POMINO SOULS TO CHRIST
Doctrinal pointers by Gerald B. Stanton, Th.D. Prof, of Systematic Theology, Talbot Theological Seminary
The D a y of the L o rd
I n 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, post-trib- ulationalists find one of their strong est passages in support of their claim that the Church will go through the tribulation. The argument in brief is that since Paul has discussed the rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13- 18 and immediately proceeds to de scribe conditions in the day of the Lord, then these two events are evi dently intimately connected in Paul’s thinking. As expressed by Alexander Reese, post-tribulationalism’s leading expo nent: “Beginning to exhort them touching the coming of the Lord, he proceeds to speak of the day of the Lord . . . . It is a convincing proof that the two things are synchronous in Paul’s mind and not separated by a period of years as the theorists as sert” {The Approaching Advent of Christ, p. 178). Then by making the day of the Lord the very day when Christ returns to earth following the tribulation (Matt. 24:29,30), Reese at tempts to link that day “with the hope and final sa l v a t i on of the Church.” If the rapture is thus asso ciated with the end of the tribulation period and the advent of the kingdom, then it is a foregone conclusion that the Church goes through the tribula tion. A detailed study of the “day of the Lord” throughout Scripture will immediately make plain the fallacy of such an argument. The Bible often uses the term “day” to speak of a per iod of time (Gen. 2:4; 2 Cor. 6:2; 2 Pet. 3:12), and the “day of the Lord” follows this pattern. It is not one sin gle day and certainly not the day when Christ descends from heaven. Rather, it is a period which includes the entire tribulation (Zech. 14:1-3; Isa. 2:12-19; Zeph. 1:14,15, etc.), and may well extend right up to the new heavens and earth (2 Pet. 3:10-13). Consequently, since the day of the Lord in 1 Thessalonians 5 is not a reference to Christ’s revelation but comprehends the entire tribulation period, the order of events in these two chapters sustains the pre-tribula- tional viewpoint. The rapture is seen
occurring prior to the tribulation and it is in no way synchronous with the revelation of Christ just prior to the kingdom. There are other details which are in accord with a pre-tribulational con clusion. The language (1 Thes. 5:1, 2) indicates that these Christians were well informed about the day of the Lord. Joel and others had written extensively about this period and Christ Himself had discoursed on the subject (Matt. 24:27-31). Paul had similarly instructed them (2 Thes. 2:5). Of that familiar “day,” Paul had no need to write; concerning its coming, they knew “perfectly” (1 Thes. 5:2). How different as touching the rapture: “. . . I would not have you to be ignorant . . . .” To Paul’s way of thinking, the two subjects were evidently entirely unrelated, one of them being a new “mystery” rev elation (1 Cor. 15:51,52; Col. 1:26). In this passage Paul’s choice of pro nouns is most significant. When speaking of the believer, he writes: “. . . ye, brethren, are not in dark ness . . . Ye are all the children of light . . . we are not of the night . . . let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” How differently he writes concern ing the wicked in the day of the Lord: “. . . then sudden destruction cometh upon them . . . and they shall not escape . . . they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunk en are drunken in the night.” If language means anything, Paul is dis tinguishing between those who enter the day of the Lord and those who are delivered from its judgment. In accord with this is the promise of verse 9 where the righteous are not appointed unto wrath, but “to obtain deliverance by our Lord Jesus Christ” (cf. 1 Thes. 1:10). While not the strongest evidence for pre-tribulationalism found in the New Testament, 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11 does lend weight to the pre-trib ulational conclusion. Certainly it can not be made to sustain any contrary viewpoint. (To be continued next month.)
Internationally by. • R A D I O • M I S S I O N S •L I TERATURE Back to the Bible Broadcast originating at Lincoln, Nebraska
e THE ABC NETWORK 9 a.m. Mountain Time 8 a.m. in ail other time zones e THE MUTUAL NETWORK
10 a.m. Eastern Time 9 a.m. Central Time 8 a.m. Mountain Time 9 a.m. Pacific Time
Subject for December: "JESUS, FRIEND OF SINNERS" Write today for your FREE radio log THE RADIO BIBLE CLASS P.0. Box 22 Grand Rapids, Michigan
C O A S T T O C O A S T O V E R T H E A B C A N D M U T U A L N E TW O R K S
18
THE KING 'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker