A continuation from this blog post.
Thefirst difference between the rapture and the second coming that Dr. Ice gives is: 1 Translation of all believers 1 No translation at all
This is merely an argument from silence that Dr. Ice is putting forward. Is it logical reasoning to assume that because a passage (such as 1 Thess 4:13-18) only mentions the rapture and not other aspects of the second coming that it must be referring to an event other than the second coming? Is the idea of a rapture/translation mutually exclusive and hence irreconcilable with the second coming?
Furthermore, in Matthew 24, Jesus refers to His coming immediately after the tribulation, when the trumpet will blow, and the angels will gather together the elect. While the similarities between 1 Thess 4, 1 Cor 15, and Matt 24 does not conclusively prove that the rapture and second coming are one and the same event, it definitely makes the burden of proof fall on the one who wants to argue that they are seperate events. Also, Jesus does not mention specifically how the angels gather together the elect from the four corners of heaven and earth, but I bet that if it is not by the bus or train, then it will probably be by a rapture just as 1 Thess 4 and 1 Cor 15 mention.
Dr. Ice’s second point in his list of differences between the rapture and second coming is: 2 Translated saints go to heaven 2 Translated saints return to earth
The fault with this argument is that he assumes what he is trying to prove. Where are we told that at the rapture believers will go to heaven? Where are the passages that say at the second coming that believers will return to the earth from heaven? Paul says in 1 Thess 4 (which Ice sees as talking of the pre-trib rapture): “we will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” But to extrapolate from that we go to heaven afterwards is eisegesis.
The third item in Dr. Ice’s list is: 3 Earth not judged 3 Earth judged & righteousness established
The fault with this argument is the same as the first. It is merely an argument from silence which proves nothing. Just because a passage which talks about the rapture of believers does not also mention that the earth is judged does not mean that they are mutually exclusive events.
The following is 1 Thess 4:13-5:6
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
I find it somewhat ironic that Dr. Ice cited this passage as teaching the pre-trib rapture earlier in his article, when this passage says that sudden destruction will come upon those who are not watching for the coming of the Lord that Paul is talking about (which Ice identifies as the pre-trib rapture). I can only assume that Dr. Ice would say that this “sudden destruction” is referring to a “sudden” onset of the tribulation period.
Another strange thing is that whatever event that Paul is talking of here, whether it is pre-trib or the second coming, Paul says that it will not come like a thief in the night to believers. Yet, if the rapture is an imminent event that could happen at any second, then wouldn’t it be like a thief in the night to believers as well as non-believers?
Recent Comments