Excellent Biblical study nuggets:
What Did Calvary Look Like? An Interview with Leen Ritmeyer (Part 1)
What Did Jesus’ Tomb Look Like? An Interview with Leen Ritmeyer (Part 2)
If you are a Pretribulationist King James Version Only Advocate this post may be disturbing news. Today when I was examining a facsimile of the original King James Version — the actual 1611 edition — I was looking at instances of textual variant notes found in the King James Version; there are 2,193 instances. (Yes, the 17th century Anglican King James translators made textual critical choices when they translated it.)
During my research of textual variant notes, I came across something else that is very interesting. As you know, pretribulationists assert that Matthew 24 does not describe the event of the rapture/resurrection. They claim that Matthew 24:31 describing the “gathering of the elect” is referring to some group of believing Jews and not the rapture/resurrection of the Church. This is to avoid the implication of the rapture/resurrection following after the Antichrist’s Great Tribulation; and in the pretrib system they cannot have the Church being persecuted during this time — it would, as well, undermine their doctrine of imminency since it would have the rapture following after prophesied events.
Observe the asterisk at the beginning of verse 31 and the two verses it cross-references to in the margin: 1 Cor 15:52 and 1 Thess. 4:16. The former verse is the twinkling of an eye rapture/resurrection passage, and the latter is the classic rapture/resurrection passage! Here the KJV translators understand that Matthew 24:31 is describing the same event of the rapture/resurrection, contra pretribulationism.
So for those pretribbers who invest ultimate authority into the textual critical decisions of 17th century Anglican churchmen, I thought I would highlight that these translators’ understanding of Matthew 24:31 agrees with Prewrath — and negates the notion of Pretribulationism.
For a larger image, click here.
I thought I would list some of our popular articles from the past. As a reminder, the archive can be searched from the search box, topic categories, authors, and by the month. Our free audio is always popular but the following is a list of popular articles (just copy and paste the address into your browser):
The most popular of course is Coop’s article on his explanation of Prewrath
https://www.prewrathrapture.com/2005/11/the_prewrath_rapture_1.php
Both the Rapture and the Onset of the Day of the Lord’s Wrath Occur on the Same Day.
https://www.prewrathrapture.com/2008/03/both_the_rapture_and_the_onset_of_the_da.php
The First Six Seals Are Not God’s Wrath
https://www.prewrathrapture.com/2007/10/the_first_six_seals_are_not_gods_wrath.php
Learn about Amillennialism’s origins in Church history. (Ignore the question marks in the article since I need to convert them to quotation marks. When we changed to a new publishing platform it affected some articles which I need to fix soon).
https://www.prewrathrapture.com/2007/07/amillennialism_examining_its_origens.php
Consistency Between Jesus and Paul: The Singular Future Parousia of Christ
https://www.prewrathrapture.com/2006/09/consistency_between_jesus_and_paul.php
The word “church” being absent from Revelation 4-19
https://www.prewrathrapture.com/2006/01/a_reply_to_the_pretrib_argument_the_word.php
A Case for the Prewrath Rapture: the “Cosmic Disturbances”
https://www.prewrathrapture.com/2006/0/a_case_for_the_prewrath_rapture_the_cosm.php
Premillennial Nuggets – A Challenge to Amillennialists to Read “Revelation 20” in Context
https://www.prewrathrapture.com/2008/07/a_challenge_to_amillennialists_to_read_r.php
“As the gospel spreads throughout the earth and brings its divinely intended and Spirit-energized results, evil […] is eventually routed and the millennium arrives. During this era the nations live in peace, for Satan is “bound” and thereby evil is temporarily restrained. After the thousand years have ended Satan is loosed to lead a short-lived rebellion, the final conflict of evil with righteousness, whether this be understood as a spiritual battle of truth against error or in terms of political persecution. Satan’s rebellion is ended by the triumphal return of Jesus. The Second coming is followed by the general resurrection, the judgment and and the eternal state — heaven and hell” (The Millennial Maze, p. 72).
by Michael Weis
Revelation 22:20 – He who testifies of these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Apostle John was placed on the prison colony on the island of Patmos for preaching the truth of Jesus, Revelation 1:9. While there, he was given the vision of the end, 7 letters to 7 churches and the end of the age into eternity. It is not my purpose to discuss the various views on End Times but my purpose is to address a question that some ask – Why study End Times? It’s a legitimate question with an answer.
First, most don’t realize there are more prophesies about Jesus’ 2nd Coming than His first. There are over 300 prophesies in the Old Testament concerning the 1st Coming of Christ, perfectly fulfilled in one way or another. We should want to study His return and what will occur during this time. My question is, why would you not want to study the return of Jesus who promised to return for His Bride, the Church?
Second, 2 Peter 3:11-18 tells us that understanding the truth of End Times, in context the Day of the Lord, will lead us to live a holy and righteous life in the peace and power of Christ during tough times in the future, but by application, today as well. Some don’t want to study End Times because they think it is merely theoretical information. On the flip side, some want to study this because they think it is merely theoretical and it won’t affect them. Neither is true. This is not merely theory, but will happen with the Church seeing much of it and because of this; it will impact our lives today.
Third, Revelation 1:1-3 states there is a special blessing for those who study the book of Revelation and by implication the doctrine of End Times or Eschatology. There are over 300 quotes or inferences to the Old Testament in the book of Revelation. Next to Hebrews, Revelation is the most “Jewish” book in the New Testament with quotes from the Old Testament.
Fourth, 1 John 2:18 and Hebrews 1:2, both written in the first century AD specifically state we are living in the “last days.” We have been living in them for many years now. How far along are we? I don’t know. No one does. This is not about sensationalism or newspaper theology, but preparation. Studying this doctrine prepares us for what will happen and what Christians WILL face before the return of Christ and the signs to look for. Are you ready? Christians won’t escape persecution!
Fifth and lastly, the main purpose for studying End Times, is to challenge us to study the Bible, learn the truth, and in the process grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ and develop our relationship with God. What better doctrine to see the sovereign control God has over all history than to study fulfilled prophecy and prophecy yet to be fulfilled! What better doctrine to give hope for the future and the present during the tough times we face.
This is not about learning or gaining knowledge for knowledge sake, as discussed, but learning the truth which will change our life today in preparation for the return of our Lord. Do we long for His return? Do we dismiss this doctrine or take it seriously as the Bible does and study End Times for God’s glory?