Is the Premillennial Doctrine of the Rapture Defensible from Scripture?

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Is the Premillennial Doctrine of the Rapture
Defensible from Scripture?

• An examination of the text of
• 1 Thessalonians 413-18

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Common Timeline Dispensational Premillennialism
2nd Coming with Church
Rapture of the Church
Last Judgment
Tribulation
Eternity
Millennium
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Disp. Premillennialism (Rapture)

• Dispensationalist Premillennialists (such as many
  Evangelicals, especially in the United States)
  hold the return of Christ to be in two stages. 1
  Thessalonians 415-17 is seen to be a preliminary
  event to the return described in Matthew
  2429-31. Although both describe a return of
  Jesus in the clouds with angelic activity,
  trumpets, heavenly signs, and a gathering of the
  saints, these are seen to be two separate events.
  The first event is to be unseen, the rapture
  proper, when the saved are prophesied to be
  'caught up,' from whence the term rapture is
  taken. The 'second coming' is the public event
  when Christ's presence is prophesied to be
  clearly seen as he returns to end Armageddon. The
  majority of dispensationalists hold that the
  first event immediately precedes the period of
  Tribulation. (wikipedia Rapture)

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A Proof text, without the context,is a pretext!

• Eisegesis a personal interpretation of a text
  (especially of the Bible) using your own ideas
• Exegesis - an explanation or critical
  interpretation (especially of the Bible)
• Eis in Ex out
• WordNet

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1 Corinthians 1551-54

• Behold, I tell you a mystery We shall not all
  sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a
  moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
  trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead
  will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
  changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on
  incorruption, and this mortal must put on
  immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put
  on incorruption, and this mortal has put on
  immortality, then shall be brought to pass the
  saying that is written "Death is swallowed up in
  victory."

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Context of 1 Thessalonians 413-18

• Not a total overview of the final day of judgment
• Paul was answering a question asked by the
  Thessalonians (intimated by verse 13).
• What will happen to the righteous dead at the
  second coming of our Lord? (There is no
  consideration of the unrighteous dead in the
  context of this question).

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Comparison Readings

• 1 Thessalonians 413-18
• 1 Thessalonians 51-4
• 2 Thessalonians 11-10
• 2 Peter 31-12

Note Phrases used interchangeably The Lords
coming Day of the Lord
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Conclusion

• There will be one final second coming of
  Jesus. On that day, the following will happen
• The wicked will be punished.
• The righteous will ascend to heaven.
• The universe will be destroyed.
• (cf. 2 Peter 311-12)

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2 Peter 311-12

• Therefore, since all these things will be
  dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be
  in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and
  hastening the coming of the day of God, because
  of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on
  fire, and the elements will melt with fervent
  heat?