Doug Van Pelt

The Rapture is a Non-Essential

Daniel 12 goes into some interesting stuff, talking about great distress, deliverance of the people "found in the book," and multitudes of dead people will rise up. The last three chapters of Daniel are the passages where an argument for a "mid-week rapture." The question is asked, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?" And a man "clothed in linen" responds by lifting his hands toward heaven, swearing by Him Who lives forever, and saying, "It will be for a time, times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed." Later on it says, "From the time that the daily sacrifce is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days." Like many prophetic writings, it is kind of a mystery. At one point in time I was somehow convinced that this passage pointed to a rapture that happened right in the middle (3.5 years into) the "Great Tribulation." Like practically any believer in the USA, I've heard countless teachings and sermons that point to a "pre-Trib" rapture, which happens at the beginning of the "seven years" of great tribulation. I've also studied Matthew 24 and been convinced that Jesus taught that the rapture of the church would happen at the end of the Great Tribulation, or a "post-trib" rapture. I've actually held the belief of all three popular scenerios (pre, mid, and post), but at this point I don't really care.

Sure, I care and I "hope for the best and prepare for the worst," but I don't hold it as a standard with which to judge other believers by. It's not essential. I love Jesus and I await His physical return, but that may or may not happen in my lifetime. If someone has a different "timeline" than I do, I can find that fascinating and enjoy conversing with that person, but I would not hold them at arm's length just because we might not see eye to eye on this debatable subject. Because we are not fallible, each of us will be wrong about something (a doctrine, a political viewpoint, a perspective on history), so getting uptight about someone else's opinion on a non-essential thing is completely pointless and a big waste of time.

If we boil down things and figure out "what exactly are the 'essentials,'" we're likely to live a more peaceful and loving life, because loving God and loving others as ourself are the two top essentials. Making peace with God through the finished work of His Son, Jesus, gives us a peace with God that should motivate us to be at peace with others, reconciling differences and hurts. That's kind of an obvious point, but basic and essential.

I've found that one of the biggest tests of a person's character and maturity is by seeing what they do when someone does them wrong. It's those tough times where the love and peace of God can really shine through.

Once again, it's also times of emergency and disaster that God's people can shine. Hurricane Katrina has devestated many and destroyed much. Help can come through active assistance (going there) and giving.

Here's an article about volunteering personally.

Here's some relief organizations taking donations:
Red Cross

Salvation Army

World Vision

Operation Blessing

Posted by Doug Van Pelt at September 1, 2005 09:27 AM