Poll: Do you believe in the Rapture?

[Otsukafan]

Do you believe in the Rapture as an event apart from the Second Coming?

Come on guys, no playing coy. Let's use plain speak.

I wonder where JLV stands on this?

EDIT: Rey kindly assisted by adding this actual poll linked here to help us keep track of the numbers. I think it was James in chat that said the numbers in favor of a rapture would be overwhelming. It doesn't seem to be the case. Go vote if you can.

[Rey Reynoso]

Yes. But I'm not going to explain it since it takes too long.

[James Gibbons]

Yes. But I”m not going to explain it either since it takes too long. I don’t see a lot of people changing their position on this. So what’s the point of discussing? It’s not like this is a democracy or anything. He will do what He will do. Whatever He does is fine with me. But I think He will come to the clouds and take up his Church, ushering in the Tribulation.

[Thomas Ham]

Not at all.

http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/dogmatics/cozby_r...

http://ancientfaith.com/podcasts/ourlife/end_times_part_3/

[JL Vaughn]

Kelly,

Ed Stevens posits a rapture occurred in AD 70. He wrote a book, Silence Demands a Rapture.

Nope. It never happened. There are better explanations of 1 Thess. 4. I'm waiting for Don Preston's new book.

Blessings.

[Raquel]

plain speak:

does it matter what anyone thinks? what will happen will happen.

[xulon]

Yes. There will be a "Rapture" before the Second Coming. I believe before the "Tribulation", which itself is before the Second Coming.

[Michael Patton]

Yes, it is actually a much more exegetically feasible option (almost necessity) than many people think. A lot of pop and folk theology has given it a bad wrap.

Dan Wallace, who is the best and most careful exegetical New Testament scholar that I know, gives a treatment of why it is necessary (in the pre-trib) form from Paul's letter to the Thess. It is incredible. I was one of those who was leery of believing it until he explained it to me. It is more of a sitz in leben argument that has rarely been argued as such. This combined with many of the traditional arguments for it have made me definitely lean in the direction that a pre-trib rapture represents the best option.

I have been trying to pressure Dan to do an article on this, but he is holding off. He will probably, in my opinion, write a exegetical commentary that will argue for such. Once he does, the pre-trib rapture will have a very dignified representation, something that has been grossly lacking due in part to the popular "Left Behind" series followed by lay level arguments.

[Otsukafan]

With great respect to J. Dwight Pentecost, I say no. So we are at 3-3-1 with Raquel abstaining.

[forestwalker]

nope

[Dr Mike]

I do believe it is an event separate and distinguishable from the Second Coming.

I'm pretrib right now, but must confess to having posttrib sympathies. But even as a posttribber I would still see it as an event associated with and connected the the Second Advent, even though chronologically it might be all-but indistinguishable.

[Dan Salter]

No.
Way too many extra-biblical assumptions needed for a pre-trib rapture.

Raquel, yes, what will happen will happen with eschatology, but you can say the same thing about soteriology as well. Should we not study things over which we have no control? Wouldn't that rule out just about every theological pursuit?

[Otsukafan]

Micheal,

Interesting. You don't beleive J. Dwight Pentecost's Things to Come is a dignified representation?

Michael Patton said:

Yes, it is actually a much more exegetically feasible option (almost necessity) than many people think. A lot of pop and folk theology has given it a bad wrap.

Dan Wallace, who is the best and most careful exegetical New Testament scholar that I know, gives a treatment of why it is necessary (in the pre-trib) form from Paul's letter to the Thess. It is incredible. I was one of those who was leery of believing it until he explained it to me. It is more of a sitz in leben argument that has rarely been argued as such. This combined with many of the traditional arguments for it have made me definitely lean in the direction that a pre-trib rapture represents the best option.

I have been trying to pressure Dan to do an article on this, but he is holding off. He will probably, in my opinion, write a exegetical commentary that will argue for such. Once he does, the pre-trib rapture will have a very dignified representation, something that has been grossly lacking due in part to the popular "Left Behind" series followed by lay level arguments.