The [dispensational] methodology itself prevents the interpreter from looking at all the data with any semblance of objectivity. Carried through in other instances, this would, for example, force us to argue that because the Bible reveals that there are three persons called God in the Scriptures, there must be three Gods.
The following is excerpted from A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times by Kim Riddlebarger (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003). You can download the excerpt here (PDF).
In an examination of his doctrinal views, a young pastor of a church in the northern Philippines was asked if he believed in the “Secret Rapture.” He couldn’t answer, because he didn’t believe in a Rapture that is “secret,” but a Biblical “rapture” of saints at the Second Coming of Jesus.
What do I mean by a “Biblical rapture”? Find out from the excerpt below, which I hope would be of benefit to all Christian readers who want to understand what this popular teaching called the Secret Rapture is all about.
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8 thoughts on “The Church as God’s Unplanned Plan B: “A Secret Rapture?””
I hope John MacArthur spews out his dispensational foolishness again in the upcoming Shepherd’s Conference. Just as he did in “Why Every Self-Respecting Calvinist is a Premillennialist” in 2007: http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/a-reply-to-john-macarthur/.
Here’s JMac’s uncalled-for—and mindless—attack on Calvin and amillennialists:
“But bottom line here, of all people on the planet to be pre-millennialist it should be Calvinists; those who love sovereign election. Let’s leave amillennialism for the Arminians. It’s perfect! [laughter] It’s ideal. It’s a no-brainer. God elects nobody and preserves nobody. Perfect! Arminians make great amillennialists. It’s consistent. But not for those who live and breathe the rarified air of sovereign electing grace. That makes no sense. We can leave amillennialism to the process theologians . . . or the ‘openness’ people who think God is becoming what he will be, and he’s getting better because as every day goes by he gets more information … Let’s leave amillennialism to the charismatics in the semi-Pelagians and other sorts of go in and out of salvation willy-nilly; makes sense for their theology …”
Just like his mindless attack on infant baptism as “devilish.”
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God” (1 Thess 4:16). According to dispensationalists, this loud, worldwide trumpet call heralding the Second Coming of Christ is a secret “cosmic dog whistle.”
The last trumpet is not a wimpy dog whistle, but a loud trumpet call to all the dead to wake up because Jesus the Judge is coming (1 Corinthians 15:52; Revelation 11:15-19).
Premils interpret the trumpet as really loud, but only heard by true believers. Until now I wonder where they got the interpretation.
Then, after the last trumpet, there will be “flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail” (Rev. 11:19). I wonder how these apocalyptic events will be hidden from the rest of mankind!
IT’s the BLAST of the trumpet that makes it QUIET & SECRET….!!!
as Charles Ryrie said: CONSISTENT LITERALISM-should be applied consistently to the BLAST of the trumpet…..
Dispensationalists teach that the rapture is an uneventful event, that is to say, there are no visible (or audible) signs that precede it. It would only make sense for them to keep the trumpets till after the 7-year tribulation, when Christ APPEARS to the world, with great power and glory, which is the big finale in the premillennial scheme. This would agree with their linear view of the book of Revelation, where they see the church raptured in 4:1, and the tribulation unfolding in the following chapters, which includes the trumpet judgments. The “last” trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15:52 is therefore not interpreted as the very “last”.
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