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Reply to "Can We Believe In A Pretrib Rapture?"

 

The notion (as conceived in the current premillennialist concept of the "rapture") that there will be a resurrection of the righteous dead  separate in time from the resurrection of the unrighteous dead is a false teaching.  In support of this, I submit the following words from John 5: 

 

 26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

 27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

 28Marvel not at this: for the hour [ "the hour," which is clearly the same "hour" for both the righteous dead and the unrighteous dead] is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ["all that are in the graves" means ALL of them--the righteous dead and the unrighteous dead]

 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of d a m nation.

 

Citing these same verses, Bill says, "In John 5:28-29, Jesus spoke of two resurrections."  What Bill leaves out is that Jesus spoke of a resurrection in "the hour.. in the which all that are in the graves" would hear His voice--the "hour" being clearly the same time for both classes.  No, John 5 is not describing two widely-separated resurrection events. It makes no sense to interpret it that way.

 

The description of the resurrection of the righteous dead in I Thessalonians 4 ( so often cited by those who believe in a singular resurrection of the righteous, with the unrighteous "left behind" to await some future separate judgment),  was not intended by the writer (Paul) to be a comprehensive description of the resurrection of the dead.  As is clearly discerned from the context, the apostle was responding not to some request for general information about the events accompanying the resurrection.  He was providing comfort to those who were in need of knowledge about those who had died in Christ and in hope.  Here is what he said by way of introducing his account of the state of the righteous dead:

 

I Thess. 4

 

13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first....

 

In this passage, Paul did not address the resurrection and judgment of the unrighteous dead because that was not the subject of concern by his inquirers in the Thessalonian church.  

 

The "voice" of the Lord in John 5:28 and the "shout" of the Lord in I Thess. 4:16 are obviously the same.  That "voice" and that "shout" proclaim the same event, the second and final coming of Christ, when  the redeemed will arise to the "resurrection of life" and the unrighteous shall come forth to the "resurrection of ****ation."  Judgment will be executed upon both classes and that judgment will be final.

 

The concept of the "rapture" as taught by today's premillennialists simply can not be squared with the description  in John 5 of the CONCURRENT resurrection and judgment (in the same "hour") of the righteous dead and the unrighteous dead.  The notions of some later third coming of Christ and some later  "Great White Throne Judgment" separate from the return of Christ and the judgment described by the Lord Himself in John 5  require all too much scripture twisting to be credible to any serious Bible student attempting to "rightly divide the word of truth." 


The Bible clearly teaches that the righteous dead and the unrighteous dead will be resurrected at the same time.  The ultimate eternal fates of the evil and the good will then have been irrevocably determined, leaving no need for any subsequent resurrections or judgments.

Last edited by Contendah

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