Is the belief In the rapture Of Church Strongly held Still In Baptist circles?

[JesusFan]

The teaching of rapture of the Church was a strongly taught/held tenant of belief...

is it still epmhasised in Baptist Churches today though?

 

[Baptist Believer]

The teaching of rapture of the Church was a strongly taught/held tenant of belief...

If you're talking about a pre-tribulation rapture of the church, that belief has only been held (by some) for less than 200 years.

If you are talking about Christ's disciples greeting Him in the air at His return to judge the nations, then that view has been held for about 2000 years.

is it still epmhasised in Baptist Churches today though?

The pre-trib rapture is still a very popular view (lately, the view has been bolstered and re-energized by Tim LaHaye's "Left Behind" series). Just last night, I was helping with a youth Bible study and one of the college students leading the session was mangling pre-trib eschatology (teaching it as plain biblical truth) and asked me for confirmation of the sequence of the events. I helped him give a more coherent version of pre-trib theology, but pointed out that there are a number of different eschatological views and that many people, including me, do not think the Bible teaches a pre-trib rapture.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

The teaching of rapture of the Church was a strongly taught/held tenant of belief...

is it still emphasised in Baptist Churches today though?

Yes.




Unfortunately!

Steve

 

[webdog]

If you're talking about a pre-tribulation rapture of the church, that belief has only been held (by some) for less than 200 years.

Wow, 1 and 2 Thessalonians are that recent?!?

 

[Baptist Believer]

Wow, 1 and 2 Thessalonians are that recent?!?

Specifically, I'm speaking of Darby's interpretation of the relevant passages.

I personally reject dispensationalism and all of the exotic theology tied to it.

I understand the "rapture" of the church to come at the second coming of Christ when every eye will see Him and He will judge the nations.

 

[Tom Butler]

In Western Kentucky, where I live, dispies are still pretty strong. But it's not like it was 30-35 years ago when dispensationalism was a test of fellowship. If you weren't pre-trib, you were, just, just Liberal, and may not be saved.

It was taught as truth in my church. I bought it because I didn't know there was another view until my pastor espoused a post-trib view in a sermon. A bunch of us descended on him after the service. He held up his hands and said, "guys, we're not gonna debate this. You have an assignment. Find one single clear, unmistakeable, not-subject-to-any-other-interpretation scripture verse which teaches pre-trib and bring it to me."

No problem, I started gathering up all my proof-texts, and then I realized none of them were clear, incontrovertible and all were subject to another interpretation.

Oops.

 

[Robert Snow]

For someone to not believe in the rapture or be dispensational doesn't disqualifies them as Baptist as far as I'm concerned. It just disqualifies them as being a correct Baptist. Too much Calvinism has wormed its way into the church for my liking. If a person told me they were members of a Baptist church that held to Calvinism and did not hold to dispensational theology, I would be tempted to call them a liar.

 

[freeatlast]

The teaching of rapture of the Church was a strongly taught/held tenant of belief...

is it still epmhasised in Baptist Churches today though?

It has been a long time since I have even heard a message on the end times much less the rapture of the church, but I do believe it is still held as correct.

 

[Jon-Marc]

Most of the Baptist churches I've been to (and I've been a member of several in my nearly 48 years of being saved), hold to a pre-trib rapture. I never found a Baptist church that believed we went through even the first half of the tribulation until I moved south.

 

[Ed B]

It has been a long time since I have even heard a message on the end times much less the rapture of the church, but I do believe it is still held as correct.

My experience as well.

Eschatology isn't taught or preached much in the Churches I have attended the last 10 years. It is discussed casually during fellowship or mingling before and after Sunday Schools classes. Most, but not all, who comment on the subject hold to pre-tribulation rapture. But we do have some who will comment that there is more than one view. It is not a test of fellowship, but like others I can remember when it very nearly was.

 

[Osage Bluestem]

The teaching of rapture of the Church was a strongly taught/held tenant of belief...

is it still epmhasised in Baptist Churches today though?

It has never been emphasised in any church I have been a member of.

