Tackling Tradition 60: The Rapture

It’s becoming popular in some theological circles to claim that, as a matter of Historical Theology, because the concept of the rapture does begin to appear in the popular “group chat” until the 19th Century, the Bible doesn’t teach it.   

By way of reply, that’s on the same level as asserting that since Sola Scriptura & Justification by Faith don’t take center stage until the Reformation, the Bible doesn’t support it. 

In addition, as a matter of Historical Theology, it is possible to put together the Table of Contents of a modern day Systematic Theology text by following the topical history of the past 2000 years of Christianity’s history of theological colloquy in light of the structure of a suzerain covenant.  

 

Shema - Scripture 

Historical Prologue - Theology Proper 

General Stipulations - Christology 

Specific Stipulations - Pneumstology 

Covenant Renewal - Ecclesiology, Anthropology, Sacramentology & Government/Justice 

Document Clause - Epistemology & Soteriology 

Witnesses - Anthropology, Ecclesiology, & Justice 

Victory Statement - Eschatology 

On either view, Eschatology is at the end, & the rapture & Last Things becomes a topic of popular conversation at the appropriate historical interval.  In other words, there is truth to the maxim that it takes time for doctrine to develop.  Over time, it becomes more & more refined, & while it’s true that millenarian groups have dotted the historical & theological landscape all along, in terms of a more “out & proud” agenda item, Eschatology in general & the rapture in particular appear on the publication agenda precisely where we would expect them to appear.   Consequently, the argument that because the rapture is an “out & proud” doctrinal concept that rises to prominence in the 19th Century is an argument for its veracity not against it.  

As to its biblical foundations, aside from 1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 17, all we need to do is take a look at the Eschatology/Judgment Day events in each covenantal era.   

In Exodus 19, the trumpet sounds.  Moses walked up Sinai, received the Decalogue & and early civil code, then in Exodus 24, the elders accompanied him up the mountain where they all met with the LORD, then they all returned. 

In Genesis 5: Enoch represents an entire generation that walks with God & was no more because God took him/them away.   The text doesn’t say he died. 

Genesis 15 indicates that in addition to witnessing a theophany, he may have been removed, retained, & returned. 

In Exodus 24, Moses & the elders of Israel process up Sinai & meet with the LORD.   The text speaks of glassy pavement - an image we don’t see again until Revelation 4 & 15.  This glassy sea/pavement is in heaven.  Ergo, Exodus is depicting Moses & the elders as men who were removed, retained, & returned after meeting the LORD. 

In Deuteronomy, Moses ascended a mountain to die.  Jude speaks of a dispute over his remains that either took place on an earthly mountain or in heaven.  

In 2 Kings 2, Elijah ascended to heaven in a fiery chariot.   

Zechariah is the source of the two trees imagery in Revelation.  Ergo, Zechariah is depicted as having been removed, retained & returned. 

Christ ascended to heaven after his resurrection.   He has yet to return. 

Revelation depicts John in the Spirit on Patmos on the Lord’s Day & then finding himself having been removed & retained, after which he received what he inscripturated then returned. 

Every covenant administration includes at least one such event. Enoch stands @ the intersection of the covenant with Adam & the one with Noah.  

Abraham’s experience occurs in his own era.   The same is true of Moses.   In the Davidic Covenant, Elijah & Zechariah are removed & retained, & the Ark of the Covenant just disappears like Enoch.  In the Johannine (“New” Covenant) Era Christ is removed & retained like Enoch.   John is removed, retained, & returned like Zechariah & possibly Isaiah, Jeremiah, & Ezekiel who record their callings as theophanic experiences that are probably events that would require their removal, retention, & return.  

At the barest minimum, God’s covenantal pattern has included a removal event every time, so there is no reason to think that the overall concept of the rapture lacks biblical support.    What doesn’t have biblical support is the Left Behind version of events in which people are removed & retained corporeally for 7 years during which they are not on the Earth.   Rather, the Bible indicates a precious few if any would ever just disappear that way.    Instead the majority or everyone in a society as connected as our own would be removed & retained then gone for however long & then returned to Earth a point in time a moment or two after they were removed & then history continues with barely a feather ruffled until Christ Himseif returns at the end. 

Simply put — Removal, Retention, &  Return of people fits covenantal pattern, & while it may be true that the list includes a number of events that are literary only, the fact of the matter is that Christ’s Ascension is the literal, historical event that grounds them all — & if you pay close attention to what it means to be united to Christ, a pattern emerges that indicates that we ourselves are living out the general contours covenantal history on a species wide, even individual basis, & there is a real sense that, broadly speaking,  what God has done to & for Christ will also be done to/for us to one degree or another.   

Therefore, in all likelihood the rapture is, generally speaking, a biblically sound concept that needs refinement as to its specifics. 

O LORD, 

In these dark days

Hear our prays.

With Light & Life,

Through all our strife, 

Reveal your face 

With Hope & Grace,

For Faith & Love, 

And Heaven above, 

Teach more than Satan’s Whore; 

Deliver us now from Death’s Dark Door, 

From Sin & Grief

At Your own pace 

With Bright, Bright Face

And Judge’s Mace, 

End these Wars

And Know More Chores

Deliver us from sin 

& Evil Jinn, 

From Evil Men,

With Kindness’ Grind

& bowling pins.

Now & Then 

& every When.

In Your Name 

& For Your Fame.

For No More Sorrow

& New Tomorrow;

For Justice, Truth,

& Lucille Blush

Hallelujah! Yet Again!

We are Free, O LORD

From Hades Sight

From Sin & Gin 

& Evil Men

We faith you now 

& bow the knee 

To You, Our GOD —-

& Sacred Tree 

Amen