1
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
2 Corinthians 1
21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 4:30
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
The seal identifies the servants of God, i.e. His Church, which began in the OT. Acts 7:38
They number vastly beyond 144,000.
Revelation 7:4Brother, this does not prove that the 144,000 represents those in the old testament.
Well, I did add a couple of short clarifications of my own in there, so, to answer your question... yes. :) Not important, really; right is right. :) Meant to provide the link and forgot. Happy to do so here: LigonierAre you taking credit for this or should we give credit to Mathison.
One of the main points is that Covenant theology is the very opposite of supersessionism and replacement theology.The problem with Supersessionism, also known as Covenant Theology or Replacement Theology...
All God's promises have their 'yes' and 'amen' in Christ Jesus.is that it failed to believe that God would keep His promise to Israel.
It fails to misinterpret God's timing... :)It jumps right to end where both folds end up in one-fold but fails to recognize Gods timing of these events.
There is not even one, let alone two.There are two raptures...
Ah, firstfruits. Another terribly misunderstood (by many) concept. It should help to (and you might agree) that we are to offer our firstfruits ~ or best, with regard to offerings ~ to the Lord. So... on a much greater level, of course... we, as believers, God's elect, are His (God's) firstfruits. The incredible truth of the gospel is that God makes us into His firstfruits, the first and best of what is given to Him... Which is what Jesus is saying in John 10, that "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one." The Lord makes us ~ all believers, regardless of time or ethnicity ~ into the first and best of what He owns.That's why there are first fruits of the second harvest.
Brother, this does not prove that the 144,000 represents those in the old testament. The 144,000 are first fruits of the second harvest. When they are sealed they are believers. So when the 144,000 first fruits are sealed you know there are 144,000 from the twelve tribes that have become believers. Additionally they are before the throne of God as first fruits.
The Gentiles, the wild branchs, are grafted into the olive tree as the natural branchs are broken off. But the natural branches will be grafted in again when they believe. So the 144,000 are the first fruits of Israel believing again.
Or, Three?There are two raptures, one for the current Church and one for the 12 tribes of Israel.
Actually, there are three:here is not even one, let alone two.
No. :) Not even one. No one is removed from anything. In this post, GA, with all due respect, you're conflating at least two or three different things.Or, Three? Actually, there are three... Total 'raptures' = Three, Correct?
This is in the future. God is going to regraft the olive tree with natural branches.Revelation 7:4
And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Brother, those are OT.
It was in the past. They were already sealed.This is in the future. God is going to regraft the olive tree with natural branches.
Nowhere is this said to happen with Jewish Israel. Their sins are so great, they will die for it. Isaiah 22:14This is in the future. God is going to regraft the olive tree with natural branches.
I didn't know and still don't know where to start or end regarding what you said in your post because you have half of scripture contradicting the other half, and you've got the cart before the horse and the wrong stuff in the cart, and the horse tied to the back of the cart facing the other way.So your Bible has green buckets, and tractors?
I pointed out what it reads in the Bible that most people can look up for themselves. You have what, a blink of an eye, and it is over?
The Resurrection of the "dead in Christ" is the same Resurrection of His Church/Bride/Elect/Saints
There is only one Resurrection for the Justified in Christ which will ONLY occur when JESUS Prophecies in Matthew 24 are fulfilled prior to His Wrath.
Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Christ will Return only when "the End" is completed as desired by the FATHER = Gospel, Acts, Romans ch11, Ephesians, Revelation ch6
This is in the future. God is going to regraft the olive tree with natural branches.
The unbelieving natural seed were broken off through their unbelief in the first century but the remnant remained. What they can't understand is that just because there is a new temple, this does mean there is a new Israel. There is a new temple - and the living citizens of Israel ARE that temple.Pre-trib does the same thing where Gentiles push Israel out of the church so they become the church and Israel is this separate non-church entity. This is a form of replacement theology that is scriptural unsound. The faithful (in Christ) Israel became the church an d were the church's first members. Gentiles have to join THAT CHURCH started by Israel (through Christ and the 12 disciples) to become part of the church. No one is replaced and no one is pushed out of the church.
There can be no fullness of the Gentiles according to your theology, because according to your theology, "Jacob (the seed of Jacob) is Israel. Not the Gentiles". So Ephraim and Manasseh are also not the seed of Jacob because they were Gentiles born in Egypt to an Egyptian mother.69 weeks have occurred before Messiah was cut off. Were these 69 weeks happening to the people of Daniel?
69 weeks have happened. The 70th week will happen after the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.
And it will.
Who did the 69 weeks that have already occurred point to?
When the fullness of the Gentiles comes in God will deal with His CHOSEN.
Under the alter is not a literal place nor location. It is symbolic of being redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.Mt. Sion is in heaven, not on this earth. The 144,000 after being sealed with the Spirit in Rev 7, have gone from being under the altar (Rev 6) to heaven a spiritual body of believers alive, living souls now in heaven with the Lord.