I believe in a rapture, but evangelizing the lost takes priority.

 

[quantumfaith]

Specifically, I'm speaking of Darby's interpretation of the relevant passages.

I personally reject dispensationalism and all of the exotic theology tied to it.

I understand the "rapture" of the church to come at the second coming of Christ when every eye will see Him and He will judge the nations.

I am with you on this one BB. Darby popularized the Pre-Mill view and many have dressed it up over the years. I personally dont spend much time on eschatological issues, but would vote for the "rapture" and "second coming" being the same event.

 

[webdog]

I was always curious why it is maintained the rapture and the second coming must be the same event. It doesn't make sense to do an immediate u-turn in the sky. I know the argument that it would be "two comings" if the rapture and Christ's return were separate events...yet those who use this argument never state Christ's birth, death, return to the Father for 3 days and return in bodily resurrection are more than one "first coming" when in actuality it would also be 2 using this same rapture/second coming argument.

 

[David Lamb]

If a person told me they were members of a Baptist church that held to Calvinism and did not hold to dispensational theology, I would be tempted to call them a liar.

Not quite sure what you mean, Robert.

Are you saying that, in your opinion, it is impossible for a baptist church to hold to the doctrines of grace unless they also hold to dispensational theology?

I know plenty of baptist churches (including my own) that do hold to the doctrines of grace, yet are not dispensational. I can't speak for other churches, but can assure you that there is no lying going on when I say this of my own church.

I wonder why you should think that believing the doctrines of grace must for some reason necessitate belief in dispensationalism.

 

[thomas15]

....I wonder why you should think that believing the doctrines of grace must for some reason necessitate belief in dispensationalism.

A better question to ask is why are many posters here answering a question about a pre-trib rapture of the church (and by extension pre-millennium doctrine) with a discussion on dispensationalism? Question: Do all covenant theologians agree with each other on the details of the millennium or the second coming?

 

[thomas15]

I personally dont spend much time on eschatological issues, but would vote for the "rapture" and "second coming" being the same event.

An informed voter I see here.

 

[Logos1]

Still dominant but slipping

I think dispensational premillennialism has had a monopoly in many churches for years when nothing else was taught. Now with the better study bibles addressing other views on eschatology and information on other views easily accessible online people will begin to realize there are other possibilities and become familiar with them. I think we have seen the high tide of dispensationalism and it is now descending and along with it a belief in the rapture.

 

[David Lamb]

A better question to ask is why are many posters here answering a question about a pre-trib rapture of the church (and by extension pre-millennium doctrine) with a discussion on dispensationalism?

I am sure your question is a better one than mine, Thomas - better worded, better thought out, etc., - but the purpose of my question was different. Robert Snow seemed to be saying that it was not possible to be a calvinistic baptist without being dispensational. I was just trying to find out what had led him to that conclusion.

Question: Do all covenant theologians agree with each other on the details of the millennium or the second coming?

I'm no expert on this, but I would say the answer is no, just as it would be for those theologians who are not covenant theologians.

 

[thomas15]

I am sure your question is a better one than mine, Thomas - better worded, better thought out, etc., - but the purpose of my question was different. Robert Snow seemed to be saying that it was not possible to be a calvinistic baptist without being dispensational. I was just trying to find out what had led him to that conclusion.



I'm no expert on this, but I would say the answer is no, just as it would be for those theologians who are not covenant theologians.

I was not trying to be critical of you Sir, I was only using your response as a springboard to make my point(s). And I also think that it is not necessary to be an expert on covenant theologians to agree with your observation that there is a wide difference of opinion among them regarding the millennium and the second coming. If this simple laymen (i refer to myself) can see it then it's quite obvious.

If only those of the covenant/reformed camp would give those of opposing views the same degree of religious freedom that they give themselves, that is to have differences of opinion and details without insinuating that the whole system is a house of cards. If only. Just me thinking out loud.

 

[David Lamb]

I was not trying to be critical of you Sir, I was only using your response as a springboard to make my point(s).

Thank you, Thomas. But I assure you I didn't take your post as being critical of me.