Tackling Tradition 97: Left Behind

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 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. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.  (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, ESV)

The above text is one of the most of cited if not the most cited texts used these days by those who believe in the rapture, regardless when they believe the rapture will occur with respect on THE LORD’s eschatological calendar. 

As we have previously demonstrated, the rapture is not without Scripture’s grammatical & syntactical support. 

The issue isn’t really whether or not it will take place.   The issue is really about its eschatological timing & the internal mechanics of how it takes place. 

1 Thessalonians 5:13 - 18 is written in a manner that seems to indicate that only believers will be removed & retained.   However, if you do a deeper dive into the warp & woof of Scripture & the eschatological, apocalyptic events that transpire within each covenantal era, strictly speaking, that’s not the case. 

Eden - Adam & Eve were barred from returning to the Garden.  The serpent was cast out too. 

In the story of Cain & Abel.  Cain, who represents the reprobate qua reprobate & whose genealogical account is much shorter than that of Seth (Both Abel & Cain taken together), receives the mark of Cain & is exiled for however long the plot requires.  

In Noah’s day, a representative number of animals & people survived in the ark.  Nobody else survived except for them. 

In the story of Sodom & Gommorah, Lot & his daughters survived, but Lot’s wife chose to look back & was made a salty proverb as a result. 

In the Mosaic era, God winnowed both Egypt & the Hebrews both prior to & after the Exodus.   Some survived. Others did not, & when they of their departure occurred, both the good & the bad (the elect & the reprobate) left Egypt & were further winnowed by the LORD until the end of Moses life & ministry. 

In Joshua, God winnowed the Canaanites & engaged in Holy War in order to uproot them. 

In the Davidic era, God raised up both Assyria & Babylon to uproot both the Northern & Southern kingdom.  Of the two, only Judah, Benjamin, & Levi are believed to have survived, whereas the other tribes fade into the background.   

In the Johannine era, God conquers the Greco-Roman, Egyptian, Parthian,  & every pantheon as the Gospel circles the Earth.  

In addition, throughout the Bible every single living thing is judged by God, elect & reprobate alike.   Those who die who have not layed down their rooted works righteousness (the reprobate) arrive in Hades to await the application of redemption, whereas those who have layed down their rooted works righteousness arrive in heaven above into the intermediate state & await their physical, bodily resurrection. 

Notice that in every case those in exile include both the righteous & the wicked.  Even wise Daniel was carried off to Babylon.   There, Daniel & his people awaited the granting of repentance & their eventual return home to rebuild the Holy Temple & the Great City,  Jerusalem.  

Has anybody ever thought that the rapture encompasses both the Elect & Reprobate, not just the Elect?  

In other words, the covenantal pattern  indicates that both the children of Abel & the children of Cain will be removed & retained, and of those removed & retained, only the children of Abel are allowed to return, so that, by the time of Christ’s return, THE LORD will have removed, retained, & returned all of the Elect whereas those hoovered up who are truly reprobate are those who disappear.  

Put another way, it’s not uncommon for Village Atheists, Skeptics, Mockers, & other enemies of the LORD & His people to talk down about the rapture with words like, “Good! Then we’ll get rid of those Christians & can live our lives as we see fit.” 

By way of reply, that’s a remarkably short sighted point of view, insofar as the way they rapture in understood at the popular level, the Christians return in 7 years then kick any remaining unbelievers off the planet.  

Moreover, the truth of the matter is that THE LORD is free to behave in whatever manner He sees fit, & the covenantal pattern indicates that both the Elect & Reprobate are removed & retained, and, of those, ultimately, the LORD will only return the Elect & the Reprobate — not the Elect —- are the ones who disappear never to be seen or heard from again until they repent & put down their idolatry, sorcery, cultic sex rites, warmongering, gluttony, &tc. 

Psalm 24 

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
    the world and those who dwell therein,

2 

for he has founded it upon the seas
    and established it upon the rivers.

3 

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
    And who shall stand in his holy place?

4 

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his soul to what is false
    and does not swear deceitfully.

5 

He will receive blessing from the Lord
    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 

Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

7 

Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.

8 

Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord, strong and mighty,
    the Lord, mighty in battle!

9 

Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And lift them up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.

10 

Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord of hosts,
    he is the King of glory! Selah

This Is The Way! This is our prayer!

O LORD, Hear our prayer(s)!