Eschatology is a popular but notoriously difficult area of ​​Christian theology. For example, Left has about as many theories as his Behind series of books about how to interpret the Apocalypse. One of the most controversial elements of evangelical doomsday scholarship is the rapture. This is especially true when the Rapture takes place in conjunction with other eschatological events such as the Great Tribulation or the Second Coming of Christ to earth.

Alan Hartberg, an associate professor at Talbot Theological Seminary, is one of his Violas resident experts on end-time theology and recently edited the book "His Three Views on the Rapture." Biola Magazine recently interviewed Hultberg about the Rapture, its various interpretations, and the importance of Christians taking the Rapture seriously.

What is the Rapture? What is the biblical evidence for that?

The Rapture is the teaching that at the Second Coming of Christ, all believers will be raptured (or "caught up") to meet Him in the air. The bodies of dead believers will rise, and all believers, living and dead, will be glorified. It is specifically taught in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.15-17 and more or less implied in 1 Corinthians 15.51-55 and John 14:2. Other verses such as Matthew 24:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; and Revelation 14:14-16 will be explained.

What is the purpose of the Rapture in God's overall purpose of creation, and how does it fit into the overall picture of God's plan of salvation?

God's plan of salvation is to restore what was lost in Adam and to restore the proper functioning of his rule in creation through the sub-governments of mankind living in proper relationship with Adam (although this includes , which includes much more than what I have mentioned here ) ). The resurrection of believers is part of that restoration, as Paul teaches in Romans 8.

18-23. As far as the rapture and resurrection are related, the rapture plays a role in that restoration. But the Bible also teaches that before the Messianic Kingdom is established at Christ's Second Coming, God will pour out his wrath on the world that opposes His rule. The Church is promised reprieve from this wrath, and the Rapture is the means of protection for the Church.


In the preface to the Three Views on the Rapture, you state that the issue of timing of the Rapture is not central to Christian faith, but that it "touches on issues of church teaching and normative Christian experience." . So this is a trivial doctrine, but it is a doctrine that the whole Church must continue to work on. Why is this an important issue for Christians to discuss?

Now when I say that the doctrine of the Rapture is related to that of the Church, the distinction made among believers by the Rapture raises questions about the relationship of the various groups of believers in the greater family of God. The Bible teaches that some believers will experience the hour of God's wrath (particularly the 144,000 in Revelation 7, 9, 14) and others will not (To the Thessalonians "we" to which Paul connects in 1 Letter 5).

9, Raptured Ones). Why are there such differences among believers? What does it teach about God's family? When I say it touches on the question of the normative Christian experience, I mean it raises the question of whether God allows the church to suffer. There is debate about the timing of the Rapture in connection with the final tribulation, the final period of unprecedented persecution by the Antichrist. Some argue that God will not allow the church to suffer under the Antichrist. But God allows the church to suffer in this day and age (John 16:33; Acts 14:22) So what makes the difference, if any?

There are three main views on the timing of the Rapture: Before tribulation, after the tribulation, and before wrath. Could you briefly describe the main arguments for each position?

The pre-tribulation view teaches that God will rapture the church before the last seven years of this era (often called the 70th week of Daniel, from Daniel 9).

27 or tribulation). According to this view, this whole period is marked by the wrath of God. It relies in part on distinguishing between Christ coming to rapture the church and Christ coming back to reign on earth. Posttribulationism teaches that the church will be raptured at the end of Christ's reign. The Church is caught up in meeting the Lord in the air and returning to Earth soon with Him. The pre-wrath view teaches that God's wrath will be poured out three and a half years before the end of the age, after the Antichrist's final persecution began. Since the church is raptured just before God's wrath is poured out, so, like pre-tributalism, Christ's coming to rapture the church is distinguished from his eventual coming to earth. , unlike pretributionism, the church experiences its final persecution. Hand of the Antichrist.

They argue their positions before anger. What are the main reasons for this position?

I base my argument on two points that I believe the Bible teaches.

The church is raptured late in the 70th week of Daniel (that is, after the abomination of desolation and the beginning of the final persecution by the Antichrist), which is between the rapture of the church and Christ's second coming to earth. what happens to The period during which God's wrath is poured out on hostile worlds is lengthened. The first point specifically comes from Matthew 24. 2 Thessalonians 2; The second point is clearly derived from 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5 and Revelation 7 and 14. Both points, of course, take into account the many accompanying themes and passages. But, in essence, pre-tribulationism is ruled out on the first point, and post-tribulationism on his second point.

As someone in a position of anger, do you think the rapture is not at all unexpected? I mean, if desolation loathing is an observable event, isn't it a signal that the rapture is imminent?

The Pre-Wrath position requires the rise of the Antichrist and the abomination of his desolation before the Rapture, so from this perspective it means the Rapture is not imminent in the sense that it could happen at any moment. . In my opinion, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 tell us exactly what these "signs" must occur (and the other verses allude to this). It means that we have to work on42-44, different from the Rapture teaching of "every moment." Matthew 24:32–33 suggests that this is correct. In my opinion, the Bible essentially teaches the 'agnostic' about the timing of the rapture rather than the 'imminent moment of the rapture. To the extent that the number of intervening events, or the length of time between a particular event and the rapture is unknown, it is spoken of as a "threat" in the biblical sense. In Vorwrath's view, nothing undermines this biblical "threat".

Do you think it's dangerous for Christians and churches to focus too much on the rapture? Do you think it gives the impression that Christians are fleeing from the world and letting it come to an end?

I think it's about how that focus is presented to the world and what is believed to be central to Christian theology. and maliciously) preaching destruction to unbelievers and ignoring the larger issues that define Christian unity and virtue teaches much more clearly. And, as the Bible prescribes - man is overly focused on the rapture in favor of a dogmatic and divisive interest in it. Paul warned against something like Thessalonica's first problem, and Jesus warned against something like John's second problem. Setting things right according to the Bible is important, but being arrogant and unloving to both insiders and outsiders while focusing on trivia is not from the Spirit.

What do you think are the most important apocalyptic truths or facts that all Christians should uphold in the face of differing interpretations of the End Times? what is it?

Well, defending what the Bible says is always a joke to the world. just admit it. One thing that "date-setters" have in common is poor interpretation. They use untenable methods of interpretation. More experienced Christians can try to explain to the unbelieving world what reasonable interpretations of Christ's return lead us.

What do you think are the most important apocalyptic truths or facts that all Christians should uphold in the face of differing interpretations of the End Times? what is it?

What the Bible unmistakably teaches and is at the heart of our faith is essential. It doesn't matter what is not taught very clearly. It is of great essence that Jesus came again to defend the church and judge God's enemies. This is the blessed hope of the Church. When and how are not so important. The resurrection of the dead, some to eternal life, some to eternal suffering, is essential. It doesn't matter what the new heavens and new earth will be like, or what God's kingdom on earth will be like.