Tag Archives: church

The Rapture and the Nature of the Church — Conclusion

Posted on August 8, 2023 by David

Pretribulationist J. Dwight Pentecost asserts of both posttribulationism and mid-tribulationism that they rest on “a denial of the distinctions between Israel and the church.”[1] Gundry writes an entire chapter attempting to rebut Pentecost’s statement.[2] He begins by arguing against a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Doctrine Study, Prophecy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Rapture Part 9 — The Saints in Revelation

Posted on July 31, 2023 by David

Pretribulationists contend that the Church is never mentioned in the tribulation chapters of Revelation. It is never mentioned by name, so if the Church were there, it is at least peculiar. Gundry says: None of the “mysteries” distinctive of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Doctrine Study, Prophecy | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Rapture Part 7 — 1 Thess. 4:16

Posted on July 17, 2023 by David

Ecclesiology matters for the rapture debate beyond the argument given in Part 5. It is decisive for the interpretation of battleground passages like Matthew 24, the Thessalonian epistles, and parts of Revelation. This brief post will continue the series on … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Doctrine Study, Prophecy | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Rapture Part 6 — Matthew 24:31

Posted on July 10, 2023 by David

The nature of the Church matters for the rapture debate in more ways than just the argument given in Part 5. It is decisive for the interpretation of battleground passages like Matthew 24, the Thessalonian epistles, and parts of Revelation. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Doctrine Study, Prophecy | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Rapture Part 5 — An Argument for a Pretribulation Rapture

Posted on July 3, 2023 by David

The Gap in the Seventy Weeks The seventy weeks prophecy of Daniel 9 is hugely important for the rapture question. It establishes the timetable for the consummation of God’s plan for Israel, and it defines the tribulation period (Dan. 9:27). … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Doctrine Study, Prophecy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Rapture and the Nature of the Church — Part 4

Posted on June 26, 2023 by David

The Unity of the Church The Church is uniquely related to Christ and its members to each other. The NT speaks of the Church as a single organism, receiving life from Christ (John 14:19; John 15:1-8). Jesus referred to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Doctrine Study | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Rapture and the Nature of the Church — Part 3

Posted on June 18, 2023 by David

The Mystery of the Church In the great Church epistles, Ephesians and Colossians, Paul explains what he means by the word mystery, saying, “by revelation He made known to me the mystery. . . which in other ages was not … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Doctrine Study, Prophecy | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Rapture and the Nature of the Church — Part 2

Posted on June 13, 2023 by David

Is the Church is coextensive with the redeemed throughout all ages, or is it a New Testament entity? Did it begin suddenly or slowly develop out of Israel? These questions have dramatic implication for one’s theology, including the nature and … Continue reading →

Posted in Doctrine Study | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Rapture and the Nature of the Church — Part 1

Posted on June 7, 2023 by David

Ecclesiology is often neglected in debates over the rapture, but it makes all the difference. Readers will interpret a text differently depending on the assumptions they bring to it, and one weighty assumption for the rapture debate is the precise nature of the Church. Charles Ryrie in his classic work, Dispensationalism, calls the doctrine of the church the touchstone of pretribulationism. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Doctrine Study, Prophecy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Kingdom – Part 3

Posted on January 13, 2017 by David

This is the conclusion of a study of the Kingdom of Heaven by my friend Michael White. If you missed it, check out part 2. By: Michael White A Postponed Kingdom (Continued) This brings us to the Third and final rejection … Continue reading →

Posted in Doctrine Study, Guest Author, Prophecy | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment