Left Behind Move & the Rapture

The new Left Behind movie with Nicolas Cage just came out (haven't seen it but want to) and along with it came a number of blog posts dealing with the Rapture and why it's not going to happen and how it is wrong, etc.

If you are looking for a blog post agreeing with those that say such things you've come to the wrong place.

If you are looking for a blog post looking to go into great detail on why the Rapture will happen pre-tribulation, you have also come to the wrong place.

I'm not one for great theological debates on blogs simply because they really don't do much good, but I felt compared to write this to point out those attacking Christians who believe in the Rapture are wrong on two points: some of the arguments they use and the lack of love in their attacks.

Faulty Argument #1: Believe in a Rapture is only 200 years old or so.

WRONG: Those Paul wrote to in 2 Thessalonians had felt they had missed the rapture.  That was one of the reasons he wrote the epistle to begin with.

Also many early church fathers taught a pre-tribulation rapture.  Two such examples are:

• Irenaeus (130 - 202 A.D) wrote on it in Against Heresies 5.29
• Cyprian (200 -258 A.D.) wrote on it in Treatises of Cyprian 

There are plenty more but this is not a post to argue for pre-trib rapture but to disprove some of the faulty arguments.

Faulty Argument #2: It is a form of escape-ism because people don't want to go through hard times

This argument is very American in it's sense because Christians all over the world are suffering and dieing for their faith.  Tell the woman whose husband just got beheaded that she doesn't understand suffering.

Also I find it hard to hope in the return of Christ, when one has to look out for 100 pound hailstones falling from the sky and other great catastrophes that will happen during the Tribulation period before He returns.  Last I looked, God does not appoint us to wrath.  

Faulty Argument #3: The word "rapture" appears no where in the Bible

Well neither does the word "Trinity" but both ideas are taught.  The Greek word "harpazo" from 1 Thess 4:17 is "rapturos" in the Latin translation so maybe it just depends on what Bible you read!

Faulty Argument #4: "Our love for the rapture reveals a lack of love for the very world Jesus came to save!"

Recently heard this one.  My response, "really?"  Many who believe in a pre-trib rapture are out spreading the Gospel and have a heart to see people saved (1) to know Jesus (most importantly), but also (2) to help them escape from the "wrath to come" (again, 7 years will be a time of wrath).  It sort of goes with the last faulty argument...

Faulty Argument #5: Believe in a pre-trib rapture makes people lazy Christians

Sorry, but anything can make a lazy Christian, a lazy Christian.  Those who really believe that the rapture of the church is imminent and live that way, take bold steps for the Lord and are doing radical things for His kingdom.  Post-trib people also do radical things for the Kingdom, but the point is the faulty argument, not saying pre-trib people do more or less.

Lack of Love

I honestly don't care what side of the fence you are on when it comes to non-essential debates like this, but when you attack other Christians for their theology and attempt to put them down, there is a real problem.  We read that "knowledge puffs up but love builds up" and yet so many use their theology to attack others (read Theology Test to test how well your theology is) and show how superior their intellect is.  The Bible was never designed so Christians can divide over non-essentials of the faith.

Again, this blog wasn't to create a debate on theology (though I'm sure there will be plenty of posts trying to help me in the error of my ways), but instead to ask those writing lengthy blogs on why a person shouldn't hold to a pre-tribulation view this: WHY DOES IT MATTER?.  As well as to also say, don't use faulty arguments in your arguments against it.

There are plenty of sound, God fearing, Jesus loving Christians who can make great arguments on both sides of the Rapture view - there is no reason to divide over it.

Go watch Left Behind (I'm guessing it isn't heretical like Noah) and don't feel bad for doing it (unless it is heretical like Noah).  Maybe use it as an opportunity to share your faith with someone in that theater.  Also understand it is just a fictional work based on a factual event to take place.  Left Behind is not the Bible, but Revelation has a whole lot to say on the matter (and as Revelation means "revealing", you should spend time in that book as well).