Questions from Back to the Future Week Three

Here's the third round of questions from our Back to the Future teaching series. I'll add new questions and answers to this post as they come in. 

Question #1: Hope you don't mind a minority viewpoint. Charles Schmitt is a Bible teacher who I have followed for the past 30 plus years. He recently wrote the attached article on the End Times. I have understood many of his key points for these many years such as the pretrib rapture theory starting with fifteen year old Scottish girl Mary MacDonald giving a prophesy. This theory then embraced by Darby, hence the term for this theory being called Darbyism. The theory then became widespread due to Scofield's Bible notes in his reference Bible. Some scholars say that there is no evidence of belief for a pretrib rapture before the 1800's.

After reading the attached article in the email I replied: 

Answer: Thanks for taking the time to write. It's great that you are studying these things further than just Sunday morning. 

I read the article and here are my thoughts: 

1. The author seems to view the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ as one event, while the Bible describes them as two separate events. In the Rapture Jesus comes FOR his church (to take them to heaven) and at the Second Coming Jesus comes WITH his church (to reign on the earth for 1,000 years). 

2. The author says "historically, it [the idea of the Rapture] found its way into the evangelical mainstream only in the mid 1800's. This is 100% incorrect. Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica because they were concerned that their loved ones and friends who had died would miss out on Christ's Second Coming to reign on the earth for 1,000 years. Paul corrects their mistaken view (basically telling them they have nothing to worry about) by informing them that the Rapture will take place first. In other words, he told them that neither the dead in Christ, nor the living in Christ, would miss out on the thousand year reign inaugurated by Christ's Second Coming. Therefore, it is incorrect to think the church didn't start believing the Rapture would take place prior to the Second Coming until the 1800's. The Pre-Trib Rapture theory didn't start with a 15 year old Scottish girl named Mary MacDonalad giving a prophesy. It started with the Holy Spirit inspired teachings of the apostle Paul. 

3. The author establishes his case primarily by quoting Didache, Hermas, Irenaeus, and Augustine, but not the authors of Scripture. We have to build our beliefs on Scripture, not extra-biblical accounts. 

4. The author seems to view "the first resurrection" to take place after the seven year Great Tribulation. This resurrection is A PART of the first resurrection, but it certainly isn't the very first resurrection. I'm teaching on this on Sunday, so here's a section of my sermon that teaches on "the first resurrection". 

•  Now when the Bible talks about “the first resurrection” that includes multiple resurrections over a long period of time. 
• Jesus was the first to be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:23 - Christ, the first fruits) 
• Those who resurrected from their graves when Jesus did, were second to be resurrected (Matthew 27:51-52 says that when Jesus the curtain in the temple was torn in two, and the earth shook and the rocks split, and the tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people.)
• When Christ returns in the Rapture, the dead in Christ will rise first, then those who are alive - these people are third to be resurrected (I Thessalonians 4:15-17) 
• Then after the Great Tribulation is over, a fourth group is resurrected - those who were beheaded during the Great Tribulation because of their faithfulness to Christ (Revelation 20:4) 
• All these people who have been part of what the Bible calls the first resurrection will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years, Rev 20:6 

5. The author seems to fail to see the difference between tribulations as trouble all Christians will experience on this side of eternity and tribulation as the wrath of God poured out on sinful man. Jesus said in this life we'll have troubles. Paul said in this world we'll have light and momentary troubles. But the troubles of this world are different from the tribulations to take place during The Great Tribulation. During the Great Tribulation God will pour out his wrath on sinful man, not on his church (1 Thessalonians 5:9, Romans 5:9). 

Since you seem interested in Biblical Prophecy, let me recommend to you some really good people, who have a solid understanding of the Scriptures as it relates to prophecy. 

1. Chuck Smith. You can listen to him teach on the book of Revelation verse by verse and chapter by chapter here http://twft.com/?page=C2000 He has also written some great books I think you would find helpful in understanding biblical prophecy: The Final Act and What the World is Coming To 

2. David Jeremiah. He has also written some great books including: What in the World is Going On?, The Prophecy Answer Book, The Coming Economic Armageddon and Escape the Coming Night. He doesn't have any free resources that I know of, but you can also get some great tools at http://www.davidjeremiah.org/shop/p-7032-prophetic-turning-points---30th-anniversary-prophecy-collection-cd-album.aspx 

Keep up the great work in studying these very important topics! I commend you for studying these issues deeper than just Sunday!