Most rapture teaching I have heard has been an emotional appeal to the fears of people, not a solid exegesis or scholarly exposition of a given text. The teaching jumps from passage to passage while interpreting the verses out of context, and in terms of a preconceived model or philosophy of interpretation.

If today's teachers and preachers would offer expositions of the New Testament instead of a constant repetition of their favorite topics, such as being raptured to Heaven by lawless grace, I think the Holy Spirit would be poured out on us.

One thing is certain—the Bible does not teach that the Lord is coming to catch away His Church to Heaven but will descend with His Church and drive evil from the earth. We really ought to stick with the Scriptures!

He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope. (Isaiah 42:4—NIV)

The Continuity of the Testaments

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1,2—NIV)

They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. (Acts 28:23—NIV)

After reviewing some of the ideas of the philosophy termed "Dispensationalism" I have come to the opinion that this model of interpretation of the Scriptures is decidedly harmful. It certainly is anti-Semitic!

One of the major harms done by the concept of the "dispensation" is a destruction of the continuity of the Testaments. It is conjectured that the Christian salvation is not part of the Old Testament promise; that it is not a part of the utterances of the Hebrew Prophets.

The truth is, the New Testament flows naturally from the Old as one unbroken revelation of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is no such thing as a "Gentile dispensation" or a "Gentile Church." These are not scriptural concepts, although they have been repeated so many times the believers have accepted them as biblical truth.

The one revelation of the Kingdom of God began with Adam and Eve and flows in one unbroken line, one seamless robe, through to the new Jerusalem. It is true that God keeps giving more grace, more of Himself to those He has called. But at the same time he has increased the demands on His elect. More grace, more demands.

God has one goal in mind: all of His children will act righteously, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. However, religion always obscures this one goal.

The Jews obscure the goal by emphasizing slavish obedience to minutia that they have derived from the Law of Moses. The Christians obscure the goal by telling us God does not care particularly how we live as long as we profess belief in Christ.

Such Jews do not know God and such Christians do not know God. As Stephen protested, we always err in our heart. We just can't understand what God is saying to us.

To be continued.