Caught Up in the Clouds
In the Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Leon Morris writes: "That Christ will return at the end of the age, bringing 'those who have fallen asleep in him' (1 Thess 4:14) and that living believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air is clearly taught (1 Thess 4:17)."
Because this passage has been misunderstood by so many who read it at face value and assume it is speaking of the "rapture," I offer this brief clarification:
The imagery used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 should be understood as a picture of a king who has gone away from his kingdom, and upon his arrival, his courtiers and loyal subjects go out of the city gates to meet him. So, what do they do next? They escort him back into the city. In Philippians 3 Paul puts it like this: "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." It's crucial for us to recognize that Paul's audience was the church in Philippi (who's citizenship was in Rome). The point of being a Roman citizen in Philippi was that you bring Rome to Philippi; not the silly notion that those citizens would someday all move back to Rome. Thus we pray with Jesus, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
These are obviously unedited and incomplete thoughts, and much more could be said on the matter. Let's discuss this matter; leave me a comment!
UPDATE: I found a pithy paper by N.T. Wright that relates to this post. Obviously my thinking on this matter has been greatly influenced by my reading of and listening to Wright over the past couple of years. You can read his paper by clicking here.
posted by DrewDog at 4:03 PM
10 Comments:
My two cents: The Bible isnt a string of pearls but links of chain. To rip one verse out and admire it is to disrupt a trin of thought. To get to the meaning of this passage, you must look at the links around it.
THis passage is is primarily about those who have fallen asleep. What about the Christian dead? Two things happen to them: Christ brings them with him when he comes AND they rise first. This passage should be used to demonstrate the true believers hope of resurrection not some notion of being snatched away.
Just my two cents.
anonymous:
Very well put; I agree wholeheartedly. Some background to this post (so people don't think that I just pulled this verse out of thin air to start a rapture debate): The Leon Morris quote was one that someone posted on another blog to try to prove biblical evidene for the rapture, and so I was attempting to answer that by pointing out that the imagery doesn't lead to a rapture as dispensationalists would concieve of it.
However, I think that your response gets much more directly to the point. Back up a step, and ask, what was the point in the first place; instead of arguing secondary things at which Paul likely would have been baffled that we ever paid attention to and freaked out over!
Your two cents must be euro two cents, because they seem to be worth more than mine.
you guys are all wacky, i mean who wouldn't want to float around on a cloud playing a harp for all eternity... i know i would.
p.s. andrew here are the songs:
Forever
Firm foundation
I'll obey
paul: u r so p0stm0drn. t1me 2 f1nd y0ur shift k3y.
Good to know how some read rapture out of 1 Thes 4...I always thought that belief in a "secret rapture" came out of Matt 24:
40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left [behind]. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left [behind]."
Vijay, I think both passages are normally used together (obviously along with others) to begin building a picture of the rapture.
BTW Everyone: my wife informed me that this cartoon seems a bit seductive, and asked me if it was a joke. If it has caused you to stumble, I apologize, as well as suggest that you get married as quickly as possible! And no, this is not a joke; it was taken from the Spire Comics adaptation of "There's a New World Coming" by Hal Lindsey, in an attempt to get kids and teens in the 70's to come to Jesus. Jeepers.
Interestingly, regarding the "one man take" passage, the passage doesnt say who will be taken, the righteous or the unrighteous, or even if there is any criterion in the selection.
Aaron: You should get a psychiatrist. I know a good one; let me know if you want his number.
is it more postmodern to blog or to not use capital letters? you postblogern.
touche
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